Is Howard Dean exactly what we need?

[Renata]

I did understate the effect of the mudslinging; I kind of tacked that in there as an afterthought since it was tangential to what I was focusing on. Any candidate is going to have to face that, though, and I don't think it can be predicted who will fare better or worse based on any objective factors. Look what they did to the the former governor of Georgia (blanking on his name, sorry) if you want real and effective slander. Or the governor of Texas before Bush. (Ann Davis? Blanking again, need food.) Or McCain, for that matter.

Renata

 

[Capulet]

Former Governor of Georgia? Do you mean former Senator Max Cleland, a Vietnam veteran who lost both his legs and his right arm in the war? He was accused of in his 2002 re-election campaign of being against Homeland Security and was associated with Osama Bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein?

 

[Mark1031]

I think Dean is fine as he will not be a candidate anyway but can be the pit bull. This is so laughable the Republicans fake indignation at Dean's statements. What a bunch of cry babies. But really it's all just a political game that the Republicans play much better I will admit and we have to get better at it. There really needs to be language discipline in the Democratic Party. But in terms of mudslinging the first responses on this board and from Republicans are things like Dean is insane, a lunatic, part of the "looney left". I've never called Bush insane, a lunatic, or looney just wrong and a liar. During the Lewinsky thing my local congressmen called Bill Clinton a child molester. Talk about inflammatory rhetoric. It's just one big game of trying to create impressions.

 

[Renata]

Former Governor of Georgia? Do you mean former Senator Max Cleland, a Vietnam veteran who lost both his legs and his right arm in the war? He was accused of in his 2002 re-election campaign of being against Homeland Security and was associated with Osama Bin Laden, and Saddam Hussein?

Yep. Isn't it charming?

Renata

 

[A'AbarachAmadan]

I think Dean is fine as he will not be a candidate anyway but can be the pit bull. This is so laughable the Republicans fake indignation at Dean's statements.

A standard excuse. I'm one centrist who thinks the mudslinging on both sides is absolutely ridiculous. One can attack a position without attacking a person without justification.

 

[stratego]

I think that the moderate-left that critcize Howard Dean don't actually dislike his ideas. They like to think of themselves as being able to see pass Dean's attitude, but are just afraid that other's won't. But it's not a problem because others will see pass it too. It's a situation similar to why the average person think himself to be above average.

You don't have to play the centrist, you have to excite your base. In American politics, all you have to do is to make a little more than 25% of the population like you slightly more than the other guys. 50% of the population don't vote, and the other 25% voted against you, so screw them.

 

[Smidlee]

Whos more angry than your typical Republican? Their entire platform is based on hate, fear and anger. They hate gays, theyre afraid somebody is going to take away their guns, and theyre angry about abortion.

All right, Howard Dean! that's enough!! What are you doing on Bozo's PC?

 

[Mark1031]

A standard excuse. I'm one centrist who thinks the mudslinging on both sides is absolutely ridiculous. One can attack a position without attacking a person without justification.

Do I like it NO I think it is bad for the country. Did the Dems start it NO not in this century unless you count Nixon which it is obvious a lot to hard core repubs do but I mean should we really give a pass to a Pres using the FBI and CIA and IRS for political venditas. The Repubs started it with the Clintons and Whitewater and Bush has taken it to new hights smeering McCain in S Carolina and Kerrys military record, and using the Iraq war and Max Cleland and on and on. Should the Dems take the high road NO, it does not work. I'm sorry I wish it did but throughout history smeering the other guys patriotism and personal traits has been an effective way to win. And really what were the personal smeers in Deans recent remarks he referred to Repubs using some sterotypes like not working for a living (admitedly unfair and untrue in general but they are the corporate/investor/super rich party). OTOH my member of congress called Bill Clinton a child molester. There are a few orders of magnitude of difference in that retoric. I know it sounds childish to say they started it but really they have taken it to new heights (for recent times) and it works so unless we want a 1 party state it is a strategy that must be employed or abandoned by both sides.

 

[VoodooAce]

Until very recently (2k4 elections, actually) I would have thought Dean to be too far over the top.

Heck, back in the day when there were quite a few far right moderators here, I would have been banned from CFC for saying some of the things he said.

But after watching the Republicans use downright mean and dirty tactics, and WINNING with them, over the last decade I say, "Let's get it on!".

Its about time we started fighting fire with fire. Get you some, Howie!

 

[Elrohir]

Oh come on guys. You all know as well as I do that if President Bush named the Democratic party as the newest member of the Axis of Evil, there would be a firestorm of criticism. The liberals would kill themselves insulting the President, and rightfully so. Sure there's been a lot of political mudslinging in the past, but not on this level.

 

[Bozo Erectus]

All right, Howard Dean! that's enough!! What are you doing on Bozo's PC?

Yesterday I stuck my head in his window and gave him one of my trademark screams. Bozo ran out the back door and hasnt been back since. I saw him sneaking around in the backyard last night I think. It was either him or Big Foot.

 

[IglooDame]

As others have said, I think Dean is doing well for the Democrats. He is not a candidate, so he won't necessarily push moderates away, and he is going to get the liberal base fired up. I think he is more effective when attacking policies rather than stereotypes, but his job now is stereotypes, and he has to leave policy to the elected types.

 

[Elrohir]

As others have said, I think Dean is doing well for the Democrats. He is not a candidate, so he won't necessarily push moderates away, and he is going to get the liberal base fired up. I think he is more effective when attacking policies rather than stereotypes, but his job now is stereotypes, and he has to leave policy to the elected types.

Oh come on: Calling the other party "evil" isn't going to push away the sane moderates? Someone is in dreamland....

 

[Atlas14]

Good for Howard Dean for getting riled up/pumped up and excited about the Democratic Party's "promising" future, but he needs to either learn to control what comes out of his disturbingly hateful mouth or find another job.

 

[wilbill]

Oh come on: Calling the other party "evil" isn't going to push away the sane moderates? Someone is in dreamland....

If Republicans don't worry about Anne Coulter pushing away everyone who's even close to sane, why would Dems worry about Howard Dean? I doubt more than 30% of the US population could even tell you what party Dean represents.

 

[VoodooAce]

Good for Howard Dean for getting riled up/pumped up and excited about the Democratic Party's "promising" future, but he needs to either learn to control what comes out of his disturbingly hateful mouth or find another job.

I've got one word for you:

DickCheneyPatRobertsonJerryFallwellAnnCoulterBillO'ReillySeanHannityEdKleinKarlRovePatBuchanan.

I'm sure I've missed a suffix or two, but I gotta bounce.