Jeez, what a day to actually have to work! I haven't read any of the thread, but here are my thoughts on what happened... (apologies to those who have covered the same points.) First, the rimrocker scorecard: Things I got right... Gephardt going down in flames. Things I got wrong... everything else. Abysmally so. Nonetheless, my recent record of futility will not stop me from expounding on Iowa... Winners: Kerry--For obvious reasons. It seems like just a few days ago he was mortgaging his house to fund his campaign. The most impressive thing in my mind is that he was able to turn out veterans and firefighters to counter the other (especially Dean's) organizations. Veterans and firefighters also have a tremendous symbolic value and you can bet that there was a run on Depends at the drug store closest to the White House when this became known. I still question his passion and ability to communicate, but I could easily support him. I still think he has to win NH to shut the door on Dean... and probably Clark. Edwards--I think was the biggest winner. If you caught him on CSPAN last week, he was in the zone and his brand of retail politics really turned people on. I don't know how much the Kucinich deal helped him, as I think I saw that the majority went to Kerry (but I could be wrong). Edwards is viable in NH and is sitting pretty to pick up a state of his own in SC. I could easily support Edwards. We'll see if they can both stay upbeat if it gets down to only two. Losers: Dean--Having worked on Paul Simon's campaign in 1988, when we got steamrolled by Dukakis' money and organization, I was thinking the same thing about Dean. Thus, I committed the cardinal sin of my profession--never fight the same fire twice... if you make certain kinds of assumptions based an past experiences, you will get burned. I never thought that the organization Dean built up would have him coming in at a distant third. Oh well. The aura of invincibility is definitely off and he must win NH. However, even if he does win in NH, he's just won in his backyard and I don't think he can get the big engine back on the track to go much further. The Iowa Gov. made what I thought was an insightful comment last night... he said that Dean and Gephardt were too concerned about each other to be concerned about Iowans and that really hurt them. I saw a poll on Sunday that only had a minor number going for Dean as their second choice, which was a definite harbinger of the Monday results. Dean also hurt himself by being sullen and prickly over the last few days when it became clear he would not win. On top of that, the campaign came out with the pessimistic story that Dean's optimistic message had been hijacked by Kerry and Edwards. On top of that was the over-the-top speech last night. He was trying to pull a Clinton and claim victory out of defeat, but he ain't no Clinton. Still, even if Dean goes no further than NH, he's done the Dems a great service. He showed you can stand up to Bush, he took a lot of early flak that for the most part missed Kerry and Edwards. The analogy I've heard is that he was a great fullback, hitting the hole hard and creating an opening for the tailback to break into the open field. Gephardt--For obvious reasons. I never liked him, but he did grow a bit in my estimation over the course of his campaign. He also gets kudos for realizing when it's time to go. I would be happy with him as Secretary of Labor in the new administration. Clark--Best outcome would have been Gephardt winning, second best would have been Dean winning. Worst scenario is for Kerry and Edwards to spank everyone else. Running on his strength as a military guy who's from the South, he's now flanked by a guy with a similar military experience (and much greater domestic experience) and another who is more Southern. Really bad news. He was counting on a top two finish in NH and a win in SC against a depleted Edwards. Both are now in question, especially SC. I don't think he makes it past Feb. 3 without winning a state and I have a hard time seeing any state that he can win outright. The best news from last night is that the process is finally underway and we are that much closer to booting Bush and reclaiming the country. As for me, I get to sit on my hands a bit longer... my wife was selected as a Clark Precinct Captain for the Feb 3 NM Caucus, (which runs from noon until 7 pm) so I will be home with the kids. Back to work, but first, must go change my sig.
Finally saw the Dean "speech," the yeaahhhh thing was bad, especially since his voice cracked. I've never seen an angry person smile so much. He wasn't angry, just trying to rally his supporters. Looked more like a football prep rally than a concession speech.
Disappointed with what happend to Dean. I do think he did a valuable service in showing Kerry who previously being wimpy, as evidenced by him voting for a war he didn't really believe in, in imho., that it is ok to really fight the Republicans as they will go all out. In my mind Kerry is actually the more dependable liberal between he and Dean, though the pro-war vote is hard to fogive. In a way it might be best for Dean to lose in N.H. then he will be toast. However, I am worried whether Kerry who at times still looks like an establishment insider with all the negatives that can bring, will be able to have the fire to energize the Democratic base. Edwards is looking like a good VP and so is Clark. It would be amusing to run the all Soldier lineup of Kerry and Clark against the awol-chickenhawk tandem of Bush-Cheney, but Edwards with his young pretty boy optimism might be a better VP.
You aren't the only supporter left. I do agree with what Batman Jones said earlier about Dean having disappeared over the last month. It seems like he felt he had the first couple of contests won and was busy trying out strategies for how to compete in the south. That being said I disagree with almost everyone who feels he's unelectable or whatever. I don't care if the Bush people do want to go against Dean. I think the guy is the most electable candidate out there. I believe the reason that disagree is that they are looking at stereo typical politicians and thinking that Dean isn't like them so he won't win. But that's all gone in the American political spectrum now. 2000 should have made it clear that talking about the issues and substance won't get anyone elected. Generalizing things, and seeming to have a more common sense approach as opposed to political Jargon is what got Bush to win. Dean can talk political jargon, but while the other candidates seem to the sum of their political speech Dean also has passion, and fire about the issues. That will carry him further than just talking about the technical aspects of politics and campaign issues. Also having low expectations helped Bush tremendously in the last elections. People expected so little, that it was very easy for G.W. to suprass those expectations. It seems that for whatever reason people have low expectations about Dean too. That's a good thing in modern politics. Hell, the reason half the people think Dean is not electable is because they believe he's too liberal. That shows how much they truly know about Dean. Let them label him with that, and then should he be the nominee he'll shatter that image like a plate after a Greek banquet. Another plus for Dean is the fact that the Democratic status quo is scared of the guy and against him. He's not a third party candidate, but he is an outsider. He's someone who's done this his own way, raising his own funds from the general populace. He doesn't have the special interest connections that the other politicians who rely on those interests for money have. That's what makes Dean dangerous. His internet fund raising makes him accountable to the general populace, and not the big corporations and special interests that other politicians are indebted to. This will allow Dean to talk real and not have to justify why certain interests get a free pass. Now all of this is only true if Dean goes back to the Dean that started the process and not the Dean of the last month. Bush will be hard to beat, and with a traditional candidate like any of the others it will be nearly impossible. Dean is the only one that offers a fresh alternative and stands a real chance.
We need to start a Caption Game thread with some of these... Here is another picture of Nikita Dean: NURSE! PASS ME THE SCALPEL AND THE BONE SAW!! I'M ON A ROID RAGE!!!
I know it's not high on the credibility meter with the liberals, but click on this link. There is a picture of Howard Dean. If you click on that, you can hear the now famous, "YYEEEEEAAAAAAARRRHHH". I nearly fell out of my Herman Miller laughing at it! http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/today.guest.html
I think only balding impotent men and metrosexuals still have Aeron chairs...judging from your attire on the Smeg pictures you're not the latter....
By the way, glynch, you bring up good points... I can respect a president that had national guard experience and sends soldiers to war... But, I CAN NOT respect a president that had national guard experience (zero under-fire) and uses terms like, "Bring'em on!" or views the world in black and while like, "Axis of Evil." Or, "With us or against us..." That's fundamentalism if I've ever heard it. I mean, that's what going on in the middle-east (fundamentalism). And to make matters worse, Bush W. and Cheney have ties to Haliburton. That itself is a conflict of interest. That's like Lydon B. Johnson having financial ties with the Huey Corporation during the Vietnam War. That's why I respect Kerry, Clark and Republican John McCain. Heck, even the first Bush. They ALL know about war, they lived it.
I'm bailing out of the Dean camp... He lost it last night, and has lost me as a supporter.. I trust George W. Bush more than I could ever possibly trust that maniac madman.. Howard Dean has officially lost it.. he's lost his mind.. gone insane.. Lost touch with reality.. Edwards is the most electable and most resonable, and has the best plan for this nation.. Karl Rove will absolutely tear Dean to shreads if he won the nomination... Dean is emotionally weak and cannot handle the Rove machine... Edwards can..
Howard Dean cowers in fear at the sight of his "Hand-gun" just prior to committing political suicide. When he realized the Hand-gun wasn't loaded, Dean proceeded to rattle off the names of 18 states, followed by a resounding "YYEEEEEAAAAAAARRRHHH".
Here's the abbreviated Dean clip. After listening to it, I decided he was my candidate, no matter what. He has a passion that other candidates just don't. That said, the yell is pretty dang funny. http://www.drudgereport.com/dean.mp3
Honestly, How can anyone support this madman? Dean's rants sound hitleresque.. He's lost it... He's lost his mind... Dean is absolutely insane.. I for one do NOT want someone like that anywhere near the nuclear football..
Hitler was the first politico that came to mind after viewing his frothing at the mouth, wild eyed.. lost touch with reality display last night... Granted, there may have been a better discriptive word to use, but that's what came to mind... Besides.. It's only unpatriotic to criticize the President.. Not the challengers..
YEEEEAAAAAAARRRRHHHHH!!!! What led to Dean's COLLAPSE? It was actually more than just last nights' mental short-circuit: 1) His idea that we are not safter with Saddam captured 2) His uncertainty whether Osama should be punished 3) His plan to dramatically increase the tax burden on working Americans 4) His questionable beliefs and statements regarding the Confederate Flag 5) His shouting at a 66-year old man to SIT DOWN after asking a harmless question 6) His insinuations that Bush actually knew about 911 ahead of time 7) His newfound love of Jesus -- trying to manipulate voters 8) His questionable visit to Georgia on the eve of the caucus. Was he even invited? 9) His memo that stated the US should take unilateral action in Bosnia, a move that makes his whole anti-war movement a total sham and example of hypocrisy You know something? We're going to Washington DC to take back the White House! YEEEAAARRRHHHH!!!!! No you're not, Howard. You are going to the ASYLUM.
Just incredible. You know, it's easy right now to make a case against Dean without lying but I guess you just can't help it. Just like the lying spoiled brat prezidunt you're so crushy over. You have zero credibility when you post crap like this. 1. At least 40% of the country agrees. Not that controversial, but at least you didn't lie about this one. 2. Lie. He said he should be tried before being convicted. He never expressed any ambivalence regarding punishment. Due process is an American ideal. Why do you hate America? 3. Lie. Working Americans didn't receive a "dramatic" cut. A rollback of that cut wouldn't be "dramatic" either. Unless you consider lounging by the pool and calling your broker to find out how much money you 'earned' that day to be work. Wouldn't surprise me a bit. 4. Lie that is even beneath you. You know you are lying here. The worst thing Kerry's done in this campaign is to subscribe to the same lie when he knew he was lying. Dean's "beliefs" about the Confederate flag are mainstream and you know it (Kerry knew it too). You know the context of that quote but willfully ignore it to engage in your usual lower than Limbaugh way. 5. Lie. It wasn't a harmless question. Dean screwed up telling the guy to sit down, but he was being badgered. It was almost a heckle -- not a harmless question. Still a horrible move by Dean, but you could have said that without lying. 6. Lie. This lie has been debunked so many times it's stupid. You might as well tell us about all those WMD's that have been found again. 7. I don't know if this is a lie or not, but I do know it's the most offensive thing you posted in this thread. **** you for presuming you know a man's heart or his relationship to God. 8. Questionable?? He's been talking to Carter about once a week since he announced. He got his start working for Carter's campaign. Carter's son works for him. And I have it on good authority from someone high up at the Carter Center in Atlanta that Dean is Carter's preference (or was at least as of a month ago). Yes, it was Dean's idea to go there, but you insinuate he crashed the service. Once again, unwilling or unable to rely on the possible mistake of missing a day in Iowa you resort to your usual low tactics. 9. I haven't read that memo. Kindly provide a link so I can figure out which part of it you're misrepresenting. Aside, of course, from the fact that Bosnia and Iraq are completely different situations. No one said we were going to Bosnia to look for weapons, nor did anyone lie about them being a threat to us. It was a humanitarian mission that was sold to us as such and it involved genocide that was urgent and ongoing, as opposed to a leader who had gassed his people years before. And there was no prospective financial motive. But I'm guessing you're lying about something else here. A link would help figure out what that might be. 10. I agree. That was horrible.
