Dean is a quality individual and a quality candidate.

So is Clark.

So is Mosely Braun.

So is Kucinich.

So is Kerry.

So is Sharpton.

So is Edwards.

They are all speaking for the needs and desires of the PEOPLE!!!!!!!

I am okay that President Al Gore endorsed Howard Dean. I watched the speeches, and felt both said what I need to hear to get ready for the inevitably dirty battle ahead that will start with a launching of the "Dean's too this and Dean's too little of that."

Bullshit.

So Gore selected Dean. I don't mind. The people still have their brains intact and will vote based on what they think.

We are not dittoheads that have to run around screaming as though the sky had either just been built, or is falling down.

Gore was not asking all to rally around Dean - only those that currently feel like supporting him. He specifically gave respect to all who are currently fighting for other candidates.

I am almost ashamed to be a member of this board after reading the trashing threads I saw after work. I said almost.

I agree with everything you wrote. Does that make me a ditto head?

What you said. I have been mulling your last line myself, this evening. I find all the trashing quite seamy.

Not like DU at all.

Glad you have it!

it's the timimg of it and his arrogant assumption that supporters of other candidates would jump on the Dean bandwagon and not one vote has been cast. He should have waited until the field was narrowed to 2 or 3 candidates. That's the issue. The timing and the "attitude". No one can tell me who I "should" vote for. He should have waited.

First: it's not arrogant. He is a citizen, and can support and endorse anyone he chooses. He did not ask others to jump on the bandwagon, and if they do, then they don't have much of a mind to begin with, then, do they?

I have no personal connection to his mind, but know that everyone here expresses their hopes and reasons for support of a candidate. Why should his beliefs be held in secret until a specific time?

He didn't tell anyone who to vote for. He only said who he was supporting based upon his agreement with that candidates stated platform. That's what we all do.

Al Gore is a citizen democrat just as the rest of us. If his endorsement sways some, then I believe they would have been swayed that direction anyway.

I, btw, support candidate X

You've said exactly what I felt yesterday after coming home from work, signing on, seeing with delight and shock that Gore had endorsed Dean (I almost wish he had waited several months from now), and then happily going into a thread and being shocked again by the ugly comments there about Gore, no less. These were regular posters at DU, too, not alien disruptors. I agree that we have a crop of quality candidates--because of our lapdog media, we need at least 9 prominent people highlighting Bush failures, and they are each doing this in their own way.

Count down to locking as flame bait. :-(

...because I knew there would be a shit-flinging storm between Kerry supporters and Dean supporters.
I'm a die hard Kerry supporter, I still support Kerry, but if Dean gets the nominee, he gets my blessing.
I'm not going to stop fighting for Kerry.
I just hope EVERYONE can take a DEEP BREATH and realize we're all on the same side here!!! :dem: :dem: :dem:

Really?

"I want to do everything I can to convince you to get behind Howard Dean and let's make this a successful campaign as a group. It is about all of us and all of us need to get behind the strongest candidate."

such is life. I didn't like it but life goes on.

I like that about Democrats. We say we support someone, and ask that others support them also for the reasons we give.

If not,

The right wing would like to divide and convince all democrats, and it seems to be working, in the following way:

I support Dean for his anti-war stance.

Candidate X, Y, and Z supported the war

Therefore I support Dean

but

Clark supported the resident in speeches!
then changed his mind
must be wishy washy

Kucinich is WAY out there
He actually was not only against the war, but supports a true peace initiative, honest health care for all
but...what about that catholic thing?


we could go on and on.

I'm done with it.

I will support the Democratic nominee for president, and I feel Al Gore has as much a right to proclaim his support as any of us....

It will be no different. We will claim the crown prematurely just as Deanies are now doing. Its a long election and its still wide open. People are running on emotion and when that happens it can get pretty bloody.