Can Anyone Catch Dean? (Time)

Monday, Nov. 24, 2003
Over the past year, whenever one of the leading Democratic presidential candidates made his way to the downtown Washington office of Andrew Stern, head of the nation's largest union, he came away with two things: a bit of advice and the names of local officials across the country. "I'm the voice of 1.6 million members," the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) told those who sought his endorsement. "Go talk to them." Only one candidate, Stern says, took him up on it. Howard Dean not only talked to SEIU members, he showed up on their picket line at Yale University, cheered their organizers at a San Francisco hospital and consulted the union's nurses in Iowa as he put together his proposal for solving the shortage in their profession. "Howard Dean didn't start on top," Stern says, "but he certainly ended up on top."

If the onetime long shot looked like a front runner before last week, the political pundits were declaring him all but unstoppable after Wednesday's joint endorsement by Stern's union and the 1.4 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). As recently as six months ago, the betting was not if but when Dean would flame out. But the former Vermont Governor has roared ahead by defying three early assumptions about the race. When the leading candidates believed it would be political suicide to oppose George Bush on national security, Dean unambiguously inveighed against the Iraq invasion and caught the Democratic Party's antiwar wave. While the others were dialing for $2,000 checks and lining up big-name political consultants, Dean seized on the Internet's potential to raise money and organize grass-roots support. (He had been running for more than a year before he hired a pollster.) And as consequential as anything else, he focused his energy outside the political establishment at a time when the top contenders — nearly all of them creatures of the Beltway — believed that big donors, party kingmakers and powerful interest groups were the best assets to have in an overcrowded field.

Just as Dean's supposed weaknesses have turned out to be strengths, the supposed strengths of the other candidates have turned out to be their weaknesses. John Kerry tried to make his campaign about courage, but his was called into question by his conflicting — and conflicted — stances on Iraq. Joe Lieberman sold his candidacy on integrity but came off as a finger-wagging scold (and the only major Democratic candidate whose unfavorable ratings outweighed his favorable ones in a New Hampshire poll this month by the American Research Group). The exciting new face in the field, John Edwards, seemed too green and untested for a post--9/11 nation, and the most seasoned, Dick Gephardt, appeared too scarred by his long service and too bound to the ways of Capitol Hill for Democrats desperate for a win. As for the latest entry, retired General Wesley Clark, his clumsy first weeks have proved his boast that he's not a politician and have shown that military discipline doesn't always apply to other endeavors. "The people that were supposed to break out just never did," says Steve Jarding, an adviser on Florida Senator Bob Graham's failed campaign. "It just seems like everyone has been stuck in neutral."

More: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101031124-543791,00.html

When I talk to people about Dean, I emphasize his going to the people. That he went and talked to the rank and file in the unions as described here reinforces my conviction that Dean's strength is in going to the people.

He doesn't seem to govern the same way he is campaigning this year. I don't trust that.

One minute you have a Clark avatar and are praising him, but the next you have a Dean avatar and you're saying Clark's finished.

B-)

It would seem to be quite difficult.

DU Apocalypse 6:5-9
<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=721542>
"The New Creature with nine horns appeared before me. It was like a snake molting. The horns fell off, until I saw the creature for what it was. It was a Puma, one like the Man of Hope, yet with the smile of the Wolf. Beside him stood one of the horns, a White Horse, unblemished and good.
Again I rejoiced. The Puma stalked the Son of Empire, dodging his arrows and the Shrew’s nets. When the time was right he and the White Horse galloped forward, and he pounced upon the Son of Empire. Red blood flew everywhere.
A bird came to me, missing its right wing. It said, “See the dungeon is once gain filled, for the Puma has recaptured those thing that are evil. And look. The nations around us show respect, and I am at peace.”
These are thing things I have seen. Rejoice, for the time of trouble will end. I know not the day or the hour, but the pain of this time is coming to an end.
So send this news out, to all the ends of earth. Shout from the rooftops that the Son of Empire is defeated. Shout with hope that peace will return. Empire shall once again become Great Nation."

Dean has been getting SUCH a free ride from the media who fails to scrutinize Dean's real record compared to his current populist rhetoric, that if Dean is the nominee, the Dem voters will be STUCK with a nominee who has been deceptive, and inconsistent about so many issues that once the teflon is inevitably stripped the whole Dem party will be made to look like fools for not holding him to the scrutiny beforehand.


>>>>>>>>

At the same time, Dean has been running so fast that his vulnerabilities haven't caught up to him. "He's quick of lip, and quick of temper and stubborn," says Democratic activist Harold Ickes, a close adviser to Bill and Hillary Clinton. "In another time, the Confederate-flag story would have taken him down the drain." It took Dean five days to apologize for the Confederate-flag gaffe, but that mini-brouhaha might be just a prologue to the scrutiny he will face on inconsistencies in his record on issues from affirmative action to trade. That's why many believe the greatest threat to Dean is Dean himself.
>>>>>>>>>

He has to do a makeover on his attitude. His belligerent, in your face style will not play well against Bush's good old boy frat act.
Rule #1 of politics--people want their politicians to be likeable.
I was a real Dean hopeful but that last debate made me have serious doubts...Sorry...

1. CF flap.
2. Medicare flap.
3. SS age raise flap.
4. "McGovern" flap.
5. Temper flap.
etc...

How is that a free ride?

Now name 5 or more "flaps" that another candidate has had. Once again your theory is groundless, baseless and bogus.



On edit- Anyone who would care to add to the flap list, feel free. I sure there's several more. I just named the first 5 that came to mind.

the other campaigns. Do you REALLY believe that the other candidates pose no threat to Dean. I believe it's true but am surprised to see you have the same opinion. It seems that BLM is 'close' to hopping on the Dean Train.

Dean '04....

I am relatively new here at DU, so I don't know how familiar members here are about our corporate biased media. But they (the media) have a lot at stake in not giving exposure to someone like Dennis Kucinich. If Kucinich were elected, the corporate jig would be up! That is why they limit his exposure as much as they can. Howard Dean is a lot more palatable to them since he won't reduce funding for the military - industrial complex and will maintain U.S. control over Iraq. Big points! Points against Dean, in my opinion.

He worked his butt off and earned the endorsements he got and the loyalty of those who support him.

Over the past year, whenever one of the leading Democratic presidential candidates made his way to the downtown Washington office of Andrew Stern, head of the nation's largest union, he came away with two things: a bit of advice and the names of local officials across the country. "I'm the voice of 1.6 million members," the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) told those who sought his endorsement. "Go talk to them." Only one candidate, Stern says, took him up on it. Howard Dean not only talked to SEIU members, he showed up on their picket line at Yale University, cheered their organizers at a San Francisco hospital and consulted the union's nurses in Iowa as he put together his proposal for solving the shortage in their profession. "Howard Dean didn't start on top," Stern says, "but he certainly ended up on top."

and this piece also tells a tale about Dean's ability to make sound judgments and calculated risks that pay off for him:
...When the leading candidates believed it would be political suicide to oppose George Bush on national security, Dean unambiguously inveighed against the Iraq invasion and caught the Democratic Party's antiwar wave. While the others were dialing for $2,000 checks and lining up big-name political consultants, Dean seized on the Internet's potential to raise money and organize grass-roots support. (He had been running for more than a year before he hired a pollster.) And as consequential as anything else, he focused his energy outside the political establishment at a time when the top contenders — nearly all of them creatures of the Beltway — believed that big donors, party kingmakers and powerful interest groups were the best assets to have in an overcrowded field.

Just as Dean's supposed weaknesses have turned out to be strengths, the supposed strengths of the other candidates have turned out to be their weaknesses.

"Kerry's fund raisers are telling him it's getting next to impossible to find anyone willing to write a check to his campaign."

He may not inspire Donors, but he did marry well.

He's his own biggest supporter.

You'll never catch up with me!