Anger Trumping Hope in Dean's Message (??)

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-na-message28nov28,1,1913507.story

Anger Trumping Hope in Dean's Message
The Democrat's promise of change is lost amid his bluntness, which could hurt him, analysts say.
By Matea Gold
Times Staff Writer

November 28, 2003

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Howard Dean was finishing another firebrand speech in which he lambasted President Bush, this time for his education reforms.<snip>

Then, as he always does, the Democratic presidential candidate shifted gears.

"We need to take this country back by being positive," he said, scanning the room as he spoke. "I want to have hope again, I want to have optimism."<snip>

"They still don't understand," he said of his critics in a recent interview. "What we're really tapping into is the desire for hope again."<snip>

"We're going to have a little fun at the president's expense tonight, but we're also going to say what we would do better," he told voters at a town hall meeting in Hampton, N.H., recently. "Because we're not going to beat President Bush by simply telling everybody how dreadful he is."<snip>

And so at the end of every speech, Dean casts his candidacy as a harbinger for change. He talks about renewing a sense of broad community. And he encourages individuals to believe they can make a difference in society.

"The biggest lie that people like me tell people like you at election time is, 'If you vote for me, I'll solve all your problems,' " he says. "The truth is, the power to take this country back is in your hands, not mine."<snip>

"Hope has two beautiful daughters, anger at the way things are and courage to change them." (St.Augustine)

I found it by accident a few months ago looking for another quote for an article I was writing and posted it on this web site and the Dean O-blog.

When I was growin up Catholic, St. Augustine was never my favorite saint. He was a misogynist, but this quote, when I ran across it a few months ago, captured my attention because 1) it fit Dean's Campaign theme perfectly and 2)it's not what I'd expect from a male chauvanist, like St. Augustine. Anger can be seen as both male and female, and misogynists usually see it as female when it suits them or they have a guilty conscience about cheating on their wives, but courage most often is depicted in patriarchal systems as male; however, for some unknown reason, St. Augustine saw it as female when associated with Hope. Interesting!

There is only one more daughter I'd add to this quote: Ingenuity for Dean's usage of the Internet to get his inspired grassroots army to do the grunt work of campaigning.

i responded to that person that i thought it was a perfect quote for this campaign....if it was you, i thank you for bringing it to our attention

Dean is doing well in the race to win the Democratic nomination because he is adroitly tapping into the anger and frustration of Democratic and many independent voters. That is just smart politics.

In the general election, Dean will have to put more emphasis on the positive things that a Dean administration would do to make the country a better place. That would close the sale.

People like to vote for candidates that have a positive vision for the future. I am sure Dean knows this and we would see a different style of campaign from Dean in the general election. And, from the quotes in this article, he may be starting to shift his message already.

Man, how much did this guy get paid to write this.

Can anger not be POSITIVE? Is the truth a NEGATIVE thing?

So Deans telling the truth against the lies we are force fed by the media isnt POSITIVE??

Is the authors definition of what is good and appropriate is to accept the lies and the destruction of almost every policy (not to mention our Democracy) by this Administration?

Deans too negative. No hes too divisive. Hes too conservative.... hes too liberal. Hes too forceful....Hes inconsistent....Hes too strong....hmm....and what does this make George Bush??????

The agenda of slander is to divert attention from the truth.

I see it here with Freepers who start threads knowing they are going to pit us against one another. That is their purpose and goal.

We will continue to see articles and t.v. spin geared towards creating as much doubt in American voters as possible.

I would like to know of one Democratic presidential candidate throughout the years who has EVER been fairly treated by our media.

Certainly not Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton or Al Gore, or for that matter George McGovern, Dukakis, or Mondale. Could there be a pattern here?

Is there a pattern of attacking those who are trying to BE POSITIVE, initiate hope, and mend the never-ending damage done by power-mongers?

Meanwhile back at the ranch - our nation is falling apart and we have an Administration and a media that is on the wrecking crew.

On a larger scale, it is the day to day barage of negativity against good people and good candidates, (ironically like this article*) that erodes American's motivation to get involved, promotes a feeling of powerlessness, and drains inspiration and hope.

Deans message and the true foundation of the Democratic party is ALL about POSITIVE.

GOP.

:-)

It's just the latest anti-Dean meme.

Too insignificant!
Too liberal!
Too republican!
Too unpredictable!
Too much peaking!
Too much foot-in-mouthery!
Too angry!
Too hot!
Too cold!

I'll get some hope when Dean kicks * out of the OO.