Reply #49: Thank You For Answering For Me

[DrFunkenstein]

Dean is no pacifist. That is a good thing, and I don't knock it for him. But when he was Mr. Longshot, he made his name by making himself Mr. Anti-war. He used the term "anti-war" himself. However, since he has established a degree of legitimacy in the race, he has reversed his stridency and has done nothing but qualify his position - the very thing Kerry has always taken heat for as "waffling." Funny, since their positions are virtually identical. The main difference is that Kerry was up front about his conditions while Dean was still banging on the podium.

About progressives, let's get something clear - not all people that disagreed with the conditions of the invasion are Dean supporters. Hardly. My comment referred to the activist-minded on the Left that transferred their allegiance from Nader-style reformist politics to Dean's camp, largely because of Dean's activist rhetoric. In doing so, many have abandoned the progressive politics they once championed to put their weight behind a centrist.

This is not a crime. For instance, many progressives (myself included) supported Clinton, the triangulating corporate-hooker. It was pragmatic given Clinton's position in the political world of the 90's. However, it is still early in this race, and I don't see why people are flocking to another centrist-with-liberal-tongue who doesn't have half of the personal charisma the Big Dog had.

While I can, I am promoting the real progressive in this race - no not Kucinich! The other one! When the time comes, if I need to support Dean then I will have little problem doing so. As much as I think Kerry is a better candidate than Dean, I think Dean is a far better candidate than any others in the race.