Helen Thomas: Dean brought guts to campaign

[question everything]

http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/opinion/1802727.html


There can be no doubt that Howard Dean made a big difference in the Democratic primaries as he sought the presidential nomination of his party.

His rivals were walking dead men before he woke them up. They looked tired, bored and boring until the former Vermont governor ignited the campaign with his appeal to youth and his courageous and consistent anti-war theme.

His opponents owe him a debt of gratitude for shaking them out of their lethargy. As a newcomer to national politics, he tapped into a vein of national anger that the pros apparently did not know existed.

His hard line against the war in Iraq set him apart from most of the other Democratic candidates who had been tiptoeing around the issue. He ended their "me too" approach to the Bush administration's foreign policy. And he showed you could break away from superpower militancy and still be patriotic.

(snip)

Dean also proved there is a bloc of voters eager to unseat President Bush. After his edgy campaign, Democrats began to believe they actually had a chance to win back the presidency. Republicans seemed to be getting a bit nervous.

(snip)

[Dagaz]

1. I agree

Too bad he didn't bring brains. Even Bush is smarter than this idiot.

[Cassandra]

3. The idiot Bush is smarter than...

is you. Dean has plenty of brains, which you would know if you had ever bothered to hear him speak.

[boilerbabe]

6. I agree with you , thanks!! n/t

[otohara]

11. You is SO Right

I can't even stomach posts like #1 - documenting one's ignorance is sad.

[boilerbabe]

4. Apparently you didn't give him much of a glimpse?

Maybe you were overwhelmed by the spin of the right? Dean is not the idiot that you think he is...I would never have backed him up otherwise...Anyways, it's a little too late to say wer'e sorry. so let's just say, either you are going to get your ass up and make a change to this Democratic process, or I am going to assume you are aligned with Bush?
I think a lot of people were very mislead in the thought that Dean was some sort of far "Lefty"...I wish he was..really...but he was very centrist, and he made a difference in how we are going to go about our daily lives, for that we should at least thank him.
We Democrats, if we want to be called so...should really get out and do something here...

[sonias]

2. Thank you Helen Thomas

I agree the Democratic party owes a debt of gratitude to Howard Dean. I know he was my sanctuary and my sanity for many months before the Washington Dems stirred to life.

I love you Howard Dean, you are one of my heros.

Sonia

[boilerbabe]

5. Thank You!!

YOu said it better than I could have!!

[KoKo]

7. Good for Helen.! And a thanks to her for realizing Dean's huge

contribution to the Primary Process.

[mac2]

8. They all did not just Dean.......

The media gave him the credit and the coverage the others didn't get. The others are on the web raising money, having meetups, etc. It isn't just a "Dean thing".

Seems to me, a lot of stroking going on by Dean supporters. We are the best...we know the best, etc. Voters don't seem to agree.

We know, we can beat Bush if the computers and media allow it. We beat him before...remember in 2000?

[Paradise]

9. just one person's story...

as a strong clark supporter, who will vote for the nominee, i absolutely owe my regenerated courage, and renewed belief that
'we could do it', to governor howard dean. as i said, it's just
my story.

[Jade Fox]

10. Eric Alterman said much the same thing when I heard him speak,

but Thomas has said it even better.

To the "Deaniacs", especially you young ones: Thank you

You did change history. It wasn't the way you wanted, but
things are so much better now because of you. Political action is a
frustrating thing, and you frequently don't realize the effect you had
until years later.

In Paul Loeb's book "Soul of a Citizen" he talks about how the protests
here in the US against South African apartheid in the mid-1980's were
very much noticed and apreciated by South African activists. We had
a tremendous positive influence on them to keep up the fight until it
was won. When I read that I was floored. I personally helped end
apartheid! It's a great feeling.

[CatWoman]

12. HOWARD DEAN FOR SURGEON GENERAL