I sure hope Dean lives up to his challenge to support nominee

[PretzelWarrior]

remember? Back when it looked like he was heading into the primaries as the favorite? He made everyone at debate pledge they would wholeheartedly support the nominee no matter who it is. This was after he promised to do so.

Who thinks Dean will roll up his sleeves and YELP for Kerry.

"We're gonna beat Bush with our guy, Kerry in Oklahoma, and New Mexico and Missouri, and Washington, and Michigan! Vote for Kerry! YEAAHHHAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

[lancdem]

1. On his recent MTP interview

Dean said he would back the nominee and wouldn't stay in the race if it becomes clear he has no shot. I take him at his word.

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[chocolateeater]

14. That was uncalled for.

I guess we shouldn't try to stand up to Bush, get more people interested in taking part in elections, or expand our funding base. Silly me, I thought that was good for the Party.

[bigtree]

20. Its not uncalled for

Dean called for it. I've been around awhile. I've haven't seen such a classless attack from the losing candidate since Bob Kerry declared Bill Clinton unelectable. Bob Kerry later apologized by the way. I'm waiting for Dean to apologize. Excuse me if I don't hold my breath till then.

[chocolateeater]

22. Silly me I thought the race was still going on.

I guess you feel that way about the other candidates also, since they haven't stopped running either. It's tough to be the front runner.

[Hippo_Tron]

18. Traitor... Ummm what the hell are you talking about?

Enlighten me because I'm quite confused as to how Howard Dean is a traitor.

[bigtree]

21. To the party

You want to stretch it to somethimg else go ahead. I've had it with his smarmy attacks. I'm no potted plant. I won't let them stand unchallenged. I will respond in kind. Tough shit for him.

[AntiCoup2K4]

19. Why don't you ask the guy who's in league with the same criminals...

...who back Junior?

[bigtree]

24. I have.

And I will. In the meantime I will work to defeat Dean in this primary campaign. If he manages to win the nomination I will be his campaign's strongest advocate. I am a party loyalist. I am not someone important. Just a guy on a computer. I think it was a colossally stupid move to go after John Kerry on issues that could mar the party by inference. I don't think Dean has a clue, as John Kerry inferred, about how a bill becomes law. His scorched earth attacks have branded John Kerry and supporters alike.

He apologizes and I back off. Immediately. If he persists then I guarantee an opposition within the party that will not let up.

That's what I mean. Traitor to the party. Betrayal of the support that has been given him so far by the party.

Including support from me. But I am not the party. I'm just a guy on a computer.

[rucky]

3. Dean on MTP yesterday:

Dean said yesterday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he would quit if someone else secures the nomination. "I'm not going to do anything that's going to harm the Democratic Party," he said.

Dean and his new campaign chief, former Gore and Clinton aide Roy Neel, have declared Feb. 17 -- when the Wisconsin primary puts 72 delegates at stake -- as the first marker by which the campaign should be measured. Even then, Dean said the truest look at his candidacy may not come until a round of primaries and caucuses March 2 and March 9.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. which begs the question

Who's interpretation of "hurting the party" will Dean listen to.

His own, or the other Democrats?

(presuming, of course, the other Democrats tell him to drop out at a certain point in time)

[beyurslf]

5. I absolutely think he will.

All this talk of a fight to the convention and a split....

nonsense. Dean has spent the last 2 years going around the country against W and wanting him out of the office. He knows the only way to do it is with a unified party. Yes, he wants to be the one to unify. But, if he knows he will not be, then I believe he will back the nominee and continue to work to get W out.

[Democrats unite]

6. Dean is a man of his word I believe what he says...

About backing the Democratic nominee. I just wished Kerry was a man of his word instead of a flip flopper. But I guess you can't win them all.

[ShaneGR]

7. My prediction, historically speaking

Howard Dean is not a stupid man. If he were to not back the Dem nominee with full vigor, history would paint him in the Ralph Nader role.... divider, spoiler, Bush enabler.

I think he'll give a great concession speech and totally back whoever is the nominee. Politicians know it's not what you do in the moment, but how you are remembered in the future.

[MercutioATC]

8. Dean will live up to his word.

He won't hurt the party.

[Straight Shooter]

9. Even Kerry's ex-wife whom he dumped will support him

Nothing quite like having someone leave you in the middle of a deep depression and then watching him running around chasing skirts for arm ornaments. But, hey, if she can forgive and forget, so can Dean. Anything to get rid of the Toxic Texan.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

13. Unless you have been in a similar situation, maybe you can't know what

it was like.

Maybe she forgave because they weren't right for one another. She is remarried and doing well.

[Straight Shooter]

17. You're right, and I am not privy to their personal life

But to my understanding, she was suicidal at the time. It's low to leave a person at a time like that. Whether they weren't right for each other is not the point. Unless of course it was his behavior that made her suicidal in the first place.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

23. Two points

A) She didn't kill herself so it turned out.
B) Him leaving MAY have put her on the right track so that she found herself in all of it.

And one final point, if someone threatened me with suicide if I left, I'd probably leave. Being at the butt end of someone's mental illness, even if you love them can kill YOU off in the process.

[maddezmom]

10. I trust Dean at his word on this....

but I hope he doesn't adopt a scorched earth policy until the nomination. He still can win, but needs all the dems behind him to beat bush*.

[GumboYaYa]

11. Is there any reason at all to question whether he will support

the nominee? If so please provide it to me. I've heard Dean say he will support the nominee time and time again, yet we still see these negative threads implying he will not.

This is nothing more than an attempt to slander Dean spun out of thin air.

[kayob1]

12. Yes, as a matter of fact

I've heard him say it a hell of a lot more than anybody else.

[wabeewoman]

15. And always by Kerry supporters....

The bigger question is: will Kerry support Dean when he wins and will you Kerry supporters vote for Dean??

[chocolateeater]

16. Of course he will. He said he would. n/t

[Moderator]

25. Locking

1. If you start a thread in this forum, you must present your opinion in a manner that is not inflammatory, which respects differences in opinion, and which is likely to lead to respectful discussion rather than flaming. The moderators have the sole authority to decide whether a thread topic is inflammatory.