Confessions of a Dean supporter

[worldgonekrazy]

First off, let me just say right up front that I do still and will continue to support Howard Dean in the Democratic race, because he is the only candidate that I really believe in.

But therein lies the problem. Why do I believe in Howard Dean? Because I think he stands for something different. I think he stands for principles above all else. He isn't afraid to say what he thinks and he always tries to do the right thing, even if, as he says, it isn't the popular thing.

But I see now that the very same reasons I like Dean so much are the very same reasons that he could not win the primary, yet alone the general election. I wish to all hell that it was not true, but there is no use denying reality. I'd like to think that we could take a stand, that we could say to the American people: "this guy gives us something to believe in." In my fantasy the public would see what I see in Dean and contrast that with what George W. Bush stands for. The election would be a landslide, the Democratic party would be transformed from a bunch of GOP-lite cowards to a true voice for the common man, and politics from here on out would be forever changed for the better.

But it just isn't realistic. The Kerry/Gephardt attack ads that ran in Iowa linking Dean to Osama bin Laden (an ad I used to think even the Repukes would hesitate at propagating) is a perfect example of why Dean couldn't win. Those ads killed his chances in Iowa, which in turn severly crippled his chances in New Hampshire. The ad and everything it stands for sickens me, and frankly I don't think I will EVER forgive Kerry for it. None the less, it worked, and Dean was powerless against it.

Only now does it come out who was truly behind the ad, but it is too late. Dean is done, over, finished. Why? Because he stood up for his principles, he said that Osama ought to get a fair trial, he said that the U.S. isn't any better off with Hussein gone, he said that the Bush Administration was at fault for 9/11, and so forth. I know in my heart that it is all true and I wish to God that people would recognize that. But it isn't the way politics works in this country. Its a dirty, dirty game with no room for people with any real integrity.

So what now? I must, as always, choose the lesser of two evils. The only two contenders left are Kerry, of course, and Edwards as a long shot (though I think these infedility accusations may prove very damaging to Kerry). Both of these Senators voted for the Patriot Act, which only aimed to shred the Bill of Rights. Both of them voted for the IWR, which only sent us into another Vietnan-like quagmire, and for all the wrong reasons to boot. Both votes are simply unconsciounable, IMO. Yeah, I know that it would be hard for somebody who voted against the war to get elected as President. And I know that someone who voted against the Patriot Act would have been wide open to assaults of being "unpatriotic."

But god dammit, there comes a time when you've got to make a stand. Kerry, having fought in 'Nam, really should have known the damage he would be directly responsible for by voting for the IWR. I don't buy that shit that he thought G.W. Bush would do the right thing because *I* knew he wouldn't and I would hope that Kerry is far more knowledgeable than I when it comes to the Bush White House, thus he should have known what I knew.

But I guess I'm just going to have to swallow that. It sucks, its not fair, it isn't the way things should be, but there is just no use in shooting yourself in the foot to make a point.

So Edwards is my top choice after Dean. Why? Because he is charismatic and he is a political neo-phyte, which to me means he is not as beholden to unsavory interests as a guy like Kerry, who has been in politics a LONG time.

My fellow Dean supporters: please don't see this as a betrayal. He is still my guy and I will gladly continue to work for and vote for him. I guess I just got a dose of reality and as much as I wish that I could ignore it, it is counterproductive to do so. Yes, a little part of my soul just died, but I guess that is just the way it has to be. If you think about it, it really goes a long way in explaining the sorry state of U.S. society today. We are all losing our souls a bit at a time and it seems as though we are powerless to stop it.

Sorry if this brought you down. Reality has a way of doing that, though.

[mzmolly]

1. You know if all the people who felt the way you do, actually voted for

Dean instead of wringing your hands, he'd win handilly.

I appreciate your candor, and am not trying to berate you and I thank you for sharing. But, he was ahead in the polls until people started to believe the psychological BS mantra *Dean cant win, Dean cant win, Dean cant win*

It's bunk.

[worldgonekrazy]

2. Like I said: the Kerry/Gep attack ads opened my eyes

It killed Dean. One ad and he was dead. How many such attack ads would the Bush Admin. come up with, if Dean were to be the nominee? I think they would work just as well. I wish it wasn't true but I'm pretty sure it just is.

[JVS]

7. Democrats expect such lies from the Republicans, they wouldn't buy it.

But we do not screen what other Democrats say a carefully. The ads were a stab in the back for that reason. Bush doesn't get to see our back, only our front.

[dave29]

3. agreed

and agreed again.

Democrats want Bush gone. I believe strongly just about any of our candidates could defeat him - Dean, Edwards, Clark, Kerry - as long as we are united he will be gone in 04. The record turnout we have been seeing proves that. This, I believe, gives us a rare opportunity to go with our hearts rather than our "minds". We've seen what prolonged spirited attacks on Bush policy have done to his poll numbers. The fact is the country is not enamored with Bush (his support is a mile wide and an inch thick, always has been) - with the media turning on him, we have an incredible opportunity to vote for a REAL change.

[disenfranchised]

6. I'm an Edwards supporter

and I'm really starting to love Dean. I feel like he got a raw deal. Now that the media has layed off him, his message is really getting across much stronger. The guy just makes sense and he's relentless. He's a great democrat.

If Edwards dropped, I'd fully support Dean.

[On the Road]

4. I Don't Like Dean's Increasing Attacks

but I still support him. I just think it's bad strategy. He needs to inspire and lay out a domestic agenda more clearly.

But regardless of what he's doing in the primaries, how do you think he would perform as president? Unless it's affected your estimate of him as an officeholder, vote your heart.

[WI_DEM]

5. Dean can win a general election

He has a strong record. He can take on Bush like no one else and he won't have personal baggage which might bring down the nominee.

[candy331]

10. All that switching tend to be bad on the eyes

didn't you know. Seems they are out to chop off Kerry's legs now so no one is immune. As Kucinich said yes he could win if you vote for him so the same with Dean. Go with your first choice of the heart and the head will catch up later if it needs to.

[Options Remain]

8. the dean movement was never reality

not one single democratic canidate not even Dean is going to bring about the change in national direction that the Dean movement wants.

This president is damage control not "the one who will spark the liberal revision of america."

None of our canidates meets that criteria. We can only get mild changes from these canidates. The real change occurs locally. Like today in boston.

Tearorger

[Pegleg Thd]

9. From what I have learned

about Howard Dean he is to damned honest and straight forward about what he believes and says. He leaves no doubt about where he stands. The problem is that those that run the machine that will eventually get the next president elected doesn't want someone that they can't control getting into the driver's seat.
We will continue our support of Mr. Dean as long as he is in the race. For those of us on Social Security and have health problems he could be the best choice to create a real health care system for this country. Having said that I realize that if he isn't our next president I may not be around to see the system made workable to those who need it.

[Eloriel]

11. I disagree with your premise

And so, apparently, do you.

Here's what your stated premise is:

But I see now that the very same reasons I like Dean so much are the very same reasons that he could not win the primary, yet alone the general election.

And then you go on to talk about attack ads which can be levied against anyone at any time. Or, surely you didn't like Dean because he had less foreign policy experience??

Too, there were many things that contributed to his Iowa loss -- the Osama ads may have been a big part. Lots of other under the radar dirty politics and outright dirty tricks (push-polling, for example). Lots. Not to mention the whole Vilsack machine which manipulated the caucuses to high heaven. Yeah, that's the way the game is played, but what it means is that the people didn't freely choose the candidate in Iowa. Their perceptions and often even their actual choices were manipulated.

[BL_Zebub]

12. Dean is anything but "done"

The majority of the delegates are still unclaimed, and the wheels appear to be coming off the Kerronation Express at the moment. This game's not even at halftime yet, much less the 2 minute warning.

[Lisaben2619]

13. I just saw Dean in person

in my little Wisconsin city of Oshkosh. 500 people turned out in mid-morning to see and hear him and Judy. In a town like this, with only 1 days' advance notice, on a weekday, 500 people is phenomenal! He answered even the toughest questions about his health care plan and folks were lined up just to meet him after the speech.

All I can think about now is how "oily" Kerry seems after seeing Dean in person. Perhaps Russell Feingold will endorse Dean this afternoon in Madison? Wouldn't that be great?