Interesting article on Howard Dean

[wyldwolf]

The time was 1998, when Republicans were on the verge of impeaching President Bill Clinton. Howard Dean, then governor of Vermont, was unhappy with Mr. Clinton and disgusted with the Republican leadership in Washington. But he did find a Republican to admire.

"George W. Bush did very well," Dr. Dean said of the Texas governor, who had just been elected to a second term. "Why? Because he is talking about his issues in a civil, thoughtful way in getting his point across."

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When Dr. Dean was praising Mr. Bush in 1998, he added that the Texas governor and others he did not name were successful because "they govern from the center, they are respectful of their opponents." Governing from the center was Dr. Dean's approach as well, and he often cited the Clinton model with approval.

He also appointed judges whom he considered conservative, even though their stiff sentences resulted in overcrowded jails. "I've put much more conservative people on the bench because I've wanted longer sentences, and I'm getting those longer sentences," he said in 1997.

Only after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, did foreign affairs begin to creep in to Dr. Dean's public comments. Immediately after the attacks, he said he was open to "more aggressive measures in terms of dealing with terrorism, measures that we would have perhaps declined to do on humanitarian or constitutional grounds." He did not specify what measures he had in mind.

But when he was asked if the United States should retaliate for the attacks, he said, "I don't think we should do anything out of revenge."

EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/25/politics/campaign/25TAPE.html?ex=1075611600&en=4929bb97e43c8ab0&ei=5062&partner=GOOGLE

[PAMod]

1. Dr. Dean is a thoughtful, pragmatic leader.

I don't have to agree with every position or statement he has made in his life, nor do I expect anyone else to.

[jonoboy]

2. good article..shows he's the right man for the times

[NashVegas]

3. Some Good Stuff There

This article has some great tidbits about what we might be able to expect in a Dean presidency:

"The tapes show Dr. Dean as a no-nonsense decision maker grappling with the stuff of governing — health care, education, attracting businesses to the state."

"There seemed to be no occasion for the kind of exhortations he has made to crowds of thousands in this campaign.

He held weekly news conferences, attended by a handful of reporters, in a small, unadorned room in the legislative office building in Montpelier, taking questions until none were left. He seemed more formal then, always in a suit and tie, never in rolled-up shirt sleeves."

"During Mr. Clinton's impeachment in 1998, Dr. Dean took a now-familiar jab at Washington and at Mr. Clinton's Republican accusers, saying, "Who would want to listen to those windbags pontificate about morality when they are so incapable of illustrating it themselves?" '

"But when he was asked if the United States should retaliate for the attacks, he said, "I don't think we should do anything out of revenge."

Still, he added: "We have to capture Osama bin Laden, and I think we have to destroy his terrorist network. So I don't consider that retaliating; I consider that protection." '

[newsguyatl]

4. great article, thanks

much better than a candidate who voted FOR bush's war, voted FOR the patriot act, voted FOR no child left behind... imagine someone like THAT getting the nod...



you're always on top of things wyldwolf, thanks.

[blm]

5. Dean SUGGESTED a Patriot Act just days after 9-11.

He was also FOR a resolution for use of force, even if unilateral as determined by Bush - as per his support for Biden-Lugar.

[Moderator]

6. wyldwolf

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
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Thank you

DU Moderator