Randolph T. Holhut: 'Howard Dean isn't the politician you think he is'

[Dudley_DUright]

Good profile of Dean from a native Vermonter.

We still find it had to believe, here in Vermont, that our former governor, Howard Dean, is the current front-runner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

We find even more unbelievable his image in the national press, where he is frequently portrayed as a wild-eyed liberal.

Having seen him in action for the last decade as our governor, I can tell you that Howard Dean is a pro-business, fiscal conservative who routinely fought with the liberal wing of his party in Vermont. He's someone who always says what he believes and doesn't worry about the consequences. And above all, he is pragmatic and focused on the politics of the possible rather than on what George Herbert Walker Bush called "the vision thing."

<snip>

However, those of us who have lived in Vermont do know - and lived through - much of it. It is a good thing that now the rest the nation will soon know what we do: that Howard Dean is not the second coming of George McGovern, Walter Mondale or Michael Dukakis. He is an entirely different politician who didn't get to where he is in the presidential race by accident.

more...

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/print.php?sid=13967

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I'm glad to hear this

I'm sick of having Dean portrayed as left-wing when it is obvious that he's centrist if anything. It's the very fact that he IS a fiscal conservative and pro business(especially small business) that I think he will be elected President.

[joeybee12]

2. And I think he's a smarter politician than most people realize

I mean, Politics 101 says you firm up your base, and then you build from there. Amazing that he seems to be one of the few to have figured this out.

[pansypoo53219]

3. and he certainly is using grassroots to the

fullest. most have fogotten the door to door of campaigning.

[HuckleB]

4. I hope the author works to get his piece published elsewhere...

it needs to be read by a greater audience.