The man who made it good for John Kerry

[Larkspur]

http://news.scotsman.com/opinion.cfm?id=835652004

<SNIP>
Whatever else one may think about Mr Dean, he displayed a kind of courage in arguing that the capture of Saddam had not made America a safer place. Most Democrats still agree with that view, even if only Mr Dean was prepared at the time to actually say so. Indeed, a characteristic of Dean’s campaign was that initially it promised to tear up the conventional wisdom in Washington as Dean campaigned with the refreshing idealism - even naivety - that only the true outsider can contemplate. This involved taking risks, and was the polar opposite of Mr Kerry’s excruciatingly-parsed positions on any subject that might prove in the least bit controversial or divisive.

It was the Dean campaign that first unlocked the internet’s fund-raising potential. Now that everyone uses the internet to raise money, this seems routine, but it wasn’t a year ago when the Dean campaign began to take off as it slipped under the national media’s radar. The Kerry campaign has learnt from Dean’s example and, like Dean, holds regular "house parties" across the country that raise funds from thousands of ordinary voters, many of whom have never previously been politically active. These parties, normally addressed via conference-call by the candidate himself, act as a means by which the campaign’s grassroots can be watered, forging a "citizens’ army" determined to do whatever it takes to defeat Mr Bush.

Equally, by becoming the first Democrat in history to opt out of accepting public funds, Mr Dean showed that the Republicans need not have a permanent and institutionalised fund-raising advantage.

As Mr Dean put it recently, his campaign both profited from and was harmed by Democrats’ anger. "The most effective argument they made is that I was unelectable. And there was nothing the Democrats wanted more than to win."

Before the Dean campaign’s rise, however, Democrats were cowed, directionless and in despair. Mr Bush seemed unbeatable, and while the party establishment in Washington despaired at the electoral consequences of a Dean victory in the primaries, the rank-and-file were relieved to find someone, anyone, who could sound as though he was serious about beating Mr Bush.

Even if true believers acknowledged that victory in November might still be an unlikely proposition, Mr Dean seemed to promise at least defeat with dignity. That, it turns out, was the necessary first step on the road to the Democrats’ recovery. From dignity came hope. From hope has come (whisper it quietly) expectation.
<SNIP>

Except for labeling Dean's supporters as "young" (I'm 42), this is another good tribute to Howard Dean, the man who gave Kerry a backbone transplant.

[IronLionZion]

1. Dean is awesome!

And Kerry has taken many pages from Dean's playbook. I'm glad they're letting the good doctor speak in primetime next Tuesday. Even the group that tried to draft him for VP is now joining him squarely in support of KerryEdwards. (flip flop!)

But yes, Dean has done a lot to energize people and get them involved in taking our country back. The Democrats were sounding too much like wimps lately and I had almost given up hope until Dean exploded onto the scene.

His efforts will turn out a crazy amount of voters and support. Hell, he even debated Nader!

[Name removed]

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[TeacherCreature]

5. I can believe you know him personally

But take it from someone who does not. ON TV and in person he inspires no one because it is impossible to figure out where he stands from what he says. And he certainly did need a backbone transplant. He waited to see how Dean's talking points played before he started repeating them. Those he found too risky he left alone.

[CWebster]

6. Please Pete

He has taken the DLC pitch, hook, line and sinker on everything from Iraq to Nafta. He should be stomping Bush, he is barely passing him. He will win because he is not Bush, not because he raises the enthusiasm level on his own.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Larkspur]

10. Then why did Kerry wait for Dean to opt out of matching funds first?

Dean did it by asking his supporters for their approval, which we overwhelmingly gave him. Kerry only opted out of matching funds because he was following in Dean's shadow. That's the kind of leadership I see in Kerry -- the "put the finger in the wind to see which way the polls are blowing." Dean did it democratically and gave a valid argument to his plan.

Just remember the ABB coalition that is backing Kerry right now expires right after the Prez election.

[JNelson6563]

3. Dean rocks! Will he bill the party?

I mean, doing that backbone implant took a lot of time and effort, after all. Thankfully he came along and showed our "brave leaders" that it was ok to come out from under their desks.

I look forward to his appearance at the convention. :toast:

Julie

[TeacherCreature]

4. 25 percent of Dean supporters were under 30

75 percent of us are over 30. Most I have met are in their 40s and 50s or older.

They did get it right about Dean's appeal. Finally someone was speaking directly and telling the truth.

[jpgray]

7. A mainstream antiwar candidate was the BEST thing to happen to the primary

I'd have preferred it was Kucinich, but Dean was easily the next best thing.

[gasperc]

8. From dignity came hope. From hope has come (whisper it quietly) expectatio

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[madfloridian]

11. "necessary first step on the road to the Democrats’ recovery. "

"Even if true believers acknowledged that victory in November might still be an unlikely proposition, Mr Dean seemed to promise at least defeat with dignity. That, it turns out, was the necessary first step on the road to the Democrats’ recovery. From dignity came hope. From hope has come (whisper it quietly) expectation...."

I do believe the author is one of us. ;)

[demnan]

9. And I still think

the good doctor would make a terrific president, and that's not a slam at Kerry either.

[Larkspur]

12. Yeeehaaaw!!! Dean will speak on prime time at convention on Tuesday

:kick:

[madfloridian]

13. And then to DFA by video at the site, right after the speech.

Should be interesting.

[AntiCoup2K4]

14. Kickin it up for the Doc'

:kick:

Howard Dean - what the Democratic Party should be - and will be again!