Howard Dean books were on the shelves yesterday.

[coloradodem2005]

I did read parts of his autobiography. Interesting reading. Especially his perspective of Bush and his policies. He says he thought that Bush was a good man and decent governer of Texas, but loathes his presidential policies and does not like how everybody that Bush has pandered to had pushed him to the right.

This is not a Dean bashing thread. Dean is the candidate that I like the best with the best chance to win the nomination. I just think that he expresses an interesting view of Bush in his book.


Furthermore, everybody is talking about how the establishment is afraid of Dean getting the nod because he gets control of the party. The establishment seems all too willing to roll over for Bush and now they are worried about loosing control of the party? I think that they have lost control of the party and the country. No disrespect to the Clintons, I supported Bill Clinton as president, but the Democrats have been getting hammered the last two years while Gephardt and Daschle have rolled over for Bush. The party could benefit from fresh leadership.

[AP]

1. For comparison, I don't think Edwards mentions Bush once in his biography.

He defines himself by other standards than Bush.

[pruner]

4. Edwards' book is about 4 specific trials…

it's not an autobiography

[AP]

5. It's definitely autobiographical

The trials are a framework. He uses each trial to tell stories about himself. He intertwines the themes of his own life in with the themes that his clients' stories develop. It's actually a very interesting narrative sytle that works really well to make a broader point about how all our lives intertwine and about how we can make our own lives better by lifting up the least among us.

In any event, it's definitely an autobogrpahy. It just so happens that Edwards has a story to tell about his own life (and all our lives) with these four trials.

[dajabr]

6. Does Edwards talk about how he is worth $8 to $36 million?

That would make him downright EVIL in your book - right?

How much of his $7,500 advance from Simon and Schuster went to charity?

Edwards, the freshman senator from North Carolina, filed a disclosure showing assets worth between $8.7 million and $36.5 million. He opened a blind trust in 2001 and transferred assets to it worth between $5 and $25 million comprised of stocks, bonds and other investments. His other assets include a money market valued at between $250,000 and $500,000, a 401k worth more than $100,000 and a few North Carolina properties worth cumulatively more than $500,000. He also has a note receivable from "J. Edwards for Senate" Committee valued at more than $5 million, presumably from his 1998 election.

http://www.bop2004.org/bop2004/report.aspx?aid=1

[slinkerwink]

2. did you buy the book?

;-)

[coloradodem2005]

3. No, I have no money....

...because I do not have a job due to Bushenomics. I did read several parts of the book. It was quite an interesting read. Though it was in paperback and not very long. He had an anecdote about his decision to quit drinking.

When I drank, I did some outrageous things. It is funny when you're 18, but not when you're 30.


For me personally, being 24, it is certainly become unfunny.

[DFLforever]

7. Thanks for your review

I usually shy away from these political autobiographies issued near election time....but I did read Dean's article in Vanity Fair, "How the Poor Live Now" and found it quite interesting. His point of view as a medical doctor is different from what I am used to reading from a politician .

I think you're right that the Democratic party may have to be refashioned before it is able to regain political control or provide direction to the country.

Also, welcome to DU:hi:

[VOX]

8. Thanks for the heads-up, and welcome to DU, coloradodem2004!

Looking forward to your posts...

Best to you -- :toast:

[SheilaT]

9. How Dean can consider

Bush to have been a decent governor of Texas is beyond me. Under his administration, among other things, Houston's air became the dirtiest in the country. Education standards fell.

Read Molly Ivins.

I'm a supporter of Dean, so this isn't Dean bashing either, but the man should be more aware of Bush's history in Texas.

[Tom Rinaldo]

10. Oh oh, better not say anything nice about Bush

Seems to me a candidate can get flamed for that type of behavior lol.

[jsw_81]

11. Dean and Bush

I doubt that Dean had a lot of spare time to read Molly Ivins or pay attention to Texas politics while governing Vermont. Being governor (even of a small state) is a *very* stressful and time consuming job.

And keep in mind that the two men only met once or twice and it's not like they became friends or anything, so relax.

[SheilaT]

12. Trust me, I'm not flaming Dean.

And while he may well have taken to heart all the times his mother said, "If you can't say something nice about someone, then don't say something at all," Dean surely should be aware of the complete fuck-up Bush was as governor of Texas.