The Promise of America -Dean's Houston Address

[Rose Siding]

Enron Economics

The following are the remarks of Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean, M.D., as prepared for delivery today in Houston, Texas:

THE PROMISE OF AMERICA

Throughout our history, the American people have faced crucial moments of decision. At these moments, it fell upon the people to decide what kind of country America would be.

These decisions weren't just determined by words -- they were backed up by actions.

Through the American Revolution, the abolitionist movement, the labor movement, the civil rights and women's rights movements, America has changed when the people have changed it............

http://www.deanforamerica.com/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=10578&JServSessionIdr003=1lx490b331.app195a&security=1&news_iv_ctrl=1301

[madfloridian]

1. Excellent speech, and I just got Vanity Fair with his article in it.

Just starting to read it. Just donated to the Revolution. :D

[AP]

2. This speech is a little light on the "how", which is OK, I guess.

But I'm gonna tell you all something. This speech is basically a list of things that are wrong with America, and I agree with all of them.

However, I'm not sure if I agree with Dean on how they need to be fixed, so I was looking throught the speech for the "hows". There's nothing there.

This is important to me, because I read his education plan last week, and, to me, it reads more like a Wall St investors profit protection plan, than a plan for helping students and society (because it encourages more borrowing, requires you to have a job to benfit from it, and makes sure that you make your interest payments to the banks).

So, I'd really like to see some more solid "hows" from Dean. The most Dean says in this speach is "we'll do it with you" or something like that. Well, that's great. But I want to know the policies he'll persue, thank you.

I also think he's misrepresents FDR when he says: "Franklin Delano Roosevelt said, "People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made." Today Roosevelt might say that those who hunger and have no work are the stuff of which terrorists are made."

FDR was saying that a poor, scared, hungry population is more likely to turn to a fascist dictactor to represent them. That's how the Germans ended up with Hitler. And that's what the Republicans (including Bush's grandfather) were hoping would result in the election of fascist Republicans in the US. FDR said that to explain what was going on in America, as much as anywhere else in the world.

Dean misses the point. His interpretation is that the poor and hungry will produce from amongst the poor and hungry terrorists. I get that that's true too. But it's such a twisting of the point that FDR was making. Since FDR was actually talking about demogogues who exploit fear and anger, which is one of the criticisms of Dean's campaign, it's interesting that he would turn this into a comment not about representatvie government, but of participatory anarchy. But maybe that is the point of Dean's campaign. "It's all about you."

[Upfront]

3. You Have Seen

the Bush how. Would you prefer his how? Dean will do more to strighten this country out then any one running. It will start to happen even before he is sworn in. If you want how, try his web site. It is all there. You can not fix this mess in a day or all in one speach. For heavens sake people lets give our candidates a break. All of them.

[AP]

4. Right now Dean is running against other Dems

and I've heard their 'hows' and I like them more so far.