Yepsen (Des Moines Register): Debate-winner Dean is back on top in Iowa

[RevolutionStartsNow]

http://www.dmregister.com/opinion/stories/c5917686/22850870.html

Dean went into the two-hour gabfest with a new poll of likely Democratic caucus-goers showing he has retaken the lead in Iowa over Richard Gephardt, who has slipped back into second place while John Kerry occupies third. Frontrunners become pincushions in debates, and Dean handled the poking well, by staying above the fray and by not responding to every jab Kerry or Gephardt sought to administer.

When he did, it was with respect and courtesy, a sign that Dean has calculated he might just win the Democratic presidential nomination and will someday need the enthusiastic support from those on stage with him, not their bitterness.

More...

[meegbear]

1. Talking point 2

Dean debate talking points

1. Dean and the other candidates all debate calmly ...
"See how Dean talked over the other candidates while the others just babbled on? Yup, Dean won the debate."

2. Dean remains calm while the others get heated ...
"See how Dean kept his composure while the others just yelled? Yup, Dean won the debate."

3. Dean get heated while the others remain calm ...
"See how Dean took 'em all on while the others fumbled their words? Yup, Dean won the debate."

4. Dean and the other candidates get heated ...
"See how Dean stood up to all of them when the others yelled? Yup, Dean won the debate."

[wtmusic]

2. They all looked nervous

Does Gep ever just answer the question?

[blm]

3. When does Dean answer a question straight?

Are you a member of the DLC?

Dean) I read their literature.

Straight answer) I was a member of the DLC as governor. The DLC only lists current officeholders.

Do you intend to slow the growth of Medicare?

Dean) Medicare is off the table.

Straight answer) Yes, I said I would slow the growth of Medicare, but that was before when I was running as a centrist. Now, I have to run as a populist and can't discuss my full position. I'm just being pragmatic.

[Hawkeye-X]

4. Are you forcefeeding this bullshit, blm?

Off you go.

Speaking of which - Kerry did TERRIBLE again in the debates last night - I'm still wondering WHY you continue to support this guy. His brain is locked DEAN.

*plonk*

Hawkeye-X

[helleborient]

8. Particularly after Kerry supporter Feinstein helped pass Repub Medicare

Reform...where was John Kerry as a leader stopping the Medicare bill??

[paulk]

13. I hardly think Kerry can be held resposible for Feinstein's vote

Your point is absurd.

[helleborient]

15. Then how else do we gauge leadership in the Senate?

Fine...if you want to say Kerry isn't a leader in the Senate...then the votes of other Democrats in favor of the Medicare package don't matter.

To me, her vote is another example of Senators who cave to Bush, but yet are embraced by the campaigns of other Democrats representing the failed Democratic leadership of the last 3 years.

[paulk]

16. How do you explain the Republicans who crossed the aisle?

The Senate isn't the House. Senators vote for their state; for their constituents. For what they think will get them re-elected. I don't think you can blame this vote on the leadership. Same with the Energy
Bill that just got shot down.

And who knows if this was such a big win for Bush? A lot of seniors will look at this and realize what a piece of crap it is. Sometimes, in politics, when you lose you win. It's a long term game.

And your point that a politician, any politician, whose campaign is embraced by another politician is somehow responsible for the actions of that politician, remains absurd, IMO.

[helleborient]

18. John Kerry's and John Edwards' leadership in the Senate failed....

That is my point.

They both left the campaign trail to work with fellow Senators against this bill, and they failed.


I understand your reasoning...which is exactly why Howard Dean and his campaign are not responsible for the actions of a few here on DU, right?

You will cease tarring the campaign with the actions of a few?

[paulk]

19. a better analogy

is that YOU are not responsible for the actions of other Dean supporters here on DU.

But, ok. Most of those people have made it onto my ignore in the last month, anyway. And in the future, I promise to tar Dean's campaign only for Dean's actions!

:)

[helleborient]

23. I try to make myself somewhat responsible, because it shows concern

For DU members.

I've called Dean supporters for nasty attacks as well as being concerned about stupid attacks on other candidates.

I'm not responsible...but if I see it, and ignore it...I've made the choice to not intervene.

[DrFunkenstein]

20. Helleobrient, Remember When We Would Remind Each Other

When we were being silly?

I'm not sure if you are being sarcastic or making an obscure point, but this is a pretty ridiculous line of thinking.

[helleborient]

21. Being concerned about leadership in the Senate?

John Edwards and John Kerry both left the campaign trail to help lead the fight against the Medicare bill...it failed...don't they get some responsibility since Kerry's supporters tell us over and over what a leader he is in Congress?

[helleborient]

22. As far as Diane Feinstein...I am returning tactics, in my opinion...

Any time a Republican comes near Howard Dean...or anytime someone who is not liked by non-Dean supporters comes near Howard Dean...all hell breaks loose that he's a Republican or whatever.

A short time ago I saw Diane Feinstein's support being touted as evidence of what a great candidate John Kerry is. Why run from her now? Uncomfortable with her support? Perhaps Kerry should have thought of that before putting her on the campaign.

[RetroLounge]

24. But he can be held responsible for his own vote

or lack thereof...

[paulk]

26. Kerry's position on the bill was quite clear

and once the cloture vote passed, there was no reason for him to stay.
It's common practice for Senators, especially one's running for president, to get back to campaigning when their presence isn't required.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

12. In other words, never.

But who cares whether Dean tells the truth? He's popular, so let's hop on the bandwagon!

[wtmusic]

5. Got a link yet for that DLC claim?

Or that he would slow the growth of Medicare? He said he would approve a 7-10% rate of growth. 'Medicare is off the table' means not cuts to Medicare.

Let's get the facts straight (no capitals, please).

[tinrobot]

6. Dean won?

I thought he spent a lot of time defending himself from all the attacks from the other candidates. I'm really not interested in bickering as to who said what about the war and when... that's history.

I'm more interested in who has a plan to to lead us out of this quagmire. Remember, elections are about the future.

I thought Clark and Kucinich were the best at focusing on the future. They really stayed on message and avoided the bickering. Still undecided, though...

[janx]

10. Yes. Dean won because he was attacked by many sides,

stayed "on-message," kept his cool, and even managed to compliment a couple of other candidates. He's a class act.

Heck, when Kerry lost his temper and railed at Dean (I saw a clip of this), Dean actually smiled!

[JaneQPublic]

11. Like Jesse Jackson Sr. said after the debate...

(I paraphrase) As frontrunner, Dean was the one with the ball. And as hard as the other candidates tried, they did not make Dean drop the ball. That makes Dean the winner.

[janx]

7. Is there a transcript of this debate anywhere?

I had to miss it last night.

[Jerseycoa]

27. Here

Transcript of Iowa Debate

Dean didn't win. I never speak against him, but this -- this is some kind of mass delusion. :smoke:

[Cocoa]

9. Yepsen is a good reporter on Iowa

I said it when he writes positive articles on Gephardt, while Dean supporters all agreed he was a Dean-hater, and I'm saying it now when he declares Dean the winner of the debate.

I personally was most impressed by Clark, but this article is pretty convincing.

[paulk]

14. this is poor journalism

The WHO-TV poll he refers to is a poll that has been discussed quite a bit here on DU over the last few days, with even many Dean supporters discounting it because of suspect methodology.

To take that poll and compare it to a much more reliable poll from his own newspaper is lazy journalism. It's like comparing apples and oranges.

[Cocoa]

17. that poll was a small part of his column

I don't know how good the poll was, but this column is based on Yepsen's overall perceptions, which I generally find to be reliable. Unbiased, at least, as he in the past has given Gep plenty of positive words. Both Dean and Gep have many Yepsen columns posted at their sites.

[w4rma]

29. If it was journalism. But it's an editorial, and a well written one, IMHO.

:hi:

[paulk]

30. You're right.

It's too easy to confuse reporting with punditry, and I have done that here.

[RetroLounge]

25. I agree that this is a good article, but

it's hard to call Clark a back-of-the-pack candidate, unless he means that because Clark does not have an Iowa organization.

"Clark delivered a strong performance. The former general was forceful and sharp, as if he's finally found his stride after, as he admitted Tuesday, he "bobbled" at the start of his campaign. He would have been the winner of Tuesday's debate in Iowa, except he's not campaigning here. He has no organization to harvest the support a performance like his would ordinarily generate."

[whirlygigspin]

28. Clark is an egomaniac

I'd vote for a porn star before him.