New Media spin about Dean by US News -- he's aloof

[Larkspur]

under Washington Whispers section...
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/050307/whispers/7whisplead.htm

It's Governor Dean
Please don't call newly minted Democratic Party boss Howard Dean , the former Vermont governor and 2004 presidential primary candidate, "Mr. Chairman." Make it "Governor," if you don't mind. Party insiders say the new rule is just one of many examples of his formal, almost aloof style, brought to the DNC after the carnival-barking, cheerleading nature of Terry McAuliffe . They say Dean avoids the staff when arriving in the morning, keeps his office door closed, hasn't decorated his walls with family or political memorabilia, and mingles only with a small crowd of advisers. Friends, however, say that's just his style. "He's more like a CEO," says one.

All I could do after reading this snippet of gossip is laugh.

Dean aloof and Terry McAwful a carnival-barking, cheerleader? Let's see Dean's been called angry, insane (the Scream speech), not diplomatic, and what else did I miss? :shrug:

News to Media outlets: Terry McAuliffe has been dubbed Terry "McAwful" because under his reign as DNC Chair, while the DNC coffers have grown green, the Dem Party has lost seats in the halls of power.

When I met Howard Dean twice during 2003, aloof was not my experience. Someone asked him at one of his primary stops how to address him and Howard said that you could call him Governor, Doctor, or just plain old Howard Dean. I seriously doubt that he has changed in relation to his supporters. His staff, especially the DNC and Terry McAwful holdovers, might have a different experience with Howard, but they also might be DLC wannabes and are jealous of the Fighting Moderate Populist as the new head of the DNC.

As far as his DNC office, well he's been on the road and being practical in nature, he most likely hasn't had time to decorate his office. That's what corrupt CEO's spend time doing because their office is an extension of their overbloated egos, not ones who actually want the company to make an honest profit. Hell, the Dem Party is in bad shape and all these Media bozos can complain about is that Dean hasn't decorated his DNC office? Howard Dean must be doing something right if all the Media can attack him for is his office decor.

[annabanana]

1. I guess they tired of "screaming out of control loose cannon"

dumb dumb dumb

[rox63]

2. Total opposites?

Wouldn't a screaming, out-of-control loose cannon be almost a total opposite from someone who is aloof? Honestly, every time MSM opens their collective mouths, out come more contradictions.

[gWbush is Mabus]

3. if he decorated his walls, it would have been, " Dean is obsessed with dec

u can't win with a right wing press

[lojasmo]

4. Ah, yet another crock of shit about Howard Dean.

Lovely.

[NoPasaran]

5. I hear the bowl of mints on his desk is half-empty

O! the humanity!

[Toots]

7. No it is half full.......

:shrug:

[John_H]

6. Hopefully this is a parting shot by some judochesser on the way out.

[Discord]

8. First Post on DU

Well, as it states, this is my first post on DU. Was informed about this site from my brother who is much more politically active than myself. I have always had an intrest in politics, but was never very involved. My political background... well... my father is an Anarchist, my mom is a far left-wing liberal, and I have been a registed Independant, and active voter since turning 18. While I have on rare occasions voted for Republicans for local or state offices, I have never voted Republican for any Federal office. I have considered myself to be a socially liberal, financially conservative Democrat. I register Independant because I feel that when the number of independant voters in a state is larger than the margin between registered Dems, and Repubs, my vote needs to be accounted for. But anyways... enough about me. I picked this topic to post my first post because I was a supporter of Dean in the '04 elections. I know that the press tore him apart for his very public outburst, and while I do fault him for his lack of restraint... I saw that the man had passion. That he cared enough to have that kind of reaction in the first place. That in that personality, would be someone who would not bow down and bend over like so many other Democrats seem to be doing these days. From reading peoples posts it just seems to me that there is a growing belief that we need to act more conservative, act more.... republican (ewww) to win another election. That Democrats are constantly having to be on the defensive against a constant right-wing media onslaught. That Democrats cringe when a Republican calls them a liberal... Like its a BAD thing... enough is enough... it's time to fight back... and if those who are supposed to be representing us aren't willing to do that then Dem's really need to find a whole new strategy, roll over and play dead like thier elected officials, or revolt.

/soapbox OFF

[Eloriel]

13. Welcome to DU

Let me help you out with something, tho:

I know that the press tore him apart for his very public outburst, and while I do fault him for his lack of restraint...

If you're referring to the infamous "scream," it wasn't an outburst. Had you either been in the hall that night or given the full context of that event instead of severely and selectively edited piece of film, you'd know that it was merely a campaign speech given over a ROARING crowd. The mic was one that cuts out all background, so the crowd's incredible noise (which he was trying to be heard over) couldn't be heard on all those video clips we saw again and again and again. There was NOTHING wrong with that speech or that particular piece of it, nothing at all.

I agree with the rest of your post entirely, and again, Welcome!

[Discord]

18. Thanks!

Yeah, I know that it was way overblown. Then again, the Repugs spent more on the campaign against Dean in Iowa during the caucuses than any other candidate during the rest of the primaries. They were simply more afraid of Dean then they were of Kerry or anyone else. He was probably the most conservative of the nominee's. They wouldn't have been able to label him a "liberal" like they did to Kerry. By ruining Dean in the primaries, they stalled his campaign before it ever had a chance to get rolling. Sadly, the Repugs helped the Dem's pick the candidate they had the most ammo against in the primaries.

UGH!

Well, thanks for the welcome to the boards!

[cyberpj]

16. Welcome!

:hi:

[Capn Sunshine]

9. This isn't the last of it either

Right here on these very boards, we see ridiculous specious attacks on the Chairman of the Democratic Party from various agenda-laden astroturfers. The more success Gov. Dean has, the more we will read and see reports about how badly things are going, or how Howard Dean isn't doing enough. The more things change.....

[Norquist Nemesis]

10. Until candidates start announcing campaigns

Dean is going to be in the sights of CONS. They're gunning for him and trying to make him scream.

So, until they have something else they can target, we're going to all just have to pull together and support Dean.

[no name no slogan]

11. US News == worthless rightwing rag

Remember this is the same rag that fired Jim Fallows and booted "This Modern World" for being "too controversial".

I would take anything that US News says with a very large grain of salt-- say, the size of a 1975 Lincoln Continental, just for good measure.

[madfloridian]

12. Undecorated walls? The outrage of it all.

Aloof?

[seabeyond]

14. they do this to every liberal

every liberal gets nailed with this. media takes off, then joe blow on the street is saying it

who the fuck cares if he is aloof

[Eric J in MN]

15. When someone at US News and World Report writes something

he realizes afterwards is so bad, that he would be embarassed to sign his name to it, instead of trashing it, he puts it in the "Washington Whispers" file.

[lojasmo]

17. OMG! A closed door!

Jeez, could he be making a telephone call? I wonder if he's busy DOING WORK or something. Sheesh! :eyes: