Transcript of Dean on Jay Leno.... a few snips.

[madfloridian]

It was an overall enjoyable interview.

It was short, but it was pretty decent on both Dean and Leno's part. I thought he did a good job on the Lieberman question, made his point while dancing around it a little...changing the subject.

I don't know about the plans for leaving Iraq. I know that Murtha met with Korb, the plan mentioned here. I think one is more complete than the other, and I think right now we don't have a hell of a lot of options. What a mess we have made.

I think Howard Dean spoke well for our party. The meeting in Phoenix starts today, and I hope all goes well. The primary issue is heating up big time, and many issues are on the table. Should be interesting.

http://howardempowered.blogspot.com/2005/12/howard-dean-on-jay-leno-transcript.html

About Bush's speech on Iraq:

Leno: Let's talk about some of the issues. Bush's speech today, what did you think?

Dean: Part of my job is I'm supposed to be tactful now, and it doesn't come easy.

Leno: Oh no-forget that!

Dean: I thought it was his usual nonsense and repetetive…drivel that we've heard for the last 4 ½ years.


Leno: Well, that's tactful. (Yep, cause we know there's a less tactful word than drivel that would have fit perfectly at the end of that sentence!)

Dean: He didn't say anything new. He's defending a strategy that was built on things that weren't true, and of course we're in trouble. And I think "staying the course" is not a strategy, especially when you didn't
tell the truth to get us there in the first place.

About Joe Lieberman:

Leno: Well, how about Joe Lieberman, a fellow Democrat--

Dean: Now I REALLY have to be tactful!

Leno: He's been there a few times to Iraq, and he more or less agrees with the President.

Dean: Everybody gets to march to their own drummer in this party. What we need to do is have a real plan for strategic redeployment. We need not to have 150,000 troops that are being attacked every single day in Iraq. We shouldn't have been there in the first place, and the fact is we've made a big mess over there. We've created more of a danger than there was in the first place, and probably one of the results is that we did something that Iran couldn't do, we helped them win their objectives in the Iran-Iraq war. So, we're in a lot of trouble in Iraq, and John Murtha's right, we ought not to be hurting more Americans, and having more American wounded kids come home.

And when Leno asked Dean the usual why aren't Democrats making more headway, etc. I think he answered it pretty clearly.

Leno: Let me ask you something. Now, normally-the President's approval rating is 35%, it's the lowest it's ever been. It seems in years past that when one party was down, the other party would be up. For all the things the Republican are doing wrong, the Democrats don't seem to be gaining. Why aren't they gaining?

Dean: Well in some ways we are. The polls show that if the election were held tomorrow that we would take back Congress and all that. But, the Democrats have a lot to learn about standing up for what we believe in. You cannot win elections simply by criticizing the other guy, you gotta stand up for what you believe in. We're beginning to do that. I thought Harry Reid was really courageous when he shut down the Senate and demanded some honesty out of Republicans about why we got in Iraq in the first place. And I thought John Murtha, a decorated 37 year Marine Corps veteran was incredibly courageous when he got up and said, "Look, this isn't working. We need a strategic redeployment in Iraq. We're going to have to do a lot more of that. We're going to have to do it on jobs, we're going to have to insist that we have health insurance for everybody in this country like 36 other countries in the world do. We've got to stand for something different from the Republicans and then we can win.

Well, it was great fun to hear Jay Leno use the words "culture of corruption". And Dean led from there right into fixing campaign financing.

Leno: This culture of corruption we see now…we were just joke about this congressman, 2 point (couldn't hear) MILLION dollars. Okay, he's a Republican, but this is the perception about politicians. Because this happens on both sides-how do we change that? Do we need campaign finance laws?

Dean: What we need is real ethics legislation in Congress, because the Ethics Committee has been a farce. There was a truce at one point where nobody would indict anybody, or complain about anybody else. That was ridiculous.We really do need real campaign finance reform. We need to get the big money out of politics.

[mndfler]

1. Now let's see the establishment Dems start listening

to the chair of their party.

[leftstreet]

2. Thanks for posting. Didn't get a chance to see it.

[mrgorth]

3. Thanks MF

I missed it.

[madfloridian]

4. Hi. You're welcome.

It was short, but a nice one.

[Oceansaway]

5. thanks !!

[MsAnthropy]

6. Thanks Madfloridian, this made my day!

I love Howard. Wouldn't he make a great President?

[Debi]

7. Mad, fell asleep waiting for HD to come on, thanks for the transcript

Love watching him on talk shows, he actually seems to be having fun. Can't wait 'til the mid-terms to see how he does w/the Party!

[madfloridian]

8. Video of Dean on Leno. He did well.

He was pleasant enough, not too pushy...but got some digs in.

http://dissent.blogspot.com/2005/12/howard-dean-on-tonight-show.html

[calimary]

13. Wow - thanks for the link! I watched it, and - well - what can I say?

Howard has my heart, locked up, soldered keyhole, and key thrown away. But that situation has been a constant in my life since I first heard him.

He was GREAT! Personable! Funny, quick-witted, articulate, and got a few applause lines, too. Loved the way he stumped Jay with the Bruce Springsteen comment - "he was 'Born to Run'!" Jay had no comeback for that, so Howard got the last good line of the night. THAT is what Dems need to do ANYWAY - get the last word - EVERY TIME A CAMERA IS ON OR A MIKE IS OPEN.

What struck me were several things:

Howard on Leno. Leno's considered a lot more GOP-friendly than David Letterman or other nighttime hosts. So his audience can reasonably be expected to resonate with him like that. So out comes Howard Dean and spars with Leno in a VERY friendly, personable way, and suddenly you're seeing a nicer side (to us, the REAL side) of Howard Dean in play, straight through for the entire segment. He smiled a lot - always good for the camera. No scream. No scream reference. No scream video replay. No nothing. So for the short-term-memory contingent, that is a MOST valuable and favorable development to witness. It was like - WHAT scream? Makes the whole scream thing SO last year. He sure wasn't shackled to that on the Leno show, which lots of Middle America watches all the time, and which DOES have influence on the public mindset.

On the other hand, what was SO NOW was Howard Dean on there being clever, witty, friendly, personable, not some "loony liberal" feed-into-the-stereotype presentation that only verifies old, tired, and WRONG impressions that people get because they're constantly force-fed that by the Pox "news" and limbaugh contingent. THIS guy we saw on Leno WASN'T PLAYING BY THAT GAMEBOOK, AND WASN'T OBEDIENTLY FOLLOWING THEIR SCRIPT. He wasn't reading their words or portraying himself in the role they make up for him. You saw more of the REAL Howard Dean - which was demonstrably MUCH different than what his detractors say he is. And what he said was appealing, and got applause lines.

Further, and MOST encouraging, Leno used the phrase "Culture of Corruption." When's the last time anybody heard a constant spouting of the so-called "culture of life"? If Leno's using "Culture of Corruption," then that means it's a concept making its way out to Middle America, where we want it. I kinda wish Howard would have steered him away, or set him straight, abuot the comment "it happens on both sides," because the reality is so damned lopsided - the comparison between a grain of aquarium gravel and a brick. But Howard steered through it to a more general and broadly-accepted truth that actually is an idea we need to push harder - about campaign finance reform.

Howard also used very simple language, and short, simple sentences that didn't have a lot of equivocation or "well, there was this but also there was that" crap that make people think we're wishy-washy on issues, or that we flip-flop, or that we don't stand for anything. SEVERAL times he referred to the lack of truth on Iraq and how we shouldn't have been there to begin with and how we got in there on things that weren't true - simple, declarative, short, sweet, BANG! Pound that message home. AND - a DEVIOUSLY brilliant add - Howard's reference to our helping Iran get its way. BEAUTIFUL!!! That's never been brought up, it's the absolute truth, and I think it's a solid gold WINNER in helping to further convince Middle America that our involvement in Iraq was WRONG from the get-go and despite what they hear from their president, it's NOT going very well over there, OR getting any better. BRILLIANT!!! I wish we could insert those same words into EVERY Democrat's mouth!!! PLAY THE IRAN CARD!!! You wanna help the ayatollas over there that you haven't liked since the late '70's? You wanna do their dirty work for them? BRILLIANT!!! JUST BRILLIANT!!!

Howard may have won us some converts last night. He also may have dispelled a few myths about him that were wrong, GOP-issue, inaccurate, and mean-spirited.

And I liked his physical reactions - the way he had to adjust his seating and sort of shake down the indigestion when Lieberman's name came up, and when he admitted we have to get out there and look for Democrats and such, and the whole thing about having to be tactful. Liked that a LOT. Made him look human and approachable and likeable. Plus - his comments about running for president himself - and how he promised, or said, he wasn't going to do that because he'd committed to the party leadership. We NEED to hear that, too. For several reasons. For one, thinking the way the other side does - this takes some of the fear away - of those who (and I will NEVER understand this or agree with it) somehow have been made fearful about Howard Dean - they'll hear that, they won't be able to avoid noticing he certainly seemed sincere, and he's keeping himself out of the race for awhile (whew! - so while he's on the sidelines over the next few years, and speaking out and activating more, these same people are starting to get to know him, and become more comfortable with him, so by the time he may indeed be ready to step away from the DNC and run again, a lot of that old hesitation crap people might have felt about him will have been cleared away). Also - in the ongoing is-she-or-isn't-she stuff that Hillary has to deal with all the time - the trust issue comes into play here. He's saying he'll stay put. That's something you'll be able to bank on. It's refreshing.

He was refreshing. If he's the face of the Democrats these days, I am one VERY happy camper. VERY VERY happy. This was EXCELLENT. EXTREMELY shrewd. He should do that more often. Besides, you get people laughing WITH you rather than AT you and you're already most of the way there.

EXCELLENT. JUST EXCELLENT!!! An all-around WIN. Glad I could see this clip because I missed the show. Thanks for providing the link! Howard made me proud - AGAIN!!!

[madfloridian]

14. Well, yeh, what you said....

Great post and love your enthusiasm. He took the tactfulness thing they always use against him, and he used it his way.

He did come across pretty well, I agree. :D

[Auntie Bush]

19. Me thinks you are a little biased toward Dean.

Me too... since he's our former Governor.

Thanks for that excellent report! :)

[madfloridian]

9. More about the interview here, and a birthday cake for Harry Reid.

http://howardempowered.blogspot.com/2005/12/open-thread.html

[tinfoilinfor2005]

10. Thanks for the report. I also fell asleep, grrrr.

I will be attending the Florida Dem State Convention this coming Friday, and Dean is speaking Friday night. After hearing your report, I will give him extra applause. Looks like he is starting to develop a nice rhythm.

[madfloridian]

12. Will he be there Saturday as well?

Conflicting reports from Karen Thurman. First letter said Dean and Hoyer on Friday as a reception, Obama as Saturday keynote. The next letter said Dean and Obama on Saturday, did not mention Friday.

NOW, here is the latest from her, and it is very confusing.

"I am writing you to make a correction in my previous email about the 2006 Florida Democratic Conference. US Senator Barak Obama will be the only featured speaker at our dinner on Saturday, December 10."

So that is all she says. Will Dean be there Saturday or not. Some people were willing to pay the cost to go Sat., and it is expensive. But now they can not find out if he will just be there Friday.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

15. The last I heard, it was Friday night,

and this was per my county chairperson at our last meeting on Monday. It was Dean on Friday, Obama on Saturday. In between, the "names" listed were Vilsack, Warner, Nelson (:dilemma: ), and Edwards who I believe was scheduled for the Sunday brunch. And someone said that Biden almost always attends. But don't quote me on any of this. You know us dems...we're a work in progress.

P.S. If you go, be sure to look me up...I'll be in Florida Keys group.

[madfloridian]

16. Ok, I found the other email from Thurman....saying Dean on Saturday

Then she sent the one saying only one featured speaker, Obama. So I can't figure if Dean will be there still or not. It is costly to go, several have written her, but no one has heard back. Some would pay to go if he would be there Sat. Confusing.


"First up, for the dinner on Saturday, December 10, we have featured speakers US Senator Barak Obama and our National Party Chair, Dr. Howard Dean. Senator Obama and Dr. Dean will talk about the Democratic Party's message for the 2006 election cycle, and discuss the many opportunities ahead for Democrats from all over the country to be part of our march to victory next year. We also have former US Senator John Edwards and Governors Mark Warner and Tom Vilsack making presentations. But these three prospective Presidential candidates are just the beginning. All of our statewide candidates will be with us: US Representative Jim Davis and State Senator Rod Smith, who are running for Governor; State Senator Walter Campbell, running for Attorney General; Alex Sink, running for Chief Financial Officer and Eric Copeland, running for Agriculture Commissioner."

[tinfoilinfor2005]

17. Yes, but now for the most important question...

What are you wearing Saturday night? I found this darling outfit but I just don't have the right shoes to match. :)

[madfloridian]

18. lol

Mr. MF going, not me this time.

[JNelson6563]

11. Wow! Great stuff!

Dean just keeping telling it like it is. Plain and simple. I love that.

Thanks for posting MF. :toast:

Julie

[madfloridian]

20. You're welcome.

I thought he did well. It is hard for politicians to be on comedy shows, but he handled it well.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

21. Thanks for posting!

Great interview with the Doctor.