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DFW

(60,349 posts)

36. Howard wasn't looking at a checklist when he entered the national stage

Mon Nov 17, 2014, 03:51 AM

Nov 2014

He said what he felt and spoke his mind. Aside from Kucinich, he was the ONLY one out there in 2004 who didn't have to nuance his statements. He got some bad advice from Joe Trippi (who hasn't?), but he never tried to hide his positions, most of which were our own. Maybe the fact that the highest elective office he has ever held was Governor of Vermont freed him from some of the restraints someone in a more prominent position feels.

If he is currently supporting Hillary, and I have not discussed this with him yet, it could well be because no one else has made any credible noises about running. That is support that will be withdrawn if Hillary doesn't declare, and someone more to Howard's liking does.

By the way, Happy Birthday, Howard! He is 66 today.

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Why did progressives support Howard Dean?? [View all] kentuck Nov 2014 OP

He reminded some people of themselves. nt geek tragedy Nov 2014 #1

Dean was crucial, which is why the press had to trash him with the Dean Scream Wella Nov 2014 #2

Howard Dean was a terrible candidate period. Legalequilibrium78 Nov 2014 #13

Your bias is noted. Wella Nov 2014 #14

I don't get where you are going hfojvt Nov 2014 #16

Bullshit on horseshit. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #49

The Dean "scream" is what destroyed 18yo me's faith in the MSM. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #50

AFTER his campaign was already collapsing (3rd place finish in Iowa) brooklynite Nov 2014 #63

Because he wasn't a corporate sell out. Rex Nov 2014 #3

if Dean isn't a corporate sell out then neither is Hillary Clinton JI7 Nov 2014 #6

Never said she was. Rex Nov 2014 #7

Sadly he is one now. Works for Big Pharma. nt geek tragedy Nov 2014 #21

He showed up on stage with a baseball bat when netroots people asked him to Recursion Nov 2014 #4

i didn't support Dean for same reason i didn't support Hillary JI7 Nov 2014 #5

Well hfojvt Nov 2014 #17

That raising the cap talking point is such BS, too. joshcryer Nov 2014 #25

seems to be a moot point anyway hfojvt Nov 2014 #67

I think some of them saw him as the electable peace candidate. Ken Burch Nov 2014 #8

didn't Dean do better than Kucinich even after Dean dropped out ? JI7 Nov 2014 #11

That's what I was saying. Ken Burch Nov 2014 #27

wouldn't it have made more sense for Kucinich to endorse Dean because Kucinich was so far down JI7 Nov 2014 #29

Not AFTER Dean withdrew. Ken Burch Nov 2014 #34

maybe Kucinich should have given voters a reason to vote for him JI7 Nov 2014 #40

Years later-AFTER being gerrymandered into the same district as another Dem. n/t. Ken Burch Nov 2014 #42

so he couldn't even win a Dem District ? JI7 Nov 2014 #43

Mary Kaptur's disctrict & Kucinich's district were combined due to gerry mandering JonLP24 Nov 2014 #45

Marcy Kaptur is NOT a Republican, she is a Democrat and she beat Kucinich in the Dem Primary JI7 Nov 2014 #46

I got the facts mixed up but believe it or not I knew Kaptur well (from the bailout crisis) JonLP24 Nov 2014 #47

Oh, he was definitely the best man for the job. Warpy Nov 2014 #9

He was a Democrat but he wasn't pure... kentuck Nov 2014 #10

I see... sendero Nov 2014 #66

He held the best ideas on universal health care and in having Cleita Nov 2014 #12

Maybe it is a looking back thing. oldandhappy Nov 2014 #15

He spoke out strongly against the war and he implemented healthcare to his state Beaverhausen Nov 2014 #18

Yes, but like Obama, two issues doesn't make him a liberal. Those are TWO issues!! Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2014 #20

You should see Candidate Obama vs President Obama debate JonLP24 Nov 2014 #35

Polifact is full of shit. Go look at the actual record. I think what helped me understand Obama Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2014 #55

Actual record is where my differences lie JonLP24 Nov 2014 #56

The gay marriage issue was never resolved. But, why during a DEMOCRATIC primary Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2014 #58

White House communications & press secretary crack me up JonLP24 Nov 2014 #59

Can you answer the full question please? Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2014 #61

Yes, kentuck! YES!!!! I've been saying this for YEARS!! Yes!! Liberals blindily support Dean... Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2014 #19

Most change for the top Dems is following the polls. joshcryer Nov 2014 #23

center-right platform? JonLP24 Nov 2014 #31

I considered his gay position right wing. joshcryer Nov 2014 #39

When Blue Dogs take the DNC chair JonLP24 Nov 2014 #44

On LGBT equality Dean was a dishonest conservative and thus not at all to my liking Bluenorthwest Nov 2014 #54

I think many Dems are more personally liberal but can't be publicly as liberal. Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2014 #52

I wanted to beat Bush. joshcryer Nov 2014 #22

The debate was over the "confederate flags on pickups" JonLP24 Nov 2014 #30

Yep, Dean was inarticulate. joshcryer Nov 2014 #38

It just depends on who and how the political discourse is controlled JonLP24 Nov 2014 #41

Moderate was the image JonLP24 Nov 2014 #24

My views are/were kind of the same as Dean bigwillq Nov 2014 #26

And now he's working for Hillary flamingdem Nov 2014 #28

Howard Dean is a brilliant man, a fantastic governor, and a damn good politician. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #32

When people brag about governors balancing budgets, it just gets under my skin! Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2014 #57

Vermont wasn't one of those states JonLP24 Nov 2014 #60

Vermont doesn't have that requirement. LostInAnomie Nov 2014 #64

Someone else explained it. Dean should brag about it, then. Liberal_Stalwart71 Nov 2014 #65

Single Payer. Anti-war. grahamhgreen Nov 2014 #33

Howard wasn't looking at a checklist when he entered the national stage DFW Nov 2014 #36

I supported him. Still do, actually. ConservativeDemocrat Nov 2014 #37

Because despite being a moderate he actually gave a shit about reforming the system. Odin2005 Nov 2014 #48

He was feisty BeyondGeography Nov 2014 #51

Because he didn't win. JoePhilly Nov 2014 #53

Answer: they didn't brooklynite Nov 2014 #62

because he didn't bullshit people on where he stood. dionysus Nov 2014 #68