Is Howard Dean a Liberal?

[bryant69]

Well, there's about 50 answers to that one--but the answer presented by Conservative Columnist Brent Bozell is No. (From this article --> http://www.townhall.com/columnists/brentbozell/bb20030806.shtml )

He says that voters correctly see Dean as a "a presidential wannabe eager to raise his taxes, withdraw his troops from terror-backing locales, mistake "homeland security" for government-employee-union payoffs, confiscate his SUV as a planetary menace, escort his daughter for an abortion without parental consent (another apparently phony pro-life issue), and turn his local hospital into a laboratory for Hillary Clinton experiments, with "universal" recessionary results."

Hmmm. Doesn't sound all that bad--but I guess I'm not Bozell's target audience. Of course I find myself wondering if those are Dean's actual positions, or if Bozell just has a list of bad things to say about Democratic Presidential Candidates.

He also called Dean a Liar, which i covered at my website --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[flyingfish]

1. Howard Dean is all over the map

Might even argue inconsistent.

[ThorsteinVeblen]

2. Howard Dean is a moderate

Bozell is an ass.

[rock]

3. not Bozell's target audience

Funny. I agree. Sounds like a recommendation to me. LOL.

[private_ryan]

4. Bret Bozo is just saying what his people want to hear

but Howard Dean better start addressing this, it's all the TV and the perception is that he's a liberal. Once it sticks, it sticks!

[demnan]

5. Labels are stupid

I mean did we define establishment Democrat Mondale as a Liberal? What about LBJ? LBJ kept us in the Vietnam war but did more for Civil Rights than just about every other President. Nixon was in favor of health care. What about McCain? Is he a liberal? Or is he just a conservative who speaks out about subjects he honestly believes in.

Clinton was for NAFTA, was he a conservative? On some issues maybe. But the right wing nuts still think he was one shade to the right of Lenin.

All those who try to pigeon-hole Dean are going to be frustrated. Dean makes decisions based on what he feels is right, and I'd much rather have that than someone who develops an opinion based on what the constituency wants. I don't mean to denigrate any Kucinich supporters, but that is exactly what Kucinich did on abortion.

[phiddle]

6. Yes, labels are stupid, but

to the degree that they mean anything, or are useful in creating a mindset, we should reclaim their original meaning.
So, I think that the Democrats should point out that "conservative" used to mean "cautious, careful". By this standard, ONLY Democtrats have earned the trust of the American people, and ONLY Democrats should wear the term "conservative".
What we have now in the Republican party is a bunch of reactionary, robbing, red-ink radicals (alliteration intended). They are so far from "conservative" as to make the term nonsense; that is to say, they are not CONSERVING anything---not the environment, not our economy, not our stature as leader of the free world, not the well-being of most American families, not our civil liberties, not the possibilities of coming generations.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi phiddle!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[tlb]

7. Dean is no liberal , he refers to himself as a trinagulator.

which sometimes makes some of the left's fascination with him difficult to understand. Had he not spoken out forcefully against the war I think many here would dismiss him as republican light. Thiz was why Nader was threatening to run on the 04 ballot again should Dean get the nomination.

Kucinich is more a genuine liberal, and is losing ground to Dean on the left side of the party. Go figure.

[cherryperry]

8. You are correct, tlb! n/t

[ima_sinnic]

10. Nader supports both Dean and Kucinich

Nader gave a speech at the University of Central Florida and mentioned both Dean and Kucinich. I didn't see him speak but read a report of his remarks in the University of Florida student newspaper.

[dorktv]

12. Kucinich is anti-woman...Dean is a bit better then that.

[Ardee]

15. Could you use a broader brush?

Kucinich honestly stated his opinion on a womans right to choose. That opinion included his refusal to alter that right though his personal belief was contrary to that right......Post what you will but dont expect that sort of sophomoric inanity to pass.....

[quilp]

9. A "conservative" warning "liberals" about Dean? Yeah Right!

n/t

[DavidMS]

13. I think a translation from Neanderthal is needed.

Its somthing like this. "I don't like Dean because he will drag me from Plato's alagorical cave and fix all the damage my buddy Bush is doing."

Dean is not a DLC wanna be liberal but the real thing. He may not be "liberal" on each and every issue but his instinct is essentialy liberal and thats enough for me. I don't want a saint as president, just a compent liberal democrat.

George Bush for Unemployed.

[tedoll78]

14. Dammit!

I'm tired of looking at the shadows on the cave wall! I want to be blinded by the light outside of the cave! And I want the Doctor to cut my shackles so I can do so!