Dean needs to lighten up a bit...

[bocadem]

He's got this election in the bag if he can just look a little more relaxed on camera. He looks nervous.

[karlschneider]

1. Um, have you ever been on live TV? I have a few times, it's tough not to

be a little uptight & nervous.

[bocadem]

4. Yes.

Semi-regularly. I never had a problem with it.


Don't get me wrong, I like Dean.. so far he's got my vote. I just wish he'd get media savvy - and quick. So he can take all this momentum and kick W's ass with it!

[lanlady]

15. I agree with Bocadem

I'm in Dean's camp, but he does look a bit ill at ease in front of the cameras. He should be used to it by now. He needs to relax.

[bearfartinthewoods]

come on...he was governor of vermont for what 12yrs?

what...they don't have TVs in vermont?

if a man has been governor for 12 years and still can't deal with the cameras, maybe the skill is beyond his reach.

[quilp]

It was this kind of stuff that ruined Gore.

One thread says "he blinks to much". Now he looks "nervous". In the end he will so concerned about how he "looks" he forget what he has to say.

[CWebster]

13. Yeah,

First he is compared to Forbes and then they say he blinks too much. Everyone knows Forbes never blinks. ;-)

[preocupied]

2. Yes he does but after you realize its his demeanor, you accept it....

At least he is not flip flopping like Gore.....

[DemocratSinceBirth]

5. Can We Build Up Our Own Candidate

without trashing candidates who aren't even in the race.

Al Gore is a good Democrat... A good American... And a good guy...

[Redleg]

9. When did Gore flip-flop?

Examples of relevant flip-flops please.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi preocupied!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[madfloridian]

3. He looked quite good and did quite well.

He sure got his points across.

http://photos.deanforamerica.com/gallery/14996/1

[ibegurpard]

6. Dean needs to be himself and not listen to "image consultants"

in other words...don't change a thing.

[Southsideirish]

7. Probably feels a little "roughed up" after Russert - he'll be fine!

He relaxed after a while and did very well. I would rather have a natural person than an "on message" robot. I was on tv once and it is scary - the more he does it the better he will get and he is doing just good as he is now.
Go Howard - see you tomorrow night at the AFL convention at Navy Pier!

[Redleg]

8. Yeah, he's stiff like Al Gore.... can you hear the media beat on that one?

Dean is fairly relaxed, much more so than Dubya who still looks like a fucking deer caught in the headlights when he speaks. I think Dean will become more confident and natural as time goes by.

[Ellen Forradalom]

10. I think he'll get used to national TV, too

but I do hope he gets a few pointers from the pros.

[Eloriel]

17. The interesting thing is --

To my knowledge, there have been absolutely NO remarks in the media about his stiffness or anything else as shallow and meaningless as that. That doesn't mean there won't be, but I think it's interesting that all of these shallow considerations are of such importance to the non-Dean supporters here, where the media has left it completely alone.

Eloriel

[bearfartinthewoods]

18. please, and i'm not baiting here

on what do you base this opinion. why do you think he;ll improve?

bush sure as hell hasn't because he doesn't have it in him to deal with the cameras, even after being governor of texas for term+.

Dean was governor of vermont for over a decade and also does not seem to have mastered whatever it takes to deal with the press or, tv in general.

did you see the commercial that's been airing? does hat commercial fil you with confidence? less than 1% of the volters will probabley ever see him live. the rest will view him on the tube. if he preforms as he has so far, i see this as a problem and i really need to hear why i'm wrong.

[CWebster]

12. First he doesn't smile right, now he's too uptight-

Wonder when he is gonna finally walk on water for everybody?

;-)

[Stuckinthebush]

14. These are valid observations

Dean has to come across better on the tube. It is a sad thing, but there are many voters who use that to determine who to vote for.

Sad but true.

[CWebster]

16. Perhaps,

but I recall the first few times I saw Dean interviewed on TV before he started hitting the big-time stride. What impressed me was his intelligent insight and straightforward manner. This was at a time when Hillary and Kerry were making noises about Saddam with his weapons and Edwards was predicting the Iraqis would be dancing in the street. Dean saw through it and said so. I will never forget that.

Perhaps we are too familar by now with his stand, but it may be a new angle for others. It doesn't matter what he does, for now he labors under high expectations, but with the exception of Sharpton, he is a much more interesting figure than the others--polish or not.

[chimpymustgo]

19. Interesting? Not really. And still bad on tv.

It doesn't even matter what his message is if he can't get is across. I think has ads are hurting him more than helping with undecided voters.

[ibegurpard]

20. What you think flies in the face of reality.

Dean is moving UP in polls and in New Hampshire he polled HIGHER with independents than the other candidates. It's a shame your Edwards-colored glasses are blinding you to reality.

[jpgray]

21. He seems more at home in a forum than an interview

But at the HRC forum, he did well as Donaldson attempted to pin him down on gay marriage--his evasion was a little less practiced or elegant compared to Kerry's, but just as competent and certainly more endearing. Of course, I would rather they didn't parry at all and just support gay "marriage", but it shows he can take the heat. I think when he forgets himself and just talks the issues, where he's sure of his ground, he's excellent on all counts.

[mandyky]

22. Dean supporters at the blogforamerica site

Have mentioned this and given suggestions, so hopefully Trippi and Howard will hire a coach, if Dumbya can learn not to smirk, Dean should be able to learn how to relax a little.