The only way to beat DEAN..........

[virtualobserver]

would be for all but one of the opposing Democrats to drop out.
Then the anti-DEAN vote would not be divided.

The funny thing is.........none of them will do it because of their gigantic egos.

They will all hang on until it is too late.

[eileen_d]

1. link?

;)

[unfrigginreal]

4. Here ya go

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0351/sutton.php

;)

[eileen_d]

5. Nice one.

Seen it.

[zeemike]

2. That is an interesting point

They need to rally around one person to win.

[Le Taz Hot]

3. That's not your call

nor mine, nor the media's. None of them will drop out now BECAUSE NOT ONE VOTE HAS BEEN CAST. Remember votes? It's what we do in a Democracy.

This is flamebait and I hope the moderators consider locking this thread.

[eileen_d]

6. Thanks.

I think that was what I meant in my original post.

[virtualobserver]

7. not flamebait

I'm just pointing out the reality of the situation.

I'm not suggesting that anyone should drop out, just that if no one does, DEAN is the nominee.

[Zomby Woof]

11. what's with the CAPS?

We know his name is Dean. The "DEAN" shit just fuels my theory about the obssesive, uber-devotional qualities of his zealous supporters and what a disservice they are to the party.

[mikehiggins]

8. Assuming beating Dean was the issue you'd be right

Beating Bush is the issue. None of the candidates signed up to beat Howard Dean in the first place. He just managed to become the frontrunner through some astute policy placement and a here-to-fore unseen level of Internet involvement.

Thinking that beating these people are in the race to beat Dean as a cause in its own right is somewhat more "egotistical" than recognising each of these people (well, most of them) seriously beleive that he or she would be the best Democratic candidate for President in the general election.

If we did not follow the "primary" system, and the candidates were chosen by the party insiders, Dean wouldn't even be discussed. The race would be between Kerry and Gephardt and Lieberman and the winner would be anybody's guess. Clark, Edwards and all the others would be going about their business without anyone even knowing they wanted to be the Chief Executive.

Kerry and Gephardt and Lieberman don't see Dean as a major threat to world democracy, nor do they see his "miracle" campaign as anything more than old wine in a new bottle. Next time out everyone will be hopping on the electronic highway early and often, with slick and polished campaigns designed by media superstars. This time out Dean got the jump on them and they're finding it hard to remove this pesky obstacle to their ambitions.

There's actually nothing "personal" or "get Dean" involved except for the fact that they have to get past him to have a shot. Right now the Dean camp appears to have personalised this whole thing, which is okay for pep rallies but works against success in the long run.

And I, of course, don't think your guy has a chance against Bush unless, as they say, the President is found in bed with a dead woman or a live boy. And maybe not then.

The more successful Dean appears, and the more likely it seems that a Yankee liberal who opposes tax cuts and supports gay marriage could become president, the more "motivated" and fanatic the right wing will become. This is not going to be an easy fight for any of the candidates and it is foolish to think otherwise.

edit: some misspellings that I recognised ;^) after posting

[virtualobserver]

9. When Democrats unafilliated with a candidate run ads in a primary

beating DEAN IS the issue.

Dean intends to shake up the party structure in a way that the others would never consider.

That is why it is "personal" against Dean.

[Zomby Woof]

10. Dean supporters are costing him more support

Supporters with your mentality have FAR bigger egos than the rest of us. You act like Dean is the anointed one, and we're somehow unenlightend fools of we don't kiss the Big Potato.

Dean will lose the general election if nominated, if his supporters alienate the swing voters and cross-party voters the way they have alienated a HEALTHY chunk of fellow Democrats.