Dean Is Back and Not on the Fringe ,Either (WSJ article

[candy331]

(moderators this may be a dupe but my first on reading it and thought it was great and well worth the read. Erase if need be.

Dean Is Back, and Not on the Fringe, Either

Former Presidential Candidate
Studies the Right for Lessons
On How to Better Organize the Left
By DAVID ROGERS
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
June 7, 2004; Page A4

WASHINGTON -- Howard Dean has jumped back into this year's elections, urging support for his old nemesis, John Kerry, and promoting himself as a spokesman for the progressive wing in the Democratic Party.

The feisty former Vermont governor, determined not to be a fringe player, is boning up on the political right for guidance on how to better organize the left -- not just for November's elections but beyond. He is studying the tactics used by Newt Gingrich, the former House speaker, and Ralph Reed, who helped make the Christian Coalition a political power. A decade after Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Reed, now a private consultant and adviser to President George W. Bush's campaign, helped usher in an era of Republican power, Mr. Dean hopes to begin to shift the balance back toward his progressive agenda.

snip--


Conservatives dismiss the whole Dean phenomenon as an overhyped, second coming of the 1970s liberal George McGovernites that moved Democrats to the left for years after. But there are two distinctions -- ones that echo themes of the Republican "revolution" a decade ago. First, the record government spending and huge budget deficits under President Bush give Mr. Dean an opening to stress fiscal responsibility. Second, increasing unhappiness about Iraq lets him cast the elections as a moral struggle about what it means to be an American.

snip--

Mr. Dean's famous e-mail list took a substantial hit after his withdrawal from the presidential race in February, but it's beginning to grow again.

snip--
Mr. Dean's whirlwind presidential campaign was always about more than a single candidate.


No single individual, other than Mr. Kerry's future running mate, may be more important to the success of the Democratic ticket against President Bush.

snip--

Mr. Dean is working with old labor allies to promote health-care proposals at the heart of Mr. Kerry's domestic agenda.

Like no one else, perhaps, Mr. Dean is crucial if Mr. Kerry is to achieve his goal of greatly expanding the turnout among younger voters, who have swung against the Iraq war and remain worried by the lack of economic opportunity at home.

more more more

http://online.wsj.com/public/article/0,,SB108655747737429973,00.html?mod=todays%5Ffree%5Ffeature

[drfemoe]

1. Dean

solidly supports Kerry's health care plan. That's a good sign, I think?

[FarLeftRage]

2. He is not going anywhere

Dr. Dean is here to stay to make sure that shrubbie gets the boot!

[Southsideirish]

3. Howard Dean - a man for all seasons. n/t

[KittyWampus]

4. Sounds Like Howard Dean Genuinely Cares About People

not just Democrats. Helping Americans.

looking forward to reading his future articles.

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. I LOVE that man.

{{{sigh}}}

He makes me all oogly and happy inside.

FSC