Lying in Wait for Dean

[Nicholas_J]

By Howard Fineman

You’d think that Howard Dean’s rivals would start attacking him—big time —now that his Internet-based fund-raising prowess has elevated him to what amounts to front-runner status in the Democratic presidential race. But each leading contender has his own strategic reason for laying off, at least until the fall, if not beyond—a scenario that could backfire by allowing Dean a free ride until it’s too late to stop him.
Advisers to the other front runner, Sen. John Kerry, don’t want to attack Dean now because they think he’ll crumble quickly when they finally do. In the meantime, Kerry advisers say, it’s good for the race to be seen by many party insiders as a two-way Kerry-Dean contest, since that deprives the other top-tier candidates—Dick Gephardt, John Edwards and Joe Lieberman—of media attention and campaign donations. “We can take Howard Dean on whenever we want to,” said one Kerry adviser. “Why do it now?”

http://www.msnbc.com/news/935679.asp#cam

[blm]

1. Fineman is ginning this up....

on orders from Karl, no doubt.

This article came out the same time that American Spectator swill accused Kerry of going after dirt on Dean's wife. Coordinated effort ala Rove.

[dsc]

2. I guess your computer editted this out

If it really is a two-man race, Kerry hopes ultimately to argue that the party can't afford to nominate the antiwar Dean. Another Kerry adviser says, "The Democratic Party isn't going to want to nominate another 49er—a guy who loses 49 states, the way George McGovern did in 1972."


Funny you got into high dungeon when Dean aids trash talked Kerry. Yet this statement somehow escaped your moral outrage. Why oh why could that be?

[w13rd0]

3. You need to ask?

Anyone who has been here more than a couple days knows what to expect from a message from N_J there with Dean in the subject line...

[RevolutionStartsNow]

4. Tee hee

Love this place... :)

[newsguyatl]

5. nicholas is on a mission

for dean's head... poor fella, he won't succeed...

[blm]

6. Simple, dsc...I don't believe Fineman...

this piece came out the same time as the other rightwing smear. They both make Kerry out to be the heavy against Dean. I don't believe the American Spectator and I don't trust Fineman's twists and turns at ALL. I think he is completely down with the BFEE.

You trust him...go ahead. That's your business.

[dsc]

7. With all due respect

I seem to remember no problems from you with his profile on Dean and his brother. I also don't recall any problems from you with Deborah Olin of the NYP and a quote from Trippi. While I am no fan of Feinman he is better than she is.

[blm]

8. Whoa...you're wrong...

in fact, I should have mentioned Orin in there, too. You must have missed that thread, but, I definitely commented on it.

Your memory is not serving you correctly, because I am one of those who has always suspected Fineman's pushing of Dean as doing his part for Rove. Fostering more bad blood between the two Dem camps is part of it, but, I think the greater part is that Bush/Rove do not want to face a John Kerry in 2004, and will use whatever pull they have in the press to knock at Kerry through the opposing campaign of Dean's.

[dsc]

9. If you think Fineman is pushing

Dean the you clearly didn't read the profile of him that included his brother. That was by no means a puff piece and frankly I would consider it a hit piece.

[blm]

10. That's what they do, dsc...

Push positive stories enough times, then slip in something that will raise eyebrows. You examine every Fineman story that includes Dean and Kerry over the last 6 months, and the transcripts of his TV appearances, and tell me you trust him.

[dsc]

12. I don't trust him

but my point is that whatever his motive in lying may be it isn't to puff up Dean. That profile piece is not the worst thing I ever saw but it sure isn't flattering either.

[polpilot]

11. Dean dictates Kerry's daily routine. Kerry's spin...Dean's win.

Dean '04

[Nicholas_J]

13. Gep[hardt is TOO far ahead of Dean for Dean to win Iowa.

Dean has no chance of passing Gephardt at this point with gephardt having twice the polling numbers as Dean...

Kerry is far ahead of Dean in New Hampshire in the polls with the highest levels of accuracy.

[Nicholas_J]

14. Coming in Second in Iowa and In New Hampshire

Will Prolong Deans candidacy, but he will lose the nomination

[AP]

15. If Kerry thinks this is depriving Edwards of donations...

...how much does Kerry think Edwards would be receiving if not for Dean? Edwards is practically tied with Kerry as it is.

[blm]

16. Do you believe Fineman?

He's just ginning up controversy. He targets Kerry in the same way the NY Post and the American Spectator do, and in the same timeframe.