Iowa has spoken --- and it favors Dean ....Iraq war not a "top issue"

[cthrumatrix]

It's still the economy stupid...

The candidate that focus's on what they shared and can show a tangible record ...will be the key.

The Dr. can "run on his record" on healthcare, debate the need for medicare on behalf of seniors...and we all know that he can "balance the budget better than bush".

Your candidate ....minus Iraq...has to compete on these issues.

In hindsight...maybe the Dr. spent too much time on Iraq.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. which is why Dean's tax plan was rejected by Iowa

next....?

[mistertrickster]

2. What is Dean's tax plan?

Just wondering . . .

[maddezmom]

4. no one knows?

:shrug:

[JI7]

9. he hasn't released it yet

from what i hear. but i do wish he would.

[Jerseycoa]

12. Maybe they packed it away by mistake

with the "records." :evilgrin:

[cthrumatrix]

14. a leader will do what is right...do you think cutting taxes is right?

[AP]

20. Not "cutting taxes" - It's about allocating the tax burden. Most important

issue for 2004, right up with making sure there a plenty of good jobs with high wages, and real econonomic opportunities for people who want to work.

And a real Dem leader woul allocate the tax burden fairly.

[Frederic Bastiat]

22. WTF is he waiting for?

[cthrumatrix]

24. ask all the candidates what their tax plans are....it's all generic

becuase they don't want to "spoil their support". Dean has come out and said you can't do both (tax cuts and run deficits).

My bet is that the tax cut days are over for any leader.

[HFishbine]

16. Yet, it's been rejected... (nt)

[cthrumatrix]

21. I think he saw the initial reaction and is "modifying" it so that

people see the "big picture".

The enxt president cannot be a tax cutting , spending crazy leader like bush...the deficits will not allow that.

[cthrumatrix]

6. it's not out yet ...there were earlier verisons of what he was considering

and the media ran with "tax rise" for everyone

[cthrumatrix]

3. he hasn't even revealed it yet..... do you want to share with me the

Dean documented tax plan?

Furthermore, any candidate who doesn't honestly address the deficit, soc sec cost and medicare costs is NOT a leader.

Look at Paul O'Neill's report...a $44 trillion gap in income vs expenses...

Bush doesn't give a hoot about this and just wants re-election.


Do you disagree...?

[PAMod]

5. If people want to vote on tax cuts/no tax cuts...

we lose. The Democratic party can't compete with Bush on giving away money.

Even if we win the country loses, because those tax cuts are killing us.

But alas, I fear you are correct. The two major candidates calling for cancelling the tax cuts got creamed. The two calling for keeping parts of them won the day.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. As Iowa goes, so goes...

...Iowa.

[evil_orange_cat]

7. How did Iowa's results favor Dean?

he got smoked... and his post Iowa rally was scary. Dean used to be my top candidate, but it's become apparant to me, he's not going to win.

I like Dean's fiery attacks at Bush, but he isn't the right man to go against Bush, IMHO.

I'm still not sold on Kerry, especially since he is standing behind his IWR vote. Edwards and Clark are the two most appealing candidates to me now. I'd vote Kerry in a general election if he gets the nod, but I won't do it with a smile on my face.

[cthrumatrix]

10. Obviously ...you didn't read. Iowa people voted on the non-war

issues.

They said: economy, healhcare, medicare, education were the real issues (WSJ poll 1/21)

Dean lead a charge agianst the Iraq war and bush's lies....in hindsiight ...people were worried about their pocketbooks.

Dean is the only candidate with a favorable documented history on many of these issues.

Do you see now?

[maddezmom]

11. I understand your premise

but why didn't they caucus for him?

[cthrumatrix]

13. he should have stuck with these issues....maybe too much time

outing bush as opposed to what was important to them.

In Iowa it was about those issues and it's up to Dean to have the media focus on issues.

[evil_orange_cat]

15. I did read, your point didn't make sense to me.

Dean's whole schpiel is about the war... since Iowans didn't vote on the war, Dean didn't appeal to them. As you said yourself, Dean lead the charge against Bush lies...

Anger and fire is good (unless you give a silly speech that makes you look crazy), but Dean is hardly the "economy, medicare, and education" candidate. He's the anti-war candidate. And since that proved to not be the most important issue, Iowans proved Dean was not the favorite, nor a candidate that is going to appeal to voters in the general election.

Don't get me wrong, I like Dean. He was my number one candidate. But Democrats need to support a candidate that mainstream America is going to like. In fact, we need to support a candidate that Democrats are going to support. Democrats in Iowa made it clear. Dean is not our golden-boy.

Edwards is the guy I like now. His positive message and his strong Southern roots seem like a good combo. But there are still two more telling primaries (NH and SC). And it will be interesting to see how Clark fits into the picture.

I'm sorry, but I just don't see things from your point of view.

[cthrumatrix]

18. If you saw Dr. Dean's speech yesterday..Iraq was not even discussed

he's gone to the issues that people will vote with ...and he has tremendous experience in.

He ahs made his point with the Iraq war...and now he is turning to the "pocketbook issues"...which is how Iowan's really voted.

Not all americans want to believ about a corrupt president. Campaigning on his strenghts as a leader in these issues is an excellent step.

Do you see now?

[evil_orange_cat]

26. I'm still confused...

You said that Iowa's results benefit Dean. But you now say Dean is "turning to the 'pocketbook' issues"; meaning that he wasn't discussing them before. It seems to me, Dean's strategy was proven to be ineffective. How has Dean's lack of success benefitted him?

While I think Dean might be a more progressive president, I don't think he has the "tremendous experience" in dealing with such issues. Furthermore, Dean is portrayed as the anti-war candidate; not the 'healthcare and economy' candidate.

[poskonig]

17. Focus groups thought Bush was war-heavy yesterday too.

The war might not be as important as some claim it is.

[Frederic Bastiat]

19. Iowa spoke...and it wasn't Dean!

Dean chose to focus on attacking Gep and the others that voted for IWR. Dean should have been articulating his message, his policies etc with an end to convincing Iowa that he has what it takes to beat Bush.

After spending so much time and money he had piss to show for his efforts.

[cthrumatrix]

23. guess again....Dean was the leader....all attacked him...and attacks

do not work for voters.

He is telling voters where he stand on issues...that is what they want.

[Frederic Bastiat]

27. Oh really? What's his stand on Taxes? Medicare?

:eyes:

[Democrats unite]

25. If Iowa has spoken & favor of Dean...

I would have hated to seen the results if they didn't favor him. Oh wait a minute I did see the results 18%.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

28. Iowa voted for John Kerry! What the.....

FUKnow the Rest are you talking about??????

:eyes:

[cthrumatrix]

29. I guess if you read the message / comments you would understand

[zulchzulu]

30. Um...Dean lost by 20% points. Did you get the memo? n/t

[Uzybone]

31. That post is Spin of the Day

your logic is extremely convoluted. So him losing badly in Iowa benefited him? If you said Dean will benefit from learning from the mistakes he made in Iowa that would make sense.

[cthrumatrix]

32. yes...that is what I am saying..it's going forward obviously