Kudos to Howard Dean

[ButterflyBlood]

you know, when you think about it it's amazing how Dean has conducted himself. It must've sucked big time to go from practically having the nomination in the bag to falling as hard as he did. And of course, all the DLCers and folks against him were warning us that he would go independent or endorse Nader, blah blah blah.

But then almost immediately after dropping out, he threw his support behind Kerry with as much energy as he ran his campaign. He specially told his supporters NOT to vote for Nader, and began campaigning and fundraising for Kerry like mad. And when you think about it, he really has no reason to be doing it when there's almost no chance of him ending up on the ticket. No selfish motives here, just pure party loyalty. When you consider how toxic the primary was here on the forums, it's amazing that didn't spill into the actual candidates. Yet they handled themselves great. That alone shows how great of a selection we had.

Dean went from Kerry's top enemy to his his best friend almost overnight. So congratulations Dean. I just thought he needed some props.

1. Is Dean's Conduct Amazing ?

Not to those who supported him. Despite all the jeers and sneers, despite all the warnings that Dean was in it for a ego stroke and would hurt the party by going indie, Dean's supporters knew their guy was the real deal.

Thanks ButterflyBlood for the Dean props, and also just for taking the time to say something positive.

:yourock:

[mzmolly]

10. Yes we did. The *others* are just finding out..

;)

[pacifictiger]

2. the sign of a great leader

is one who can give his all to a team project and allow others to collect the glory. Dean is the man.

[Maat]

3. Thanks for the thread!

You guys are so right.

[bklyncowgirl]

4. It's been an amazing thing

It's an odd thing. I wasn't too sure about Howard Dean when he first burst on the scene. I liked what he was saying, and his rather common sense approach to the issues. I thought he was great in long interviews (not so great in debates)but I had my doubts.

Then he started losing and the way he conducted himself in defeat was impressive. A lesser man defeated in the way he was would have gone home and sulked or worse yet taken that big organization he'd developed and gone third party.

The other defeated candidates have also been terrific in their support of Kerry but I'm sort of looking forward to see how active they're going to be once the running mate is chosen. Dean's known all along that unless Nader's become a huge threat to Kerry it ain't gonna be him.

Dean says he wants Bush out and he wants to change the Democratic Party from within. That's good enough for me.

[Lavender Brown]

5. Hear, hear

His campaign was inspiring, and what he's doing now is too. I can't wait to hear him speak at the convention, if he is in fact going to.

[TexasSissy]

6. Well, it is in his interest to support Kerry.

If he wants to stay in the Dem. party and run for anything in the future, he needed to support Kerry. That's not to take away from him supporting Kerry, which I hope has been helpful to Kerry. But Ijust wanted to state that there is, in fact, a benefit to Dean for doing that.

I really do believe that Dean thinks that Kerry would be much better than * in the WH, though, and that's probably his aim...to help the Bush demise.

[Cheswick2.0]

7. Who could kick him out of the party if he didn't support Kerry?

How would it keep him from running for office in the future? Even if Kerry wins he wouldn't be able to stop Dean from having all kinds of support from Progressives.

Dean is working to get rid of Bush. He doesn't owe anything to anybody except the people who support him and his own conscience.

[pacifictiger]

8. here are two good recent articles

reported by AP and Wall Street Journal, posted on democracyforamerica.

In the first article, Christopher Graff of the Associated Press interviews Governor Dean at length about the presidential campaign. Governor Dean gives his most introspective, personal reflections and in-depth analysis to date: "'I am pretty overwhelmed,' he says and pauses as his eyes brim with tears."
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/past

The second article, from The Wall Street Journal, takes stock of Democracy for America. Reporter David Rogers sums up Governor Dean and the grassroots movement he represents: "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."
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/future

[JNelson6563]

9. Dean rocks

He is truly a leader.





:toast:

Julie

[mzmolly]

11. Oh Julie I love that pic!!!

*whistle*

[mzmolly]

12. Thanks BB. Dean is a great man, history will remember him kindly.

:hi:

[Justitia]

13. It takes a lot to inspire awe in me....

....and Gov Dean has done it.

I was (and am) an enthusiastic Dean supporter, but I must say, the way the man has conducted himself and taken a leadership position AFTER the primaries is nothing short of awe-inspiring.

I already knew he was a good guy, but damn, he's true to his word in a way I haven't seen much in this life, and it's something to learn from. His love for his country and it's citizens has simply crystallized since he left the race.

Howard Dean is doing the heavy lifting for our party, we owe him much.