Paging Howard Dean...come in, Howard Dean...

[derby378]

HELP WANTED

Federal republic with bicameral legislature seeks Chief Executive for four-year assignment beginning in 2012. Previous military service a plus but not necessary. Must have a spine. Excellent medical, dental, vision insurance; meals, boarding, and transporation provided. Scenic view of the Washington Monument available for candidate with the right qualifications. Four-year extension of contract possible pending performance review. Reasonable salary; superb retirement package. If interested, please contact the Democratic National Committee in Washington, DC and let them know how things get done.

[jefferson_dem]

1. Dr. Dean has integrity. He will do the right thing.

He knows a credible primary challenge would serve no purpose other than making the scumbaggy teabaggers click their heels with delight. Shame others (here and elsewhere) either don't know that ... or don't care.

[grumgrum]

27. So Republican-wannabe vs Republican -- Not much of a choice! No Dean == Write-in for many

[CakeGrrl]

2. You must have missed the memo:

http://kydem.blogspot.com/2010/11/howard-dean-wont-challenge-in-primary.html

Don't bother with Feingold or Clinton either.

Go forth and seek them out!

[derby378]

3. That was then, this is now

Lot of upset Dems out there, angry that Obama has capitulated to the Republicans yet again. There's an opening.

[CakeGrrl]

Certainly on DU, not much difference from yesterday or last week.

But if you think he has a real shot to take it all the way to the WH, organize and lobby the hell out of him.

But if you do? Do NOT screw it up.

As disgusted as some of you are with Obama, the Republican alternative will be worse despite all the dismissal of that concept on this forum.

[impik]

4. Must also have a chance to win more then 30%

Heee. La-La-Land.

[derby378]

7. Tell that to the DLC, then

Tell them not to sabotage Dean's primary campaign like they did last time. Duh.

[karynnj]

21. That is so old

Look at everything the Republicans threw at our nominee. If a little played ad actually made Dean lose in 2004, then how would he have done versus Bush? The fact is that Kerry was gaining momentum in Iowa before the ad appeared - due to his campaigning. Dean was the one with the big endorsements (Gore and Harkin - though Kerry had Kennedy) and far more support from parts of the media.

Dean and Gephardt got into a death match - and Dean was no innocent here. He hit Gephardt in as unfair a way as he was hit by him. They managed to hurt each other badly. My guess is that had that not happen, both would have done better than they did, but Kerry would likely have pulled it out.

Why? Kerry's reunion with Rassman in the weekend before the caucus was like a 1940s movie - even a Kapra one. It spoke spades about who Kerry was - and the Dean counterpiece that day was his flareup at an elderly heckler. Played back to back all night on news channels, there was no contest as to where undecided voters would go, In addition, there was NOTHING an opponent could say or do that week to diminish it. Kerry saved his life - he was emotionally thanking a somewhat shy Kerry, who said something like anyone would have done it.

It also gave Kerry his first real coverage nationwide - followed later that week by an ebullient Kerry thanking people - Kennedy, many firemen and vets in the background. That had to lead to the large gain in NH, where he was well known. Saying that his gain in NH was due to the Dean scream ignores that Kerry essentially got a huge proportion of Clark's support and the undecided. Dean kept most of the support he had, but got no new support. Most winners out of Iowa get some momentum - witness Obama.

Your conspiracy theory takes away from Kerry that he ran an excellent campaign in Iowa and then in NH, where Teresa had met with people much of the time he was in Iowa. Then the key - Dean had no real organization in the 7 states in the first multi-state day - as most were Southern, southwestern, or rural, he opted to concentrate on the next set. This might have been a good idea, as he was now short on money and the next set were better states for a New Englander - until fellow New Englander, Kerry won 5 of them - with Clark and Edwards each picking up one.

[grumgrum]

5. KR

[zulchzulu]

6. Would Howard Dean be able to reel in Blue Dog Democrats to vote like Democrats better than Obama?

I doubt it.

Howard Dean as the primary runner to run against Obama is a fantasy.

Enjoy it.

[derby378]

9. The reality is that Obama WILL face a primary challenge in 2012

Even if it isn't Dean, there are Democrats who are now carefully weighing their options. There is blood in the water, and the sharks are getting hungry.

[zulchzulu]

13. You have a PayPal account?

I bet you $1000 there is no SERIOUS primary challenge.

[karynnj]

22. That should be a pretty easy win for you

Nearly everyone who can remotely be called serious has said no - and it would likely be in a few months that they would have to declare.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

24. No he won't. Obama and that evil DLC will make sure of it and I'm glad.

:hi:

[cornermouse]

19. I hope he puts a head lock on the blue dogs, myself.

"Reeling them in" seems wimpy.

[Capn Sunshine]

8. Earth calling dream orbiters

Howard Dean is a centrist. A PRAGMATIC centrist. I know him. I worked for him. He's sincere and honest, and tells the unvarnished truth. But if you think that just because he enjoys progressive support, that he would govern within the DC system any differently thanPresident Obama, you just have no real -life idea of politics. If we had succeeded back in '04, he'd be on his second term by now, and the left would be howling about Howard Dean's practical governance instead of President Obama's.

[JamesA1102]

10. Well said nt

[CakeGrrl]

11. Thanks for a dose of reality. n/t

[derby378]

12. If Dean succeeded in 2004, there wouldn't be GOP control of the House in 2011

And that Tea Party movement? It would have been neutralized in its infancy instead of being allowed to grow and fester because Dean is a pragmatist who knows how to neutralize these things.

I hear you, but Dean's pragmatism would have gone a long way in preventing some of today's problems before they even started.

[zulchzulu]

14. +1,000 n/t

[AtomicKitten]

16. That simple truth has been distorted by internet lore. nt

[karynnj]

23. Nice post

[democrank]

15. Run Howard, run.

Sometimes when winning is the only thing that matters, we lose.

[styersc]

17. People better get ready for an alternative to Obama. He acts

like he's not very interested in the job. I wouldn't be surprised to see an LBJ withdrawl ala "want to spend more time with my family" speech.

It wouldn't hurt to get a jump on another candidate.

I'd love to see Clinton, or Dean or perhaps a new face.

[derby378]

20. Magic Witch for you!

http://www.bigfishgames.com/online-games/6265/magic-witch/index.html

Enjoy! :hi:

[FrenchieCat]

26. The only face you will see is a Republican face......

cause 92% of Black folks who support Obama will say.....
Y'all white folks with the big mouths who know it all,
and created most of this fucked up shit,
can now eat our shorts, just like we've had to all of these years.

But you did make me laugh! That's something! :rofl:

[Vicar In A Tutu]

29. I suspect you are correct on this.

The most loyal Democratic demographic are going to be thinking "well...why didn't Clinton get this despite being MORE conservative in a far LESS conservative era (after Bush took the Reagan doctrine to its natural conclusion)? My inclination is that the vote would splinter and the Repubs will, as they usually do in the face of 'liberal' idiocy, capitalise. They'll probably seize the moment to do an about face and run a fake moderate 'bridge builder' and vacuum up enough of the black vote (they'll likely target church-goers) - not a huge amount, but enough of an angry demograph - to ensure that a Democrat will never, ever be elected President unless he veers sharply enough to the right to snare a decent sized percentage of the Tea Party crowd. But the people in their ivory towers will believe that someone like Dean - never a "progressive" in a month of Sundays - would be elected President regardless.

[davidwparker]

18. DEAN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Whisp]

25. he's a nice feller

but he will be as hated and despised by the megaphone minority as Obama is now.

why would he do that to himself?

[grumgrum]

28. DEAN! DEAN! DEAN! DEAN!