Like I said– Dean is going to be the Democrat nominee:
Former Gov. Howard Dean was victorious in a straw poll of Democratic activists at the Wisconsin Democratic Party convention.
Dean beat eight competing Democrats in both categories — delegates and alternates, and official guests.
John Kerry was second to Dean in the delegate count (126 to 33). Kerry also was second to Dean in the guest count (77 to 17).
Dean’s combined total of 203 topped Kerry’s combined total of 50.
bear, the (one each)
We do not need an ambulance chaser in the white house.
JKC
Well, that’s an insightful comment.
Actually, Governor Dean is an MD, not a lawyer, pro-gun and a fiscal conservative.
John runs a fairly classy site here, bear. Try to sound like you know what you’re talking about when you post, eh?
bear, the (one each)
I beg your pardon, I had him confused with… (darn, now I can’t think of his name!), that trial lawyer who in in the running.
If Dean’s pro-gun and a fiscal conservative, then he’s a darn sight better than the rest of them.
Dean
Nice goin’, JKC!
Just keep tap-dancin’ round the war, bit, and pretty soon, you’ll have fence-sitters like bear convinced that he’s actually Joe Lieberman!
JKC
Yeah, he was anti-war. Those WMD’s don’t turn up soon, and if occupation keeps sending home soldiers in body bags, that may not be such a political liability.
He’s no Lieberman. He’s never whored for the accounting industry.
the talking dog
Of course, Dean WAS helpful in passing Vermont’s civil union law. That should help him in non-Vermont rural America. Not.
Dean’s not getting the nomination. He’s an amusing sideshow– this year’s Udall/Babbitt/McCain– “thinking man’s candidate”. The blog world is not the real world; Dean hasn’t caught on out there in the real one, and I just don’t see him doing it.
The real battle for the Dems remains Kerry v. Edwards; it will sort out that way at some point.
Personally, I’m rooting for the Southerner, even if he IS a scumsucking trial lawyer.
JKC
Hey Dawg-
If all the GOP has to use against Dean is “he allowed civil unions” then they’re in far worse shape than I thought.
Too soon to tell about the nomination, though. Let’s see what happens after New Hampshire.
Dean
Dog:
Hate to disagree w/ you, but Dean HAS caught on in some quarters—Dem activists.
According to some senior Dem Party types, Dean’s got the grass-roots type support that motivated the folks who supported Gene McCarthy (some have joked that they’re “Clean for Dean” types). These are the ones who vote in primaries, and as serious, man phone banks and registration tables. He may not win the nomination, but he’ll put a scare into the other candidates.
And his positions, not just on civil unions, which will alienate many southerners I’d guess, on the war (wasn’t he the one who wasn’t sure if Iraq was better off w/o Saddam?), on missile defense (wait’ll the NKs test a No-dong again), expanding medical coverage (to “children” under age 23), and a bigger (more expensive) drug benefit for the elderly while balancing the budget will create lotsa Dem activist support, but raise questions in more than a few moderate Dem and Republican strongholds.
And let’s not call him “pro-gun” too fast, JKC. According to his platform, he believes that states should be able to set their own gun control laws. That’s well and good, until he says he’s in support of the Brady Bill, the assault weapons ban, and “close the gun show loophole”. After those “minor” points, only then he says that we should “let the states decide for themselves what, if any, additional gun control laws they want.” [Emphasis added.] A starting point that isn’t exactly “pro-gun,” IMO.
JKC
Maybe not, Dean, but Vermont ain’t Massachusetts: gun laws are fairly loose.
Dean has indeed expanded health care coverage in Vermont. Not only that, he did it while keeping the state in good fiscal health. (unlike my Republican governor here in NY) He also managed to piss off the more far-left reaches of Vermont’s progressive community fairly regularly, so I wouldn’t write off the center just yet.
If you haven’t guessed, I am intrigued by a Dean candidacy, and so far he’s my favorite in the Democratic field. Here’s a campaign idea I’d love to see tested: who left their state in better shape- George Bush or Howard Dean?
Dean
Ah, but Howard Dean’s tenure was apparently sufficient that VT then voted in a Republican governor. If he were THAT good, one would wonder how come he didn’t leave behind sufficient legacy to bring in a Dem. Why would that be?
But, the real issue will, as so many have said, the economy. If the economy’s in good shape, Dean or Lieberman or Kerry will hardly matter. If the economy’s in the doldrums or worse, then who the Dems run may matter, but then again, mebbe not.
John Cole
JKC- I have two fund raiser friends from within the Democrat party who have worked with most or all of the candidates. They absolutely hate Dean- he is/has been a total arrogant asshole to everyone around him, and the thing that pissed them off the most was that he did NOTHING to get a Democrat elected after him. NOTHING.
JKC
FWIW, I agree with Dean that if the economy is good, Junior gets a second term. As an Official Evil Democrat, this puts me in a bit of a quandary: I don’t want to see the economy tank, but I want Bush out.
John, I agree Dean should have (and didn’t) campaign for the Democratic nominee in Vermont. I don’t know if he’s a prick to work with or not. I’m curious if your Democratic fundraiser friends are with the DLC… they really dislike Dean.
Robin Roberts
Vermont gun laws are fairly “loose”, ie., reasonable. But Dean isn’t to be thanked for it and calling him “pro-gun” is quite hilarious. His actual platform and favorite issues show that Dean isn’t a serious candidate, so I find any evidence that he’ll get the nomination of the Democrat party good news for the GOP.
j
Dean will be nominated because finally the blue-collar union guys has somebody to vote for, who will not take away their guns, which is needed to carry out industrial actions. Else, only corporations will have guns (via paid security guards) and STRIKES will have no meaning. Looks like gun-banning soccer moms are the losers here, but nobody cares, they are just a bunch of illogical short-sighted idiots any way, “made” by the NY media so that the Commies can undercut the democratic process. Katie Couric is of course the Chief Idiot!