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My Name is Howard Dean, and I Represent the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party

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  • My Name is Howard Dean, and I Represent the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party

    Who is this guy?

    I never thought that the GOP posed a threat to the well-being of our nation. But these days, I no longer recognize my old party.


    On the campaign trail with the un-Bush
    Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean blasts fellow Democratic presidential candidates for trying to "me too" the "most dangerous presidency since Herbert Hoover."

    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    By Jake Tapper



    Feb. 19, 2003 | BURLINGTON, Vt. -- As we make our way back to his home in Burlington, Vt., after a full day of campaigning in neighboring New Hampshire, Howard Dean -- internist, former Vermont governor, Democratic presidential hopeful -- turns to me and smiles. His eyes brighten mischievously. He has some nasty scoop to share with me.

    It's about Howard Dean.

    It begins back in August 1991 shortly after Dean, then 43, became governor under tragic circumstances. As lieutenant governor, a part-time job in Vermont, Dean had kept his medical practice, and was in his office performing a physical on a patient when he was interrupted with news that Gov. Richard Snelling, a Republican, had dropped dead next to his swimming pool. That physical would be the last medical act that Dean would perform. Three days later, he would be in Washington, meeting with elected officials as a member of the National Governors Association, whose chairman, Gov. Roy Romer, D-Colo., had quickly assigned him to chair its healthcare task force.

    But that's just background; the story Dean wants to tell me happened when he and Romer met with the Democratic House leadership, including House Speaker Tom Foley, D-Wash., Majority Leader **** Gephardt, D-Mo., and others. Dean, he recalls, was brash. He remembers telling Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the Democrats' leader on healthcare reform, that he "didn't know what he was talking about." Then, he told Foley that healthcare reform was an issue that needed to be tackled, and that the governors were prepared to lead the way.

    Foley told him to hold back, that the Democrats wanted to do it at the congressional level.

    "Well, why don't you?" Dean asked.

    Foley told him that the Democrats, who then held more than a 100-seat advantage in the House, didn't have the votes.

    "Well, then let us do it at the state level," Dean said.

    Foley told him that he'd prefer if they didn't.

    Exasperated, Dean lashed out, saying, "Well, Mr. Speaker, if I were in charge of an organization that had a 25 percent approval rating, I might move on healthcare one way or another."

    There was silence in the room. Finally, Foley smiled.

    "Actually, it's 27 percent," Foley joked.

    Finishing the story, he smiles again. Later, over breakfast at Henry's Diner in Burlington, he says, "It's not a story that reflects well on me. I hope I've matured since those days."


    On Face the Nation this morning Bob Schieffer talked about the memorable phrases from election campaigns past: "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" "It's the economy, stupid." etc. The first memorable phrase of this campaign was uttered yesterday by Vermont gov, Howard Dean.

    So where the heck did the Dem's find a man with a back bone?
    Christianity: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree...

  • #2
    You'd think that he'd give Wellstone credit for that line.
    I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
    For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio

    Comment


    • #3
      Personally, I'm hoping that Gary Hart gets in the race.
      I make no bones about my moral support for [terrorist] organizations. - chegitz guevara
      For those who aspire to live in a high cost, high tax, big government place, our nation and the world offers plenty of options. Vermont, Canada and Venezuela all offer you the opportunity to live in the socialist, big government paradise you long for. –Senator Rubio

      Comment


      • #4
        I don't know where they found him, but I like him more than anyone else in the field. Sadly, I think he'll get the same kind of treatment that McCain did from his party.

        But I'm all for Dean in 2004!
        Tutto nel mondo è burla

        Comment


        • #5
          I'm sure he'd make the best Democratic Presidential contender since George McGovern...
          If you look around and think everyone else is an *******, you're the *******.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Timexwatch
            I'm sure he'd make the best Democratic Presidential contender since George McGovern...
            Maybe that would be appropriate to go up against the worst Republican president since Warren G. Harding.
            Tutto nel mondo è burla

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Boris Godunov
              I don't know where they found him, but I like him more than anyone else in the field. Sadly, I think he'll get the same kind of treatment that McCain did from his party.

              But I'm all for Dean in 2004!
              To us, it is the BEAST.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Boris Godunov


                Maybe that would be appropriate to go up against the worst Republican president since Warren G. Harding.
                I think it would be more appropriate to say that Dean will be the most successful socialist candidate for President since Eugene Debs
                If you look around and think everyone else is an *******, you're the *******.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Or that Bush will have the most successful re-election campaign since, well, his daddy.

                  And Dean isn't a socialist by any means. He's very much a moderate, especially fiscally.
                  Tutto nel mondo è burla

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Dean's a great guy, but he's too honest and idealistic to be running for one of the big two parties... the McCain scenario Boris mentioned is probably the most likely course for him. I'll be rooting for Dean all the way because he'd get America back on track. Strong economy, universal health care, and he'd put a stop to this stupid imperialism that is fostering anti-American hate and terrorism.
                    To us, it is the BEAST.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Dean isn't easily catagorized. He's not fully liberal, but compared to what they've had in the Democratic Party leadership for the last 15 years, he's a torch waving revolutionary. Vermonts liberals aren't too happy with him, however, as he's slashed quite a few of their pet projects. They were pissed enough to give the Vermont Progressive Party 10% of the vote for governor last time around.

                      I just like this guy cuz he's sticking it to the Dems.
                      Christianity: The belief that a cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree...

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Dean is pro-gun, so he won't get the nomination from the Democrats. You can count the Center for Handgun Control will be on a crusade to prevent him from gettting the nomination. Too much of the democratic party base is fiercly anti-gun to ever nominate Dean-- that is unless he is willing to change his ideals to fit the situation, but if thats the case so much for a democratic with a spine.
                        "I'm moving to the Left" - Lancer

                        "I imagine the neighbors on your right are estatic." - Slowwhand

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                        • #13
                          So where the heck did the Dem's find a man with a back bone?


                          [cue one-liner]

                          Vermont
                          12-17-10 Mohamed Bouazizi NEVER FORGET
                          Stadtluft Macht Frei
                          Killing it is the new killing it
                          Ultima Ratio Regum

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Shi Huangdi
                            Dean is pro-gun, so he won't get the nomination from the Democrats. You can count the Center for Handgun Control will be on a crusade to prevent him from gettting the nomination. Too much of the democratic party base is fiercly anti-gun to ever nominate Dean-- that is unless he is willing to change his ideals to fit the situation, but if thats the case so much for a democratic with a spine.
                            THe only problem is that the Democrats have come to realize the gun issue is hurting them, since the fierce anti-gun crowd is likely going to vote Democrat anyway. The GOP used the issue to hammer them all over the South, and one can attribute the loss of West Virginia, a Democrat stronghold, to the gun issue almost solely. That's why Lieberman has been far more conciliatory on the subject.

                            I'm willing to bet there is more room in the Democratic party for a pro-gun candidate than there is for an anti-gun candidate in the GOP.
                            Tutto nel mondo è burla

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              "Vermonts liberals aren't too happy with him, however, as he's slashed quite a few of their pet projects. They were pissed enough to give the Vermont Progressive Party 10% of the vote for governor last time around."

                              This isn't entirely true - this isn't a sign that they're mad at him, it's more a sign that Vermont is incredibly, truly liberal. Also Dean isn't "Pro-Gun" per se: he just believes that the rules as they are now are adequate federally, and he believes that states should have the right to make up their own gun control laws.
                              He came to my college and made a speech, and also stuck around to talk to us kids after. I was actually able to meet him, talk, shake his hand etc. Very good speaker and a very nice guy as well. He has a very honorable and presidential air about him, and he is really serious about this presidential campaign, I feel. I don't think he's doing it just to say that he ran for the presidency - I think he's out for the jugular this year.
                              Also, in person he looks like the hologram from Quantum Leap. And I think it would be cool to have a president who looks like that.
                              "mono has crazy flow and can rhyme words that shouldn't, like Eminem"
                              Drake Tungsten
                              "get contacts, get a haircut, get better clothes, and lose some weight"
                              Albert Speer

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