Reply #16: Agree with original message but would like to add [View All]

[elsiesummers]

I really did not initially like Howard Dean one bit. I especially did not like his labelling of other Democrats as too much like Republicans. I saw it as a lack of team player spirit. I now see that it was a way of differentiating himself, but it was still frustrating to hear.

I have to say that as a candidate, Dean really grew on me. Surprisingly, as others were leaving the bandwaggon, I was becoming more and more interested in what he had to say - and still thought he had a longshot when others were writing him off.

I especially enjoyed his input in the last couple of debates - and think that in some ways he was a better candidate when he was not the front runner, and not running primarily on an anti-Iraq war theme. Looking back, it is a shame he did not shift his message earlier, to a focus on his record of balanced budgets, in the last weeks before Iowa - because he might be the front runner today. He chose to refocus his message too late in the Iowa primary, IMO.

Looking at the role the media has played, I tend to think the media targetted him early on for a great rise and fall storyline. While I was disgusted with the bandwaggon effect the media has created both for Dean and now for Kerry, I am even more appalled at the way Dean was written off after the scream. It was just one state and just one rally. Then after NH, just two states. The control of the media leaves a bitter taste.

Anyway - whatever Dean and his organization of supporters decide to do - I think he has real potential to change the party, still, and that perhaps his impact on the party has only just begun.