The Mirror Effect: Dean Is A Huge Problem For Bush

[Addison Miles]

Dean has the Bush teflon. He is Bush's mirror image as far as press coverage and voter response.

Nothing he says hurts him. The clumsier the comment, the more people like him. The greater the contradictions, the more appeal he has. The worse the performance in interviews, the more momentum he gets.

Clark, Kerry, and the others are exceptional candidates, but Dean is different. He is Bush's doppelganger.

We have our 'prince of light', the Republicans have their 'prince of darkness'. It is a Zarathustrian battle.

Addison Miles

[soleft]

1. I've said it and I've seen others express similar sentiments

The confederate flag gaff was the litmus test.

[Zynx]

2. It's an interesting comparison.

However, if both Dean(assuming he is the nominee) and Bush have nothing stick to them, how does one of them beat the other? ;)

[bobja]

4. Bush's teflon is on the ouside

...inside he's still full o' shit!

[Zynx]

6. Very true.

We just need to tear a gigantic hole in the teflon to let people see the shit.

[DrFunkenstein]

3. LMAO

Bush will eat Dean for breakfast. It will take about a weekend to paint him as a radical anti-war, gay marriage Governor of 600,000.

They put this together in about a half hour. How do you think $200 billion worth of these will look?

http://www.gop.org/Newsroom/RNCResearch/TLvideo2.htm

PS - Did you see how Dean responded under pressure? He snapped and looked like an arrogant fool. Bush will be smirking his way back to 4 more years. Think about that for awhile.

[Hep]

7. Yeah, only Dean

Because Rove and Co won't have anything on any of the others, and Rove never makes shit up.

[NewJeffCT]

8. dean on gay marriage...

I can't view the video...but,

I agree - Rover will paint Dean as an out-of-touch New England liberal who signed the gay marriarge bill into law. A few months back, I saw Dean on Larry King (my first viewing of him) and I was underwhelmed by his response to Larry King asking him about gay marriage. He seemed evasive and indecisive, mumbling about state's rights.

I've since grown to like Dean more, but if he stumbled before a lightweight like Larry King... what will happen when the real attack dogs come out?

Granted, when Clinton ran in '92, the Right painted him as the governor of the nation's poorest state...

[KaraokeKarlton]

23. If Bush makes it a battle over gay rights Dean will clean the floor with

the right wing. He's done it before and NO ONE can beat him in a debate over civil unions and gay rights. He is great at silencing criticism of the issue.

[sangh0]

25. You don't understand how it works

Bush* will make gay rights an issue with his base, but he won't go nationwide with it. He'll have his proxies make the homophobic arguments so he'll have plausible deniability. Dean isn't even going to get to confront Bush* on it.

[SahaleArm]

40. It'll be a sideshow run by Hannity, Limbaugh, and Co.

*nm*

[HFishbine]

37. Simple Question

What are your beliefs on equal rights for gay people? Are you going to repudiate a candidate who shares your views becuase the "other side" disagrees with us? Take that thinking to its extreme and you'll be drafting Zell Miller.

[piece sine]

9. unless we pull the lever for cool-as-cucumber Clark

not saying I will my the thought keeps crossing my mind and on Labor Day on was 100% Dean. My sense is that the good Doctor, at times, seems out of his element. And I, too, truly fear Bushco's $200M warchest PLUS his huge coterie of Madison Ave. spin-meisters. The corporate types are going to be marketing Bush while anti-marketing Dean like the public hasn't seen before.

Flame me if you must, but we simply have to focus on what we are up against next year. Your three years of daydreaming is almost up. Time to face the facts at hand. Buscho stomped out McCain like a knat in S.C. And they don't seem to quake at the idea that DUers feel Bushco is ruthless. In fact, I think Rove rathers like it.

Clark's candidacy is from another playbook altogether and the fact the White House is so quiet about him speaks volumes to me.

[ClintonTyree]

10. An anti-Dean post.....................

from DrFunkenstein? My gosh, what next? Sharpton was the one who jumped out of the chair ready to draw blood. I guess one see's what one wishes to see.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

13. Sorry, Funk, that dog don't hunt...

Bush/Rove have a "killer strategy" against all of our candidates. You don't think Kerry's stellar liberal record is going to be used to smack him down, too?

You only think Dean looked like "an arrogant fool" becuase you are in another camp. I've not seen any wide indication that this is the general consensus (Al Fromm excepted, LOL).

Yes we are in for a major fight, no matter who we put up there. But Dean continues to demonstrate that he has the fortitude, the appeal, and the fundraising power to win. With the union backing, he's just getting stronger...

[haymaker]

14. And more negative points for the Dr.

Good Job.

Remind me again who you want to nominate? Because I keep getting distracted by your attacks on Dean.

[mrgorth]

16. Billion?

If Bush has $200 billion God can't beat him.

[RetroLounge]

19. Hey it only took you 3 posts to Bash Dean

Whattsamatter, had to take a potty break?

Glad to see you helping Bush*, speaks volumes.

[KaraokeKarlton]

22. That's nonsense

Dean has faced a hell of a lot worse than anything the other candidates have in a campaign, and he won. Bush will be a walk in the park, and Dean won't lose his cool. He'll get a little snarky and give Bush hell, but he'll drive Bush into fits.

[sangh0]

26. That is nonsense

So far, the only thing Dean has "won" is media attention. With 18% of the vote, Dean hasn't won anything.

[jeter]

29. What do you think will happen when Dean wins NH?

If he wins Iowa, which is entirely possible with these union endorsements, it's over then and there. He is certain to win NH. Then watch his numbers rise.

There are nine candidates and numbers remain low for that reason. But when one or two emerge it will be Dean standing. The national poll means nothing. Who comes out strongest out of the gate, that's the name of the game.

Who's going to survive after losing the first few primaries?

[sangh0]

34. It depends on the margin

As far as it's being "over then and there" that's only going to happen if Dean clearly sweeps both NH and Iowa. Given the crowded fields, that's extremely unlikely.

More likely, though not yet inevitable (contrary to the fantasies of some Dean supporters), is that Dean will win one or both of those states by margins that are not that great. He will get enough of a bump to keep hinself in the race, where he'll have to fight it out with the other front-runners through the remaining primaries.

There are nine candidates and numbers remain low for that reason. But when one or two emerge it will be Dean standing. The national poll means nothing. Who comes out strongest out of the gate, that's the name of the game.

Two points:

1) When (and if) candidates drop out, their votes will NOT go to Dean. Kucinich's might go to Dean, but do you really think Lieberman's supporters are going to switch to Dean? How about Kerrys supporters? Gephardt's?

This is going to strengthen Dean's opponents, not Dean.

2) The one who comes out of the gate the strongest, is usually the one who loses. Check your campaign history.

Who's going to survive after losing the first few primaries?

Almost all of them.

[MissMarple]

5. That is an interesting point. I think you have something there.

Dean doesn't come across as a polished, practiced politician, and he does come across as a smart,sincere guy who wants to do the right things for the right reasons. And he seems quite pragmatic while keeping his integrity pretty much intact. And that is an incredibly tough thing to do in American politics.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

11. The reflection is nearly identical

people will see no reason to change.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

12. agreed..

I read this post and was confused as to how it was pro-dean. Comparing Dean's ability to be dishonest and get away with it to Bush's ability to do the same. Well I have had enough dishonesty the last 3 years.

TWL

[haymaker]

15. Another negative point from the good Dr.

Good job.

That's a beauty, Dean is identical to Bush, nice.

Who do you support for the nomination again?

[Forkboy]

18. hmmmmmm

I'm guessing...and this is just a stab in the dark....that you dont like Dean.

I think it was the 8000 negative comments from you that tipped me off.

[RetroLounge]

20. Thanks Mr. Nader.

:boring:

[MissMarple]

21. A doppleganger is not a good thing for George. It means the end is near.

It is very bad luck. The Zarathustrian (Zoroastrian)reference is fairly clear, George is the evil guy who fights the good guy. Dean's the good guy. It's from a pre-Christian Iranian religion.

Going negative now, serves no good purpose for us.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

24. Good guys don't starve helpless women to death

as Dean is advocating in Florida.

[haymaker]

27. Another negative shot by the Dr.

Good job.

I agree, let's force feed her and let her lie there for 30 more years. I do not want to get too into that woman's life because I do not know all the FACTS. But I do know it is never simple.

[sangh0]

30. Low blow

You should be ashamed

[MissMarple]

33. The woman with no cerebral cortex? Well,... that's a tough one.

Perhaps her next of kin should decide.

[Forkboy]

36. Good guys dont use her to bash candidates either

[NewYorkerfromMass]

42. Really? Dean used her to bash Jeb Bush

so tell Dean to keep her out of it.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

17. Bush's doppelganger: Rational manipulation of irrational symbols

Prince of Light vs. Price of Darkness.

[Skwmom]

28. Yeah right. Dean's teflon will end right after the Dems are duped into

making him the nominee.

[KittyWampus]

31. Dean's "Teflon" Is A Function Of The Rightwing Media

And if he gets the nomination... I ASSURE his "Teflon" will evaporate.

The only Teflon Junior or Dean has right now is a compliant press.

Case in point, Kerry lands a body blow during a debate when he says "we elect President not a staff" and yet Kristo says in the commentary right afterwards that Dean won the debate... no mention in the media of Kerry's statement.

[unfrigginreal]

32. Haha

:tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat:

[KittyWampus]

35. Case In Point #2

Kerry starts his closing statement with reference to Gun Control and then goes on to address difference tween hemself and Dean during the follow week or so... and still... media says nothing...

Case in POint #3 I've heard from the media about Clark's speech at a GOP dinner... BUT NO MENTION OF DEAN AT CATO GETTING LIONIZED.

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

[poskonig]

39. You're the guys who made Dean = McGovern the story.

Infact, establishment Democrats repeated this over and over again.

If you want to paint someone as Bushlite, calling them McGovern or Mondale is not the way to go. Don't blame the media for the crappy campaigns some of these candidates are running.

[KittyWampus]

41. Wha????????? I Never Mentioned McGovern OR Mondale

In regards to Dean. Dean is in his own league as a weak candidate in the General Election.

It's beyond weird that any Dean supporter would consider Dean as coated with Teflon like Junior and not realise that the Teflon is courtesy of a compliant press.

[poskonig]

38. Screw mysticism. Here is a rational explanation.

Whenever Dean is attacked, Dean is made the center of attention. The entire election then becomes about Dean. The same thing recently happened in California, where Democrats made the election about Arnold rather than Republican social and economic policies.

Dean is only a problem for the GOP if the economy is sour or Iraq is messed up. Still, I wouldn't underestimate the ingeniuity of the Dean campaign. They always somehow figure out a way to make lemonade out of lemons.