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Edited on Wed Dec-10-03 09:44 PM by KaraokeKarlton
It has nothing to do with Dean at all. Dean isn't having the successes he is from attacking Kerry. Dean never singled him out. He just said what many people were already thinking and feeling about ALL of the candidates who voted for IWR. You're right about one thing, it isn't about "me, me, me, me". It's ironic that you chose to say that, because what you are saying that others are doing, you are also doing. I think everyone does it to some extent, and you are't immune to that.
The criticism of those who voted for the Iraq war is NOT what has gotten Dean where he is. That criticism was just one of many things Dean talked about at the DNC winter meeting that got him noticed. It wasn't even so much what he said as it was the passion he said it with. It was his fire that stirred people up and the fact that he just said the same things people were thinking and feeling. The ONLY real impact Dean being against the war has done to help him is that it made people look at him earlier than they otherwise would have. It's his record and his style that held the attention of those who looked at him over Iraq. This is the number one thing that Dean's detractors don't understand. It's NOT about Iraq for MOST of Dean's supporters. It's about a lot of things.
Yes, whoever leads this country most definitely needs to understand where we fit in and what our role should be in the rest of the world. Realistically, all it takes to be good on foreign policy is to be willing to put some effort into getting good information through reliable sources, having good listening skills, common sense, a desire to make things work and a genuine sense of fairness. Anyone can get it right if they do those things. Dean has visited over 50 countries, including most Middle Eastern countries. He DOES understand the culture and societies in those places. And he does have the right qualities to be very effective and positive in foreign policy. Regarding National Defense, he wouldn't have any problems there either. To explain why I say this I'm going to tell you a little story about something that happened right after Snelling died and Dean took office in Vermont. A man named Con Hogan was the head of Health and Human Services. Dean wanted to meet with him to be briefed on his department and hear about the issues, concerns, how things worked, what didn't work, what the problems were. They had a very long meeting. Dean listened intently to everything Con Hogan told him. When the meeting was over, Dean matter of factly got up and left the room to get to work. Mr. Hogan looked at the other person in the room and made the comment that either Dean didn't understand a single word he had said or he understood it all perfectly. Well, he understood every bit of it after one sitting. He immediately got to work and lo and behold, he got all those concerns, issues and problems addressed. He approaches policy in the same way any doctor approaches practicing medicine. It works VERY effectively. Dean has a sharp, intuitive and quick mind. He is able to think on his feet and solve problems quickly and effectively. This is a very big part of the reason I support him so strongly. Fixing tough problems that seem impossible is where he shines. Lord knows we are needing some of that magic right about now.
Okay, with all that being said, this is what I honestly believe. Every one of the 9 candidates AND Bob Graham are NEEDED to fix this God awful mess we are in. Each of them offer something very unique and worthwhile to this country. Eating each other alive as is going on is HORRIBLE for this country. These folks NEED to unite and work together for the survival and recovery of this great nation. The next president absolutely MUST have executive experience, the ability to influence and motivate, and more than anything else, the ability to organize and set forth a clear and effective agenda to fix this mess we're in. Dean is the one best suited to do that. However, he also needs to surround himself with great people that he can trust to do their job. Clark needs to be the one handling the military and cleaning things up in Iraq. Edwards needs to be the Attorney General and clean up the mess in that area. Kerry needs to get to the bottom of the Intelligence and 9/11 Investigation as well as do his part in the investigations into terrorism. Braun is the most diplomatic politician I've ever seen. Send her to the UN to represent us. Gephardt should head up the Dept. of Labor. And what the hell, give Kucinich his Dept. of Peace to act as an Ambasador of good will throughout the world. Let him be the advocate of the world to the US. Sharpton and Graham have to fit in there somewhere too. I just can't think of where at the moment. Lieberman too, God help his misguided soul. I'm sure there's even something he can offer to help.
This is a damn great field of candidate who all have something to contribute. It's too bad they can't all unite and run as one whole administration against the nasty bastard currently squatting in the oval office.
We are ALL on the same team here, and it's a goddamned shame more people don't understand that.
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