A challenge to read an interview and a speech.

[madfloridian]

Today I have seen possibly the worst attacks on Howard Dean than I have seen since the primary. They appear to be coming from folks who do not have a clue what he stands for. I get tired of it because he is working with DFA and its candidates about 6 days a week, and he is already visiting states since the election to meet with state groups. At least read some of his thoughts before you attack.

Our country is in trouble right now, and our party just agreed to raise the debt level...24 of our Democrats said fine ok on board with you. They could have stopped it. Dean is right to be critical of the party,and to to question them. Being critical is not attacking, it is necessary.


In this speech at the Pre-Gridiron dinner shortly after he withdrew from the face, he talks about issues, including Nafta, and has a Q&A session with many prominent reporters. It is an outstanding talk, very candid.
http://www.crocuta.net/Dean/Transcript_of_Gridiron_Speech_6March_2004.htm

In this interview with the Associated Press in June of this year, he tells of the fundamentalist preachers references and the way the room erupted. He tells how he had trouble coping with the huge crowds and the feelings of responsibility they brought out in him. He talks about the campaign.
http://www.crocuta.net/Dean/Dean_Interview_AP_June10_2004.htm

[janx]

1. How right you are, Madfloridian.

2006 is not far away, and just look at what happened last night in the Senate!

This should be our priority--not some romantic dreaming about the next presidential election!

It'll be 2005 before we know it, and then 2006, and the election will be upon us.

I hope everyone who logs onto this board will read this post of yours.

2006!

[madfloridian]

2. Yes, already getting organized.

Tired of the bashing when they don't have a clue.

[Eloriel]

3. Thanks for that link, mf

Here it is if anyone's interested: http://www.crocuta.net/Dean/General_Dean_Stuff.htm


ANd here's MY favorite Dean speech (aside from his Sacramento speech):
June 23, 2003 speech: Governor Howard Dean Announces His Candidacy for President, Burlington, Vermont, June 23, 2003
http://www.crocuta.net/Dean/Transcript_of_Deans_Candidacy_Announcement_June23_2003.htm

The thing I'd caution people to remember about Dean -- he says what he means. If he talks about noble principles or ideals, it's not just campaign rhetoric, but rather part of the REAL (real as in tangible, achievable) vision he has for America.

So, for example, when he talked about giving power back to The People, by God that's precisely what he meant AND if you were following his campaign, you would see innumerable instances where he demonstrated that in his daily actions --- it was NOT empty or pretty rhetoric for him. Never.

I said so many times during the primaries, til I was blue in the face, that if people weren't getting their information about Dean from Dean himself, diretly -- from the blog, from his appearances, from his speeches, etc. -- there was not a very good chance that they could fully understand him, what he stood for, who he was. I saw so many people work so hard to undermine him here -- based on lies and mischaracterizations. Some of them knew very well what they were doing. Some of them were here specifically for the purpose.

Can we really complain about the Repugs undermining our nominee with lies and mischaracterizations when we do that to our own candidates? Not really, not much. This kind of politics has to stop. Or the party deserve to die.

[madfloridian]

4. " economic power would one day try to seize political power. "

From the announcement speech:

SNIP..."The Americans I have met love their country. They believe deeply in its promise, our values and our principles. But they know something is wrong and they want to take action. They want to do something to right our path. But they feel Washington isn't listening. And as individuals, they lack the power to change the course those in Washington have put us on.

What they know is that somehow 7 trillion dollars of our country's wealth disappeared. Nearly 1 in 10 retired people have had to return to the workforce because they have lost their pensions. Young people are returning to live at home after graduating because they cannot find work.

Companies are leaving the country to avoid paying taxes, or to avoid paying people livable wages. And corporations are doing this with the support of the government and a political process in Washington that they rent -- if not own.

This was the fear that James Madison and Thomas Jefferson spoke of -- the fear that economic power would one day try to seize political power.

Theodore Roosevelt said it best, "Every special interest is entitled to justice full, fair and complete....but not one is entitled to a vote in Congress, to a voice on the bench or to representation in any public office."

[greenohio]

5. Ok, so now I read he is pro NAFTA.

Thank you this has been very helpful. No wonder you guys won't list his "core principles" that he is true to, that Kerry wasn't.

So, in his own words, he is an "economic conservative." He's pro gun AND he's pro NAFTA? He had no plan on Social Security (we'll grow our way out?) He cut taxes in Vermont.

You know, it is ok to like a guy. He is working his tail off for the party or DFA, which I hope is to build the party.

Just drop the "holier than thou" he sticks to principles crap. Because its a full load.