"Howard Dean and his fringe followers" (Natl Ledger)

[mandyky]

http://www.nationalledger.com/scribe/archives/2005/03/howard_dean_bri.shtml

I know, I know, consider the course, BUT we have to find a way to counter such charges that Dean and Dean supporters are fringe.

<snip>
Raising money has never seemed to be an issue for the former Governor of Vermont. He raised tens of millions of dollars last year during the Democratic primaries, but flamed out in Iowa. His problem has always been his fringe message. While he can get like-minded individuals to donate, that cash is useless without a coherent message that the American voter can grasp and get excited about.
</snip>

How much more fringe can one get than think Rapture is around the corner and actively egging it on with such words as "nuke Mecca" and the like? I am not even sure what they think Dean fringe message is -
is it gay rights? anti-Iraq position?

[rfranklin]

1. Yes, if you consider the PNAC attack Iraq and take their oil plan,,,

to be the mainstream, then that statement makes sense.

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. Call me cynical

"without a coherent message that the American voter can grasp "

But I am not real sure that the typical voter can grasp much beyond “axes of evil” and “You’re either with us or against us," these days.

[Todd B]

3. Huh?

Huh, now what is so fringe about the fact that we should balance the budget and not let spending go out of control? Or the fact that we should let the states decide on what to allow rather then lunatic religious nutbags? I mean, he was pretty much the ONLY one right about Iraq, so that couldn't be it, now could it? <rolleyes>

I guess since he doesn't have a jingoistic, "shoot first, ask questions later" gung-ho message he's just part of a "fringe group".

I knew that the right was afraid of Dean, but I didn't think they'd start with their rhetoric this soon.

[ClintonTyree]

4. They'll see how "fringe" we are...............

when they wake up the first Wednesday in November, 2006 with their asses in their hands.

And WHY did he "flame out in Iowa". The media constantly showing the "Dean scream" out of context and a few dirty tricks from the Kerry campaign.

They're scared to death of Dean. Why do you think they're demonizing him so far in advance?

Howard's going to make them wish they'd never been born.

[Skidmore]

5. Howard needs to call the biggest meet-up in the universe

for the Democratic party--a weekend of conferences and rallies and forums. Hold it somewhere that the press can't ignore--a major city centrally located so the average person doesn't have to migrate acroos the entire country to get to the either DC or NY. How about giving Chicago or St. Louis some action? Take this to the heartland. It should be something on the order of what Tavis Smiley does every year (actually, an annual event would provide some continuity and cohesiveness at a time when the party is perceived of as unorganized). It needs to be associated with developing a document for the party to work from until the platform drafting process occurs during the 08 election year. People are only hearing the reverberations of the RW echo chamber. We need some actions steps--translate our own musings into a larger message. This could be used get out the principles the party stands for and to kick off coordinated local efforts as well.

[sendero]

7. That is......

.... an interesting idea. It might not be practical for enough people tho - and that number of folks would certainly strain any capacity of the locals to handle.

Maybe just 50 statewide meetups would work.

In any event, when I read the sort of rhetoric the "ledger" is spouting, I laugh. "Methinks thou dost protesteth too much" comes to mind. :)

[Jacobin]

6. Funny, they never mention what these 'fringe' positions are

Oh, wait, I know:

Balanced budget
Don't start wars on a pretext
Provide medical insurance for americans
Separation of church and state

My Gawd, where would we be if he had influence and got his agenda in place. :crazy: