Who Is Really Responsible For The New Energy In The Democratic Party

[THUNDER HANDS]

I guess by the options I'm including in this poll you can kinda tell where I'm leading with this. But I was just curious if anyone else shared my views on this.

So lets find out...

Was it (a) Howard Dean, who channeled the anger of Democrats into something positive.

Or was it (b) George W. Bush, who caused all the anger in the first place and created the circumstances to which Dean could be the first candidate to channel the anger.

[bigwillq]

1. Going with the good DR.

He is responsible for making me interested in politics

[rucky]

2. If those are the choices, I'll vote A

It's not unusual to gripe about the guy in charge, but it takes a leader to pull people out of their sense of apathy & powerlessness.

[JuniorPlankton]

3. I think * did a lot to strengthen the ABB sentiment.

Dean did more than any other Democrat though.

[LuminousX]

4. Bush put the boulder on my back, Dean was the Atlas who removed it.

[krkaufman]

5. Option 3

Can't have one without the other. It's like the 'Unbreakable' superhero/supervillian symbiosis; one doesn't exist without the other.

Though, it might be noted that myriad other Democrats could have taken up the battle cry some time since January 2001, but Dean & Gore were pretty much alone (with Wes Clark criticizing the admin from the Independent camp) until other P-candidates began parroting the verbage and tone of Dean's assault on Bush.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Dean is a symptom. eom

[TexasSissy]

6. Dean. But you don't always marry the guy you go to the dance with.

One is for funsies. But you marry the stable guy.

[pocoloco]

8. bush*

From the day bush* was sworn in as governor the handwriting has been on the wall for all to see!

[AntiCoup2K4]

9. Well,I know I've been angry with Bush all along, but I can't say it about

the "establishment" DLC Dems.

There was no anger in 2002, when the ass kissing pink tutus cost us a mid term election which should have been a cakewalk, given Junior's domestic disasters.

The anger is not just with Bush, but also with the Appeasement "Democrats" who seem to be more on his side, and the corporatists' side than they are the American people. And the first candidate to articulate that message was Howard Dean.

So rather than address the very real reasons for him, or me, or anyone to BE angry, they distort the message to be nothing but "anger", because it means they can avoid dealing with their own massive hypocrisy.

If they get away with this, I hope you all survive Junior's second term to learn the very painful lessons that will result. I doubt very much I'll be sticking around for it. But first, I'd much rather make sure things never get that bad. Dump the DLC Kerronation and nominate a candidate who can actually win. Dean in 2004!!

[dumpster_baby]

10. The Internet is responsible for the new energy

The GOP was and still is in large part a top down propaganda machine. And in part the Demo party was and still is like that. But I think the DEm party is getting a new direction from the Internet. THe Net enables organization and meme propagation for what really should be a party dedicated to empowering people as opposed to corporate entities.

[edzontar]

11. Dean has been and remains the only candidate who actually MATTERED

We may end up anointing the busines-as-usual duo of Kerry and Edwards, but Dean is the one who actuallty stood for something, and not only that, made a MOVEMENT out of it.

He gave me hope for this country, for a litttle while at least...and that was for the first time in years.

[Old and In the Way]

12. Credit goes to Bush....he definitely united us.

Dr. Dean certainly tapped into the negative energy of our collective reactions to the Bush "War on Democrats" and was an early voice in annunciating our disgust for this administration.

So the chicken (Bush) did come before the egg (Dean).

[kerry-is-my-prez]

13. Trippi and moveon.org are responsible

n/t

[BootinUp]

14. No contest - Bush and the whole BFEE

[Hep]

15. Dean, and you'll know it's true when a non dean president is ousted

after one term.

[flpoljunkie]

16. George W. Bush

[kaitykaity]

17. Great poll question. Came into the thread thinking Dean,

then saw the options.

Bush is a polarizing figure, has done more to split this country than anyone could have imagined--except maybe hardcore DUers who refused to "move on, get over it". The base has been mad at the stolen election, and Dean had the guts to speak to that anger before any of the pink tutu's stopped shaking in their toe shoes at going against the great Pretender's high approval numbers.

[boxster]

18. Even Howard Dean would probably answer this poll with GWB!

:D

[mot78]

19. * because without him Dean's rise wouldn't have happened

[Damn Hippie]

20. I became a Democrat because of Bush

but Dean made me feel good about it.

One guy gives me hope, the other gives me nightmares.

[BootinUp]

21. Hi you Damn Hippie :)

(Thats probably the only time I'll be able to say/type those words in my life)


Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[THUNDER HANDS]

22. you have an awesome screen name

I wonder nobody's used it before. It fits so well here. :hi:

[Damn Hippie]

25. Thanks

In 1972 I was a 13 year old kid with long hair. Some older boys with crew cuts pulled me into an alley and beat me to a pulp. The only thing I remember being said was "Damn Hippie".

When I got home, covered with blood and tears, my Dad made me get a haircut.

[Bonobo]

23. Needs a new option...the people!

I would have said Dean, but remember, it is people behind the Dean movement. In fact, they are much more important than Dean himself.

[dae]

24. Many factors but, Dean gave voice to my anger.