Should Dean stay in to soften Kerry up for Bush?

[quinnox]

First off, I have no problem with Dean staying in as long as he concentrates his fire on Bush. But what if Kerry in March sweeps all the big states and Dean no longer has a chance of winning.

In this scenario, I don't think Dean should stay in and continually attack Kerry when he has no shot at the nomination.

Wouldn't it help Bush if Dean does his dirty work for him all the way to the convention?

[RetroLounge]

1. If Kerry can't take it, then he's the wrong guy

eom

[KC21304]

20. I don't think Kerry is complaining.

Remember it was Dean who was whining to Mc Auliffe before he had won even one delegate in a primary or caucus that the other upstarts and the media were sniping at him. He wanted to know why Mc Auliffe wasn't protecting him.

You don't see Kerry whining, even though he has won 10 of 12.

[LuminousX]

2. Too much speculation

and like the third thread on this topic.

[pezcore64]

6. lol

the mice sure scurry when the cat comes back in the house ;)



It isnt over! the DEAN MACHINE goes on!

Come on people!
what happened to the Dean people that i knew from before New Years. The never say die Deaniacs? The Deaniacs who would just stand up taller everytime someone tried to knock them down??

The time is now my friends!

join the revolution!

[StopTheMorans]

17. the revolution has stalled

i'm one of the 600,000 who became disillusioned and is currently supporting someone else, yet still gets counted as one of the "but we still have 600,000 fervent, non-transerable supporters".

[not systems]

3. Dean should stay in to toughen Kerry up to beat Bush...

or win the nomination himself then beat Bush.

Go DEAN!!!

[Anwen]

4. Dean might be doing Kerry a favor.

Dean's attacks on Kerry are NOTHING compared to the ugly and nasty attacks the Republicans can't wait to unleash on him.

The longer the primary, the less time Republicans have to attack our nominee.

:-)

[LizW]

9. Exactly.

Listen to every Republican strategist on the news channels. They can't wait for Dean to drop out. It's all they talk about. They are salivating for Dean to go, so they can start shredding Kerry.

[Debi]

5. Because Kerry was totally hands off..

When Dean had the lead!! That's right, just as nice and sweet as peach pie, didn't say a damn thing about Howard Dean. Held his tounge on Mediscare. Wouldn't SMEAR a fellow Democrat....

[pezcore64]

7. lol!

I hope thats a joke!
hahaha!
Kerry was hands off when dean had the lead...

would you please direct me to your fantasy land, i need some time off ;)

[Debi]

16. Oh, wow

I didn't think I was making a joke...but I'm glad to have made you smile today...

[lancdem]

8. I don't think that's Dean's motive here

Really, I don't. He said he will support the nominee, and I take him at his word. Besides, I don't think the attacks on Kerry by other Dems are making much of a difference.

[progressivebydesign]

31. If Clinton had given up at this same point...

Hmmm.. think about that. Dean is still statistically viable, and very much alive in the race. I getting tired of the attitude that Dean is standing in someone's way right now. Hey.. convention isn't till the summer, 84% of the voters haven't had their say yet. Why rush things and let the Democrats disappear from the media while Bush works his "charm offensive"???? What's the rush?

[youngred]

10. No Dem should be attacking the others

disagreement on policy choice yes, but attacking each other is horrid.

Yes, they should all stay in as long as they can

[Carl21014]

11. Dean should stay in to soften up Bush!

Dean should leave Kerry alone and be the attack dog that keeps Bush's feet to the fire.

[Forkboy]

12. Jeez,not too much of a loaded question

:eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

13. Freepers think it is a great idea. They are already sending him money

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1074485/posts

To: bcopay
Gotta send some more $$$ to Dean.

Go Dean!!

(Paid for by the Republicans for Dean committee)

5 posted on 02/09/2004 9:39:11 AM PST by Skywarner (Freedom isn't Free. Remember our WWII vets!)
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies >

[joshcryer]

19. Better idiot freepers than PACs' :)

:)

[Feanorcurufinwe]

26. You must be referencing the fact that Kerry has always refused PAC money

[BL_Zebub]

23. If the Freepers want to finance Dean's campaign, let them!

All the less money they have to fund Bush, right?

[cprise]

14. Soften??

Dean is prompting a lot of embarassing media for BushCo simply by forcing the candidates to debate the issues:

Bush was wrong to lead us into Iraq.

Bush is not focusing on Al Queda.

Bush and his friends have looted the economy.


Criticising Kerry for being soft on Bush's behavior does NOT provide Bush with ammo.

[revcarol]

15. Strange post, IMHO.

Dean should stay as long as he wants to, and no longer, and he isn't softening anyone up for anything.

THE CANDIDATE, WHOEVER IT IS, WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH BUSH AND HIS GREED MACHINE EVENTUALLY.

[Taeger]

18. NOPE

I think there is a real argument over whether Kerry is the RIGHT candidate to beat Bush.

If Dean stays in, he keeps first round ballots away from Clark and Edwards. Both of which I think would make a BETTER candidate then Kerry.

Unlike Kucinich, Dean was in the race to win. He was never a "protest" candidate.

[killbotfactory]

21. Freedom of speech and democracy sucks...

How dare Dean criticize the chosen one!

[AlinPA]

22. Dean has fired up the party. Maybe staying with it will keep

the party's energy level up?

[Feanorcurufinwe]

24. Yes, Dean should keep up the baseless attacks against Kerry

The more bogus charges are examined and discarded now, the less ammo there is for Bush to use in the fall.

[corporatewhore]

25. gee if kerry doesnt win its all deans fault? if kerry would be hurt by his

own party's criticism then he is not electable

[library_max]

27. Here's an easier question to answer.

If Dean stays in, would it be better for him, the party, and the country if he concentrates his attacks on the Bush administration rather than on fellow Democrats?

Obviously, yes. It's better for him because at this point, going negative can't possibly improve his status (just help one of the others), but taking the high road would give him stature and might give him a boost, next time if not this time. It's better for the party because it helps us win in November no matter who the nominee is (even if it's Dean himself). And anything that helps get Bush out is obviously better for the country.

Just as obviously, it would have been better for the candidates, the party, and the country if they had kept it positive and concentrated on the failures and vices of the Bush administration from the beginning. But politics is what it is, not what we want it to be. And regardless of strategy, I don't think any of us has the right to wish Gov. Dean out of the race at this point.

[rock]

28. Nope. He should stay in because it's the right thing to do.

[JasonDeter]

29. Dean already tried and Kerry kicked his I got a scream butt

out of Iowa and then N.H. and on and on and on. We're going to find out just how much character Dean has when it comes to the general election. Just how hard is he going to fight for Kerry to get bush* out of the W.H.? That will be Dean's legacy, NOT his anti war stance.

[Cuban_Liberal]

30. I think Dean should stay in.

Maybe he can help exploit the 'buyer's remorse' that almost always exists about the 'presumptive nominee', and we can select a superior candidate to run against Bush in November.

[Moderator]

32. Locking.....

1. If you start a thread in this forum, you must present your opinion in a manner that is not inflammatory, which respects differences in opinion, and which is likely to lead to respectful discussion rather than flaming. The moderators have the sole authority to decide whether a thread topic is inflammatory. Extremely inflammatory or inappropriate topics will be deleted rather than locked, and the thread's author will receive a warning.


DU Moderator