Why doesn't Dean get more credit for midterm victory?

[clarquistador]

It's truly amazing, has Dean spoken out at all in response to the bashing he's received from various quarters of his party?

What? Should we bring back Terry McAwful and his winning strategy of losing?

[marmar]

1. The level of venom and nastiness leveled at Howard Dean....

from within and outside of the Democratic Party is something I haven't seen since Monicagate.

[The Magistrate]

2. What 'Bashing', Sir?

There really ahs been very little criticism from within the Party. Persons like Carville are hardly officials, after all.

There is no good purpose served by stirring up controversies where none actually exist.

[clarquistador]

3. Carville is a fairly public figure and he's connected to important people

and if I recall, Al From said something not so nice as well.

[The Magistrate]

5. He Is Of No Importance Whatever, Sir

He is no longer employed much at his trade, for one thing. Mr. From dislikes Gov. Dean, and has for some while. So what?

[Why Syzygy]

7. Does anyone take Carville seriously?

Really? Sleeping with the mad hatter and the tv fiasco? And the man is supposed to possess judgment? Not.

[clarquistador]

9. I loved him in "Old School". n/t

[madfloridian]

12. Well, Carville was just on C-Span today diagnosing the election...

I did not watch, but of course Carville is given credibility...or he would not be speaking on C-Span as a Democratic strategist.

[delphinium]

14. lol

Actually, everybody ends up on C-SPAN.

[Why Syzygy]

15. credibility?

A camera hog? So be it. He is no strategist.
Except in this vein. Whatever he says, do the opposite.

[madfloridian]

25. You would be amazed at how many people just love Carville...

cause he's so cute and funny. We used to feel that way until we really paid attention. But to the average person watching, thinking he's funny and cute with such a cute name (Ragin cajun)...he can be very credible.

[Why Syzygy]

4. I didn't see one.

And thankful of that.

[Leftisalwaysright]

6. Yikes

When compared to Terry McAuliffe everyone seems like a genius!

[The Magistrate]

10. McAuliffe Was Good At Raising Money, Sir

And had decent attack-dog moments now and then. He certainly was no visionary, and Gov. Dean is certainly that.

[Why Syzygy]

17. woo hoo

Magistrate comes over to the Dean ailse. I missed that episode. Welcome.

[The Magistrate]

18. Thank You, Ma'am, Though It Is Not A New Development

He was not my preffered candidate on the '04 primaries, and his elevation ro Party Chairman worried me a little. But he has proved himself excellent in that office, and deserves congratulation for the manner in which he has discharged its duties. His "50 State" strategy is certainly the correct course for the Party organization, and he is clearly a fighter at heart, which goes a long way with me.

[cali]

19. He's also a very canny politician

that often goes unaknowledged, but as someone who observed him for many years before he hit the national scene, I can assure you that it is so. He will play this game far better than his detractors.

[bahrbearian]

20. Your Honor , Dean raisied more money than McAuliffe,

and most of the money was grass roots money,

[The Magistrate]

23. That Is One Of Gov. Dean's Great Contributions, Sir

Mr. McAuliffe raised more funds for the Party than it had previosuly enjoyed, but the base was pretty narrow.

Gov. Dean demonstrated in his primary campaign, and further in his Chairmanship, the great potentional of retail fund-raising by electronic means. In the long run, it seems to me, this is the most promising manner of reducing large-donor and corporate influence. It is quite possible, as more and more people get involved, and avail themselves of the capability to easily make each their own small donation, that the sums raised by this means will come to surpass, and even to dwarf, the contributions of the large donors. That is an outcome devoutly to be desired.

[cali]

8. If Dean doesn't care-

and he doesn't, then why should you?

[clarquistador]

11. Dr. Dean is a class act.....

but I think some people in DC had too much hubris to afford Dr. Dean even an ounce of credit.

[delphinium]

16. A lot of people inside the Beltway

are out of it. I wouldn't worry. Dean can handle whatever comes his way. His 50-state strategy is a good one.

[Why Syzygy]

13. It's a Clark thing

obviously. Terminal from what I've heard. Never to grace the shores of progressive. :yawn:
But I do admire the General.

[jgraz]

21. Luckily, I think all this anti-Dean crap is dying down

One case where truth is actually winning out.

[HardWorkingDem]

22. Nice lead essay in the new Nation magazine.....

The Nation does a half-page lead essay on Dean and Carville's idiotic comments toward him in the new issue (Fall books issue).

It basically said how Carville is doing the DLC, Clinton knife work and how all other lead Dems have come to accept Dean was right about going nationwide with his strategy.

[davidwparker]

24. Welcome to DU.

One aspect is that the establishment is afraid of Dean because he brings the people behind him.

When you bring the people with you and people give their small donations, you start to eliminate corporate-sponsored politicians. When you listen to the people, overpaid, ineffective political consultants lose their grip.

Dean is anti-establishment thinking.

[madfloridian]

26. Robert Reich had some great ideas on this.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/madfloridian/652

He gives 3 good reasons for Carville's attacks, and it may explain why they are not giving him credit.