Ted Rall: Elegy For The Most Electable Candidate

[stickdog]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=127&ncid=742&e=7&u=/uclicktext/20040217/cm_ucru/howiewehardlyknewye

HOWIE, WE HARDLY KNEW YE

NEW YORK--At least they didn't shoot Howard Dean (news - web sites). Usually, when an American political figure speaks truth to power, he ends up conveniently dead. RFK, Malcolm X, some say Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone: all martyrs to the quaint ideal of telling it as it is as loudly as possible. Like them, Dean scared the establishment. His aggressive style roused youngsters whom aging Boomers prefer to see somnolent. His populist Internet-based fundraising freed him from the corporate donors whose influence keeps the citizens of the world's richest nation living under a Third World system of social protections. Al Gore (news - web sites)'s endorsement transformed a candidate who came out of nowhere (Vermont) into a genuine threat to the southern conservatives who have hijacked the Democratic Party since 1992. Dean was a pro-business moderate, yet he stood poised to radically transform both his party and the American political system. Of course he had to go.

The same journalists who issued get-out-of-scrutiny passes to George W. Bush for everything from electoral fraud to assassinating U.S. citizens he declares "enemy combatants" to lying about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction nailed Dean for, of all things, "screaming" into a microphone the night he lost the Iowa caucuses. (For the record, those in the audience say, they could barely hear him over the din of the crowd.) The Hotline political newsletter reported that national TV news programs aired Dean's "I Have a Scream" speech 633 times within four days--and that's not counting local news or talk shows. Even Roger Ailes, the right-wing svengali pulling the strings at Fox News, conceded that it was "overplayed a bit." According to the Center for Media and Public Affairs, only 39 percent of Dean's coverage was positive during the following week, compared to 86 percent for John Edwards (news - web sites) and 71 percent for current frontrunner John Kerry (news - web sites).

One indignity followed another--all because, God forbid, the guy got a tad rambunctious. "Is Dean Too Angry?" headlines spread across the nation. DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe, who refused to run interference for Dean when he was leading the pack, stepped into the fray to protect Kerry. "Democrats are still so angry about Al Gore's loss in 2000 and the Iraq (news - web sites) war that they simply will not stand for intramural squabbling," the New York Times quoted McAuliffe on February 17. "I'd much rather have a unified party with money in the bank." (He was singing a different tune in December.) Dean has the second largest number of delegates, yet the media refers to Edwards as Kerry's principal challenger.

Judging by Kerry's unwillingness to go for the jugular on Bush's AWOL year and his waffling on gay marriage, Dean would probably have been the more electable Democrat come this fall. I suspect that his integrity and intelligence would have made him a finer president.

[Bake]

1. If I'm not mistaken, this is the same Ted Rall

who just a scan month or two ago was urging all the rest of the Democratic field to step aside and unite around Gov. Dean.

Just goes to show, we have to let the process play out. I don't think the remaining candidates need to step aside for John Kerry (who happens to be MY guy at this point, since Clark gave it up). There's still a lot of votes to be EARNED.

Bake

[DaisyUCSB]

35. He also wrotea column that justified(in his eyes) Iraqis killing US troops

http://www.uexpress.com/tedrall/?uc_full_date=20031111

I know the term "crazy left" is used mostly by right-wingers, but if ever it applied, it's this excuse for a journalist.

It's so ignorant and narrow-minded it hurts. People like him are one of the reasons I'm not jumping on the band wagon and saying that Dean was a positive influence on the party

[asthmaticeog]

44. That article

...does not "justify" killing American soldiers. It's a speculative view into the minds and reasons of those who'd do so - it's called "empathy." It's a neat little trait that makes those of us who avail ourselves of it more reasonable humans. Our soldiers, in case you hadn't noticed, are an illegal invasion force. It should hardly come as a surprise that some Iraqis would want to kill them. That's why we who oppose this invasion want those troops brought home. Get it?

[NashVegas]

2. God Bless Ted Rall

And all the others who're refusing to fall in line.

[dsc]

3. Dean and his supporters were constantly trashed

to the point that the idea of gay bashing was laughed at on MTP. No media watchdog said a word.

[mzmolly]

4. I worried about Dean's life on occassion too Mr. Rall.

Thanks for the article Stickdog.

[eileen_d]

5. I'm sorry, but this is a bit ironic

"Electability" is for the sheeple... unless it's used to describe Dean
Obituaries for Dean in the media are bad... unless they lionize Dean

Yes, the media has been unfair to Dean... but come on! Where is the OUTRAGE that Rall is eulogizing before all the votes are counted?

[stickdog]

14. Dean is the most electable candidate. Obits are bad no matter what.

However, I've always had a soft spot for Ted Rall.

How about you?

[eileen_d]

17. If Dean is the most electable

then why are people complaining that people are voting for Kerry solely on the basis of "electablility"?

As for Rall, I've liked some of his pieces, disagreed with others. No particular "soft spot."

[stickdog]

23. I don't know. Why don't you tell me what in the world makes anyone think

John Kerry will beat Bush?

What issue does he have other than the spent Vietnam vs. AWOL card?

[eileen_d]

25. Kerry's strong on plenty of issues

Not as strong as some would like.

I think John Kerry can beat Bush. I think Dean could have beaten Bush too. I don't think Dean is going to get a chance to find out, and my opinion is that Dean's confrontational style is not what many voters want in a president.

[stickdog]

28. Dean is strong on Bush's biggest failings: Iraq, record deficits,

record job losses, shitty healthcare boondoggles.

What will be Kerry's issues vs. Bush?

[eileen_d]

29. Here

http://www.johnkerry.com/issues/ ;)

[Zomby Woof]

6. pro-business moderates...

...do NOT change anything, so the reasons Dean has lost all of the primaries and fallen from first place in the polls is Because. People. Don't. Like. Him.

That, and people can see through faux-populism and phony anti-establishment rhetoric.

[KissMyAsscroft]

7. No, people were too stupid to see...

A true reformer with a plan that will affect real change for the better.

They failed to realize that actions speak louder than words, and Dean was going to have to play politics to get elected.

The right was smart enough to know that Bush was not a "compassionate conservative" when he was running in the primaries, yet the left wouldn't give Dean the benefit of the doubt on flip-flops that he has to make to remain politically viable.

It's why the left loses, time and time again.

[Zomby Woof]

11. so if people don't like Dean

They're stupid?

[eileen_d]

12. I'm with stupid!

:hi:

[BL_Zebub]

43. Stupid isn't the word I would use

More like "deceived by the corporate media and the Republican shitheads posing as "Democratic Party" leadership."

[billbuckhead]

8. Dean was given 8 "A" ratings from the NRA

How good a guy could Dean be?

[dsc]

9. The same exact grade and position

that Bernie Sanders has does he suck too?

[Cuban_Liberal]

16. So?

The NRA is also very actively involved in conservation efforts, and those 'A' ratings also reflect that. It's NOT just 'all guns all the time', something an NRA member like myself would know.

[stickdog]

18. Clark was given Michael Moore's endorsement!

Obviously, Clark's a Green who was drafted to subvert the Democratic Party from the inside!

[Jacobin]

21. Yeah. That's awful. The dems might have actually won a red state

can't have that.

BTW, I have a rifle and a shotgun. Can I still be a dem? Please?

[stickdog]

15. Yep, it's the same reason Kucinich keeps getting 1%!

Because the American public is so adept at piercing the shield of media bias and seeing things the way they really are!

[Zomby Woof]

27. the difference between you and I

I don't think the people are stupid, nor do I blame the media for the 2 or 3% finishes in the polls for DK. Those are scapegoat arguments.

Also, best of all, I can sleep at night knowing that DK is not a "pro-business moderate" that I had to sell my soul to support. ;-)

Stick a fork in Dean, he isn't just done, he is beginning to smell funny.

[stickdog]

31. OK, so tell me your theory on why Kucinich only gets 2% - 3%

of the vote, considering that the media is fair and informative and the people are all knowledgeable and sharp as tacks.

Kerry must be a much better candidate than Kucinich considering that more than tens times as many intelligent people vote for Kerry than for Kucinich. Wouldn't you agree?

[indigo32]

32. Funny isn't it?

I sleep pretty damn well too.

[jpgray]

10. Rall was in favor of not letting ANYONE vote, and just getting behind Dean

Not a popular position with me.

[Bucky]

42. He's not a deep thinker. That article showed his ignorance, not malice.

It wasn't nascent fascism that got him to proposed destroying democracy to save democracy. He's simply a naive artist who doesn't understand the fundaments of democratic process. And maybe he was naive about how electable Howard Dean is too. Those of us who've been around a while could see Dean was going to crash and burn, but Rall's not exactly the only person to falsely assume that the Dean campaign had legs. I don't think it's terrible, just unsophisticated.

The only reason Rall is a leading voice in the opposition is because the mainstream Democrats were such pantywastes for so long. If the smart leaders don't lead, the ignorant ones with their hearts in the right place will step forward. I like Rall's cartoons; he makes some great points. But his columns tend to show the outside limit of his talents.

[janx]

13. Why is Ted Rall declaring Dean dead? n/t

[kiahzero]

19. Primaries & Delegates

Primaries Edwards has won: 1
Primaries Dean has won: 0

Delegate Count (Including Superdelegates):
Edwards: 166
Dean: 188

Superdelegates:
Edwards: 26
Dean: 96

Delegates earned in primaries:
Edwards: 140
Dean: 92

You think those superdelegates are going to stick behind Dean as he continues to tank in primary after primary?

[kiahzero]

24. And it's looking like Dean's not getting WI either

What's that make his record now... 0/17?

Dean is losing primaries because voters don't like him. The media is talking about Dean's candidacy going downhill because the voters don't like him, and therefore are not voting for him.

[slinkerwink]

20. I wonder if Ted Rall has read DU because those are the same

points that Dean supporters have been making about the media assassination of Dean?

[Jacobin]

22. Or, maybe because its just obvious

[mzmolly]

30. That's what I was thinking Slinkerwink.

;)

[KoKo]

26. Woo Hoo, Ted! Good to see this! Thanks! n/t

[ThirdWheelLegend]

33. Ted Rall was calling for NBD before the primaries began.

I love his cartoons, hate his punditry.

TWL

[anarchy1999]

34. Has anyone considered the BBV issue?

It is probably happening in each and every state right now. Add in the Media and Wallah? We have THE CANDIDATE that many have not wanted. How did that happen....? HMMMMM? Let us all ruminate for a few hours, shall we? Why are we all letting ourselves be told who is electable at this point in the game? Come on folks, WAKE THE F UP!

Stick with your candidate, you are the people, you have the vote, demand your vote be counted.

[in_cog_ni_to]

38. BBV issue. VERY interesting, eh?

Isn't it interesting that no Dems would co-sponsor the Holt bill. Shall we place bets on how many Democrats co-sponsor the bill AFTER the primaries? That would be AFTER THEIR nominee has won. Just WATCH! Corrupt, corrupt, corrupt! Our entire government is corrupt.

[CWebster]

36. Seems to be a trend..

Some folks were worried about Dean's safety, no doubt about it.

It is always a reminder of what a flawed world we live in when we so often crucify our best.

[Bucky]

37. Ted Rall's a trip. Take the faux RFK-Malcom X analogy

Rall starts off this essay with the stupidest statement. "Usually, when an American political figure speaks truth to power, he ends up conveniently dead. RFK, Malcolm X, some say Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone."

His criterion for "usually" is two guys killed more than a generation ago (36 and 40 years ago, respectively) and another guy who, um, died in a plane crash under no questionable circumstances. I think Rall has a martyr complex. And he of course ignores the hundreds of pols who have not been killed and yet did speak truth to power.

Rall needs to stick to his cartoons, which are great. He's not a smart writer.

[DaisyUCSB]

39. Like the cartoon that demonized 9-11 victims wives?

Yeah, Rall is a pretty dispicable and loathesome character to me

[stickdog]

40. That one was cruel,

But necessary. Like almost everything Rall writes or draws.

[Bucky]

41. "Civil" discourse can be cruel & must be sometimes.But target the powerful

9/11 victims are not a pristine group, but they don't all act alike. Still, I prefer him when he goes after the powerful and corrupt rather than the unduly benefited, as was the case w/ the 9/11 families.