Anyone staying onboard with Dean?

[Robb]

I live in Colorado, so right from the git-go it was pretty unlikely that I'd get the opportunity to caucus relevantly for my candidate. I feel for the people who think the media is deciding their race for them, but heck... I knew that would be my lot. :)

But Dean is still my candidate, he's still in the race -- and he still has more delegates than anybody but Kerry. Although not by much. I just agree with the things Dean has said over the campaign, does that make me a bad person? I get all misty when he talks, I like the other guys just fine, but Howard's stuff has always resonated with me.

So I'm staying. 43% of the votes cast have come from people who wanted someone other than Kerry. And while part of me likes the idea of putting up a strong united front, I'm not convinced (yet) it's behind the right guy. I don't see a mandate yet, so if anyone needs me I'll be (Lord help me) voting for my hopes, not my fears (Good God, did I just type that...?).

[Deansspecialinterest]

1. Absolutely

These are the primaries, and we all deserve to vote FOR someone, not just AGAINST someone, since it looks like that's all many of us will be getting come November.

[HFishbine]

2. You bet!

[liberalnurse]

3. I'm sticking with Dean for the long hall.

If he goes into a negotiation plan with Edwards then I will listen closely and probably comply. If he leans to Kerry.....I'm not willing to go that far.

[Carl21014]

4. I will vote for Dean in the Maryland primary, then...

I'll support the Democratic Nominee.

5. Yes, because of conviction

One of the things Dean said in his speech after the polls closed last night really rings true for me. It was about candidates speaking from conviction or convenience. I still have the feeling that Kerry is speaking less from conviction and more from convenience. Particularly when he appropriates lines that I heard Dean say 6 months ago & that I am only recently hearing Kerry say. The most recent being Kerry's saying that he's not going to promise that he will get everything done.
Of course, in politics as well as in life, at a certain point you sometimes have to swallow hard and back off from conviction and shade toward convenience. I will do that AFTER the convention, not before.

[KoKo]

6. If NC ever has a primary (it's still in question) I will vote for Dean he

will be on the ballot and so I will vote for him.

[HFishbine]

10. NC dems will have a caucus

in April, I think on the 19th, instead of a primary.

[KoKo]

15. Fishbine they keep changing it around but yes, I read caucuses, but

that date has changed, too. :eyes: I know that 10,000 signatures were presented to get Dean on the ballot just over a week ago, so he will get my vote.

[displacedvermoter]

7. I will keep sending my monthy payment to Dean if for no

other reason than his staff still have to get paid, they've all worked so hard and done much. And, I'll vote for him in the NY Primary, assuming he is still in the race.

He's revitalized the Party and deserves respect from everyone, and appreciation. He's paved the way and made it not only OK, but essential for the Democratic candidates to attack the Bushco maladministration. And the stuff is now sticking, thankfully.

I'm not as depressed as some clearly are, as Kerry has always been my second choice, and I think he will likely make a better President than Senator (I hate to make the comparison with Kennedy, but he was a better president than he was a Senator), and he will clearly make dumbass look small when they stand on the same stage come debate time.

[NoPasaran]

8. To the bitter end

I feel like I've been kicked in the head with an iron boot. But that pretty much has been the story of my political experience. I'm still voting Dean in my primary and I'm going to drag enough people to my caucus that night to win delegates there too. So many elections all I have been able to do is vote AGAINST someone. Next month I'm voting FOR Howard Dean.

[Cassandra]

9. Since I expect Dean will still be on the NY ballot...

(it's hard to get on the NY ballot but easy to stay on), I will vote for him unless he asks us to vote for Edwards. The only other way I can see not voting for Dean is if the polling shows Edwards SOOOO close that my vote could make a difference for him. I will support the eventual Democratic nominee but that will seem like we went only part of the way to our goal. We could have had a great man, instead of having someone who is simply better than Bush (not discounting the possibility of the new Democratic president growing in stature; even control-freak Giuliani managed a period of greatness). I hope Dean continues to lead his movement to keep both parties honest and moving in the direction of putting America back in the hands of its people. I will happily stay in for the long haul with him.

[GodHelpUsAll2]

13. I'm in it for the lang haul

I will be casting my March Texas vote for Dr Dean. If what I am hearing on MSNBC now is correct he will not be actively campaigning but will still on the ballot. If we can't get the white house we need to all work now on taking back the house and we have a very stong base to help win it back.

[displacedvermoter]

14. I can see Kerry or Edwards both becoming "great" Presidents

in response to the tremendous challenges either will face should they become President. In many ways, the challenges will be similar to those taken on by Roosevelt (economy cetainly not in Depression, but many potential economic disasters just around the corner) or Truman, or Kennedy. Add to the economic, military and diplomatic messes that will be left behind by dumbass and his crew what will be a brutal series of assaults(for whatever pitiful reason)from a vengeful GOP horde in Congress (I assume they will control at least one house thanks to jobbed redistricting and a more hateful Limbaugh-like flock of vultures.

So if either of these men takes the WHite House, and can accomplish meaningful things, that will likely mean a historic presidency.

[Cassandra]

21. Thank you

Your comments, particularly those reminding me that Kennedy was a much more distinguished President than a Senator, do make me feel a bit better (and I'm old enough to have some memories of that). I simply want someone who will accomplish those meaningful things no matter how uncomfortable it becomes and I'm not sure yet that Kerry has that sort of persistence. He was my original first choice before he actually announced and then he went silent just when his voice was needed. Dean's advantage would have been that he owed no debt to anyone but the people and he was clear about that. That makes him better than a self-financed candidate who may think he only needs to please himself.

[ozymandius]

11. Perhaps not in name but in spirit.

Dean represents a revolution in American politics. Revolutions are occasionally slow to catch on and sputtering is not uncommon. Despite having come from nowhere and gathering so much momentum through his force of personality, Dean has shown how anger can be parlayed into effective grass roots action. This mindset extends beyond Dean's candidacy.

[EXE619K]

12. Staying with Dean.

Voting for him is the LEAST I could do for this man.

Thanks Doc!

[GodHelpUsAll2]

16. Geez

The hacks in the media and the other campagins are all salivating for Dean's money, delegates and support base. I hope he holds on to them all all the way to the convention.

[shanti]

17. exactly

same here

[Renew Deal]

18. I am still voting for Clark.

Unless something dramatic happens. I will be voting for Clark in NY. Hardcore Dean supporters should do the same if they want. I may volunteer for one or more of the candidates.

[JackRiddler]

19. he should stay in for the convention

Why drop out? There is no logic to it, except for those who want to coronate another. There will be a winner, and it won't be Dean, and he can support the winner later. Meanwhile...

[demnan]

20. Sure

It will be interesting to see what happens at the convention. Dean should stay in to assure that his voters have a voice in the 2004 platform. We can still take our country back, but we may not have the Dr. at the helm.

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

22. I'm sticking with him

All I want is just to be able to vote for him in the New York state primary. After that, we'll see what happens.

[bigwillq]

23. I'll stand by Dean

His speech last night was tear-inducing, I'm sure I'll cry at his speech today too. Gosh, I love that man!

[Robb]

24. It just struck me

...that Dean is going to continue to gain delegates without campaigning.

That's going to feel a little funny for those still on the trail.

[Padraig18]

25. In my heart, yes.

I will forever be a "Howard Dean Democrat" in my heart, but for me, the time has come to move on to supporting a candidate who can both stop John Kerry AND beat * in November. I shall always love, respect and admire Howard Dean. :loveya: