Dean is the new Moses?

[LuminousX]

I know, Dean is Dean. I'm a proponent of not making undue comparisons, but hear me out for a moment. Moses was assigned the task of leading his people to the promise land, not the task of living in the promised land. I know there is argument over whether the Democratic congresscritters were rolling over for Bush like in the tax cuts or carefully choosing the battles they were willing to commit their limited resources like opposing bad judiciary appointments and drilling in the ANWR.

I do know that before Paul Wellstone's untimely and tragic death, there was a lot of frustration with our Democratic representatives in Congress. They weren't calling for hearings on critical things like Enron. They seemed to be letting Bush get away with a lot of questionable things like Cheney's Secret Energy meeting.

Dean stormed onto the scene, a magnet for those of us who wanted someone to start saying the things we've been thinking for so long. About the war, about Bush, about Congress. Dean gathered the fire and spirit of the Democratic party and carried it foward, but he was not meant to lead in the promised land. I am utterly astonished at how all the indicators that showed he would get the nomination were turned on their ear. Dean defies conventional wisdom, for the good and for the bad.

Without Dean, I am willing to say, we would not be in a position where Bush is looking unelectable. Dean has brought us to this point, it is up to Kerry or Edwards to finish the job. Luckily, since Dean isn't really Moses, he is going to remain on the scene and hopefully keep hitting the Democratic establishment with his stick and keep it focused on the things that matter.

[KoKo]

1. Maybe, but will we have to "wander in the Wilderness" as long? Sheesh.

It's nice to think of it that way, though. Interesting. :-)'s

[LuminousX]

3. I think 4 years of Bush is enough Wandering to qualify

It sure has felt like a lifetime to me.

[demnan]

2. Someone should photoshop

remember that Dean photo as Lord of the Roots? I think Dean is really Frodo, not Aragon.

Dean cast the ring into the fire at Mount Doom, and it's up to the rest of us to recover Middle Earth.

[LuminousX]

5. Dean is really Sam

Dean was never a progressive activist, just like Sam was never an adventurer.

But when Evil reared its ugly head, Sam did what he had to do as did Dean.

In the end, it will be someone else who vanquishes the Ring into Mount Doom (Kerry or Edwards - preferably Edwards, with Kerry playing the Smeagol role.)

Sam returned to the Shire and is guaranteed to guide the way things are in the future, colored by his experiences in Mordor and with the Fellowship. Frodo sailed away and only his and Bilbo's accounts remain.

[Guaranteed]

29. LOL!!

That's awesome.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. You are onto something

In US History, usually those who start a movement do not get
that political office, at least the first time.

I see the movement he led as energizing the party and I am sure he will continue to energize the party.

He will also continue to push and prod... he is now a power in US politics

[DeepModem Mom]

6. I've called Dean a John the Baptist, out of the wilderness of Vt,

and an Old Testament prophet -- and I was a Clark supporter! Long may he guide, enlighten, and inspire us --

[LuminousX]

7. John the Baptist... also a very apt analogy

and if I may stretch it a bit further, the media was Salome.

[Ficus]

8. but Dennis Kucinich = God

and I remember in the bible that outranks Moses. ;-)

[mac2]

9. Wellstone wing

Ficus...the Wellstone wing of the Democratic Party..I like that.

Leave God, Moses, Judas, etc.out of politics guys.

[DeepModem Mom]

11. These are literary/historical figures to me --

I'm no Evangelical, and my avatar ordered the principle of separation of Church and State inscribed on his tombstone.

(When I was a kid, we called Clapton God.)

[Ficus]

26. when running for president

he was constantly accused of being an atheist as a campaign attack. (Which he pretty much was) Funny how the Republicans still speak that garbage through innuendo.

[DeepModem Mom]

30. You're right! He wrote his own Bible, leaving out...

the parts he didn't agree with! Imagine that from a politician today --

[Ficus]

31. If I only had time to do that...

it'd be a great project!

[Ficus]

27. he had the line first

Dr. Dean stole it. I remember Paul saying it in like 1998 or so on "Iowa Press" on PBS. The first time I heard that, I was like, WOW, this is the guy who represents ME!

That's why I still have a Wellstone! sticker on my car.

[eek]

10. we've been referring to him as John the Baptist

itinerant

evangelical

exciting increasingly greater crowds

bringing in previously non-believers,

people getting all "he's a holy dude"

JtB is all "there's a brighter future"

JtB starts freaking out the bigwigs
gets his head served up on a platter

[mac2]

12. Dean is Moses?

"I know, Dean is Dean. I'm a proponent of not making undue comparisons, but hear me out for a moment. Moses was assigned the task of leading his people to the promise land, not the task of living in the promised land."

Get ahold of yourself. I'm getting a little put off by you Dean people and the ego of the group. The "message that Bush is the wrong direction for this country" was sent by many of the candidates. Dean is no reformer.

Leave religion out of this. Leave what is God's with God and what is Ceasar's with Ceasar...or something like that.

[LuminousX]

13. It isn't about religion, it is about allegory

I could have selected many different stories of the same type.

I'm getting a little put off by you Dean people and the ego of the group.

Ask me if I care. If you have a problem with my ego, ignore me. If you disagree that Dean was a catalyst to bring us to this point, do so, but expect me to laugh at you.

[DeepModem Mom]

14. As noted above, I was actually a Clark person,

and also as noted above, was making literary/historical reference, not mixing religion and politics. I understand your concern, and your feelings.

[Bucky]

15. Comparing pols to Moses is not sacrilidge. FDR & Lincoln get it too

Frinstance, FDR led us thru the wilderness of Depression and World War, but died before entering the "promised land" of peace and prosperity. Ditto Lincoln, who led thru the Civil War but died before we entered the promised land of, um, Jim Crowism. Okay, that's not a good example.

Dean has a touch of Moses in him, but I'd compare him (as well as Nader) to the prophet Samuel, who nagged King David into doing right (and frowned and shook his head when the king did not do right).

[cspiguy]

16. No, the new Martin Luther (the german one)

n/t

[LuminousX]

18. Eek. That screams "Schism" which I don't think we are ready for

[cspiguy]

24. Remember - ML did not want to leave the RCS - he wanted to save it

n/t

[LuminousX]

25. True, but he is more often remembered as the guy who split it.

Not necessarily a bad thing, just not yet.

[JackRiddler]

17. this whole thread is embarrassing!

Looking to make a little pantheon, almost like a family narrative, for reassurance?

Well guess what, they and even Papa Sauron are all small potatoes politicians who have failed us as we have failed ourselves, and hell is still handbasketing in a going.

[LuminousX]

19. You're beautiful

[JackRiddler]

23. So are you, honey!

[Bucky]

20. Jack, please don't get upset because other people use metaphors

[On the Road]

21. I've Been Crushed at Dean's Trajectory

but if he has to lose, I like this way of remembering his candidacy. A consensus seems to be developing.

[IranianDemocrat]

22. There is no God but Allah and Dean is his prophet!

Duh!

[mouse7]

28. MUAD`DEAN - THE KWISATZ HADERACH

Wait till you see him ride a worm... talk about an extreme sport.