Dean's dark night of the soul

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/3/04 at 9:53pm

Dean's in the most bizarre position: claiming the high road (or at least high ground), as he fails beyond anyone's expectation. Especially his base's.

How many weeks ago was he on the covers of both Time and Newsweek? Political historians out there, isn't this unprecendented, as far as (speedy) slides go? I rememeber seeing people fall behind, but I've never seen a front runner do a 180 in 3 weeks. He comes across as sour, and elitist--blaming the media's fickle focus on winners annointed by insider-approved tactics--and shaking his finger at the world because "we" all didn't have the moral courage to look beyond the beltway. Alas, the current regime is gloatingly Beltway-ensconced, and the (Democratic) realists among us want that regime gone. It's so devoid of pragmatism, his message.

Scarily, as is Dean's suicidal strategy. If he sticks it out to spoil the Kerry/Edwards triumphs, he's sitting in Karl's pocket, and it's no place to sit, as a Democrat, heading into this spring. Was he right about the war? Sure. Is that POV enough to win, in a country that where the Jessica Lynch movie-of-the-week won November sweeps, only two months ago? No way.

Updated On: 2/3/04 at 09:53 PM

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 2/3/04 at 10:22pm

Yep. It's time for Howard to look at the big picture. He's about to become an embarassment, and, as Auggie said, play into the hands of the GOP. It seemed to me that both Kerry and Edwards were going out of their way to "make nice" to each other. I know that Edwards still has his eye on the prize, but I wonder if he isn't savvy enough to realize that even the #2 spot could pave the way toward his political future, and would also serve the party well in the fall. Not that he'll admit that yet, but it looked like they were both laying the groundwork to be able to support each other, even if it doesn't end up being a Kerry-Edwards ticket.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/3/04 at 10:28pm

I think the reason that Dean is still in the race is his potential in other states. Plus, he is currently (though this may change at the end of tonight) in second place with number of delegates. He is doing well in New Mexico tonight (but not winning). However, this does seem to be a race between Kerry and Edwards, with Clark holding his own in third.

It's Kucinich that makes me wonder why he is still running. I can see why Sharpton is---he is doing very well given his obstacles.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/3/04 at 10:35pm

Who will get Lieberman's 25 delegates?

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 2/3/04 at 10:38pm

Kucinich is still running because he never expected to win. Which is also why he's been free to be as outspoken as he's been all along. I like him.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/3/04 at 10:45pm

Here's some juicy, readable analysis from the Voice:


Link

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/7/04 at 12:14pm

Here is a job for Dean after he bows out after Wisconsin

He should criss cross the country as a motivational speaker. I would pay to see him. I don't agree with most of his ideas but I got to admit I will miss him.H e was a rip and a half. He is certainly more fun to watch than Kerry. Kerry reminds me of a mortician & watching & listening to him is like watching paint dry.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/7/04 at 12:19pm

We can't say the same thing about W because he never gives us anything to watch or listen to; no press conferences, no town meetings, nothing. We know he has difficulty pronouncing words, but that's about it.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 2/7/04 at 12:22pm

Roxy is echoing the evolving Republican POV, voiced on the back page of this week's Time by Andrew Sullivan. Suddenly, the contest is all about who's more "fun," and Dean takes (took) that title. So everyone is missing ol crazy Howard's bug-eyed outrage (in comparison to Kerry's baby blues being perpetually at half-mast, like a Doonsbury character).

Sullivan's odd piece, a week after indicting Bush with blistering prose for being a finger-wagging, $$$-spending moral arbiter (calling him "Nanny") proves how much "fun" this election may turn out to be. The Democratic primary season has not turned into the predictable annointing of Dean that was yawned about. So there's a certain amount of scrambling to nail the dynamics of the contest. But it's "fun" to see Republican strategists so put off by Kerry being "boring."

I suppose W, unscripted, can be "fun, " too. He speaks like Glinda in Wicked, making up words and chewing others into verbal gristle. Let's see how well he remembers his lines with Russert tomorrow. But Roxy, when W's putting he tip of his tongue between his skinny lips and blathering Rovian rhetoric, trust me, many of us are bored by him, too.

Updated On: 2/7/04 at 12:22 PM

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/7/04 at 1:12pm

Oh, Auggie! W won't have any problem remembering his lines.

That's where that tiny earpiece will come in handy as he is told exactly what to say from his minders.

And as usual, Russert's tongue will be well-lubed for the rimming party.

Updated On: 2/7/04 at 01:12 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/7/04 at 1:18pm

If he ends up using that earpiece during the campaign (that is, if W has the cojones to agree to a debate with the Democratic nominee), he might get a mean note from Neil Simon. ("Learn your lines or get out of the White House.")

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 2/7/04 at 1:23pm

Also, the show is being taped today, so W can demand re-takes or closeups of his furrowed brow attempting to look determined.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 2/8/04 at 3:33am

So, while the Deanster didn't win either state Sat, he did come in second in both. He is also still second in delegates. Is a possible second wind in store?? Or a vice pres possibility?