Klug

Disclaimer: I reserve the right to change my mind later..Its way to early yet in my opinion...

Who do I personally Like?
Dean: Moderate, solid church/state seperation, a fighter who doesn't take crap. I like this guy.


AS far as who I realistically think will get it?
Kerry or Gephardt more than likely but Dean could get it if he continues getting traction in the press.

I just hope the Naderites vote Democrat this time. I know that none of the candidates aren't as green ss they'd like but still..Do you like the alternative? But I've never heard of a candidate that did as well the 2nd time he/she ran than the first so Nader shouldn't be an issue this time. NOt to mention the number of Liberal Websites I've run accross who are actively campaigning against nader running.

So...
I like Dean
But Gephardt or Kerry are more than likely to win.


Random thoughts:

Hopeless dream: McCain runs as an independent and siphons off some of his conservative base. Won't happen but I can dream.

I'm not even sure if any republican will even run against Bush.

What if...?
McCain Runs, wins nomination (not likely I know)
Lieberman wins... (might be possible)
THEN who do you vote for?

McCain gets my vote in that case.

But thats the only scenario I can think of where I'd vote republican.

MattofVA

That whiny rabbinical bitch lieberman will win. Sad but true-all bets should be off. Why? because primaries seem to be won almost entirely on the basis of name recognition-otherwise Bradley and McCain would have kicked Bush and Gore's asses,. Americans are stupid. The democrat voters will push the button, mark the x or whatever for lieberman, because that's all they can comprehend-they already know the know the guy from Gore's bid, so they'll go for him, they don't have the attention span or intelligence by and large to get the jist of the other candidates ideas. I like Dean like most of you guys, but it ain't gonna happen

Optional

Don't count Dean out yet. As of the time that this article was written, Dean and Kerry were tied for first place in New Hampshire polls. By all rights, new Hampshire SHOULD be absolutely PRIME Kerry territory... And Kerry is seen as one of the two front-runners... So if Dean actually manages to win or even stay close with Kerry there, he'll get MASSIVE press simply for the underdog factor (americans LOVE the underdog, usually) ... and I think anybody that becomes aware of Dean, actually hears him speak, is gonna vote for him. The article makes the point that what Dean manages to do is make liberals realize that they should be PROUD of being who and what they are, not apologetic, and I think there are a damn awful lot of people who are sick and fucking tired of having to tip-toe around republican sensabilities.

Given that, and given the fact that Dean is a financial conservative (in a time when the economy is looming HUGE as an issue and bush seems to be spending money like water) ... I really think the man could win. That's what I'm hoping for anyway.

-me

dcwolf

Nader supposedly isn't running. They'll have somebody else.

I like his fighting spirit, too. Can't understand why he gets criticized for standing up against Kerry's attacks. When Kerry says 90% had coverage and it's actually 96% Dean has the right to correct him. I think Kerry needs to lay off for the good of the party.

Bush - What is this clown doing in the white house (rhetorical)?? Look for Dean to rip him to shreds in a debate.

Thomas Ash

Assuming that's a question for me, here's my answer:
Firstly, I'd count my self as centre-left, though admittedly that's by European standards so it probably translates to pretty solidly left, but not far left, by US standards. So there are some (far left) things I see Dean as standing for I don't want to happen: such as, a lack of commitment to free markets and free trade, a lack of moral clarity in foreign policy (note no 'knowing' air quotes! ), and a propensity to unweildy government schemes. But more importantly, I think he'd prove such a divisive figure he'd actually be able to make less progress on a left wing agenda against a not-so-friendly Congress as a more centrist-seeming, electable figure. This is a practical point not to be underestimated - I see politics as a matter of actually getting things done rather than making grand, uncompromising, rather self-indulgent statements. Just look at what Tony Blair has been able to get done here in the UK by ditching some of his party's more hopelessly unelectable elements. He's likely managed to keep the Conservative Party out of power for well over a decade, as well as getting people to realize that higher taxes deliver a higher quality of oublic services, and making them almost popular.

Optional

Yeah, but what you describe as what you want almost exactly describes Dean! He is really NOT far left, about damn near anything.

In his governership, he got a lot of practical things done, mostly by cooperating with moderate dems AND republicans.

A lot of the 'unwieldy schemes' he's proposing were already implemented by him in his state, and they work, and are fairly wieldy.

As far as a lack of commitment to free markets and free trade... Well, firstly I haven't seen him say anything on the topic. What have you seen? But secondly, if by free trade you mean international free trade, the current american implementation of this is simply disastrous. If Dean really is about cutting that off, it might actually be a really good idea, so that the next president after Dean can start over with a clean slate.

And as far as 'lack of moral clarity in foreign policy', what exactly do you mean by this? He's one of only two candidates who have actually been firmly and unapologetically anti-war. At the same time, he does NOT say war is bad in ALL circumstances, just that THIS war was wrong. So... what lack?

-me

John Hancock

Other than Liberman Im prepared to vote for what ever Democratic canidate gets the nod. Geeze considering the alternative that "D" oughta be lower case.

Martin

PS If Liberman is the canidate I won't vote Green. Anybody know of a Socialist party?

Mr. Superbad

Howard Dean
If you want to know why, check out his Town Hall meeting in Iowa with Senator Harkin from Sunday.

Thomas Ash

OK, I admit that maybe my perception was coloured by his presentation by the media, which is clearly that of the 'nutty far-left-wing candidate' (assuming no one takes Sharpton seriously.) BTW, I think "weildy schemes" would make a great campaign slogan !

RED DAVE

I think that, given their general level of cowardice, ass-licking, careerism and egotism, war mongering and pandering for the rich, the Democrats should nominate their true candidate, the man who most expresses their ideals and aspirations:

GEORGE BUSH!

Just my opinion.

RED DAVE