Yes, I responded to that suggestion. Dean has real support and it is evident everywhere on the Internet. Whether people like him or not, his name is the talk of the town. In nearly every conversation I've seen or participated in about the '04 Democratic nomination, Dean is clearly the one everyone wants to talk about.

This campaign is really a learning process for me. I was attracted to Dr. Dean by his outstanding stump speech at the Democratic convention in California. After seeing this I was desperate to learn as much about him as I can including all of the media archives on this sight. Nearly everything I've learned about him has only increased my belief that this man has something different and I am excited to support him.
Adam in MA | Email | Homepage | 05.04.03 - 10:33 pm | #

Dean's support will continue to grow faster than the other candidates because of his passion - and the support is undoubtedly real.

But I watched the debates with my wife who likes what I’ve told her about Dean and two friends who knew very little about Dean and they weren’t terribly impressed. Sadly neither was I.

Everyone agreed he seemed SMUG. He acted like he knew what he knew and that everyone else should just know it too. The smirking at his own sarcasm wasn’t endearing, to say the least. His vibe felt juvenile at times. Yuck.

He spoke too quickly trying to rush out a thousand words making a hundred points and taking a sarcastic swipe at Kerry in the middle – and the result seemed more like a bunch of mispronounced words. It felt amateurish.

I know Dean is capable of a much better performance and I hope the campaign spends real time polishing his capabilities in this format going forward.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think he lost or anything – none of the candidates looked particularly accomplished, except maybe Edwards, he was pretty polished, but unconvincing needless to say – and Dean’s closing comments were forceful and believe me I appreciated the Lincoln reference but it felt a bit disconnected – and the quote from Lincoln who was in turn paraphrasing the Founders seemed like an exercise in six degrees of separation. I think it could have been a more topical “American” reference.

Because at the end of the day he is the one with the punch, the passion and the vision - I’m glad there is time for fixing all this stuff - I really want him to win.
Ken L | Email | Homepage | 05.04.03 - 10:51 pm | #

I think Dean is already learning from the debate as can be seen with this quote:

"I would have liked more to get out a positive agenda," said former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. "Everybody was reasonably gentlemanly about it. There are going to be differences in this campaign."

Click on the name for the article.
Adam in MA | Email | Homepage | 05.04.03 - 11:30 pm | #

The Guardian also has a very good article on Howard Dean. I think the UK is is giving Dr. Dean some good coverage. Looks like they think he is a good answer for a Blair Democrat. he he
Adam in MA | Email | Homepage | 05.04.03 - 11:33 pm | #

another thing about the debates- I think we'd all agree that George S. wasn't exactly all one could hope for, as a moderator. What was with the whole sequence where the candidates had to respond to the most cutting, sometimes baseless dismissals of their candidacies that come right from the mouths of establishment punditry?

Was Bush ever asked in '99: "Many people say that you're in the position you're in only because of who your father was. You have no foreign policy experience, a little over a term in a largely ceremonial office, and you don't appear to be very bright at all. What would you say to them?"

Can you imagine?
Joe Mariani | Email | Homepage | 05.05.03 - 1:33 am | #

I must disagree with the last point. I think George S.'s question was great. Voters on all sides have reservations about each of these candidates and they're no secret--we have all heard them. Giving the candidates a chance to dispel negative myths about themselves can be very helpful. I'd say most of the candidates (including Dean) responded very well and may have allayed some fears that have prevented people from choosing them as their candidate. Be assured those myths will re-emerge during presidential debates next year and all over the press if the Bush camp has it's way (and of course it will). The candidates have shown they can handle it. By the way, I wish someone HAD asked Bush about his inexperience, connectedness, and simple-mindedness. Things might have been a lot different!
leenie | Email | Homepage | 05.05.03 - 7:26 am | #

I thought George was a good moderator as well - certainly in comparison to Jim Learer's (sp?) moderation of the Gore/Bush debates.

A revision to my closing statement critique: I thought the Lincoln quote was a good one and I think he is a great roll model for Dean but of course Lincoln was a republican – It sounded a little funny to me having a democratic candidate quoting a republican president.
Ken L | Email | Homepage | 05.05.03 - 8:11 am | #

yeah i'd agree with leenie...

i would have asked gephardt a different question though.

i wouldn't have focusssed on rep. g's "establishment" thing.

i'd focus on the "loser" side of it.

"rep. g., you do have some national campaign expereince as house minority leader from 94-2002...and you lost every attempt you've made to mobilize a national voter base for the Democratic agenda. What makes you think you can succeed now?"

Heck, maybe the folks at Dean HQ should craft a question like that to pose to rep. g. at some point.

...
shux
shux | Email | Homepage | 05.05.03 - 8:14 am | #

I think quoting from Lincoln was brilliant. A lot of people don't even know he was a Republican, but to those that do citing him is a subtle way of saying "what happened to the Republican party?" Lincoln would cry if he could see how the Confederates have infested and gutted it.
chase | Email | Homepage | 05.05.03 - 3:41 pm | #

chase, i must concur. the democrats are really the party of lincoln now.
anna | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 12:08 am | #