Sounds like Hart is on Dean's "short" VP list.
Richard Dulaney | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 8:20 pm | #

I think Mosley-Braun would be the perfect running mate for Dean. She would compiment him well and I think women would love to vote for a Dean/Mosley-Braun ticket. She is a real gem and I hope the Dean campaign will have the foresight and courage to pick her for the ticket.
Adam in MA | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 9:46 pm | #

on one hand, i'm glad hart isn't running. it isn't because i see him as a threat to dean, but because of the smear job the republicans would do. i hope gary hart continues to stay active in public life, and i wish him the best of luck.
anna | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 9:48 pm | #

Gary Hart would be great in a cabinet position (NSA?), but would be a liability in the VP slot. You put him in there, each and every news story and profile mentions Monkey Business in one way or another. Not that you should let the media dictate a campaign, but you can't just go out and hang up a pinata.

Same goes for Moseley-Braun, to a lesser degree. The Nigeria business doesn't sit well with me, in particular. I'd love to hear her address her "baggage"- I think all that's required is a straightforward explanation to clear things up, and all the scandal whispers will be put to rest. I hope she can and will, she seems like a heck of a nice, good, capable person.
Joe Mariani | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 10:01 pm | #

This is a very classy statement by Dean, and it almost echoes my thoughts exactly.
I was actually quite hopeful that Hart would
enter the race and thereby raise the level
of debate, so I am a bit saddened by this.

It is a shame Hart's thoughts will not be
exposed to the American people and thereby influence other candidates.
steve | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 10:12 pm | #

I think Hart would be a good choice for head of Homeland Security - especiallywith his work with Rudman on their homeland security report.

As for Mosley-Braun, I don't think she'd make a good VP choice. She really isn't campaigningthat hard right now (does she do anything besides show up at the cattle calls?) and she has a lot of baggage that she's never adequately explained. Remember, she lost to Pete Fitzgerald in IL, who is so weak he isn't even running for reelection.
Norm | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 10:45 pm | #

"we must not lose his voice or the prescient and informed worldview that Gary Hart brings in patriotic service to our nation.”

Governor Dean's words could not be truer, as someone who served as Senator Hart's Deputy Political Director I hope our party understands and embraces the tremendous contribution Senator Hart continues to make in his thinking on so many of the challenges we face.

Joe Trippi
Campaign Manager
Dean for America
Joe Trippi | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 10:54 pm | #

Lord knows i welcome Hart as the counterpoint to Kissinger. I don't think he should have run, but i hope there is a place for him in any Dem administration.
IHL | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 11:14 pm | #

Gary Hart's latest blog entry (May 1):

Democracy Dies Behind Closed Doors

Democracy dies behind closed doors and democracy's policies must not be made in secret. Let's consider an ominous pattern forming under the Bush administration. First, massive tax cuts to enrich the rich are justified as Keynesian fiscal stimulants, while neo-cons privately confide that their real purpose is to destroy a social safety net constructed between the New Deal and the Great Society for the young, the old, the poor, the jobless, and the middle class. Second, three decades of progress on environmental quality are being secretly dismantled by destruction of the regulatory framework created to carry out Congressional (and popular) intent. Third, a consensus internationalist, multi-lateralist foreign policy, followed throughout the second half of the twentieth century, has, without Congressional hearings or debate, been quietly replaced with a unilateralist, go-it-alone policy of preemption. Fourth, the war on terrorism, launched on September 20, 2001, ostensibly to protect America against further terrorist attacks, has quietly--again without Congressional debate or editorial commentary--given way to a multi-front attack on organizations in venues as obscure as the Philippines that represent no concievable threat to the United States.

Why is this administration so afraid to deal openly and honestly with the American people? If they believe these are truly the best policies, what do they have to hide? Why the secrecy? And why are Congress and media editorial boards so reluctant to discuss, debate, and question these massive and historic policy departures? As I've spoken to dozens of organizations around the country, many non-partisan, people repeatedly ask, Where are the Democrats? Why is no one speaking out against these historic shifts in American domestic and foreign policies? Sadly, I have been unable to find an answer to give. The widespread perception is that there is no opposition party and that too many politicians have been coopted by their own career ambitions, silenced by special interest contributions, or intimidated by those in power and by the right-wing press. Those around today will not be around tomorrow to have to answer to our children who will inherit a more primitive, Darwinian, and unfair society.
txh | Email | Homepage | 05.06.03 - 11:31 pm | #

Hart needs a cabinet position.
chase | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 12:18 am | #

Hey - Can somebody please start posting on the Hart Meetups to encourage his supporters to attend Dean's meetups on Wednesday?
Yoni Cohen | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 1:57 am | #

http://www.denverpost.com/ Storie...1373786,00.html

In this article Hart says Dean lacks defense and foriegn policy experience. Hart says before Dean went to Israel, he called up Hart, and asked "Gary, what do I do?"
Phil | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 3:45 am | #

The interesting thing is that the only other candidate he mentions is Lieberman, who he says "is making a futile appeal to the 'amorphous middle' by parroting Bush policies."

He also berates candidates for being "crypto-republicans".

Hmm...

Is Hart volunteering to become an advisor for Dean on domestic and foreign policy matters? Has he been advising Dean behind the scenes?
Phil | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 4:07 am | #

Thanks for the link, Phil.

I'm not sure how constructive it is for him to slam all the Democratic candidates. I have problems with most of them myself, but one of them needs to replace Bush.
chase | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 4:24 am | #

Wow - Lots of interesting things going on in this news cycle vis-a-vis Hart, his comments, and the thread below this one that has the new Iowa polling numbers in it. First, I echo all of the above remarks as to Sen. Hart's contributions, voice of reason, etc. And I also think he would be the perfect candidate to head up Homeland Security for whichever Democrat is elected. Second, it is interesting to see the Hart/Dean relationship evolve. Phil's comment above re: the possibility that Hart has been "advising" Dean on foreign policy issues is interesting on its face, but is given added credence given Joe Trippi's past professional relationship with Hart. Third, and related to Hart's comments, they serve to underscore what will likely amount to the biggest (perceived/marketed) weakness of the Dean for President campaign by the Bush spin-masters. Seeing that through, a VP with unassailable foreign policy experience may be key. I'm guessing that would count Edwards out (though not for Kerry's VP), and leave Wesley Clark and Bob Graham as possibilities (which, really, is nothing that hasn't already been discussed ad nauseum around the Internet). It sure is starting to get interesting.

PS - Edwards is only polling at 4% in Iowa? That one has to hurt (though, for us, it's pretty good).
Ziggy | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 4:56 am | #

Hart would be an excellent choice for Homeland Security. I would not have him as my Vice Presidential nominee.

The Democratic Party needs to get away from scandal. One of the factors which led to Gore/Lieberman losing in the electoral college was Gore's close association with Clinton during the Lewinsky affair.

I would agree that Governor Dean needs to a candidate with foreign policy experience. My choic all along has been General Wesly Clark.

Bob Graham would be an excellent choice also, but his comment in the debate about not supporting a constitutional amendment to guarantee voting rights, really ticked me off!

I'm sure whoever Dr. Dean picks as his running-mate, everyone on this blog will agree he made the right decision.
JobyTodd | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 5:11 am | #

I would like to see Dean directly address what everyone sees as his weak link: lack of national security, international, and foreign policy experience. Maybe he has? Any pointers?
thx | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 8:34 am | #

Hart really should have qualified his criticism of Dean's lack of experience, since he had a similar lack of experience when he ran in '84. I remembe rone embarassing gaffe of his. It was in the context of the Soviets shooting down the KAL flight. He was asked something like "what would he have done" (I can't remember exactly), and he answered he would have told fighter pilots to look in the windows of the plane to see if the other pilots were wearing uniforms. Hart was ridiculed pretty widely.

Just some trivia.
thx | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 8:43 am | #

I've noticed a trend in Dean's speaking style/content that disturbs me and which I'd like to see him change in the future.

In all speaking formats with the exception of stump speeches, it stikes me that Dean has an unusual and frequent tendency towards bragging and cockiness. Let me be clear, he has much to be proud of and has put together a fantastic record in Vermont over the last 12 years. However, he is now on a big stage with candidates who have similarly impressive resumes but who do not exude the same sort of over the top attitude. I think Dean is trying much too hard to impress the voter, and this approach does not resonate as much as it ingratiates.

I love the guy to death. Dean is the only candidate I have strongly supported in my 12 years of being able to vote. His policies and strength of character are bar none in the Dem field, and I believe he is the only one who can give Bush not just a good run but a serious run for the money next November. In comparison to his interviews and debates, Dean's speech in California 2 months ago was the best I have ever seen. I know he has the rare mix of humble and mesmerizing in his speaking style and i wish he would use it all the time.

It is in light of all of this that I hope my criticism is seen as constructive and not disparaging. I say all of this because I want so badly for him to win the nomination. I am fully cognizant that the primary is still over 35 (!) weeks away and there is far more time for Dean to make good impressions in the style category. But I do feel many in the Dem party and general electorate will be turned off on this front if he does not change. His message and policies are so strong, effective and so easy to sell to the public that I would be, dare I say it, heartbroken to see them diluted or disregarded because of differences in personality.
Scott G. Medford, MA | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 11:15 am | #

Why not invite Hart to become an adviser to the Dean campaign. His remit: ensure they do all the things the McGovern campaign did right in the primaries and at the convention; and ensure they don't repeat all the mistakes McG made afterwards.
Drago | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 1:01 pm | #

Hart's dig on 'defense and foreign policy' should be given close attention. Gov. Dean shouldn't take this criticism as a call to slam his fist on the podium and puff up as a tough guy but present himself as a diplomatic alternative to the current hawks. He mustn't get bogged down in explaining his plans for Iraq etc. It's imperative that his message and methods be digestable and straightforward.
RM | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 1:08 pm | #

As far as VP, I like the positioning of Wesley Clark for so many reasons, not least of which his association w/Clinton.
RM | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 1:09 pm | #

Mosley-Braun=Horrible anything

Not only did she praise a Nigerian dictator, there's good evidence that he helped fund her campaign (some of which she may have embezzeled for herself).....
Lavoisier1794 | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 1:18 pm | #

I lost a lot of respect for Gary Hart after reading the article posted by Phil. I think it was interesting that the writer said Hart wouldn't handicapped the field, but then proceded to do just that (Dean, Lieberman, and Biden by name). It wasn't exactly what I call bowing out gracefully.
DAmienWG | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 1:55 pm | #

Hart is correct in saying that Dean lacks defense and foreign policy experience; however, George W Bush also had no experience at the time he took office. Before you get all huffy at Gary Hart for mentioning this, notice that the words in the Denver Post article aren't Hart's; they are a paraphrase by a reporter who's trying to make his story more juicy.

Asking "where's Joe Biden"? is completely appropriate; the guy rolled over for Bush at every opportunity and is the backer of some truly horrible laws (like the RAVE act). Same with Lieberman, who is running in the wrong party; other than being pro-choice, he lines up with the Republicans on almost every issue. Replacing Bush with a DINO will be a disaster, because the media will then say that the "left" position is that of, say, Lieberman, marching the country that much further to the right, and no one to the left of Lieberman will even be able to get on TV.
Joe Buck | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 7:40 pm | #

With all respect to an experienced and intelligent blogger, Ezra Klein, whose passion for Gary Hart was palpable and respectable, I have not seen anything good come out of the Hart campaign. Hart's interviews always seemed patronizing and snappish, and his preliminary response to the questions about his 1988 fling ("I don't know. Maybe it won't come up") borders on the clinically insane. I do not think that a disgraced and annoying pontificator would have elevated the debate at all, and I have to admit I'm glad Hart is out of the race -- he would have simply made Democrats look foolish.
Nonpartisan for Dean | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 9:05 pm | #

It bears repeating: this is a surefire remedy when you need a really good laugh:

http://www.joseph2004.org
Scott G. Medford, MA | Email | Homepage | 05.07.03 - 9:33 pm | #