good luck considering no one cares about domestic issues right now.. the last election should have shown that.
ben | Email | Homepage | 03.03.03 - 2:48 am | #

Do not despair. Dean's lack of foreign policy "expertise" could only be eclipsed by the current occupant of the White House. As a member of a newly-formed group, Brit Tzedek b'Shalom, he Jewish Alliance for Peace and Justice, we are reaching out to American Jews who love and support the State of Israel--and getting an excellent response. Our aim is to STOP the cycle of violence by demanding a halt to the settlements, a halt to funding settlers at excellent prices and a return to the pre-1967 borders or a reasonable, rational negotiation of those borders. All of this is being done to reach an accord on a 2 state solution. It may be a dream right now but this is a serious effort with serious people promoting a these excellent points of change.
Michael Krauss | Email | Homepage | 03.03.03 - 8:18 am | #

Ben, I beg to differ. I know of many folks, myself included, who are concerned with what is happening (or not happening) domestically. Let's see... the economy, the federal judiciary, the dismantling of the constitutional protections guaranteed by the founding fathers (read: (un)PATRIOT(ic) Act of 2002)... The list goes on and on.

Dean's candidacy appeals to me because he seems to "get it". I really don't know a better way to put it. When he talks about foreign policy, he seems to understand that our priorities are out of whack. He also gets that Bush's economic "policy" isn't really policy at all. Dean seems to understand that the Democratic Party doesn't stand for anything anymore, and personally I feel that he has really bold ideas for the future that I'd like to see come to fruition. Basically, he is closest to where I am politically and that is very appealing.
anna | Email | Homepage | 03.03.03 - 10:02 am | #

My position is that domestic policy matters first and foremost. Foreign Policy is iomportant post-9-11, but my life is more directly affected by irresponsible tax cuts, expensive medical insurance, and weak stock markets than by the tragedy on 9-11. Froeign Policy is an emotional issue for me therefore, but domestic policy is a pragmatic one. I think many Americans feel the same way.
Aziz | Email | Homepage | 03.03.03 - 11:09 am | #

Dean did a nice job of explaining a fairly nuanced position forcefully and forthrightly. It would have been nice, however, if his handlers had slipped in a throwaway line... something like: "Bob, the fact is we're about to spend billions on a war with Iraq that could be better spent at home on universal health care, better schools, and turning our economy around."

Best, Christopher
cjcurtis | Email | Homepage | 03.03.03 - 11:22 am | #

While I understand everyone's concern over domestic policy, as a recently retired veteran (naval officer, 20 years), I have to say that Governor Dean is right to have some focus on foreign affairs and America's role in the world. For too long Democrats have been tagged as the party of feckless foreign party, the party that 'lost' China and 'lost' the Vietnam War. I was a college junior when Carter rode the Iran hostage crisis/Soviet invasion of Afghanistan down to a huge electoral defeat. Watching Dean on 'Face the Nation' yesterday made me like this guy even more. What this administration is proposing with its pre-emptive strategy is years of endless wars across the globe. Dean was 100% right when he said that we need to deal with imminent threats to this country, particularly Al Quaida and North Korea. There will be time to deal with domestic issues, but if the security of this country cannot be guaranteed, none of us will have to worry about health care or education.
CB | Email | Homepage | 03.03.03 - 6:36 pm | #

Domestic policy may affect us most directly in the short run, but bungled foreign policy is in fact bringing down the world economy IMHO - the war anxiety created by Bush's pet crisis has already had a huge effect on the markets.

Then there is the financial cost of war, direct and indirect. Take for
example the $15 Billion offer of aid
for Turkey's support. Can our economy really support those kind of giveaways?
steve | Email | Homepage | 03.03.03 - 11:21 pm | #

The cost we have already paid for Shrub's UNdiplomacy is that the good will and favorable image it took this nation years of EARN has been wastefully squandered. Dean's position would at least stop the bleeding and begin the process of repair.
stumpy | Email | Homepage | 03.04.03 - 12:58 pm | #

"On Iraq, Kerry campaign manager Jim Jordan told the Associated Press that Mr. Dean wanted to give the U.N. "veto power over national-security decisions," and that it was "an extraordinary proposition, one never endorsed by any U.S. President or serious candidate for the Presidency.""

This is pathetic political sensationalism of the worst variety. Kerry must be stopped.
steve | Email | Homepage | 03.04.03 - 5:43 pm | #