Nerd, I don't know what's going on here, because the Congressional District caucuses haven't been held yet. It strikes me that someone must be confused. It also strikes me that someone is sore because it didn't come out the way he wanted it to.

A candidate can't necessarily be blamed for the acts and attitudes of some of those working in his behalf, but when the point came in the caucus I attended where the preliminary vote was taken, the figures posted, and we began circulating and trying to persuade people to switch and back our particular favorite, not all, but some of the "Deaniacs" struck me as extremely aggressive and sometimes verged on abusive if someone didn't buy their arguments. Enthusiasm is one thing, but this seemed a bit excessive, and in a couple of cases, counterproductive. I detect that same attitude ("If Dean doesn't win the nomination, we'll lose to Bush, and it'll be all your fault!") in the blog you cited. I can't speak for other precinct caucuses around the state, but circulating among the caucuses being held at Lowell School (43rd Congressional District—Seattle), everything I observed was straight and open. I have no quarrel with the outcome or the way it was reached, even though Kerry is not my favorite. The actual Congressional District caucuses won't be held for a couple of weeks yet, so I don't know what the blogger you cited is talking about other than trying to imply that because his candidate came in second, he has to accuse somebody of something and claim that Florida has moved to Washington State. 'Tain't so. And if Kerry wins the nomination, and if in November the blogger writes in "Dean" instead of voting for Kerry, he'll be part of the problem, not of the solution. In the long run and considering what's at stake, that soreheaded attitude is incredibly stupid.

Dean was my favorite up until recently. Although I was highly doubtful that he would come out on top, I put my vote in for Dennis Kucinich.   Having read his website, particularly his Ten Key Issues, I came to the conclusion that, ideally, this is the man I would like to see in the White House. I voted for him not because I thought he would win the nomination at the Convention, but because I like what he says and I hope that the message will filter through to whoever does make it.

Everything was open and honest where I was.

Don Firth