Wolfgang,

I think you miss some of the differences between the American situation and the French one.

Here, in terms of the issues that will most affect this election, if we nominate Kerry we will end up in the same unfortunate position as the French: with a choice between two candidates who:

Both supported the unilateral US invasion of Iraq

Both supported the repressive "Patriot Act" legislation

Both supported the disastrous "No Child Left Behind" legislation

etc.

It bothers me when people mischaracterize what I say. I am not letting "my heart speak instead of my mind." And I didn't say people should "vote with their heart." That would be to vote for the candidate they like the best on personal grounds. That's how we ended up with Bush.

I said they should vote for the candidate they think will be the best president. In this, I mean the President who will do the most effective job. I think that's Dean. I also think that it's BECAUSE he could make such a good case of this that he has the best chance of winning the election.

But if you want to go on chances of winning, here's what I think

(1) if you think results and a proven record are most likely to get a Democrat elected, vote for Dean in the primary.

(2) If you think a good personality that people will like is most likely to get a Democrat elected, vote for Edwards in the primary.

(3) If you trust the corporate media to tell you who is most likely to win, even though Bush would be the best president for them, vote for Kerry in the primary.

That's my take on the whole "electability" question, which Wolfgang references above.