BS: Dean and Kerry

Subject: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Nerd
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 06:53 PM

Got this today from Howard Dean. From those of you who have been calling for an endorsement, this looks pretty good.

(Dean's message follows)


John Kerry and I had a very good meeting yesterday. During the campaign we often focused on what divided us, but the truth is we have much more in common beginning with our fervent desire to send George Bush back to Crawford, Texas in November. The future of our country depends on this.

In addition to our strong commitment to turning this country around by beating George Bush, John and I also share a strong commitment to providing healthcare to every American, cleaning up and protecting our environment, and getting the 3 million Americans who lost their jobs during George Bush's presidency back to work.

As I have previously said, I will work closely with John Kerry to make sure we beat George Bush in November and turn our country around. There is a lot we can do together to rebuild an America that belongs to all of us, and we'll be saying more about what our amazing grassroots network can do to help with this goal on March 18.

Sincerely,

Governor Howard Dean M.D.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 08:20 PM

Yeah, it all sounds good. So why no endorsement?

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: GUEST,guest from NW
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 08:29 PM

because they are arranging the time and place of the endorsement so it will have the most impact. Duh!! mr. anti-kerry guest!

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Peace
Date: 11 Mar 04 - 08:56 PM

I'm for it, but I'm Canadian, and I'd support Mickey Mouse if he was running against Bush and the Neocons.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Nerd
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 12:59 AM

GUEST,

Dean had previously announced March 18th as a day he would make a big statement about what he would like his grassroots organization to do in the upcoming months. I suspect an official endorsement will come at that time. If it does not, it's just a matter of setting the proper time.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 11:28 AM

Ah yes, the mainstream media answer. Nerd, I watch tv news too. You aren't saying anything that Dan Rather and Peter Jennings haven't already told me, or that I haven't read in the NYT or Washington Post.

And frankly, I don't think they know what the hell they are talking about.

Again, a meeting, a lot of fanfare, no endorsement. That doesn't exactly scream "unity" to me. Edwards endorsed Kerry the night he lost, as did Gephardt and Lieberman.

Dean is holding out for a reason. We don't know what the reason is, any more than the pundits do. We are all speculating. But to say "it's just a matter of setting the proper time" isn't an explanation for why the time wasn't the day he dropped out, like it was for all the other candidates.

There is something else going on. I'm not saying that Dean isn't going to endorse Kerry. I'm just wondering when he will do it, and why he hasn't done it yet. It is obvious that Dean won't be the #2 on the ticket, so he actually has an incentive for holding out until the convention. That isn't exactly unheard of in the world of politics.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Nerd
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 11:45 AM

Yeah, you're right, GUEST. He might even hold out until the convention. Personally I think he should.

But the reason he didn't endorse Kerry the night he dropped out was pretty obvious to anyone who was paying attention: he liked Edwards better.

I think the reason he is waiting for March 18th is that he cares more about his mobilizing supporters than about pretending his endorsement means anything to the larger world. His supporters will be paying attention to what he says on the 18th. We will listen carefully and measure his words.

If he endorsed today, we would get as you say "the mainstrean media version."

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: katlaughing
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 12:05 PM

Thanks, Nerd, for posting this, ya beat me to it.:-)

He already has mentioned waiting until the 18th. If you go to dean for america dot com and scroll down to:

February 26, 2004
Democracy, Freedom, and Action

The following is excerpted from Governor Howard Dean's remarks in New Haven, CT:

"On March 18, I will announce our plans to build a new organization, using our nationwide grassroots network, to continue our work to transform the Democratic Party and to change America.

you can read more of what Dean plans to accomplish with support from those of us who wanted him to win.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Frankham
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 01:52 PM

I'm glad that Dean has decided to support Kerry. An endorsement
would be great to show Democratic unity. What doesn't need to happen
is an attack on Kerry.

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 02:14 PM

Going by the quote from Dean that katlaughing provides, I don't see any mention of an endorsement. "Support" doesn't necessarily equal endorsement.

I think Dean's machine would better serve the party if he uses it to truly transform the party, rather than just hand over the donor mailing list Kerry for the November election.

Bush is in the White House because of the failings of the Democratic party. The party needs to be transformed, or get use to irrelevance as the party out of power, which is what it is now.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Nerd
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 03:03 PM

Don't worry, Frank, I'm sure that won't happen. Whether he uses the words "I endorse John Kerry" or not, Dean's message will be to work for the nominee.

I suspect Dean will also ask us to direct some attention to important congressional races.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Amos
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 03:18 PM

I will work closely with John Kerry to make sure we beat George Bush is as much of an endorsement from Dean as Kerry needs and as much of an endorsement as anyone is going to get, semantics aside.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 05:07 PM

Kerry doesn't need the endorsement, though I'm sure it would be a nice show of unity if it ever happens.

What Kerry wants from Dean is Dean's donor mailing list, and for Dean to agree to convert his organization into an adjunct campaign organization for Kerry.

We'll see.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Alice
Date: 12 Mar 04 - 11:25 PM

A little bird told me that the meeting between Dean and Kerry didn't go all that well. Dean wants Bush defeated, but I don't think Kerry appreciates what Dean has done for the party and the rank and file dems. I suspect the continuation of Dean's push to help local and state Democratic candidates is what we will see in the announcement on the 18th. Some Deaniacs are already starting to run for political office on the local level, many for the first time, helped by the Dean organization. Dean's focus is building the party from the ground up.

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 09:02 AM

So I was watching Washington Week on PBS last night, and the prospect was raised that the Bush campaign is rolling out it's commercials so early, in order to run Kerry out of money early, by responding to the commercials.

So, what do we suppose would happen if Kerry really ran out of money to run an effective campaign?

What a system!

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: Frankham
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 12:23 PM

I think that the Kerry campaign can live with Dean's support the way
it is. I don't agree with Alice that Kerry has diminished Dean's
contribution. I heard him a few times compliment Dean on his campaign and his contributions.

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Mar 04 - 12:25 PM

Yeah, but can Kerry win without Dean's money and Dean's organization?

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 06:52 PM

As Ned pointed out in another thread, Dean's endorsement has arrived...or will do tomorrow!

Subject: RE: BS: Dean and Kerry
From: LadyJean
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 01:09 AM

Vote for Dean in your state's primary, if it hasn't happened yet. Keep his ideas in the Democratic platform.
Kerry won the nomination by stealing Dean's principals. Now he's borrowed Dean's campaign strategy to get elected. I will vote for that prune face sell out in November. But I can't like him.
Keep Kerry on the right track, vote for the man with the principals. Vote Dean in the primaries.