Dean’s hot comment on Bush draws cool, caustic reaction

Manchester Union Leader ^ | December 7, 2003 | NH Sunday News Staff

[billorites]

Reaction to Democratic Presidential candidate Howard Dean’s reference to an allegation that President George W. Bush had advance warning of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks ranged from caustic to cool.

While Washington Post commentator Charles Krauthammer questioned Dean’s sanity — in a column that also noted the apparently widespread indifference to his remarks — Dean and his competitors in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination were silent.

The comment by the former Vermont governor came during a broadcast last Monday of the Diane Rehm Show on National Public Radio.

Rehm asked: “Why do you think he (President Bush) is suppressing that (Sept. 11) report?”

Dean replied: “I don’t know. There are many theories about it. The most interesting theory that I’ve heard so far — which is nothing more than a theory, it can’t be proved — is that he was warned ahead of time by the Saudis. Now who knows what the real situation is?”

In a column published in The Washington Post on Friday, Krauthammer wrote: “I cannot testify to Howard Dean’s sanity before this campaign, but five terms as governor by a man with no visible tics and no history of involuntary confinement is pretty good evidence of a normal mental status.

“When he avers, however, that ‘the most interesting’ theory as to why the President is ‘suppressing’ the Sept. 11 report is that Bush knew about Sept. 11 in advance, it’s time to check on thorazine supplies.

“When Rep. Cynthia McKinney, D-Ga., first broached this idea before the 2002 primary election, it was considered so nutty it helped make her former representative McKinney,” Krauthammer wrote. “Today the Democratic Presidential front-runner professes agnosticism as to whether the President of the United States was tipped off about 9/11 by the Saudis and it goes unnoticed.”

In New Hampshire, a Republican Party spokesman described Dean’s comment as reckless, while a Democrat attached no significance to it.

“It’s an absolutely reckless and irresponsible statement,” said Julie Teer, the communications director for the Republican State Committee.

“Sadly, it’s typical of candidate Howard Dean to make charges that he has no proof of or reason to think is true. He says those things simple because he represents the vehement Bush haters that make up a tiny sliver of the electorate. Most Americans are turned off when they hear comments like that.”

In contrast, Kathy Sullivan, New Hampshire Democratic Party chairman, said, “It doesn’t sound like really that much to talk about. He said this was ‘one of the theories.’ He didn’t say it was a good theory, or a legitimate theory or that the theory had any credence to it.”

Requests for comment on Dean’s remarks on the theory that President Bush had advance warning of the 9/11 airliner hijackings were placed with the campaign spokesmen for Democratic Presidential candidates Wesley Clark, John Edwards, Richard Gephardt, John Kerry, Dennis Kucinich and Joseph Lieberman.

None was forthcoming yesterday, nor did Dean’s campaign staff respond to a request for elaboration.

“We’re not going to have any further elaboration,” Dorie Clark, Dean’s communications director in New Hampshire, said last night.

[iopscusa]

Why would anyone need to hate the Demo Party, it is so over and such a pack of LOSERS....but my question is where will the Loyal Opposition party come from?

[bert]

If he can try to make the GHW Bush statement about the conditions in Iraq in 1991 the guiding force for his son's action today, every word Dean utters in 2003 is Gospel and can be used to hang him in 2004.

[Arkie2]

I'm sure your comment regarding the utilitarian uses for toilet paper weren't directed toward me. Still, if they were, I'd like to know how I offended you?

[Arkie2]

The future loyal opposition will come from a party that believes in the constitution and the limits of govt power. Neither major (and I use that term loosely when referring to Dims) party currently fills that void.

[RobbyS]

They hate Bush because he is a threat to them. If he wins next year and if the Rpeublican Party gains seats in both houses, then the Republican Party will be established as the majority Party in Washington for years to come. Look at how how they reacted to the turning of AARP by the administration . My only concern is that as more and more lobboes turn to the administration, the White House will feel less need to mollify the conservative wing. INHO, the best thing for conservatives is to lost all the Senatorial seats in the States above the Mason and Dixon line. The fewer "moderate" Republican in Congress the better, but especially in the Senate. The House Leadership has found a way to dominate even with a slim majority. Of course, a few more conservative votes wouldn't hurt.

[Brian Allen]

<< The Dems are kinda like the Taliban and Al Queda and other Islamists. They hate everything and everybody that isn't a DemocRAT.

Now for some equal time - There are quite a few Republicans, especially hanging around FR these days, who aren't a whole lot better ..... >>

And now for some reality time:

Most if not all of those who project their hatred hereabouts are either undercover or sleeper "DemocRATS" posing as Republicans or are undercover and/or sleeper libertines posing as Libertarians.

"Love one another" tends to be Republicans' Founding Admonition, Building Tenet and Guiding Principle.

We Republicans are pretty much a bunch of lovers -- and neither attract nor put up with haters.

[RicocheT]

I hope to goodness GW Bush wins a second term. I disagree he will be less conservative in his second term. He has had to move to the middle as the split in the electorate is so close.

With a second term and the ability to move judges through the Senate, I believe he will be more conservative. Hopefully, he will stop growing government (other than defense) and put God back into the Constitution.

Anyway, if you think GW isn't conservative enough, consider Dean as president - too scary!

[Lazamataz]

Now for some equal time - There are quite a few Republican's especially hanging around FR these days that aren't a whole lot better in hating those with whom they disagree.

I hate you.

[ImpBill]

Nice sentiments Brian. Honest question ... Do you Republicans allow for honest dissent and critical analysis from within your ranks?

I only ask as I have seen some attacks around here on folks that are critical of certain actions or policies of the GOP and their elected officials, by supposed died in the wool, card carrying GOP members, that really would rival some of the comments made by Democrats concerning Bush and other Republicans.

[Lazamataz]

We Republicans are pretty much a bunch of lovers

[Lazamataz]

I only ask as I have seen some attacks around here on folks that are critical of certain actions or policies of the GOP and their elected officials, by supposed died in the wool, card carrying GOP members, that really would rival some of the comments made by Democrats concerning Bush and other Republicans.

Howard Dean sucks the brains out of infants and mixes it with koolaid for his breakfast. He has sex with llamas and is trying to genetically reengineer Adolf Hitler so he can build a Great Nazi Robot with laser eyes that will take over the world.

Plus he steals cookie money from girl scouts.

[Shooter 2.5]

You have been reading those, "LBJ Killed JFK" threads, haven't you?

[cupcakes]

Agree with you. While I think Clinton is and was an immoral man who will do anything for attention, I didn't hate the man, in fact I do think he has a certain bad boy charm, hence why so many women foolishly love him. The dems on the other hand have this irrational hatred of Bush. I think it goes deeper than him beating Gore. I think it really shows the hatred of what they see as the stereotypical white man type. It shows bigotry in all of its ugly light. George Bush is just a representation or a figurehead of that stereotype they loathe and it is why he is receiving all of their hatred. Take heed...I think conservative, particularly Christian, men of any color are seeing via GW's treatment what liberals and assorted minority types really think of them.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LOL!

[cupcakes]

I have some really happening gay friends, I still happen to think their behavior in the bedroom and their push for it's acceptance via folk's children is immoral and degenerate. Here's a clue..it is possible to really like someone and still think they make poor choices, but I'm sure you've never had a friend that you adore, but you still thought that some of the choices they made were ugly and self-deprecating? Geez, the fact you gotta tell grown ups this stuff...sigh...

[RobbyS]

The fact is that the Establishment in the United States is very liberal. The nutty notion of Bush as a "radical right winger" is of course wrong. He is a Methodist from an Episcopal background, so the notion of him as a "fundamentalist" is absurd, but there are many people in the Establishment who believe that anyone who does not think like Bishop Robinson is a fundamentalist. To the degree that he is independent of very conservative opinion he will feel pressured to reflect the dominant climate of opinion.

[Lazamataz]

he has a certain bad boy charm

Why thank you. Yes, women do love me.

But they never peel the grapes when they feed them to me whilst I recline on a sofa, and for that I am quite annoyed.

[expatpat]

IMO they hate Bush because he ignores them. They thought he would kow-tow to them because his win was so close, and so they're incensed because he governs as if they don't exist.

[cwb]

"I can only conclude that he is seeking to undermine the authority of his government, and the stability of his country, by promulgating what he understands to be a lie."

And isn't this really what it's all about? Do the Democrats really believe half the crap they spout about Bush? Does Ted Kennedy really believe Bush concocted this war in Texas, when he himself, has made similar claims about Saddam and Iraq? Do the Democrats really believed Bush "lied"...whether it be about the 16 words or WMDS? I really doubt it since they have levied the same...and even more specific charges, against Saddam. Therefore, one can only conclude that the Democrats are intentionally propagating lies, that aren't just undermining Bush and creating a feverous hatred...but is also endangering the lives and security of this country.

I remember how Tom Delay was treated by the media, the Democrats and even some Republicans when he dared "question" Clinton's impeachment-eve bombing of Iraq: He was called Un-American by Maxine Waters, as the media hunted for reactions to this extreme congressman; he was accused of putting our trops in harm's way with his dissent. Even John McCain and several Republicans publically skewed him for his statements.

Now, all of the sudden the goal posts have been moved and dissent in a time of war by elected public officials is defined as a "New American Patriotism." Were Delay was marginalized by all for his dissent, Democrats are applauded for theirs. Unfortunatley, Democrats have done far more than just question the timing of a war; they have impuned the reasons for this war (even when they voted to support it), going as far as attributing nefarious conspiracies to it. And the fact that they have the nerve to do this in the shadow of a past president who attacked 4 countries during his 8-month impeachment ordeal...the real Wag-the-Dog, is testament to their arrogance and ignorance...not to mention, big-time projection.

While there were those of us who voiced opposition and dissent for Clinton's behaviour, most of those voices rose from the punditry and sidelines. The voices of dissent arising from the Left are coming from the very leadership of the Democratic Party. And unlike the media that did its best to marginalize those voices from the right...as they labeled them "extreme," the media hasn't just ignored this vicious dissent, they have helped the Democrats re-define this New American Patriotism as they've helped make it mainstream. The rules always change when Democrats are out of power.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I hate you.

I love being hated.

Come here and give me a hug!