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.

[Paul Atreides]

It gets the idea out there, without actually making the charge. It's the equivalent of beauty parlor gossip: "Why, I've actually heard some people speculate that Madge is cheating on her husband, but I've not heard it from anyone reliable."

[Brian Allen]

<< 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. >>

You can't talk like that to people around here!

You prick!

[Brian Allen]

Geez, that's a bit of a cow, Laz!

[Tijeras_Slim]

Dean: What do you think of venom and bile?

Madge: You're soaking in it.

[Brian Allen]

<< 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. >>

Politics is a passionate pastime.

But please don't mistake the use of angry words in debate discussion and disagreement for the kind of envy-motivated and rage-driven hatred that defines the lunatic left-wing fringers' psychosis.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

The other night on Hannity and Colmes, Laura Ingram said that if Gov. Bush, when running in 2000, had dropped an allegation about the rumor involving Vince Foster's death, the Democrats would have had his head on a pike.

But, when Dean spreads rumors, it is fine and dandy!

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Only if you slip me some tongue. Again.

Well, Ok. Do you want it boiled, baked, fried or raw?

[Sender]

Did you catch Kerry yesterday on C-span? He was speaking to the Florida Dem Party and stated that the very FIRST thing he will do as President is to RUN to the United Nations and 'change our relationship with the entire world'. Also 'even the powerful United States needs friends and allies', so he will go a-grovelling and suck up to France and the terrorist appeasers and the Israel-haters, apologizing for our brief insanity and putting us back in our place. He got lots of cheers and applause.

[Sender]

They never peel your grapes? Tsk, tsk. And here I thought you were a real player.

[gatorbait]

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.

Think carefully about this statement. Even the "moderate" Republicans tend to vote for the President's nominees. A Senate dominated by CPUSA(the real base of the Dims ) would have a debilitating effect on the functioning of the country.

[gatorbait]

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

Brian, you're right.Look at how we Republicans handle(with tongs and hazmat gloves) David Duke(a former Liberal Democratic Presidential candidate) and how the Democrats handle the conscience of the Senate, Sheets Byrd.

Dave

[Cobra64]

Hey Slim, how about posting a shot of Anthony Hopkins' wearing the mask in the movie Silence of the Lambs and attach it to all threads pertaining to Howard Dean.

I'd love that image to become Dean's campaign photo!

(I'd post it but do not know how.)

[Search4Truth]

We are at war in every sense of the word; economically, culturally, spiritually, politically and militarily.

Only a return to the Christain values of our forefathers can save us.

[lepton]

IMO they hate Bush because he ignores them.

They hate him because he succeeds despite "being a moron", and despite early derision. They don't care if he passes their own agenda (just like the worst demonization of the Republicans in 1995-96 was when they took the few good ideas that Clinton campaigned on and passed them), they just care that he is succeeding and isn't them. That he succeeds despite "not winning the majority" when elected just burns, as it shows them as fools.

[CyberAnt]

After all .. look at what the dems supported in the WH .. a rampant sex abuser and rapist! Keeping quiet about anything else .. even murder .. is no problem for these snakes.

On the otherhand, when the repubs even SUSPECTED Nixon of wrongdoing .. they immediately called for him to resign. That is a BIG BIG BIG difference.

This proves beyond any shadow of a doubt .. the dems only care about POWER .. they don't care if their leaders are liars, cheaters, rapists .. they just want their POWER.

[ImpBill]

Good answer ... thank you.

[Dilbert56]

A thousand pardons. It was a case of "keyboard rage" and I can assure you firmly directed not at you but at ... Kathy Sullivan, New Hampshire Democratic Party chairman. It was her non-denial denial: “....He didn’t say it was a good theory, or a legitimate theory or that the theory had any credence to it.”. I must be more careful to label the intended target of my comments. Again, my apologies. Dilbert56

[eastforker]

This is the plan y'all. Every demorat candidate thus far has put their foot in their mouth. Next July or August there will be a cry for the beast to represent the rats in the presidential election. Of course everyone here should have already known that. Some say she will take the VP slot on the ballot. Knowing the clintonistas as we all do would anyone want her to run as their VP? This is gonna be a wild one folks and you just thought the 2000 election couldn't be topped.

[JulieRNR21]

Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday asked Dean if he believed that GWB knew about 9-11 prior to the attack and he responded NO, I don't.

Yet he continues to spread the 'theory'......Dean is a dangerous demagogue!