[Born in a Rage]

Oh, I don't know that I'd vote for Dean, but it's a possibility - it might just depend what mood I'm in regarding what Bush says during the next presidential debates. If he comes across as prissy and making a bunch of 'conservative' promises in conflict with his record....It'll be hard to push that lever for him.

As far as Dean goes though, a Vermont newpaper has all of their news stories about him since 1999 up on their website in chronological order:

http://rutlandherald.com/hdean/41141

If you read the article in the link I provided you'll see that some programs were cut, taxes were not raised, the legislature didn't pass any cigarette taxes....the state was short on funds but Dean insisted on a balanced budget - and got it. Perfect, no. But he doesn't seem like a pork-barrel guy, that's for sure.

[futureceo31]

Check out the 2000 debates. Bush is not doing anything different than what he campaigned on. To me that means he is keeping his promise. He is a simple guy who speaks straight from the heart. Compare that to Dean who has a new story every day and changes his opinions faster than I change underwear. Compare that to his spewing of hatred and vitriol against Bush and religous conservatives (just to mention one conservative group) and I couldnt even imagine advising someone to vote for this guy or even consider this guy.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

Are you for real?

Haven't you heard Deans rants about the first thing he plans on doing is to repeal the tax cuts, limit conservative voices like Fox News, cut our military and pull out of Iraq? The list goes on!

You are one scarry dude!

[Dane]

If you read the article in the link I provided you'll see that some programs were cut, taxes were not raised, the legislature didn't pass any cigarette taxes....the state was short on funds but Dean insisted on a balanced budget - and got it. Perfect, no. But he doesn't seem like a pork-barrel guy, that's for sure

He is a tax increaser though. He has said that he will repeal Bush's tax cuts.

Also he was a head of a state of 1 million people and governing something 280 times bigger is a whole different ball game.

[Mo1]

If you read the article in the link I provided you'll see that some programs were cut, taxes were not raised, the legislature didn't pass any cigarette taxes....the state was short on funds but Dean insisted on a balanced budget - and got it. Perfect, no. But he doesn't seem like a pork-barrel guy, that's for sure.

Hmmm .. That's not what the Washington Times says

Vermont enjoyed a budget surplus this year while most states were in the red because of the recession that began three years ago. What the former governor doesn't say is that he raised hundreds of millions of dollars in higher taxes, including sales taxes, cigarette taxes, property taxes and corporate taxes, to balance the books while paying for his social welfare proposals.
After 11 years under Mr. Dean's governorship, Vermont now ranks in the top tier of high-tax states, a fiscal legacy that President Bush's campaign strategists say they intend to highlight should Mr. Dean become the Democratic presidential nominee next year.

[Texasforever]

you read the article in the link I provided you'll see that some programs were cut, taxes were not raised, the legislature didn't pass any cigarette taxes....the state was short on funds but Dean insisted on a balanced budget - and got it.

You are omitting one small point. Vermont is 95% upper-middle class whites. There is NO constituency for "social" programs and NO political price to be paid for cutting them. Good lord man, even I could be a "successful" governor in a state like that. Dennis the menace Kunisich(sic) governed more people than Dean and he was a measly mayor. I think you are more drawn to his "maverick" persona than any other attribute. Just remember that another "maverick" is the reason we are dealing with CFR today. His name is McCain.... remember him?

[Howlin]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1038173/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1035594/posts