Posted on 02/23/2004 8:20:54 AM PST by chance33_98
Editorial: Dean Led the Way (02-20-04)
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 18 Howard Dean ended his bid for the presidency on Wednesday, leaving John Kerry and John Edwards battling over free trade and jobs as the Democratic presidential contest veered into a more combative two-man struggle. New York Times
In their dreams. In whose dreams? Both the medias and the Democratic partys dreams, if either has any common sense. Theres nothing the mainstream media loves more than a combative two-man struggle. Heaven forfend that Democrats would actually get al ong, as they seem mysteriously to have done lately, with a few lapses. It makes much better copy if their smallish tiffs over trade can be blown up into main events. And, in fact, better copy is also better for the eventual Democratic candidate, whoever h e might be (and no, were not adding the pro forma or she for the next term anyhow). Without an apparent struggle the media will just not be interested. Its the new new thing: politics as the sports page.
Blog-trolling gives one the impression that the major determinant of how Democrats have been voting in primaries this season is handicapping the race: not who do I think is the best man for the job? but who will others think is the best man, so we can beat Bush? And theres nothing wrong with this theory, under the circumstances. Two young guys standing behind me at the Chinese New Year parade got the message. One said to the other, So, are you going to vote your conscience this time and vote for Nader again? Oh sure, the other one answered sarcastically. I have nothing better to do than sit at home and wait for Homeland Security to come and get me. Politics stops at the waters edge, and were all in deep hot water.
To overextend the sports metaphors a bit more, Dean has performed an extremely valuable service to the American people by setting the pace for the race. Before he got going, in fact for the last eight years or so, Democrats have been convinced by the Democratic Leadership Council and their anointed candidates that the best way to win elections is to run slowly and hope no one notices you. Dean (and Sharpton) set an example for the other Democratsthey made having the courage of your own convictions in debates look plausible. The DLCs republicrat stance, which sucked in Cl inton, Gore and Lieberman, looks increasingly ineffectual when juxtaposed with Deans vigorous campaign. This has not much to do with liberals or moderates or progressives or conservatives. Its an attitude thing, and Deans attitude was contagiou s.
Kerry seems to have been chummy with some of the wrong people during the Clinton years, but his stellar record in the Vietnam era prompts many of us to hope he can get past that. From time to time, he works himself up to effective denunciations of Bus hs follies. Edwards has the advantage of not being in the Senate when the disastrous NAFTA legislation was completed, so he can distance himself effectively from Clinton, who is still more of a liability than an asset. (Theres fascinating back chat circ ulating that Clark was the Clinton candidate, and he was supposed to lose the general election to make way for Hillary next time. Guess that one didnt work.)
The obvious dream team for the Democrats is ready to run. Dean supporters, most of them, show n o signs of acting like sore losers, though of course the mainstream media is hoping they might in order to spice things up. Kerry and Edwards might be able to simulate a few more exciting laps around the track to keep the medias attention, but it would t ake some kind of unexpected disaster to prevent them from being Number One and Number Two on the November ticket. Theyll have some gentlemanly discussion over free trade, leave the I----- word completely out of the picture, and move forward to the main e vent. Which could be a lot of fun, the way things have been going for Bush lately.
Becky OMalley is executive editor of the Daily Planet.
Yep, he led the way for the Democrats, all right. The way to Oblivion and Beyond!
At the end of this campaign, when the DNC has blown what little it raised, you're going to wish you had the extra 50 million dean blew on his delusion of grandeur.
How? By losing spectacularly?! LOL!
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