[grania]

Dean is a big pussycat.

He's the "pussycat" who gave up his governorship to behind the scenes plot that big early splash with moveon.org. He got himself declared a frontrunner before people even knew his stands.

I don't think he can appeal to moderate voters.

He can appeal to anti-war voters and non-voters. The fact he is a doctor might well help with women.

I pray Dean is the rat candidate.

Here is where I part ways with many of you. The only way a Dem wins is if something really big and really bad and really detrimental to the US happens. If that happens, I want someone who really loves his/her country, and can govern, and has clear, proven views. I don't fear a Gephart, Kucinich, or Mosely-Braun as much as you do. They would energize the Republicans in the HOR and Senate to block some of the very stuff they're voting for with GWB. What I fear is someone who will do or say anything to win...I fear that would be Dean.

[WOSG]

Probably the only Democrat who *wouldnt* make me wretch the following morning would be Gephardt. The concept of even considering leftist morons like Kucinich or Braun or Dean or ... just makes me realize how far in the toilet the Dems have gone. They has lost their marbles.

I have a sense that Gephardt doesnt hate the concept of America like some of the other Democrats. That being said, I think it suggests he would be the most formidable candidate.
The media will call him the next Truman, blah blah blah, and build him into a hero if he wins.

IMHO, the best Candidate for the Conservatives would be Leiberman. This would shift the debate just a little to the right, and L. lacks the charisma and has too much ethics to lie and be believed about it, like say a Clinton. Or a Dean.