Dean's political career marked by pragmatism, not populism

The Des Moines Register ^ | 8/31/03 | Thomas Beaumont

[Gothmog]

Burlington, Vt. - Howard Dean remembers the hot discomfort of the bulletproof vest underneath his suit jacket.

In the normally gentle game of Vermont politics, the election of 2000 had become blood sport, a referendum on a controversial bill Dean signed that spring assuring gay couples the same rights as married ones.

[nwrep]

Howard "Brush" Dean? Well, it's Bush v Brush, then.

[Az Joe]

That's funny, whenever we went to sea my back started to hurt too. Maybe I should have let the captain know.

[Gothmog]

"The roommates engaged in spirited, late-night debates about the Vietnam War and civil rights. Roman remembers that Dean had doubts about the war in Vietnam, but that they were eclipsed by disdain for protesters who resorted to violence."

I wonder what Dean sees in the crowd when he speaks -- ideological soul mates or dupes, ha ha ha.

[Cobra64]

"I can't stand extremes," Dean said in a recent interview. "Most of the time, people who take extreme positions, either on the left or the right, are willing to sacrifice potential for people they claim to represent in service to their ideology."

His remark sounds pretty "extreme" to me.

[A CA Guy]

I think the Clinton's will sabotage his campaign since if he becomes the designated loser this year he could gain power in the party over them and would be expected to have the 2008 backing as well.

[huck von finn]

This guy has a LOT of support, very early. He could be formidable.

[huck von finn]

How many terms did he serve as governor--FIVE? Did the people of Vermont elect the guy four times in a row?