From Florida tonight...everyone's happy now...Dean being nice.

[madfloridian]

So we can all hang out and relax...he is toeing the line. Of course it is the same thing basically he said in San Antonio, but he said it with his mouth crooked so he said it better this time.

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/13373547.htm

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - As Republicans released an ad saying Democrats' plan for Iraq is "retreat and defeat," Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean said clearly Friday that the war is winnable.

"We can and we must win the war on terror," Dean told attendees at the Florida Democratic Party convention. "A smarter, more honest strategy that respects our troops and our military leaders is possible. And I believe our course is far more likely to defeat terror than the Bush administration's failed policy in Iraq."

Dean called for bringing home all 50,000 National Guard troops stationed in Iraq within six months, redeploying 20,000 troops from Iraq to Afghanistan and assigning several thousand anti-terror troops in countries around Iraq.

"Strategic redeployment addresses a broader battle against global terrorist networks. We need to re-engage our allies and a military realignment of our troops will make our forces stronger and save American lives," Dean said."

And of course the usual pre-Dean attacks...like they do everywhere he goes in the south.

Dean compared the war to Vietnam and repeatedly accused President Bush of lying to the nation and to troops.

"Tell the American people the truth," Dean said. "Policies which are built on truth, on honest dealings with our soldiers, our citizens and our allies are much more likely to succeed than policies built on the quicksand of deceiving the American people. Our troops deserve better."

Dean's remarks came at the convention's opening reception. Republicans sent out a barrage of press releases ahead of the speech, attacking Dean's position on Iraq.

And so that is it for me here tonight. I am worn out for being upset that our party leaders support the war. Now all the ones who advocate that Dean is too outspoken can rest easy....tonight he fell in line.

[madeline_con]

1. LAKE BUENA VISTA

Is he visiting our "beloved" rat?

[Erika]

2. Both Dean & Murpha spoke of a measured withdrawal

as Bush now plans to do. They won big time. The democrats are forcing the end to this war.

[madfloridian]

5. I actually agree with that.

..

But I don't think they will be able to get us out anymore than we got out of the other countries we had wars with. We go we attack we build bases we stay.

They may be able to get some troops out, but that is about all. We wil stay as occupier.

[Elidor]

3. He's saying we can win "the war on terror"

He's not saying we can win the war in Iraq. Some believe they are the same thing. Dean doesn't. And it's a subtle opening to keep pushing his line.

[katinmn]

7. There is no such thing as "a war on terror"

It's a Republican meme.

[madfloridian]

14. Well, that is arguable.

Some would argue that. Many who disapproved of Iraq know we have to do better finding terrorists camps. Bob Graham covered this well in his book.

[wtmusic]

4. The "war on terror"? WTF?

My man is letting me down--I can't believe that phrase came out of Dean's mouth. :eyes:

[katinmn]

6. I'm sorry madfloridian. I know you've been a strong supporter

It hurts when they back down from speaking the truth. The political environment does this. It's out of control. It's vicious (like the Republican's attack) and manipulative, like this comment from a supposed supporter: "If you go in and attack like a bully, you won't win," said Valerie Guenther of Charlotte County before Dean spoke. "Our greatest strength as a nation is we're solution finders, and I don't think we are right now."

You call that a supporter? Uggh.

I bet Dean will be back to fight another day, but this will just make the fight all the harder.

[madfloridian]

13. Oh, I still am, very much.

Harry Reid on CNN just today made it clear he was NOT to set policy. So he didn't.

I still very much support him. He is saying the very same thing he said in San Antonio, but because he is saying "war on terror" can be won...he made the right wing happy.

Sometimes there are consequences for our leaders when they are being pummeled from both sides. It showed tonight.

So now the right is happier, and all the left will send Dear Howard letters...even though he said the same thing.

[katinmn]

16. "You can't say that, Mr. Dean!"

I know what you mean.

I thank Dean for giving birth to DFA. It's the best vehicle we have for giving We, the People, a place at the table.

Establishment political machines treat the people like the enemy.

[DemInDistress]

8. This war in Iraq -- Bush's War was lost before the first shot

was even fired. The punk-in chief named this invasion,"Operation Infinite Justice" ra ra, rally the nation and troops,off to war. But no, the Arabs were offended by the name of the operation. They say,"only Allah
can dispense infinite justice" so our chickenhawk changed the name.
America is in Iraq for their oil and don't be fooled. His "centerpiece" in the war on terror (lol) give me a break and Howard Dean doing a Durbin. What next?

[rodeodance]

9. Dean is talking of the terrorits in this article--which we need to focus

on. Earlier he said we can't win in Irag-which is the wrong war. Critics get these two mixed up.


......"We can and we must win the war on terror," Dean told attendees at the Florida Democratic Party convention. "A smarter, more honest strategy that respects our troops and our military leaders is possible. And I believe our course is far more likely to defeat terror than the Bush administration's failed policy in Iraq."

[katinmn]

10. Hate to pull a Rummy, but it's not good to use Junior's pet phrase

which is meaningless anyhow.

If they don't believe 9-11 was an inside job, why not say "We can and we must capture OBL."

Why is that guy still getting a free pass by Bushco? They should hammer it until everybody is sick of hearing it.

[madfloridian]

12. Well, see, he's being good.

.

[Jim Sagle]

11. The war on terror is one thing, the war in Iraq is another.

One is (arguably) winnable, the other is not.

So no, Dean did NOT "fall in line."

[madfloridian]

15. Well, I am sure someone will be along to argue about that.

Someone will differ with you on both sides of the aisle. I happen to agree.

[Jim Sagle]

18. And they'll be as wrong as you were.

[madfloridian]

20. I agree with you.

That is what I am saying. It has gotten so bad in our party that the addiiion or subtraction of two or three words can make a crowd of 2000 in Florida cheer and make Florida papers headline...Dean says war winnable.

Go figure. We have twisted words and demanded proper usage so long that we are going in circles.

[Jim Sagle]

21. Hey, c'mon..gimme a break and use the

:sarcasm: tag when it's needed! :dunce:

[madfloridian]

22. It was a mixture.

:evilgrin:

Trouble is I wasn't being so much sarcastic, but showing how it would be spun here. Devil's advocate, so to speak.

I guess it was a mixture of both. It gets so weird here that it is hard to keep track of what I am saying.

[killbotfactory]

17. Are people deliberately conflating the war in Iraq to the war on terror?

Is that what all these hysterics i've been seeing lately are about?

[shance]

19. Who is causing the Terror? The Bush Administration.

n/t

[mmonk]

23. Yeah

I'm close to abandoning the party. With the Fitz investigation going on, the torture controversy, etc. and the best the dems can do is to toe the line of the DLC types as not to offend anybody, it's all a bit too much for me. Add in the media and I say it's over. All hope does indeed ride with the special prosecutor and what comes out of that. For me, this fighting by ourselves seems too impossible.