U.S. News and World Report Has Dean on the Front Cover

[slinkerwink]

The US News and World Report has one of the best articles on Gov. Howard Dean, M.D......and I'll enclose a few snippets from the article:

<snip>

In the beginning, Howard Dean intended to be one of those semitiresome aspirants who enter a presidential race in a semiserious attempt to force the media to consider his pet issues. And his pet issues happened to be healthcare and early childhood development.

<snip>

And in a 10-page, single-spaced confidential memo written by Trippi and other staffers to Dean on June 11 last year, shortly before his formal announcement, Dean was urged not to be just another typical candidate "who has a healthcare plan" but to become a "transformational leader that rises to the historical moment and leads a movement to save and restore America's ideals."

<snip>

In other words, the memo was telling Dean he could be a winner. Written at a time when Dean was at single digits in the polls, it was outrageously, even hilariously, optimistic. And even those who wrote it probably would not have guessed that seven months later, the hottest political story would be who is running second to Dean in the national polls or whether Dean can hold on to his lead in Iowa as caucus day looms January 19. (The endorsement by Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin on Friday was a big boost for Dean, after a week of negative media stories.) And nobody could have guessed that someday Dean would be mulling over how he will choose a running mate. "Geography matters," he says. "Electoral votes matter. And if they are running now, how they were able to attract votes."

<snip>

In his memo, Trippi told Dean that this was a pivotal moment in American history and that "like it or not, fate picked you" to step forward. "We are not going to promise the American people a paradise," the memo says. "Instead they are going to hear a summons to do their duty."

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/040119/usnews/19dems.htm

[dd123]

1. Loved this article. I absolutely need to pick up a copy.

Also loved Trippi's "fate picked you" statement.

That memo sounds like a doozy.

[slinkerwink]

heh, that it does....

you can read the article at the link below.

[realdem]

2. Awesome

With the Newsweek poll and this article, I've had a great day.

[slinkerwink]

3. so have I! Dean's demise is greatly exaggerated by the press as

always, and by a few supporters on here ;-)

[HFishbine]

4. VP Clues

"Geography matters," he says. "Electoral votes matter. And if they are running now, how they were able to attract votes."

I smell Clark (assuming Clark doesn't win it himself.)

[slinkerwink]

5. I hope it's not Clark.

[wtmusic]

15. Can't be Clark

or would he go back on his vow to not be a V.P.?

:shrug:

[mopinko]

8. edwards ?

[slinkerwink]

10. yeah, edward's come up a lot in the iowa polls.........

and oh christ....sorry, saw something on TV ;-)

[eileen from OH]

23. I really, really, really like Edwards

He expresses the economic message against Bush better than any of 'em (including my guy Dean, sorry!) AND he connects beautifully with voters.

My only worry is that he doesn't have a lot of foreign policy experience and I'd like someone who's strongly recognized for that to team with Dean.

eileen from OH

[slinkerwink]

25. I know that---but I like edwards!

[eileen from OH]

28. We simply MUST do lunch, slinkerwink.

n/t

eileen from OH

[Eric J in MN]

40. I want Clark-Edwards or Dean-Edwards. Or if Edwards

I want Clark-Edwards or Dean-Edwards. Or if Edwards is the Presidential candidate, that's good, too.

And Kucinich has the best policies, but his poll numbers have been low.

[HFishbine]

41. Could be Edwards (nt)

[kerry-is-my-prez]

11. From what I've heard chances of that are very remote....

n/t

[wtmusic]

18. Could it be...Gore?

:shrug:

[slinkerwink]

20. nope, that's too remote

[Rose Siding]

6. I bet that memo says what we already know!

That it's a David and Goliath with unprecedented stakes, that everyone is asking, 'where are the Democratic leaders?', that our very democracy is at risk.

[slinkerwink]

7. exactly!

[FubarFly]

9. Hah. That's just proof

that Rove wants Dean.

Because Rove is everywhere, man. It's best not to sleep. :tinfoilhat: :freak:

;-)

[slinkerwink]

12. lol, I don't most nights....

;-)

[dd123]

13. Another great passage!

'The memo says: "This is not about issues. It is about values. This is not about differences in healthcare plans, tax cuts, or Social Security. It's about a fight for our values and our country, who owns it and who runs it . . . . This is not Sgt. Pepper's Magical Mystery Tour. This is Howard Dean's Magical History Tour of the Greatest Nation on this Earth. And a call to reclaim what we have lost."'

--Wow Wow wow.

[slinkerwink]

14. I echo that "wow...wow....wow!"

:yourock:

[SadEagle]

16. Also an interview

See http://www.usnews.com/usnews/issue/040119/usnews/19dems.b.htm

[slinkerwink]

17. thanks for linking that!

[Rose Siding]

27. With rare, actual, non-gotcha questions

Who is this reporter Robert Simon?

snip>
The Democratic nominee is going to be running against a likable president. Is that important?

I think likability is definitely important, but I have a different approach to that than the usual politician. I don't think you get to likability by fudging your answers and by telling people you agree with them on every issue. I think likability means that you believe in them but you may not agree with them on everything, but you'll be respectful when you don't.

Will defeating George Bush be easy?

No. I think it will be hard work.

What do you think the nation will be like in four years if Bush wins re-election?

I think we'll be a lot deeper in debt. I think we'll have a lot of trouble overseas because of the loss of moral leadership that we've had since George Bush has been president. And the world will be in trouble, and so will America.

Do you have a favorite president?

Harry Truman is one of my favorite presidents, and he certainly was a very authentic person. That's why I admire him so much. The thing about Harry Truman that was so extraordinary is he was an ordinary American who became president of the United States through no desire of his own and then performed brilliantly.

Washington is my other political hero among American presidents, because he did the same thing. He turned down a chance for a third term and to have a title, and it changed the course of the evolution of law in the western world.

This is the last question. Just in case you do win, do you want to be called Mr. President or Dr. President?

(Laughing) The tradition of Mr. is fine with me. -Roger Simon

[slinkerwink]

32. who needs Howard Fineman when we've got Roger Simon?

;-)

[patricia92243]

19. Great post

[slinkerwink]

21. thanks!

[Zinnola]

22. Great article and post

:kick:

[slinkerwink]

24. thanks for the kick!

[Military Brat]

26. Look at those big blue eyes ...

Believe it or not, unless someone can verify that Kennedy had brown eyes, America has always elected a blue-eyed president. Sorry, Clark supporters.

I can't really tell from the image, but maybe they could have chosen a photo of him smiling ... it's hard to tell what he's thinking. But I'm glad he's in a shirt and tie and doesn't have one of those fancy $500 haircuts like bush, tinted the right shade of silvery-grey to accentuate his maturity.

"Fate picked you." I can hear it now from the RW, calling Dean supporters cultists, for believing in fate.

How about "Destiny has chosen Dean."

[dd123]

29. I laugh because I've seen several posts on the blog

that go like this:

"I told my mom to watch Howard on TV and she told me she was going to vote for him because of his beautiful blue eyes".

Too funny huh?

[slinkerwink]

31. ha, some voters do vote based on appearance, and that's true

;-)

[slinkerwink]

30. here's a photo of Dean smiling----he has blue/green eyes

that seem to change.

[Eloriel]

39. Oh, no!

His eyes change?

Must be another flip-flop from Dean.

That's a gorgeous photo. I love the ones of him laughing or smiling that fabulous, light-up-the-whole-damn-room smile of his.

Eloriel

[daria_g]

33. Thanks

That's a great article. And my mom gets that magazine and is always complaining about how Republican it is. She'll love it.

I also have to say the very start of that short interview really made me smile, it is perfect.

Q: Do you regret saying.....

A: No.

Q: George Bush didn't say that.

A: Well, he should have, it's the truth.

[slinkerwink]

34. ha!

[slinkerwink]

35. kick for a great positive thread

[Duder]

36. Good positive article

Thanks for posting it. :thumbsup:

[shivaji]

37. Healthcare is the defining issue for 2004 based on

the rate of medical cost inflation. Just wait till people see the 2004 health insurance premium increases. And who is most qualified to address this issue? Yes, correct! DOCTOR DEAN M.D.

[slinkerwink]

38. you've got that right!

;-)