Dem Leader Reaches Out, At Home And Abroad

Party Chairman Howard Dean Meeting With World Leaders, Evangelicals In Preparation For '08

(The Politico) 
"A strong national defense depends on having well-trained troops and good weapons systems, but it also depends on having the moral high ground, and this president has given up the moral high ground around the world, and that's a disaster for the country's defense," Dean said.

On the pending battle between the two parties on immigration reform, Dean said: "I think the Republicans have decided they don't want to do anything about immigration because they are scared. The best kind of immigration reform is a much better working relationship with Mexico. We will never solve immigration problems in this country without improving the Mexican economy dramatically."

Dean is very concerned about world affairs and believes that after the November election in 2008, the president-elect should take a month off and travel the world to bolster America's image.

"During the Cold War, we certainly had people who didn't like us, but they respected us," Dean said. "Now, unfortunately, they don't like us and they don't respect us. And that needs to be fixed. And I consider one of my informal jobs to help fix it with like-minded world leaders so we do have some relationships."

Dean also said that the Bush administration's failure to cope with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was a turning point for the country.

"It destroyed George Bush's presidency," Dean said. "Permanently. The one thing that Americans and everybody else in the world have always believed, whether you like America or not, whether you like the government or not, is that the most organized, best managers in the world are the Americans. And if anything really, really awful happens, send in the Americans. And we all saw on television around the whole world, that this just wasn't true of this president and this government. It was just ludicrous. It's still ludicrous to this day."

In his famous speech to the winter meeting of the Democratic National Committee in 2003, Dean, then a presidential candidate, upbraided the party for too much timidity and too much coziness with Republicans.

"That's why Democrats didn't win for a long time," Dean said Tuesday. "Harry Truman said if you run a Republican against a Democrat who behaves like a Republican, the real Republican wins every time."

Confrontation is not what Dean is looking for when it comes to the Christian right, however.

"I think you're going to see in the Democratic progressive community and in the evangelical community a spirit that says we don't have to compromise our beliefs but we can work with others when we find common ground," Dean said. "We got 29 percent of the evangelical vote in the 2006 election and that's up 10 points from 2004. Now, I don't think that necessarily means we're going to get it in 2008, but we shouldn't be afraid to try to reach evangelicals."

And what is the common ground that Democrats and evangelicals can reach?

"We both think the culture is too material and not spiritual enough," Dean said. "Our solutions and our language about those problems may be different, but the concern is the same."

I asked Dean if he agreed with some in his party who say that things look so good for the Democrats in 2008, they virtually can't lose.

"That is what I call magical thinking, and Democrats have been very guilty of it for a long time," Dean said. "I don't admire much about Republicans, but one thing I do admire is that they don't engage in magical thinking."

Dean said that the Democratic Party is busy raising money and organizing in every state and that "we have a turnout operation that we think is better than the Republicans' now."

"But winning is going to be hard work," Dean said. "This race is going to be won in 2007, not 2008. It is all going to be about how well you prepare."

[forthepeaple]

TO SINGINRICK, HAVE YOU SEEN HOW MR BUSH SPELLS..I HAVEN'T SEEN ONE NOTE.AND IF YOU DID HE DIDN'T WRITE IT. SO ANYTHING MORE TO SAY

[forthepeaple]

Every time new information comes out, it proves that the White House was not telling the truth."

If there is one fact, one truth, one solid irrefutable bit of gold panned out of the muck we Americans have slogged through for the past 6 years; it is that every member of this administration, from the very top down to the lowest assistant is incapable of telling the truth. This aversion to truth appears to be deep in the DNA of this crowd. It is a knee jerk, unconscious reaction to any question. And why should it be that way?

Because these men went after the offices they now occupy with a specific plan that had nothing to do with the duties of their office. Those duties specifically were to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and to promote the fulfillment of its Preamble.

And what did they do? They schemed and plotted to enrich themselves and their backers. They lied us into a self serving war they and their friends could profit from. They spied on us out of fear we would find them out. They scared us into giving them the powers of a police state. The subverted our courts to protect themselves and persecute their enemies.

And all based on lie after lie after lie. Over and over again to cover their collective @ss. To hide their true purpose: the unbridled accumulation of power and wealth over the rights and freedoms and even the bodies and blood of those they swore to serve and protect.

Prison cells are too good for these criminals

[tulcak]

Howard Dean is a god-send. I was angry with the democrats after the botched election of 2000 for not fighting for the core democratic beliefs and angry at the republicans for their corruptness which is destroying our nation. Dean came in and kicked the democrats in the rear. He told them to stand for something and fight for it and don't apologize for being democrat. He told the republicans that we are not going to stand around ringing our hands and letting them get away with all their corruptness.

Go Dean!!!!

[forthepeaple]

i agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america..

[forthepeaple]

i agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america..

[forthepeaple]

i agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america..

[forthepeaple]

i agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america..

[forthepeaple]

i agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america..

[forthepeaple]

i agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america..

[forthepeaple]

i agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america..

[forthepeaple]

i agree and the americans do have a american to protect them,and my name is david a belanger,vet and ready to protect all americans,and to take back AMERICA from the washington crime family.just look at what has happen in just a few days look this is your ssn money the pork went from 94 billion to now over 130,000,000,000,000 billion in a week that your money. gone and now all of them are saying wait i need some pork for me to...wake up america.. that why you need me in washington and we need more average americans to come down and change our government back to the government for the people by the people.vote for me david a belanger for president and lets clean house.at [e-mail] send me a line.until then god blass our troops and god blass america..

[forthepeaple]

so toolmangler, what have you done for my counrty? i'm a vet and very proud to have served for my county.have you? but this is not america any more and if you cant see that them maybe open your eyes and go look and talk to some of my brothers in arms, comming home all f/u/c/k/up for nothing but for makeing money for the rich..so if you really think that your government will protect you.your mistaken.and at leasei'm willing to give my best shot to the americans that want to have there counrty back. what i have been posting is true and if you haven't read them all and gone to the sites i have ask you to read to get the truth about your government then i have nothing else to say to a loser.

[forthepeaple]

so toolmangler, what have you done for my counrty? i'm a vet and very proud to have served for my county.have you? but this is not america any more and if you cant see that them maybe open your eyes and go look and talk to some of my brothers in arms, comming home all f/u/c/k/up for nothing but for makeing money for the rich..so if you really think that your government will protect you.your mistaken.and at leasei'm willing to give my best shot to the americans that want to have there counrty back. what i have been posting is true and if you haven't read them all and gone to the sites i have ask you to read to get the truth about your government then i have nothing else to say to a loser.

[forthepeaple]

so toolmangler, what have you done for my counrty? i'm a vet and very proud to have served for my county.have you? but this is not america any more and if you cant see that them maybe open your eyes and go look and talk to some of my brothers in arms, comming home all f/u/c/k/up for nothing but for makeing money for the rich..so if you really think that your government will protect you.your mistaken.and at leasei'm willing to give my best shot to the americans that want to have there counrty back. what i have been posting is true and if you haven't read them all and gone to the sites i have ask you to read to get the truth about your government then i have nothing else to say to a loser.

[toolmangler-2009]

forthepeaple and DAVID A BELANGER appear to be the same person, both spell/misspell words the same way. Both are full of it and both are similarly misinformed.

[forthepeaple]

I was once proud to be american and proud to say i i'm a vet,now i just want out.You all in congress and capital hill and white house should be working for america and the americans that elected you to protect us,that isn't the case and i know why. I have been looking and found something that all america has forgotton.Who said this statement: If the personal freedoms of all americans by the Constitution and bill of right are Inhibiting the Government ability to (Govern)that meant control, the people of united states of america..Than we Should look to Limit those GUARANTEES #2.The united states Government CAN'T BE so fixed on our desires to preserve the RIGHTS of ORDINARY AMERICANS #3.I can do any ********* thing i want,I'm president of the united states and you dont forget that.....who am I..... so you all have been following your orders well i want you all to know that i hold all of you accountable for the murders of thousends of americans that have died and wounded in a war we have no buisness being in, you all are makeing large sums of money on americans lives and you all will pay a big price for that someday,heavens gates will never open its golden gates to you.. i hope someday that america and true americans will wake up and see that this washington crime family has sold our country to the highest bidders, china being # 1 and is # 1 in the world now, they are the supper powers of the world now. THANKS..DAVID A BELANGER,FOR AMERICANS FOR AMERICA,AT [e-mail]

[forthepeaple]

CLEAN HOUSE..agaian when is everyone in america going to relise that there government is out of control.we the people need to put a change in place now no more dems and no more reps only americans that want to help american like our forfathers wanted it to be.again i hope everyone understands that we will not ever leave iraq,,,we might take a few troop out but we have 5 brand new MEGA MILITARY BASES THAT WE JUST FINNISH BUILDING WITH YOU SSN MONEY AT A WAPPING TRILLION DOLLARS.so we will not leave..BUT IF SOMEONE NEW COMES IN THAT IS NOT A DEM OR A REPS THAN I WOULD STOP IT ALL.WASHINGTON IS OLD AND I MEAN OLD..AND IT IS TIME TO GET YOUNG AGAIN NEW BLOOD,NEW START AND THIS TIME ONLY FOR AMERICA AND AMERICANS..VOTE FOR DAVID A BELANGER,VET AND NOT AFFAID OF WASHINGTON,JUST A NORMAL AVERAGE AMERICAN TRYING TO SUPPORT HIS FAMILY AND JUST GETTING BY WORKING 80HRS A WEEK LIKE MANY AMERICANS OUT THERE,THAT WHY I'M RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, ITS TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE. E-MAIL [e-mail] SEND ME A NOTE. DAVID

[fredgrad2000]

WOW, the conspiracy theories here...just ridiculous...anyhow to the article - Howard Dean is obviously more effective that Terry McAuliffe ever was - he motivates his base far more than the bland McAuliffe, of course Iraq is the best gift a DNC chairman could ever ask for in the 2006 elections and probably for 2008 (though we as Americans should all hope not).

[dallison7]

Good job Doctor Dean.

Keep up the good work!!

[bluestardad]

FORTHEPEOPLE; I READ THAT STUFF IT SEEMS TOO WORDY AND DID NOT MAKE A POINT EXCEPT THAT THE INTELLIGENCE WAS FALSE! BUT EVERYONE MAKES THAT POINT