Why I Like and Support Howard Dean
By Warren Gammel , Nov 1, 2003

To all my fellow brothers and sisters in the Bush-Cheney Bomb & Bankrupt Cheap-Labor-Conservative Resistance Movement (BCBBCLCRM):

One of the reasons I like Howard Dean is because of my liberal Christian values. Dean does not toot his religious horn and neither do I. I respect those who quietly practice their Christian values and ethics over those who only talk the talk or try to impress you with their claims of righteousness.

Howard Dean doesn't tout his faith as a selling point, which is refreshing in today's political arena and something I highly respect. I believe Dean is a real Christian just as much as I believe Bush is a phony Christian. Nearly every politician who makes a great display of their religious faith is invariably also seriously hypocritical.

I appreciate Dr. Dean's recent statement on abortion with which I completely concur:

"As a physician, I am outraged that the Senate has decided it is qualified to practice medicine. There is no such thing as 'partial birth abortion' in medical literature. But there are times when a doctor is called upon to perform a late term abortion to save a woman's life or protect her from serious injury. Today the Senate took a step toward making it a crime for a doctor to perform such medically necessary procedures. This bill will chill the practice of medicine and endanger the lives of countless women."

I'm glad to see Dr. Dean is speaking up on this controversial issue and he is taking an intelligent sensible approach. Dr. Dean brought clarity to the whole issue in a couple of sentences, while the right-wingers usually muck it all up with irrational emotional craziness. I expect Dr. Dean will bring similar intelligent common sense solutions to heath care reform as our president. That's one of my primary reasons for supporting Howard Dean. I like the fact that both he and his wife are physicians. That's what initially attracted me to Howard Dean. I believe he has the ability to tackle complex problems and situations and deal with them in a well thought out intelligent manner.

For many months Howard Dean has been under continuous attack from both the right and the left as they try to peg him with various derogatory labels. He's another McGovern, or he's another Nixon, or he's too far left or he's too far right. Well if Dean is another McGovern or another Nixon, what does that make George W. Bush? Bush is so far to the right that anyone else by comparison is to the left. But none of these comparisons or labels adequately define Howard Dean who is far too complex to be so simplistically characterized. I find most people who actually listen to Dean speak (rather than just listening to the all the rhetoric swirling around about him) like what Howard has to say on the issues.

One of the most common criticisms I hear directed at Howard Dean is that he waffles on the issues, as if the GOP or anyone else never does this! This indicates to me that Howard Dean is someone of conscience who is not so ingrained in a rigid belief system he can't admit he just might have been wrong about something in the past.

Two of the most prominent groups who never admit mistakes or allow themselves a change of mind or heart are far right wing wackos and far left wing wackos, the fringe extremist elements. Howard Dean has a conscience, admits his mistakes and like the rest of us, he is human. Only those with extremely narrow perspectives do not allow themselves to ever change their minds. We should celebrate, not condemn, Dean's diverse opinions and perspectives.

One other thing I really like about Howard Dean is that the lion's share of his financial support comes from American citizens and taxpayers, not large corporations. Howard's large base of grassroots support comes from a diverse cross section of working class Americans. This is a critically important distinction I believe we should be promoting about Howard Dean to all Americans who claim they wish to "take back our country" from the reigns of corporate control.

Howard Dean is a good start in that direction. The days of corporate controlled politicians must end if we are to have any meaningful progressive political reforms in our country. I believe it's imperative that we support grassroots politicians who will answer to their constituents instead of vested corporate special interests.

As we continue enduring all the egregious claptrap making the rounds on the Internet and corporate media, we should encourage our friends, family and co-workers to listen to what Howard Dean has to say for themselves, urging them to avoid the derogatory rhetoric. It's critically important that undecided voters be allowed to judge for themselves what Howard Dean stands for based on what he says instead all the rhetoric and spin generated by others.

Another part of my motivation in supporting Howard Dean is because I'm mad as hell about Bush-Cheney's bomb and bankrupt cheap labor policies and our current administration's "compassionate conservative" radical far rightwing agenda which can best be characterized as high on rhetoric and low on credibility.

I also like Howard Dean because he's got an aggressive streak in him that's been lacking in the Democratic mindset for far too long. Dean was the first to aggressively take on not only Bush's policies, but Bush himself. From the Iraq War to tax cuts to the Patriot Act, Dean has not only been leading the opposition, he has also been serving as the lightening rod for criticism by all of our detractors. That takes courage, guts, wisdom and balls.

A few random thoughts on other candidates. I'm still unsure what Wesley Clark would be like other than being a vast improvement over Bush, of course. Most career military men who have moved into the White House have been mildly successful at best.

I just don't know exactly what Clark's vision is, or where he wants to lead our country. As a friend recently commented, and I quote: "If you think that everyone should just quit and give [Clark] a clear shot at the nomination all I can say is brother you are in the wrong party. We vet our candidates, not anoint them."

On the other hand, a Dean-Clark ticket might just be a good combination that would satisfy both the Clinton-McAuliffe Democratic camps and the ever growing grassroots progressive Democratic camps that often appear to be at odds with each other.

I believe Dean is more capable of handing domestic issues and Clark may have an edge on foreign affairs. If these two men could work together we could possibly see a repeat of the Clinton Era prosperity.

I've liked Dennis Kucinich for a long time. I love many of his ideas. I believe Dennis has his heart in the right place, but something is missing and he lacks what is needed to become a front runner. I've said from the very start that I'd like to see Howard Dean team up with Dennis Kucinich in some form or another.

The one thing I know for sure is that when November 7th, 2004 rolls along, I'll be pulling a straight Democratic ticket, no matter whose name is on it. Whoever that man or woman is, he or she is guaranteed to be better than the semi-literate Chimp. Right now, I'm placing my bets on Howard Dean.

Astro - a Disgruntled Democrat for Dean! Join the Triple D's:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheTripleDs/

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