'I'm Feeling Like Job' (Dean on the heat of battle, Osama bin Laden—and Jesus)

Newsweek ^ | Jan. 12 issue | Staff

[Maria S]

It's rough at the top, or so insurgent turned front runner Howard Dean is finding out. Dean addressed the incoming fire, his latest thoughts on Osama bin Laden and his favorite Biblical passages in a conversation with NEWSWEEK's Howard Fineman last week.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

When it comes to jobs, Dean should get a hand from Bill Clinton.

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[Vision]

What did Job do?

[Miss Marple]

"I didn't say they were cockroaches, I said that they were scurrying around LIKE cockroaches. That's not calling them cockroaches."

How Clintonian.

[claudiustg]

---There are some people who would say that it takes a little bit of chutzpah for you to complain since at various times you've called the people inside Washington cockroaches—
That actually is not true. What I said was that they'll be scurrying around in Washington just like cockroaches. That is not calling members of Congress cockroaches ... A lot of the attacks are about putting words in my mouth that I never said. One of the attacks they don't bring up very often anymore is the Saddam Hussein thing, that it's not safer since Saddam Hussein's been captured—because we now have 23 troops killed and we're having fighter planes escorting passenger jets through American airspace. I noticed that line of attack disappeared fairly quickly.---

What a guy!

[Howlin]

This could very well be one of the most dangerous people this country has ever produced.

[Maria S]

"What did Job do?"

This is only my opinion, so it counts as zilch...but:

I think Mr. Dean is trying to compare himself to Job because of the extraordinary trials God put Job through and the way that Job ultimately conducted himself. From the 'Matthew Henry Commentary' in describing Job:

"He appears brave in distress and valiant in affliction, maintains his virtue, and with that his character, under the most exasperating provocations that the malice of hell could invent, and thereby gives a most noble example of passive fortitude…”

[Maria S]

Mr./Ms. Moderator - Thank you for 'fixing' the article for me...I can't seem to remember to just excerpt some of them!

[VOA]

"What did Job do?"

RE Dean: AFAIK, Job never did a tour of duty in an abortion mill (Planned Parenthood).
And Job apparently worked to gain his fortune.


Bibically, here is my amateur version of what Job did, in a nutshell ...
Job amassesed a sizeable estate, had a beautiful family and was honorable and upright
(charitable). In one fell swoop, he loses all his sons and daughters and is afflicted with
physical torment...because G-d is showing "The Evil One" that Job will not renounce him.

To make things worse, Job is torment by bad (but the usual human) advice from three friends,
as well as rebuked by a younger man for not having the best attitude.
Oh, and his wife eventually tells Job to simply end this torment: "Curse G-d and die" already!
But Job says something like "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him...".

Finally Job learns that even if he was a good man and had done many good works,
he still needed to fully understand and acknowledge that G-d is truly the ruler over
all creation.

The latter chapters are incredible, as G-d speaks to Job out of the whirlwind.
G-d eventually restores Job to health, gives him more children and good days
the rest of his life.

Overall, it's a fantastic part of the Bible (and even just good literature). IIRC, the experts
think it might be the oldest book of the Bible.

[freekitty]

He is taking cues from the Clintons. Bill is teaching him to be Elmer Gantry, Jr. of the 21st century.

[King Prout]

certainly it is among the wisest. there is so much treasure to be mined from Job.
as to Dean: bwaaa-hahahahahaha! more like he's the devil, walking up and down in the earth.

[VOA]

"He is taking cues from the Clintons. Bill is teaching him to be Elmer Gantry, Jr.
of the 21st century."

It ain't gonna' work.
Dean does NOT have the estimable folksy Baptist preacher charm of Bill Clinton.
(Baptists, please don't take offense...it's just that Clinton was a skilled weasel
at imitating some admirable qualities of the best Southern Baptist preachers.)

Plus, we saw this same sort of schtick with Bill Clinton. Even a lot of sheeple have been immunized against this sort of Bravo Sierra.

[sausageseller]

Sorry Mr. Dean, I know Job and you are no Job!

[Uncle George]

Why do I feel as though this scum would sell his Sole and Country for a few puny votes???????

[okie01]

Howard Dean has all the ambition and narcissism of Bill Clinton. But without the humility...

[OldFriend]

LOLOL....and since when did Job emigrate to the New Testament?

[Eva]

It ain't gonna' work. Dean does NOT have the estimable folksy Baptist preacher charm of Bill Clinton. (Baptists, please don't take offense...it's just that Clinton was a skilled weasel at imitating some admirable qualities of the best Southern Baptist preachers.) Nor does Dean have the Southern Baptist upbringing that Clinton had or Clinton's photographic memory. Dean memorizes canned replys, Clinton makes off the cuff remarks utelizing remembered information. This photographic memory is what makes Clinton seem so chameleon-like, he is actually acting out a previous encounter, not reflecting the feelings of the person that he is talking to. Dean doesn't have this gift.

[Miss Marple]

I agree. He is a very dangerous man.

Are you starting the live thread for the debate?

[Always Right]

Of course Dean had the little trouble of knowing Job was from the Old Testament, and tried to quickly dispell the notion that Dean was some kind of a Biblical scholar. Can't wait to see Dean driving around the south in the General Lee touting a Bible in his hand quoting verses.