Posted on 06/25/2003 7:22:04 AM PDT by bedolido
The softer side of the pugnacious US presidential hopeful surfaced when he rushed home after his son was accused of theft.
WASHINGTON - Last week brought good and bad news for Mr Howard Dean, a former Vermont governor who wants to be the next president of the United States.
On Friday, his 17-year-old son was arrested for allegedly taking part in an attempt to steal alcoholic beverages from a country club in Burlington, the capital of the north-eastern state of Vermont.
Mr Dean, a Democrat campaigning in the Midwestern state of Iowa, rushed home.
'When a child gets in trouble like this, it constitutes a family crisis, and I believe it's important that I be home,' he said.
The family upheaval was unwelcome, but will not derail Mr Dean's presidential bid.
It may even help the pugnacious former governor by making him appear more compassionate, especially to female voters.
Mr John Samples, director of the Centre for Representative Government at Washington's Cato Institute, said: 'The incident is less important than the way he handled it - and he handled it well.'
Better news followed on Monday when crowds spilled onto the streets of Burlington to hear Mr Dean formally announce his candidacy.
He also lambasted President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq.
'There is a fundamental difference between the defence of our nation and the doctrine of pre-emptive war espoused by this administration,' said Mr Dean.
'The President's group of narrow-minded ideological advisers are undermining our nation's greatness in the world. They have embraced a form of unilateralism that is even more dangerous than isolationism.'
Some think it is Mr Dean who is dangerous.
The predominantly right-wing press tags him as a liberal leftist who, in the ultimate insult, would be better off moving across Vermont's northern border into 'anti-war' Canada.
His supporters counter that he is an intellectual with immense popular appeal.
'He is a natural leader and a gifted orator who can hold a crowd spellbound,' said Mr Richard Jacobs, vice-chairman of Mr Dean's campaign in California.
'His intellectual curiosity and ability to surround himself with smart, good thinkers will make him a remarkable president in a time of unparalleled difficulty in the world.' So far, Mr Dean has not walked on water.
Indeed, when he first entered the presidential race, he struggled to make any impact at all.
Then, unlike the other contenders, he spoke out forcefully against the invasion of Iraq.
It set him apart. Many Americans accused him of being unpatriotic and claimed he had no chance of being elected.
'Any Democrat running on an anti-war platform is dead in the water,' said Mr Tripp Baird, director of Senate Relations at the Heritage Foundation in Washington.
'It won't play in the suburbs and out in the country.'
Such visceral criticism has only thrust Mr Dean's name more into the limelight and helped boost his campaign funds.
Said Mr Samples: 'His forthright anti-war line has propelled him onto the front pages.'
To the consternation of his rivals, he remains there.
Senator John Kerry, one of the more established Democrat front- runners, has equivocated on the war issue to try to appeal to both sides.
But last week, realising he was losing ground to Mr Dean, he adopted a more aggressive line.
He told one crowd that President Bush had 'misled everyone of us' over the war.
The US media reports about Mr Kerry's perceived U-turn only served to give the irrepressible Mr Dean yet more headlines.
Still, despite his high profile, Mr Dean's chances remain slim.
'Howard Dean has got a better chance of being president of Iraq than of the United States,' said Mr Baird.
True, so True
Always look on the bright side of life....
It may even help the pugnacious former governor by making him appear more compassionate, especially to female voters.
Why, why, why did we ever let them have the vote?
I blame the men of the 1910s for giving in.
And I blame the men of the 1970s for putting an end to that “go to the bar while your wife gives birth” tradition.
Bastards.
zero + zero = zero
There's a telling phrase...
Yeah, he's a Democrat alright...
What does Rush always say...
I love the Woman's Movement... especially from behind
"I must apologize to the rest of the nation for this fellow. He is a liberal...probably anti-gun....probably chose not to lobby against guns as governor because he knew he'd lose in VT...He is primarily a *Democratic* Politician.....nothing much matters except getting elected...and then he'll advance a liberal leftist agenda....but he'll appeal to anyone he can to get elected....the pro-homosexual lobby loves him due to Civil Unions....Yes, I'd call him a tax and spend liberal....
*****from a conservative listserv here in VT*****
Recently the United States Census released a report which showed that Vermont has the highest state tax burden as a percentage of per capita income.
The Small Business Survival Committee released its index for 2002. Like Farooq, it analyzed taxes, electricity cost, workers$E2 compensation costs, crime rates, right-to-work laws, number of government bureaucrats, and the minimum wage. Vermont ranked 43rd out of 50 states.
Cognetics, a Waltham Massachusetts based firm whose main research focus is Americans growing a small business, our target audience says Dean and our Development Department, issued their listing recently as well. In their ranking Vermont slipped to 49th out of 50 states.
"Yes, If Dean gets ahold of the Presidency, America can kiss any economic prosperity goodbye.... I'm glad we have a Republican Governor now....."
I thought Montpelier was the capital?
Roger Mitton should know Americans have been watching Dean's softer side, which is his backside, for quite some time. The man is a total, walking, talking A$$.
The day he announced for President he said he was a Washington outsider who was going to break into the country club of his Washington Democrat insider opponents. The exact crime his son is alleged to have committed.
If this guy had wings he would be a flying A$$hole.
Here's the script:
Democratic presidential candidate's son is arrested for felonious act, candidate gets praised for his compassion, poll numbers go up.
Republican presidential candidate's daughters are arrested for misdemeanor underaged drinking, all hell breaks loose, candidate is considered unqualified to hold office.
Singapore
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