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Dr. Dean & Mr. Hyde?

Submitted by James Farrell on Mon, 01/19/2004 - 00:00.

I'm posting this note at 10:50 PM on the evening of the Iowa caucuses, and after just watching Howard Dean do his best imitation of the Incredible Hulk. Speaking to supporters after finishing a disappointing third, Dean's "speech" (more like a rant) was both shocking and embarrassing. I thought Tom Harkin any minute would step up and muzzle the candidate he'd endorsed. Someone stop this guy before he shouts again!

Before Dean spoke, we heard from John Edwards and his optimistic message. After Dean spoke, we heard from Dick Gephardt, and his graceful departure from the race. In the middle was this raving lunatic from Vermont.

Howard Dean proved one thing with this speech. Henceforth, he will not be taken seriously as a potential nominee of the party able to defeat George Bush. A mere 30-seconds of Howard's performance tonight, played in an ad with the caption: "Do you want this man to be president?" or "Is he the one you want in charge when the nation faces a crisis?" . . . and the race will be over.

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You said it better than I

Submitted by Eric Woolson on Mon, 01/19/2004 - 12:31.

You said it better than I ever could! I couldn't tell if the man was drunk and just over the edge with rage at being rejected. It should rank right up there with "You won't have Nixon to kick around anymore."
It underscores another reason why Iowa Democrats ran away from his campaign in droves this last week. They could see that he doesn't handle pressure very well.
Someone needs to give The Doctor a sedative.

Ditto from me. Dean's

Submitted by Chris Martin on Tue, 01/20/2004 - 12:31.

Ditto from me. Dean's response to coming in third was to rip off his jackets, roll up his sleeves, and holler into a microphone until he was red in the face. I'm always a little suspicious of what appearances get named "presidential," but THAT certainly didn't look presidential.

That image last night, coupled with Dean's recent complaining about being the pincushion for all of the attacks on his campaign in Iowa, make him look like a guy who can't take the heat.

Last night at the caucus I attended, one caucus-goer, after the event (and the less-than-expected support for Dean) said that Dean seemed to him like the kind of doctor who doesn't really listen to the patient. If the folks in New Hampshire begin to feel the same way, no amount of doctoring will revive Dean's candidacy.

Kerry's resurgence is a big surprise, although many I talked with said they switched to him (usually from being noncommitted) because they liked his foreign affairs/military experience. Last night, Kerry alluded to the eventual comparison (if he is the nominee) between his image and Bush's phony "Top Gun" photo op. In this case, Kerry is the "real deal."

I'm not surprised by Edwards' finish. He took the best of Dean's rhetoric, but did it in a much more positive, articulate manner.

I'm also not surprised by Gephardt's low finish. Even if he did better in Iowa, he didn't have the national base to go much further.

As an early Dean supporter,

Submitted by NHPR Listener on Tue, 01/20/2004 - 12:32.

As an early Dean supporter, the analyses I've read thus far on why he failed in Iowa are very true. Early on, he seemed articulate, forthright and calm; the best challenge to Bush. Recently, his continual verbal gaffes, irritability and the constant push of out of state supporters pushed me on the fence and then toward Edwards. I was offended by the amount of negative direct mail I received and daily phone calls. I voted for Nader in 2000 and decided once again to feel easy with my choice. Other Iowans I know did the same thing.

Adriana B.

You've got to be kidding me.

Submitted by NHPR Listener on Wed, 01/21/2004 - 12:32.

You've got to be kidding me. Dean was far from angry in this video. And maybe some folks felt embarrassed for him; but I am truly impressed that after a defeat like the one he experienced in Iowa, he is able to stand up and say, "We won't quit!"

That's literally all he said. And he got excited about it. It's about time someone had some enthusiasm for being in the White House. It makes them look like a real person.

If you contrast Dean with the slipshod and stilted performance of the President during the State of the Union address (Did you notice he's back to his stuttering? I think he's nervous, personally.), and you see why people get excited about Dean. That was not a temper flaring, it's called hope for a better, more competent leadership.

buddhaplex

No, "buddhaplex," I'm not

Submitted by James Farrell on Wed, 01/21/2004 - 12:32.

No, "buddhaplex," I'm not kidding. Check out the bloggers on Dean's own web site most of his SUPPORTERS agree with me. And see the front page of today's Boston Globe: www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/01/21/yell_in_iowa_may_haunt_de...

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