As they say, where you sit all depends on where you stand (or is it the reverse?).

I looked forward, with great anticipation, to Dean's self-defense on the newly hostile WaPo's editorial page last week. What a bust! That guy can't argue his way out of a paper bag. He starts off with a whine, moves on to an angry denunciation, then (finally) defines "mainstream" foreign policy (rhetorically, where he should have begun, don't you think?) before declaring himself the very epitome of mainstream thinking. All I took away from his piece is that the guy really isn't too bright and his FP advisors either can't or won't take a bright red pen to his work.

I was left thinking, perhaps it is better that a rather incurious fellow like W occupy the White House given that he likes to delegate and doesn't have an inflated opinion of his own intellect.

Merry Everything everyone!

I haven't made my mind up on Dean but let's be fair: W. hasn't really shown that he has the ability to keep his team in line. Why else would the pentagon piss of Europe (with the bid restrictions) at the same time that Baker is out there, trying to get the debt relieved?

Lincoln had a great cabinet, but you can't keep a group of intelligent and knowledgeable men in women in line unless you're willing to understand the issues and come up with a coherent narrative. You can complain about Dean's positions on the issues if you want, there’s a lot to disagree with, but I don't think you can accuse him of being weak like W.

After having a long proud tradition of Strong Republican leadership, is W. the best guy that can be found?

not a dean backer, but to make the claim that he has no intellect because his level of public discourse relies upon whines, anger, etc. is confused. the two-party, winner take all, u.s. political system rewards this rhetorical style. this is a problem of our antiquated democracy, not our politicians. if anything, this lousy argumentativeness of dean's illustrates he is clever enough to play the game.

The problem (one of them, anyway) with Dean isn't that he's not smart enough, it's that he thinks he's smarter than everybody else.

Also, being angry helps a candidate win primaries but not general elections.

Happy Festivus

“Why else would the pentagon piss of Europe (with the bid restrictions) at the same time that Baker is out there, trying to get the debt relieved?”

It’s called bad cop/good cop diplomacy---and it usually works splendidly. I guess the above poster hasn’t been looking at the recent media reports. Already the Old Europeans are starting to come around. Why in heaven’s name do so many Americans think that wimpy rear end licking is the proper way to conduct foreign policy?

“Dean often says Democrats can't win by running as ‘Bush lite.’”

This is just another way for Howard Dean to attack the New Democrats. The latter believe that they are merely seeking a third way between the Republicans and the liberal Democrats. They even argue that their stand is virtuous and not one based on cowardly expediency. Unfortunately, the hard core Democrat leftists are ideologically committed to marginalizing these folks---if not even excommunicating them. It’s time for Robert Rubin and Brad DeLong to wake up and smell the coffee. They are the ones being described as “Bush lite.” The very fact that they support free trade policies is sufficient to position themselves outside the mainstream of those involved in the Democrat presidential nominating process.

I know Brad DeLong, and his views aren't Bush Lite. (He attacks Bush as often as Krugman does.)

I haven't asked Brad who he supports in the primary, but I very, very strongly doubt if it's Lieberman.

TAPPED has an excellent post on Dean and the DLC (excerpt)

And cooperation is exactly what they've [i.e. Bush–AJL] gotten, from folks like Zell Miller, John Breaux, and Max Baucus, who've helped move terrible legislation to the president's desk and let the GOP get away with running the most partisan congress in generations. The DLC didn't support any of these bills, but I haven't seen them criticizing those who did, many of them card-carrying New Democrats. We know the DLC doesn't shy away from condemning Democrats from the left wing of the party who cast votes that displease them, but they've been utterly silent on the craven behavior of the party's right wing.

If Dean convinces me he will govern like Clinton, then I'll vote for the socialist idiot.

Some people commenting on this blog looking for the guy who really thinks he's smarter than everyone else need look no further than their own posts.

I read and read here day after day because Josh "I'm for the war -- wait a minute -- no I'm not" Marshall has referenced it so favorably. So far I am not impressed.

“I know Brad DeLong, and his views aren't Bush Lite. (He attacks Bush as often as Krugman does.)”

Brad DeLong even served in the Bill Clinton White House. More importantly, he believes in free trade. Those who will determine the Democrat Presidential nominee consider that to be Bush Lite! What about the Democrats who will vote in the general election? They might indeed have more in common with Brad DeLong---but it’s the nomination process which selects the Party’s standard-bearer.

Dean backer here. But I have to admit that I do squirm when he comes up with self-lacerating quips. His soundbytes are uncomfortable, to put it lightly - "Bush Lite" is the least of examples. Yeah, he is a smart-ass. But what won me over, personally, is watching him talk in smaller environments - like town halls, interviews - where he fleshes out, rationalizes, his ideas more fully.

Also, just because he is for health care and good education across the board doesn't mean he is an all-out "socialist idiot." Why are people so against these ideas? These seem like reasonable goals for the wealthiest nation in the world. Trust me, if he were 100% socialist or a head-in-the-clouds treehugging liberal, I would not be supporting him.

Another thing, everyone keeps complaining that he always whines and points fingers. I'm not going to make a rebuttal, but I mean, c'mon, like he's the only one who whines. You want to see a real whiner? Look at Lieberman.

A lot of the previous comments talk about how self-important Dean is. It's probably true, but unlike some people here, I prefer a self-important person who can make smart decisions to W, who mind-numbingly offends an entire continent (Europe) one day and then pleads their help the next.