I was all set to go to bed tonight with the strangely happy thought of a true four-way race for the Democratic nomination: with Kerry and Edwards surging, Clark rising in New Hampshire, and Dean still the pre-emptive frontrunner.
And then, five minutes ago, I saw Dean's concession speech. Um, what was that all about? Was it just me, or did he mention invading Poland in the middle of that litany? Every nagging little thing voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina have heard about this guy being out of control just got amplified a thousandfold.
I haven't seen any of the spin on this, but my gut reaction was: Dean just lost the nomination. For any number of reasons, I hope I'm wrong. But there it is.
More than that, less that that. It was the 'shriek'. I only heard it on NPR, haven't seen video; but that shriek will echo...
"Developers, Developers, Developers!"
Posted by: Matt | January 20, 2004 at 01:02 AM
Dean is extreme, too extreme. I don't know why people back him and think he can pull it off. The ticket should be N.C. senator Edwards with Clark as the running mate. The face of Edwards for the woman vote and Clark for military clout. Those two are the only chance. I really don't see Kerry doing anything. He's in the same secret society as Bush, and is aristocratic as they come.
Posted by: Daniel | January 20, 2004 at 03:48 AM
Steven, I echo your sentiments completely about Dean losing his chance at the nomination with his concession speech. He looked more like a union leader than a president.
Posted by: Josh | January 20, 2004 at 11:34 AM
I thought the same thing - he was crazed and then sounded like a cult leader calling on the "Deaniacs" to follow him to NH. Just don't drink the cool-aid.
Many pundits were saying the same thing last night as it happened - calling him "toast" or saying he lost the nomination right there. Of course a few weeks ago they were ready to hand him the nomination too.
Interestingly, Kerry's speech started with Ted Kennedy being called up for a brief speech, which the pundits also questioned especially as the campaing moves to the South.
Posted by: James | January 20, 2004 at 12:33 PM
I was pissed when I saw Dean doing that. I could hear his loud voice from upstairs.
You need to be yourself, but people hate him because he is not in the loop. I really wanted his to win, but I know people are easy to manipulate if they are told subtle propaganda over and over again.
He just gave all the commentators two scoops full. There is no reason biased media companies would want him in office, and now he just gave them every excuss to express this opinion "while still remaining unbiased."
-sigh...
Posted by: aaron mathew wall | January 21, 2004 at 03:43 AM
I'm a big believer in the idea that there are major turning points at which elections are won and lost.
I'm not certain that Dean's concession speech in Iowa qualifies yet. But it certainly might.
While I understand his need to motivate his troops to move on to NH with a positive attitude, he did seem to be going way over the top.
Especially when you compared his performance with the other three candidates making the media rounds and giving speeches.
Kerry and Edwards both looked about as good as they've ever looked. And Gephardt showed that you can lose with class and maybe actually gain some respect and stature by handling it with grace.
(And I'm feeling pretty good about picking Edwards as the real sleeper of the bunch several weeks ago. He looks and sounds great. Be interesting to see how he does in NH. And he might prove to be a real threat to the others as things move to the south.)
Posted by: Randy Chase | January 21, 2004 at 06:47 AM
Sorry: This discussion -- and especially the last post -- is one step removed from (but not above) -- astrology. I saw the speech in question this afternoon after reading Steven's post last night. Maybe I was prepared for much worse because of that, but I don't see what the fuss is about. Yeah, the guy has an overmodulation problem. Yeah, his cheerleading got carried away. But have we really fallen so low that tone and appearance are all we look at? If so, then we *are* lost -- I mean, Cheney is a perfectly well-behaved and avuncular guy, and Bush has learned table manners during the last three years. Goodness, how could anyone ever compete with that?
Bottom line: My vote's undecided, but it won't be cast based on someone's manner.
Last, if you think Kerry and Bush are cut from the same cloth, go back to The Atlantic and read the excerpt from Douglas Brinkley's book on Kerry's tour in Vietnam.
Posted by: db | January 21, 2004 at 12:46 PM
great site, well done. very nice and informal comments. i enjoy being here.
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Posted by: klaus | February 26, 2004 at 03:20 AM