this is from Trapper John's make your case thread. I hope MarkInKC will forgive me for elevating it w/o consultation. And I hope he posts a comment here to drink some more mojo!
Here it is ------[continued below]
A Pitch for Dean (4.00 / 25)
I tried to keep it short, but I couldn't. Here is some food for thought.
- Executive Experience. 11 years as governor. Elected 5 times. Nobody else has this experience.
- Follow the Money. Only Dean has raised the majority of his money from small contributors. He is not beholden to special interests. Before you vote, check the campaign contributors of all candidates and compare.
- Balanced Budgets. Dean has balancd budgets each year as governor. Who else has? This speaks to his ability to make difficult decisions. He left Vermont with a rainy day fund that has helped reduce the impact of the Bush recession. This speaks to his foresight.
- Healthcare. 95% of adults and 100% of children in Vermont have access to health insurance, thanks in large part to Howard Dean. Long before congress tackled the issue, Dean provided a prescription drug benefit to Seniors in Vermont. Dean's early-childhood programs reduced child abuse by 50% in his state and child sexual abuse by 75%.
- Backbone transplant. Dean has energized the Democrats and given them backbone again. He stood up to George Bush before it was cool. Even Michael Moore, a Clark supporter, credits Dean with raising the issues and providing the energy that all the other candidates have coopted.
- It's about choice. Some of criticized Dean for being a blue-blood. I think his choices tell a great story about what he did with his opportunities. When he went to Yale, instead of choosing to surround himself with WASPS, he asked for black roomates. Instead of a lucrative Wall Street career, he choose to go to medical school at nights. He chose a career in family medicine in rural Vermont. He chooses to live in the same three bedroom ranch house that he and Judy raised their kids in. He chooses to paint the house and mow the lawn himself. He may have been born into privilege, but he has chosen a different life. This is a good man.
- The War. Dean and Kucinich opposed the war. Dean has a chance to win. We Democrats should support a candidate who opposed the war.
- Fact-based approach. When confronted by facts which don't match his theories, Dean is willing to change positions. Some have criticized him for this. I think it's evidence of sanity. Witness NAFTA. Originally, Dean supported it. On the Canadian tapes, four years ago, Dean said he was having second thoughts because of the job losses. Now he has proposed changes to fix it to protect workers and the environment. I want a president who can admit mistakes like this and fix problems rather than sticking to dogma.
- Command of Issues. Anyone who has heard Dean live or seen him talk to people one-on-one about issues, has to be impressed by the depth and range of his understanding. He knows his stuff. For anyone who has doubts about whether Dean can "be presidential," I encourage you to watch him in this setting. His command of issues and ability to address questions with substance is impressive and reassuring.
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by MarkInKC, transplanted by Steve