Howard Dean

excerpts from the Iowa Daily Report

November 16-30, 2003

They came to the big show

The Iowa Democrat Party’s Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner has been a big deal since Gary Hart made it so with then-candidate George McGovern. It still is. The nation and the world’s media came to the show that featured the ultimate star of the Democrats’ -- Hillary Clinton. The event ranks as the end of the preliminaries to the winnowing process. After Iowa there will not be as many candidates as before Iowa. After New Hampshire, there will be even fewer. The whole thing is likely to be over by March and the Democrat presumptive nominee will be recognized.

The fear was that Hillary would make the Democrat candidates look small and the fear was justified. Despite the Democrats’ best efforts -- from being macho playing hockey with firefighters (John Kerry) to handling a medical emergency (Dr. Howard Dean) -- they failed to resuscitate any political oxygen into their own campaigns.

Interview after interview had Democrats attending the event saying that if Hillary were in the race that they would support her over the current candidate they were working for. Hillary’s appearance -- rather than affirm the quality of the Democrat candidates -- affirmed that they are all second-rate choices.

Kerry’s loss

Sen. John Kerry may have lost the most from the event because he is the candidate in the most desperate need to make gains before he falls off the charts and leaves an opening for John Edwards to move up to third place. Kerry’s performance was calculated to gain attention and make him stand out. Kerry’s problem, as most agree, is that he voted for the war and he shares the same constituency as Howard Dean who has captured the anti-war sentiment. Kerry, who even staged a photo opportunity by playing hockey with firefighters whose union has endorsed him, tried to attack the President’s war performance and bring attention to his war hero status. His reference to mission not accomplished in his speech was just one such example. However, he did not move to center stage in the nation’s or Iowa’s attention despite his best try.

Dean’s bandwagon

There is a photo in the Des Moines Register showing Howard Dean in the middle of the street in downtown Des Moines waving to the camera as 47 yellow school busses make a line behind him. Iowans filled 43 of the 47 busses headed to the event.

Edwards not cutting it

John Edwards has been trying to move ahead of Kerry, but his point of attack at the event was Dean and the Dean-crowd’s anger. This from the candidate who says what Americans want is a positive candidate. Edwards must remain viable before he gets to S. Carolina where there now exist tangible efforts by both Al Sharpton and Wesley Clark to cut into the black and Southern mantle of Edwards’ claim to the South’s representative.

The Gephardt question

Dick Gephardt remains the person who is shaping up to be the alternative candidate to Dean. This is in part because they both pull from different spectrums of the Democrat Party unlike Dean and Kerry. However, the question is whether the other candidates such as Kerry and Kucinich, et al, can stay in long enough for Gephardt to be able to whittle away at Dean without all of those who share Dean’s slice of the philosophy of the Democrat Party to coalesce behind Dean.

Gephardt took a different approach to the event his supporters were encouraged not to attend this year's Jefferson - Jackson dinner. Rather, they were encouraged to stand outside. It was part of the campaigns door-to-door campaign in the neighborhoods of Iowa. Their goal is to knock on over 100,000 doors. Then, supporters rallied outside the auditorium prior to the dinner.

"I have differences with some of the other candidates on trade, on health care and on Medicare, and I have talked about some of those in the past," Mr. Gephardt said. "Tonight, I am going to stay to the themes that I have been on, that I can beat George Bush, why he must be replaced and the big ideas I have." (11/16/2003)

The Doctor was in

Howard Dean came upon a scene that made his true profession kick into gear. Dean, showing up for a rally before last night’s Jefferson Jackson Day Dinner, was greeted to the scene of Jake Edwards, 49, of Spencer, who collapsed and was having a seizure. The good doctor helped stabilize Edwards (who is a Dean field staff worker) before attending the rally at Des Moines Central Campus. Edwards was taken to the hospital and released. (11/16/2003)

Dean’s no Southerner

The Washington Times has a story that affirms the fears expressed by Sen. Zell Miller concerning Howard Dean not playing well in the South. The story interviews a number of state Democrat Party chairs:

"I don't think he plays that well in North Carolina. I don't think he will play well in the South, period," she said in an interview. "I'm speaking personally, but I don't think he knows a lot about the South. His remark about going after voters in pickups with Confederate flags rubbed people the wrong way here."

Mrs. [North Carolina Democratic Chairwoman Barbara] Allen, who is supporting North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, says she thinks the party needs to pick a "more centrist" candidate for its nominee. (11/16/2003)

Candidates beat up corporate agriculture

The Democrat candidates attending an agricultural forum sponsored by the League of Rural Voters, the candidates urged a federal ban on the ownership of livestock by large meat-packers and touted their plans to bring back jobs to small towns

Dick Gephardt has been running ads in Iowa for some time announcing his opposition to packer ownership of livestock. "If we lose the individual farmer and all of agriculture ends up in the hands of two or three corporations, we're going to lose this country," Gephardt said.

Howard Dean used the fact he was Governor of the small state of Vermont to make his connection with the group. "Agriculture is not just about farming, it's about small-town rural life," said Dean.

John Kerry staid on the theme that everything is going to the rich and it has to be stopped. “Two-thirds of farm subsidies that go to the four largest agriculture firms instead of individual farmers.” He also said that subsidies couldn’t continue to be the answer to low commodity prices. (11/16/2003)

Iowa Governor calls Dean vulnerable

The Washington Post is running a story revealing to Iowans that their Democrat Governor probably isn’t supporting Howard Dean’s campaign. Gov. Tom Vilsack said former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean is vulnerable to Republican attacks that he is not tough enough to keep America safe in the age of terrorism.

Vilsack expressed concern that Dean will have to prove that he can pull the trigger against tyrants and terrorist.

“He’s going to have to overcome that, he’s going to have to convince people by force of personality, by his response in debates, by plans he comes out with. I don’t know how he’s going to do it. He’s going to have to reassure Americans that he’s just as tough as George Bush, but he’s tougher in a smarter way.”

Vilsack did not cut Dean any slack because the war isn’t working out the way the Bush administration planned.

“Just because the war is going differently than the Bush folks thought it was going to do doesn’t mean Dean is out of the woods,” he said. “There’s a larger issue here than just simply Iraq. It’s the world, it’s terror in the world and threats in the world and the insecurity Americans feel because they’ve been hit by 9/11.”

The Dean campaign continues to try and mine the anti-war sentiment in Iowa and the nation. Recently, the campaign mailed out a flier attacking Congressman Dick Gephardt. The mailer has a picture of Gephardt in the Rose Garden with President Bush signing the Iraqi resolution. The mailer states, Gephardt stood “shoulder-to-shoulder with President Bush” on the issue. The Dean campaign doesn’t agree with the Governor’s view about their vulnerability.

Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi said his candidate “feels strongly” that opposing the war was the right decision. “We continue to believe that this is a vulnerability of this president, and we intend to make that case,” Trippi said.

Gephardt’s response was to point out the inconsistencies of Dean.

Speaking with reporters Sunday, Gephardt noted Dean had said he would not make the war a political issue against other Democrats and accused Dean of inconsistency, saying that in 1997 the then-governor said he believed Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. (11/17/2003)

Et tu, Hillary?

Is The Ultimate Democrat pilling on Howard Dean too? The Boston Globe reports that Democrats in Iowa believe she made an unkind cut toward Dean:

"We have to do more than criticize," Clinton said during her keynote address at the Iowa Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner. "We have to stand for the best values of the Democratic Party. We have to have a vision of where we want to lead this country."

Among the Democrat powers that be a consensus is forming that Dean is too angry to win in November. Even the Liberal Nina Totenberg on Washington Week in Review not only attributed the propensity of anger to Dean but also the lack of honesty as well. The Dean campaign doesn’t see it that way.

"They don't understand our campaign," said Joe Trippi, Dean's campaign manager. "No one who comes to see Howard Dean walks away angry; they walk away hopeful." (11/17/2003)

Dean against Washington’s energy bill

Howard Dean continued his angry anti-Washington themes and called for the rejection of the House and Senate conference committee on the energy bill will release its conference report. Dean stated that preliminary reports indicate it will include $16 billion in subsidies and tax breaks for the fossil fuel and nuclear industries while it contains little meaningful support for renewable energy. The bill does contain innumerable goodies for the corporate allies of the Bush administration and the GOP leadership including:

·        Providing Halliburton with an exemption from certain parts of the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.

·        $800 million in subsidies and immunity from lawsuits for producers of the polluting gasoline additive MTBE. The largest MTBE provider, Lyondell, is located in Tom DeLay’s home district.

·        A reversal of long-standing US policy against the reprocessing of nuclear waste, thus creating an unnecessary new proliferation threat.

"The energy bill released by the Republican leadership today is a perfect example of crony capitalism at its worst – and is just another example of how our political system serves the interests of those who fund the election process. This bill is based on a policy written in the Vice President's office by corporate lobbyists, contributors and insiders like Ken Lay. There is little wonder that the biggest winners in this bill are companies like Halliburton. The biggest losers are the American people," said Dean.

"Our over-dependence on fossil fuels means that we continue to pump global warming causing greenhouse gasses into the air at an alarming rate; it means that we are letting other countries take the lead in renewable energy—an industry that will create millions of high paying jobs in the 21st century; most important, it means our oil money will continue to fund hatred and terror in the Middle East. We should be enriching the American heartland, not corporate interests and Saudi princes.

"President Bush's allies rejected meaningful support for renewable energy, despite urging by a bipartisan group of 53 Senators. Apparently, if it’s not a priority for Enron, Halliburton or Lyondell, it’s not a priority for George Bush, Dick Cheney or Tom DeLay. Incredibly, Republicans have designated nuclear energy as an “alternative” energy source, on par with wind and solar power, and lavished it with tax incentives to renew construction of nuclear plants. This will mean more nuclear waste that will have to be stored in our communities or transported through our towns.

"As president I will ensure that our energy policy, and our democracy as a whole, will put the interests of the American people before the interests of corporate contributors, and I will ensure our nation builds a new energy economy based on efficiency and new energy sources like solar, wind, and hydrogen. Congress should reject the energy bill and start over when we have a President who is serious about solving our nation’s energy problems," said Dean. (11/17/2003)

The Importance of S. Carolina

CNN/Time has an online a story from Time Magazine that highlights Dean’s sitting in the catbird seat. However, with the positioning for Iowa and New Hampshire taking shape, there is now a forward glance towards S. Carolina.” Excerpt:

A major obstacle to any of the other candidates overtaking Dean is the simple fact that there are so many of them. South Carolina, for instance, will be closely watched as the first test of how well the various candidates do in the South. But with nine candidates dividing up the votes there, someone might be able to win with as little as 20% of the vote. Given these numbers and the fact that 40% of South Carolina Democrats opposed the war, that someone could be Dean — a candidate, even his own strategists admit, who wouldn't have a prayer of winning a Southern primary in a smaller field. "In a nine-person field, Dean is in the driver's seat," says Donna Brazile, who managed Al Gore's 2000 campaign. Still, no one seems inclined to drop out, because each sees himself as the candidate who could ultimately beat George Bush. This, of course, is why they all got into the race in the first place. But as they have found out in one way or another, thinking you can beat George Bush is a lot different from winning that chance. (11/17/2003)

The political power of the Internet

The Des Moines Register explores the use of the Internet in today’s political campaigns. A recent Register poll found that18 percent of likely Iowa Caucus attendees had gone to the Internet for political information. That was a significant increase from October 1995, when 3 percent of likely caucus participants reported in an Iowa Poll that they had gone online for political purposes.

The phenomenon of the Howard Dean campaign has made political scientist and operatives re-think the place of the Internet in American politics. The Register reports that the Dean campaign is the most sophisticated in its staffing and approach to the Internet:

Dean's campaign staff includes three computer programmers, two Web designers and two people who work on Internet communications, said Zephyr Teachout, the campaign's director of online organizing. (11/17/2003)

Dean Team strategy

Dean (on his birthday yesterday) said that he would win the White House and probably take both Houses of Congress. In an interview with Public Radio, Dean stated that he and his advisors have plans to target their moneymaking Internet machine to funnel money into targeted districts vital for Democrats to win control of Congress. Dean suggested that this would enable him to forego the current Washington gridlock and accomplish his goals.

Dean sees his insurgent movement as being able to join with the mainstream and belives that the rest of the nation has the same perspective as his movement. (11/18/2003)

Dean’s not buying it

Howard Dean came out against the current proposed bipartisan, AARP supported drug benefit plan in the strongest terms:

"The Republican Medicare drug bill is a real-life HMO: Huge Missed Opportunity. Instead of taking this opportunity to come together and provide a meaningful drug benefit seniors can count on, Republicans and the White House have put the interests of the drug industry and HMOs ahead of the best interests of older Americans.

"This bill drives seniors out of traditional Medicare into heavily subsidized private drug HMOs. Under this plan, seniors could end up paying more out of pocket than they receive in benefits, and retirees could end up losing valuable drug benefits that they worked hard to earn. And the poorest seniors -- 6 million or more -- would have worse coverage than today, yet be forced to pay more for it.

"Just as with the war, politicians in Washington will be under enormous political pressure -- this time from the White House, drug lobbyists and HMOs who are mounting a full court press to pass this special interest boondoggle. But, just as with the war and NCLB, the damage this bill causes to our seniors will come back to haunt this administration and those who support it for years to come. I urge Democrats to stand up for our seniors and stand strong against the special interests and political pressure. We will have a Medicare prescription drug benefit in this country that works for our seniors only when we change Washington, change presidents, challenge corporate special interests and change the direction of this country," Dean said. (11/18/2003)

Big Bush bashing today

Dean will take a stage very near Enron's former headquarters in Houston today for delivery of a major message address about the linkage between politics, policy, and the economy. The speech will feature such thrillers as corporate power, campaign finance, and corporate greed. We are sure to hear Dean repeat this material time and time again… expect major Bush-bashing. The campaign had earlier plans to do a big foreign policy speech on Nov. 18 (postponed twice), but that's now scheduled for sometime in December.... (11/18/2003)

Dean’s endorsements

Dean is gaining important endorsements from Reps. Elijah Cummings, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, David Wu, and centrist Democrat Jim Moran. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is expected to endorse Dean in Houston. (11/18/2003)

Where the money goes

If you were wondering where the money that Dean is raising will go, a Dean spokesman said the negative ad running against Dick Gephardt in Iowa through November 26 will cost $250,000. Some more money has also been spent to mail Democrats in Iowa a flier critical of Gephardt.

The ad shows Gephardt in the White House Rose Garden last year with the president announcing details of the congressional resolution authorizing Bush to go to war against Iraq. It is the first ad of the 2004 race to mention another Democratic presidential candidate by name.

A female voice-over says: "October 2002 -- Dick Gephardt agrees to co-author the Iraq war resolution, giving George Bush the authority to go to war. A week later, with Gephardt's support, it passes Congress."

The commercial goes on to note that Gephardt supported Bush's recent $87 billion spending request for Iraq and Afghanistan. Dean tells viewers that he opposed both the war resolution and the spending bill, adding, "our party and our country need new leadership."

Sarah Leonard, Dean's Iowa spokeswoman, said the ad is not negative and does not contain a single word critical of Gephardt.

Now, that’s spin. Political commentator Nina Tottenberg said the Dean campaign has trouble with the truth. I wonder where she got that impression… (11/18/2003)

Poll watching

A New Hampshire Poll shows that Dean has extended his lead over John Kerry. Dean has gone from 35 to 39 percent since September and Kerry has risen 1 percent to 23 percent now. The undecided are 14 percent and the rest of the field doesn’t seem to count other than Clark is dropping.

An Iowa Poll reported by the Des Moines CBS affiliate shows the race between Dean and Gephardt at 26 percent each and Kerry at 15 percent. (11/18/2003)

 Trade key to union divide

An Associated Press story running in Iowa demonstrates the divide between the service unions supporting Howard Dean and the industrial unions supporting Dick Gephardt. Trade is a difficult issue in Iowa because much of Iowa’s agriculture product is shipped overseas. However, Gephardt’s opposition to NAFTA even though he was majority leader of the House and opposed Clinton’s pushing NAFTA has won him undying loyalty from the industrial union organizations.

Gephardt’s proposal for international minimum wage received a setback in Iowa when Iowa State University Neil Harl discounted the idea as not practical or feasible on the weekly Iowa Press show on Iowa Public Television. (11/18/2003)

Fighting words

During the debate Howard Dean, as he is want to do, held up his stethoscope and promised not to cut seniors' benefits. "I'm the only one up here who has taken care of patients,"

This brought a quick response from John Kerry and his lagging campaign. "Holding up a stethoscope and saying you have no intention of cutting people doesn't mean you haven't," Kerry said.

Dick Gephardt took his usual swipe at Dean for backing the GOP plan to cut Medicare when Dean was Governor of Vermont. Gephardt also said he was confident his plan would pass when he is President because the Democrats are going to take back Congress.

That set off Dean with the reply, “You had four terms to bring in a Democratic majority and you didn't do it. We have got to bring new people into this process." (11/19/2003)

It’s about the visual

Howard Dean’s campaign once again proved it knows how to run a campaign -- it not only went to President George Bush’s home state of Texas,but it also used the symbolism of Enron. Dean failed to mention how Enron was a bipartisan user of Democrats in its corrupt activity.

Dean said, “Not far from here stands Enron Tower. It symbolizes all that is wrong with our country today.

“At Enron, those at the top enriched themselves by deceiving everyone else and robbing ordinary people of the future they'd earned. And the Bush Administration is following their lead. They have created an economic program that enriches their friends and supporters at the expense of ordinary working Americans. A program deserving of the name -- Enron Economics.

“We were promised fiscal responsibility. We've gotten a 9 trillion dollar increase in the nation's debt over ten years. We were told that tax cuts would reduce the deficit, but the government's chief auditor -- a Republican -- says that's flat false.

“Enron Economics benefits those who make the most -- their share of the tax burden declined from 28 percent in the 1990s to nearly 20 percent today. Meanwhile, everyone else suffers -- cities and states across America are raising property taxes health insurance premiums and college tuition. Schools are closing and teachers and police officers are being laid off. Funding for Medicaid and housing is being cut â'" and our infrastructure continues to crumble.

“We know what happened to Enron. Moral bankruptcy led to fiscal bankruptcy. And the ethos of Enron is where our politics and policies have led us in America.

“But every one of us here today knows that Enron Tower marks the end of an era, because right here, less than one mile away, the new era is being born.

“And it begins with you,” said Dean. (11/19/2003)

No midnight talks

The Washington Post tells of Howard Dean having informal talks with reporters on the way back from Texas at around midnight. In those talks, Dean became every business in America’s nightmare saying that he would re-regulate business. Nothing like giving the opposition reason to have the money roll in. Dean doesn’t seem to comprehend the need to not scare people more than is necessary:

After years of government deregulation of energy markets, telecommunications, the airlines and other major industries, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is proposing a significant reversal: a comprehensive "re-regulation" of U.S. businesses. (11/19/2003)

Dean’s Iowa ad

The Des Moines Register takes a look at Dean’s strategy to attack Dick Gephardt in an ad that doesn’t have a contextual basis for doing so and the fact that the ad works to put the war to the forefront over the economy and jobs. It also delves into the fact that the ad might not hurt Gephardt as much as John Kerry, whose supporters share the war as a more important issue to them than Gephardt supporters. (11/19/2003)

Read the book

Slate does a synopsis of Howard Dean’s new book. (11/19/2003)

Dean’s brother found

Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean said Tuesday that the search for the long-lost remains of his younger brother may be over with the discovery of bones, a sock, a pair of shoes and a bracelet buried in a Laotian rice field.

Charles Dean has been missing since 1974, when the 24-year-old University of North Carolina graduate was traveling through Southeast Asia with a companion, Neil Sharman of Australia.

The remains have not been positively identified, but Dean said his family is confident they belong to his brother because of personal items found at the site. Dean plans to go to Hawaii to meet the returning body. (11/19/2003)

Dean endorsement

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee from Texas's 18th District (which comprises much of Houston since she was first elected in 1994) endorsed Howard Dean’s candidacy. Jackson-Lee joins Reps. Neil Abercrombie, Bob Filner, Raúl Grijalva, Maurice Hinchey, Zoe Lofgren, Jim McDermott, Jerrold Nadler, Major Owens, Frank Pallone, Tim Ryan, and David Wu, in addition to Vermont Senator Patrick J. Leahy, who have already endorsed Governor Dean. (11/19/2003)

Why thing are the way they are

The Washington Post offers a report on the recent Pew Poll that shows the shifting political landscape of America. The article points out that the Democrats are going to have to perform flawlessly in the Midwest to win. The article also outlines the political parties are shifting and each party is coalescing in its uniformity because of the shift of unlike minded groups no longer feeling comfortable in their party affiliation – with the Republicans being the greater beneficiary of the switching.

Here is the Post’s story’s commentary on Dean:

This Democratic move leftward is key to understanding the rise and repositioning of Howard Dean. A somewhat truculent centrist in his years as governor of Vermont, Dean has now embraced economic and trade policies well to the left of those he favored as governor (while losing none of his truculence).

But his stance on the war was key, and in this, he does indeed resemble George McGovern. In 1972, with the Vietnam War still raging, Democrats went for McGovern because none of the other candidates had opposed that war as early or as completely as he, and because he offered an implicit critique of their own, more passive party establishment. This year, Dean has surged into the lead for largely similar reasons -- except that his critique of his party's establishment has been explicit and forceful, which resonated deeply with Democrats appalled at the inability of their congressional delegation to duke it out with Bush. (11/19/2003)

Hipster

Did you ever wonder what Nancy Pelosi’s daughter, Alexandra Pelosi, is doing? Did you ever see Alexandra’s 2000 campaign HBO documentary, "Journeys With George"? She is doing it again and is on a mission to find the next President.

The NY Daily News gossip columnist interviewed her about her project:

"I'm looking to be with the winner," the 33-year-old Pelosi told me yesterday during a rare stopover at her Greenwich Village apartment between trips to Iowa and New Hampshire.

Here is the report on Dean:

Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean: "He's definitely hot right now. It's like his supporters are a cult. At the Jefferson and Jackson dinner in Des Moines last weekend, it was tons of screaming kids, but they weren't from Iowa. They'd been bused in from across the Midwest, and they didn't clap for anyone else - only Dean. Afterward, there was a party at the Fort Des Moines and they acted out Dean's stump speech, waving their arms and mouthing the words, like it was 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show.' Dean was there, and at first he was smiling, but after a while he looked pretty freaked out. You have to remember that the 70-something Iowa voter is not into the screaming kids." (11/19/2003)

Hand to hand combat

USA Today has a story about how the terrain in Iowa is squishy and caucus attendees could switch camps:

Jeani Murray, who runs Howard Dean's campaign in Iowa, was idly flipping channels at home here Sunday afternoon when she discovered that C-SPAN was telecasting live a Dick Gephardt house party. It was not the rival candidate's stump speech in nearby Waukee that intrigued Murray, but the faces in the crowd. She recognized from the TV pictures at least half a dozen uncommitted local activists whom the Dean campaign has also been trying to woo.

''We immediately sent our people out to work on these undecideds,'' Murray said over breakfast Tuesday. ''It's all hand-to-hand combat.''  (11/19/2003)

Robert Novak

Novak explores Howard Dean and finds that political commentator Nina Tottenberg’s statement that Dean Lies is true:

What was not reported was Dean's account of a 12-year-old pregnant girl he treated. "After I had talked to her for a while," he said, "I came to the conclusion that the likely father of her child was her own father." That led to Dean's heated promise that "I will veto parental notification," evoking stormy applause.

But as reported in Salon and USA Today weeks later, the father had not impregnated the girl, and Dean knew it. On NBC's "Meet the Press," Dean indicated that he had first thought the father was the guilty party and so parental notification was not appropriate. In the current issue of the Weekly Standard, opinion editor David Tell relates the incident in full and leaves no doubt that Dean misrepresented the situation in addressing the NARAL dinner. (11/19/2003)

Dean’s social contract for education

Howard Dean campaigning in Iowa said, “We need a new social contract for the 21st century — based on shared responsibility and on our country’s deepest values. In Iowa there is no value more important than providing a quality education for our children.” Howard Dean would reform No Child Left Behind by fixing the accountability provisions, giving states more flexibility in deciding how and when to assess student learning, fully funding NCLB and leveraging more adequate and equitable state funding of public schools through NCLB. Dean campaign staff stated the Bush administration are $9 billion short in funding the No Child Left Behind act.

Reforming No Child Left Behind. One of the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act was to close the education achievement gap between minority and disadvantaged students and their peers. That remains a critical federal civil rights goal, and as President I will dedicate myself to achieving it. But the rigid and unrealistic standards in Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act have actually made it harder to meet this challenge. It is not helpful to punish successful schools or to provide incentives for schools to push out high need students. We need to reform the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in the following ways:

Fix the accountability provisions. We must set reasonable goals for adequate yearly progress that are fair to students, teachers, schools, and states and do not rely solely on standardized tests; include multiple measures of learning and progress in assessing success; measure individual student growth using “value-added” approaches, not average student scores that encourage schools to push out low-scoring students; and develop appropriate methods to assess students with disabilities and English language learners.
Give states more flexibility in deciding how and when to assess student learning. States with strong curricula and assessment systems should not have to put aside or dumb down their accountability systems.

Fund NCLB. We cannot expect states to implement sweeping reforms without the necessary resources. We must provide the resources to help schools offer smaller classes, after school programs, teacher training and other improvements that actually help students succeed. It is also important to maintain the long-standing federal commitment to disadvantaged children and better target federal funds to our most needy schools.

Leverage more adequate and equitable state funding of public schools through NCLB. Just as we are holding schools accountable for student progress, we should hold states accountable for providing schools with the resources they need to succeed. Federal funding should be used to leverage state investment and give every child a world-class education, Accountability must be two-way: state support for meeting high standards must accompany expectations of students and schools.

Fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). I will be the first President to fulfill the federal government’s promise to fully fund special education. This commitment was made more than 25 years ago, and its past time to fulfill it and improve education for all students. When all of our children are enabled to learn to their highest potential, they can become self-sufficient, contributing citizens, which makes our country stronger.

Invest in school construction. Schools are crumbling and overcrowded in communities across our land. I will invest in new schools through the Fund to Restore America. Federal funds will be used to match state and local investments over a three year period to build new schools and renovate existing schools.

Bolster student health centers. Healthy children make for active, engaged students in the classroom. School health centers can serve as a critical check point for our children’s health. Upon enrollment in school we must ensure that each child has health insurance, and in-school access to a school nurse, immunizations, and nutritional and mental health counseling.

Provide free breakfast and lunch. Every parent knows that a hungry child is also a cranky, impatient and unfocused child. All students must have access to breakfast and lunch in order to learn throughout the day. A full stomach is a prerequisite for a child’s success in school. No child should go hungry and miss out on learning because his or her parents cannot afford the cost of breakfast and lunch. My plan will provide all children up to 185% of poverty, the same level served by my health insurance plan, with free breakfast and lunch at school. The research shows what parents and teachers know – students must eat breakfast and lunch to be successful in school.

Ensure that all children have access to well-qualified teachers. Students in high-poverty schools are less likely to have a qualified teacher than their peers in low-poverty schools. The federal government should end this inequity by ensuring more teachers are prepared to teach in high-need fields and schools. I will ensure that prospective teachers who commit to teaching in high-need fields and working in high-need districts will have their preparation for teaching underwritten with national service scholarships.

Improve teacher quality. Improvements in teacher education (including the support of schools that function like “teaching hospitals” to prepare teachers for state-of-the-art practice in high-need locations) and support for mentoring will help teachers become more effective in teaching all children. Incoming or current teachers who meet the standards set by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and commit to teach in high-poverty schools will be recognized as ASSET teachers.
ASSET teachers can travel with their licenses. Schools across the country that want to employ ASSET teachers must agree to accept their current license. As in medicine, we will develop a system for monitoring the nation’s teaching needs and targeting incentives to ensure that qualified teachers are available where they are needed.

Develop highly qualified principals. I will put similar requirements and supports in place to recruit, train and reward high-performing principals who serve in challenging schools. I know that school leadership play an important role in closing the achievement gap, and believe we must do more to support strong principals.

Invest for Success. My early childhood program will begin the partnership between parents, schools, and communities that will help parents succeed as their child’s first teacher.

Expand the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The research is clear – students do better when their parents are involved in their education. Unfortunately many parents today struggle with long hours or even work two jobs to make ends meet. We must help parents support their children’s education by allowing them to spend up to 24 hours each year at parent-teacher conferences and other school related activities without the risk of losing their job.

Support after school programs. I will support after-school programs such as the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers. Students who participate in extracurricular activities have better grades, feel greater attachment to school, have lower truancy rates and reach higher levels of achievement in college. (11/20/2003)

Dean seeks Indian support

Dean, speaking at the National Congress of American Indians, announced a variety of policy proposals aimed at ensuring that the government treats Native American nations as governments, not special interest groups. As president, Dean said he would support tribal sovereignty and government-to-government relations between the United States and federally recognized tribes.

Dean announced that, as president, he would:

·        Rebuild the trust relationship between the federal government and Native Americans.

·        Pursue innovative strategies to help Native American communities achieve self-sufficiency, as well as build partnerships with USDA, HUD, Fannie Mae, and others to meet the dire housing needs of Indian country and to improve basic infrastructure for housing development, including water, sewer, and utilities.

·        Provide affordable quality health care for all Americans, and provide incentives for students and mid-career health professionals to serve as primary care providers on reservations and urban Native American health clinics.

·        Improve the educational opportunities for all Native Americans, including fully funding the continuation of the Indian Head Start programs and supporting bilingual and multicultural programs that involve parents, tribal leaders, and other community members.

·        Preserve Native American lands while developing sustainable energy resources, through programs aimed to increase energy efficiency and promote sustainable energy sources.  (11/20/2003)

Dean receives congressman’s endorsement

The Washington Times’ Inside Politics has an interesting account of Howard Dean:

Rep. David Wu, Oregon Democrat, may have landed himself a prime speaking role at the Democratic National Convention for endorsing Howard Dean’s presidential bid.
Mr. Wu introduced the front-running Mr. Dean at the Asian American Action Fund on Monday with a long-winded speech, the Associated Press reports. Mr. Dean, in a good-natured jab, told the crowd, “He’ll be getting a 3 a.m. slot at the convention. You can go as long as you want — 3 a.m. to 6 a.m.”

Turning back to the crowd, Mr. Dean joked, “unless he endorses me at the end of this program.”
“In that event, he can have anything he wants.”

Sure enough, when Mr. Dean finished his speech, Mr. Wu praised the former Vermont governor for being the only presidential candidate to attend the forum and for visiting Oregon.

“I haven’t endorsed anybody yet until right now,” Mr. Wu said as the crowd roared and the two men embraced. (11/20/2003)

Poll watching

Zogby poll on NY

Former Vermont Governor Dr. Howard Dean enjoys a large lead (21 – 10%) over retired General Wesley Clark in polling of likely Democratic primary voters in New York State. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and Missouri Congressman Richard Gephardt are tied at 7%. Al Sharpton and Connecticut Senator Joseph Lieberman each received 6% of the Democrats polled. Former Illinois Senator Carol Mosley Braun, North Carolina Senator John Edwards, and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich each received 1%. New York’s likely voters’ opinion of President Bush is 53% favorable, 45% unfavorable. His job performance rating is 44% positive, 52% negative. (11/20/2003)

Dean taking it to the next level

Howard Dean’s campaign is organizing to move from the mouse pads to the streets. The following can be found on his website:

You've built the greatest grassroots campaign of the modern era: Now what? Come join Dean campaign manager Joe Trippi, Senior Advisors Mike Ford and Paul Maslin, and other members of the campaign for a Dean Grassroots Organizing Summit. Take your campaign to the next level--from the mousepads on your desk to the streets of your community. Find out how to help Dean win your state; meet and network with other Dean grassroots leaders and organizations; and discuss national campaign strategy with campaign leaders. The Grassroots Summits begin today and continue through Sunday.

Visitors to the website can sign-up for events in Washington D.C.,, NY, Boston, Atlanta, Charleston, SC, Chicago, Minneapolis, Dallas, Albuquerque, Seattle, San Franciso, Denver, Los Angeles. (11/21/2003)

The level is general election

The LA Times has a story that shows looking past the nomination to the general election:

While his competitors focus their energies on half a dozen early-primary states, Dean has already segued into general-election mode by dashing around the country, hoping to create a sense of inevitability about his selection as the Democratic nominee.

"We've proven over two quarters that we can compete with the Democratic field," campaign manager Joe Trippi said. "Now, this is about building a campaign that can defeat George Bush."

Dean offered revealing facts about their new strategy:

"The question is, in trying to put together a national campaign, is he creating a soft underbelly in Iowa and New Hampshire?" asked Stuart Rothenberg, an independent analyst and publisher of the Rothenberg Political Report.Dean acknowledges the gamble he's taking. Other candidates "are camping out in their respective states, and I've got to split my time, plus raise money," he said in an interview on a flight to Portland, Ore., last week. "So it's tough for us. We're going to have to recalibrate every few days to find out what's going on elsewhere." (11/21/2003)

Early education to get $110 billion under Dean

Howard Dean found something else that the repeal of the Bush tax cuts could pay for according to an Associated Press story that outlines $110 billion for preschool efforts over ten years:

His "Invest for Success" plan would fully fund Head Start, double enrollment in Early Head Start, offer preschool to every four-year old and provide child care for another 1.4 million children, according to an outline of the plan obtained by The Associated Press.

Dean staffers said repealing President Bush's tax cuts and ending billions of dollars in "corporate welfare" would finance the plan. (11/21/2003)

The Robin Hood candidate

Howard Dean took class warfare to a new level in a New Hampshire appearance, according to the Manchester Union Leader:

It was Howard Dean as the Robin Hood candidate, telling a few hundred students and others at New England College yesterday that, as President, he would take from the rich and give back to relatively poor Americans.

“That is what this campaign is about. It’s about empowering Americans to take back their country and stop this because America belongs to the 99 percent and not the 1 percent,” Dean said (11/21/2003)

Poll watching

National Journal Insider poll has Howard Dean moving up with 41 first place votes -- up from 39 votes. Dick Gephardt dropped to 5 first place votes from a previous 8 first place votes but stays in second place. In third place is John Kerry with 0 first place votes. Wesley Clark is in fourth place and John Edwards is fifth place and Lieberman is in sixth place.

The comments for Clark were good: Finally gets good fitness reports. "If he’s really raising as much money as they claim, he’s moving back up my list," said one Insider. "On Sunday’s Meet the Press, we saw the Wes Clark we had hoped to see all along," said another. "He’s worth watching again," added a third.

The comments for Lieberman were bad: Bad karma. "How is he hanging on with all that overhead?" asked one Insider. "Seems like something has to give soon." Said another, "When the only folks who show up for a major campaign event like registering for a primary are your staff, family, and friends, it is possible that it might be time to reconsider the decision." (11/22/2003)

Dean’s deferment

The NY Times has a lengthy story on Howard Dean’s deferment from the Viet Nam War. The issue is at the forefront because of the challenge in New Hampshire from John Kerry. Dr. Dean got the medical deferment, but in a recent interview he said he probably could have served had he not mentioned the condition:

"I guess that's probably true," he said. "I mean, I was in no hurry to get into the military."

The desire by Dean not to serve his country during the Viet Nam War is also complicated by the fact that he cavorted as a ski bum after graduating from Yale.

In the 10 months after his graduation from Yale, time he might otherwise have spent in uniform, Dr. Dean lived the life of a ski bum in Aspen, Colo. His back condition did not affect his skiing the way the rigors of military service would have, he said, nor did it prevent him from taking odd jobs like pouring concrete in the warm months and washing dishes when it got cold.

Even the candidate's mother, Andree Maitland Dean, said in a recent interview about his skiing after receiving a medical deferment, "Yeah, that looks bad." (11/22/2003)

Dean, Dean the mean machine

Howard Dean has proven himself as the angry candidate who in his own words “gets in your face if it is necessary.” He has said that America wants a candidate who can get in President Bush’s face. The Dean campaign’s current website once again follows the rapid response method invented by James Carville during the Clinton campaign. They have responded to the Republican National Committee’s ad with an appeal for their supporters to contribute $360,000 to their campaign by midnight Tuesday.

Campaign Manager Joe Trippi sent the following email to more than 503,000 online supporters of Howard Dean on Friday:

This weekend, the Republican National Committee is launching its first television ads for George W. Bush. The ads show the fear-mongering that George Bush and Karl Rove are going to use, with their $200 million in special interest money, to try to distort what we are fighting for in this election.

There is only one way to stop them -- and that is by standing up and telling the truth about what this president has done to our country. To do that, we’ve put up the bat on our website. Our goal is to raise $360,000 by Tuesday at midnight -- $5,000 for every hour they are going to lie to the Americans people with their ad…(11/22/2003)

Dean’s new handler

Gina Glantz will be a senior adviser to the former Vermont governor and will travel with him as he campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, the campaign announced Friday.

Glantz, a highly regarded political operative, is currently an assistant to the president of the Service Employees International Union, the labor group that helped to solidify Dean's status as the Democratic front-runner when it endorsed him earlier this month. (11/22/2003)

Old Virginia

The grand state of Presidents has a new role in choosing Presidents, according to the Washington Post story:

Virginia's primary normally is held too late to matter, but state party leaders were able to persuade the General Assembly to schedule it much earlier this year, and it has quickly become a battleground.

It is now part of a second wave of states whose primaries come after the initial contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. The campaigns turn south and west from there, with contests in South Carolina, Oklahoma, Arizona and other states on Feb. 3. A week later comes Virginia and Tennessee, two moderate southern states that strategists said either could coronate a candidate or halt the momentum of an early winner. If candidates split the handful of states before the Virginia contest, which many say is likely, the focus of everyone would turn to Virginia and Tennessee, party leaders and campaign strategists said.

Most of the major campaigns have a presence in the state, but Dean has opened a campaign headquarters and receives the best marks from the state’s Democrat handicappers.  (11/23/2003)

 Dean’s back

Howard Dean is back to answering questions about his back. His campaign released the following statement regarding the NY Times article that covered Dean’s controversial medical deferment from Viet Nam service:

"I was a young man with an unfused vertebrae in my back that had been diagnosed during high school. At the time of my military physical, I presented army doctors with x-rays and a letter from my physician explaining the condition. On that basis, the army determined I was ineligible to serve, classifying me as 1-Y. This injury didn't keep me from leading a normal life, but it did prevent me from serving in the Army. Like many Americans at that time, I was opposed to the war. However, while I did oppose the war, I fulfilled my obligation and I told the truth." (11/23/2003)

Iowa rally

The Dean Union road show also visited Iowa where the resolve of American Federal State & Municipal Employees showed their muscle according to Reuters:

"We know how to organize," said Jan Corderman, president of AFSCME Council 61, which encompasses Iowa. "We know how to mobilize and we know how to get our candidates elected."

Dean told union members they were a crucial component of his campaign in Iowa, and drew the loudest crowd response when he promised not to be a "Bush Lite" candidate. (11/23/2003)

Dean cuts poor

Dick Gephardt is opening a new front in his battle with Howard Dean. Gephardt is accusing Dean of cutting programs to the poor while governor of Vermont according to the Des Moines Register story:

"Time after time, when faced with budget shortfalls, Howard Dean's first and only instinct was to cut," Gephardt said in an advance copy of the speech provided to the Des Moines Sunday Register.

"There is no place for governance without compassion," the speech said. (11/23/2003)

The battle for Michigan

Howard Dean and service unions backing him waved the flag in the heart of the Motor City state where the founding of America’s industrial unions happened – most of which support Rep. Dick Gephardt.

Union leaders from SEIU, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades promoted Dean's agenda and bashed the Bush administration. The three unions, which have at least 100,000 members in Michigan and more than 3.1 million nationally, have all endorsed Dean.

Gephardt is making a third round primary stand in Michigan following his second round stand in S. Carolina. Dean has yet to create a strong effort in S. Carolina. Dean’s strategy may well be to bypass most of the South and look for a running mate from that region to deliver any shortfall of delegates to make up the needed delegates to win the nomination. More and more Dick Gephardt’s dual appeal from the Missouri boarder state and Midwest makes him the greatest threat to Dean’s gaining the Democrat nomination.

Setback for Gephardt

Gephardt received a setback in Michigan however, when the Democrat National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee rejected the argument on a 23-2 vote that Internet voting in Michigan would disadvantage poor and minority voters in the state’s Feb. 7 primary. Dean’s campaign is noted for its Internet savvy skills. Gephardt’s campaign is more noted for its grassroots efforts in the old style union shoe leather get out the vote style. Michigan could be the real testing ground for the old methods of political campaigning and the new technology methods of Dean’s campaign.

Arizona Democrats used the Internet in the state's 2000 presidential primary. The voter turnout was more than double the previous record with about 40 percent of the ballots cast by Internet. (11/23/2003)

Dean courts Blacks and Latinos

AFSME national president Gerald W. McEntee and Howard Dean attended church Sunday in  Harlem, New York. Dean was in New York to appeal to the core Democrat constituencies. He claimed that he was going to the Democrat Party’s core voters first, not last. He struck the notes of concern of these constituencies when he appealed for jobs, health care and opposition to the war. Dean sounded a rebuttal to the early complaints about the campaign lack of diversity as well, according to a story in the Manchester Union Leader:

"People use to say our campaign wasn't very diverse. Well, I see a lot of diversity," Dean said, raising his arms to a raucous hall filled with union members, a majority of them black and Latino. "Instead of coming to black and Latinos last, we're starting here ... and that's because we're not afraid to be Democrats!" (11/24/2003)

Dean’s new ad

Howard Dean is putting up a new ad to respond to the Republican terrorism ad. Dean’s campaign manager Joe Trippi made an appeal for funds to respond to the ad and the campaign reports 5,000 contributions as a result. Here is the text of the ad:

Narrator: He [Bush] misled the nation about weapons of mass destruction.

And we went to war when we shouldn’t have.

Howard Dean is committed to fighting terrorism and protecting our national security.

But Howard Dean opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning.

He believes it’s time we had a foreign policy consistent with American values.

And it’s time to restore the dignity and respect our country deserves around the world.

Dean: I’m Howard Dean and I approve this message because our party and our country needs new leadership.  (11/24/2003)

Dean defends protesters

Howard Dean responded to a NY Times article that said the FBI was gathering information on war protesters:

"I am deeply concerned that the FBI appears to be engaged in a coordinated, nationwide effort to gather information on Americans opposed to President Bush’s unilateral war in Iraq.

"I am committed to providing local law enforcement with the tools to ensure demonstrations remain safe and peaceful for all involved, but we cannot allow a return to the dark days of Hoover's FBI and COINTELPRO, when the government harassed, smeared, and even spied upon people who criticized U.S. policies.

"John Ashcroft must remember that questioning the government does not make you a terrorist. In fact, the right to assemble peacefully and the right to petition our government are some of our most deeply held patriotic traditions," Dean concluded. (11/24/2003)

Things are getting ugly

The exchange back from Howard Dean towards Dick Gephardt’s latest charge that when Howard Dean was Governor of Vermont he cut social services, has become personal. Dean stated that he thought it was because he was in the lead that Team Gephardt wase taking shots at him. However, he blasted Gephardt in very personal terms:

"My response is: this is a guy with no executive experience and who has never made a tough decision," Dean said.

“Dean said Gephardt, D-Mo., former Democratic leader in the House, has been talking about expanding health coverage for nearly 20 years, but nothing has happened.”

"Dick is great at criticizing, but what has he accomplished?" Dean asked. "This is more Washington claptrap."  (11/24/2003)

Dean mugged at debate

The best way to describe the debate last night is that it was a mugging of Howard Dean. Not only did Dick Gephardt pile on Dean, but so did Sen. John Kerry. Kerry’s biggest push on Dean was whether he would rule out reducing the growth in spending on Medicare to help balance the federal budget. Dean has stated on Iowa Public Television that in order to balance the budget he would slow the growth of entitlements. Kerry pressed Dean hard on the question of whether he rejected the idea of allowing the program to grow at a slower rate than would be required to maintain existing services as medical costs rose and the elderly population increased. Further clarifying his point, Kerry drew the obvious conclusion: slowing the rate of growth would indeed equate to cutting Medicare.

Dean appeared sullen and defensive as he tried unsuccessfully to side step Kerry’s repeated “Yes, or no” on cutting Medicare. In the end, a cornered Dean finally said, "We are not going to cut Medicare in order to balance the budget."

Dean’s attacks on the rest of the field to maintain his anti-war grip on the party were thwarted as well. Accusing Dean of unjustifiable slams on the rest of the candidates for supporting the resolution authorizing the Iraq war, rival Kerry pointed to the fact that Dean said that he would have supported the Biden Lugar Resolution as his position on the war in Iraq. "It's no different fundamentally from what we voted on," Kerry said.

MSNBC moderator Tom Brokaw also hit Dean with the question about his medical deferment from military service and then skiing for nearly a year on tough slopes that Brokaw had skied as well. Brokaw said that he had skied those slopes and he knew that those slopes were hard on your back. Dean responded:

"Look, I did not serve in Vietnam," he said. "I was given a deferment by the United States government because they did not feel they wanted me in the Army…. I told the truth. I fulfilled my obligation. I took a physical. I failed the physical. If that makes this an issue, then so be it." (11/25/2003)

Dean vs Gephardt

The Des Moines debate last night highlighted the race between Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean. Gephardt even challenged Dean’s opposition to the war -- the key factor that launched Dean’s front runner status. Gephardt challenged Dean, saying, “Howard, I think you’re all over the lot on this one.” Gephardt has been running ads in Iowa where it shows Dean saying that he would have voted for the $87 billion and a clip of Dean from Iowa Public Television where Dean says the war will not be the central issue of the campaign. To stress his point about Dean, Gephardt said, "If we're going to beat George Bush, we have got to take a position of leadership on these issues and stick with them. We can't be all over the lot."

Gephardt also pressed forward his new opening on Dean that as Governor of Vermont Dean cut services to the poor. Gephardt tagged Dean for cutting aide to Medicaid, a prescription-drug program, the blind and disabled. As Gephardt put it, Dean cut funds to the most vulnerable people.

Moderator Tom Brokaw asked if his criticism of Dean had gone too far, Gephardt responded: “I think campaigns are about bringing out differences… We have a difference on how to get budgets straightened out.

Dean’s response was that the Gephardt researchers have it all wrong. Dean’s line of attack concerning Gephardt has emerged as: Dean gets things done and Gephardt doesn’t.

“A fundamental difference is beginning to surface between myself and Congressman Gephardt. As a Governor I worked hard to make the tough choices to deliver results. As a Member of Congress for nearly three decades Dick Gephardt has delivered empty rhetoric,” Dean said. “For too long Washington has failed to deliver expanded access to health care or assistance with prescription drug costs. Faced with the most damaging legislation for American education in recent memory, Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act, my opponents stood behind the President instead of standing up and asking tough questions.” (11/25/2003)

Debate quotes:
"We have to make people understand that what we have in common is the economic problems of this country that face both African-American, white and Latino working people. And they're all the same issues. They need health insurance and decent health care, and they need jobs, and they're not going to get them from a Republican Congress or a Republican president," said Howard Dean.

"Medicare is off the table. I'm not going to cut Medicare to balance the budget," said Dean.

"When you're the governor, you've got to make tough decisions," Dean said. "The people of Vermont were better off when I left the governor's office than they were when I got there."

"Sen. Kerry is talking about experience in foreign affairs," Dean said. "His experience led him to give the president of the United States a blank check to invade Iraq." (11/25/2003)

Dean’s the winner!

Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen calls Howard Dean the winner in the Iowa Debate:

Howard Dean won Tuesday's debate of Democratic presidential candidates in Iowa. Wesley Clark came in second.

Dean went into the two-hour gabfest with a new poll of likely Democratic caucus-goers showing he has retaken the lead in Iowa over Richard Gephardt, who has slipped back into second place while John Kerry occupies third. Front-runners become pincushions in debates, and Dean handled the poking well, by staying above the fray and by not responding to every jab Kerry or Gephardt sought to administer. (11/26/2003)

Soldiers upset with Dean

Drudge Report is running an exclusive developing story that soldiers are upset over the repatriation ceremony of Howard Dean’s brother:

Active duty soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are upset over being forced take part in a military repatriation ceremony today for remains believed to be those of the non-military brother of presidential candidate Howard Dean, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

"His brother will receive full military honors...flag over the coffin and all!" fumes one soldier, who asked not to be named.

Governor Dean is set to visit to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the repatriation of his brother to Hickam AFB, Hawaii.

The brother's remains were recovered in Laos by a JPAC recovery team this past month. JPAC's mission is to search, recover, and identify remains of US service members who were killed in previous wars.

During the Vietnam War, Dean's brother and an Australian friend treked into Laos as civilians -- and were captured by the Vietcong and killed.

JPAC was pressured to not only recover his brother's remains, but to bump Dean's recovery over numerous other MIA's who actually died fighting for their country, a well-placed military source tells the DRUDGE REPORT.

Additionally, JPAC is being pressured to push up Dean's brother's identification ahead of approximately a hundred other service members’ remains, it is claimed.

Says one source: "These service members were recovered from all US wars, whose families are waiting to finally get word that their loved one, who gave his life for his country has been identified and is finally coming home. It usually takes 2 years plus for an identification. Apparently, this 'rush job' will be done in 4-6 months. That's not all, we are repatriating his Australian friend, with military honors, and pushing his identification ahead our service members also."

The military source continues: "We feel it is not only a slap in the face to the service members who gave their lives for our great country, but also the men and women who are currently in harms way"

In the past, JPAC has recovered remains of civilians [specifically contract civilians working for the military], but never with military honors!

In fact, one time, JPAC team members conducting the recovery had to actually pay the postage to FEDEX the remains back to the family because the government would not pay for it. (11/26/2003)

Good news is bad news

Howard Dean can’t stand prosperity and the sky is going to fall, according to his response to the fact that the economy grew even faster in the third quarter than reported:

"This administration has compiled the worst economic record since the Great Depression and it is going to take more than one quarter of growth to dig the country out of this hole. This administration can revise the numbers, but they can't hide the fact that three million Americans who lost their jobs under this administration are still out of work. We won't have recovered economically until each one of those people has a job again.

"Furthermore, this growth is built on a foundation of reckless and irresponsible tax cuts and record-setting levels of debt. This president's approach is the equivalent of mortgaging your house to get spending money for the weekend. Unfortunately, the Bush administration’s fiscally irresponsible house of cards upon which this growth is built cannot continue forever." (11/26/2003)

The softer side of Dean

The Boston Globe has a story worth reading about Howard Dean’s soft side appeal to voters:

This softer side to Dean's rhetoric can be jarring for those accustomed to seeing him in attack mode. It comes, after all, from a man seemingly determined to keep his personal biography -- and sentiment -- out of his campaign, and often seems oddly juxtaposed with Dean's militaristic march though his stump speech or his thunderous "You have the power" call-to-arms for disaffected Democrats.

The campaign hopes that this softer appeal will soothe American’s anxiety about jobs, financial security and corporate mistrust. This is coupled with the desire by most Americans for more control over their lives. Dean delivers this soothing message in the form of appealing to community:

"Bigger and bigger corporations might mean more efficiency, but there is something about human beings that corporations can't deal with, and that's our soul, our spirituality, who we are," Dean told a breakfast crowd in Sidney, Iowa. "We need to find a way in this country to understand and to help each other understand that there is a tremendous price to be paid for the supposed efficiency of big corporations. The price is losing the sense of who we are as human beings."

From the Globe’s account, it is selling:

"I love that talk about community because we are supposed to be a Christian nation, and if we are a Christian nation, I have to be concerned about you, I have to be concerned about him," said Paul McFarland, 62, a retired military man who listened to Dean at an Ottumwa VFW Hall. "That's the way God wanted it, that's what a Christian nation is all about and we have strayed away from that." (11/26/2003)

Bob Graham’s daughter hired

Democratic presidential candidate Governor Howard Dean announced today that Gwen Graham Logan has joined the Dean for America campaign as National Surrogate and Southern Regional Advisor. As a surrogate, Graham Logan will speak on behalf of Governor Dean throughout the country. She will also assist the campaign in the South, including her native Florida.

Graham Logan is the eldest daughter of United States Senator and former presidential candidate Bob Graham.

Graham Logan is an attorney and mother of three. She attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Washington College of Law at American University. (11/26/2003)

Dean on education

Dean campaigned in Iowa promising money and more money for education according to a Des Moines Register story:

He pledged to invest $110 billion over 10 years for preschool, medical care, child-care and other support for young children.

He said his plan would double federal spending on early education and care. It would offer "welcome baby" visits to new parents, offer child care to an additional 1.4 million children, and offer pre-kindergarten to every 4-year-old.

It also would fully fund the federal Head Start program for at-risk children and double enrollment in Early Head Start, Dean said. (11/26/2003)

Dean’s power play

According to an Associated Press story, Iowans will be seeing a lot fewer Christmas ads on their televisions as the Howard Dean Mean Machine buys up the air time to try an bury Dick Gephardt. And you can bet if he is buying air time at the rate of $400,000 to $500,000 over ten days in Iowa that he is probably doing a mailing as well. The average Iowa TV viewer could see Dean’s commercials 18 times over 10 days.

Gephardt’s campaign responded that Dean is trying to "buy the Iowa caucuses" with the new 60-second biographical ad slated to start airing Monday throughout the state. Gephardt is slated to spend less than half of that — about $160,000 — during the same period.

The ad presents the following message, according to the Associated press story:

The biographical ad shows Dean as a husband, family doctor and lieutenant governor. It talks about him taking classes at night to get into medical school, working in an emergency room in the Bronx with his wife, Judy, and becoming governor "under the worst of circumstances" when Gov. Richard Snelling died of a heart attack in 1991.

An announcer says that as governor, Dean "earned a reputation as a maverick and independent by turning a deficit into a surplus, creating jobs, raising the minimum wage twice and balancing budgets 11 years in a row."

Polls show that Americans by a wide margin believe their political leaders need to use more spiritual references in their speeches. Most believe that President Bush’s use of New Testament references is appropriate. The Democrat centrist agrees, according to the Post:

In a recent briefing for national, state and local politicians, the centrist Democratic Leadership Council cited Bush as a model for how to talk about religion without offending voters. The DLC's policy director, Ed Kilgore, told the audience that "natural use of scriptural language and allegories connects with people of faith," and he urged them to "connect policies with religious values." For example, they should talk about "God's green Earth" when advocating environmental policies, he said. (11/27/2003)

Dean praises and criticizes

Howard Dean released a statement of praise for the Senate’s defeat of the energy bill and blasted the Bush Administration in the same release:

"I am relieved that the Senate rejected the Bush administration's horrific energy bill this week, and put the needs of future generations ahead of the wants of a few corporate interests. We are in desperate need of comprehensive energy legislation, but this bill did nothing to protect our economy, our security, our health, and our environment. I hope that the Senate leadership leaves this bill in the legislative graveyard where it belongs, and comes back next year to produce a bill that promotes a new energy economy like the one I proposed last month.

"Unfortunately, this very public victory masks the back-room defeats we faced this week. Without the consent of Congress, the Bush administration moved forward on three rules that will take our country backwards.

"First we learned that the EPA is considering a rule change that would allow low-level radioactive material to be stored in ordinary landfills that are designed only for industrial and chemical waste, and municipal garbage. Then a federal judge ruled in favor of the mining industry and approved the Interior Department's regulation that allows more mining on public lands. Finally, the Bush administration plans to open 8.8 million acres of the North Slope of Alaska to gas and oil development. This development would put critical ecosystems at risk and would encroach upon the habitat of migratory birds, whales, and other wildlife. If we had an energy economy based on renewable resources and energy efficiency, we would not need to even consider such a proposal

"Americans demand and deserve a President who acts in their best interest, not one who writes law solely on behalf of large corporate campaign donors." (11/27/2003)

Dean’s comments on the return of his brother’s remains

Howard Dean issued the following comments he intends to make at the Reparations ceremony in Honolulu:

"I want to thank the United States military for their efforts in helping to locate the remains of my brother, Charlie Dean. At every turn, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command and the U.S. military have been accommodating and respectful of our family's needs, and we're grateful for their service to our family and to every other family who has experienced a similar loss.

"This is an extraordinary thing they've done: I've been on the site of five POW/MIA excavations where they believe people are buried. It's very, very difficult. It's very rare to recover the type of remains that were recovered. The men and women in the military that I visited with and stayed with at base camp last year in Laos are extraordinary human beings. This whole operation is a real credit to the government and the U.S. military. My family and I are deeply appreciative.

"This has been a long and emotional journey for my mother, Jim, Bill and me. We greet this news with mixed emotions but are gratified that we have closure for this painful episode in our lives. Charlie was a great brother, and he touched the lives of everyone who knew him. I miss him every single day, and I'll never stop being inspired by his passion and idealism. While we are saddened that he is not still with us, we are comforted by the fact that he is finally coming home.

"I hope that the families of every POW/MIA are as fortunate as we have been in locating their lost loved ones. Based on my time in Southeast Asia last year, I can tell you and all those families that similar efforts are being made for every American still missing from these Southeast Asian wars. These are extraordinary steps our government has taken to bring home every POW/MIA. On behalf of myself and my family--thank you." (11/27/2003)

What TV ads tell us

The New Republic covers the fact that the accelerated crush of primaries will mean that TV ads will be the method through which most voters learn about the individual candidates.  The article also points out that current TV ads show us a preview of what is to come. Ryan Lizza writes in the New Republic:

"The most telling new ad is Howard Dean's attack on Dick Gephardt in Iowa. It opens with footage of the congressman standing alongside Trent Lott and George W. Bush at a Rose Garden signing ceremony. The announcer intones, 'October 2002. Dick Gephardt agrees to co-author the Iraq war resolution, giving George Bush the authority to go to war.' An ad like this clarifies a couple of things. First, Dean sees Gephardt as his biggest obstacle to winning the nomination. Dean's strategy in Iowa is to spend Gephardt into oblivion. Dean is running a national campaign with a large war chest and, because he is rejecting federal matching funds, no state spending caps. Gephardt is basically running a single-state campaign with few resources and within the limits of the state spending caps. Even if Gephardt wins Iowa, Dean is trying to ensure that he is virtually penniless on his way to New Hampshire.

"The second thing Dean's ad clarifies is that, his frequent protestations notwithstanding, he still sees his opposition to the Iraq war as his most powerful weapon in the primaries. At various points in the campaign, Dean has argued that his message is about more than being antiwar and anti-Bush. In an interview back in March, Dean told me he was leaving behind the war as an issue to refocus his campaign on health insurance. It never happened. Every time Dean is challenged, he returns to his magical formula of attacking the war and the Democrats who authorized Bush to wage it."  (11/28/2003)

Praise and criticism

The following are quotes from the Democrat candidates concerning Bush’s visit to Baghdad as reported in the NY Times:

“It's nice that he made it over there today, but this visit won't change the fact that those brave men and women should never have been fighting in Iraq in the first place," said Jay Carson, a spokesman for Howard Dean.

“The right thing to do for our country. When Thanksgiving is over, I hope the president will take the time to correct his failed policy in Iraq that has placed our soldiers in a shooting gallery," said John Kerry.

"Daring move and great politics. I think these kids need more. I'm sure they were buoyed by his coming, but they need more," commented a spokesman for John Edwards.

Matt Bennett, the communications director for Gen. Wesley K. Clark, said: "We're not going to throw stones at the guy for trying to do a nice thing for the troops. When the president goes and spends time with the troops, that's a good thing." … They made their bed with that `Mission Accomplished' trip, and that's going to be around for a long time," he said. "That's not the last ad you will see with that. I will guarantee you that whoever the nominee is will have that image up."

Jano Cabrera, a spokesman for Senator Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, said: "In fairness, visiting with the troops is exactly what a commander in chief should do. That said, we hope that he's also reassuring them that the administration will eventually have a plan to win the peace and bring our troops home soon." (11/28/2003)

Money can’t buy me love

While it is said that money can’t buy love, the unlimited spending in two small states may decide who the next Democrat nominee for President is. A New York Times story explores what it will mean for Sen. John Kerry and Howard Dean as they blow through the spending limitations  in New Hampshire and Iowa:

Aides to Mr. Kerry and Dr. Dean said the exact amount spent in Iowa and New Hampshire would be based on how much they raised before the end of the year, what their standing is in polls a month from now, and, in Mr. Kerry's case, how much of his own money he ultimately invests in his campaign, or raises by borrowing against his assets.

Candidates opting into the Federal Election Commissions matching funds program are limited to spending $45 million this primary cycle. In addition there are state spending limits of $1.3 million in Iowa and $730,000 in New Hampshire. There are minor ways to get around those limits, like making staff spend the night in neighboring states hotel rooms, flying into adjacent states and renting cars, etc…

Wesley Clark and other opponents have asked Dean and Kerry to abide by these spending limits so that they can compete fairly with the two opting out. Dean has stated that he opted out to be able to compete with President Bush. Dean has left little doubt that he was prepared to break the limits. Kerry, whom it is believed will use his own money, opted out because of Dean. Kerry has said he would abide by the overall $45 million limit, but has not pledged to abide by the state-by-state limits.

The latest expenditure percentages are for the end of September. Dean had spent 18 percent of the Iowa limit and 17 percent of the New Hampshire limit. Kerry had spent 27 percent of the Iowa limit and 33 percent of the New Hampshire limit. Gephardt had spent 27 percent of his spending limit in Iowa. Edwards had spent 33 percent of the allowable amount in Iowa and 40 percent in New Hampshire

The Times article points out that staying inside the limits is not always complied with:

Mr. Gephardt overshot the 1988 state limit by about $457,500, or about 60 percent, allowing him to sweep to victory in Iowa. Four years later, his campaign agreed to repay almost $119,000 of his federal campaign subsidies, and three years later he paid a civil penalty of about $80,000 for that and other violations, according to the Federal Election Commission.

Gephardt is probably in the best situation concerning limitations than his rivals due to his making his stand in Iowa -- if he only puts up a token fight in New Hampshire after Iowa and moves on to the Feb. 3 round. This is because TV ads in Iowa are a lot cheaper than in New Hampshire. In addition, Iowa caucuses are more of an organizational battle versus New Hampshire’s open primary process that relies on expensive TV ads.

The place where the spending cap campaigns are most vulnerable is from Kerry and Dean’s direct mail blitzes, sure to be utilized greatly with their unlimited spending status. The NY Times covers the advantage in their story:

And aides to Dr. Dean and Mr. Kerry said they would flood Iowa and New Hampshire with mail in the final weeks of the campaign, a crucial advantage because mailing costs in the final 28 days of a campaign, when voters are presumably paying the most attention to the race, are counted against the spending limit. In Iowa in particular, late mail has historically proved to be a damaging means of attack.

"You can do it below the radar screen," Mr. Hildebrand said.

Steve Hildebrand is a Democratic strategist who ran Al Gore's winning campaign in the Iowa caucuses in 2000. (11/28/2003)

Anger trumping hope

An LA Times story covers the conflict in Howard Dean’s campaign -- and probably himself -- on his two prong approach. The first approach is to tap into the anger Democrats have for Bush. The second approach is to offer hope of a better tomorrow:

"They still don't understand," he [Dean] said of his critics in a recent interview. "What we're really tapping into is the desire for hope again."

But the fact that Dean is better known for his pugilistic side speaks to the challenge of balancing anger and hopefulness in a political campaign — especially for a candidate who is naturally pugnacious. On the campaign trail, Dean's passion often sounds a lot like ire. He can often be found with his shirt-sleeves rolled up, pumping his fists into the air as his voice rises to a shout. In debates with his opponents, the former governor often seems defensive and annoyed.

Dean’s angry approach is well documented and the fact is the may prefer that side of the campaign as the portrayal of Dean indicates:

"This is the next American revolution, where we cast out the money-changers from the temple, where we tell the Pharisees to go back to where they came from," a red-faced Dean told several hundred cheering twenty-somethings assembled at a bar in Washington, D.C., recently for a fund-raiser.

Most agree his softer side is just not coming out and he needs to polish it up:

San Francisco State University professor Joseph Tuman said that Dean has to move his image from that of "a George McGovern angry man to a Bill Clinton thinking man."

"I think if he stays with his old rhetoric, he risks the perception that he is not electable," said Tuman, who studies political communication. "His bluntness, while attractive to people who feel disempowered, frankly is a little unattractive to people who feel he lacks some genteel quality." (11/28/2003)

All in the family

A Manchester Union Leader story covers how former liberal Vermont legislators who used to be at loggerheads with then Gov. Howard Dean are now supporting Dean:

Dick McCormack, a self-described liberal Democrat and former state senator, said: "I look at the economy struggling in this country, and here's little Vermont riding out the storm. He should get a lot of credit for that."

"Frankly, I do have some reservations," he said. "He does have a temper. He tends to see disagreements on issues as personal disloyalty. I will vote for him in a minute, and while I am doing it, I will be thinking of every time we argued, and how I still think I was right." (11/28/2003)

Stop Dean movement?

Commentary by Roger Hughes

A Washington Times story explores the possibility of Democrats starting a Stop Dean Movement:

"There clearly are concerns about Dean's ability to appeal to the entire country, particularly on national security issues," former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta said in an interview.

"There is concern about how does [Dean´s antiwar campaign] play out a year from now? How can you compete with President Bush on the national security front? There is some concern about whether Dean can rise to the occasion on this issue," Mr. Panetta said.

The timing of this effort is predicted to come together sometime in December.

Other Democrats, including advisers to Mr. Dean's chief rivals, said they have heard increasing discussion about the need to mount a "stop-Dean" drive. They said they expect that to materialize in some form in December when Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri and possibly others will air a wave of anti-Dean TV ads in Iowa and elsewhere.

The problem exists that the regular party power structure is not comfortable with Howard Dean. This is especially true in the South. Some call it a battle between the Centrist Democrats and the Liberal Democrats. The fact that this is not an inter party fight should be apparent from the fact that new groups of individuals are energized by the Dean campaign. There is also the gathering of third party candidates’ supporters into the Dean camp.

Political realignments prior to FDR were generally foretold by third party activity. Third party activity has been significant since the candidacy of Ross Perot. Many blame Ralph Nader for President Bush’s election. Until these large blocks of voters find a home in one party or the other, American Presidential year elections will continue to be volatile.

Dean has been conducting an insurgency campaign that some say is like the McGovern campaign and others propose is more like Goldwater’s campaign. McGovern added new dimensions of strength to existing constituencies of what can best be described as the Eleanor Roosevelt wing of the Democrat Party. Goldwater’s campaign redefined who and what the Republican Party was. Prior to Goldwater, the Republican Party was dominated by the Eastern Establishment and the Midwest connection. After Goldwater, the Republican Party moved West. In fact, it was called the Western Strategy.

The relationship of Dean to Goldwater does not mean that Dean is destined to lose. Many forget that the reason Kennedy went to Dallas (the home state of his V.P.) was because his chances of being reelected were poor.

One of the aspects that may be occurring is that regionalism in politics may not play as significant a role now as in the past. One of the reasons that Dean has been successful is because of the ability of Dean to pull together disparate forces through the Internet foregoing geography.

 This could forever change the dynamic by which we judge realigning coalitions. Regional differences would undoubtedly count, but we would have to add other demographic coalitions as well as religion, ethnicity, occupation. We would need to ad internal value statements that do not fall neatly into the other demographic categories. It would be something beyond green for environmentalists.

Talk of a Stop Dean Movement is not so much about Dean as it is about who and what is the Democrat Party. It is a continuation of Sen. Zell Miller’s book. (11/29/2003)

It’s beginning to look a lot like Dean vs. Gephardt

A Washington Post article delves into the growing importance of Iowa. With New Hampshire becoming a lock for Dean at this point, the only bump in the road to the site of the national convention in Boston is Iowa. There, Dick Gephardt and Howard Dean are battling it out.

Dean continues on his drive to the nomination by having the largest war chest, volunteers and emotional supporters, intensity and firepower of anyone in the race. Only Gephardt’s union backers match Dean in any organized, significant way. The unions’ have already run independent ads in Iowa in support of Gephardt, as an example.

Dean’s strategy is to obliterate his opponents at every step of the campaign. This includes Gephardt in Iowa and John Kerry in New Hampshire.

Gephardt well could become the beneficiary of the developing movement by Democrat traditionalist to stop Dean. For that effort to come fully behind Gephardt, it will require Kerry’s fall and Wesley Clark’s failure. At some point there will be one candidate in opposition to Dean who will gain all the enmity of establishment Democrats against Dean.

Part of the delay of coalescing behind Gephardt is that he does not pull the intellectual base and both are pulling from the liberal wing of the party, according to the Post article:

Neither Gephardt nor Dean pretends he is a New Democrat. Instead, both are fighting from and for the left, reflecting not only the liberal makeup of the caucus participants in Iowa, but also the ideological shift in the party during Bush's presidency, one that could leave the center open to Bush in the general election.

Dean has used Gephardt's support for going to war in Iraq to try to drive a wedge between the former House Democratic leader and the antiwar activists in the party here. Gephardt has used Dean's past, and perhaps future, support for reining in the growth of federal entitlement programs such as Medicare and his support for the North American Free Trade Agreement to drive a wedge between Dean and the party's traditional economic liberals.

The race will be a bruising affair by all accounts. Dean has announced that he is pouring money into Iowa in order to affect the outcome. Gephardt continues to spend the lion’share of his time in Iowa and works incredibly hard. Post interview of Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller reflects the opinion in Iowa:

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller (D) called Dean and Gephardt well-matched. "Dean has had just an amazing rise here and has a lot of support and has new people," he said. "He probably has broader support geographically, which is important on caucus night. And Gephardt hasn't blinked. He's got good labor support here, he's got his friends from 16 years' standing, he works hard, and I think he's distinguished himself in the campaign."

The thing that could be going for Dean is that this is not just about fighting for the liberal wing of the party. It could be about something else entirely.

Paul Maslin, Dean's pollster, said Gephardt's union base alone makes him formidable. "We respect Gephardt's strength," he said. "But there is something this year about Iowa's going first and being able to make a statement to the country and the party. Our campaign is the campaign with new energy. That's what differentiates Howard Dean this year. That may be a pretty decisive factor." (11/29/2003)

Caucus integrity

Des Moines Register columnist David Yepsen writes about a Howard Dean zealot who was looking for a way to fix the Iowa Caucuses by bringing in out of state residents:

Asked about Fineman's story, Dean's campaign said an overzealous volunteer made the inquiry and the campaign has no plans to try to stack the caucuses with out-of-staters. They are trying to get thousands of volunteers to come to Iowa to help with voter turnout, a spokeswoman said, but they'll be told they can't participate in the events.

Iowa politics and the caucuses in particular have always been a clean honest affair. The Iowa Democrat Party is going to have lawyers standing by the night of the caucuses to handle any shenanigans. Also the caucuses are close to a family affair and outsiders tend to stand out in nearly all precincts. The Democrat Party took the phone call seriously and is doubling up efforts to prevent fraud. (11/30/2003)

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