Thursday, August 24, 2006

Doctor Who?

I don't usually go in for handicapping specific candidates -- a bit too wonkish for my taste, a wee too "dog eating its own vomit" if you get my drift. But I got a few angry e-mails about "Wait, Aren't You Scared" ... well, the point being, by not freaking out over exploding Maybelline, I'm in some sort of weird denial. That's ridiculous -- I just have a different sense of what may/might/probably will kill me or a large number of my fellow citizens. Suicide bombers -- low odds. Loose nukes -- very goddam high odds, thanks. What I'm asking for are a real security measures, and counselling cool heads while we take ruthless, efficient and proven-effective counterterrorism actions.

This is why I support Wes Clark for President, by the way, and primarily because of this policy. Oh, and read Judis's essay on what grown-up diplomacy looks like. His book is pretty great. One of those rare books that makes you want to go out and read five more on the same subject. Thanks to Ezra Klein for the recommend.

I'm wandering. This is prompted by the good Dr. Howard Dean today illustrating my point nicely --

"[A]s Iraq descends into civil war and becomes a new training ground for international terrorists, cargo coming into our country still isn't being inspected. While the Party of Bush scrambles to write its latest talking points calling anyone who opposes them "al Qaeda types", nuclear materials sit unguarded in the former Soviet Union.

While the administration organizes lawyers to try to salvage its illegal domestic spying program, Osama bin Laden continues to remain free roaming around northwest Pakistan making videotapes five years after the tragic events of September 11th. [...]

People have had enough. This administration cannot be trusted with our security. Democrats are going to reclaim American leadership with a tough, smart plan to transform failed policies in Iraq, the Middle East and around the world.

We will double the size of Special Forces to destroy Osama Bin Laden and terrorist networks like al Qaeda. We will implement the bipartisan 9/11 Commission proposal to secure America's borders and ports and screen every container. And we will fully man, train, and equip our National Guard and our police, firefighters and other first responders ...

---Gov. Howard Dean, M.D. [via email]

P.S. We are spending $8 billion a month in Iraq. That's $2 billion each week, $267 million each day, or $11 million each hour. For what we spend in three weeks, we could make needed improvements in order to properly secure our public transportation systems. For what we spend in five days, we could put radiation detectors in all of our ports. And for two days in Iraq, we could screen all air cargo."


Setting aside the party pimpage, in answer to your e-mail questions: that. That is what I want to see rather than useless color alerts and security theater. Do that first, and then you can have your little foreign wars and breathless CNN kabuki.

This all aside to the main point of the post -- or rather the postlet, as I am still off writing, and turn the Comments over to you -- what's the vibe on Howard Dean? He's been a remarkably successful DNC chair, and really the best example of what I think politics should be:" "this is my rifle ..." He lost the primary, put his head down and dug in deep to help advance progressive politics on a grassroots, 50-state level. He's a sharp, smart attack dog with proven problem-solving abilites and a track record of good governance. Unlike some Senators who I have avoided discussing but are, say, embodying the worst characteristics of the entitlement mindset by being, oh, a self-righteous self-involved Nutmeg fuck ... it ain't all about Howard Dean.

More to the point, even my Republican Dad will spot Dean got a rough treatment by the press (in a way he won't give Gore, mind you), and I've heard other conservative friends and e-mail correspondents issue the same sentiment. An unexpected respect and warmth. This is ... odd. And thought-provoking.

Putting aside his own stated intent -- what next for Dean? Should progressives even want him to run again, in the same way you don't necessarily want to promote your best sargeant right out of the field? Cabinet position, stay in the electoral process, what? Or are you ready to jump back on the train? Go ahead and discuss.

Or ask questions about Blue Beetle #6. Either one. It's that kind of site.

60 comments:

Vemrion said...

I don't have a problem with Dean; in fact, I thought he was the only guy who could beat Bush in '04. How odd that Rove seemed to indicate that he wanted the Democrats to choose Dean, thereby ensuring that they would do no such thing.

Personally, I think this business of Iowa and New Hampshire basically choosing candidates for all of us is a stupid way to run a supposed democracy. What's wrong with having all of the primaries on the same day?

Ah well. As far as 08 goes, I think it's a long way off. Let's worry about November and the impeachment that will hopefully follow.

Anonymous said...

In order for Dean to become a viable national candidate, he has to change his relationship with the press corps.

He holds them in contempt, I think. Not that they don't deserve it, but if you want to be president, you MUST schmooze them, flatter them, learn their names and their children's names. They have to like you, then they will protect you.

Frankly, I consider this a basic political skill. If you want to be a polititian, you have to basically like people, don't you?

By the way, I like the Doctor, and agree with most everything you say, John, and Vemrion's first paragraph is something that's occurrred to me, too.

Anonymous said...

I vote Dean for Communications Director (hmm, maybe even press spokesperson if he can wear both hats) for the Democratic administration elected in '08. I agree with Doctor Jay that this would rub the press wrong ... but I just don't give a fuck any more. I haven't watched television news since the Clinton/Monica bs, well except for The Daily Show hehe.

Anonymous said...

Ever since Lieberman said "Don't criticize the president during wartime" I have been veeeerrrrryyyy suspicious of the democrats in general. Lieberman outted himself as the democratic face of Karl Rove's agenda and anyone who didn't say "You're one of them! You're one of them! Lieberman is one of them!" I'm suspicious that maybe they are too.

But we'll see. Clinton wasn't exactly the second coming of Gandi and things turned out OK.

MoXmas said...

You know, I think the way Dean treats the press indicates a basic respect for them as adults by telling them what he considers the truth to be, in the simplest terms. That said, I don;t think he thinks they can halde that liek adults. Whereas the naked contempt of "I'm lying to your face and daring ytou to call me on it" approach of the Bush admiminstration would piss any actual, allergic-to-bootlicking adult -- which is maybe why the DC Press Corps seems to lap it up.

I think conservatives (Dem or Rep) think of Dean as OK because whatever his politics are, he doesn't come across as a waffling pussy. (Term used advisedly.) I remember watching the first appearance by Dean on MEET THE PRESS, back in '04, and my Cold War veteran Dad thought Dean made Tim Russert looked like an undereducated tool, unqualified to be in the same room. Yet the press corps talked about how Dean came across badly.

I think most people can identify with the basic high school analogy: given a choice between a debate team weasel and a retard, most people will vote for the retard. Which explains Bush winning in '00 and '04, to me. But if it's between the retard and the meatheaded wrestler, the wrestler wins every time.

Man, I had to stop huffing brake fluid during lunch.

John Seavey said...

Tease me not by titling a post "Doctor Who" between the end of the season and the Christmas special, then making it about politics, Rogers!

Go. Find me some news about 'The Runaway Bride', and I shall forgive thee! (Or, alternatively, how Martha Jones will be joining the Doctor. I think we're going to be going back to the "reluctant companion" model for a while...)

Anonymous said...

Now, I know he came across as liberal, and everyone described him as liberal, but I don't really see why.

He isn't really more liberal than Kerry. He's to the right of Kerry on gun control, for example.

Does support for universal health care for children 14 and under make you a flaming lefty? Maybe so.

Frankly, that wasn't his top issue. His top issue was that the war in Iraq was a really bad idea that doesn't make us safer. To some, I guess that makes you a liberal.

The idea of HD as press secretary is fairly amusing, though I think it's not the right use for his abilities.

Frankly, should the Dems take the Congress and the White House, I'd want him put to work by the White House putting together Universal Health Care. That would be totally fun to watch.

Anonymous said...

I want him to stay right where he is. He's doing an outstanding job.

Hawise said...

Having watched him grow up in Vermont politics and deal with his disorderly neighbor to the North (Quebec), I think he has some serious skills as a politician. Does that make him a good presidential candidate? I doubt it. I feel he would be wasted in Presidential politics. His skills are in working relationships and grassroots organizing. He is great where he is and may be the man to get the Democratic party working together to beat the Rovian fearmongers.

Anonymous said...

Should progressives even want him to run again, in the same way you don't necessarily want to promote your best sargeant right out of the field?

i want him where he is; he understands the importance of building a good ground game, and getting democrats elected locally at all levels, from school board to congressman. good, solid, liberal school boards and state legislatures could strangle many conservative absurdities in their cribs before they start dominating the sunday morning talk shows.

but dean seems to be at odds with the rest of the democratic heirarchy; would another presidential run even be feasible?

Wrye said...

hawise, please tell us non-Quebecois, non-Vermonters more.

Oh and BB #6 was great. Kudos from this quarter. I'm wondering--with all the DCU relaunchings and other continuity stuff going on, is everybody else at DC being good about staying out of your way, story wise? Nobody wanting to drag BB into some ill-fitting guest star spot yet?

The Minstrel Boy said...

i really have admired the way dean took his lumps and instead of retiring to a teaching post or renting himself out as a motivational speaker or going into a think tank, he went to work. i don't think that he would be a viable candidate because he doesn't have the national security cred, or the killer instinct of clark. (i loves me some general) if he keeps up the good work and helps a decent dem (of which clark is atop a very short list of decency) get elected then, as jackson said, to the victors belong the spoils and he should get the plum of his own choosing.

Anonymous said...

who you callin' disorderly?

Anonymous said...

>Does support for universal health >care for children 14 and under make >you a flaming lefty? Maybe so.

In a debate controlled by the Republicans' rhetoric, yes.

Dean is a rockstar. Bright, principled, eloquent, and brave. Every time I hear him speak, I get more impressed.

The biggest obstacle is that the Republicans have made "liberal" a dirty word, and "progressive" isn't a term that's caught on in Middle America.

And it's pretty damn easy to paint Dean with a "liberal" brush and scare soccer moms nationwide.

RE: Dean being to the right of Kerry on certain issues, that's not helping. I think a large part of why Kerry lost was that he was percieved as an East Coast blue blood liberal.

Middle America fears talk about national healthcare -- it sounds very Canadian to them, and we all know that we don't wanna be Canadian. The Dems need to give that up for now, or change the rhetorical terms of the debate.

As long as Republicans are positioning Dems as that dirty word liberal and Dems are forced to become centrist to get the vote (while Repubs can be hawkish, and it gets them votes), the Dems are going to get thrashed.

Anonymous said...

Jay beat me to it. I'd put Dean in charge of designing Universal Health Care in the Edwards or Gore admin:-)

Anonymous said...

I think Dean would be a terrible President; he's too outspoken to be a good politician, where the tendency to speak exactly what you think can scuttle a compromise. I think he would make a bad press secretary for the same reason... he would get asked a stupid question, and instead of talking deftly around it, he'd plow straight through it and end up being the next morning's headline.

I think he's a great rabble-rouser, a wonderful grassroots organizer, and he has a good head for policy. Right now we need him where he is, stirring people up. Heck, even when we get a Dem in the WH, people are still going to need stirring up -- to kick their congresscritters into action, and reverse some of the destructive trends of the last eight years. I wouldn't mind having him in the Cabinet, especially if he was given free rein to go out and shout at crowds, write editorials, and generally be a voice of progressive hope. Just don't put him at the top; he'd be wasted there.

Evan said...

I wouldn't want Dean to run again in '08--he promised not to, and breaking a promise right out the gate is a terrible way to start a campaign.

If he has to get a new job after the next presidential election, well, okay, maybe a cabinet post. Or white house chief of staff, even better. But for now, I don't want him doing anything else but what he's doing, 'cause he's really good at it.

Anonymous said...

I think all the dem possibilities need to get together and present a unified front at during the primaries. By which I mean, I think they ought to have a list of what cabinent positions everyone would fill if they don't win.

Clark should be president, but failing that, he'd make an awesome secstate.

Dean could be FDA.
Edwards could be attorney general.
Kerry...umm..fuck it, I don't like kerry at all. Stick him somewhere quiet.
I don't know much about the governer and other senate bunch, but you could get them all in at cabinet positions, and really present a unified front. I very much prefer clark, but I think a lot of the possible candidates have a lot of good going for 'em. Hillary might make an ok Veep, or education secretary, if she'd take. Probably wouldn't...she's pretty self-centered.

Unknown said...

I think all the dem possibilities need to get together and present a unified front at during the primaries. By which I mean, I think they ought to have a list of what cabinent positions everyone would fill if they don't win.

You know, I've been saying this for years -- where the hell's our shadow cabinet? If not now, then even after the nomination?

Anonymous said...

Dean could be FDA.
Edwards could be attorney general.
Kerry...umm..fuck it, I don't like kerry at all. Stick him somewhere quiet.


I am amazed that people have so fallen for the GOP view of Kerry. He's a cool guy. He's gentlemanly and refined.
and, of all of them, he's the one I would most enjoy just having dinner with. He sounds like he'd be a good conversationalist -- or at least his wife would be.

Anonymous said...

Setiap orang pasti sudah biasa mendengar penyakit kutil. Kutil umumnya berupa benjolan kecil yang kerap tumbuh pada kulit akibat kurangnya menjaga kebersihan tubuh. Ada yang tumbuh di tangan, kaki, muka bahkan di alat kelamin. Kutil yang tumbuh pada alat kelamin disebut dengan kutil kelamin (condilloma/genital warts).
Jual Obat Kutil Kelamin Wanita
Obat Kutil Kelamin
Obat Kutil Kelamin Ampuh
Obat Kutil Kelamin Tanpa Operasi
Gejala Penyakit Kelamin
Obat Kutil Kelamin
Obat Kutil Kelamin Ampuh
Obat Kutil Kelamin Tanpa Operasi

Anonymous said...

Obat Kutil Kelamin Wanita
Cara Mengobati Kutil Kelamin
Penyebab Sipilis
Cara Mengobati Sipilis
Obat Kutil Kelamin
Obat Wasir Ampuh
Obat Wasir Herbal
Obat Sipilis Tradisional
Obat Sipilis Pada Pria
Obat Kanker Payudara
Obat Sipilis Raja Singa
Obat Wasir Luar
Obat Penyakit Kutil Kelamin
Obat Sipilis
Ciri Penyakit Sipilis
Tanda - Tanda Penyakit Sipilis
Obat Kutil Kelamin Pria
Obat Kutil Kelamin Wanita
Jual Obat Wasir atau Ambeien Pada Pria Dan Wanita
Obat Ambeien
Obat Kencing Nanah
Gejala Penyakit Sipilis
Penyakit Kutil Kelamin
Obat Kutil Kelamin Alami
Obat Kutil Kelamin Herbal
Pengobatan Kutil Kelamin
Cara Mengobati Kutil Kelamin
Obat Kencing Nanah
Obat Gonore
Obat Raja Singa Ampuh

Unknown said...

Wasir atau ambeien adalah penyakit yang terjadi pada bagian anus, jenis wasir atau ambeien sendiri ada dua yaitu wasir atau ambeien dalam dan wasir atau ambeien luar. Dalam penangananya sendiri wasir atau ambeien dapat disembuhkan dengan dua jalan yaitu pengobatan medis dan pengobatan non medis atau pengobatan alternatif. Pengobatan alternatif disini salah satu pilihanya adalah dengan menggunakan tanaman herbal atau dengan ramuan tradisional. Ambeclear dan Salep Salwa adalah hasil pengolahan tanaman herbal daun ungu, kunyit putih, dan mahkota dewa yang telah terbukti ampuh mengatasi wasir atau ambeien baik wasir stadium satu, stadium dua, stadium tiga maupun stadium akhir atau stadium empat. Wasir berdarah, wasir yang telah kronis, semua dapat diatasi dengan menggunakan obat ini selain ampuh obat ini juga aman dan tidak menimbulkan efek samping apapun bagi penggunanya sehingga obat ambeclear ini aman dikonsumsi oleh penderita wasir yang sedang hamil maupun menyusui.

Unknown said...

Jika berbicara mengenai pengertianya maka penyakit jengger ayam ini diketahui adalah penyakit menular seksual yang penyebabnya berkaitan dengan Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Penyakit ini juga dapat menampilkan diri dalam berbagai bentuk, namun secara umum kutil yang bertumbuh pada bagian genital penderita berbentuk benjolan daging yang berwarna, dan terjadi pada sekitar alat vital. Siapa saja bisa menderita penyakit ini baik yang pria maupun wanita

Anonymous said...

Penyakit ini umumnya muncul karena penderita mengejan terlalu keras pada saat buang air besar. Dengan mengejan terlalu keras, maka pembuluh darah di sekitar anus dapat melebar dan pecah menimbulkan infeksi dan pembengkakan yang berakhir pada masalah wasir atau ambeien tersebut.

Unknown said...

Penderita Penyakit kondiloma atau Kutil Kelamin yang telah terinveksi disarankan untuk segera melakukan pengobatan secepat mungkin sebelum Virus HPV penyebab kutil kelamin makin banyak berkembang biak di dalam sel darah makin lama dibiarkan akan memperparah kondisi organ vital karena kutil kelamin akan terus membesar sehingga terlihat seperti jengger ayam untuk penderita yang baru tertular kurang dari satu bulan biasanya akan lebih cepat ditanggulangi obat kutil kelamin Paling ampuh dari De Nature dan terbaik ada hanya di http://obatkutildikemaluan.blogdetik.com/ untuk mendapatkan informasi yang lebih jelas mengenai pengobatan kutil pada kelamin silahkan kontak langsung di nomer 0852 808 77 999 atau 0859 7373 5656 Bagaimana mengobati Ambeien itu sendiri. pengobatan yang terbaik untuk Ambeien adalah dari luar dan dalam sehingga Ambeien benar benar tuntas dan tidak akan kambuh lagi. obat Ambeien terbaik "Ambeclear dari De Nature" AlamiAdalah obat Ambeien herbal yang memang terbaik untuk mengobati Ambeien, dan sudah terdaftar di badan obat dan makanan (BPOM) dengan nomer registrasi POM TR: 133 374 041. terbuat dari bahan alami antara lain terdiri Daung Ungu, Mahkota Dewa dan Kunyit Putih.

Pengobatan Ambeien Wasir said...

Nuwun sewu kula bade nderek promosiuntukandayangterkenapenyakitkulitsepertikadasataukudiskinitelahhadirobat herbaldaride natureyangsudahterbuktikhasiatnyamantab!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

cara yang alami menyembuhkan penyakit wasir ambeien secara alami dengan menggunakan daun ungu serta mahkotadewa aman untuk ibu hamil tanpa operasi cukup dengan menggunakan obat wasir herbal ambeclear terbuat

Anonymous said...

wasir ambeien bisa sembuh tanpa harus di operasi maupun injeksi cukup dengan obat wasir ambeien herbal ambeclear herbal de nature dari daun ungu serta mahkotadewa aman untuk ibu hamil

Unknown said...

Penyakit kencing nanah bisa disebabkan oleh beberapa faktor seperti seks bebas, penularan, virus hpv, lingkungan, gaya hidup dan lainnya, Maka dari itu kita harus waspada dengan penyakit kencing nanah ini, karena penyakit kencing nanah sangatlah berbahaya, Namun untuk anda yang menderita penyakit kencing nanah, maka anda tidak perlu khawatir,

Unknown said...

Berapa Harga untuk Obat Wasir Ambeien alami daun ungu AmbeclearAmbeien adalah gangguan atau penyakit yang terjadi pada saluran pencernaan manusia

Unknown said...

Bukan hanya pengobatan medis saja tapi ada juga pengobatan rumah alami yang dapat digunakan untuk menyingkirkan penyakit kutil kelamin ini. Intinya, karena kutil ini muncul di daerah yang sensitif, maka anda harus mencari pengobatan yang terbaik pada kulit Anda dan jika diperlukan juga dibantu dengan tenaga medis yang professional. Sebab dokter akan menjadi sumber informasi yang baik untuk mengobati penyakit ini.

Unknown said...

Cara yang sering di lakukan untuk menghilangkan kutil kelamin adalah dengan cara pembedahah atau operasi, cara ini tentu memerlukan dana yang tidak sedikit. metode Pilihan pembedahan yang dapat Anda lakukan

Unknown said...

Kenali penyebab penyakit kencing bernanah sehingga cara mengobati
penyakit kencing nanah dan infeksi saluran kencing nanah dapat dilakukan
dengan benar.

Pengobatan Ambeien Wasir said...

wkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwkwk

kLINIK oBAT mANJUR said...

Bismillaahirrohmaanirrokhiim ???????????????????????????????????

kLINIK oBAT mANJUR said...

Bismillahhirrohmaanirrokhim.... *********************************

Unknown said...

Sekitar Vagina Tumbuh Daging, Berbahayakah? Kutil Pada Kepala Penis mirip bunga kol atau jengger ayam, Merupakan Penyakit Yang diakibatkan Oleh Virus.Kutil kelamin, atau disebut juga condyloma acuminata, adalah kutil atau daging berwarna kulit atau keabuan yang tumbuh di sekitar alat kelamin dan

obar herbal manjur alami said...

Bismillahirrohmannirrokhim ..................

obar herbal manjur alami said...

Bismillahirrohmannirrokhim ........................

Unknown said...

penyakit yang ditularkan melalui hubungan seks : vaginal, oral dan anal. Juga dapat menular melalui persentuhan kulit dengan daerah yang terinfeksi.

Unknown said...

Obat Ambeien Resep Dokter Ambeclear dari De Nature Ampuh Tuntaskan Ambeien Sampai Tuntas

obar herbal manjur alami said...

MANTAB *************************************

Cara Mengobati Wasir Ambeien said...

Bismillahirrohmannirrokhim ........................

Unknown said...

Sebelum kita membahas tentang pengobatan ambeien, dalam kesempatan ini
saya ingin menjelaskan sekilas tentang ambeien, agar kita semua bisa
memahami benar apa itu penyakit ambeien

kLINIK oBAT mANJUR said...

Bismillahhirrohmaanirrokhim.... ********************

kLINIK oBAT mANJUR said...

Bismillahhirrohmaanirrokhim.... ***************************

kLINIK oBAT mANJUR said...

Bismillahirrohmannirrokhim .........................

Unknown said...

???????????????????????????????

obar herbal manjur alami said...

1111111111111111111111111

obar herbal manjur alami said...

111111111111111111111111111111

kLINIK oBAT mANJUR said...

111111111111111111111

obar herbal manjur alami said...

111111111111111

kLINIK oBAT mANJUR said...

1111111111111111111111111111111

kLINIK oBAT mANJUR said...

11111111111111111111111111111111111111111

obar herbal manjur alami said...

alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami

obar herbal manjur alami said...

alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami alami

Unknown said...

obat sipilis raja singa obat sipilis raja singa manjur obat sipilis raja singa herbal obat sipilis raja singa alami obat sipilis raja singa mujarab obat sipilis raja singa herbal manjur

Unknown said...

obat sipilis raja singa obat sipilis raja singa manjur obat sipilis raja singa herbal obat sipilis raja singa alami obat sipilis raja singa mujarab obat sipilis raja singa herbal manjur

Unknown said...

Orang yang mampu belajar dari kegagalan adalah pemenang, namun orang yang selalu menutupi kegagalan adalah pecundang