President Dean's State of the Union

[Derek Jackson]

Assume a different sound system the night of the Iowa caucuses and Dean saying less about other Democrats and more about GW Bush.

In OTL the lies of the Swift boaters and the flip flop image did Kerry huge damage. Yet the result was actually quite close.

I think Republicans would assume that they could portray Dean as far left and in the campaign their claims would be shown to be wrong.

So how does a STate of the Union under a President determined to get out of Iraq look?

[Glen]

Originally Posted by Derek Jackson

Assume a different sound system the night of the Iowa caucuses and Dean saying less about other Democrats and more about GW Bush.

In OTL the lies of the Swift boaters and the flip flop image did Kerry huge damage. Yet the result was actually quite close.

I think Republicans would assume that they could portray Dean as far left and in the campaign their claims would be shown to be wrong.

So how does a STate of the Union under a President determined to get out of Iraq look?

Its an interesting theory, but I suspect the Dean campaign would have still stumbled at some point later in the year. I know people who know Dean, and lets just say they weren't enthused about his candidacy.

[Chengar Qordath]

"My fellow Americans, we're going to pull out of Baghdad, and Basrah, and Anbar, and Kirkuk, and BWWWAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

I'd have to agree with Glen; removing the Dean Scream probably just means he torpedoes his own campaign a bit further down the line. After all, the man had a reputation for being a bit nutty and both before and after that incident he's said plenty of things that offended a lot of people.

[Derek Jackson]

Originally Posted by Chengar Qordath

"My fellow Americans, we're going to pull out of Baghdad, and Basrah, and Anbar, and Kirkuk, and BWWWAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

I'd have to agree with Glen; removing the Dean Scream probably just means he torpedoes his own campaign a bit further down the line. After all, the man had a reputation for being a bit nutty and both before and after that incident he's said plenty of things that offended a lot of people.

As distinct from GW Bush who has DONE things to offend most of the population of both his land and the Planet. And who'se words include claiming that the Iraq war ended 4 years ago and that he wants to bring on a greater conflict in that land

[Chengar Qordath]

Originally Posted by Derek Jackson

As distinct from GW Bush who has DONE things to offend most of the population of both his land and the Planet. And who'se words include claiming that the Iraq war ended 4 years ago and that he wants to bring on a greater conflict in that land

This is why people usually try to avoid recent political PoDs; someone always gets worked up about things eventually. Even his most of his supporters will admit that Dean suffers occaisional bouts of Foot-in-Mouth Syndrome.

[The Man]

No Scream-> Edwards gets the nod.

The stories out of Iowa were Kerry and the Scream. No scream Edwards gets more buzz for his second place finish.

I would assume at this point either he or kerry gets the nod. If Kerry gets it, well we know what happens.

If Edwards gets it, well that's just good AH!

[Wendell]

Originally Posted by The Man

No Scream-> Edwards gets the nod.

The stories out of Iowa were Kerry and the Scream. No scream Edwards gets more buzz for his second place finish.

I would assume at this point either he or kerry gets the nod. If Kerry gets it, well we know what happens.

If Edwards gets it, well that's just good AH!

Who does Edwards then take as his running mate? I'd suggest Wes Clark, though I dislike him.

[Chengar Qordath]

Originally Posted by Wendell

Who does Edwards then take as his running mate? I'd suggest Wes Clark, though I dislike him.

Clark would be a good choice to make the Democrats seem stronger on Defence, and without Kerry's (however controversial) war record that will probably be a factor. On the other hand, Edwards is a bit on the young side, so he might want to pick a political veteran as his running mate to calm worries about his lack of experience.

Kerry might actually be his pick, since the man has a war record and is an experienced politician, and as the VP candidate his lack of charisma would not be nearly as much of a problem, since Edwards would be the one in the spotlight most of the time.

[Wendell]

Originally Posted by Chengar Qordath

Clark would be a good choice to make the Democrats seem stronger on Defence, and without Kerry's (however controversial) war record that will probably be a factor. On the other hand, Edwards is a bit on the young side, so he might want to pick a political veteran as his running mate to calm worries about his lack of experience.

Kerry might actually be his pick, since the man has a war record and is an experienced politician, and as the VP candidate his lack of charisma would not be nearly as much of a problem, since Edwards would be the one in the spotlight most of the time.

I don't think that Edwards would want a VP from the Northeast though. He could pick Gephardt, or Harkin, perhaps?

[Berra]

I have a scream.

[Dean_the_Young]

"Ahem. My fellow United Statians, I am pleased to announce..."

Oh. That Dean. My bad.

In truth, my govt. class watched "the scream" as an example of political suicide. Several times. Nonstop. It was only slightly worse than the "botched joke."

[Wendell]

Originally Posted by Dean_the_Young

"Ahem. My fellow United Statians, I am pleased to announce..."

Oh. That Dean. My bad.

In truth, my govt. class watched "the scream" as an example of political suicide. Several times. Nonstop. It was only slightly worse than the "botched joke."

And now Kerry has departed from the 2008 race. Dean took longer to do so in 2004.