January 9, 2004
PARTY LINE:
Dean called 'real Democrat': Front-runner's strategies add boost from Bradley (Jon Kamman, Jan. 6, 2004, The Arizona Republic)
With former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley's endorsement of presidential candidate Howard Dean today, the former Vermont governor's campaign is likely to emphasize that the front-runner is "a real Democrat" and more decisive than former Gen. Wesley Clark.In a telephone conference call that reporters were invited by mistake to hook into, Dean's campaign staff spoke candidly about strategy surrounding the impending Bradley endorsement.
"Tomorrow, (Tuesday) we're going to start by having Bradley do sort of a subtle thing, if we can, by saying that Dean is a real Democrat, and then follow that up the next day with an in-state person that's probably a little more direct," one unidentified staffer said.
The "in-state" appeared to be a reference to New Hampshire, where Bradley, Al Gore's opponent for the 2000 Democratic presidential nomination, was to appear this morning at a previously unscheduled breakfast.
One is tempted to a gang that couldn't shoot straight comparison, but they are shooting straight...straight into their own brainpans. Meanwhile, the watch is on here in the Granite State to see who'll be Howard Dean's hatchet man and say the General isn't a real Democrat. How much more real does it get than promulgating a two breath rule for abortion? Posted by Orrin Judd at January 9, 2004 10:54 AM
But will Lieberman risk more political fire by rebuking Clark for his obvious sycophancy? After all, most any baby pulled from the womb at 30 weeks will be perfectly normal.
Posted by: jim hamlen at January 9, 2004 12:53 PMI guess Bradley read the talking points...
Posted by: Chris at January 9, 2004 1:24 PMLieberman's position is the same, is it not, just less brutally enunciated. In the last debate he said he'd appoint David Souter types at any rate.
Posted by: oj at January 9, 2004 2:17 PMI agree - all this nonsense about Lieberman being the most "Republican" candidate is just that - nonsense. The most Republican-looking Democrat is Zell Miller, with John Breaux and Ed Koch close behind. But while it is easy to point out Republicans who act like Democrats, it is not so easy to do the inverse (except maybe in Texas).
However, Lieberman should be commended for raising the not-inconsequential issue that medical technology and Roe are on a collision course. On 'ER' last night, for example, the new 4-D sonogram was used to show Dr. Carter's baby. Looked like a baby in a crib to me.
Eventually, the legal brittleness of Roe will collapse. But it will bring down the Democratic party with it. Even 5 black robes can't deny what everyone can see in color, repeated over millions of times.
Posted by: jim hamlen at January 9, 2004 2:55 PMJim -- Haven't you een paying attention to General Clark. It does not matter what it looks like to you. It's what it looks like to the woman.
Posted by: MG at January 9, 2004 5:12 PMMG - I understand, but I suspect there are more women who will react with softness and warmth upon seeing those 4-D images than women who will screech. Probably not in the Democratic party primaries, but the numbers are trending down even for them.
Posted by: jim hamlen at January 10, 2004 9:14 AM