Hey, my name is Kid Oakland...
I'm from the Left Coast...but you can count me for Dick Gephardt .
Why? Well, there's many reasons, which I'll elaborate in my diary, but here's my logic in a nutshell.
In my view, the mistake that most Dems are making is not taking how seriously everyday Americans feel that George W. Bush is at once a hero and patriot, and, at the same time, a President of quite dubious domestic and international policies.
A winning Democrat is going to have to say something along these lines:
"Our country owes George W. Bush a debt of thanks for his leadership and courage after 9/11. The way in which he rallied our spirits and focused out energies after that great tragedy will be remembered by every generation of Americans. He is a true patriot, and whatever our differences, I admire him as a man."
And then he or she will have to say...
"But, my fellow Americans, George W. Bush's policies since that time, at home and abroad, have been a miserable failure. It is time for a change of course and you can trust me with that change."
Friends, if we are going to win, we've gotta be convincing with both parts of that. And it can't be with the glib, anti-war "I told you so" tone of Howard Dean.
You may say Dick Gephardt can't win the Democratic Nomination....
I'm telling you there is no other Democrat who can share the stage in a debate with George W. Bush and come out a winner.