If anyone else on Dkos who reads this was around in the bad old days of 2003/2004 does all this Clinton/Sanders back and forth remind you of the Kerry/Dean fights of 2004?
It certainly does to me.
In 2003/2004 I was all on board the Dean bandwagon, true believer. Bought the book about him, talked him up to everyone I knew at the time. Gave money, etc etc. Dean was the 'REAL DEAL'
I thought Kerry was a washed up hack, no personality, and would never win the nomination. I was wrong, on both counts.
Follow me below..
Dean was interesting, there was a lot of buzz around him. And here on old Dkos there was a huge Dean following. Sure there were some Kerry followers, a few Edwards folks, and a surprising number of Clark people (remember Wesley Clark?)
All the Dean supporters were sure he was going to just bury everyone else in a wave of righteous liberal fury. It was inevitable, why didn't everyone realize it? Look at the crowds he's getting! Everyone knows it's true!
Then the 'perfect storm' strategy and orange knit caps failed in Iowa, (Remember those?) the press found there opening to deride Dean with the infamous Dean Scream, and that was that.
In the end of course, Kerry won the nomination (and somehow proceeded to loose to Bush.. I still don't get that one.)
I don't have a horse in the race today, though I'll probably back Hillary in the primaries, if Florida's vote even means anything by the time it happens. The main reason for this post is simple.
Sanders supporters: Believe in him, try to get him elected, but don't fall into the trap that any crowds or anecdotal evidence at this stage of the game means he's going to win. And don't deride anyone who believes otherwise.
Clinton Supporters: Believe in her, try to get her elected, but don't fall into the trap of believing that you can take anything for granted at this stage of the game.
I sadly see Sanders in the same light as Dean. Vermonters who make a big splash early on, then fade out. But that's just my personal feelings.