Last night I had a dream--literally--about Howard Dean. In all this time spent supporting and observing, this has never happened before. I took it as a sign that the primary season is truly over, but also that Dean v 2.0 is just beginning.
The following are some thoughts of what I'd love to see in the future. These are my thoughts. We Dean supporters (contrary to some opinion here) are a wide ranging group, so these may not be your thoughts, but who else was I going to share them with?
Dean's surprise win in VT (ending the season on a high note) and the tantalizing tidbits that have been slipping out (radio interview etc.) have led me to believe that Dean still has amazing reserves of both goodwill and interesting thinking to draw on. He is still very much a "work in progress"--as we should all aspire to be.
Dean's ultimate goal? Nothing less than remaking America for the better. Trying one way (running for the presidency) didn't quite work, but I think it opened Dean's eyes to the power and responsibility he could have if he were so inclined. He's the man who, according to some, singlehandedly saved the Democratic party and paved the way for Kerry to be leading in the polls against the president that was seen as invincible by many Democrats.
So, based on the tantalizing hints Dean has given us, here are some things I'd like to see.
- A new moderate coalition. I'm something of a moderate myself, and while I'm a partisan dem, because the times call for such, I do long for days when being a moderate on either side doesn't mean caving to your extreme wing. Let common sense win over ideologues. Let's have solutions that work and not worry so much about where they came from. Can Dean help the Republicans "take their party back"? I'd love to see him try with the help of someone willing to be the "Howard Dean of the Republican party", and I'd love to see him work to put the "moderates in charge."
- A new progressive voice. How can this work with the above? Well, because sometimes the ideas that work are the progressive ones (not always, but some of the time). Dean now has strong ties to the progressive community and he can and should promote those progressive ideas that will be most effective in improving the country.
- Exposing the truth. Dean doesn't have to worry about being elected at the moment, so he can continue to do what he does so well, that is to say tell us when the emperor has no clothes. I have a feeling that if he keeps telling us, we'll eventually believe it. In order to do this, he'll have to remain active in the public consciousness. As a kingmaker, political advocate, and fundraiser, he can maintain a high enough profile to keep telling us the truth.
- Run again. Well, this is maybe a little selfish on my part, but I want to see him run for president again and win. Tanned, rested, with gravitas to spare...I'd like him to spend his "off time" so productively that he'll start out as the "prohibitive favorite" then I'd like to see him finally give the innaugural speech I've been waiting my whole life for. I can wait, and anyway, if it doesn't turn out this way, I can still dream...