Never in my life did I think I would be posting a Chris Ruddy article. He is the biggest Ant-Clinton hack, backed by Scaife, to come down the pike. But here he is making a case for Dean.
Many people will say that this is just one more example of the right trying to fool us into nominating the worst guy for the job. But take a look at what the hackster has to say. This is pretty much what we, Dean supporters, have been saying for quite some time.
While I don't really agree with what he says about TV ,it could be said, and has by a few, that he comes across as real. But he has an interesting take on this. And Deans commercials have been very different from his debate and 1 on 1 interviews. I have also noticed that he does well on shows like 60 minutesII. That is more likely to be where people will get their impressions of Dean, not the 3 scheduled debates.
So here is the Ruddy article. Enjoy.
Howard Dean, Serious Threat
Christopher Ruddy
Monday, Nov. 10, 2003
Howard Dean is not to be dismissed.
He is a serious candidate who will most certainly give George Bush a run for his money next year.
The former Vermont governor is the all-but-certain Democratic nominee - unless Hillary enters the race at the last minute.
This past week, Dean had some good news and some bad news.
The good news came from two of the nation's largest unions.
The Service Employees International Union, the largest AFL-CIO affiliate, with 1.6 million members, endorsed Dean. He also won the support of AFSCME - the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
These unions will give Dean what he has lacked for final victory - ground troops in key primary states like Iowa, New Hampshire and elsewhere to get out the vote.
The bad news is that the U.S. economy is rebounding, sharply. If that trend continues, Bush has a lock to win in November 2004, even if the "slog" in Iraq continues.
But for now, momentum is on Howard Dean's side.
The growing support for Dean is no surprise to NewsMax readers. Earlier this year, when Dean was nothing but a blip on the radar screen, we reported that Dean was the clear favorite of the press to become president.
With positive media spin and, as Dick Morris says, the most successful Internet campaign effort ever, Dean has broken through to emerge as the clear front-runner among the eight dwarves and the general.
Washington Republicans, including President Bush's adviser Karl Rove, are said to be pleased by Dean's success. They believe that Dean offers shades of Michael Dukakis and George McGovern.
But Dean is neither. For one thing, the diminutive candidate makes a powerful impression on TV. Unlike Dukakis, who was cold and uninspiring, Dean is personable and persuasive. He impresses even me.
And unlike McGovern, Dean is no dove.
As Dean likes to say, he supported the first Gulf War and President Bush's military effort in Afghanistan, but he has strongly opposed the recent Iraq war.
Since that war has not gone so well, Dean benefits. He looks better than many Democrats, for example John Kerry, who voted for the war but has since become critical.
Dean looks like a leader. He is also an outsider. As the Schwarzenegger win proves, Americans want outsiders in Washington.
Dean is also not a liberal Democrat in the traditional sense.
Chuck Noe's investigative report for NewsMax Magazine, "Dean Unlocked," gives the best insight into the real Howard Dean.
Many know, for instance, that Dean has won applause from the NRA. But he also took on environmentalists and the ACLU in Vermont and was also a fiscal conservative.
For the first time, NewsMax talked with the folks who know Dean best, the people of Vermont.
What we learned is surprising and worrisome for Republican prospects next year, especially if the economy is not back on track by that time.