Atrios asked a very important question today.
Wives
So, whatshername on ABC is grilling Howard and Judy Dean about the fact that Judy isn't attached to Howard on the campaign trail. Aside from all the obvious sillyness of these questions - are the Mrs. Edwards, Kerrys, Liebermans, and Clarks on the permanent campaign? Have they really been that much more visible than Mrs. Dean?
-Atrios 10:12 PM
----Mrs. Edwards, Kerrys, Liebermans, and Clarks on the permanent campaign? Have they really been that much more visible than Mrs. Dean?
YEP, pretty much the wifes HAVE been part of their husbands campaign trail.
And so it kind of looks to me at least, like Howard Dean is exhibiting the old Southern boy treatment of his wife. It's like one Southern woman said in a talk show that I was listening to once.
"He (a Southern man) will tell his wife that he will wait for her in the car but if the wife doesn't hurry, he will just leave without her. A game of disrespect really, and whatever advice the wife gives is most often filed under "the little woman" talking again.
Actually Diane Sawyer asked the dead give-away question, "But he gave you a Rhododendron"? And of course, NO Christmas or Hanukah gifts from the ever thoughtful Howard Dean. Does the wife's family give nice gifts to one another but not Dean's family or is it just Howard Dean that doesn't give?
Aren't Rhododendrons southern plants mostly? Maybe Rhododendrons just die down to root when planted up north? I don't really know, because I've never seen a Rhododendron up north, and that's kind of relevant. Was this plant an exotic for Mrs. Dean's green house or was it a, "Here honey, plant this thing, you know I've always like these types of flowering shrubs?"
I mean really.
I wonder if Mr. Dean has ever given Mrs Dean any roses-post marriage of course and not pre-marriage because he was, you know, thinking about her today? NOT the kind of roses (like a rosebush) that she has to go plant out in the yard herself mind you.
Does Howard Dean treat his wife like shit?
Howard Dean is stubborn to a fault, I'm fairly sure everyone has noticed that aspect about Dean.
- I'm pretty sure that well meaning people were telling Dean, "Don't use that confederate flag comment because that flag is considered a racist symbol." But Howard Dean insisted on using that comment away, until that comment got him into trouble.
- Howard Dean was told to start moving center-but he has yet to do it, continuing to use inflammatory labeling comments in speeches with other damaging comments that show Howard Dean is every bit a party divider as is George W. Bush--except that Bush (or Bush's handlers) knew better that to use those division words while on the campaign trail.
- And well meaning people try to warn Howard Dean about marketing mostly to the younger voters without encouraging the older voters as well? Younger voters don't really pay attention to politics the way older, wiser Americans do. Howard Dean was able to motivate the younger voters only to lose them to other politicians - social animals that younger voters are, they left in HERDS. The other candidates, Kerry and Edwards should be thanking Howard Dean for the fact that Dean never listens to other peoples well meaning advice.
Howard Dean even said it last night,
"I'm not a rock star", but this comment comes only after Dean has gotten himself into trouble, the ever mule-headed Howard Dean has been hit with yet ANOTHER rhetorical 2 x 4 right between the eyes, so I wonder if he ever learns anything?
Can Howard Dean listen to reason and respect other people's ideas?
I'm not so sure.
Bill Clinton understood that compromise and negation were essential - and that not every Republican/conservative idea was a bad one. This is how Bill Clinton was able to move his policies forward once he got to the White House but Howard Dean is exhibiting a "my way or the highway" attitude.
It's important to have a strong willed president of course but also important for a president to understand that he does NOT operate in a FISH BOWL- you know, the way the Bush administration does.
And jeez, I've noticed that John Edwards is looking pretty darn good right now. I wonder how John Edwards treats his wife? Says volumes about someone, really.
