This is an odd thought to be having, as I am still in mourning. Right now as Bush is looking weak, I am mourning the lost opportunity of a Dean presidency. However, over at BFA (which I avoid to some extent) there is an emmerging theme of getting personally involved, even running for local races, just as Dean suggested in his concession speech. I have noticed the same thing here at kos. Would this be happening if Dean was marching to the nomination? What if he went on to beat Bush?
My plan was never to become a lifelong activist (ie...citizen), it was to get Dean into office so I could feel safe again, so that I could get back to my life. Dean's agenda was to get more folks to be citizens, as Democracy depends on it.
Perhaps like most successful revolutionary leaders, a "death" by nefarious means is required before the vision can be carried out. We can see examples in Jesus, Lincoln, and JFK. Lincoln was widely despised when alive, and talk about bad press! LBJ was able to go far further than JFK ever would have managed, trading on the fallen president's new aura.
Now even the press is admitting that Dean got stabbed in the back by many, themselves included. Most of his supporters, like myself are sure of it. The question is, are we again watching the hero's journey, with Dean's "death and burial" being required for the resurrection of Democracy that Dean invisioned to occur?
