Howard Dean is far and away the most electable candidate in the race because he
offers the most compelling alternative to George Bush, for at least
four reasons:
1. Howard’s personality: He enjoys the rough-and-tumble of the
fight, he is happy when “speaking the truth in public” and taking on
the lies and misdeeds of the other side–and this is what Americans
want to see, given the housecleaning our government needs at this time.
[Bush's personality has played well--"the Bud Boy"--but as folks
recognize that Bush lies and/or allows himself to be duped, they will
want a truth teller, next.]
2. Howard’s grassroots campaign: He is the only candidate to
actually have a grassroots campaign. All the others want one, but
Howard’s campaign is one. And grassroots is the only way to beat
big media and the media-dominating power of an incumbent president.
[Bush also has a grassroots campaign, based on direct mail and talk
radio. Dean's will need to be expanded to match, and Dean will
need to become the unity candidate of liberals of all flavors.]
3. Howard’s choice of central issues: Howard shows how
effective a leader can be when he or she focuses attention on the right
challenges. Leaders choose “differentiating issues” and “uniting
issues.” Consider what issues leaders choose
to highlight.
A. Howard chose one major “differentiating issue”–correcting the
mistakes that led to the war in Iraq and building the United States as
a servant leader for the world, rather than a bully. Lead by
Dean, the United States will be “the most powerful nation FOR the
world,” not “in” the world. This is the most crucial problem to
correct in our nation today, because we are going down a path that is
both seductive and very dangerous–and must be stopped.
[Bush's differentiating issue is Democrats and the liberal social agenda.]
B. Howard chose one major “uniting issue”–excellent health and
health care for all. This is the crucial safety net issue for
most people, and it unites the poor, the middle class, and even the
upper middle class. It affects the very young and the very old,
and people in all ages between. It is a burning issue for
singles, and for families. And most Americans recognize that this
is an issue that requires more than cost cutting or new financing
programs–it requires a profound shift in how we think about how we
maintain our health. It embraces wellness programs, exercise,
emotional and spiritual health. It embraces organizational issues
ranging from how doctors relate to patients, to how our health care
information is processed. A major national initiative to improve
our health and health care is a creative way to unite our people, as a
nation.
[Bush's uniting issue is the war on terrorism.]
4. The combination of a grassroots campaign (#2) and the right
central issues (#3) suggests how a Dean presidency might look.
The president would listen carefully to the people, and pick a few
national priorities. Then he would sponsor a grassroots campaign
to address the priorities. This would be an administration that
would empower people, as individuals and as grassroots activists, to
improve our nation.
[Bush's presidency combines secrecy, centralization, and big spending
to fund centralized military capability. The people are engaged as
cheerleaders, taxpayers and soldiers.]
