Endorsement: Dean

This site is endorsing Howard Dean for President of the United States. I've been disinclined to support any one candidate prior to the primaries and the convention because a lot could change in the next 14 months, but I've decided to announce my support for Dean because, simply put, he's the right guy for the job.

Should Dr. Dean not happen to get the nomination, I'm sure any of the other candidates would do a good job as well -- but my specific reasons for supporting Dean are as follows:

1. There are three issues that, aside from my usual obsession with education, are becoming the most important issues for most Americans. They are, in no particular order: restoring jobs and balancing the budget (aka "the economy, stupid"); heath care; and undoing the damage we have done to ourselves and our allies with our illegal and unjustified wars. So far, Howard Dean is the only candidate who I believe has an effective, complete vision for dealing with these priorities. While he does not have any record to speak of in foreign affairs, I believe that his no-bullshit manner of speaking, his personal honesty and integrity, and (potentially) his choice of vice-president (more about this in a second) will more than cover this.

2. In particular, Howard Dean's health plan and plan for reducing the deficit is the only one I've seen that I think would actually both a) work and b) get passed. Many might say that the health plan is a little too business-friendly for their left-leaning tastes. To them I say "We do not live in a perfect world, nor will we after Dean is elected. He will still have to work with Republicans." I briefly considered supporting Bob Graham (who in normal circumstances would make a great president) because of his renowned ability to work with the enemy, but in the end I decided it's more important to send a clear signal to the Wingnuts (who do not include all Republicans, btw) that they are not welcome. Graham, though he is a smart, honest and fair senator (how rare is that?), has not sent that signal effectively enough.

3. This brings me to the reason I am not supporting the other "major" names in the race: Gephardt, Kerry, Edwards. While they have all said some nice things about the changes we have to make, you can see in their eyes that they have all been working with Republicans too long, and are too eager to compromise. All three have waffled on the Iraq war, and all three have offered watered-down versions of the changes needed to fight the deficit, install a health-care plan, and restore peace. In normal times, that might have been a sensible way to go (a Clinton-esque way to go) -- slow and steady changes that don't ruffle too many feathers too quickly. But we are not in normal times, we are in a crisis -- firm, fast leadership is needed, and these men are too compromised to deliver on that.

4. So why not Kucinich? Because he's unelectable, that's why. The winner of this contest next year must not only win, they must win with a mandate for change. Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich both represent change, but Kucinich has some positions that frankly alarm me (we do not need to be unilaterally and immediately breaking any more treaties, Dennis -- even the unjust ones!) and represents too-fast, too-radical, ill-thought-out change -- that's exactly what we got when Bush got into office.

5. I know, I know -- what about Clark? Well, I have a little secret for you -- he's unelectable too. His positions are still very murky, contradictions are already showing up, and he started too late. I'm very happy he's a candidate, because he will add a lot to the debate -- and hopefully his fate is to become Howard Dean's VP, a combination that would be absolutely unstoppable. But America is (rightly) wary about electing military commanders as civilian commanders -- there's a reason we keep those things separate, you know.

Howard Dean is not "the lesser of the evils," he is a genuinely sound choice for the office. Reading his position papers, it's clear he has spent a lot of time researching and thinking about the issues. He is not combative, and does not make his case solely by denigrating his opponent -- he really does have a better plan than his opponents. And by better, I mean both more sensible and more likely to actually get passed into law.

If you feel the same way, or would at least like to learn more about Howard Dean so that you can make an informed vote no matter who you ultimately choose, I entreat you to visit Dean's web site. I also encourage you to register or change your registration to Democrat at least through primary season, so that you can vote in the primaries for whichever candidate you choose. Lastly, I encourage you to make a donation to the Democratic party, preferably a small ongoing (monthly) donation, in addition to supporting Dean's campaign (or whoever you choose).

Quite frankly, a bar of soap could do a better job running this country than the Bush administration, so I'll be happy with whoever we get at the Democratic Convention. But as a fiscal conservative/social liberal/pragmatic realist (please note that last part) like most Americans actually are, I've made the determination that Howard Dean represents the best of America -- a man who speaks candidly and honestly, who listens and learns, who's been at the forefront of the healthcare crisis and knows how to handle a budget, and most importantly who is someone who can make Americans care about government, care about improving their country and community, and who I believe can restore America's shattered reputation and stop the Wingnuts from making this country any crazier than it already is. It's time for a change, and that change should be Howard Dean.