While discussing John Kerry's pathetic candidacy, Charles Krauthammer makes a good point about what's creating the dramatic early success of Howard Dean during the pre-primary season.
On paper, Kerry has all the attributes: senatorial stature, dynastic marriage, square jaw and a sterling military record that he put on lavish display in his announcement speech. What he lacks, however, is passion. And passion is a currency of the current Democratic primary campaign.Posted by Alan at September 6, 2003 10:40 AMA solid record, a good program and judicious judgment serve you well when there is no incumbent. When Ronald Reagan retired in 1988 and Bill Clinton in 2000, the Democrats nominated judicious, thoughtful, passionless (Kerry-like) candidates.
But 2004 is a recall election. The Democratic primary activists and liberals have rarely been more energized by their antipathy to a sitting Republican president. There has not been such disdain, resentment and outright hatred of a president since the high Nixon days.
The activists and liberals who dominate the primary process want desperately to beat Bush. They, of course, want to beat him at the polls, but more than anything they want the pleasure of beating him with a stick. Howard Dean is the stick.
via the Houston Chronicle