Now, Rand knows that I hate damned pinko Democrat politicians as bad as the next guy, but Howard Dean really got a bad rap on the infamous "I have a scream" speech the night of the Iowa caucuses. It seems to be presented that he was somehow out of control, having a big mad, angry rant unfit for someone who wants to be president.
This interpretation totally does not match the video that we have been subjected to over and over again. His words were nothing angry or belligerant or any other kind of bad. He was just giving a little pep rally for perhaps demoralized troops, naming off the upcoming state primaries that they're getting ready to go out there and WIN!
Most specific and critical thing wrong with the common interpretation: Dean was absolutely SMILING and LAUGHING by the time he got to the famous holler at the end. There was nothing angry about that yell at all.
I guess it figures that I'd sort of start liking the guy about the time and for just the exact gesture that seems to have turned everyone else off, but there it is. I liked Dean on an emotional level there as at no previous time.
Look, he'd just had his hat handed to him with a frankly humiliating third place showing. He'd probably REALLY REALLY like to have just had a couple of drinks and some sleep. Maybe a good cry.
Yet there he was, making the good effort to cheer up his people. He had to swallow it down, and come out and show consideration for the feelings of others around him. He worked himself up into a basic high school pep rally mode, and tried to show some school spirit.
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Article comments
1 - bhw
Al, I agree. Unfortunately, we are a country of lemmings, and when the momentum gets going, it's hard to stop people from getting in line and repeating what they heard other people say.
2 - Dawn
His rant wasn't angry Al, you are totally right. What it was in my account was undignified. But hey, who cares if the guy had a moment of honest emotion, it was funny as hell. And by golly, if politics can't be a little funny sometimes, then I don't want any part of it
Good post Al!!
3 - Mark Saleski
and there you have it folks. the first time me & mr. barger have been in 100% agreement.
..not sure what that means.
4 - Craig Lyndall
So we have Dean and his death metal vocals at the pep rally, and John Kerry dropping F-bombs in interviews. I am not sure what all the noise is about either. Now if we had photos of Al Sharpton and Wes Clark stuffing dollar bills in a stripper's G-string, that would be news.
Unfortunately for Dean, it appears that a lot of people were looking for a way to paste him as an un-electable putz. Frankly, do you think it was Democrats or Republicans who don't want Dean as the Democratic Nominiee? Honestly, I think Dems are more afraid of Dean than Republicans.
5 - Eric Olsen
PEOPLE PEOPLE PEOPLE, it wasn't anger or belligerance that was/is the issue, it was the unhinged nature of of his voice as it rose to a preternatural grunt. People are disconcerted, even frightened by that kind of lack of personal control. That's the issue and I think it's totally legitimate: a president must ALWAYS have some space reserved for the meta-picture. Dean's abyssal, animalistic intonations are just not acceptable in public life - he crossed a line. Save that for conjugal visits with the wife.
6 - TDavid
In horse racing, isn't third place the 'show' category? Dean sure put on a good one with that caucus mating call.
7 - Eric Olsen
"caucus mating call" - great one!
8 - Mac Diva
Dean got good play in a front page NYT article yesterday. He came across as just 'real.' The article reminded people he is still relatively young, too - someone who can be expected to loosen up. The example he gave was also letting loose at his son's hockey games. There will be a network television interview in which it sounds like he and his wife come off well, too. I believe that we all need to remember a 'snapshot' is not the full story of anyone's personality.
9 - Chris Wilson
When Dean bows out of the race - and he will - please let him know I am looking for a new singer in my Joe Cocker cover band......
10 - TDavid
I just came across this site with Dean scream mp3 remixes: http://www.deangoesnuts.com/