Earlier this week, I got a phone call out of the blue from the state Dean organization asking if I wanted to hear The Man speak yesterday. Rather impulsively, I jumped on the chance in spite of the fact that the event was happening in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday. Given the recent losses in Iowa & New Hampshire coupled with the rather shocking (but unsurprising) revelation that the vast war chest was mostly gone had definitely taken away a lot of enthusiasm I had for his campaign. Still, I wanted to see Dean in person because I've heard how good a speaker he is live. I also wanted to go to confirm that my initial faith in him wasn't misplaced and to give him chance to convince me that he is still the best person running to be President of the United States. So, I said yes without giving it much of a second thought.
Yesterday, the day finally came around. I ended up cutting out from work a little later than I wanted to, but it was no big deal. Before I left, one of my co-workers jokingly asked me to tape record the scream if there was an encore performance. Parking wasn't too bad, but the crowd control was just pathetic for an event like this - people just millling trying to figure out where to sign-in if you were on the "cool kids" list. Seemed very unprofessional, but according to people attending, both Kerry's and Edwards' events were just as chaotic. However, I was able to get in to the main event so it was all good in the end.
Like all good rock-n-roll type events, the actual show started fashionably late at 3 pm, about an hour later than what was originally said. The head of the Missouri State Historical Society gave a nice little speech on the import and uniqueness of the American presidential primary. He was followed up by the superintendent of the Northwest School District, who helped give a first-hand perspective on how destructive No Child Left Behind has been to schools across the nation before introducing Dean to a very pumped and enthusiastic crowd.
Dean then launched into an education-focused policy talk. He covered a lot territory over the course of the event - he discussed how No Child Left Behind was an unfunded mandate modelled on the lie of the Houston Miracle, the importance of parental involvement, the need for post-high school education, why fully funding special education is important, etc. Through out the speech, he threw out the crowd pleasing anti-Dubya / corporate & special interest digs that always got the applause. After the speech, there was a bit of Q & A that included a question on homeschooling, tort reform and something else. I ended up leaving at that point; although Dean was going to work the crowds in the overflow room after that, I'm not much for crowds.
(A much better write-up of the event can be found in this diary entry at Daily Kos)
I was very impressed with how Dean handled himself. He really does have a wonderful talent for speaking. I definitely sensed that the physician's background really does play a big role in defining him - asides from the great interest in health issues, he had a doctorly manner of giving his diagnosis, explaining why he believed that was the case, and why the solution he's proposing will solve this problem. Plus he's able to say all of this without sounding condescending / holier than thou. I think it this sort of quality that really helps gives him well-deserved straight talker reputation.
In the end, I guess the Kool-Aid has won out again. I am still firmly behind Dean. I truly believe that he is the best candidate to lead our nation. I am going to hit the bat once more. I am going to talk with my friends and parents and see if they can be convinced. Although I don't harbor any illusions that Dean will win MO, at the very least we can get him some delegates to keep the dream alive.
