Vermont governor for President

Had you asked me right after Sept. 11 if I approved of President George W. Bush's job performance, my answer would have been, "Yes." Oh, how things can change in a year. Taking a thorough look at the positions and policies of Mr. Bush's administration leaves me craving for the chance to vote for someone else on Nov. 2, 2004.\nBut, who?\nA little less than two years away from the next presidential election, the Democratic field of competitors is starting to come together. With the entry of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, there are now two candidates for the Democratic nomination. This is not to mention a host of others, including Sen. Joe Lieberman, Sen. John Edwards and former Vice President Al Gore, who are considering bids. Those four comprise the list many pundits cite as the most likely winner on the Democratic side. But a list of these four leaves a lot to be desired.\nWho, then, is the other announced candidate? His name is Howard Dean, the governor of Vermont. Upon reading about Governor Dean's candidacy (he was the first candidate officially in the race) this summer, I enjoyed a hearty chuckle. The governor of Vermont wants to be President? No way, Jose!\nBut upon further review, Mr. Dean, the nation's longest serving governor, appears to be a genuine and principled alternative to the uninspiring and not-a-hair-out-of-place others in the Democratic field. \nDean's record in Vermont shows the fiscal conservative and social progressive has a history of helping average citizens. According to The New Republic, Dean has always maintained a balanced budget for Vermont while opposing many tax increases. At the same time, according to the Washington Post, Vermont, under Dean, has expanded Medicaid coverage to children of families within 300 percent of the poverty line. The Post continues that Dean's philosophy is to create universal access to health care, then to worry about reforming the system.\nWhile his Democratic opponents, such as Kerry and Gore, advocate universal health care, Governor Dean has produced documented results during his tenure in government. \nPerhaps the most controversial move of his governorship came when he signed into law the state's civil union bill. Thanks to the signature, Vermont, unlike other states, allows homosexuals to join into legally recognized unions. While it is unfortunate that Vermont stands alone in this category, it says much about Howard Dean that he stood up to public opinion (in his own state and nationwide) to extend this basic right to homosexuals. For sure, he could have vetoed the legislation and played to public opinion, ensuring him an easy re-election in 2000, but Dean stood up for what he believed was right and signed the bill.\nThese results make Howard Dean attractive as a candidate. Furthermore, he doesn't come off as fake. Listening to him and reading about him gives the impression that he genuinely cares about the causes he advocates. \nThese are only a few reasons why Howard Dean might just be the Democrat's savior in 2004. He is the kind of candidate that people will want to vote for: A pragmatic, results-oriented person with a proven record. Was anyone inspired in 2000 to vote for Al Gore? I doubt many were, and fewer likely will be if he runs in 2004.\nAll this aside, it is still too early to tell who the best candidate will be in 2004. But at this early stage, Howard Dean seems an intriguing alternative to another four years of George W. Bush.