According to the Trib, Howard Dean is a "Big Government liberal" (" Dean no 'moderate ,'" Aug. 2).
I need to look at the dictionary you are using. Here are some of the facts of ex-Gov. Dean's career and positions that I have to reconcile with your definition.
Dean inherited a budget deficit when he became governor of Vermont. He proceeded to deliver 11 years of balanced budgets while cutting taxes twice and ensuring that every child in Vermont was eligible for health insurance.
Dean received an 'A' rating from the National Rifle Association (the only Democratic contender to have done so) for refusing to restrict the rights on Vermont's legitimate gun owners.
Dean is in favor of the death penalty.
Dean supports the war in Afghanistan, and the efforts against al-Qaida to ensure our national security.
I'm at a loss to see how a Big Government liberal could have done these things or supported these positions.
I don't agree with Dean on everything -- I think that the war on Iraq was necessary to rid the planet of a mass murderer and liberate the Iraqi people, though it does seem that President Bush overstated the threat to our national security and even lied to the American people to put our soldiers in harm's way.
I like Dr. Dean's belief that abortion is a medical matter, between a woman and her doctor, and not a matter for the legislature. I applaud his courage in signing Vermont's civil unions law; everything that can be done to ensure full and equal treatment of all Americans is a good thing for our country.
Maybe if the Trib looked at sources other than the National Review, you might see something that resembles truth.
