Clark Avoids Criticism, Specifics in First Debate: AP News Analysis

[sfecap]

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[cprise]

1. Clark will need his policies made for him

...and in that he would be much closer in style to a Republican president.

There would be (once again) little executive accountability, and no doubt a cadre of Reagan worshippers and figurehead-makers running the whitehouse. Economically, he would be penned into a DLC holding-pattern while neocons continue to consolidate power and brainwash the public. His laundry-list of "pro-this, pro-that" programs would become a sideshow like Clinton's healthcare initiative (good PR to keep liberals quiet).

Clark has a mind so far to stop the most stark abuses of American power abroad, but a lot more is needed. Much of the damage we are inflicting is economic violence, and the connection with military violence should have been made in his mind months ago at least -- I doubt we will see it. I know the difference between a person who doesn't want to become unpopular from atrocity, and one that can nurture and truly respect. Clark's (I believe sincere) stand on the Iraq invasion puts him a notch above Kerry and the others, but only just.

I doubt Clark will be able to close the quality gap with Dean. Allowing Clark to run for president would be a tad generous, when there is a world of hurt to heal and encroaching global catastropies to head-off.

Considering the incumbent is nosediving in the polls and didn't even get as many votes as Al Gore, I have decided I have every excuse to support Dean's experience, outstanding grassroots appeal, and regard for --more than just the absense of overt violence -- the knowledge apparent in his work and his speeches that individual repsonsibility works only with a cooperative spirit and a social contract to balance.