Dean vs. Kucinich vs. Clark

[redeye]

I'm looking for a comparison of those three, who're currently numbers 1-3 respectively in my books for the Democratic nomination.

So, a few guidelines:

1. Don't talk to me about electability
2. Don't bash a candidate until his positions've been made clear
3. Don't give me links, but rather use your own words and quotes (and no, I'm not only plagiarizing from the Plaid Adder)
4. I'm looking particularly but not only for the positions on the following issues:
Separation of church and state and Newdow vs. Congress
The Patriot Act
Future wars against Syria, Iran, North Korea, etc.
What the US should now do in Iraq and Afghanistan
Gay rights
Abortion
The environment
The draft
Foreign aid
Education

[Lefty48197]

1. One brief point

Sometimes, the ones who are least likely to engage in warfare, are the career military officers, in this case Wesley Clark.
In addition, because of 9-11-01, military and defense are more important to this country than they have been since WWII.
My gut feeling is that I could trust Wesley Clark to make the right decision about sending American soldiers into war. He wouldn't be too timid to use military force when necessary, and he would sure as hell insure that it was absolutely necessary, before putting anybody in harm's way. I'm not sure if any of the other Democratic candidates could make the right decision in BOTH instances.

[ErasureAcer]

2. Kucinich has a vision of peace and justice

rivaled by no other.

I've met the man, briefly, and heard him speak and anyone who can say with conviction they'll end the death penalty, close the school of americas and cut the pentagon budget 15% of worthless trash, overspending...definitely gets my vote and support.

Furthermore, he is for gay marriage...which I believe is a constitutional right, based on the 1st and 14th amendments...which is definitely good.

He is for seeing the world as a whole and america playing a big part in the role as a single entity and not a dictator many past presidents have acted as, HOWEVER, he knows the world does need our help on some issues...what goes on in china and germany and anywhere else concerning the environment, world diseases, and so forth...he will try and make better we are all interconnected...I believe he will not be a dictator though on the world.

Which brings me to his leaving of the WTO and NAFTA...which he can put in an executive order to get the US out of as it is a way to sneak around going through the official means. I think this is a good idea. We should demand accountability to rights for everyone on the world. We don't need to attack nations or anything to that extent...but we as a nation can say hey, we don't agree with your workers rights or your effect on the world's environment...we won't do business with you. This bilateral stance of dealing with nations will show the world that there is more than money that matters at the hearts of businesses. Sure, we can send our companies to china and save a few bucks...but if they're not cooperating with maintaining human rights and the environment...we'd just be continuing to support the shitty human rights and the shitty environment with trade with those nations...stamping our approval.

Will people lose their jobs in those countries? Most likely. will people suffer? most likely. But Patrick Henry said it best in 1775..."Give Me Liberty or give me death".

This is the attitude the rest of the world(and to an extent, americans) must take in dealing with their crappy politicans and employers. What good is living if you're a slave to the government or to the CEO? Not much if you ask me.

I'm getting off topic rambling on about true patriots...but still, I think we'd be doing the nation a favor by getting out of the WTO and NAFTA....for it would also bring many jobs back to the states. This is Kucinich's stance...and a damn good one.

I could go on but I'll leave it at that for now.

[IndianaGreen]

3. All 3 are fine candidates

The problem with Clark is that he seems to have become the darling of disgruntled Lieberman supporters that are angry that Holy Joe is doing badly in the polls. Clark is not Lieberman!

[Nashyra]

4. Wrong

I do not support Lieberman and never have. He is the only candidate I would have to hold my nose to vote for.

[CMT]

5. I like Dean

I think he has an excellent record to run on and what attracted me to him was his stand on wanting to provide affordable health care for everyone in this country. He did a good job in Vermont in covering virtually every child.

I also respect him for signing the most progressive Civil Rights bill of our times--The Civil Unions Act. Some people say he was brought into it kicking and screaming but that is not the case--in fact rather than run away from it he campaigned on the issue in 2000 when he was targeted for defeat by many who opposed this act.

Above all I respect the stand he took on the most important foreign policy issue of the last decade--the unprovoked and immoral war on Iraq. He stood up and denounced it despite the support Bush was generating with much of the country. That is leadership.

As a physician he has said many times that he supports 100% a womans right to choose. This is an issue only a woman can make. He has been clear and precise on this issue.

Finally, I respect the fact that he has brought so many people who were turned off of politics back into the political arena. He has been able to arouse great support which will be the foundation of a great grass root movement which will bring the Democrats back to the White House in 2004.

Having said this, I also respect and admire Dennis Kucinich very much and don't feel I know enough about Wes Clark to give you an honest appraisal except that he seems to be generating a lot of support.

[tameszu]

6. I can speak for Clark

I cannot do justice to Dean and Kucinich's positions, other than what I have read at DU.

1. Separation of Church and State: Worried about current the direction in which the government is headed. Called Bush's tax cuts "theologically motivated."

2. PATRIOT Act: It should be immediately reviewed because it was passed in an atmosphere of fear, which resulted in illegitimately sacrificing civil rights. This is especially important, as police authorities will always be aggressive in asking for more powers.

3. Future wars in Iran, North Korea, etc.: Thinks that war is a last resort. Thinks that the legitimacy in making these sorts of big decisions depends significantly on international law, international institutions, and the opinion of allies who share liberal democratic values.

4. What we should do in Iraq and Afghanistan: We've committed ourselves, so it is both morally and strategically imperative that we get the job properly done if we can. But in both cases, we cannot do it ourselves. Afghanistan is crucial to the war on terror and it is too bad we distracted our ourselves with Iraq. The U.S. put much more resources into rebuilding Afghanistan and ensuring its security, expanding ISAF outside of Kabul and get other nations to do the same by providing leadership. This should be our 1st priority, not Iraq. Much the same with Iraq (now that we re occupying it), although in this case, we have to get the cooperation of other countries first, because we've stupidly dissed them all. We need to bring the UN in. We need to put the Iraqi army back together immediately, start paying the soldiers, and start allowing them to provide their people with security themselves. We need to have democratic elections in Iraq as quickly as possible, although that's not realistic at this very moment, until we have built trust and a stable security situation in which radicals won't be attractive.

5. Gay rights: Has not stated a position on the question of gay marriage. Opposes Don't Ask Don't Tell--prima facie belief that it is unnecessary because most of the NATO nations he commanded had integrated militaries--but would ask the military to immediately review it and then come up with their own policy, rather than imposing one on them.

6. Abortion: Believes that women have the right to choose.

7. Environment: Thinks that the environment is one of only 2 issues that are relevant when we plan from a 100-year perspective (Clark believes that when we evaluate policies, we should evaluate them from the perspective of a variety of timelines, up to a 100-year view). Thinks that in the medium-term, the U.S. has to become less dependent on foreign oil and must develop alternative energy sources--very big on developing alternative energy technologies. Agrees with solving environmental problems through international institutions and treaties such as Kyoto. Opposes drilling in the ANWR.

8. The draft: Thinks it is unnecessary at this time.

9. Foreign aid: Supports expanding aid and promoting liberal democratic values through international institutions and cooperation. Thinks America should do more as a cooperative leader.

10. Education: This is the key medium-term issue for improving America's human capital and economy. Thinks we have to start with teachers--we need to improve them by treating them and rewarding them with the respect that we give crucial leaders, because that's exactly what they are. Think of them as the key NCOs in America's all-volunteer educational army.

Hope that helps!