This is one Dean supporter who hopes Clark

[cali]

does run in '08. I like Clark. I like what he has to say and I believe he is a person of conviction and integrity. I don't know if he can make it, but I'll be glad to see him try. Of those talked about as potential candidates, he's the most liberal. I'd certainly support him over Hillary.
I must say that I find the petty arguments between a handful of Dean supporters and a handful of Clark supporters, disappointing. They're both good democratics and admirable spokesmen. Both empower their supporters. How can this be anything but good?

[sabra]

1. Let's see what he does for the next 4 years...

Btw, I am a big Clark fan too!

[Zenlitened]

2. 'Nother Deaniac here. I agree, Clark is a good man!

I don't understand the fighting between Dean and Clark supporters, either. I'm pinning a lot of my hopes for the party on BOTH of them. :)

[purduejake]

3. I love Clark, too.

And I think he would make a great President, but I just don't think he has enough "political" experience to gain widespread support, even among the dems. Nevermind that the military deals with a lot of politics, but you know what I mean.

[ronnykmarshall]

4. It's so early to say.

Who knows what the landscape will look three years from now.

[GRLMGC]

10. I totally agree nt

[AgadorSparticus]

13. i agree. 3 yrs is an awful long time. and under this cabal, god knows

what could be the next devastation to humanity and planet earth.

but, being a deaniac myself, i would happily support the General--as long as he stands by his convictions and not some party line.

[idlisambar]

5. Another Dean supporter here

I honestly think at this point that Wesley Clark may be our best shot to win, though it's early yet.

[JNelson6563]

6. He's got a few years to stand up to this fascism

and do things to further the cause of the Democratic Party. No one deserves the nom handed to them, NOBODY.

I need to see major backbone between now and then before I back anyone.

Julie

[Sparkly]

7. Thanks, cali

As a Clark supporter who hopes Dean wins DNC chair, I found your post refreshing! They are both good Democrats and leaders. :hi:

[GRLMGC]

8. I am neither a Deaniac nor a Clarkie

but if he ran and won the nomination, it couldn't be a bad thing. I'd totally support him. I'd surely pick him over Hillary. It's not that I dislike Hillary, I just don't think she has any realistic chances.

I also support Dean for head of the DNC.

[BlueEyedSon]

11. I dont like Hill after her recent endorsement of the Faith Based crap

[GRLMGC]

17. That was stupid

but not enough to get me to hate her.

[BlueEyedSon]

21. I don't need to hate her to think she is supporting bad policy.

[BlueEyedSon]

9. Dean/Clark was my dream ticket....

:(

[davidwparker]

28. Mine too.

[wryter2000]

12. Another Deanie for Clark

I'd be happy to have him as my candidate.

[ronnykmarshall]

18. Clark was my first choice in '04.

I'd like to see him run for office in 2006.

[alfredo]

14. Boxer/Clark or Clark/Boxer

I got my ticket to see Dean this Sunday. I will take notes and pass on what I experienced.

[geniph]

15. I was a Kucinich supporter

who voted for, and worked for, Kerry. I also support Dean for DNC chair. My biggest disappointment with the Kerry ticket was that they didn't choose Clark for the VP slot. I'll support ANY of them!

(I'm envisioning a Boxer/Clark ticket, with Dean as DNC head, and a Cabinet position for Kucinich...hey, a person can dream, eh?)

[A Brand New World]

16. I liked Kerry initially of the bunch, then when Clark entered the

race, I gravitated to him. I did eventually vote for Kerry in the Ohio primary because at that point it was inevitable that Kerry would win. I then did fully 100% back Kerry and desperately wish today that he is President.

But again, if Clark is in the race from the git-go in 2008 and has sufficient time to build his campaign, I will support Clark. He is the best of the bunch, and doesn't have 20 years of Senate votes to mar his record.

[WI_DEM]

19. Good post

Dean will probably head the DNC and while I have not decided who to support in '08 I don't discard Clark as a possibility.

[American Tragedy]

20. I'd love to see him run again. I'm on board.

He should be better prepared next time around, and he'll know what to expect. He needs a great team of pitbull progressives to work on his campaign, though.

[KC21304]

22. Original Kerryfan here. I sooo wanted Kerry /Clark in 04.

I got to see Kerry and Clark together in Madison. I really thought that would be the ticket and am not quite over the disappointment of that yet. Would still like to see that ticket but I understand that probably won't happen and would support a Clark as Pres in 08, very, very enthusiastically.

That said, I think Dean would be a fantastic DNC chair. We have his columns in our paper and he is doing a GREAT job with that. He is very smart and has learned a lot since he started his campaign. I think he got some bad advice, as did they ALL !

[Vidar]

23. Dean and Clark are both fightere, which is what we need.

[Adelante]

24. Thank you all

for the kindness :hi:

[Crunchy Frog]

25. Thank you for starting this thread.

There is a small handful of very prolific, vocal, and hateful posters who sometimes make it seem as if they are representative of Dean supporters in general. Sometimes they are too successful in their efforts and I find myself wrongly associating Dean and all of his supporters with this small group.

It's nice to be reminded of the fact that they are not representative of what Dean stands for, or of most of his supporters.

I would like to see all of us do what we can to not feed into flamewars that others try to foment. This does not mean allowing any slanders and misrepresentations about particular Democrats to stand unchallenged, but it does mean not biting when flamebait is proffered by any of the small number who seem to make it their specialty.

I am hoping that Dean gets DNC Chair. Not so he will be "out of the way for Clark in '08" but because I think he is what the party needs right now, it is the position in which he could be most effective, and it's a job that he wants.

[cali]

27. You're all very welcome.

I started the thread, in part, because of the stupid negativity, but more importantly it reflects what I think about General Clark; he's a fine man and an excellent candidate.

[BootinUp]

26. Enjoyed reading your post cali.

Especially the last part. I have stayed out of the nasty threads of late, they are stressful and disturbing. But this thread is wonderful. Thanks to all who posted.

[Rowdyboy]

29. A refreshing and encouraging thread....A reaffirmation that the DU

I love is still here. Lately, we seem to be deluged with hatred for all things Democratic here. Several very negative and prolific posters have returned after a sustained absence and are slinging their shit again. They makes the whole board seem much more mean-spirited.

Wes Clark and Howard Dean are the two best things the Dems have going for them. Here's hoping 2008 nominee Clark selects his party's chairman Dean as his running mate.

[robbedvoter]

30. We could accomplish great things if we joined our forces for

our noncompetimg goals. I'd like this to work. Hopefully, the evolution of this thread will bear that.

[Leilani]

31. Thanks cali!

This is beautiful thread!

Clark & Dean....2 guys who speak the truth!

[cali]

32. kick because

I'm a sucker for the warm fuzzy feeling I get reading all this goodwill and commity.

[Adelante]

33. Me, too

:kick:

[flygal]

34. I think he'll be polished up and get his message out by then

and I for one can't wait!!!!!

[Rowdyboy]

35. Feel good kick

:kick:

[Stinky The Clown]

36. Cali, thanks for this thread!

I have read all the posts upthread from this and agree with virtually all of them. As an ardent Clark supporter, I know of the crap that's been flung and am happy to see it end. I really **do** like and respect and admire Howard Dean (A search of my posts by anyone is invited .... you will find not one negative word about the good doctor.)

I could personally support either Dean or Clark, although I must be honest and say, personally, I see more presidential potential in Clark than Dean. When Dean said he was interested in DNC chair, I was absolutely thrilled - for several reasons. First, he proved beyond any doubt that he was an organizer who inspires his followers. He proved he could generate money - and not just from the big corporate donors, but from little guys like you and me. Lastly, his personal message appeals far more broadly than most "pundits" want to admit. As a straight talker he appeals *at least* to the Reagan Democrats who now are somewhat reliable Republican voters, if not even more widely in what we've come to call the Red States. The "too liberal" and "too unstable" crap painted on him by the pundits was just that - crap. I actually liked "the scream" and would be thrilled if it could become a Democratic rallying cry. Very in-your-face. I also thought he was spot on with his "pick-ups and confederate flags" statement, too. So yeah, I like the doctor and support him as DNC chair .... not to get him out of the way of a possible (likely?) Clark run, but because I believe in Dr. Dean for the right reasons. I consider myself thought through on that score.

My reasons for supporting General Clark are as well reasoned. Each man has different strengths and different appeals, although there is a great deal of overlap. I see not need to go into why I support The General here. I prefer to keep this post focused with honest goodwill on Dr. Dean.

[bigwillq]

37. I do hope that Clark runs

I am still undecided on who I want to support for 2008. It seems so far off but I know we need to start now-the planning stages.

[OnionPatch]

38. I'm another one who loves both of them

In fact I was having a very hard time deciding which to vote for in the primaries. (Turns out I did not have to choose, they both dropped out before the California primaries.)

As for being suspicious of Clark's former support for Republicans, I'm just not....I don't know why I feel this way, but I just feel he's genuine. My gut-feelings haven't steered me wrong in too many cases. I hope he runs in 08'.

[RetroLounge]

39. Dean or Clark, either will be great.

but three years is a long way off.

RL

[Adelante]

40. Great sig

:)