Clark: Bush's Worst Nightmare

[DoveTurnedHawk]

General Wesley Clark has finally announced his candidacy. Democratic rank-and-file know very little about Clark's positions, and today's press conference in Little Rock shed no new light on his policy stances. But most Democrats will, no doubt, quickly realize that he has one thing going for him that none of the other candidates have -- he's George Bush's worst nightmare.

I can almost hear the Dean supporters expressing Dean-like righteous anger. Their guy, they'll claim, is the most electable Democrat. I've been amused by this argument since they started making it (though it's no more of a stretch than the argument that Dean most embodies true Democratic principles). Let's face facts -- Bush will skewer a candidate who has built an entire campaign around opposition to war, or who has at least allowed himself to be portrayed as such.

Sadly, elections aren't about who has the better argument -- they're about images created by the campaigns in a dynamic process of emphasizing issues and personality traits. In this process, perceptions of the parties are important lenses through which the typical voter views the candidates. Democrats are generally seen as better at handling education, the environment and health care; Republicans are thought to be better on taxes, crime and upholding traditional values. Each party packs a punch that, if landed right, can deliver a knockout blow. For Democrats it's jobs, for Republicans it's national security.

In next year's election, crucial swing voters will make up their minds based on a combination of vague impressions they have of the candidates and their senses of the issue agendas developed by both parties. In the end, Bush will have Karl Rove and about $200 million to make sure that security is foremost in the minds of the voters. Rove's team will do its best to create the impression that the Democratic nominee is soft on security. You might call it a process of Dukakisification -- and there is no candidate riper for being Dukakisified than Howard Dean.

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http://www.tompaine.com/feature2.cfm/ID/8904

DTH

[CWebster]

1. A letter from a Southern DLC political hack to Tom Paine.

here are a few of his works in progress for the DLC--

Book manuscript on the Democratic Leadership Council and the Third Way.
Associate Editor. CQ's Guide to Political Campaigns . Ed. Paul Herrnson. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly.
. "The Permanent Campaign in the White House: Evidence from the Clinton Administration," under review at Perspectives on Politics.
. "The Permanent Campaign in Congress: Understanding Congressional Communication Tactics," under review at Political Communication.
"Developing 'Paid Media' Strategies: Media Consultants and Political Advertising." For Lights, Camera, Campaign!: Media, Politics, and Political Advertising, ed. David Schultz.
"Notes on a Theory of Political Consultant Activity," to be presented at the Symposium on Political Campaigns, Campaigns, and Consulting, Northeastern Political Science Association 2003 Annual Meeting, November 6-8, 2003, Philadelphia, PA.



http://www.fandm.edu/Departments/Government/medvic.html


Folks this is just more of the DLC tricks and deliberately orchestrated tactics to further their agenda. Don't fall for the astroturfing that generates a phony bandwagon-effect- don't be played by the latest trend. Watch Lieberman and Kerry fade as the establishment abandons them and presses Clark to block Dean.

Last night I caught Clark for a brief interview. He offered nothing but brief, uninformed answers and his presentation was flat. It is obvious that he is being handled and shares the same politically clueless position as Schwartzenegger.

[dfong63]

2. bingo

It is obvious that he is being handled and shares the same politically clueless position as Schwartzenegger.

Clark is the Schwarzenegger of the dem nomination contest. a handsome, narcissistic celebrity with no political experience, but wants to immediately enter at the top.

even worse, read the stuff that Mairead found, just when and why did clark become a democrat?

with links supporting the story that Clark helped raise funds for the repubs as recently as in 2001. now he wants the dem nomination. i think, the guy may have a little disconnect there. something about "loyalty"?

[DoveTurnedHawk]

3. LOL! You're Funny.

It's a great article, with incisive insights, regardless of your dislike of the messenger. I love how all of this Clark support is discomfiting you so, however.

And comments like this:

It is obvious that he is being handled and shares the same politically clueless position as Schwartzenegger.

serve only to discredit yourself, far better than any third party could do. So please keep it up.

Oh, and Clark's Hardball appearance has won rave reviews for his honesty and forthrightness with most rational people, even those who didn't really like Clark before.

DTH

[StopTheMorans]

4. you didn't refute any of the criticisms. You just posted

"love how all of this Clark support is discomfiting you so, however". PLEASE! You didn't address any of the concerns the poster raised, you merely dismissed them offhand after you did, indeed, post an article by an INSIDER, a DLC hack. If you want Clark to be "The man of the insiders", then fine, promote him that way. but don't try to have it both ways and have him be the man of the people too. Seems like you're a little threatened by the fact the Dean campaign has a huge presence in every major city, a great fund-raising apparatus, and a candidate who speaks to the anger in most Americans about how * has screwed us over the past 3 years. Oh yeah, and trying to pigeonhole him as the "antiwar candidate" is weak. His candidacy is about taking back america, replacing shrub, and putting us on a new track. Ever look at his renewable energy policies? What's Clark's health plan? How is he going to address our problems in education? Has he balanced any budgets besides his household one, where the most pressing choices are between getting a new blow-dryer or purchasing a full-length mirror (and yes, the last sentence was supposed to be A JOKE, just like I find people making fun of Dean's neck amusing, IT IS FUNNY:)? No, he hasn't, and until the man shows me some ideas, I will continue to view him as what he is: A man who has served America well in his capacity in the military. That doesn't qualify him for politics, and now it's up to him to prove why he should be considered.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

5. What "Concerns" Are You Talking About?

That the article is written by a DLCer? I already acknowledged that. It's a non-issue for me. Read the article, tell me how you disagree with its POINTS rather than its author.

That's the sum of the "concerns" that CWebster, a known Clark-hater, raised. Oh, that and the ridiculous Schwarzenegger comparison, which I love because it's so ludicrous that it serves only to discredit CWebster.

DTH

PS: I love Dean, he's my #2 choice, I just happen to think Clark is more electable due to his Southerner status and his military background and experience.

[StopTheMorans]

6. so DLC is a non issue for you?

are you a supporter of the DLC? DO you have no problem with Clark being their hand-picked man (not saying that's so)? If you do, that's a concern of mine, and of the first poster too. The DLC is a has-been and are taking the party in the wrong direction now (at least trying to) and I won't support a candidate who panders to them.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

8. Please Show Me How Clark Has "Pandered" To the DLC

I am pretty neutral on the DLC, personally. That said, Clark ran because he wanted to run, not because he's some secret puppet of the DLC. It just so happens that Clark has the broad appeal and obvious electability that the DLC feels comfortable lining up behind.

A candidate who can attract a broad cross-section of support is exactly the kind of candidate we want. Clark can interest leftists (Moore), the grassroots (the Draft campaign), the establishment (many, many congresspeople lining up to support him), the Clintons, the DLC, and tons of independents and moderates and even some Thugs.

And that is fantastic.

I welcome all people to support my candidate. I'm not such a purist that I'm going to turn away DLC support.

DTH

[jonnyblitz]

7. well, for education, I heard on Crossfire he supports school vouchers.

scary. :hi:

[DoveTurnedHawk]

9. Please Tell the Whole Story

He said that he would consider vouchers only in extreme circumstances. That's just a way of saying that nothing is impossible in this world. Generally speaking, he is opposed to vouchers.

DTH

[jonnyblitz]

11. thanks for the response. I appreciate not getting personally attacked

for have a legitimate concern. "I didn't know the whole story." Of course I take anything that comes out of Robert Novak's mouth with a grain of salt. :hi:

[Starpass]

10. I heard that Howard put in a call to the Bush White House

and asked if he could borrow that flight suit and a carrier. Well, we shall see where the Democratic Army lines up, won't we? Who knows who will lead, who will follow, who will get stars pinned on them and who will end up on latrine duty. But if we chose incorrectly in the primaries the whole Dem party could end up on permanent latrine duty.