Just came back from Clark's U of Iowa Speech!!!

[blessedleader]

I see some of you were listening over the internet. . . I hope that he came off as warm, affable, and full of heart as he did in person. I felt a lot of hope while hearing him speak. . . seeing the crowd give a standing ovation to his pro-UN comments. . . and felt Proud to be an American for the first time in a very long time. The place was packed with people from all walks. . . I stood in line next to an elderly couple that are organic chestnut growers that had come out to see what Clark is all about. I hope they went home pleased. :-)

If he's President he'll be the first of his kind since Truman, Eisenhower & Kennedy. . . The President as Hero. . . someone, fifty years from now, we'll look back on and say with a lot of pride. . . That man was my President.

edit to add:

Oh! and I melted when he read Carl Sandburg. As an Illinois native that went to Carl Sandburg elementery, his writings will always get me.

edited furthermore:

And I'm sorry I felt like gushing. :-p I'm sorry I didn't feel this way after the three times I met Howard Dean. Clark brought up ideas and solutions to our problems. He said he knows he can get us on good terms with the international community, he knows diplomacy can help us get on better terms with our trade partners, to make America something to be looked up to instead of reviled. That we don't have to be a dying cesspool of hate and damaged relationships. . . all Howard Dean ever said was "Bush is terrible. . . we can do better than this. . ." Clark says, "We are better than this and we're going to be that country again." It's hope. It's having a vision. It's not about being angry democrats. It's about being a President that all people can look up to.

[whirlygigspin]

1. deprogramming available in the lobby

Enjoy the cool-aid.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. That's Cute

A guy or gal goes out of their way to get involved in politics and you piss all over him or her....

I hope you're proud of yourself....

[Trajan]

8. There is always a Wet Blanket in the crowd ...

Ready to put the fire out ....

How cynical ....

[DoveTurnedHawk]

11. Ignoring Now

WAY too much hostility directed at GENUINELY positive and sincere people here lately.

This is what happens when "newbies" are made to feel unwelcome by a small group of elitists. And it's not a pretty sight.

DTH

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

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[Brian Sweat]

36. I'm sorry someone supports a candidate you don't like.

Poor baby.

[whirlygigspin]

41. yeah, yeah, go tell it to the families

of the people who were burnt to death at Waco.

[Pepperbelly]

42. Holy shit!

We got us someone here who buys into the Chris Ruddy Koolaid. Tell me, Whirligig, did also off Vince Foster?

:eyes:

[Brian Sweat]

48. Yes, Clark had Foster killed because he was going to

expose the affair the he and Hilary were having.

[Brian Sweat]

47. Oh, yeah

I forgot, Clark was responsible for Koresh burning up all of those children because the FBI used equipment that belonged to the army division that Clark was in charge of at the time.

I haven't seen a stretch like that since I toured a taffy factory.

[BansheeBarbie]

49. Waco Was Bush Sr.'s Doing

The Feds, under Bush, could have picked up Koresh in the street away from the compound. He was NOT holed up there. Why did they set up all those people for misery and death?

And Oh Yeah! they did it just as Bush was leaving office so Clinton could have a bothced mess on his hands.

[DemInIowa]

55. Clark is the man!!

All due respect to Howard Dean, if he somehow wins the nomination, Bush wins in a landslide...Lets hope this is the beginning to the road to the white house for Clark!!

[disgruntella]

2. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Thanks for the report. And you if you haven't already, discover the "Ignore" feature on this board, it's very useful. ;)

[RichM]

3. Oh, come off it. How easily fooled are you? At least provide some

substance, not just uncritical ooohing and ah-ing. Sheesh.

[Trajan]

15. Mean ....

Mean mean mean mean mean .....

You have crossed the line from criticizing the Democratic candidate to insulting the Democratic candidate supporter ....

How nice .....

[jonnyblitz]

33. oh man!! that's all some clark supporters DO is call people names!!

How many times have I heard the term left wing extremist hurled at anybody who dares bring something up!?!?!

[Brian Sweat]

39. Who cares how many times you have heard it? It is true.

[Brian Sweat]

38. The supporter supports a candidate who is not ideologically pure.

Therefore the supporter is not ideologically pure. So it is ok to be mean to her, even if all she wanted to do was share her excitement about attending a political rally.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[neuvocat]

4. Be careful.

If you've seen the Clark threads here today you'd know it is insane.

[maha]

5. Congrats

If there are any news stories etc. in your local papers, please post links, OK?

[Sophree]

6. I'm glad you were moved.

Sounds like it was a powerful speech.

I don't believe we're not supposed to get excited when we hear our respective candidates speak. In fact I think that's hogwash, unless of course your candidate is Lieberman.

We all could use a little inspiration and feeling of pride in our country these days.

[tabasco]

9. Great report!

Too bad some of our fellow DU'ers don't respect your opinion.

[bicentennial_baby]

10. That's great!

I hope I can hear the speech online soon! Don't let any of these other posters rain on yer parade, I'm glad you reported back to us! :hi:

[Starpass]

12. I was wondering how he was going to be received and now

I know. Today MSNBC - of all people - said that when he was in Florida after his declaration speech in AK, that he was absolutely mobbed by people. I think the country is looking for a fresh face that is perceived as being not just another one of that group of politicians. He somehow gives the appearance that he's just stepped out of a shower while so many others look like they could use one.

[diplomats]

19. Love your last line, Starpass

[blessedleader]

20. yes!

he was mobbed afterwards tonight too. . . lots of pictures and signatures and hand shaking. (and a hot college coed in a Draft Clark T-shirt. ;-))

[sandnsea]

13. Thanks for the report

I'm waiting for the transcript because it sounds like it was a great speech. And as far as I'm concerned, the more people who say we're on the wrong track the better. If people will listen to Clark who wouldn't listen to the others, that's fine with me. Whatever it takes to get the country to recognize Bush is an idiot and has to GO!

[Sophree]

18. Totally.

"Whatever it takes to get the country to recognize Bush is an idiot and has to GO!"

[DoveTurnedHawk]

14. That Is Awesome!

I'm glad to hear it, good for you for your enthusiasm! Don't let the haters get you down, what they want MORE THAN ANYTHING is to dampen your excitement and rain on your parade!

DTH

[union_maid]

16. Thank you.

I decided to support Clark because that's pretty much the way I perceived him. It's great to get firsthand report of this speech. I hope there'll be a transcript somewhere. A lot of us would like to read it.

[kanrok]

17. Nice post

Glad to see you were moved. That is what grassroots politics should be about.

[tjdee]

21. That's what I get from Edwards.

You don't have to feel "sorry you didn't feel this way after the three times I met Dean". I'm sorry you even felt you had to post that, LOL.

Plus, as we all know, the DLC and Clinton's magical penis brainwashed you into feeling this way about Clark.
:P

[blessedleader]

23. although. . . I did have a magical encounter with Edwards at the Steak Fry

But . . . it's kind of personal. ;-)

[Ilsa]

22. Ditto what Dove said.

I think it's great that you're excited about a candidate, any Dem candidate. I wish more people would get excited and interested in politics. Don't let a few naysayers poop on your parade.

[blessedleader]

24. heh, it's really okay

I've been lurking / posting around here since the Iraq war broke out. . . I know how it is. ;-)

[Cheswick2.0]

25. Who? What rally? What's he running for?

Glad you found someone you like running for something or other. That's fabulous.

[blessedleader]

26. I love Moseley Braun!

I may very well vote for her in the Caucus. She's one of the chosen few I've sent donations to. :-) But I pull out the finicky Iowa Voter clause that states we must meet each candidate a minimum of five times to be sure which one we're going to vote for. ;-)

[DemExpat]

27. Thanks for the great personal report!

I hope his grassroots waves get bigger and bigger!
:kick:
DemEx

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. Thank You!

Great report! He sounds wonderful and if he's ever in my neck of the woods, I'll be there. I need to see/hear him in person...it gives a better feel for the person. I saw Dean at a rally and liked him SO much! I am looking forward to seeing what you saw in Clark. Thanks!

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

29. Congratulations...

...on finding a candidate you can put your whole heart behind. :bounce: That's what makes politics so interesting, and it's that feeling that gets people to fight HARD to get * out of the WH.

[janekat]

30. Thanks for the report

He gives a good down-to-earth speach - unlike most politicians.

[ima_sinnic]

32. yes, I liked that speech very much

I have to admit I was listening for PNAC in the undertone but I really did not hear it. He is very visionary and would make an excellent statesmen, work well with international leaders.

I will be waiting to hear his domestic policies. If he applies the same humility, generosity, and vision to those he is an excellent candidate.

I have been harsh a little earlier tonight and feel apologetic. I'm still for Dean because of the way he is making government a community endeavor but would (at this time) confidently vote for Clark and do hope he gets a cabinet position or VP if not prez.

[Donna Zen]

34. Oh yes Wes

We are so much better than this.

I thought about this speech all day and had no idea there was a webcast. I do hope it gets posted somewhere for while a transcript would be great, his ideas are complex with understanding often coming with close listening. Personally, I saw the world as moving in fits and starts toward bickering and then confrontation, but mostly in ways that seemed to be inescapable rather than tamable. Clark sets out the premise, under scores the goals and then connects the dots.

The idea of a web of a strong set of policies and alliances that could function, not at the will of the US, but because the US provided the leverage of moral leadership was like a lightening bolt reverberating with the sound of: a more peaceful world. As Clark would say: We need to resource it.

Did he talk about the Middle East? I've heard him lay out his plans before, but would love to hear them detailed and evolved.

Last night my daughter called to discuss a communications paper she was writing. She had chosen to compare and contrast the reporting of the ME as covered by Fox News and the NYT. Damn, I've listened to so much Clark, I felt like a frickin policy expert.

[oasis]

35. Good report. Thanks

[Bread and Circus]

37. I posted this elsewhere so it is a dupe....

but I think this is an important link.

http://video.c-span.org:8080/ramgen/kdrive/c04061703_newdemocrat.rm

Give 34 minutes of your time to view Clark's speech,
I think you can get the essence of his world-view and intellect.

This is a "must-see" both for promoters and detractors
of Clark.

This is not in the context of a campaign so I
think it is an unvarnished view.

Good luck.

[RedEarth]

40. Great Report.....

and thanks for taking the time to let us know some of what he said. I think it would be great to have a President the country and the rest of the world can look up to. It would certainly be a welcomed change from what we have now.

[Nashyra]

45. Thank you for the report on the speech

I have been waiting for info about the speech and I was glad to hear he was well recieved. Hey and it's great to excited about a candidate and post his or hers positive attributes instead of vashing someone elses candidate. Wish I could have been in Iowa.

[calimary]

44. Hey, I'm a Deanie, but I'm delighted for you!

How long has it been since any of us has been proud of our reps, and our potential leaders?

Clinton said - go fall in love again. I've done it with Howard Dean. Sounds like blessedleader has, with Clark.

So be it. I'm glad we even have standard-bearers and would-be standard-bearers who are evoking emotions like this. I think most of us here have been in dry, barren, hopeless, and desolate mode for long enough.

[kstewart33]

46. Great report and great news!

Sounds like he was a winner tonight. As for his so-called inconsistency about the Iraq war, check out Josh Marshall's take on his Talking Points Memo website. I've posted it elsewhere in General Discussion.

[Eloriel]

50. Your report would have been so much more powerful --

and believable, given the Clark invasion we've experienced at DUincluding this new "kinder, gentler" 2nd wave -- had you not included the gratuitious (and thoroughly WRONG) slam at Dean.

Tsk, tsk.

Welcome to DU.

Eloriel

[Name removed]

51. Deleted message

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[Julien Sorel]

52. Welcome to DU!

And a great post, I might add.

[MrPrax]

53. Oh! and I melted when he read Carl Sandburg.

As an Illinois native that went to Carl Sandburg elementery, his writings will always get me. !!!

haha...

Jeez like the Beatles first tour!!!

I'm sorry I didn't feel this way after the three times I met Howard Dean. Clark brought up ideas and solutions to our problems.

which ones? to the ideas and their solutions?

I hope the 'elderly' 'organic' chestnut growers vote appropriately !!!

maybe I am cynical but these seem like campaign demographics 'lock' terms

[Evanstondem]

54. Glad he inspired you

I'm a Dean supporter but I'm happy anytime somebody is fired up by a speech from a Dem!