Which Dem running do you ADMIRE most?

[WillyBrandt]

Not who you want to most see President--though those will usually be the same. I mean, just ADMIRE as an individual human being, outisde of the race that is being run and the associated politics.

Here are the two I look up to:

(1) Wesley K. Clark - Even his detractors have to admit that this is one impressive motherfucker.

(2) Dennis Kucinich - What an unbelievably good human being. I wish he were Senate Majority leader or something. I don't agree with all of his politics, but in my mind only he (and to a lesser extent Clark) have spoken with real sincerity and insight on the state of the nation's soul. We need more like him.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Sorry Willy, this was too good to let it sit with zero posts

I clicked on it right after you posted and have been pondering the question.

I can't say at the moment. Each of them has accomplishments whether recent or remote that cause me some pause to consider them.

I did appreciate the question though.

I'll ponder it a bit more and if i remember to I will get back to the thread. :D

[StephNW4Clark]

2. Same as you.

Clark and Kucinich. Kucinich for being principled to a fault and always saying what he belives. Clark for showing not only courage under fire but bravery of compassion to advocate intervention in genocidal conflicts in Rwanda and Kosovo.

And Clark is the only Dem candidate to have actually worked in international alliances, ended the escalation of genocide, and successfully prosecuted a war criminal and putting him in the Hague. And um...being an intellectual rock star. (i'm a dork that likes reading philosophy and foreign policy journals).

[WillyBrandt]

3. n/t

n/t

[FrenchieCat]

4. Wes Clark....

Took 4 bullets for his country.

Came from a modest background and is a self made man

Rhode Scholar, M.A.in philosophy/economics & politics from Oxford

Speaks 4 languages & has written 2 books, and a multitute or articles

and has had a Brilliant military career

------------------------------

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/politics/campaigns/16CLAR.html?pagewanted=1

The campaign of Gen. Wesley K. Clark, who has based his Democratic presidential bid on his career in the United States Army, this week released 200 pages of internal military evaluations from his commanding officers, who repeatedly used only superlatives to describe his skills, energy and leadership abilities.

The comments of his commander when he oversaw a tank battalion in Germany in 1977 were typical: "The most brilliant and gifted officer I've known." The commander, Col. Charles G. Prather IV, added: "I have never been more impressed with an officer's talent and dedication." He added that he should rank with men like Douglas MacArthur.
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"Every once in a while, one is privileged to encounter an officer so uniquely gifted that the overworked superlatives commonly utilized on evaluation reports are inadequate to effectively describe his duty performance," the commander wrote in 1981. "LTC Clark is that officer. A brilliant, dynamic and exceptionally innovative commander, his battalion has been characterized by superb esprit, discipline and professionalism."
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One recurring trait that appears in the evaluations is that General Clark always spoke his mind. The evaluations are replete with mentions that he "was not a yes-man," and "says what he thinks."

General Clark has made such qualities a theme of his presidential campaign. In almost every speech, the general, who has sharply criticized President Bush's conduct of the Iraq war, urges audiences to "challenge authority" and asserts that dissent is "the highest form of patriotism."

Through most of his career, his willingness to question served him well.

"Completely candid," one evaluator wrote in 1977. "Exceptionally stable," he added. "Never careless or irrational in his judgment."

AND HE IS FINE LOOKING....and as a French Chick....NOW THAT, I MUCH ADMIRE!!!!

[dfong63]

6. Howard Dean!

In almost every speech, the general, who has sharply criticized President Bush's conduct of the Iraq war, urges audiences to "challenge authority" and asserts that dissent is "the highest form of patriotism."

fine words! but Howard Dean was out in front actually being a critic and a dissenter, doing what Clark now advocates, while Clark was gazing at his navel and trying to decide whether he was really a democrat. yeah, Clark had a fine career as a general, but personally i'd rather vote for man like Dean who worked in a hospital, than a man like Clark who bombed them.

[WillyBrandt]

9. Clark was gazing at his navel?

He was dissenting; but, you know, when you're not declared a candidate for President you don't get on the the front page. But that's neither here nor there.

Oh, yeah, thanks for mocking the achievement of ending a genocide. A goddamn GENOCIDE. A sneer about a genocide to get a cheap shot in. Horrible.

[TheDonkey]

5. Sharpton & Braun

2 African Americans knowing very well they are looooong shots but being very visible for all Americans to see what levels people of color can rise to.

Sharpton especially as I love his passion for the Democratic party even though it is obvious they don't see eye 2 eye all the time.

[lostnfound]

8. I appreciated them too, in the debates especially..

not only because Sharpton is so funny, but also because it's important that women and blacks (and black women) are up there debating for all the little kids in America to see that this is OUR America, not just a white man's world. And gee, they both seem much more qualified than Bush.

[Speck Tater]

7. As a die-hard Dean supporter I'd have to say...

... Kucinich and Sharpton.

[sandnsea]

10. Kucinich and Kerry

I love DK's story, he is such an inspiration. And he is absolutely rock solid in his views, honest and unwavering. I also admire JK for the person that he is, his depth and sensitivity, his wisdom and grasp of so many issues, his genuine love of life. We've got a great bunch of candidates though, there are things to admire about all of them. It's just DK and JK are complete human beings to me.

[grasswire]

11. Richard Gephardt, and here's why

The man has worked like a dog for the working man and woman. He hasn't enriched himself as some in D.C. do. He has just stood for labor and for family life for a long, long, long time. No, I haven't appreciated some of his votes and his actions on behalf of Bush, but I'm setting those aside to cheer his faithfulness to working people.

And incidentally, I support Clark.

[CRK7376]

12. Go Gen Clark!

Wes is my guy!
1. Smart - Rhodes Scholar
2. Military Leadership skills second to none!
3. Wounded Combat Vet unlike our current Pres who went AWOL.

[onebigbadwulf]

13. A combination...

I admire clark's life,

dean's record,

kucinich's bravery,

and edward's charisma.


If you put them together you'd have superman... and hey, that's what cabinets are for!

[GalleryGod]

14. Kerry and Clark- A Flatout Tie!

:yourock:

[dbt]

15. Howard Dean

To me, it seemed that he refused to don the infamous pink tutu, that he saw the trap of "I support the President (sic)" and chose not to fall into it.

To me, he seems like somebody who actually wants to govern, as opposed to getting elected. His acknowledgement and use of the Internet also shows me some smarts.

IMO, Dean is a real Democrat--as opposed to the RepubLites who have been sinking America deeper by the hour into the morass from which it will take generations to recover.

:hi:
dbt

[union_maid]

16. Great question

Makes one realize how much there is to admire about this field. More than in the usual run of primary candidates, I think. For me, I guess Clark is number one. Back in the 60s we wouldn't have been on the same page at all, but his accomplishments - both career and academic, combined with personal heroism really blow me away. He seems to be an exceptional human being and that is what we deserve in a president. To come away from all of that with such an apparent understanding of what life is like for the average person is truly inspiring.

Most of the candidates have really strong points, worthy of admiration, though, and that's very good news for us.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

17. 1 Dennis Kucinich....2 Carol Mosely Braun

[RebelOne]

18. Dennis Kucinich, of course.

In my opinion, he would be an ideal president. But second to him, I'll take Dean.

[DemExpat]

19. Clark and Kucinich for me too....

DemEx

[phillybri]

20. If I'm picking one, I'll take Braun....

She's an amazing lady...

[LWolf]

21. Dennis Kucinich:

Courage, Integrity, and Action. All for the average american working to get by.

I can find something to admire about all of them, but DK is top of the list.

Also: Carol Moseley Braun.

[Cheswick2.0]

22. Mosely-Braun is an easy choice

she is so smart, so right about just about everything, passionate and dedicated.

[JohnKleeb]

23. Kucinich

great story, great man, and brave and stands up for whats right.
Oh Kerry like his bravery in Nam yet he turned against the war, his all around liberalism as a senator.

[kayell]

24. Kucinich

It's nice to be able to support a candidate that actually lives up to his beliefs, that isn't a corporate tool, that is as ethical and honest as Dennis.

[spooky3]

25. I appreciate and admire them all.

[sweetheart]

26. who do i admire most?

You. You are the heart of democracy alive and you are beautiful. As for the candidates, as much as i want to say dennis kucinich, they are all men and women i admire.... every last one of them including Mr. Sharpton who i am sure would be a very honourable and excellent president.

We are a community of human beings who want the best for all the world and our children... and no person is not worthy... it is one planet after all... and disney was right about that small world.

[GOPBasher]

27. Yeah, those two, Braun and Dean for me.

Those are the ones I truly admire the most.

[juajen]

28. I'm in agreement, except

I would place Kucinich as No. l and Clark NO.2. We are lucky to have both of them in the Democratic Party.

[morgan2]

29. great question

I would have to say Kucinich first and Sharpton second. The obvious follow up to this, why do some people not support those they admire the most. Seems like most people Agreed with admiring Clark/Kucinich but in most of the polls here Dean gets the most votes.

[FrenchieCat]

30. Give it some time

Admiration is one thing, winning, however, is everything.

Dean's got DU for the time being (he should, he's been running long enough), but as the stock market continues to get stronger (couln't be because of all that defense and reconstruction spending, could it?), and the world security issues get worse, I think that minds may waiver......

Loyalty is one thing, but the bottomline, the goal, is afterall, ABB!