Clark's bipartisanship will defeat Bush

[MIMStigator]

Bush talked non-stop about working with Democrats and Republicans in his campaign and so did Ah-nold.

Republicans are smart enough to know this HAD TO BE DONE for the moderate vote and that once Bush got in he would pander to his base.

The democratic-Dean left isn't as smart as the Republican base.

[xultar]

1. I agree with you except for the last line...

[poskonig]

2. The Bushlite surrender strategy worked well in 2002.

Oh wait, it didn't.

[Bertrand]

4. I disagree

"bush lite" didnt fail, capitulation failed. The rise of Dean, a centrist/moderate Dem, shows that people want someone to stand up and criticize Bush.

[Kahuna]

8. No it doesn't. It means that 13% of the people want someone to..

stand up and criticize bush. What do the other 87% want?

[Bertrand]

12. 13% want Dean

and all the other Dems are attacking Bush pretty hard too, which is a good thing. I think that Deans rise from obscurity to being a frontrunner was mostly because of his venom toward the Bush admin and other Dems who he deemed as insufficiently defending "Democratic values" or whatever. I also think that is partially the reason why Clark is a frontrunner too.

[Bertrand]

3. I agree that his bipartisan cred is a plus in the general

but im not sure if he will be able to reach it with all of the negative attacks on him. If anything, it's pretty clear that he is the marked man that nearly everyone wants to tear down

[Tinoire]

5. Could you please save your bi-partisan crap for a bi-partisan board?

And what the hell does this mean"

The democratic-Dean left isn't as smart as the Republican base?

Since Republicans are so smart, why are you wasting your time with Democrats?

Board rules prohibit me from going any further.

[MIMStigator]

6. Republicans are more savvy

They let Bush and Arnold talk about working with democrats but Deanies join MATT DRUDGE in tearing down Clark for getting himself some bipartisan cred with the moderates.

DEMOCRATS CAN'T WIN WITHOUT MODERATES or with somebody like Dean who can be painted as DIVISIVE.

Saying what DEMOCRATS have to do to win isn't anti-democrat so why should I take it to a bipartisan board.

[Kahuna]

7. I think it's an excellent strategy. He needs to use it against...

his opponents and distractors. He needs to shame them by saying, "If the president isn't successful, America isn't successful. For this reason, I have supported and hoped for the best for every president who has held the office."

[MIMStigator]

9. Praising Bush at times makes him sympatico with MOST VOTERS

Most voters praised Bush at one time and seeing someone they think is just like them but became disillusioned will validate their doubts.

I agree that saying "we all wanted him to succeed but he failed" is more effective than saying "I knew all along he would fail and he did"

[Kahuna]

13. Most Americans don't think in terms of republicans and ..

Democrats. They want a president who is the president for ALL the people.

[union_maid]

10. This seems to be as good a place as any...

for a link to an article about our first post-draft meet-up. The focus of the article is on one young Clark supporter, because he's the one that got us the press and who talked to the paper. He happens to have started out as a Republican. I don't think that it proves anything, but it does show that there are intelligent moderates out there looking for alternatives that they can support.

http://www.longislandpress.com/v01/i40031016/news_05.asp?10172003

[knight_of_the_star]

11. That is damn good

When did he say that exactly? He should seriously say that every time he gives a speech that bashes on Bush. Forget that, the party should use that for whoever gets the nom!

[Kahuna]

14. He didn't say it yet. I hope he will. I just sent an email to the

campaign site pretty much saying that he can quash the criticisms if he puts it the way I did.

[Deja Q]

15. Yeah, but this proves the voting public is even dumber

They've seen for decades how (a) Dems and Repukes don't work with each other at all. Add in (b) The politicians who claim they will DO NOT. Except Clinton, of course, and look how the repukes treated him in the end...

Arnold is just a dumbfuck with not a functional brain cell either. He is an actor who was in a bunch of movies people liked. THAT WAS WHY THEY ELECTED HIM. (and I'm trying not to go into the tangent where the public hated Clinton's sexual misdeeds but didn't seem to care about Arnold's infinitely worse dealings...)

[janekat]

16. Unfortunately, what wins in the primary doesn't win in the general

The candidates will go to the left and to the right in the primaries and pander to those groups becasue they know that will get them the nomination. The they will go to the center in the general. Our most winnable candidates often cannot win the primaries. This is how we got McGovern and Dukakis - both who were deemed too liberal and were slaughtered in the general.

If Dean gets in we will have a less severe replay of those years.

[JNelson6563]

18. But Dean is not too liberal

and this lie can easily be overcome. Like Dean says "If balancing budgets is liberal, well then I am a liberal."

Dean and Clark should join up. If for no other reason to put a stop to assinine bahavior from some in both camps (as in playing the reich-wing schill on a Democratic DB). ;-)

Julie

[janekat]

19. I know it and you know it but the gay union thing will bite him in the ass

n/t

[pruner]

17. someone on the dupe thread said that…

Clark oughta throw his "bi-partisanship" in Bush's face by saying something like "I'm an American first and a Democrat second".

to that sentiment I think he oughta add something along the lines of "Bush acts as though he's a Republican first, and the president second".