Iowa and poll trends indicate Dems are leaning toward...

[Bread and Circus]

a candidate w/ military background.

And rightly so.

Kerry and Clark together polled 50% in NH latest
ARG poll.

We need military cred and foreign policy cred heading this
ticket if we want to win.

Way to go dems!

[LuminousX]

1. Thank god we have Kerry if this is true

[Bread and Circus]

2. Yeah, I like Clark but I think Kerry will be good too...

Either one in my opinion.

Or better yet, both!

I know many "libruls" here don't like Clark because of his
love of the military. But people better realize he is in
investment in the reputation of the party. We are not flag
burner hippies that hate America. It's time John Q Public
realized that. When we put folks like Kerry and Clark up there
to represent us, it underscores the point.

[elperromagico]

3. You're finally seeing the non-junkies getting involved,

and they are more pragmatic than most of us are. They're thinking, to a great extent, about who could best take on Bush.

[denverbill]

4. Yeah

Gore went to Nam, Bush flew in the guard stateside. Bush won.
Clinton went to college, Dole won a Medal of Honor. Clinton won.
Clinton went to college, Bush was a navy pilot in WWII. Clinton won.
Carter served 7 years in the Navy. Reagan made war movies. Reagan won.

Frankly, I don't think military service seems to be a big bonus.

[elperromagico]

5. Right, but the war record helps if you've got a good message.

Bush Sr. won an election before he lost to Clinton. So did Carter. And Gore... well, let's not discuss that unhappy time in our lives.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Answer: 9-11, Afghanistan, Iraq - thousands of Americans now dead

including many of our brave service men and women. any other questions?

[denverbill]

20. No questions. Just a statement.

If this election turns on 9-11, Afghanistan, and Iraq, Bush will win in a mountainous landslide.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

21. No. It may in fact undo him

In case you haven't noticed a lot of people question the handling of Iraq and the case for war.

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. If I have to vote for a 'military Democrat' in Illinois.

If by the time the Illinois primary rolls around, I am forced to choose between Kerry and Clark, I will choose Kerry, because I believe in voting for a Democrat with PROVEN Democratic ideas and credentials.

[GalleryGod]

8. In 2004 I want some "Fruit Salad" on my Nominees Chest!

Sorry-No Scot-Free Skiers Need Apply:nopity:

Your Man in the Faculty Lounge, Checkin' the Hubris Quotient in Burlington...

GG

[Capn Sunshine]

9. At Least Kerry joined the anti-war movement back then

Clark re-upped for a fine career, Vietnam seemed so much like such a good idea to him.

[returnable]

10. Speaking of the anti-war movement...

...Dean did a great job of protesting it from the slopes of Aspen :hi:

[CWebster]

14. It was a differnt time

and young Americans were inclined to NOT want to participate in an unjust war. So, it was Kerry and Clark who joined expressly to participate in the horror and bloodshed. Upon his return, Kerry protested the war, but as in all things, he admitted on "Hardball" that it was the "popular" sentiment of the day. Then there was the incident of him throwing someone else's medals over the wall.

That is anything to be proud of? All these armchair GIJoes with little perspective on the true brutality of war as some kind of badge of courage, imaging themselves strutting around on aircraft carriers, are dangerous jerks.

[returnable]

15. "All these armchair GIJoes"

Hey, I agree they're a dangerous lot.

Which is why I think Kerry and Clark, both real "GI Joes" and not the armchair variety, can be effective in attacking the chickenhawks in the administration.

But the point that I was commenting on was a Dean supporter suggesting Clark erred in not actively protesting the Vietnam war.

But Dean didn't, either. He just managed to get out of it. That's a big distinction.

I wish the debate could move past that era, frankly. But obviously it is not.

[mikehiggins]

13. A working class boy from Arkansas

saw the military as a way out and took it. His ambition was to survive and have structure in his life. He succeeded beyond his wildsest imaginings and now he's running for President.

Sounds like Horation Alger to me, dude.

[Jersey Devil]

11. Didn't help Poppy Bush and Dole, did it?

Clinton whipped their hides despite all the draft dodger allegations, Poppy Bush being an ace fighter pilot and Dole being a war hero. So much for needing a military hero as a candidate.

Don't get me wrong. I would support Clark or Kerry if nominated but I wouldn't choose a nominee based on a military background without considering the rest of the man/woman.

[WilliamPitt]

16. Didn't help Poppy?

CIA Director
RNC Chair
8 Years Vice President
4 Years President.

No. No help at all.

[Jersey Devil]

18. and you think his military experience got him there?

Sure, Reagan (no military) was elected with Bush because Bush was a fighter pilot. And Poppie beat Dukakis due to his military experience. It had nothing to do with Dukakis running a really crappy campaign and never responding to the dirt dumped on him (not to mention the cool hat in the tank) by the Republicans.

[bearfartinthewoods]

12. on what are you basing this? got links to surveys and polls

that show military experience is the reason for kerry's surge?

i ask because the polling survey's i saw put the emphasis on electability and the economy rather than security issues.

[WilliamPitt]

17. I think the military experience

plays into the electability factor.

[Jersey Devil]

19. It's called blowing smoke up yer @#%

There's no basis to it but it sure sounds good to Kerry/Clark supporters.