Smitten by Clark

[wadestock]

Did you see Clark last nite on TV at the VFW in New Hampshire?

I have been coming from the basic vantage point….”anyone by Bush”…..and have only recently been agonizing over the Democratic message and thoughts of who can really go toe to toe with Bush and beat him.

Perhaps the State of the Union was the backdrop to this revelation. I saw Bush as being especially crafty at deemphasizing whatever the Dems had to offer. I’d think of myself as the last person that might be influenced by the news, but I have been generally thinking in terms of all the big 3 issues and how the Dems would stack up against Bush:

1. War – Yes, better overall philosophy, but still generally resigning that we must be there. No real advantage to the Dems. Repukes still gain in many states overall based on a general “we had to kick ass” mentality.

2. Economy – People just don’t appreciate that tax breaks to the rich fuel some growth but incur an overall net loss. And then the bottom line becomes just how many people are specifically dissatisfied to the point that this will translate into a vote against Bush. Could be a wash.

3. Health care – The repukes have carefully conditioned people over the years to believe that they can’t get something for nothing, that the government doesn’t work, and that the best you can do is work hard and hope for less taxes. Shades of Clinton also bring to mind that it just won’t ever happen. No one except Kucinich has hit on the issue of profits and the inherent inability for private industry to give affordable health care to all. What’s needed is a Perot style charts and graphs explanation that would possibly make the required points but which would probably go over the heads of most people. Could ironically and unfortunately be a net loss.

So then comes Clark and I’m literally blown away last nite by his discussion on family values. I’m not sure exactly how the whole conversation evolved or out of what specific question. I hadn’t heard this before from him. It’s a killer argument and in my opinion is kryptonite to Superman in terms of defusing the bullshit Republican argument.

FAMILY VALUES – I am continually impressed by the ease of Clark’s delivery. He is especially believable. I’d say he’s exceptional on his feet but he doesn’t even appear to be adlibbing. He seems incredibly thoughtful and to the point. He basically tore the Republican argument concerning what they have to offer to shreads in a way I’ve never quite heard before. He began it very eloquently and without making one feel even the slight bit uneasy about how this equates very fundamentally to a more decent interpretation about religion. I almost fell off my chair when he said, “by the way you hear them talking, you’d get the impression they were connected to God”…..and then turned the whole thing around by saying that “it is the Democrats that are really the party that LIVEs their religion. We really want to help people”.

Just like that, WAMMO, no ill feelings about liberalism. Just the truth. In the most eloquent way I have ever heard….they are basically full of chit, and we’re not.

This was seamlessly threaded into a nice series of examinations of the Dems vs. Repukes in terms of how they fair for the family. “Well they say they are for family values” BUT……was the general theme. “Well when you look at what they’re really doing, how can you say that they are for family values?”

He has this really effective way of setting up the issue, bringing it to a compelling story that can be embellished, and then saying, “Now I’m going to tell you what we’re going to do about it…..”

I hope you got a chance to see this or get a chance to see something similar in the future. God I hope this guy has a chance. I’m smitten. I’m hooked. BTW….the discussion also contained what I have just heard for the first time in terms of exactly how Clark would raise taxes 5% to income over 1M to pay for health care, etc. To my knowledge this is the ONLY guy so far that has specifically said he will RAISE taxes on the upper tier, and interestingly enough, to an upper-upper tier which he specifically identified as the upper 1/10th of 1%. Incredible. This was also carefully articulated as “we will go as ASK these people to pay another 5%”. For even those avid Limbaugh injecting, die hard Reaganomics loving, work hard till you die on your gun and sixpack lovers…..I had to ask myself…..hearing this….. would they really think it is oh so bad for these wonderful capitalistic giants (who day by day think of only ways to make our lives more livable)…..would they be so hard pressed to give up just a tensy weansy 5% piece of their little fortune? Is this Clinton inspired?

I can see this guy in a podium across from Bush talking to the American people and seriously kicking Bush’s ass. I can imagine people listening to Bush and then to Clark and then getting a deep sense that Clark is for real and Bush is not for real.

I’m only sorry that this brilliant argument about family values which transcends all the “this issue vs. that issue” arguments hadn’t come to the forefront sooner.
I’m dreaming about 8 years of Clark turning this country completely around.

[joefree1]

1. I just wish he had more experience with us Non-Military folk

If not Dean right now I'm leaning more towards Kerry. Sorry sir, yes sir, fifty push-ups sir.

[Clark Can WIN]

7. The military is made up of people FYI

and those people have families. Clark has extensive domestic experience in education, continuing education, balancing budgets, health care, housing standards, civil rights, domestic violence programs and diversity programs and training.

[Jerseycoa]

16. blah blah blah and so forth

Let's have to say it again. :eyes: The first 150 times cannot have been enough.

[DrBB]

15. Like your "Scream" thing

Not to go off on a tangent, but that's a really good way to deal with the nonsense about "The Speech." I thought Clark did well with something similar--the bit about putting his "notorious" argyle sweater up on e-bay.

I think taking ON the slur, and being a bit self-mocking about it is the best way to defuse this stuff.

Is that yours, or is the campaign putting it out?

B.t.w, I think you're totally wrong about where Clark is coming from, but I respect your opinion.

[Maddy McCall]

2. Count me among the smitten, too :-)

He will make a wonderful president.

[Quixote1818]

3. I feel the same way

After I started following him I became so incredibly impressed I began working for him like ten hours a day. He is a rare find. I don't think a lot of people who are down on him have really taken the time to listen to him and his message and all his ideas. I have never been so impressed with a candidate in my life. He is a once in a life time opertunity! The RNC has a strong smeer campaign against Clark and it has hurt him. That stupid Drudge Report crap for instance. They are really out to get him hard.

[Wetzelbill]

4. Clark is a good man

[Clark Can WIN]

5. Welcome, and thank you

for a well thought out and extensive post on your reasons for choosing Clark. We are honored and happy to have you aboard with the finest candidate in the field of many great candidates.

[Loren645]

6. Yup, I love how he doesn't waffle like standard pols.

He answers questions succinctly, and his position is clear.
Even if the questioner doesn't like the the answer, it's clear.
I love it when he adds, "I know that's not the answer you were
hoping for." Doesn't pander. But his reasons for his policies
are clear and logical.

[copithorne]

11. Absolutely right

He takes it all back. He takes "family values" back. He takes "patriotism" back. He takes "responsibility" back. All of it. And did you notice, he doesn't just take it back for himself. He takes it back for "our party, the Democratic Party."

The key is that the guy has so much PERSONAL authority. He has so much dignity within himself that he will take these things back. Here I am a liberal Peacenik and when I listen to him, my posture gets a little better and I have a strange impulse to salute.

If you don't trust Wesley Clark, if you have your doubts. There is a remedy. Listen to the guy. If you have any ability to judge character, integrity, sincerity -- Wesley Clark shines with it.

[Valjean]

8. Almost sold on Clark

I'm almost sold on Clark because he seems to be a good center-left candidate that is strong on defense and very progressive.

My sole remaining question is his EXACT stance on what to do with the NAFTA and WTO debacle. Thus far, Kucinich is the only guy who has echoed my viewpoint, GET RID OF IT!!!!!

I don't want to hear some practical explanation about suddenly withdrawing from trade arrangements. We aren't benefiting from ANY of them. So we really won't get hit hard by losing exports. Food, software and arms are the products commodities that the US seems to export any more. And most countries can't do without food and arms. Beyond that, half of that software is now being written overseas so it is no longer a US product.

Michael Moore's endorsement of Clark is a very strong indication about Clark's trade policy. Moore has been VERY critical of US companies exporting jobs overseas. So I have a pretty good feeling about it.

But I WANT Clark and the other candidates to make it VERY clear. Six months ago this was a topic relegated to email lists. We were writing letters to congressman explaining how education won't save jobs in the US if all the "educated" white collar jobs are also shipped overseas. It's starting to sink in and the right wing media is finally starting to cover it.

I heard a democratic congressman on NPR last night rail against the subject and he made it VERY clear that Republican congressman were becoming displeased as well. I'm starting to believe all those letters I wrote are beginning to sink in.

So PLEASE CLARK. Tell the nation that you would CANCEL NAFTA and WTO and start over. Block trading is fine amongst countries with similar labor and environmental standards. It doesn't work with countries that treat their people like shit (Mexico, India, China).

So here is my battle cry.

MUERTA de NAFTA, MUERTA de NAFTA, MUERTA de NAFTA


And shame on you Mr. Rhode Scholar Clinton for getting duped into this bullshit. We folk who aren't quite as "brilliant" relied on you for leadership and you let us down.

[Jerseycoa]

19. I keep coming back to your post

And hoping somebody who can explain this more thoroughly than I can will come along. I don't have time right now and it's a complex issue, but I'll check later and give it a stab if nobody has addressed your concerns. Sorry to leave you wondering and thanks for asking. :)

[KittyWampus]

9. Clark's Strategy Is What I've Been Advocating For The Last 2 Years

Project Moderate Image but advance Liberal Agenda

Talk about Family Values and the Common Good and how the Right uses empty rhetoric and support policies that HURT families.

Talk about Patriotism in terms of caring about our Neighbors and fellow citizens... again, the Common Good.

Talk about Faith in non-dogmatic terms. Humanists or Naturalists are included.


Three notable public figures had also advised this method:

Rabbi Lerner, James Carville and Al Gore(to a lesser extent).

[andym]

14. Brilliant Strategy

Brilliant Strategy

Turn around the Conservative's slogans and use them to further
progressive goals.

Patriotism and Family Values are the key and Clark is doing this just right.

This approach might break the Republican coalition. If Clark doesn't use it then our candidate should still try this. I do think Clark is the best candidate for this strategy however.

[MIMStigator]

10. Good man, damn good politician already

nt

[estherc]

13. site with video links

This page has links to lots of interviews and TV appearances of Clarks. They should convince you. The man is what we've been looking for.

If you're still not convinced talk to your republican friends that are wavering on bush about him. See what they think. I think where Clark is going to make the difference is getting the disillusioned former bush supporters to the polls to vote for Wes.

[Jerseycoa]

12. You hit the nail on the head

Clark will not demand another 5% on their taxes of the wealthiest 1/10th of 1%. He will not beg and he will not ask. He will persuade. He will convince the rich that we are in a national emergency domestically as a result of the disparity of wealth that has resulted from Republican policies, and the country is headed for destruction. He will ask the rich not so much for their money, but for their help, and phrase it as a duty to their country. This is the kind of patriotism Wes is all about. It goes far beyond the symbolism of the flag and all that.

A couple of months ago, I watched a clip of him doing this in Florida, Palm Beach or West Palm Beach, not sure. It got no coverage that I ever saw, but he was explaining to a roomful of well-off people what they owe in exchange for being Americans and being so comfortable while others are suffering.

IT TOTALLY BLEW ME AWAY.

You could see on the faces of these people, he had gotten through to them. He will make them PROUD to give up 5% of their ill-gotten gains. Whenever tax cuts come along there is always a spate of well-off people saying they don't want them, would rather the money go into social programs; polls have shown this as well. We can't say every rich person is going to buy into it, but a whole lot will if they can be made to see what is happening. And Clark is the one who can show them.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

17. Woo-Hoo! Welcome!

If you have any spare time or money, please please please volunteer and/or donate at the www.clark04.com website!

:toast:

:bounce:

:yourock:

DTH

[Clark Can WIN]

20. There's also much letter writing and phone banking to do

lots of things you can do from your own home.

[Jack_Dawson]

18. GREAT email. Clark really does RULE

I agree with every last word.

:toast:

[copithorne]

21. Valjean

In the VFW thing he was asked about it and he did say something to the effect of 'we had gotten ahead of ourselves with NAFTA and WTO'

I got the impression that he is part of what has become the growing Democratic Party orthodoxy that broadly supports free trade but thinks we need to do a lot better in ensuring that free trade comes with comprehensive agreements to lift labor standards in other countries.

My own thinking on this has changed too. At the time of NAFTA, I was solidly free trade and supported Al Gore and Bill Clinton on this. Now I think we simply did not stand up enough to couple our free trade agreements with far reaching agreements to improve labor standards in our trading partners.

Both Kucinich and Gephardt deserve a lot of credit for standing up and being clear about what needs to change about the way we do trade agreements.

[TexasSissy]

22. I'm a Clark supporter but I missed the VFW speech.

Gosh. I support him totally, but your post was so eloquent and flattering, I believe I'm actually falling in love with the guy, now!

[democratreformed]

23. Welcome and thank you

I, for one, honestly believe that Wes Clark has something special to offer. I believe that so much that I have done things I have never done before and gone places that I have never gone before. Thank you for sharing your feelings with us.