Worried that the Democrats will behave like lemmings

[PlanetBev]

I'm hearing that more Democrats are endorsing or thinking of endorsing Dean. I hate to think that they're doing it because of the "inevitibility factor". That means that a lot of people are going to run with the crowd, ready to hurl themselves off a cliff because everybody else is doing it.

I think that Clark is just as capable of standing up to the GOP smear machine and can pull in some Republicans and a great deal of the military vote. Wish he hadn't entered the race as late as he did.

[w13rd0]

1. Do you not even consider the option that the endorsements are coming...

....because they support Dean? You say you are worried about Democrats behaving like lemmings, but then ask us to make a choice based on perceived electability factors not supported by the data. And yes, Clark may be just as capable of countering the GOP smear machine, and from some of the appearances I've seen, he does a good job. In regard to Republicans and the military vote, why do you think that?

[Padraig18]

5. I don't see lemmings at all.

What I see are Democrats who seriously believe that they see a winner, and want to do all they can to help that candidate secure the nomination and throw * and his evil cabal out of the People's house next November--- that's what *I* see. :)

[Maximus Darius]

2. "Worried that the Democrats will behave like lemmings"

[helleborient]

3. Unfortunately, Clark has shown no traction at the grassroots, while Dean

Is doing outstanding.

If Clark's campaign really was showing any serious signs of taking off...endorsements might be going his way.

Dean looks to a number of Democrats like he seriously can win the election...and many of them want to help a Democrat take the Presidency. That's what I see.

[damnraddem]

9. Dean has built a massive grass-roots campaign.

He has hundreds of thousands of Dems who will sign onto his campaign, and thousands who will work for it. Other Dems want in on that. What some may not realize is that they will THEMSELVES have to appeal to those of us who support Dean -- but if they can, they will have a big boost come the campaign.

Consider, thousands of us write our own letters and send them to Democrats in support of Dean. For that matter, a few months ago, thousands of us sent letters to Al Gore asking him to support Dean -- but then, who knows whether that had any effect on Gore's recent endorsement?

[helleborient]

4. Does Wesley Clark distrust fellow Democrats this much?

Is this why he only recently converted to being a Democrat?

[bowens43]

6. So you would prefer we be lemmings to the Clark camp?

Clark has no record as a Democrat, a liberal or a progressive. I really don't see why so many are flocking to embrace this product of thirty years of military indoctrination . Seems to me that if there are lemmings in this race, they're not following Dean.

[shance]

7. Clark and Dean are both great candidates. The fact that the Democrats

would support the candidate who has the majority of support from all Democrats would hmm....make the most sense, dont you think?

I appreciate the fact that you support Clark. I like him and think he is providing a wonderful voice, however, he is not surpassing Dean in the polls, so changing the question a bit, why would it be fair for the Democratic leaders to support a candidate who is not leading in the polls?

News came out this morning that Dean is now clearly the front-runner. Democratic leaders, mostly from the DLC, have been resisting Deans popularity and success from day one. Its seems to me they are actually becoming more courageous, not to mention doing their job*, by supporting the frontrunner which in now Governor Dean.

[RetroLounge]

8. Only lemmings if they don't support Clark

is that it?

and all those other endorsements? Lemmings.

and all those supporters of Dean? Lemmings.

and all those contributors to Dean? lemmings.

and all those VOTERS who will elect him? Lemmings.

It'll be fun to see you guys still calling everyone lemmings after President Dean is inaugerated and in the White House.

Damned lemmings...

[damnraddem]

10. Oh, that's OK --

Vice-President Clark will disavow them well before then.

[plm135]

11. forgive me...

as I actually dont have a "favorite" in this race, I am just waiting to see who wins and will support them against Bush.

But...it seems to me that we are spending a lot of time attacking each other for what purpose I do not understand. Seem to me that Dean is winning because more people say they like him right now.

If that continues through voting, no one knows...but seems to me (and I use that phrase a lot I know), that calling people lemmings because they have decided they like him too...is not exactly productive.

I guess I just dont understand, Republicans seem to get the big picture, thats its better to get part of the pie then none of the pie at all.

But we on the left dont seem to get that lesson, thus we keep voting for the Greens and assume that somehow, that will teach the Democrats a lesson, yet failing to understand the fundamental point that there are more people numbers-wise in the middle than there are on the left.

And thus we keep tearing each other down and making it that much easier for the Republicans once the main campaign hits off.

I dunno, but at this rate, seems to me whomever the final democratic candidate is will be awfully damaged goods before Bush even has a chance to get warmed up.

[helleborient]

12. Ultimately, I think it will give us a stronger candidate...

Who knows how to respond to attacks.

I wish whomever claims it leaves us with a horribly damaged candidate would give us the example of a thus damaged candidate in the past.

The last time mud was slung like this among Democrats Bill Clinton was elected President.

[mikehiggins]

13. Good golly, Miss_Bevey!

YOu should see that this post is little more than an amusing exercise in giving the anti-Clark folks an opportunity to recycle the same complaints we've been hearing about Clark since the beginning.

Nothing changes, so why bother?

There are less than 1000 hours left before the first votes are cast. WE aren't going to change any minds here on DU at this late date so why even try?

Let's go work on the campaign and see if we can do something constructive to get our candidate into the nomination. This kind of post just isn't making a difference.