Dean and Clark as John the Baptists?

[DeepModem Mom]

Thanks to gore-is-my-president, there is a thread in the forum about the Krugman op-ed abstracted below:

EDITORIAL DESK | January 16, 2004, Friday
Who Gets It?

By PAUL KRUGMAN (NYT) 752 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 21 , Column 1
ABSTRACT - Paul Krugman Op-Ed column says Wesley Clark and Howard Dean, whatever they may say in heat of nomination fight, are on same side of great Democratic divide between those who are willing to question not just policies but also honesty and motives of Bush administration, and those who are not; says what makes Dean, and now Clark, seem radical are not their policy positions but their willingness to take hard line against Bush administration; says Democratic candidate cannot expect many corporate contributions because Republicans control all three branches of government, and even corporate types with grave misgivings about Bush administration are afraid to give money to Democrats; says Democratic candidate will have chance of winning only if he has energized base that is willing to contribute money in many small donations, willing to contribute its own time, and willing to stand up for candidate in face of smear tactics and unfair news coverage (M)

http://query.nytimes.com/search/abstract?res=F20A16FA35540C758DDDA80894DC404482&n=Top%2fOpinion%2fEditorials%20and%20Op%2dEd%2fOp%2dEd%2fColumnists%2fPaul%20Krugman

I believe the explanation for both Dean's and Clark's difficulties on the campaign trail can be found to some degree in what Krugman has written. If neither of them succeed in winning the nomination, does it mean that they will have served as John the Baptists, delivering a message from their wilderness as outsiders, as inexperienced players on the national political stage? If they falter, can smoother-talking, more politically acceptable messengers stand on their shoulders and lead us to victory? Or would the message not be powerful enough, as Krugman fears, to rouse the people?

Just some thoughts, brought to mind by the Biblical reference in Cuban-liberal's thread about wishing for a Moses, and not a Messiah....

[NashVegas]

1. Found a Full, Free Copy

http://memes.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2394&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0