Why General Clark can and will win

[ResistTheCoup]

After three years of anger, disgust and outrage I got tired of being bitter.

The first candidate who spoke to my outrage was Howard Dean. We went to a couple of his meet-ups earlier this year, hoping we had found the anti-Bush candidate who could take back the White House. While his angry rhetoric against Bush was an initial attraction, there was something missing.

Thank heaven for Wes Clark. I'd been watching the Draft Clark movement and watching the General whenever the opportunity arose and the more I saw the better I liked him. By the time he announced he was running I had seen every interview that was in the "Digital Clark" library; interviews on Fox and CNN, etc. and was extremely impressed by not only what he had to say but how he handled himself. Here was a man who represented my beliefs and was able to present them coherently and vigorously (not to mention he's telegenic as hell!) besides having an iron-clad resume.

For the first time in years I was excited about a candidate. Here was someone who was not going to be the 'lesser of two evils' but a candidate that I could be proud of and support wholeheartedly.

Besides his resume, background, experience and leadership abilities I think that Wes Clark, probably because of his mostly non-partisan background, will be better able to get things done and help to unite what is a bitterly divided electorate.

As an example. I'm a Captain for a major airline, and I work with a number of ex-military, fighter pilots, many who are repub types who were brainwashed with the frothing-at-the-mouth 'hate that draft-dodging Clinton' mentality. (Ironically, they become apoplectic when you mention that Dubya was AWOL) So it's always fun when they start to talk politics and realize that I'm a liberal and they launch into their "you don't understand because you weren't in the military" BS. "Oh, really?", I say. "I am a Vietnam Era Veteran who served back when you were in grade school", then I watch them start to backpedal.

Having the credentials (being ex-military) to back up your opinions carries a lot of weight with this crowd. And a lot of the moderate Republican types I work with are pissed as hell at Bush because of what's happened to the airline industry because of 911 and the aftermath. There are over 100,000 employees who've lost their jobs, over 2,000 pilots just at our airline alone! Believe me, these people, many who voted for Bush because they thought even he couldn't screw up the Clinton economy, are looking for an alternative to vote for. And many of them have said that they would be proud to support General Clark. I think the backing of moderates and independents will do a lot to start repairing the bitter partisanship that still exists. And I think that Wes Clark is the candidate who can do it.

I have repeatedly expressed being ABB and will not only vote for the Dem. who gets the nomination but will actively work to support them. Shame on those Dems and greens who say they will sit out the election if Clark gets the nomination (and shame on those who will sit out if any other Dem other than their candidate gets the nomination.) We will have no one to blame but ourselves. But if we elect a nominee who will be unable to garner the vote of those disillusioned with Bush then we also have no one to blame but ourselves.

And to all of my fellow DU'ers who are so repelled by the military and think that it is something 'evil' - your naivety is showing. When I joined the military I went in because I wanted to DEFEND my country not because I was 'pro-war'. No one is more anti-war than I am and I understand exactly what General Clark means when he says that war should only be the absolute, last resort.

In this day and age, those who have served are not only the best able to speak out against what is wrong with what this administration has done (they have squandered and mis-used our military and our servicemen and women and I am furious about that) but they are also the best able to call out against those who question the patriotism of others who have never served (read: 'Chickenhawks')and tell them that they are WRONG - this is America and we are ALL patriots! Patriotism does not belong to the right wing and those who have tried to hijack this country. Those are not 'patriots' but 'patrioteers': A person who acts like a patriot but does so for selfish reasons or just to impress people.

My brother-in-law is getting ready to ship out for a one-year tour of duty in Iraq and I am mad as hell. He was due to separate in a month but has instead been activated because of the 'stop-loss' order that the administration put out recently. I want a Democratic candidate who is best able to take back the White House and change our status with the rest of the world as 'good guys' that we should be and not the imperialists that we have become.

I believe the man best suited for that job is Wes Clark.

[jonnyblitz]

1. He needs to win the nomination first and I just don't see it yet.

It looks like Dean unless things change. If Clark wins I will scream his name from the rafters but he hasn't caught on yet with the masses as far as I can tell.

[ResistTheCoup]

5. I'm doing everything I can for him to win the nom

If you want to win the 'battle' (primary) and lost the 'war' (general election) just keep doing what you're doing.

[dfong63]

13. Clark has never won an electoral "battle" before.

he's completely untested. so why should i bet on him to win this one?

[jonnyblitz]

18. lend me your crystal ball that tells you this.

get out there are help your guy win!! I am not a DEM I don't vote in primarys. I am supporting who wins and it looks like Dean so far. If your guy wins I will gladly support him!

[RageAgainstTheirMachine]

2. AMEN

Thank you for that.

[shivaji]

3. ABC/Wash Post poll 12/21: 31% Dean,,,,,,,,,7% Clark

Dean juggernaut is rolling, Clark is fading, in national polls.

But worst Clark fiasco looms ahead, if he gets the dem nomination.

kkk Rove has video's of Clark praising Bush*co. Imagine a campaign commercial showing Clark talking Bush* praises, and nothing more added. If that won't deenergize and confuse our base, I dunno what will.

Dean has no such video's for Rove to use.

[ResistTheCoup]

8. Really? CBS Poll shows Dean down from 23% to 16%

with Clark at 10% with a 6% MOE.

http://pollingreport.com/wh04dem.htm

That same poll shows Bush beating Dean in a landslide (as do numerous others)

Why do you cling to the polls that show Dean winning but poo-poo the ones that show him losing dramatically in the general election?

'Dean juggernaut'? Down from 23% to 16%?

And how will a video of Clark praising Bush be used as ammo against Clark? This will only help him with moderates and people who might have voted for Bush but also changed their opinion.

What will Rove use against Dean? Start by checking out the "Angry Democrats" video and you'll get an idea of what they'll be using. http://www.georgewbush.com/AngryDemocrats/Default.aspx Is THAT going to attract moderate/disillusioned voters?

By the way, are you going to vote for Clark if he gets the nom? (And don't try evading the question by saying there is no way he will win) Will you support him or not?

[TexasPatriot]

20. well said RTC

i wish more supporters of other candidates had such positive and considered thoughts on their candidates. I see it from Kucinich supporters and I applaud them - I see it from Kerry supporters and I encourage them as well. Thanks.

[dkf]

25. CBS poll is not very relevant because other gained 6% to 16%.

You know who that is...Hillary!

If Hillary runs, it probably is all over for Dean and Clark and Gephardt and Kerry and Lieberman, etc.

Other than that, Dean is still tops.

[Gloria]

15. Clark's tapes can be turned against Bush more easily that the tape of

Dean "plugging a hole" in his foreign policy ...

So, you show how you support the commander in chief but then have the brains to explain how Bush has screwed up and why your opinion has changed. Then run some of the quotes from your House testimony about how you believed there was no reason for a war and how there was no plan ...Then you put a huge graphic across a photo of Clark about his integrity and experience.

[LiberalBushFan]

21. give us a Dean vs. Bush poll too please!

oh but THOSE polls are the biased ones.

[sallyseven]

4. Kerry is my guy at present

I also think Clark is a formidable candidate. I like what I see in him. If John doesn't make it Clark is who I Will support. I would rather keep Kerry as my senator so that stupid Romney won't appoint himself Senator. That is worse than death. Unfortunately Dean is going to start to slide as people get to know his record and his really nasty statements come out.

[adadem]

6. I could easily line up behind

the General if Kerry does not win the nomination. The only "problem" I have with Clark is that he has not been a declared Democrat for long but I can get over it if he can beat shrub.

[RaRa]

7. Well said, ResistTheCoup

Everyone's obviously entitled to support whichever candidate they want. But I find that spending more time on DU can cause you to lose perspective. I like every candidate (well, not every but just about). Dean got me excited too. But none makes me feel like I can really be proud of my candidate like Clark. But what I feel doesn't matter. It should be ALL about winning the whole enchilada. And while I really respect Dean supporters (I've given him money too), I think that those who feel will definitely win aren't really in tune with most voters. Maybe Dean can get some of those who haven't voted before. But he's simply not going to get MaryAnn Smith from BlahTown middle America's vote. She doesn't know much about what's going on in the world and thinks that change is scary and old chimp seems like a strong leader, even though she's traditionally been a democrat. I'm not saying the Dean can't beat *, but I'm extremely pessimistic. Even though I think Clark should do really really well on t.v. against him, the RNC is like the Third Riech and the DNC is Great Britain in say 1940. It's going to be a HUGE fight to get this shit out of the WH, and I just wish all dems could see that it's going to take a truly united front to do it.

[TrueAmerican]

9. Don't forget to vote in the new DU poll.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=24760

[Myra]

17. He's the best candidate.

He and Kucinich are the best people in the race.

[edzontar]

10. He shall lose, and he shall be Dean's VP...

After defeating Bush in the general election.

It is all over, people....

[ResistTheCoup]

11. Keep telling yourself that

And by the way, the 'Clark as Dean's VP security blanket' that you are hugging has come unravelled.

:eyes:


Get yourself a candidate who doesn't need someone else to plug a "hole" in his resume. Much as you'd like to, you can't have ours.

:P

[edzontar]

14. You cannot resist...and you cannot see a joke....

If it is standing right in in front of you!!!

Lighten up--I have nothing, really, against your man....

I hope mine beats him, though.

Happy Xmas, WAR IS OVER, and Go Dean!

[ResistTheCoup]

40. Gee, I guess I missed the smiley face

What was the joke part?

Glad to hear you have nothing against Clark - but you still can't have him as a security blanket. ;)

So you're ABB even if Clark gets the nom then?

"WAR IS OVER"- I wish. 5 soldiers killed today and more injured. Don't want my brother-in-law to be in any of those statistics.

Peace.

[Myra]

41. I still can't believe Dean said he'd plug his resume hole with a VP

On the ticket. Geez, such a rookie thing to say.
He really needs to learn not to think outloud.

[JVS]

23. Kucinich would make a better VP

[jumptheshadow]

43. Oh, yes, the old "cancel the primaries" theme

There's nothing like winning friends and voters for Howard Dean by telling people to just shut up and smile while they are disenfranchised.

[moz4prez]

44. edzontar is clearly "joshing"

as they used to say in more temperate times

[jumptheshadow]

48. Thanks for pointing that out

I went back and reread the post and now I don't understand it at all. :)

[pa28]

12. I support him for many of the same reasons

The party needs to speak to people in the center if we are ever win another election. "Swing voters" making 50,000 a year have somehow come under the impression that Republicans represent their values better than we do. It's sad that we've let things slip that far but now we need somebody who can stop the bleeding and then begin the process of rebuilding the party.

[Egnever]

16. While I apreciate the work you went through to post this

I dont think theres one reason in it why clark can or will win.

First theres absolutely no evidence that clark will bring in more voters from any group than Dean. None. The only thing clark has going for him are his numbers vs bush nationaly and those arent even anything to be thrilled about.

You seem to like him very much and I fully respect that. However you liking him will not get him elected nor does it mean he can/will beat bush.

P{olicy papers are great but can be writen by anyone to say anything and do not impress me one bit. Its watching a candidate speek that makes or breaks them for me. Its the Q&A sessions in the town halls that are telling to me . Can the candidate speek on his subject without reading from a paper? Can he explain it without sending people to his website. Does he apear to believe in what he is saying and can he explain why he fewels the way he does?

Everything I have seen from clark seems to point to the answer to those questions being no. He apears to be a fabricated candidate. After months of playing coy about what party he belongs to/ best represents him, he finnaly declares dem. This doesn not inspire coinfidence in that choice in me. When he first hit the trail his conviction in anything was seriuously lacking. He has since seemed to firm up his stances but I see it as having learned his lines to tell you the truth. There is no Question whatsoever that the dem partyu leadership walked in and took over the draft movement as soon as Clark declared the draft people were prety much dismissed and the clinton power brokers took over. Since that time he has been polished to present what the handlers belioeve is a winning message.

Sory I just dont see the conviction to the Ideals from Clark. I see a construct put together for our consumption, He is the third wave of the anti Dean establishment dem leadership. First it was lieberblog then it was kerry when that clearly wasnt going to work they threw in with clark.

Maybe maybe if he had some wort of past record that could be verified that suports what he claims to be now it would work but the fact is he doesnt. He can say he is anything he wants to and theres no way we can
say its true one way or another.

For me he is old school beltway politics conitnued. Put on a good face and hope the public swallows it then continue to ignore them after you are in office.

No I want em out I am sick of the politics of apeasement I want someone willing to stand up for what he believes in. I dont see that in Clark. I see another lets wait and see how it looks before we decide what we will say kind of dem and that is a losing type of dem.

Bottom line though is that despite continued claims from the clark camp that the reason he should be nominated is because he can win. I have seen absolutely nothing to suggest this is true in fact just the oposite that in every group Dean is getting more support than Clark be it republicans or democrats or independants or greens or women or men or dogs...

Clarks a General! thats awsome and a smile comes to my face when I think of bush trying to talk smack to a general on foriegn war policy but thats where it ends the rest is just stuff made up by the advisors to make him look democratic.

By all means suport him if he speeks to your heart. I would never ask you to do any different but I think theres a bunch of information out there pointing to the fact that the majority dont agree.

[LouisFC]

50. my thoughts

You make a fair number of assertions in your post on which I would like to offer my thoughts.

1. Clark won't bring in voters. I think the simple fact that he beats Dean against Bush in almost every poll indicates he brings more voters than does Dean.

2. I agree with you about policy papers.
a)I largely vote on character as it is impossible to know what will happen after the election. What he did in Kosovo makes me believe he will be a President more concerned with doing his job than keeping his job.
b) I am not sure why you think he doesn't understand or feel conviction about the policies he has issued. Have you seen the town hall from last weekend (www.us4clark.com, if you haven't). I have seen almost every appearance of his and was again blown away by the depth and breadth of knowledge on everything from the cost of prescription drugs to the underpinnings of the war in Chechnya.

3. I am not a Dem. and I have to tell you that the constant "is he Democrat enough" stuff is pretty alienating.

4. The draft. I was part of the draft movement and while I have seen story after story about this, it usually involves the same 2-3 people. I have never felt slighted or left out of the process.

5. The politics of appeasement. I am tired of this as well, but we shall have to agree to disagree as I believe Clark has a history of standing up for what he believes in (see Samantha Powers book).

6. I don't ever say that the reason Clark should be nominated is because he can beat Bush. I say he should be nominated because he can bring Michael Moore (left), Col. David Hackworth (right), and me (center)all to the same candidate. Further, he inspires me on an emotional level and allows me to understand the reverance with which my mother spoke of John Kennedy.

However, the single most important reason that I believe he should be nominated is that he brings a unique set of skills to the table that will allow him to be an extraordinary American President.

[gulliver]

19. Well put.

The "Dean surge" is all name recognition, IMO. Also, the non-Dean votes are split over the remaining eight candidates.

I agree with you that Clark is solidly positioned to speak out for peace and against the wrong use of military force as exemplified by the Bushies. That point can't be repeated enough. You make it eloquently.

[ResistTheCoup]

37. Thanks for that.

I think it will be a much more realistic race when it is down to 2 or 3 candidates and even when we get to a lower number of undecideds.

Thanks again.


:)

[webkev]

22. don't worry..

there are more than enough independents and reformed Republicans to win wes the nomination..
look at the poll we won on DU too! most of the politically active acknowledge the correct path to take for America

[joanski01]

24. I totally agree with you.

I started out supporting John Kerry. I felt, and still feel, as you do, that something is missing with Dean. When I saw that Clark was considering running, that was it. He's the one. As crazy as I was about Al Gore (I have my Al Gore in 2004 sweatshirt on as I write), I like Wes Clark way better. There is no need to "remake" him. Give him different colored clothes, etc. West has all the confidence he needs.

PS I have donated money to Kerry, Dean, Kucinich, and Clark.

[MoonRiver]

26. Thanks for this insightful post.

People need to realize that many military career folks and veterans are very clear about the abuses * is committing against our country. In fact, they probably know a heck of a lot more than the rest of US. Certainly those in Iraq are experiencing first hand what it means to be cannon fodder in the neo-con Army of God.

Clark is definitely the best candidate to bring unite the many factions outside the Dem party who are clearly alarmed about * but reticent about going for a traditional Democrat. But because Clark is very liberal in his policy stances, Dem grassroots voters can support him with nary a qualm.

[bowens43]

27. It amazes me that Clark is able to get the support

of so many. A few short months ago he was praising this administration and it's actions. He was actively working to ensure the election of more republicans. Clark is an opportunist who will do or say anything that will further the interests of Clark. If Gore had won the election, Clark would be a republican candidate and the same people now supporting him would be trashing him. 30 years in the military is a huge negative, not a positive. If this election ends up being about patriotism then the country is already lost and we will get the despot we deserve , be it bush or clark. Two ends of the same worm.

[RaRa]

28. Don't be so amazed.

While many like Clark (as do I), it's also a big ABB issue. I'd vote for Jesse Helms before voting for Bush*. ANYbody but Bush. Clark looks like the strongest candidate to get the votes to beat him. THAT is the most important issue today. Right?

[mikehiggins]

32. Wow! this is what we've been missing lately

mindless spewing of bile and half-truths. So many of Clark's opponents have been using reason and logic to back up their arguments that stuff like your post is a refreshing break.

OF course, there is really nothing to say in reply except you are almost ludicrously wrong on everything you have posted here.

Go read a book or something and get a clue how life is really lived out here in the real world.

[bowens43]

47. I guess you aren't familiar with Clarks past.

I suggest YOU do a little reading and not just at Clarkisgod.com.

[PatrioticOhioLiberal]

54. Another vague assertion

with no verifiable ground.

How is this helpful?

Insert any candidates name with a line like this...says nothing, implies much...holds no water.

[Donna Zen]

33. I've noticed you have no source

unless you are citing what is posted and reposted in these threads as something resembling a distant cousin to a fact.

Clark gave one speech--as a favor to some friends--he offered to do the same for the Democrats to keep things equal. Please read the speech, it advocates for the exact opposite action that would be taken by bush. An example would be that Clark calls for a renewal of efforts to improve and strengthen our alliances with Europe and NATO. Clark stumped for only Democrats; he gave money to only Democrats.

If Clark had wanted to be a republican he could have done just that and I believe the republican party would not be treating him with the scorn and ridicule posted on this board. In fact, they would have made his life very easy.

The problem was Clark disagrees with the republican ideology...he agrees with Democrats, even those who treat him like so much shit. The posters who call for end of the MIC, he agrees with them. They of course are so consumed with maintaining a stance of the I'm-more-pure-than-you-are, that they are missing the entire thing. The joke, if you will, is on them. As liberals, they chose to act in the same way one would expect Ann Coulter to act. A joke.

The treatment afforded a decent human being by my party is an disgrace and goes a long way in explaining how we became a minority party.

[ResistTheCoup]

38. "Two ends of the same worm"???

So I take it you're not ABB??



:eyes:

[bowens43]

46. Nope. I used to be until Clark got into the race.

[PatrioticOhioLiberal]

52. Just once

I would like to see someone be able to back up this opportunist smear with examples...not what they think the motive might have been, but actual examples of opportunism.

I also find it amazing that somehow 33 years of being willing to put one's life on the line for our country is considered a negative.

Are we going to inform the soldiers returning from Iraq their service reflects negatively on their character like we did during Vietnam?

"If this election ends up being about patriotism then the country is already lost.."

Say what?

We loose our country because we're patriotic? Where is the logic in this?

[bigwoody]

29. Gen. Clark is a gift to those of us who REALLY want to oust the Evil

Chimp. How clear is it that we need a candidate that can compete in the South and with the military and their families in these times of 24/7 terror-mongering by bush and the press? If Osama is caught/killed before the election, Dean is dead meat. Right or wrong, these are the simple-minded times that we live in. Osama DID cause 9/11, and his demise WILL sink any staunch anti-war candidate. We need to be more like the repugs; disagree on who your 1st choice might be, but NEVER lose sight of who we are trying to get rid of. Unless large #'s of new voters enter the game, chimp and groups that support him will spend $300 million+ to convince the 20% or so undecides that he is making progress in the war on terra. Don't think for a minute that Clark is not the guy Rove fears the most, as national security will be the #1 issue for them. All of his domestic crap can be debunked for the mis-named pieces of shit that they are. WAKE UP PEOPLE!:dem:

[MoonRiver]

30. Absolutely! Clark is the one to beat *. He can put our country back

together, and heal the wounds we have suffered nationally and internationally under the illegal and disastrous reign of *.

[jumptheshadow]

45. Electoral changes

While strategizing for this campaign, we must be aware of electoral changes. The states Gore lost gained more votes after the census. That means we have to be very sure that we can 1) Be victorious in at least two or three states we did not win in the last GE, and, 2) Make George Bush spend money and work hard to defend his base states.

Clark holds the best cards in this race because:

* He's from the South.

* He's got the credentials to go toe-to-toe with Bush on national security issues.

* He'll appeal to male voters who have been shying away from the Democratic party. But he'll win over women, too, because he knows when to use the "soft" touch.

* We will be unusually focused on international politics during the next GE. When Clark talks about global politics he inspires a sense of confidence in people. He gives well thought out, nuanced answers to questions about international alliances and events.

* When contrasted directly with Bush, Clark wins hands down. He's calm, experienced, articulate, knowledgable, obviously has a work ethic, and possesses an old-fashioned sense of character that is truly American and not some grand mirage fabricated for the fundies. His personality will sell well in the Midwest, the West and the South. (He has already won over many of the Eastern eggheads.)

*Clark will win the television battle. Don't underestimate the power of this. In fact, get out the popcorn when Clark secures the nomination. I suspect we will see a masterful smackdown of Bush & Co., incorporating blunt frontal assaults, nuanced barbs and a sense of humor.

Last, but not least, Clark will be a great president. As time goes by, I think this will sink in with many voters.

[vdeputy]

31. I believe in Clark for many reasons

but an example of his being more electable happened to me this week. My banker, who has been very active in both local and state Republican politics" saw my Clark button and said, "you know, if you party is smart enough to nominate Clark, you'll probably beat Bush but I don't think they are that smart". I told him I hoped they were and he said, "if they do, the Republicans won't be able to lay a glove on him because he brings too much to the table". We are very good friends and long-time political sparring partners and we are honest with one another so I know he wasn't blowing smoke up my a--.

I'm not sure this guy would vote for Clark because its probably programmed into his DNA to pull the "R" but he was definitely approving of Clark (I think he is displeased with Bush because of deficit spending). I know that he flatly would not vote for Dean. To have a red-hot Repub like this one even lean toward Clark shows me that he could bring people into the party that would support no other Democrat. And, almost as important, bring the country together if he becomes president. Whereas, it seems to me with Dean, it would only be ugly partisanship as usual.

[LouisFC]

51. My Banker Boss...

My banker boss said to me the other day -- "Perhaps it is time for a General".

I nearly fell over...

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[incapsulated]

34. He is our best chance

But, it's going to be tough going even with Clark. I honestly don't believe we have much of a chance with anyone else though, that's my opinion, I don't claim to have a magic ball.

Best of luck to your brother-in-law, I'm sorry you have family going over there. :(

[ResistTheCoup]

39. Thanks for the best of luck

We're going to visit him and his family this next week before he takes off. (They live on the opposite coast from us unfortunately!)

And speaking of him (brother-in-law), he's been pretty apolitical most of his life and probably leaned towards being repub with a little 'r'. We've been sending him so much stuff about Bush and what he's done to the military over the last few months and he's really had his eyes opened. He and his wife are both going to vote for Clark!

Thanks again for the nice words. Really appreciate the thought!

[gulliver]

35. Clark was the leader of large, respected organizations.

Namely, Clark was a top leader in the U.S. armed forces and of NATO forces in Europe. That compares very favorably with all of the other candidates.

Remember, we are going "toe-to-toe" with a twit who was Governor of Texas. I don't want the comparison made between Texas and Vermont. I want the comparison between Texas and the U.S. armed forces or NATO.

Another Bush advantage destroyed courtesy of Clark.

[MoonRiver]

36. We also want a comparison between AWOL and General,

Supreme Commander of NATO Forces; NOT, AWOL and draft dodger (btw, I would have done a Dean had I been a man during the Viet Nam war, but that's neither here or there at this moment in time).

The most important thing is to get the villains out of our White House utilizing the most politically viable and socially liberal candidate we have. That's General Clark, no doubt about it.

[Dianne Maire]

42. Clark can win but...

Much more work is needed to get his message and his profile out there.
There are still many voters out there who are undecided or have little interest in the upcoming elections.

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/102800-03.htm

Where are the young people in this campaign? Are they being reached out to?
In France they are the ones that turned the election around.
In the last election there was much apathy and presumtion in the Socialist party and they didn't turn out resulting in Jean-Marie LePin a severe right-wing nationalist almost becoming President. The young people hit the streets in protest and cast their votes. The other party candidates also got behind Jacques Chirac in order to stop a catastrophe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/26/politics/campaigns/26REPU.html?pagewanted=2&th

The Bush team fully expects Dean to be the Democratic Party nominee. They are prepared for him. He won't win in spite of all of today's hoopla. The Bush machine is too big. The Democratic Party is split.

I have little trust in Dean. He's a politician who wants to be President for all the wrong reasons. In many ways he reminds me of Bush.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/27/politics/27RECO.html?th

Clark, I believe, is truly interested in America. He's not a politician and wouldn't even be in the race accept for his interest in the country. It's a battleground for him and he is doing a great job but I'm not sure it will be enough. I do believe he is the candidate that Bush and Dean are keeping an eye on more than any other. There are reasons for this. If he can get the nomination I believe he can win.

[TeacherCreature]

49. I am glad you have a candidate you like, however

neither the military or republicans come into play in my mind when I choose who my candidate is. All these military types who have voted republican all their life for all the wrong reasons as far as I am concerned are not my borometer.
I respect you and your opinion and your dedication. I too will not just vote for, but will actively work for whoever gets the nomination. What I would like to see is a stop to the ABD movement (truly an unholy alliance. I say nasty things about their candidates just to tick them off.) on this board so that we can all work together to get rid of bush.

[many a good man]

53. On paper, Clark is a better bet to win than Dean

But American voters are really hard to figure out. The best campaign on paper doesn't necessarily mean it will win. I think Clark would win most easily, whereas it will be a hard battle with any other candidate. But we are ready for good battle!

Clark is absolutely brilliant in foreign policy, imho. Unfortunately I find him less than inspiring on domestic policy. His stated policy positions aren't too bad, but I get the impression he views domestic policy too abstractly. I don't see that he has a strong enough grip on the nitty gritty problems facing Americans that someone who came up through system (local, state government) might have.

For that reason I'm leaning toward HD. I've watched a lot of his town hall meetings and other appearances and he blows me away with how "in-touch" he is with the full range of problems we face, from small to big. And he has ideas on how to work on all of them. Dean knows how to govern. He's pragmatic and knows what it takes to get results. Domestically, I see Clark steering us back in the right direction, but not really able to start solving our problems.

I view Dean the same way on foreign policy. He has good instincts and will put us back on the right path internationally. But he'll need really good advisors if he hopes to be successful.

My dream would be a combination of the two candidates. I would consider Kerry a satisfactory hybrid of the two, but he has shown he can't run a campaign to save his life. OTOH, I'm still of the impression that this race is still wide open. Three months from now it may still be close and this thing might go to the convention. We all have to band together no matter who wins and defeat Bush* as soundly as possible.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

56. Unfortunately, the best man usually doesn't win. It's all "personality"

"Murikans" don't really care about the issues, God forbid the person should be very intelligent, and resume' also doesn't matter. If you have been "blessed" as the Media's candidate they also don't look at your record.

Prerequisties: they have to be a "tough guy and have a swagger."

[LouisFC]

57. Clark's Domestic Policy

"He views domestic policy too abstractly"

Have you seen the town hall (pancake breakfast)from last weekend? He discusses a wide range of issues in quite a bit of detail. You may view it at www.us4clark.com

Also, please take a moment to review his Turnaround Plan for America. These are incredibly specific. You may view this here http://www.clark04.com/issues/. Make sure to click on the interactive map and view how his plan would affect your state.

Hope these links prove helpful. Have a great day!

[HFishbine]

55. Can Clark beat Bush?

Sure. Are there other nominees who can beat Bush AND who would be better presidents? Sure.