Clark using the Rope a Dope strategy?

[windansea]

Muhammad Ali did in his 1974 "Rumble in the Jungle" bout with the much feared, pre-burger-grilling George Foreman. Seemingly overpowered, Ali bought time by relying on a surprising new strategy, the now legendary "rope-a-dope" technique. Leaning against the ropes and covering up for much of the fight, Ali patiently waited while Foreman ineffectually hammered away at him. In the eighth round, sensing that Foreman was exhausted, Ali came off the ropes and unleashed a potent combination that quickly dropped his opponent, ending the contest.

Politics is like boxing...he who is left standing wins.

The next debate will be verrrrrrrrrry interesting.

[Larkspur]

1. And Dean's fundraising jabs are energizing, not exhausting to his campaign

but it sure deflates the others.

[windansea]

3. we haven't even started round one yet

:kick:

[bowens43]

2. Wow this post is just begging

for smart ass answers, but I'll refrain.

[windansea]

5. as long as they are funny

smart ass answers...do tell :)

[Demobrat]

4. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Let him pull together a nice big lead early and then step in and stop him later. Worked for Kerry.

[windansea]

6. i'm talking more about

how Clark isn't slinging mud like all the others...he's got some good handlers and they are keeping him above the fray

Clark is quietly working the south...and making headway in the polls

[Loren645]

27. I truly appreciate Clark's class

As a candidate.
And his emphasis on the South, on voting rights.
I like a lot of his policies.

[windansea]

28. me too

:)

[ryharrin]

7. This doesn't make any sense.

Clark isn't the one getting hammered in the press and here daily. That's Dean.

[windansea]

9. you're right

but Clark is kinda hangin on the ropes...and letting the others play the attack game...I think he's waiting till Feb to emerge as the un Dean....and then the 2 will duke it out.

[Dookus]

18. to be fair...

if you don't think Clark gets hammered here daily, you're just not looking for it. It happens with great regularity.

[mikehiggins]

22. To be fair

DU doesn't even appear as a blip on the radar.

Getting blasted here is like getting blasted in the South Overshoe Times & Picayne monthly.

Its a tiny minority that belong, a tinier minority that post and an even tinier minority that produce the majority of bashing threads.

And now that I've written that, I really have to wonder what I'm doing here when I could be working on my next book.

Must have been depressed or something.

See you folks in the primarys.

CLARK RULES!

[windansea]

23. the intent of the analogy

is that Clark is taking the high road in HIS campaign

what happens here does not matter

[dajabr]

8. Didn't Kerry already try (and fail) at this tactic? (nt)

[windansea]

10. not really

he's been in the "ring" for some time now throwing jabs at Dean with no apparent effect on his (Kerry's) numbers.

[JVS]

12. See post 11

[windansea]

31. kick

[JVS]

11. You might want to look at this link

http://www.ettishfetalfighting.8m.com/

Maybe this is the secret technique.

[windansea]

13. heh heh!!

nobody is "fetal" yet but some are close

[windansea]

14. karate kick

:kick:

[Jack_Dawson]

15. Let the Dopes Hammer each other...

and then emerge victorious. Not bad. He didn't get to be a 4-star General for nothing.

:toast:

[windansea]

16. yes..plus he has too much class

...better to act more presidential

[windansea]

17. kick n/t

[poskonig]

19. We're all about *initiative* in the Dean campaign.

See you at the finish line! :bounce:

[Donna Zen]

20. Clark hammers bush daily

Also, listen closely...Clark can be very effective without showing much effort. I thought for a while now that it's a Southern thing.

[windansea]

21. yes...very calm cool and collected

when he emerges as the contender to Dean I expect he will step into the ring

[dave29]

24. Might be a good combat strategy

but not necessarily a good political one. If Clark has built a reputation for not being an attacker, why change that reputation in the clutch - and risk alienating those who admire him for staying above the fray.

And to be fair - the amount of flack coming to or from the Dean/Clark campaigns has been minimal. These two just don't go after each other very much.

And besides, all of the jabbing has just made Dean stronger. While I would hope they could set aside their differences and re-unite the party (as I think only these two can), I would also welcome the opportunity for one on one between the Dr. and the General. It owuld be fun to watch, atleast.

[windansea]

25. Clark is busy attacking shrub

like he should be...when he emerges as the main competitor he will engage Dean directly

he has some very smart advisors...and powerful backers as well

[windansea]

26. new years eve kick

:beer:

[Cheswick2.0]

29. Clark has certainly made Kerry irrelevant

that is your main problem. With Clark, Kerry becomes an also ran.

[windansea]

30. not a problem for me

perhaps they are playing good cop bad cop