The Circular Firing Squad Conundrum: Let's Say Clark Overtakes Dean...

[WillyT]

Or Kerry does, or Kucinich, Gephardt, etc... and becomes the new frontrunner. What do you expect will be the reaction here and out on the campaign trail?

I only ask this because a poster on another thread was saying something to a Clark supporter to the effect of, "If you think people have been hard on Clark so far, what do you think will happen if he becomes the frontrunner?"

And although this is so obvious, I had never really considered the full implications very much until just that moment when I read it.

And I thought, well heck man, first, there won't be elevenhundredandseventytwo Dean threads to read and respond to, BUT the poor Clark\Kerry\Kucinich\Gephardt\etc. people are gonna be a couple of hundred times busier (and maybe angrier) than they were before.

And it really.... Depressed me.

Will our eventual nominee be stronger because of it, or are we gonna need bandages... lots and lots of bandages???

:shrug:

Maybe that's what Helen Thomas was trying to warn us about.

[LuminousX]

1. That is EXACTLY what Helen was warning us against

The time for all out assaults against each other has passed. Now is the time to put forth solutions and policies and push them hard. Now is the time for blinders and time to allow the voters to sort it out. Continued assaults will only cause more damage.

[incapsulated]

2. He can take it

Clark can take whatever they dish out. I have total confidence on that score.

As for myself, I might have to take a break from DU or risk being banned or something. ;)

I'm a lifetime hockey fan, and it's like the playoffs, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger for the final round, in fact it's what you want to toughen you up (as long as it's not debilitating). Yeah, you're hurt and bloody by the end, but, hey, you've got the Cup!

[Padraig18]

3. "Maybe that's what Helen Thomas was trying to warn us about."

Ding! Ding! Ding! :)

[BobbyJay]

4. Clark can take it.

This is a man who's looked death in the face. You think a pig like Rove will intimidate him?


General Wesley Clark, a true American patriot--a true American leader.


www.clark04.com

[slinkerwink]

14. war is one thing---politics is another....politics tend to wound you

where it can't be visibly seen. Clark hasn't been through politics of this kind, especially in a presidential election before.

[SahaleArm]

23. From the NY-Times article it sounds like Dean hasn't either n/t

[maddezmom]

5. so ya mean if Clark or anyone else.....

was the front-runner any detractor should all be silenced?

[NV1962]

7. Of course not

The point isn't criticism - it's a warning against the dire net effect of purely destructuve tactics.

[WillyT]

10. Thanks NV, You Said It Better Than I !!!

:bounce::toast::bounce:

[WillyT]

8. Nope, I Don't Think I Said That At All !!!

I guess my concern is, that it's all gonna get much much worse, before it gets better, and that is a really depressing thought.

But hey, I'm gonna be a witness to history. You???

:hi:

[maddezmom]

13. yep I'll be a witness, too

:)

[LuminousX]

9. It means attacks need to be tempered

and it is far better to do comparisons instead of just negative attacks (this tax plans results in this thingy, while my tax plan results in a different, better, thingy)

[WillyT]

17. I'm Lovin 'The Thingy Theory', LOL !!! --- Well Said !!!

:toast: To constructive thingys! :toast:

:hi:

[JVS]

6. Clark better be able to take it.

It might not be constructive but that is what will happen.

[maddezmom]

11. he'll do fine :)

[JVS]

12. We'll just see about that

:-)

[Bucky]

15. Oh, but it *IS* constructive. And Clark can certainly take it.

How many heavyweights have lost the championship because their trainors told their sparring partners to go easy on them in practice sessions.

Hold on... let me think this analogy thru. Um.

Yes, this is exactly what I mean. The only difference is we won't know who the sparring partner is and who the challenger for the belt is until mid March. I can wait. I'm a Democrat because, goddammit, I trust democracy. When we emerge from Boston unified all the doubters will be proven wrong and I will be one big assed gloating motherfucker.

[JVS]

16. And if Clark is too injured to win in November?

[Bucky]

20. Well, if Clark is too injured to win in November...

... then he won't win in November. If Dean is too injured in November to win, he won't win either. Hell, if Bush is too injured to win in November, then he won't win. In fact, I think that's Clark's plan. I expect that's Dean's plan too. I honestly don't get your tautology here. But that's because I reject your premise.

Clark's attacks on Dean won't hurt him. Not the way Clark attacks anyway. I can't say the same for Lieberman or Kerry's jabs, but this is why they are fading. Clark contrasts himself with Dean indirectly, but really hasn't hit him at all.

Dean's only recently gone after Clark, and I'm not 100% sure it was really Dean people passing out those attack flyers mentioned in Slate. It may have been anti-Dean Republicans trying to "ratfuck" our primary campaign. Whatever it was, the attacks seem to lack sticking power. Charges that Clark isn't partisan enough or that he was cautious in opposing the war won't hurt him at all in the general election. It will help him win over swing voters who will have endured 18 months of senseless American casualities by then.

If Dean is nominated, he's banking on the fact that he opposed the war from the gitgo--the "uncommon common sense" appeal--so little that any candidate says against him right now will hurt him according to this strategy. Both candidates are positioned to benefit from attacks on their weaknesses, which is why they're doing the best of all the nine. I'm supporting Clark, but I'll eagerly work for either man.

[NV1962]

19. LOL! - n/t

[Adjoran]

18. The candidates have to be careful

not to burn the bridges in the primaries. No matter who wins, we won't stand a chance in November unless we have a united and committed party fully behind the nominee.

But politics ain't beanbag. The primaries are tough, but the general election campaign will be tougher. We all need to thicken our skin to withstand the next 11 months.

Remember the goal is victory, and keep your eyes on the prize!

[WillyT]

21. Good Counsel Adjoran !!!

Here's to hoping we don't just win the battle, but the war as well!

:toast:

[WillyT]

22. Kick !!!

:kick:

[YellowDawgDemocrat]

24. Burn those bridges!

That leaves you with only one direction to go...forward.

[WillyT]

25. True... But What Do You Think The 'Butchers Bill' Will Be ???

:shrug:

[salin]

26. I missed what Helen Thomas said/wrote

just heard a reference to it last night... can anyone help me out with a link or a summary?

[WillyT]

27. Here Ya Go !!!

Link: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=77804

:hi:

[frank frankly]

28. if Clark beats Dean, then nobody is left to torch him

this is going to whittle down to Dean vs. Clark REAL FAST.

[WillyT]

29. Peace Train Kick !!!

As Clark gains momentum at the same time Dean gets Harkin's endorsement, the VOLUME here goes WAY up!!!

Ready... Aim... Crap...

Well, I'm leavin in a little bit to attend a wake for a best friend of mine. He was an Italian, Bostonian, Catholic, Vietnam Combat Vet, who was gonna vote Kerry.

I'll be shedding tears for him, and.........

[helleborient]

30. If Dean fades, I'll be sad for awhile...watch to see the ultimate winner..

Then probably contribute my money and time to whomever the ultimate nominee is.

The time for screaming and ranting is over.