BS: Clark vs Dean

Subject: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 10:40 AM

Someone had to start this one, so...

I got to wondering about this as I was reading the Michael Moore site the other day. He has a letter to Wesley Clark he posted last week, which you can find here:

Clark letter

For those of you who are wondering what the ideological differences are between the two, this website is an excellent place to start:

Project Vote Smart

And finally, if any of you still need convincing that Bush must go, Michael Moore's website provides this as their link of the week:

Misleader.org

For myself, I don't know who I'll support yet. I like both Dean and Clark in some ways, but both also make me nervous in ways Kerry doesn't make me nervous. I really feel like with Kerry, I know what I'm getting, and would be delighted to live with it in comparison to what we have now. I also realize that isn't much of a recommendation for a progressive future for the US and the world, but it would be a great victory for humanity and the planet if we can defeat Bush.

In my mind, electing Lieberman and Gephardt would not qualify as defeating Bush.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: katlaughing
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 10:54 AM

Thank you for the links. Like Moore, I never thought I'd be interested in a General as a civilian leader, but so far, I am interested in Clark. I am also very interested in Dean. Gephardt and Lieberman shouldn't even be considered, imo. Reading Moore's letter and info on Clark brought tears of hope. It's been a long time since I've felt any kind of hope. Moore is right, there is a war on, right here in our country.

Thanks, again,

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Amos
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 11:52 AM

I am disinclined to support Clark over Dean because of their different qualities of experience. I'd rather have my nation lead by a veteran governor than a veteran warrior, myself.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 11:56 AM

"I'd rather have my nation led by a veteran governor than a veteran warrior, myself."

Would that really mean you prefer Bush to Clark?

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 12:01 PM

Here is the link to the Boston Globe "article" about Dean:

click here

This article is not so much a "puff piece" as it is an endorsement of Dean. It comes from a paper that is solidly in the Kennedy camp. That means Kerry and Dean are OK with Ted.

Clark is Rhodes Scholar and a native of Arkansas. Sound Like Clinton? The feeling among much of the military top brass is that
Clark did not earn the fourth star, the one pinned on his chest by
Bill Clinton. That means Hillary and Clark are Clinton boys, loosely speaking.

This thread has a chance of balance, which is great. However, the story may not go any deeper than the power struggle between the older Kennedy camp and the Clinton camp to control the Democrat pary.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Amos
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 01:08 PM

Kevin:


I'm sorry -- the implicit comment is too obscure for me to understand the question...what do yyou mean?

A

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Don Firth
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 02:03 PM

Kevin, it is true that Bush was governor of Texas (one and a half terms). But Dean was the five term governor of Vermont. Of the two of them, the "veteran" governor is Dean. It might be revealing to examine what each of them did for (to) their respective states.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 03:52 PM

One big problem I have with Dean is his position on gun control. Clark has the better position on it IMO. Dean is much too cozy with the NRA for my liking.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: open mike
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 04:04 PM

what about Kucinich (sp?)
I'd lkike to see a comparison
between Dean and him, too.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 04:08 PM

Clark's response when asked about gun control - as quoted in that Michael Moore piece - was nicely done: "If you are the type of person who likes assault weapons, there is a place for you -- the United States Army. We have them."

It was a beautifully phrased soundbite. And rather neatly, it manages to do it without being dismissive of gun-freaks - in fact it's the opposite, quite flattering and welcoming. But without backing off from a potentially contriversial position.

And the response about America being "founded as a liberal democracy" was similarly adroit, pulling the rug from under the liberal-haters, and implying that they are the ones who are un-patriotic.

He either thinks well on his feet, or he's got a very good scriptwriter and coach.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 05:06 PM

I took a pek at the Vote Smart link that GUEST 23 Sep 03 - 10:40 AM (use a bloody name!) gave. You do seem to have an awful lot of candidates.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST,Axis of Steve Earle
Date: 23 Sep 03 - 11:19 PM

Yeh, Jimmy Dean 'n Dick Clark...cool dudes...

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST,robinia
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 07:57 AM

(what I meant to submit)
For those of you who have a problem with generals, remember that it was Ike who warned us about the "military industrial complex" -- and some of the most powerful criticism of our Vietnam adventure came from retired military men. Don't knock them...

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 09:45 AM

The US has had a number of military men as presidents, only one of which distinguished themselves in their job as president--Gen George Washington. I don't think anyone is knocking retired military men robinia. I think some of us are rightfully skeptical about their abilities to hold the highest civilian office in government. I mean, we are already having serious problems with the current Oval Office executive, who thinks he is CEO of the world's largest corporation. Government isn't a business. The whole Republican ideology that it can be run as such has been widely discredited, yet it doesn't stop the Republicans from still thinking inside their same ole shoe box.

It is true that military men do learn to administrate and act in an executive capacity in their general jobs. It is also true that they are political animals. But the military bureaucracy is but one part of the entire federal bureaucracy, it operates quite differently than the civilian bureaucracy, and the political and administrative process is different, despite both being a federal job.

So my question about Clark is, how effective will he be in ousting Bush? Because at this point, I think the nation could much more easily survive an ineffective president than the destructive administration we have in there now. More than anything, we need to get the country out of the ditch the drunk frat boy drove us into, as quickly as possible. If that means getting someone who won't do anymore damage, but at the same time, doesn't effect any real change, I'm OK with that. The country has seriously gone to hell in a hand basket as they say, and the current administration is on the top three list of the most destructive and malevolent administrations in US history, if not at the very top of the list. And their ideology! Religious nationalist militarism, and a president with a messianic complex to equal Hitler.

I intend to vote for almost anyone to run this administration, and rescue the nation from the disastrous place they have put us. I'm guessing even the Republican right wing won't think much of their beloved Crusader, once North Korea starts blowing off a few nukes to get our attention.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Alice
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 10:05 AM

Electability is a good point to make, GUEST, as the Repbulican's Karl Rove is going to go after whoever the candidate is with as much dirt as he can. In five elections as governor of Vermont, the Republicans tried their best to find something negative to dig up about Dean... they didn't succeed. He is squeaky clean. The best they can do now is to put out "liberal" misinformation about him. It remains to be seen what they will pull out and start slinging about Clark's past. Maybe the Waco incident will stir things up, maybe not. It will be interesting to watch.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Amos
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 11:54 AM

Helluva thing, isn't it? When the measure of possibility for an aspiring leader is whether or not his opponents can make up good lies about him?

O, tempora, o, mores!

A

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 12:09 PM

All this, with the only way to get the empire out of a mess being seen as having a general take over, is very much in line with the idea that we're experiencing a kind of rerun of the early Roman Empire, but with advanced technology.

That doesn't mean that it might not be the only option available in the circumstances. That advanced technology means that this is a very serious situation when control is in the hands of a cabal of crazies and an ineffectual but obedient frontman, which is what we seem to have right now.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Nerd
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 03:33 PM

Dean is not "cozy with" the NRA. They have given him a high rating because in Vermont there is no gun crime, so he has enacted no gun control. His stated position on gun control is that he supports the existing Federal gun laws, the Brady Bill, etc, but that he wants other gun control to be left up to individual states, so that Vermont would not be subject to stringent federal requirements. I understand that this is a sticky issue for some of us Democrats, but he's not suggesting scaling back gun laws or anything like that.

There are a number of lies being spun about Dean. Gephardt is telling the elderly that Dean wants to take away their medicaid coverage, which as far as I can see is a complete fabrication. Others are saying he flip-flopped on Social Security, which is based on a willful misinterpretation of two statements, one of them made eight years ago. (when does a change in policy based on vastly changed circumstances become a "flip-flop?" Did Bush flip-flop on Iraq because at one time he was not at war with them?) Lieberman is telling Jews that Dean's Israel policy of acting as a neutral third party during negotiations is throwing away our fifty-year alliance with the Israelis (in fact it is identical to Clinton's, and Carter's, and, for that matter, Bush's). So don't believe the spin!

I think Clark could be good, but so far he hasn't really identified his positions on a lot of issues. I agree the gun control line was a good one, but it doesn't really say what his policy on gun control laws would be. I also wonder if he is really committed to democratic principles, having voted for Nixon and Reagan (I know, I know, it's not a flip-flop if it happened so long ago!) But I remain hopeful that one of these gentlemen (or perhaps both of them on the same ticket) will defeat the Dick n' Bush show.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Alice
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 04:49 PM

There is a CNN poll up right now for which Dem candidate could beat Bush. Dean leads with 52% followed by Clark with 26%, the rest far behind.

Click here for poll.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 04:56 PM

But polls like that don't mean too much - for example anyone who wants Bush to win can click in and vote for someone they think he can beat without too much trouble...

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 03 - 05:52 PM

Spoken like a true Dean for Prez crusader there, Nerd. ;)

I don't think most people have come even remotely close to making up their mind as to which candidate they will support for Dem prez candidate. My family is currently sending the Dean AND Kerry campaigns $25/month, and we've let both campaigns know of our financial support for the other candidate, just to try and keep them both on their toes. But we're feeling rather disillusioned with both right now, truth be told, which is why I feel like I'm still shopping for somebody who can really unseat Bush. I fear Dean has peaked too early, and I am pissed at the Kerry campaign for not having anything shaking. Hell, Ted Kennedy sounds more like a candidate than Kerry does.

Wait--could that be it? This will be Teddy's year?

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 25 Sep 03 - 12:56 PM

Ted Kennedy will be 72 by next year's election. Bob Dole was 74 when Susan Estrich said he was "soooo old". Guest is consistent in supporting Kerry, Dean and Kennedy, althought the latter does not need anyone to send him money.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: LadyJean
Date: 26 Sep 03 - 01:17 AM

Ulysses Grant was a brilliant military commander, and a political progressive. He was also a political naive. He presided over one of the most corrupt administrations in our country's history.

Then there was Andy Jackson. Well, he was a loyal husband.   

Clark supported Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. I'd love to know when his road to Damascus happened, or if he's still a closet conservative.

Vermont is a hunting state. So is Pennsylvania, so I understand how this works. I have several friends who are sport hunters. They own expensive rifles, which they keep under lock and key. I have no real problem with this. The young idiots who have me on a first name basis with the 911 operator have pistols, which they, most likely, stole, or bought from someone who stole them. It isn't legal to steal guns, or sell stolen guns. If someone would make a real effort to enforce those laws, as Dean proposes, I could leave the poor 911 operator alone. Dean also opposes the sale of guns at flea markets and gun shows, to which I say a hearty Amen!

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Alice
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 01:24 PM

The latest poll out today (scientific, not media) regarding the New Hampshire primary shows that Clark has not made much difference in the line up of candidates. Dean still leads, 29%, 10 points ahead of Kerry.
Here are the results:

http://americanresearchgroup.com/nhpoll/dem/
"The results of the poll, conducted October 5th through 8th, reveal that Clark's entry into the race has had little impact in New Hampshire. The numbers (with September/August in parenthesis):

Dean 29 (31/28)
Kerry 19 (21/21)
Lieberman 6 (5/4)
Gephardt 6 (8/10)
Clark 5 (2/1)
Edwards 3 (2/2)

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: kendall
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 07:26 PM

I looked up Clark on Google and I didn't like what I saw. I don't want to support anyone who was in congress when they gave the store away.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Oct 03 - 08:02 PM

So presumably that means "neither of the above"?

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Alice
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 10:32 AM

kendall and McGrath, neither Clark nor Dean were in Congress. General Clark was in the military and Dean was the ll.5 year governor of Vermont. When you say "gave the store away" what does that refer to?

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 08:28 PM

Kendall, which Clark were you goggling? The Presidental candidate Clark was never elected to any office.

I'm still waiting to see how the Clark campaign team shakes out.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Alice
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 09:14 PM

Clark's campaign manager has quit. The campaign now has pronounced that it is a Clinton run campaign for Clark.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST,pdq
Date: 10 Oct 03 - 09:33 PM

I told you that Sept. 23, but nobody listens.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: DougR
Date: 11 Oct 03 - 01:34 PM

The main objection I have to Dean is ...he is too liberal. :>)

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Thomas the Rhymer
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 03:30 AM

The main objection I have to Bush is... that he seems unswervingly attracted to hell... ;^)

Dean shoots straight, and tells the truth. His proposed policies and adgendas are calming and well considered, as well as being grounded in both democracy, and fiscal policy... and best of all, he just might be able to win.

We could all breathe easier, and stop all this bickering and negativity... lets just make up our minds and do it! ...After all, it's gonna take some effort on our part to get him elected... I like the idea of having Clark as Dean's VP running mate! ttr

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Amos
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 10:01 AM

I believe he can and should be put forward and over the top. The insensibility of the current crowd of zombies is most unsettling. Talk about your walking dead...at least Dean plays blues guitar. This may be his most compelling attribute!


Vote DEAN!

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Alice
Date: 12 Oct 03 - 01:43 PM

I think Dean's most compelling attribute is that he says what he believes, even when it isn't popular, even when he has to change his mind when he gets new facts, even when it doesn't fit into the typical Dem template, even when he knows it will bring on attacks.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Nerd
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 02:20 AM

Go Alice, go Amos! I think Kendall was expressing support for Dean. He doesn't like Clark, and doesn't like any of the congress members, which leaves Dean, Sharpton, Mosely-Braun and maybe Kucinich (who WAS in congress but at least voted against the giveaway). Of these, to me the most plausible is Dean, and of course the others weren't being discussed in this thread.

I'm fairly sure by "giving away the store" Kendall must have meant the Iraq vote. The "store" in this case was the authority to use military force. But maybe Kendall will come back and tell us what he meant?

In US law, that authority rests ultimately with congress. By voting in advance to allow Bush to use force when and if he felt it necessary, they essentially abandoned an extremely important responsibility. Now both Kerry and Gephardt backpedal and say they wanted the authorization to show Saddam Hussein and the UN that the US was serious in the hopes of achieving more international action. But my feeling on this is, if they trusted Bush not to simply declare pre-emptive war they were wrong to do so, and we should not reward them for it.

Clark has been remarkably fluid in his response to the war question. Within about six days he announced that he probably would have voted for the resolution giving Bush authority, then that he would have done so only to put pressure on Saddam, not to start a war, then that he would never have voted for it. He also was in print, before any of this statements, praising Bush's actions in the Iraq war. It is impossible to know what the truth is here, but it seems to me he has more to gain by pretending to be anti-war than by pretending to be pro-war, so the anti-war stance is probably the fake one. In reality, though, it was a complex issue and his waffling may have had more to do with being unprepared for the question than anything else, as the six days I mentioned were the first week of his campaign.

The Iraq war is of course ony one issue out of many, but it is a bit of a sticking-point for me, more so than gun control or the retirement age.

And DougR: Really? YOU think Dean is too liberal? I am shocked, deeply shocked :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From:
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:30 AM

You can read of General Clark's call for multilateralism BEFORE the war in Iraq! Go to Google and search "Wesley Clark" and about halfway down the search results page is an article from Washington Monthly from September 2002 called "An Army of One?" written by the General.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST,robinia
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 08:54 AM

Re Clark's "pretending" -- You can read of his call for multilateralism BEFORE the war in Iraq! Go to Google and search "Wesley Clark"; about halfway down the search results page is an article from Washington Monthly from September 2002 called "An Army of One?" written by the General. Worth reading. In fact, I've been very impressed with his extended writings (and with first-hard reactions to his "town meeting" engagements. He DOESN'T shine in the crowded "debate" forum; my sense is that he needs more than sound bytes.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: GUEST,robinia
Date: 13 Oct 03 - 09:02 AM

Grrr.   How do you eliminate posted-by-mistake messages? Anyway, I should have added that there's a Clark "meet-up" tomorrow, well, today (Monday) 7PM at Kells in Post Alley. Come and learn more....

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Nerd
Date: 14 Oct 03 - 12:08 PM

Robinia is right. Clark did call for multi-lateralism. But so did Dean, Kerry, Edwards, Gephardt, and indeed all the dem candidates except Lieberman (and even he claims that's what he meant). The more crucial question is did the candidate naively trust GWB to handle the situation in the best manner and, thus, would they have given him the authority to do so? And in Clark's case he has given many answers to that question, which leave the impression that he would have done just the same as the other congress members (except Kucinich), and voted for the resolution to allow W. to take congress's power to declare war. ("Giving away the store" to use Kendall's phrase). Dean has been clear from the outset that this was a bad idea.

Another crucial fact is that Clark has openly and effusively praised W., Condoleeza Rice, Rumsfeld, and others in the administration at Republican fundraisers. This makes many Dems nervous, as most of us saw through these folks from the get-go. I'm not saying that he shouldn't be considered just because he hasn't been a democrat for very long (indeed it seems he may still not be registered as a democrat, but he has voted dem in several recent primaries and elections), but if he agreed with Bush, Rice and Rumsfeld I'd like to know when and where and how his positions changed, and what they changed into, etc. He's been a bit elusive on these questions.

One good thing: the candidates are appearing, one at a time, on Mondays, on Hardball with Chris Matthews (MSNBC). Matthews is one of my favorite interviewers on this kind of show. He lets people talk and finish their sentences, but tenaciously makes sure they answer the question by following up. He is kind of a centrist democrat himself, which is a nice change from the right-wing pap the network serves up most of the time. On these shows, Matthews and members of the public are allowed to ask the candidate questions, and the candidate answers without strict time limits or other constraints. This sounds like the kind of environment Clark needs, according to Robinia. I look forward to his appearance, as well as Dean's.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Mrrzy
Date: 15 Oct 03 - 10:20 AM

Dean AND Clark! Then the only issue is who's prez and who's vice-prez...

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 12:02 AM

I'm still waffling on which one to support- it will definitely be one of the Democratic candidates. I just wish I felt prouder of the candidates as a group- it's a pretty graceless bunch at the moment.

At the moment- if the vote was due today, I would definitely vote for Howard Dean. No candidate is perfect- and he has some quirks that disturb me- but he comes across as a decent, thinking man who is on a learning curve.

When I'm not familiar with a candidate or an issue, I tend to vote with people whose views I trust. I like the fact that Gore, Bradley, and now Braun have put their confidence in Dean. On the other hand, Michael Moore is endorsing Wesley Clark.

Al Franken said on Charlie Rose the other night that he has not yet made up his mind, that there are several of the candidates he likes, and all for pretty different reasons. I figure I'm in pretty good company.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: CarolC
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 12:30 AM

Six of one - half dozen of the other, in my opinion. Unless I learn something about Kucinich that I can't live with, he'll be getting my vote. Even if I have to write it in.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Sandina
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 03:56 AM

I hope we don't shoot ourselves in the foot refusing to support the eventual Democratic nominee because he's not ideologically pure of heart. So what if Dean is too liberal for the "moderate" independents, has no foreign policy or national security experience and insufficiently anti-gun for those (myself included) who despise the NRA? So what if Clark was a general (thereby scaring longtime antiwar activists) and used to be a Republican? So what if Kerry used to be (operative words "used to be") for the invasion of Iraq? (Let's not even mention Gephardt or Lieberman--they have no chance of winning any primaries/caucuses but Missouri, Iowa, or Connecticut, so we won't have 'em to kick around much longer anyway). Guess what: they all have one very important qualification: THEY'RE NOT BUSH!!!!!!    I could get behind just about anyone we nominate: Clark can be forgiven for the error of his formerly GOP ways--the Bible says to welcome the religious convert, so why not the sincere political convert (especially one who's saying all the right stuff and knows all about foreign policy and national security)? Dean did very well for the people of Vermont--and as for his failure to be militantly against guns, he IS in favor of Federal gun control and reasonable state gun regulation. Kerry now believes that given the facts we have now, we should not have invaded Iraq. Edwards may be green as grass, but ya gotta start somewhere. Kucinich? Snowball's chance in hell, but of course I'd support him --IF he gets the nomination.
I hope that whoever said they'd write him in if they had to meant 'in the primaries." If OTOH she meant in November, well I'm having horrible Nader 2000 flashbacks. (Heck, I'm having horrible McCarthy 1968 flashbacks--if enough of my friends had worked for Humphrey back then, Nixon would have been a footnote), Nader's vote totals in Florida far exceeded Bush's margin of "victory" over Gore--butterfly ballot be damned.
If we keep holding out for Mr. Right, we're gonna be stuck with four more years of Mr.Right Wing. And even that Nader-in-2000 stalwart Michael Moore knows that.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: robinia
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 03:58 AM

Well, with all the mudslinging going on, I'm happy to report on a politically neutral website here -- a critique and analysis of 2004 campaign coverage, by the Columbia Journalism Review.   What they have to say about the Drudge Report and its breathless "revelations" about Wes Clark (that he was "inconsistent" and even "pro-war" when he testified before the House Armed Services Committee in 2002!) should make Dems who've been making that charge (yes, I mean you, Dean) feel ashamed.   Because it's only believable if you DON'T read the transcript from which Drudge drew his "evidence," i.e. the cherry picked sentences strung elliptically together -- "ellipses with malice aforethought," says CJR -- to create a very different meaning from what Clark was, in fact, saying.   Three cheers for CJR!

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 10:21 AM

CarolC's advocacy in another thread persuaded me to read up a bit on Kucinich who, all things being equal, would get my vote if I had one. But all things are not equal. I read elsewhere that Bush has accumulated an election war-chest of around $170 million. (Can that be right? It seems grotesque that so much could be blown on mere electioneering.)

So surely the relevant question has to be: which Dem candidate has a chance of getting to the White House? Here I'm afraid I have to go with Michael Moore: in a head to head with Bush and all his dollars, only Clark would stand a chance - and then not much of one. Only Clark would have enough street cred to go for the way Bush has wrapped himself in the flag, with no risk of being labelled unpatriotic.

Hillary would of course have the best chance of all. The fact that she's standing back is fair indication that she realises even she would probably lose, but that she will have a clear run after another four years of Bush cronyism.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: CarolC
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 11:44 AM

I just don't see that much of a difference between the Democratic candidates (with the exception of Kucinich), and Bush, other than cosmetic ones. So I'll be voting my conscience, which means I'll be voting for Kucinich in both the primaries and the general elections.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Amos
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 12:52 PM

I think Howard should tap Clark for Veep. It would be uinbeatable in the Democratic priomaries and a meaningful shot for the 04 election too.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Nerd
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 01:05 PM

Um, Robinia, as you will remember Clark said that he "probably" would have voted for the war resolution the first time he was asked that question. Later he said he would not have, and later still put the inconsistency down to "bobbling the question," whatever that may mean. So I don't think Dean's charges that Clark was pro-war and/or inconsistent are based at all on the Drudge report; in fact, Dean made the charges long before the Drudge Report did. Dean's charges were based on statements Clark made in the early days of his campaign, and at GOP fundraisers before he started running, where he praised Rumsfeld, Rice and Cheney.

Dean has nothing to be super ashamed of, although the negativity that all the Democrats, including Clark, are showing, is a bit trying. In Dean's case, I honestly believe it is because he has been taking a lot of damage from desperate Kerry and Gephardt, whose campaigns will end if they don't win Iowa and NH, respectively. So after three weeks of very little negativity of Dean, with his poll numbers falling, he decided he has to come out swinging again. I can forgive that.

I don't like Clark much, but I'll vote for him in the general if he takes the nomination. I do think many of Dean's charges are valid. Clark was not a registered Democrat until recently, frequently in the past voted Republican, and has the luxury of making up whatever position he thinks will play best with voters on almost every issue, since he has no political record for us to consult. For this reason, it is almost inevitable that he will misrepresent his positions now, then move significantly to the right for the general election.

In Dean's case, of course, he actually IS to the right of where he is usually portrayed by others, so he has a better chance of withstanding both the primaries and the General Election. I know where he stands on most things, not because he says "I support this" or "I don't support that," but because he has a record to look at. I will admit, though, that on certain issues such as NAFTA I am trusting what he says, not what he did in the past. That's because in most cases he gives reasons for the change in position that are coherent and logical.

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 01:11 PM

I expect that the race will simmer down to Clark and Dean and hopefully they will not be so pissed at one another by then that either one wouldn't be willing to run as VP and strengthen the ticket.

Bush is going to be a hard bump/pothole in the road to roll over. But the attempt is well worth all our support.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Clark vs Dean
From: Ebbie
Date: 16 Jan 04 - 01:30 PM

The other night - and I've forgotten who it was- someone on TV said he believes, or hopes (I had been out of the room), that Bush will choose Rice for his vice presidential running mate, and gave fairly convincing reasons.

Last night Michael Moore was on Charlie Rose. He, as has been noted, supports Clark. He says that Clark's inconsistencies are part of his learning and growing process, that he has changed his views on a lot of matters.

I really enjoyed listening to Moore- his fierce dedication to truth and freedom rings loud.