Is this a Clark-Dean race now?

[CentristDemocrat]

Wow, this is exciting news! The general seems to be entering the race. He also has alot of grassroots support. This could be a horserace. I feel bad for Kerry, as Clark will undoubtedly take some of his supporters. I believe Clark has the best shot at beating Bush. He has amazing credentials and the seemingly uncanny ability to rise above the petty partisanship.

[ComerPerro]

1. I think you are right about Kerry

I think he may find himself losing some of his supporters to Clark.

[Frederic Bastiat]

11. Dean has the most to lose from a Clark candidacy!

Clark is an outsider and opposed the War in Iraq. Two strong points that Dean has been promoting. Kerry loses on the military stuff and Edwards/Graham on the Southerner front.

[grytpype]

2. This horse-race stuff is really counterproductive.

I think it's a bad idea to discard solid electable candidates like Kerry because they're not ahead in the "horse race" in September.

It's a long way to the Dem primary, and we don't know if either Clark or Dean will have a better chance of beating Bush than other candidates.

So enough already.

[kanrok]

3. Clark is:

KKKArl Rove's worst nightmare.

[StopTheMorans]

4. not by a long shot, not yet

as for the second part of your question, yes, he will take many a Kerry supporter, but that is his own fault, he lost many supporters (including me) by his failure to excite the base and speak clearly on many issues. and as far as your last sentence "the seemingly uncanny ability to rise above the petty partisanship" I would say that's pretty easy since he wasn't a partisan until what, two weeks ago;)?

[LuminousX]

5. Refuse to Speculate

Let's see Clark's performance in the debates. Let's see him take some heat from the media and other candidates. Let's see him BE a candidate.

[TLM]

6. I think it has been a Clark-Dean race for weeks.

[hackwriter]

7. Don't forget about Max Cleland

I could happily support Clark if Dean is not the nominee, but anyone who thinks that Clark's military creds inoculate him against the Rove smear machine, I urge you to remember Max Cleland, who is no longer in office because Karl Rove's thugs succeeded in making people think that a decorated veteran who lost 3 limbs in Vietnam was less patriotic than a chickenhawk -- solely on the basis of support for Bush's misbegotten war.

[meegbear]

8. Max is supporting Kerry ...

We'll have to see how this plays out.

[CMT]

9. not yet

it depends on many factors--including how Clark performs in debates. Also, I think Gephardt is still in the thick of things and Edwards has been on the move. It is too early to say.

[mojowork_n]

10. Clark is a 4-star horse's a**

Yes, he's telegenic, got good grades and is from Arkansas. But I have no idea what his 'amazing credentials' might be, or how he could possibly 'rise above' anything, or anyone. To the contrary, he is and always has been the poster child for self-centered opportunism, playing by his own twisted set of rules, at that.

Check it out:

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0910-07.htm

Also, do a search on www.counterpunch.org, for Wesley Clark, and see what you come up with. The Clark bubble will explode and disappear in no time, I'm sure.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

12. He *is* a politician now

It looks like Clark is the *best* politician Democrats have too. Let's hope he wins the primary so he can beat Bush.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

14. Oh Please...Not These Ridiculous Links Again

If all you've got are "hysterical left" pacifists who oppose any war, no matter how just, then I'm not really sweating it. Clark helped stop genocide and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. Sorry if that bugs you.

These two stories in particular have been debunked many times here.

Mark my words, the "hysterical left" is going to be more vicious about Clark than anyone else in the country.

:eyes:

DTH

[mojowork_n]

22. Not "hysterical left", just pro-Truth. Nothing was "debunked".

Whatever. The fact remains Clark is a liar and a first-order magnitude hypocrite. His book claims to emphasize the importance of "human rights" in 'modern warfare', but all he did was legitimize bombing of civilians and civilian infrastructure in Yugoslavia. At the same time, he wildly over-stated the effectiveness of his success against military targets:

http://www.counterpunch.org/genclark.html

I just don't see this guy as a legitimate anti-war candidate, in any sort of meaningful or effective way. To the contrary, he's a joke, a big-time windbag and would very soon become a figure of ridicule.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

23. You're Free To Your Own Opinion, One-Percenter

I'm thrilled that so few people give your opinion any credence, however.

:eyes:

DTH

[mojowork_n]

26. Just because you can't refute anything I said with facts.

You have to resort to feeble insults. Clark *is* a
four-star horse's ass and a first-class hypocrite.

I remember watching CNN during the Kosovo thing,
and for one or two short hours on a Saturday morning,
CNN actually showed footage of cluster bomb damage
in a crowded market place. Those attacks were repeated,
twenty minutes later, to target civilian rescue workers,
doctors, nurses and para-medics.

The courage of that man stuns me, fighting a terror war
from 50,000 feet. His record does not bear close scrutiny.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

27. O Irony

"You have to resort to feeble insults. Clark *is* a four-star horse's ass and a first-class hypocrite."

I will let the incredible elegance of the above two sentences -- which you so generously strung together for me all by yourself -- speak for themselves.

This nonsense has been debunked plenty of times; I have many better things to do with my time than try to convince a one-percenter.

Welcome to Ignore!

DTH

[RaulGroom]

18. I'm amazed more don't see this

Clark is an unserious candidate. His chances of winning are zero.

[newyawker99]

24. Hi RaulGroom!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Pastiche423]

19. The Common Dreams article

is a very interesting comparison between the Kosovo war and the Iraq invasion. I believe it is a must read for everyone, especially those that would like more information on clark.

The last paragraph is a stunner:

"The 1999 Kosovo War had similar origins and outcomes as the 2003 Iraq War. In the 2004 election, do we face the hideous prospect of voting for one flawed war over another? Far from posing a "pragmatic" alternative to President Bush, Clark's ascendancy would be a failure for the peace movement that has made such advances in community organizing over the past year. In order not to alienate the large segment of the electorate energized by the movement, Democrats are well advised not to nominate a leader with blood on his hands."

[klyon]

21. be careful

painting the hands of our military personnel red; when they were performing above and beyond the call and following orders; very dangerous very dangerous
KL

[uptohere]

13. gee I guess thats why there was the confab the other day

so they could arrange their us only debates and such. Surely everyone else will cede the playing field to them immediately.

And then later, bats will fly out of my butt.

By October those two will have wilted and the real race will begin.

In my 'umble opinion...

[Clark Can WIN]

16. Please post a link to

the bats flying out of your butt. Love to see that.

[uptohere]

17. if I can get the webcam aimed right you got it

[sangh0]

15. Not even close.......nt

.

[karlschneider]

20. Short answer: Yep.

:D

[unfrigginreal]

25. Without a doubt!

It will be a hard fought race between the two of them also. There's not much difference in their policy opinions.

I'll happily support either one of them but I'm sticking with Dean for now.