What route did you take to your candidate?

[WillyBrandt]

I'm a Clark man. But here's how I got there:

I started out liking Edwards, because I read a New Republic article praising him. Unfortunately, I saw some interviews of him which he bombed. Then I saw a FANTASTIC Kerry speech on C-SPAN, read up, and was full throttle Kerry until Dean really started making waves.

I still thought Kerry was a better candidate, but I was green with envy at the Dean's campaign, both in its inventiveness and its grassroots base. I went to a Dean MeetUp, read all the websites and blogs, but kept an eye on Clark.

I saw Clark on C-Span, where he ended a speech to the New Democrat Network with words burned into my brain, because they spoke to me in a real way:

"Forget about the fear. Forget about the anger."

After 9/11, and with Bush running things, and with OBL killing folks, those emotions dominated me. Clark, I felt, really diagnosed a part of the national psyche.

With Clark I felt like I had both Dean's simply fun, outsider-ish, almost transformational campaign, with the deep respect I had for Kerry as a candidate, only more so. (Note: I think Dean would make a very good President.) I felt like with Clark--at this moment in history, with the needs of our nation and our people--this is simply the man for the hour. And what a man!

Apologies for the cheese. Do tell: did you find your candidate right away, or was it a long and winding road?

[RandomKoolzip]

1. I first heard about Howard Dean here on DU.

I had been lurking on DU for a year or so....Early this year, during the leadup to war, I was so pissed off that all the Dem candidates were so fucking milquetoast about opposing the war. Then I read a post about Howard Dean's opposition, which was gettting absolutely no attention in the media. This piqued my interest...and as I found out more about Dean, the more I liked. So I credit DU with exposing me to my candidate.

[mermaid]

10. Thought On Clark

Clark spent a lifetime supporting Repukes, and we are all of a sudden supposed to believe he is on OUR side? What turnip truck does this man think I fell off of? I mighta been born at night, but it sure as HELL wasn't LAST NIGHT!! A tiger don't often change his own stripes, and I'm not convinced Clark has.
If he ends up the nominee, I'll hold my nose and vote for him, simply because ANYBODY is better than Bush...but it will be a very unwilling and unenthusiastic vote. And probably worthless, too, since I live in Texas...which is probably gonna go Bush's way no matter what.

Yeah, Dean comes off as an angry liberal. That's why I like him. I, too, am an angry liberal!

[boxster]

15. Clinton, Clinton, Gore.

That's 11 years of voting Dem.

So, are you saying that Clark's "lifetime" ended in 1992?

[mermaid]

16. But Who Did He Support

before that? I'll tell you...REPUKES!!!
I have been a lifelong Democrat. I don't trust converts. they're fine in our Party...NOT as Presidential candidates! I want someone with SOLID Democratic credemtials, and Clark isn't that guy.

I was a registered Repuke when I lived in Kentucky for three years...and all done for the good of my Democratic Party. In Kentucky, often the Dem went unopposed in the primaries, so I registered Repuke, so that I could engage in party-raiding, and select the most easily beaten Repuke in the primaries, and hope he won...then vote for the Dem in the general election.

I have NEVER supported a Repuke in a general election...and I want MY Democratic Presidential nominee to be able to say he, too, has never supported a REPUKE in a general election. Clark can't say that. therefoe I do not trust him as a Presidential candidate. Simple.

Hey, our Party welcomes converts to vote with us...to think like us...we do NOT allow converts to become our freaking standard-bearer, IMHO.

[union_maid]

2. Edwards to Dean to Clark

Edwards caught my attention first. I think I saw him on the Daily show and then looked him up. Liked him a lot and I still do. A little of the bloom came off the rose when he was such an enthusiastic supporter of the war, though. I really don't hold the IWR vote against any of them but Edwards seemed too into it. Mostly, though, it just didn't seem like he was quite ready for the top spot. Sometimes looking years younger than your age is not an advantage. I got interested in Dean, simply because he had the momentum. What I want is what most of us want..Bush out of office in 2004 and it seemed like maybe Dean was the best one to do it.

My husband kept hoping for Clark. This was kind of surprising because he's not generally a fan of military types. I wasn't too interested in the draft movement because so few of them actually seem to result in a candidate. Once it seemed like he might actually declare, I got real interested fast. His resume blew me away. It seems that out of a field of exceptional people, he is that much more exceptional. His accomplishments seem to make him a very likely candidate for the position of leader of the free world, if that's still what the POTUS is. Once I started paying attention and watching Clark on TV, I started to feel..sorry for the cheese..inspired. I felt as though this was a person who could make this a better country and this could be a president that we could be truly proud of as a nation. I still feel that way about him. I don't think I've felt this way about a politician since JFK and I was only 10 when he was elected. My feelings about Clark are based on a lot more critical thinking and a lot more information than I had about JFK.

[mikehiggins]

3. A short road

I couldn't see any of the candidates beating Bush.

Kerry, Lieberman, Gephardt, Edwards, Graham, Kuchinich, all were from the Beltway. I don't think any of them have a fair chance of taking on Bush. I think they all have too many skeletons, too many compromises (well, okay, except for Dennis), too much history to successfully fit into the "outsider" role that I think is the only route to take.

I harbor personal dislike for Sharpton since before the Tawana Brawley incident. According to the Village Voice, Al was a close associate to the other Al, D'Amato, that is, when the senator from deals-ville needed to drum up minority support.

Ambassador Braun is cool, but I can't see the Dems nominating a black woman to run for President.

So I was resigned to ignoring the primaries, etc., and walking into the voting booth next year to do my part as one of the ABBA Tour.

When Clark popped up, and all that, I gravitated towards him because the image of Airman Bush facing off against General Clark was just too delicious for words. As I watched and listened and learned, I came to think that Clark had some unique characteristics that might appeal to enough voters to get him into the White House, and more importantly, get Bush out.

I don't think Clark is the "man on a white horse" some people are afraid of, and others are looking for. I think he's a bright, clever and ambitious man who presents himself well (when he keeps his wits about him and doesn't give off-the-cuff interviews to guys like that NYOne reporter; he has to accept that in this line of work everything you do and say can, and will, be used against you) and has the potential to shake up the powers that be like a breath of fresh air.\

And beat Bush.

Etc., etc., and so forth.

Anyway, that's my story, and I'm sticking with it.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

4. Kucinich:

The early opposition and steadfast opposition to war and this misadministration drew me to Kucinich.

He was by far ahead of the pack and still is in his opposition to this administration and the perpetual war.

That among other things is what drew me to Dennis Kucinich. But mind you this was way back In February...2002, before he was a candidate.

Dennis gave this speech in california in 2002.

http://www.kucinich.us/speeches/speech1.htm

snip>
"How can we justify in effect canceling the First Amendment and the right of free speech, the right to peaceably assemble?
How can we justify in effect canceling the Fourth Amendment, probable cause, the prohibitions against unreasonable search and seizure?
How can we justify in effect canceling the Fifth Amendment, nullifying due process, and allowing for indefinite incarceration without a trial?
How can we justify in effect canceling the Sixth Amendment, the right to prompt and public trial?
How can we justify in effect canceling the Eighth Amendment which protects against cruel and unusual punishment?"
snip>>
"Because we did not authorize the invasion of Iraq.
We did not authorize the invasion of Iran.
We did not authorize the invasion of North Korea.
We did not authorize the bombing of civilians in Afghanistan.
We did not authorize permanent detainees in Guantanamo Bay.
We did not authorize the withdrawal from the Geneva Convention.
We did not authorize military tribunals suspending due process and habeas corpus.
We did not authorize assassination squads.
We did not authorize the resurrection of COINTELPRO.
We did not authorize the repeal of the Bill of Rights.
We did not authorize the revocation of the Constitution.
We did not authorize national identity cards.
We did not authorize the eye of Big Brother to peer from cameras throughout our cities.
We did not authorize an eye for an eye.
Nor did we ask that the blood of innocent people, who perished on September 11, be avenged with the blood of innocent villagers in Afghanistan.
We did not authorize the administration to wage war anytime, anywhere, anyhow it pleases.
We did not authorize war without end.
We did not authorize a permanent war economy."
snip>>>>

more...

He was not even considering a run for President at this time. It was actually this speech that got the ball rolling and garnered a whole bunch of people to push him towards a candidacy.

I read this online a few days after he gave it and the first thought that came into my head was, "Man I wish he would run for President."

Read some more at his site..
especially his 10 key issues:
http://www.kucinich.us/issues/issue_10key.htm


At first I was for Dean, because Kucinich had not officially entered the race, but from the day I read that speed I was a Kucinich supporter.

Time has passed, and no candidate has been able to surpass Kucinich on the issues and speaking for the people. IMHO :)

anyway GO DENNIS, and that my story

TWL

[KT2000]

5. Kerry to Clark

Was for Kerry a long time before he decided to run. That had a lot to do with his wife's philanthropic activities in the area of women's environmental health.
But I was not inspired by Kerry. Saw Clark speak and I felt inspired - hopeful about the possibilities of this country. I also saw that he was running against the Bush regime - not the other Democrats. He has a message that brings us all up, as you said "forget about the fear. forget about the anger." and more.

I have a gut feeling that he is right for these dire times.

[gottaB]

6. well...

We, my wife and I and a friend of hers who knows about politics, were approached by Deanies at Nader speech late last winter. The friend knew of Dean and told me Kucinich was more genuinely progressive.

I did some searching online, checked out the various platforms and was leaning towards Kucinich on the one hand, or either Kerry or possibly Gephardt on the other. I had rather quickly discounted Lieberman and Graham as too conservative for my views, and Edwards, although he has a good message on economic issues, I'm just unsure of where his allegiances truly lie. Sharpton I felt was not serious, and Braun I believed to be dishonest and untrustworthy. Dean had earned my respect in a lot of ways, but I had doubts about what he truly stood for, and I was turned off by the aggressive style of campaigning I was seeing.

The moveon.org straw poll prompted me to make a firm choice. At that time I was really struck by Braun's message, and a kind of political and personal integrity I discerned in her answers to moveon and in her meager campaign materials. I looked into it some more and came to the conclusion that my earlier impression about her had been wrong.

When I weighed up all of the positives of Braun, in her message, the positions she was taking, and in her record of accomplishments in government, and I balanced those against lingering doubts and a few questions I had about her positions, she still seemed like the best candidate.

There's a logic to identifying with a candidate who is positioned as an outsider, a logic which entails among other things psychic issues which I'm sure aren't lost on you. I admit to having voted for many outsiders in my time. My support for Braun, however, I don't consider to be a protest vote, which is not something I would say about a few of the times I've voted for Greens. And yet I have resigned myself to a certain indifference regarding the struggles between the putative front runners. It's not that I don't have preferences, just that none of them are strong enough to override my commitment to Braun.

Clark's campaign, btw, I have conerns about. He is putting out a good message. I anticipate that should he not win the nomination, he will have contributed positively to the Party and done a service for all of us. And should he win the nomination, I expect that he will have earned it and I would be happy to back him up against the BFEE.

[LWolf]

7. I started out interested in Dean.

I appreciated, and still do, the refreshing opposition to *.

I was impressed by the energy and enthusiasm. I still am.

Then I started looking at the issues, and I found that he really didn't match what I was looking for. The first couple of times, I just told myself, "Oh well. You know noone will get all of them." As they piled up, I started looking around at other candidates. My good cyber friend DR, knowing what I was looking for, pointed me in the direction of Dennis Kucinich. I was astounded. I couldn't believe an actual politician running for office was saying and doing the things he says and does. So I read and read and read. I found that he really "gets" the issues that drive me. I found that he walks his talk; he can be counted on to act, not just talk about it. I found that he is a consistent warrior, fighting a lonely battle in Washington against *. I found a couple of votes I don't agree with him on...2, out of looking and looking. That was much closer than the rest of the pack.

So I stood up and signed on as a Kucitizen. Because I think his vision offers the best hope for my country.

[Ress1]

8. I have only one prerequisite.

I want someone who will stand up to the certain attacks that will come from the Bush campaign. I don't mean simple denials, but someone who can reverse the accusations and go on an all out offensive and be just as capable of attacking Bush for his idiotic policies and his outrageous lies. In other words, I'm looking for someone tough enough to fight the battle and win.

[Mz Pip]

9. Dean to Clark

I read a long article in The New Republic on Dean in the summer of 2002, way before anything started. He sounded terrific. I signed up for the Meet Ups last January but always had some conflict in schedule. I did a lot of reading on Kucinich and loved his passion, too.

Then I saw an interview in June with Clark and was very impressed. Clark's positions are similar to Dean's in many ways so what moved me into the Clark camp was a question of style.

Forget about the fear. Forget about the anger. That said it all.

I'm sick of being angry. I want positive action. I want a positive vision that is not filled with inflamatory rhetoric. I know that anger resonates with a lot of people but I didn't see it playing well in any of the Red states. And it was making me physically ill.

I grew up in a time when Democrats and Republicans did not act like total enemies. Now it's become so bad that there is so much hate and mistrust of the other side that our country is rapidly heading into some kind of Civil War mentality. Somehow, we have to get out of this. Bush needs to go, but he needs to be replaced by someone who does not run with scissors.

I want someone who has the potential to unite this country again. I don't know if Clark can do it. I don't know if anybody can. The thing is, Clark wants to do it. Dean just seems to want to stay angry.

I'll vote for whoever the nominee is. They all have their stong points and would be a far cry better than the poseur in the flight suit.

MzPip
:dem:

[WilliamPitt]

11. Dean and Kerry were neck and neck

Kerry had hometown advantage with me. Either will do nicely.

[Tatiana]

12. Kerry to Clark to Kerry to Clark....

I'm undecided. I know in my heart, Kerry is the most qualified and most deserving of any candidate period to be President. But Kerry might not survive the primaries if he doesn't get his damn campaign into gear. In that case it's Clark. Or Dean. Kerry/Clark/Dean... I'd be satisfied with either, but I'm hoping in my heart of hearts that Kerry can snag the nomination.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

13. As a new arrival in Minneapolis

I decided that I would go see every Dem candidate who came to town.

The first to show up, two weeks after my arrival, was Kucinich. I didn't know that much about him, but I went over to St. Paul out of curiosity.

While waiting for the rally to begin, I read some of the literature at the tables. Hmm. Sounded good.

Then I went into the auditorium and heard Dennis speak. I was amazed to hear a card-carrying Democratic politician say things that I had been saying and thinking for twenty years. I had never heard a presidential candidate not only criticize the Republicans and propose a laundry list of unrelated programs but also put forth a coherent vision of what America could be. By the end of the speech, I was in tears.

The following week, I showed up at the Minnesota for Kucinich meeting.

The other candidates (except for Lieberman) aren't bad. They're just not good enough.

Kucinich's campaign reminds me of that Robert Kennedy quote,"I look at the way things could be and ask why not."

[matcom]

14. Dean was the first to EVER tap the grass roots movement of the Internet

he was the first candidate who (i felt) actually was interested in the votes of people like DUers.

no others (at first) gave a shit about us as a voice