Gep/Kerry/Dean camp reaction to Clark's shifting postion on Iraq war

[CMT]

Yesterday General Clark told reporters he "probably" would have voted for the Iraqi war resolution. Today, in Iowa, he issued a statement that he "would never" have voted for the Iraqi War Resolution.

According to the Washington Post here are the reactions of three different candidate camps:

Gephardt Camp: "If you're going to make the case that 'i've had 35-years of military experience and deep knowledge of military and foreign affairs,' on this issue it would seem you would have a very clear idea of what you want to say."

The Kerry Camp: "We'll withold comment until the General's blue ribbon team of consultants and advisors decide what his position actually is."

The Dean camp through Joe Trippi was less critical, "I know we were surprised yesterday when we heard he would have voted for the resolution. But look, he just got into the race...and I think you've got to give him some time so we can learn where his positions are. But we think he is going to have an impact on the race, and other candidates should take him seriously. We do."

I find it interesting that again Dean and his team are continuing to be polite and even understanding towards the General, while the other camps are somewhat critical and even condesending towards him. It makes me think just who they think Gen. Clark is going to hurt more--Dean or them?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37215-2003Sep19.html

[joeybee12]

1. Interesting...

...as the front-runner, Dean is clearly being magnanimous.

The other two seem to be sniping and are clearly feeling the pressure.

[Pavlovs DiOgie]

2. Dean takes the high road

Good for Dean! His statement exemplifies his desire for a true democracy where the people decide.

[MrPeepers]

21. He also

can't afford to bash a candidate he was courting for his VP spot.

Peepers

[Larkspur]

63. Dean was not courting Clark as a VP candidate

Dean has had conversations with Clark over the last few months about foreign policy and Dean traded his domestic policy views with Clark. The Dean Campaign was feeling out Clark to see if he was going to run or not, but never offered him a VP slot, which I don't think Clark is qualified for anymore than he is qualified for President. Secretary of Defense is where I see him.

[Old and In the Way]

3. Dean-Clark have a mutual defense pact?

This is playing out like Big Brother or survivor, I think.

Did get a chuckle out of Kerry's comments, though....

[madaboutharry]

4. Gephardt and Kerry

know exactly what Clark was trying to say and yet they chose to try to gain from it. Politics is such a turn off. I remember back before I became interested in politics, I was so much happier.

[Evanstondem]

7. Most of the candidates are classier that that

In my opinion, the Kerry camp has consistently been the most negative toward the other Dem candidates. From what I've seen Edwards, Moseley-Braun, Graham and Sharpton have behaved pretty well. Dean too, except with Kerry -- I don't think those two have much use for each other.

[DrFunkenstein]

11. Dean Has Been The Nastiest Throughout

Calling people Bushlite, Deanlite, second-tier candidates, lying about their positions, and just about whatever other snarky thing he could come up with. Only recently has he been getting just desserts, and - big surprise - his supporters are whining about it like pansies.

[tsipple]

15. Got Some Quotes?

Never heard the words "Bushlite" or "Deanlite" pass the lips of Howard Dean or Joe Trippi.

[WillyBrandt]

17. Dean accusing Kerry of being "Dean lite" - quote and link

Dean has energy, but he's nasty towards fellow Dems:

http://charleston.net/stories/060103/wor_01dems.shtml

"I appreciate Senator Kerry saying we don't need Bush Lite, and we don't," Dean told about 1,000 people attending a forum on rural issues in Lake Placid. "But, Senator Kerry, we don't want Dean Lite, either."

Or his saying that he's the only white politician who talks about race in front of white audiences. False, and unfair.

But that said, Dean fights like hell, and he gives Bush 10,000x the hell he gives his Democratic competitors. And he certainly has lit a fire in Democratic party to bash Bush.

Oh, yeah--and Kucinich has been a little nasty in Dem debates, especially towards Howard Dean. I understand everyone has to attack each other in these debates, but it got a little nasty and uncomfortable at times.

[w13rd0]

26. So am I...

...heck, so are most of the people on this board. Democrats have to fend off slings and arrows from fellow Dems nearly as much as they do from the GOP.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

27. It's only because

we're such a discerning bunch of people.

Notice the Freeps don't argue as much. Lots of backslapping.

Well that's my theory at 1:45 am anyway.

[tsipple]

32. Yup, You Got It

Forgot about that one. Although that was pretty easy on Kerry, and Dean didn't call Kerry "Bush Lite."

Lieberman has been in attack mode for several weeks. He's been as hard as anyone, and supposedly he's the pious guy.

Gephardt has also been in attack mode lately.

[corgigrrl]

40. Wait, you're criticizing Dean for using Bush-lite when he's quoting KERRY?

that's a good one.

I've heard Dean talk a lot about Bush Lite, but mostly generically, and boy does it resonate with audiences, they can take whatever example of Washingtonians knuckling under to Bush pressure and that's what comes to mind. Plus, i think a lot of Americans just plain agree that we don't want Bush-lite, and sorry, that means those who've spent the past two+ years compromising far too often and bickering amongst themselves. As a Dem, I am really pissed off at most of the Dems and their too complacent behavior. What if we had 49 Robert Byrds instead of Gep and Edwards and the rest of them? Yes, Dean went after the Washington establishment and Bush in no uncertain terms from day one. Many of us are thrilled that he did.

Re clark: please go to commondreams.org and read the article about him praising the "resolve of Bush and Blair" in April 2003 London Times before you go any further with this guy. stopped me dead in my tracks. no way, jose.

Kerry has spent most of the past two weeks trying to "implode" Dean and going after Gephardt as well. On his home page, his exaggerated attacks are posted as "Top News." This is his top news? What about something wholly positive about HIM? On Dean's home page, news of upcoming events, fundraising appeals, highlights of supporters. Nary a word about other candidates, just trying to get people on board. It's all a question of tone, and I'd say the tone of Kerry's rejoinder up top says a lot about why I can't stand him anymore. Snide and arrogant.

[polpilot]

57. I thought Dean said Kerry was 'Bush-LIKE' or Kerry 'likes Bush' or Kerry

said Bush was 'a good man who wants to do good things' or something.

Dean '04....

[DoveTurnedHawk]

He Did Say "Bush Lite" During an Interview in Boston

I can't remember who he was referring to, though.

DTH

[George_Bonanza]

25. LOL

I guess you're too willing to forget Dean's launchpad issue, that he's somehow "better" than those old insider Washingtonians. The only people he's "outside" with are the Vermont liberals. The DLC is pissed off at him because instead of being nice to them as is normally expected, he used a faux-outsider progressive stance to cast them in a bad light.

[deutsey]

29. The DLC sure didn't need Dean to put them in a bad light

They've been basking in that glow for a loooong time to many of us.

[Vikingking66]

46. umm...doesn't every candidate argue that they're better?

How else do you win.
the Vermont liberals may stand agog, but it's the argument against the DLC that draws liberals to him nationally. Frankly, I don't care whether he's a real outsider or not as long as he takes it to the DLC. FDR wasn't a real outsider, neither was Truman or Kennedy - didn't stop them from doing progressive things.

[w13rd0]

9. Shouldn't be surprising...

...I've been very dissappointed with Kerry's tendency to take comments completely out of context in an attempt to stoke his campaign...why would anyone that might take his entitlement from him escape his notice?

[KaraokeKarlton]

36. I have a real problem with this one, too

We can't nominate someone who behaves dishonestly. We've got one fact-fudging liar in the White House now and the results aren't good. We don't need another one.

[Brucey]

5. Being the front runner,

Dean has the luxury of not having to attack. Also, he and Clark have talked and perhaps have an understanding of some sort, probably on a very informal level. We may see a Dean/Clark/Dean ticket. But Kerry and Edwards and Kucinich need to be in the mix; they are important voices. And Sharpton, for sure, has added a sharp tongue to the debates, while Braun has spoken eloquently. We have a very nice group, friends, very nice.

[KaraokeKarlton]

6. This adds fuel to my suspiscions

That Clark entered the race to help Dean. I've thought this for awhile now. I'm convinced Clark jumped in when he did to steal any fire Kerry may have built up from his announcement. I think Clark is playing the "Kerry spoiler", to snag the support of the many Kerry backers who think the election is going to be about homeland security and defense. There's no way Clark is going to be able to catch up to Dean and win the nomination, and everyone knows Dean wants Clark as his VP. What better way for Clark to make sure he gets on the ticket than to make sure Kerry doesn't get the nomination? I think Dean and Clark already have a deal. Clark stays in the race long enough to force Kerry out of the race and to split the rest of the vote up. Then, right before the convention, he drops out and endorses Dean. I actually think Clinton could be in on this as well. He and Hillary like Dean a lot. Dean was working with them when they wanted Universal Health Care and Clinton gave Dean two waivers to allow him to expand coverage in Vermont and reform the welfare system as he wanted to. Dean also called just one person to ask if they were running before deciding to throw his hat in the ring. Who was that person? Hillary Clinton. Bill Clinton also came to Dean's defense when the DLC attacked him and said at the Harking steak fry that NO ONE is better on Health Care than Howard Dean. What was the Clinton's big goal? Universal Health Care. Just some food for thought.

[Demobrat]

8. That's a very interesting take on it.

But something about Trippi's statement struck me as odd. Almost like a knife in the back that you never even feel going in. "Give him some time to figure out where his positions are?" It sort of begs the question "Shouldn't he already know?" It's almost like killing him with kindness.

[KaraokeKarlton]

18. I didn't see it that way

I saw it as Trippi understanding that Clark is being asked so many questions by reporters who are going to try to trip him up in the way they pose their questions. Clark isn't a politician, so it's understandable that he's struggling a bit. Clark needs some time to find the best response to these kinds of questions so that he can state his position clearly and consistently. That's what I gathered from Trippi's statement.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

31. If that's kindness then Kerry executes a classic "compliment" as slam

'let's wait for the brilliant minds he has assembled to make up HIS mind' HA HA HA !!! Kerry's answer was brilliant.

[Vikingking66]

48. I dunno

Certainly a lot of Clark's new staffers are making quiet anti-Dean comments, looking to soak up the anti-war, online, liberal vote.
I don't think Clark himself feels that way. I imagine that Dean would
probably hope that Clark plays out like you described, but I think it'll
be slightly different. The problem is that Dean has to make sure that
Clark loses without hurting him himself, so that the offer of VP won't
get rejected.

Frankly, I think a Dean/Clark ticket would be a monster, and it's no
wonder that the Republicans are getting very worried about this.
Dean's populist camapign could overcome their cash, and Clark would
turn the vice-presidential debate into a bloodbath. Wouldn't it be
cool if they did the two debates at once, on the same stage, like a
WWF tag-team match?

[janx]

59. Thanks for your analysis. I've been worried that the DLC

threw Clark in when Kerry's campaign started to get into trouble. The DLC supposedly doesn't like Dean.

But I have also noticed, from some news reports, that Dean and Clark met something like four times in as many months. There's some kind of a relationship there. And I have noticed that Clintons seem to like him; at one point, some Clinton political advisors met with Dean about foreign policy. (And this is in addition to the things you mentioned, some of which I knew about and some I didn't.)

Anyway, I hope you are right. Clark's and Dean's views on almost everything are the same. I'd hate to see a division in the party at such a critical time. Both men have broad-based appeal and can attract a lot of Americans. The only sure way to get Chimpy out is to make sure they do so together.

[JI7]

10. "give him time to learn where his positions are "?

that's polite ?

[RevolutionStartsNow]

12. That's not what he said

That's how I read it the first time,too, but he actually said, "I think you've got to give him some time so WE can learn where his positions are." He did not say that Clark needs to learn his own positions. That would have been mean. :)

[JI7]

14. ok, sorry about that

.

[DrFunkenstein]

13. Dean's Just Happy That Clark Is Not Legitimizing Kerry's Stance

Clark was crystal clear - he would have voted for the resolution, but in retrospect, it would have been the wrong to trust Bush.

Clark was being the worst thing for a politician - honest. His staff cleaned that up real quick.

[RevolutionStartsNow]

16. And when Dean's happy...

we're all happy!

[sandnsea]

28. Not so sure

When he says he wouldn't have voted for that resolution, than I'll know what he means. For now, he's saying he would have voted to do something about Saddam which is why Kerry voted for that resolution. He says he wouldn't have voted for a war when there was no imminent threat, no need for preemption. That's Kerry's position as well, except he's even tougher on no preemptive wars. So it's fine for Clark to say he didn't approve of this war under the circumstances caused by Bush, but that he would have voted for the 'right kind of leverage'. Well what does that mean? That wasn't a choice Congress had. We'll see how things move along here, but I personally am not remotely worried about Wes Clark. Because no matter what his position, he's going to bring a level of expertise to the debate and there's only a few people running that can rise to that level.

[KaraokeKarlton]

19. Yes, it is

Clark is facing the journalists who are trying to trip him up all at one time. The questions he's being asked are going to be hard for him to answer and stay consistent. Clark knows what his views are, but he needs to find the right way to present them under these interrogation type questions so that he can sound consistent. That's what Trippi was trying to say, IMO. Also, Clark is still in the process of developing his official positions and forming the statements that go with them. He should have had this prepared ahead of time, but he's not a politician, so he deserves some time to pull it all together.

[DJcairo]

20. Clark shot himself in the foot

and caused more of his supporters to do a double take.

My bet: he goes no where. Youa ren't supposed to have no platform, a muddled foreign policy and bad PR on your second day on teh trail when you've got teh Clinton all-stars backing you.

I'm pissed at Clinton. Why is he meedling around with this thing. We Dems have a great chance next year. Why does Clinton have to promote a "stalking horse"

[disgruntella]

23. No foreign policy?

Wesley Clark on Foreign Policy
http://www.issues2000.org/2004/Wesley_Clark_Foreign_Policy.htm

So Clark got tripped up by the press on his first day out. He's not a career politician, so it's not a complete shocker. However, he has been quite eloquent on foreign policy (see quotes in the link above) and on other issues in the past. So I'm not convinced that Clark is terminally gaffe-prone yet.

I wonder if six months from now, anyone but a few people on DU (and no doubt FR) will remember this.

[Edmundo]

33. Want a chance in 2004?

Who has a chance in 2004? Dean? I am still not sure about who I'm going to support out of the 10 democratic candidates but I sure want the person who has the biggest chances to win against Bush in 2004.

The Bush camp will go after the candidate who builds his campaigns around being against the war in Iraq and they are going attempt to portray the democrat cadidate as weak in national security. Who is the democratic front runner perceived as building a campaign around opposing the war? Dean. Who is the target for the Bush gang to attack in this matter? Dean.

Most voters choose a candidate based on vague perceptions and so far against Bush using his $200,000,000 to convince swing voters that national security is the main issue Dean doesn't stand a chance.

Let's see a team working for a draft dodger be able to portray a West Point graduate, Vietnam veteran, four-star general, and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander as weak in national security.

Dean is by far the strongest candidate for the nomination but he's in third, if that, among the democrats with a chance to beat Bush. With Bush vs. Dean we're going to deal with the national security mantra. Bush vs Clark or even Kerry we may be able to go after domestic issues.

Besides, Dean will not be able to win ANY of the red states. Our southern general may be able to take some and get Bush out of the White House.

I am not yet 100% sure about Clark, I would love to see more on issues and see where he stands. But if I like it enough he will be getting check from me.

So Dean people, please try not to diqualify Wes Clark before you know more about the guy. I know you fear Clark but let's see what he has to say before you start attempting to disqualify the man.

Thanks!

[KaraokeKarlton]

37. Dean has the most experience running against that kind of campaign

He won against far worse than anything Rove and Bush can throw at him in the 2000 Governors race here in Vermont. He had to win over the state to accept Civil Unions against a hate campaign run against him. He was called everything from a "fag" to a "child molestor", was spat on, had to wear a bullet proof vest, got death threats, harrassing phone calls at home, his vehicle was vandalized. It was VERY ugly. Yet he overcame it by not running from the ugliness. He plowed right through it. The man has balls of steel and is the best equipped to take on the GOP. On top of that, the worse he's attacked, the better he gets. Dean has brought in enough loyal supporters who otherwise wouldn't be voting to provide a win for him as long as Democrats get in line and vote for him.

[Edmundo]

44. Rove + $200 Million will turn Dean into a Dukakis

I don't have anything against Dean, don't get me wrong. If he gets the nomination I hope he wins. But I already forsee his demise. I will be as annoyed as you but Rove has $200 million to Dukakisify Dean and he will succeed. Both of us might not fall for that crap but swing voters will and we are going to have to deal with four more years of Bush. We can't have that...

I think Dean would be a good president and I would have no problems supporting him but I am not convinced that he can beat Bush in a national election. Winning an election for governor in Vermont is not enough argument to convince me.

What matters to me right now is nominating someone who can beat Bush in 2004. Clark can do that. Right now I am just waiting to see more "Clark on the issues" to make a decision whether to jump on his bandwagon or not.

[Demobrat]

54. Just out of curiosity

If Clark is the nominee, do you think he's bullet proof? That Rove and his 200 million will find nothing at all on him, and if they don't won't make something up and use it to full effect? Just like they will no matter who is nominated? Or is Clark that squeaky clean? I really don't know much about him.

[Edmundo]

55. I don't think Clark is a sure winner...

But I think he has a better chance than Dean.

[Edmundo]

56. Besides...

From the MSNBC article in a different Clark thread:

"When registered voters were asked who they would vote for if a general election if President George W. Bush was pitted against Clark, Kerry or Dean, none of the candidates were able to beat the incumbent, although Clark fared better than the others, polling at 43 percent to Bush’s 47 percent. Kerry was next, polling at 43 percent to Bush’s 48 percent. Dean fared worst, with Bush beating him by a full 14 points (52 percent to 38 percent). "

Why should I support Dean if I want Bush out of the White house?

[PAMod]

60. Dukakis had no fight in him, but Dean is all fight, all the time

$200,000,000 or $300,000,000, it won't matter. The Bush administration is going to be on the defensive 24/7 IF we have a candidate that is willing to fight.

Sure, Rove will try to define & label Dean or whomever gets the Democratic nod. The trick is to not sit back and take it!

Howard Dean isn't promising everything to everyone - but he will fight for us.

Even if you're not for Howard Dean, you know he will fight; do whatever it takes to win in November '04.

We need a fighter.

[Demobrat]

47. The war in Iraq was a lie.

We know it. Dean knows it. Now W admits it. And by next year the whole country is going to be in on the secret. This campaign is going to be about how to clean up Ws mess, not who plays best by Ws rules and gets to be "The War President". I think we've had enough of that.

[Edmundo]

49. That's what you think and what I think BUT...

...it's not how voters think. Unfortunately!

[Demobrat]

53. Not at the moment, no.

But if Dean is the nominee, I don't think he will have any problem at all making his case to the American people. I just don't. Sure Rove's got money, but so what? So will Dean.

[Vikingking66]

50. I disagree

The Bush camp will go after the candidate who builds his campaigns around being against the war in Iraq and they are going attempt to portray the democrat cadidate as weak in national security. Who is the democratic front runner perceived as building a campaign around opposing the war? Dean. Who is the target for the Bush gang to attack in this matter? Dean.
--The worse Iraq gets, the less effective this becomes. Already, pluralities and majorities support Dean's stance on Iraq depending on the questions asked. This trend is only going to increase. If the American people are where Dean is, why take someone whose criticisms of the war can be pushed off with "then why did you vote for it?"
Most voters choose a candidate based on vague perceptions and so far against Bush using his $200,000,000 to convince swing voters that national security is the main issue Dean doesn't stand a chance.
--No crap Bush is going to spend a lot of money. But he's rowing against the current, and the proportion of swing voters is dropping as partisanship is on the rise. Dean naturally does well among independents, especially white guys. All he has to do is come close with the money, and his fundraising now is a pretty good indication he can.

Let's see a team working for a draft dodger be able to portray a West Point graduate, Vietnam veteran, four-star general, and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander as weak in national security.
--The draft dodger story doesn't work anymore. It's too old and the Commander in Chief thing trumps it. I agree Clark would be difficult to attack on national security, but he'd be very easy to attack on being inexperienced with domestic policy.

Dean is by far the strongest candidate for the nomination but he's in third, if that, among the democrats with a chance to beat Bush. With Bush vs. Dean we're going to deal with the national security mantra. Bush vs Clark or even Kerry we may be able to go after domestic issues.
-Dean's certainly going to go after domestic issues in a huge way, on balanced budgets and health insurance. The numbers you allude to are largely based on the fact that 2/3 can't name a candidate. Once people tune in, then I assure you Dean's numbers will go up as will those of the other candidates.

Besides, Dean will not be able to win ANY of the red states. Our southern general may be able to take some and get Bush out of the White House.
-Dean's leading in Maryland, Delaware, Tennessee, and is in double digits in South Carolina. He's incredibly popular in Texas, where his ads and appearances have heartened Democrats who've felt written off by the Party. If he wins some red states in the primaries, that argument goes away. A southern general would be able to get some, but that'd be true if he were VP as well.

[peaceandjustice]

61. Dean can win red states

I think by taking away the gun control issue, which is the sole defining issue for a significant portion of the electorate in several red states Bush barely won, Dean can pick up Nevada, New Hampshire and West Virginia. Other red states will be tough because he is the only candidate to actually perform abortions, but the Christian Coalition vote in states like Utah, Alabama, and Kansas won't go for any Democrat. He's also staked out what Joe Lieberman is already calling "protectionist" trade policies. A lot of the closer red states in the South would benefit from protectionism. The Carolinas. Loiusiana-where Mary Landrieu was largely re-elected because of questionable foreign sugar trade deals.

[JI7]

35. i like clinton and he has a right

to support whoever he wants. i would be happy if he was supporting kerry. so i'm not going to be some hypocrite complaining about him supporting someone else when i know i would love it if he was doing same for kerry. and clark has plenty of foreign policy experience.

[genius]

22. That's rich. Shifty Dean is calling Clark inconsistent

Dean's war position has changed number times and his stances on everything change so fast that he can't always remember what he said last - as in the AFL-CCIO debate.

[MercutioATC]

24. My experience with the Dean campaign in Cleveland:

Obviously, Cleveland is Kucinich home turf. It was made very clear to me that Dean isn't campaigning agressively here because he respects Kucinich's status as a candidate and feels that concentrating a campaign effort in Kucinich's home town would be disrespectful.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

34. Hmmm.

But he's going into Massachusetts early next week. What does that say?

[KaraokeKarlton]

38. That he doesn't respect Kerry?

n/t

[MercutioATC]

39. He's been to Cleveland too...he's just not concentrating efforts here

now. I'm sure that as the Ohio primary gets nearer, he'll spend more time in Ohio.

[tsipple]

41. Massachusetts Media Market Penetrates NH

Very common for candidates to go to Massachusetts for that reason alone. New Hampshire has very little of its own television media.

[KaraokeKarlton]

43. That's not really true

I live in Vermont near the NH border. There are stations for each area of the state with local news. A couple of the stations are close to the MA border so they include news and ads for that market. MA does the same thing with NH, NH does it with VT, and VT and NY do it with each other. If someone runs an ad in either southern NH or Northern MA, it's going to hit both areas. Same with Western VT and Eastern NY in areas near the border. Likewise, Portsmouth, NH also gets picked up by areas of Maine.

[tsipple]

58. All True, But...

...The Boston stations are popular among New Hampshire viewers. Just because there are TV stations in New Hampshire doesn't mean that's the only TV people watch.

New Hampshire has WNDS (Derry), WMUR (Manchester), and New Hampshire Public Broadcasting. That's it! WNDS's local newscast has only been on the air about five years now, so it's still trying to get viewers. WMUR is an ABC affiliate, and WNDS is independent. New Hampshire folks have to watch an out-of-state station for CBS, NBC, Fox, WB, or UPN.

[KaraokeKarlton]

62. WNNE is NH news combined with VT

And there are many others along the border of Maine and Vermont. WNNE is located in White River Junction which is just across the Connetticut River from Lebanon, NH. The station covers both states equally, and on their website they use Lebanon, NH weather reports. Massachusetts stations only reach the southern part of NH. But Vermont reaches the entire length of the state and reaches pretty far in. Even in the southern part of NH, Vermont media reaches in from the west. The newspapers in both NH and VT routinely cover the news from both states. It's almost as if VT and NH are one state in a lot of ways. I live in Vermont, but I am in NH just about every day for one reason or another. The two states work together on just about everything from law enforcement, the media, medical care, education and the state governments. It's probably one of the closest state to state relationships in the country.

[HPLeft]

30. Trippi is still courting Clark

Dean needs Clark (or at least they think they do) in a general election, so they're making nice. But Clark's confusion very definitely suggests that he's not ready for prime time. I have no idea what he was thinking when he made either statement. This falls into the same catagory as athletes who claim they were misquoted in their autobiographies. There's simply no excuse for it.

[MercutioATC]

42. Trippi's not courting Kucinich, as far as I can tell

and the campaign is still showing respect for Kucinich's "turf" at this stage of the race. Sure, politics plays a part in it, but his past actions with showing respect for Kucinich seem to support the idea that Dean was being honest and saying what he felt in this quote.

[Demobrat]

51. I am trying to keep an open mind about Clark

considering everything I know about him I read on this board in the past few months. I don't want to form an opinion based on other people's. But this is the one question it seems to me he would have thought about ahead of time. Would you have voted for the war? Come on. He didn't have an answer ready for that? I go into client meetings with answers ready for questions I think they might ask. Or at least I darn well try to. I'm sure Clark can read a speech, but so can anybody, even W, almost, but this comes off like he's not even thinking about the very issue he's running as an expert on. Oh well, I'm sure I'll see more. The jury's still out on Clark, but I just hate this feeling that I'm being sold a package. Rove isn't the only marketing guy in the world, after all.

[Vikingking66]

45. he's been there

If he makes nice, that's one less person trying to whack at him and it makes Dean look like a nice guy who doesn't play dirty politics. Besides, the damage is being done by others.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

52. VERY Disappointed!

Good on ya, Howard Dean!

DTH, More Sure Than Ever That Dean Is His #2 Choice