Clark seems to be doing pitiful...

[Bread and Circus]

As many know, I am a longtime Clark supporter -- one of the
first here to play him up (think back to June 2003). At the
time, it was Dean Underground around here and I took my licks
from many a Dean supporter due to my harsh criticism of Dean.
Dean's plight not withstanding, I have to say Clark's public support
has dwindled to the point of being pathetic. The latest
polls show he is well behind Kerry even in TN and VA. It's just
awful. I know he's great and all. As a matter of fact,
I have given the standard $2,000 to his campaign.

What gives?

Yes, there is a HUGE bias against him from the right, the
left, as well as the media but I thought he would play well
with the "average" voter. He certainly didn't play well with
the average primary voter.

Here are the things I think he should have done to have made
a difference:

Formulated and exploratory committee in June.
Used July to form policy positions.
Informally announce intent to run and start raising cash in August.
Formally announce in September.
Never have said "I probably would have voted for..." the IWR.
Had a battle plan to fight the release of the RNC tapes regarding
the fundraiser.
Handled the debates better due to having formed his policies
in the summer
Refuse to answer the same darn question over and over "are you
a real Democrat". It only propagated the notion he wasn't.
Campaigned in Iowa.
Never hire Chris LeHane and some of the other "politicos" he
associated himself with.
Embraced the Draft movement more aggressively early on -- alot
of us felt "on hold" during September and October.
Never tried to act like a "crowd stirrer" -- he's not.
Fixed the thing in his neck where he seems hunched at times.
Wore better fitting suits and ties that didn't go below the buckle.
Embraced something bold as a vision for the future -- energy,
health care...something....something to set him apart -- tax cuts
are kind of unimaginative.
Not spend so much time in New Hampshire, that was a pretty thankless
experience.
Owned South Carolina, OK, Arizona, and New Mexico -- he could have
swept those if he hadn't camped out in New Hampshire and stole some of the "War Hero" voted from Kerry in Iowa.
As a matter of fact, if he would have split the Foreign Policy
XP vote with Kerry, Dean would have done better in Iowa and NH,
further setting up Clark to be the "Southerner w/ FP XP" and would
have further helped him win the South.
Played himself as the real candidate who had the crossover appeal
to win the GE. He got so caught up proving what a liberal he is,
he kinda forgot that. Ultimately the sheeple used "ability to
beat Bush" as their litmus test -- bless their hearts.
Blink a little more.

One thing I got to hand to him, he did take the high road compared
to the rest in terms of avoiding bashing and unfairly cutting down other candidates. He wasn't perfect, I'd give him an A- on this but the rest get C's.

Anyone else have thoughts on what Clark and his campaign should
have done to be in a better position at this time?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. You Supported A Good Man...

NT

[Bread and Circus]

2. I still support him...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. It Appears Kerry Will Be The Nominee

IMHO there are only three candidates that can beat Bush and they are Edwards, Kerry, and Clark, and they all bring positives as well as negatives to the table and would have to rely on different electoral college strategies to win...

[laruemtt]

3. maybe i''m being too simplistic but

what comes to mind is "pearls before swine." i'm afraid too many

people cannot comprehend brilliance when it stands before them and

therefore reject it. the attacks from the right eased up when they

decided he didn't have a chance. i'm still hopeful - or am i

drowning in that damned river in egypt.................

[bowens43]

48. That's it

just insult the 75-85% of Democrats who don't think Clark should be the nominee. That does a lot for your candidate.

You're right, you're being to simplistic but not for the reasons you think.

[Eurobabe]

5. would have helped if

Clark made the decision to get in earlier, to give the organization time to gel

have had a more coherent message, he always ran as the alternative to someone else, and when they tanked it pulled him down a notch also

the rest of my thoughts are aimed at the DNC/DLC: CEASE the IA and NH primaries, let's get a more representative state to go first, and then rotate who holds the first primary; most of the reason that NH wants to retain this has to do with $$$$$$

something has to change regarding the millions and millions of dollars that the media are getting for ad spots, let's make it mandatory that everyone who runs receives the same amount airtime and it is a public service, rather than taken out of political contributions

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Wes Clark Was To Be The Anti War Candidate With A Military Background...

Somehow Kerry appropriated that position...

Also, Kerry was aided by the aura of ineveitability when Howard Dean self immoliated in Iowa...

[BeyondGeography]

6. The Boys and Girls Club said "no thanks"

Yes, there are many structural problems with the campaign; the late start date, the Iowa conundrum, Lehane, etc. But the continued questioning of Clark's Democratic credentials did enormous damage.

I have a bad feeling about this, because it takes a lot of guts for anyone to run for the nomination. But nobody stuck his neck out more than Clark, who has spent many months criticizing Bush's foreign policy in more effective terms than any of our candidates, only to continually be called a Republican by the party whose very interests he is serving.

Yes, one could have argued at first that Clark was an opportunist for declaring himself a Democrat, and that this declaration was a simple function of his desire to be president. But no one who has listened to him on domestic issues these past months can intellectually defend the thought that he is a Republican. And Clark will never make a dime off of Republicans again after this campaign, no small statement for a man who only started making real money a few years ago by lobbying Republicans. If anyone has conducted himself on principle, it's Wes Clark.

I didn't expect the party to welcome him with open arms, but the close-minded attitude of the Jeanne Shaheen's of the world was revealing.

You would think a party that has lost the White House, the House and the Senate would be more open to outside talent. But the Democratic Party is The Tenure Party. The Republicans will embrace outsiders with open arms (if they think they can be useful), protect them from attacks and develop them. Our party is the Girls and Boys Club. Members only, please.

[Eurobabe]

8. which is why I will NOT

join the Dem party until they lose this pedigreed attitude, Independent suits me just fine!

We desperately need a legitimate 3rd party in this flippin' country (but not this year, we need to come together to remove the scourge first)

[Cogito]

28. Well,

the criticism about Clark not having a record as a Democratic candidate was important. It was the first thing Dean and Kerry did to attack Clark. It is a legitimate issue I think and I can understand why many in the party would be reluctant to throw the dice on someone they don't know. But, I don't think that was the real reason folks didn't go for Clark. I think folks decided that Clark just wasn't connecting with people in the way Kerry and Edwards can and that in the end he would not be as electable as either of those guys. I think there is merit in that position.

[Skwmom]

54. Clark is far more electable than Kerry or Edwards

He's obviously the person the republicans fear the most and since they own the SC, the WH, and Congress my money is on them knowing who in the heck is their biggest threat.

Watching the Republicans play the Democrats is like watching a cat play with a mouse.

[BootinUp]

9. You forget

Clark is not a politico. To expect him to play everything perfect belies who he is.

But let me expand on two of the items in your list:

Projecting himself as the liberal.

There was a gender gap due to women in NH unable to connect with him. I believe he had to play up the liberal policies to minimize that.

Not spend so much time in NH.

You are trying to use hindsight in politics. This is I am sure the dreams of many :) Clark didn't get in the race sooner for personal reasons as much as anything. And the date he entered the race largely set their strategy. He did spend significant time and money in the Southwest, SC, Wisconsin. So there is more to this than just too much time in NH.

I am sure we will get a story from Clark nad or his son on this adventure. It should prove interesting reading. My guess is that Clark was rejected by Democratic insiders after a couple gaffes early on and was never given the support he needed to catch on with the media elite.

My last comment is simply that the Zogby polls do not signal the end to Clark's campaign. I prefer to play this thing out till Super Tuesday, and I encourage all of Clark's supporters to do the same. Things change in politics very rapidly, we need to be there should anything happen to the frontrunner.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

11. I Think The "Clark Was A Closet Republican" ChargeHurt Him The Most...

It made him look like he was an opportunist...


This charge frosts me the most...


I have been voting since 76 and have never voted Republican once...

[xultar]

14. But some have so what's the big deal. As a black woman perhaps

I should have. Maybe all of us black folk should have. Why?

The democratic party has taken us forgranted.

I forsee a large number of blacks starting to vote republican. I may be one of them. Though I'd never vote for GWB. I'm ANGRY so ANGRY I could spit fire and nails.

The democratic party has done nothing for me and nothing for the black community. What was that whole closing voting places in MI? What about the FL 2k thing. The democrats did nothing to fight for us.

I don't give a flying F if anyone voted republican in the past. IF we start ousting any one who voted republican in the democratic party we'd be down to a few. This is coming from someone who wrote my dog in rather than vote for a rethug in local elections. Down here in GA you'd be more than likely to get 2 rethugs runing against each other than a dem and a rethug in local/county elections.

I hate it when dems become so pompas that we forsake what made our party great. I propose that we tell the FEC to throw out any vote from a dem voter who voted rethug in the past. I also propose that we throw out any votes from live long rethugs who have a coming to jesus moment and decide to vote dem.

Let's see how far closing ranks and practicing exclusion will get us.

[loudsue]

42. Xultar, it's NOT a "race" thing.....

The "powers that be" in the Dem party have taken ALL of the grassroots Dems for granted, while whoring with the corporations. Those of us who are TRUE "populist" Dems (which includes the traditional progressive African American base), have completely been ignored.

There is a movement which, in my honest opinion, has sought to infiltrate the NAACP and other predominantly African American groups with the propaganda that they should "switch" to the republican party since the Dems have "taken them for granted, and failed to fight for them". It has been effective even among small-town southern African Americans.

Please...PLEASE...don't let the republicans pull off this lie to African Americans! The Dems in power have been bought by the corporations, and therefore the Dems in power (the Dem Party) has ignored THE ENTIRE grassroots base...NOT just the African American base. The Dem party didn't support ANY of us Dems in Florida, if they ignored even ONE of us...black or white or brown or red or yellow. Don't you see what they're doing?

The corporate-owned section of the Dem party is selling the whole lot of us down the river. And if we start splitting apart by "race", that only plays into their scheme. It is absolutely intentional, and is ESSENTIAL for a complete take-over of this country, to make the black voters angry at the Dem party. United, we have been a force to reckon with. Divided and disgruntled against each other, we cannot even begin to HOPE to bring our party back to a party of "the people", vs. the corporations.

Don't let this meme spread in the black communities! It's suicide for our cause! And it will cause even more racism that is creeping back into the country than ever before....hell, republicans are making it "fashionable" again to be racist. And the Dems who have whored themselves are letting it happen. All progressive Dems are rebelling, but we have to remain unified.

I know I'm repeating myself, and probably rambling here. But it's a nail in the coffin to African Americans if they allow themselves to fall for this. The African American vote, if unified, IS the vote of the country, because there are SO MANY of us whites who support the same thing the traditional black vote supports. The things that help black voters, helps ALL of us who are not among the ruling elite.

The solution is NOT to leave the Dem party. The solution is to take it back!!!

:kick:

[xultar]

50. I know it's not a "Race" thing, I'm giving my POV as a Black female

which will probably be different than some one who isn't Black.

Comprende?

When it is all said and done, the democratic party though it counts heavilly on our votes as a GIVEN since JFK days. Hasn't done anymore to help since then. That is what I'm saying.

[dsewell]

10. The Time Machine strategy

Put Gen. Clark in a time machine and send him back to mid-2003 with the political experience he has gained in the past five months, and he'd be the frontrunner today. Ah, well.

[Lefta Dissenter]

12. As long as he marches on,

so will I. I SO fully believe in Wes Clark.

Exposure, exposure, exposure... I blame the media and the Dem establishment for a HUGE part of the problem. They decided that he wouldn't be the nominee, so he's been fighting an enormous uphill battle against them WHILE fighting against the other candidates.

We went to Racine yesterday to hear him speak. The room was absolutely PACKED to the brim, people went crazy for him. I just wish that more people could see him - there's no doubt he should be our next president. He understands the problems facing our country, and he has great, workable, detailed plans to turn us around.

I am on my way into the office, to work the phones and get ready for the campaign to move into Wisconsin on Wednesday. I am not giving up, and I hope that all of General Clark's supporters will show the same determination and tenacity that he does.

[grisvador]

13. Posted B4

Second Ballot Blues

Is it better for Dems to unite behind 1 candidate early or for everyone to stay in and possibly force a second/third ballot at the convention?


Seems like the longer everyone is in the race, the longer the media has to cover all the candidates. This allows more exposure for Democratic issues to be discussed and certainly keeps the Repugs from devising a clear attack strategy. Also, think of the excitement in the media if it went to a second ballot. The convention would get more media coverage and a larger audience if it were not predetermined.

I want to see...

Howard Dean the candidate rant at Bush
Al Sharpton talk about equality for all
Edwards to use that dazzling smile that is so hypnotic
Dennis to heal the nation with such amazing compassion
John Kerry to stand tall and proud -
The General holding the President accountable

Right now they have a certain amount of mystique because they are Presidential Candidates that they will lose if they give up the fight.

Fight On Brave Candidates - You are making us all proud!


I think; therefore I am confused

[Skwmom]

23. But how is the media covering the candidates?

They say Kerry is the most electable? On what basis? Polls that don't mean a darn thing.

They rave about Edward's speaking ability and message? Has anyone discussed a personal injury attorney's ability to be pres or whether his message is sincere or will be debunked as nothing but a political ploy upon scrutiny? No of course not. They'll wait until the general election to raise these questions.

[BootinUp]

25. Shocking friend

how dare you question the process!

You have touched on one of pet peeves, the polls of Kerry and Bush being used to claim electability. Of course any candidate would do this if the polls were in his/her favor. What really needs to happen is we need additional regulation of the media coverage for Federal elections. Less pundrity and more of the candidates.

[mmonk]

15. The problems

began with the "he is really a republican" ploy continually pushed at the debates which was a stronger pyschological ploy than many imagined (pushed at the debates by holy Joe and picked up by the media). Add to that the flyers and hecklers at every speaking engagement or town hall meeting he did from other campaigns, the repubs have had lots of help. Add to that the Kosovo stuff and picking up on the republican "character" thing by the other dems, he has spent too much time in front of the camera having to deal with that. The media was also portraying him as a one issue horse which he is not (when they have covered him). I still can't get over that on the day of the election in New Hampshire, the media comes out before people have voted and declares Clark DOA there.

I have to say I'm ashamed of the democratic party through this process, not only how the party powers have handled Clark, but also Dean. In my opinion, the party is becoming elitist and slimy in how it deals with some of its own candidates. It also makes it harder for me to know who I should back if Clark pulls out. One thing I have learned is the democratic party IS NOT a big tent.

[BootinUp]

18. Yes, I have already decided to

not support Kerry as a second choice. He will get my vote in November if he is the nominee but that is all he will get. If for some reason Clark is out before Super Tuesday then I will probably not go to the primary polls.

[Shanty Oilish]

16. Sheep...swine...

You think them sheep, post #3 refers to swine. Surely Wesley Clark does not share this low regard for American voters.

[Skwmom]

20. The whole primary process is a joke.

It's appalling that this is how we elect a nominee. No wonder this country is in such a da*n mess.

[bowens43]

36. You mean by voting?

[xultar]

17. And, what is this, got in the Race late, so now we have a new trend

where candiates have to start running 2 years in advance?

Puhleez.

I need to move to another country. Cuz, our election process is a bunch o bull$hit.

[democratreformed]

21. So, what country sounds good to you?

Under different circumstances (if my hubby and family were game), I probably would be actively looking for a place to emigrate to at this very moment.

[Skwmom]

19. Clark does play very well with the average voter who gets to know him.

You'd be amazed at how many people vote without knowing very much about the candidates. They are falling for the "Kerry is the one who can beat Bush bandwagon" which is a joke.

Clark has been hurt by:
1. Smears from both the right and left.
2. Dirty tricks by the other candidates (yes they are still taking place, but don't expect the media to discuss that fact).
3. Lack of name recognition.
4. The establishment has rallied around Kerry.
5. The republican media machine for the most part either ignores or smears him (which is the factor which has hurt Clark the most). While the Democrats were debating campaign finance the Republicans were busy controlling more of the media).
6. Bush supporters voting in the primaries.
7. He doesn't have the money or time to get out his message in VA.

With what Clark has been up against it is a miracle how well he has done.

The Republicans I've talked to are gloating about the scandals they have on Kerry so if Kerry is the nominee get prepared for endless discussions of Kerry and Clinton with the conclusion that Kerry is more of a sleaze than Bill Clinton. Contrary to what posters on this board have concluded this does matter. There are a lot of open seats in the south and other areas where this will be used very effectively to defeat the Democrats.

[ThoughtCriminal]

22. I decided to vote for Clark

in the AZ Primary. I'm enthusiastic about the several of the candidates and especially Kerry, but disappointed that so many Democrats have overlooked him. It is especially sad that the election is considered closed when so few have had the opportunity to even vote yet. But as I look back, at other elections, my favorites often fall short:

Udall
Hart
Tsongas

[democratreformed]

24. I am disappointed as well

I argued vehemently on here with someone about a month ago b/c he said my vote doesn't count (my primary is in May). Now, it's appears to be true. Not that it doesn't count really - just that it doesn't matter.

[Jerseycoa]

26. John Kerry was right

"Stop crying in your teacups."

:spank:

Clarksters, get the day's work for our candidate going right now. That means you. :)

[Cogito]

27. Clark's problems

By far the biggest problem Clark had is starting so late. If he had started 6 months earlier I think the kind of movement that developed around Dean would have formed around Clark. More importantly, he would have had 6 months experience on the campaign trail, honing his message and learning how to play big time politics. Time after time Clark used the techniques in terms of public speaking and responding to the media that are appropriate for a four star general but don't work for a candidate. I think a significant problem for Clark is that he puts on his I am a general leading the troops tone of voice and it sets the wrong tone. Clark is capable of modulating that tone and being empathetic and inspirational without yelling himself hoarse. Clark can connect with people almost as well as Edwards when he finds the right pitch but too many times he did not hit the right pitch. Clark has nothing to be ashamed of though and neither do those of us who support him. He has added a great deal of gravitas to the criticisms of the Iraq war to the extent that the critiques coming from all the candidates now sound serious and professional rather than simply ideological. The bottom line is that if Clark does not catch on it is because he simply does not do the little things that make for great candidates. We have to have a great candidate this time and Kerry has been doing the things great candidates do.

[LiberalBushFan]

37. I guess starting too late is the problem any drafted candidate faces

no one gets drafted two years in advance. We need some reform so that you don't need 2 years of campaigning to win. Of course, he may not need it after all.

[Tom Rinaldo]

29. Doc, I am seriously disappointed by the tone of your post.

I can see the same realities as you can, and there is a time and a place to discuss them. Now is not that time, though this may be that place.

First off, your use of the word pitiful honestly seems insulting to Clark and everyone else who has supported him, when you look at the actual facts. Clark has never previously run for any office, and already he has outlasted Senator and former Governor Bob Graham, Congressman and former House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt, and Senator and former Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, in this race. Clark defeated all of the non New England Candidates in the NH Primary, and unlike Howard Dean he has actually won a primary. No one other than John Kerry has won more contests than Wesley Clark. Clark is in a statistical polling tie with Edwards for second in the Tuesday primaries. Clark is polling stronger than Edwards or Dean for the follow up Wisconsin primary, even though Dean has pegged it as must win for his candidacy. We can argue about whether or to what degree Clark has been disappointing. Pitiful, I repeat, is not only an unfair characterization, it feels insulting.

You remind me of AFSME pulling their endorsement of Dean while the results from Washington were still being counted, only 10 days before Dean's do or die contest in Wisconsin. People are busting their butts making phone calls to Tennessee, and you are posting this thread while we do so. Obviously you could have waited two days to see what fruit those efforts would bear, but though you remind us of your support for Clark, you chose not to wait those two days that we are using to actively campaign. Perhaps if it was all a forgone conclusion, I would have more understanding of your timing. Clark may be a long shot at this point, but he is not out of it.

I can give you two solid reasons for saying that. Number One, Kerry is a newly minted "Front Runner". If you look at the changing polls over a six week period it is obvious that Kerry did not have deep support that has stuck by him and built. Kerry doesn't have the deep bedrock support of a, say, Hillary Clinton, and Kerry did not suddenly burst on the National scene either. Kerry had the good fortune of being an active campaigner in Iowa when the wheels were falling off of Dean's campaign. Kerry has done some things right also, but that is the root of his winning "momentum". Kerry wasn't Dean, he also wasn't perceived as a spent force like Gephardt, and he had international experience unlike Edwards. The voters had to go somewhere. Voters want a winner this year against Bush, and right now Kerry is winning.

Even the media will concede that unexpected things can happen in an election cycle that suddenly doom a front runner. Here is a short list of people who were all but pre ordained to be the likely nominee before their campaigns unexpectedly seemingly self destructed: Ed Muskie, Hugh Romney, Gary Hart, and Howard Dean. Yet by writing public obituaries for the Clark campaign now you potentially discourage others from fighting for him today making it less likely that Clark will be positioned as the candidate best able to pick up the pieces if Kerry should fall. And here is Number Two. Clark is the candidate best positioned to pick up the pieces if Kerry should stumble, because Clark not Edwards is better able to win most of Dean's voters if Dean fails to make a comeback, and Dean is in a weaker position than Clark is right now. Dean is going to have unfortunately lousy numbers in both Virginia and Tennessee on Tuesday. He can not build any momentum heading into Wisconsin, but Clark still can.

Clark is very well positioned to finish stronger than Edwards in both of those states, that is very doable if supporters of Clark like yourself remain a small minority in his camp, and we keep WORKING to win. Regardless of what Kerry does in those two states can you see what that would mean? Edwards would no longer be the golden boy with all of that forward momentum. Edwards would no longer be the candidate who can win the South, Clark will be. If Clark finishes above Edwards on Tuesday, Edwards will have only bested Clark in one of four Southern States, the one he was born in. Clark will be the surprise story coming out of Tuesday, more so than Kerry even. Clark will be the number two man in the race, not Dean or Edwards. Clark will start getting media attention for the first time in a month. Dean has already had it. Edwards has already had it. Kerry has already had it, only Clark HASN'T had it. Clark is the only candidate left in this race with unexploited upside potential.

Once it becomes a two person race, many of the dynamics of this race will shift. Everything I have listed above is doable, even without a Clark victory on Tuesday, and I still think one is possible. First, I DO NOT TRUST Zogby polls, period. Second, there are a lot of undecided voters in Tennessee. We can still make this happen, and I would rather not have to be using time one day before the elections responding to a Clark Supporter post like yours.

[HoosierClarkie]

30. Amen!

[democratreformed]

33. Amen #2

The support I saw in Tennessee this weekend was far from pitiful.

[Jack_Dawson]

34. Amen #3

That shit is weak. People who wither at the first bump in the road really piss me off. We don't need themm in our camp. Great post Tom.

[Tim_in_HK]

35. Here here!

Not the time for this. Analyze when it's over. Right now, I'm still supporting the best candidate there is. And I feel GREAT TO BE ENERGIZED! Will it last? Hell, I don't know! But I sure dang hope so!

[Bread and Circus]

44. I hope I am wrong...

[Tom Rinaldo]

45. Have you tried calling Tennessee? Make yourself wrong!

I'm going to start a new thread so that we don't have to keep having this discussion under this pitiful header. I can excuse you Doc. I know you have been a good Clark supporter, honest, and things have been frustrating. But my point still stands. You started a premature discussion with potentially harmful consequences while we still have the chance to influence events. Please try getting on the phones yourself, and then post your experiences on the Clark eBlock Support Thread.

[Jack_Dawson]

46. Have you been eBlocking, Family Doc?

[Bread and Circus]

53. To be honest, no -- but I started a major website for Clark...

actually 2, and both are linked from the grassroots
page on Clark04, also I was very active in the grassroots
movement in my state driving 2 hours one way weekly
during that time period to attend meetings.

However, through this, things were getting hard for my regular
job (yes, I am a family doctor) so I have had to cut back.

I understand how you may be frustrated with me, but I feel
I gave all I could until the point it was hurting my professional
and family life.

[Jack_Dawson]

31. Hindsight's 20/20

Clark's a good man and he still has my vote. Unfortunately I cannot halt the media's crowning of Kerry. All I can do is call voters in TN which I've been doing with great success.

[Bucky]

32. He's not winning, but he's not doing "pitiful". There's only one winner

We can't all win this election. Clark has done well and has raised some important issues (particularly on tax fairness and Bush's bad leadership) that otherwise would have gone unaddressed.

It wouldn't suck to lose to Kerry or Edwards--they're both fine men. I know Clark wants to be president and I know that he'd do a better job of it than anybody else. But it's no tragedy that he's losing the primary votes. He is making a difference.

[cheezus]

38. He needed appeal outside of "look at me, I'm a General"

All the Clark supporters could say about him at my caucus was "leadership".


I hope Clark comes back when he has the experience to be a real competitor. This time around he only had the "I can beat Bush on National Security" niche, and Kerry won that one.

[mmonk]

41. Do we really know that?

[bowens43]

49. Of course there is a HUGE difference between leadership in government

and the military. The kind of leadership that is needed to be a military officer isn't necessarily transferable to the civilian government. Clark's lack of political experience coupled with his lack of Democratic credentials is what did him in. He should be running for congress rather then presidency. He needs to earn his stripes.

[On the Road]

39. Clark Suffered from High Initial Expectations

He is my second choice after Dean. I just get the sense that politics is second, and the good of the country is first. Maybe that's another reason he has not done well.

[shivaji]

40. Clark's & his supporters fatal mistake was to

go after the wrong candidate...Dean.
What they failed to grasp is that Kerry had the inside
track from DLC backing. If they had zeroed on Kerry from
the beginning, this would still be a wide open race.

[xultar]

51. I find that funny most everyone was attacking Clark for being DLC

and a rethug.

[blm]

43. It's his first time in politics. He's doing GREAT considering.

I predict he caught the bug and will run for governor in Arkansas.

[HoosierClarkie]

47. I really do not think so.

Unless those thousands of people ask him to do it. :)

[Julien Sorel]

52. I've said this before, but

every struggling campaign ends up looking like it can't do anything right. You can go through every candidate and come up with a list of things they did wrong, or simply could have done differently. Two months ago, Kerry's campaign was a laughingstock -- he was boring, he ran a 'top-down' campaign, he was a Washington insider, he lacked energy, he voted for the IWR -- I read one ridiculous piece that faulted Kerry for the slow pace he walked at during a campaign parade, compared to the vigorous, youthful Dean. Now it's Dean who is the laughinstock. The reality is that Kerry was never so bad, and Dean never so wonderful, as the lazy media portrayed them, and Kerry is not so strong, and Dean not as big a jackass, as the media portray them now -- the truth is somewhere in between.

Clark's biggest mistake was not putting together a strong organization before he declared -- it completely abrogated the splash that came from his announcement, and pretty much forced the decision to skip out on Iowa. Everything else snowballed from there. No one predicted just how huge an impact Iowa would have on the entire rest of the campaign -- Edwards was shit before Iowa, and suddenly he rose to relative prominence, while Clark slid, Dean slid -- Iowa was everything, and Clark's late entrance and lack of an organization killed him there. It also hurt badly that Edwards, another southerner, was the one to do well in Iowa -- Clark needed to have the South to himself for his strategy to work. That was simply bad luck, and totally outside of his control. The model that both Clark and Edwards are following, to use the South as a springboard, can only work for one person, and the fact that both of them are there kills it. It's bad luck for both men, but not a case of bad decision making.

You listed a whole list of problems and so on. All of them existed before Iowa, and Clark was doing fine then. Do you think that these problems somehow magically appeared on voters' screens after Iowa, or was it, as I think is pretty obvious, simply a case of bandwagon jumping by the sheeple?

[Bread and Circus]

55. Hey BB, there is much wisdom in what you say, this in particular:

Clark's biggest mistake was not putting together a strong organization before he declared -- it completely abrogated the splash that came from his announcement, and pretty much forced the decision to skip out on Iowa. Everything else snowballed from there.


--

I couldn't agree with you more.