Clark: "The Reagan Era is Over"

[WillyBrandt]

"It needs to be called and finished."

What a fucking guy! On Charlie Rose. To be followed by Ed Gillespie, RNC chair.

Ed's on. What a fuck!

[PROGRESSIVE1]

1. Do you have a line? God Bless Him.

:bounce:

[Kat45]

2. I love it! That was a great appearance by Clark, as usual.

Wes is still the best. :-)

[Armstead]

3. That was a good appearance

He reallt does seem like a great guy. Wish he'd had more of a chance to show that side of him on teevee.

[Carni]

4. I liked Clark when he was a CNN commentator

I was very impressed with him.

He's extremely intelligent esp on foreign policy and the middle east in particular.

Maybe the man is too good for the whole politics biz.

[countmyvote4real]

6. I agree with you Carni. That's when he got my attention.

Unfortunately, he didn't have any political campaign experience and it showed in his early campaign speeches. The public speaking seemed forced vs. his TV commentary. No doubt, he got better at it, but it was too late.

It's amazing how much more comfortable he seems since announcing his pullout.

He was my candidate and I don't think he is going to fade away. There's still a great role for Clark in the future.

[Carni]

7. I TOTALLY AGREE!

I watched him in the debates and thought who the hell IS this man?

The difference is night and day between the campaigning Clark and the at ease Clark- not sure what does that to candidates but it definitely comes into play somehow!

I think Clark would make an excellent Sec of State...his talents in foreign affairs IMO would be wasted in the VP role.

[RafterMan]

5. Great appearance

I loved the bit in the middle where he and Charlie were lauhing about the strange ritualism of the process. Wes' attitude was great -- not a trace of the embittered loser.

I still have a trace of the embittered loser, but I'll get over it. Sigh.

[nancyharris]

8. Odd thing for someone to say

who actually voted for Reagan

[WillyBrandt]

9. The Clark-bashing never ever ever stops

[fromadam]

10. Why do you say that?

[nancyharris]

Because

it is astoundingly hypocritical for him to declare the “end to the Reagan era” when he himself was a Reagan supporter.

[andym]

14. Not at all hypocritical

He was admitting he and others who voted for Reagan were wrong. And I find it gratifying every time I hear someone who voted for Reagan admit it was a mistake :) It means there is hope for the future of this country.

[Toucano]

20. Gimme a break.

A Reagan "supporter"?

Thousands of people voted for Reagan who would not be characterized as Reagan supporters.

Do you remember the Carter years? He's a great hero to me, but I don't fault anyone for not voting for him. He was an ineffective president.

[Julien Sorel]

21. Come back with this

after you look up the meaning of the word 'hypocritical.'

[fromadam]

26. It's not hypocritical in the least

perhaps you don't really understand what "hypocrisy" is?

btw, I don't know that it is accurate to label someone a "Reagan supporter" when all you know about their support of Reagan is that they voted for him 20 years ago. That just seems an odd thing to say, do you know something more about Clark's involvement with Reagan? Or are you engaging in a bit of dramatic hyperbole?

[NV1962]

30. Please explain the hypocrisy

You're suggesting, by using the word "hypocrisy" that Clark still is a "Republican Reaganite" who "falsely" declares the end of the Reagan era.

Care to elaborate?

Actually, nevermind - I think I nailed it already.

But the word you should have been looking for, instead, is "courageous." Now that would have been far more effective - and a more stealthy way of calling Wes Clark a Republican Reaganite.

[saracat]

31. Reagan and Hypocrisy

And I think that now is a good time to remind everyone that Reagan was a longtime Democrat who refused to become a Repug until the Bloomingdales and Nancy twisted his arm. I think it ironic that the Prez the Repugs admire most was actually originally a Dem!

[newyawker99]

34. His saracat!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[newyawker99]

33. Hi fromadam!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Renew Deal]

11. Kucinich's abortion position is odd too

right?

[politick]

12. You're right

there is that ONE issue to hold against Kucinich. (sound of wind blowing across a deserted country road. A single tumbleweed bounces across the horizon)

:)

[nancyharris]

15. Most

definitely!

[kayleybeth]

13. Excuse me but I am someone who once "actually voted for Reagan" too

and I have since seen the light. I don't think this makes me any less of a Democrat. Nor does it make Wes Clark any less of a Democrat. People change.

[nancyharris]

16. Of course people change

But if this is indeed the “end of the Reagan era” it certainly had nothing to do with anything he did. His ability to influence the Democratic Party (much less the general public) was miniscule. He lasted all of 4 weeks in the Democratic nomination race once the voting started. He is a good man and certainly deserves respect for his service to the country, but he deserves no credit for changing the Party much less ending the Reagan era.

[WillyBrandt]

17. Hatred, pixelized

Well done.

[nancyharris]

18. It is not the lest bit hatred

It is simply the facts. Ignore them if you choose but 4 weeks from now he will have as much influence on the Party as Carol Braun.

[Toucano]

22. Now you're attacking Carol?

Excuse me, but I've heard Dean and Kerry use Carol's expressions.

I've heard candidates use Gephardt's "miserable failure" expression.

I've heard them use Clark's "reckless and wrong" expression too.

It sure sounds like Carol, Dick, and Wes had an influence.

[Nashyra]

19. He did more in his "four short weeks'

than the candidates running or the Dem party did in the last 4years. thank you Wes Clark and Michael Moore for the AWOL story.

[kayleybeth]

23. Who's giving him credit for "ending the Reagan era"??

I believe what Clark said was, "The Reagan era is over". Perhaps I missed something, but I never heard him claim responsibility for "ending the Reagan era". The original poster of this thread didn't claim that either.

[fromadam]

27. Exactly

sheesh!

[Bread and Circus]

35. Clark did more for the reputation of the Democratic party than Kucinich

Clark saved Clinton's face during the Balkan Wars.
If Clinton had failed, we would have that to face in subsequent
elections.

Kucinich, though a great liberal thinker, hasn't done anything
that carries such tales.

I love Kucinich, but we need to use reason, not just
surface appearances.

[Tactical Progressive]

25. It's odd that you would think it odd

It's silly to think that someone wouldn't reassess policy choices across twenty years time. Why would you believe that?

[Piperay]

32. So, I was stupid enough to

vote and support Nixon but I guess I'm not allowed to say it was a big fat stinking mistake, huh??? I would like to meet the perfect person who has never make a mistake, never made the wrong choice or never voted for the wrong person. :argh:

[Julien Sorel]

24. Perfect words to end a revolution.

Reaganism has gone too far. To the extent that it got the country more focused on a market-driven economy it was fine, but now the movement that started with Goldwater and reached its acme with Reagan has become a caricature of itself, and 'Reagan conservatism' is being used as a cover for the rolling back of civil rights, positive affirmative action, abortion rights -- all the gains we've made in this country since the 60s.

Someone had to say it, and Clark is the man. I hope he has a chance to do more than say it in the future. I have never been happier to support Clark than I am right now.

[kayleybeth]

28. Well said, BillyB

I wish I had written what you wrote in this post.

[tobius]

what exactly does " the reagan era is over.."mean?

Clinton's 8 years were the reagan era? Or that the Dem nominee will be in favor of repealing all the tax cuts? or what..?

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