Why are DUers still bashing Clark?

[WillyBrandt]

What's the source of this phenomenon?

[JVS]

1. Hey, why are DUers bashing Gore?

I guess there is a lot of anger in this place.

[WillyBrandt]

2. I don't know. Gore's a good guy.

And he's gotten ever-better.

[JVS]

6. Yeah, Gore is cool. I was saddened when he decided not to run again

I feel he could have saved the party a lot of infighting

[Jack_Dawson]

3. Who's piling on? Lemme at 'em

[WillyBrandt]

7. A few here and there, still saying he was pro-Iraq war

A GOP stooge, blah blah. I don't understand.

I managed to stop bashing Lieberman pretty quickly after we went out, and that was Holy Joe. Man!

[JVS]

13. I seem to recall the pro-war statement

If I recall correctly it was not made by one of my fellow Dean supporters.

[WillyBrandt]

14. It certainly was not. As time went on, Dean supporters

were extremely polite regarding the General.

[JVS]

17. I have mellowed significantly with regards to Clark

Over time I became more receptive to his presence, especially when it was clearer that the anti-war candidates were taking it on the chin.

[shindig]

24. they just can't see

how the general would have politely "beat the shit" out of Bush, by effectively shattering the myth that Bush is an honorable and dignified man, who is protecting the country from terra. The Republicans could forsee big problems dealing with Clark. I am not saying that Kerry won't do ok, but Clark's criticism of Bush was extremely scarey to them. People on our side, who don't like Clark, just spew out this nonesense about he's a republican, he's not who he says he is, he supported the iraq war, he voted for Reagen, his eyeballs are scarey, he's creepy or whatever, he contradicts himself. It's all bs!

Clark's message is very consistent. So consistent, in fact, it petrified the republicans. When Clark says that prancing around on an aircraft carrier isn't patriotic, it's bad leadership, that symbolizes the 4 star general admonishing a subordinate for not acting right. It is part of the strategy to dispel the myth that George Bush is an honorable and dignified leader. Coupled with relentless criticism of the war in iraq, including hard criticism of both the need for, the leadup to, and the tragic aftermath of that bullshit war, would have been very difficult for Bush to defend himself with Clark saying it. And after a while, more people would have been listening to the message. That was Clark's biggest problem, not enough people listening at this point. That would have changed if he could have hung on.

But our people just don't want Clark to be the nominee. They just didn't want it, and that's it! I haven't seen anything very brilliant as to why Clark was the wrong choice. Mostly i just heard republican talking points thrown around. I could, however, understand people's feeling apprehensive about Clark's slapped together domestic agenda, no doubt. That was a big problem for Clark. I wasn't worried about it. His heart seems in the right place, and the could have been sorted out later. But I do understand others, not so intense for Clark, like I had become, feeling weary.

But people keep saying that the reason they want Kerry and not Clark was electability. That I think is a joke. This election is about terrorism and honor and dignity and Clinton's penis. Kerry has a lot of baggage to defend. Attacks on Clark during the general election, when he would have gotten full coverage to make his points and defend himself properly, would have come off way transparent, I think.

Perhaps the attacks on Kerry will seem desperate on Bush's part. I hope so, if Kerry is in fact the nominee. But again, I ask, why is it the Bush administration did everything in their power to make sure Clark sunk during the democratic nomination process, if Kerry is so electable? It doesn't make any sense.

I'm not saying Clark ran such a great election. But he always gets better. Geez, he was only in it for five months. The whole thing was uphill, always. Except for those four or five days, when his poll numbers went up before NH, it was difficult and frustrating at all times. His coverage was smear and snear, ignore or proclaim his demise. There wasn't ever anything positive said about him. And he still did pretty well. But this ain't horseshoes! :)

[oxymoron]

16. self delete

[JVS]

19. But that is not the allegation of Clark being pro-war of which I spoke.

[AP]

18. Who said that?

[JVS]

21. Debate on the issue of Clark's war position can be found here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=323749&mesg_id=323749

[AP]

23. There's no debate there. There's a quote from an Adam Nagourney article

in the NYTimes. But there's no debate.

[JVS]

25. people in the thread argue about Clark being pro or anti war

I don't really give a shit. I know Edwards was pro-war and that Clark has dropped out. I just want to make it clear for the record that Dean supporters, god bless us, are not the origin of all Clark bashing.

[bobthedrummer]

4. Why are DUers bashing Dennis Kucinich?

Especially now???

[WillyBrandt]

9. Dennis is still in, and Dennis is a saint

My dream was always Clark/Kucinich, or even K/C :)

[roguevalley]

11. strain

1. it took forever for bush to be exposed.

2. people love their candidate and some are falling out

3. clark is a fox. theirs isn't. ;)

4. its all too important and we're scared we will lose.

Hugs to all on DU tonight,

RV, a Democrat for Clark

[kayleybeth]

5. Sour grapes?

That'd be my guess.

[quinnox]

8. some are mad about Clark endorsing Kerry

If he had endorsed their guy instead, it would be a dramatically different tune. I have never bashed Clark myself, to me he seems to be a good guy.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

10. Are they?

Maybe I missed it. Link?

[WillyBrandt]

12. Won't provide one

Not interested in doing that. In various threads it's popping up.

[Adelante]

15. It's been all day long

Clark didn't endorse Dean.

[DjTj]

20. *sigh* - there really is something wrong with us.

...I feel pretty bad about it, but I think it's a reaction to his endorsement of Kerry and just some lingering sour grapes because we are still so used to being in direct competition.

I sincerely hope it will die down soon.

[exclark4dean]

22. Not me / I wish Clark had endorsed Dean though !

Or Kuncinich.