Dear "Clarkies" (Not a bashing thread. Really, it's not)

[Blue-Jay]

Listen. I like and respect the guy. If he were to get the Democratic nod, I'll happily support him. I just have a few questions, if you don't mind.

1) Why do you think he waited so long to admit that he's an actual Democrat?

2) If he's going to run (which I think he is), why has he taken so long to announce it?

3) Why do most of the fervent Clark-supporters on DU have a fewer number of posts here than most? (Yeah. I know I'm one to talk, but it's just something that I've noticed and I'm curious about that.)

4) What do you like on your pizzas?

[diplomats]

1. I like Clark because I think he has the best chance

of beating Bush (that's just my opinion, and that doesn't mean I don't thin anyone else CAN win). As for 1) I believe he might be doing that to broaden his appeal. As for 2) I read somewhere he's waiting until after Sept. 15 because of filing reasons. As for 3) I have thousands of posts. As for 4) I prefer pepperoni :)

[Pepperbelly]

2. ok ...

"1) Why do you think he waited so long to admit that he's an actual Democrat?"

Because it is something that never came up before and he probably wanted to be certain that there was a reason to tell anyone before he did. After all, if he decided or decides not to run, it's no one's business.

Overall, he is and was a Democrat in the same way I am ... by virtue of which primaries he voted in. Arkansas does not have party declaration as part of the process.

"2) If he's going to run (which I think he is), why has he taken so long to announce it? "

Because it is the smartest thing to do on so many levels. Personally, politically, strategically. I can go into detail on each but from my P.O.V., the rationale behind each is self evident.

"3) Why do most of the fervent Clark-supporters on DU have a fewer number of posts here than most? (Yeah. I know I'm one to talk, but it's just something that I've noticed and I'm curious about that.)"

Check my post count and say that again, bud.

"4) What do you like on your pizzas?"

Sometimes anchovies and extra cheese, sometimes Canadian bacon, pineapple, and extra cheese. :D

[roughsatori]

3. I see you and a few others as the exception to the rule # 3

I have received PMs from others mentioning the influx of newer members who support Clark. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something I have thought as well.


Just too many ifs for me right now in regards to Clark. But: "If" he declares and "if" he wins the primary I will vote for him. (But I plan to vote for Kucinich in the primary).

[Maddy McCall]

7. AND when you are employed by the Federal Government

you are, in most cases, not allowed to wear your Party on your sleeve.

Military commanders answer to both parties, not just the administration.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

4. those are easy questions!

1) Why do you think he waited so long to admit that he's an actual Democrat?

Because he's playing to get the independent vote and some Republicans.


2) If he's going to run (which I think he is), why has he taken so long to announce it?

As a highly educated military general, I'm sure Clark is familiar with Sun Tzu's Art of War. He is letting the enemy come to him.


3) Why do most of the fervent Clark-supporters on DU have a fewer number of posts here than most? (Yeah. I know I'm one to talk, but it's just something that I've noticed and I'm curious about that.)

That's not true, I am a "Clark-supporter" and I have been here for well over a year and post all the time. I've even donated to DU twice.

[Mz Pip]

5. OK I'll bite

1. There are plenty of people in this country who are independent thinkers. And then there are people who are not. Declaring a party early on would have turned off a certain portion of the electorate. At least he's had the opportunity to engage some of the more partisan Republicans that he might not have been able to had he come right out as a Democrat.

2. For the gazillionth time - it's not that late in the process. If 2/3 of Dems can't even name one Dem candidate at this point it pretty much shows that most people aren't even paying attention yet.

3. Check my post numbers...

4. Lots of cheese, tomatos, olives and artichoke hearts.

5. My favorite song is... nevermind.

MzPip
:dem:

[Blue-Jay]

6. Just to clarify...

I wasn't saying that all Clark supporters had a low post count, but I noticed quite a few. Of course, my observation was completely unscientific, as I can't be arsed to write down all the facts and figures. I wasn't implying anything; just stating a trend that I noticed. I could be wrong (bud), it's happened before.

Again, I like General Clark and I think that he'd make a fine president. Certainly better than our current chimp. I'm just trying to get a "feel" for some other DUers.

[Walt Starr]

8. If he ever actually runs, I may become a Clarkie

1) I dunno
2) I dunno
3) I dunno
4) Artichoke hearts, tomatoes and banana peppers.

[LEW]

9. I support Clark because

He knows for which he speaks...(something Dumba certainly doesn't) He is intellegent, articulate, knowledgeable and easy on the eyes. (Sorry but the last one counts to some)

I truely believe he can attract the undecided, the sometimes Repubs and centerist. (I am also more convinced then ever that Dean cannot)

Probably, the reason for ferverent Clarkies beginning to post here is because they have been waiting for someone to get excited about, and are learning about DU.

I think his stategy has been brilliant; keep the mystery going, generate enthusiasm, build support, let other candidates go after each other (which they are doing) then announce like a breath of fresh air....and win the nomination.

Looks like Clinton is supporting him and will be throwing considerable resources and votes his way....

Pizza: Love sauage, mushrooms and lots of cheese!!!!


B-)

[Starpass]

10. Me thinks we have been over those questions a zillion times and

me thinks you haven't paid attention to how many posts/posters because every time anyone posts anything we have the same 20 posters posting ten thousands replies to scream Dean, Dean.....and me really thinks the Wes Clark makes Dean people feel like someone just let the air out of the balloons at their party. They have hyped the polls of two states, months before the election, into the greatest victory ever on planet earth and now reality, wearing four stars appeared (and anti-war---gasp) to boot.............It's fun to see the words "Clarkies" instead of Deanies in a post for a change. And, it's soooo self-centered and wishful thinking to think that Wes will come in just to be Dean's boot licker.

[Mz Pip]

11. Really

New Hampshire and Iowa are just a blip on the screen. 1996 Clinton won NH. He didn't in 1992.

It is still months away from NH and Iowa and in the fickle world of politics a lot can change in a short time.

MzPip
:dem:

[Blue-Jay]

12. OK

I actually HAVE been paying attention to this board.

I've seen more than 20 DUers express their support for Howard Dean. Most have not "screamed". A few have, I'll admit.

I have no response for your third sentence, other than to say that we ALL have our favorites. I, like many of you, dislike the "bashing" threads of any of the current candidates. Please note that I didn't gush over any candidate; nor did I say anything disparaging about any of them.

I used "Clarkies" to attract attention to my questions. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Never did I suggest that ANYone should be a "boot licker".

I'm just looking for some perspective, Starpass. I honestly want to know where other DUers are coming from. It's not an attack. It's not personal. Don't be so defensive.

addendum: What's with the "me thinks"?

[Starpass]

18. I really wasn't going after you

I was just musing how the hackles seem to go up whenever Clark is mentioned to the Dean crowd. This is the guy they don't want to see....me thinks.

[Another Bill C.]

13. Number of posts

I'm a Clark supporter because I think he's the best man for the times. I also think he's the least vulnerable to the Republican dirty tricks and TV talk-show jokes. Ridicule is one of the Republicans' most effective tools and they have the major talk-shows pretty well sown up.

I don't have a lot of posts because I just ran across this site. However, I've been a Democrat for 50 years. Wesley Clark is the first prospective candidate that I have really liked since Gene McCarthy in the 60s.

There is this, though: He kind of looks like the bishop in "Princess Bride."

[Mz Pip]

14. Welcome.

I think I might have to watch the Princess Bride again.

So welcome to one Clark supporter with a couple of posts from another Clark supporter with a few thousand posts. :hi:

MzPip
:dem:

[graham67]

15. Peter Cook?

Ok, maybe a slight resemblance... ;)

[TacticalPeek]

26. The Perfumed Pope?

No, I didn't say that.

[Starpass]

19. Great observation Another Bill - it will be hard to ridicule him

and I can just imagine the crap they have already thought up to spew at any of our other candidates. Good point. If they military bash,they bash the only thing they have to run on!!!!!!

[diplomats]

20. Nice post, Another Bill C.

and welcome to DU!

[Julien Sorel]

23. Welcome to the board!

It's actually one of the things I like about Clark. There have been several people new to the board who seem to have got involved because of Clark. Why that is a negative to some, I don't know. Seems to me like it should be a good thing.

[newyawker99]

29. Hi Another Bill C.!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Riptide]

30. Oh, my God, he DOES look like that Bishop character....

Princess Bride is one of my favorite movies. I think Clark is more articulate, though.

[Wendec]

16. Same old

Not much new to add to the other posts

Why wait to announce as Democrat? Maximizing opportunity to broaden appeal to non-Democratic voters.

Why wait so long? Well, he's gotten great media attention that isn't available to an announced candidate. Lining up support (read $$$)

Why so few posts? I'm a big DU reader (and contributor) but not a big
poster. I've been here a pretty good while and I enjoy the site; I just don't share my every thought.

Pizza? That is a cruel question. I'm on a low-carb "eating for life" plan and will probably not get pizza again for a year!

[Bake]

17. Here you go

1. I don't know.
2. Strategery.
3. Check my post count.
4. The works.

Bake

[TheDonkey]

21. had those questions before...

I was originally a Dean fan (way back in the day) and then turned a fence sitter between Clark and Kerry.

I think Clark has the best chance to beat Bush and is really hard to trash on security and foreign affairs. What he needs to bulk up on is his domestic policy issues so we don't have him Arnolding the debates with, "I'll get back to you on that." If he does run he'll need someone who knows A LOT about domestic affairs.


1) I think he was using it to hype the media up. I was annoyed by this too, still am a little bit.

2) Definetly lapping the media up, right now he gets covered more than Sharpton, Braun, Kucinich, Edwards, and Graham and he's not even announced. But the canidates don't attack his domestic policy issues like health care, taxes, social security, etc because he's not a in the game yet.

3) I dunno. Unless you do a scientific stat for all new members and their dem. fav. then I'm not sure you can make that claim.

4) Sausage, Pepperoni, and extra cheese. green peppers sometimes....

[LTR]

22. Some answers, from my perspective

It's called a tease. Clark's potential candidacy is getting people to talk. It got people to think. If Wes Clark came right out and said, "I'm running for President as a Democrat", just out of the blue, would anyone care?

Does anyone REALLY care about the people in the race now? Is there anyone out there that is enthralled and doing backflips over the thought of a President Lieberman? Or a President Gephardt? Does this really stir excitement? Not to trash these men, but it just does not seem very exciting. Plus, if Clark just jumped in to the fray, he'd just be one of ten candidates. He'd be an Edwards or a Graham, both decent guys who very few really care about or even know of. And he'd just be pulling support from two sides: Dems, and people that REALLY hate Bush. Example: Kerry officially announced his candidacy a couple weeks ago. Did anyone notice or care? I thought he was already running. Most of the Democratic party's actions elicit yawns. Sad, yet true.

The Democratic party will continue to be perennial doormats to the GOP with status quo thinking on how to run a campaign. It's always the same ol', same ol'. If the Dems want even a chance of victory next year, they must think outside the proverbial box. Take chances. Be different. Shake the stodgy, educated, big government liberal image that the Rethuglicans make fun of us for. Bring new faces, new energy and new thinking to the table. It worked for Truman, Kennedy and Clinton. Narrow-minded thinking will kill the Democratic party, and bring us four more years of the long, national nightmare known as the Bush Administration. Do we really want that?

Enter Wesley Clark.

He's being talked about more than perhaps any other candidate (besides maybe Dean), and he hasn't even announced yet. Everything he says or does shuts down every arguement the GOP slings our way. Clark says things that many of us only think of saying. He represents a vibrancy that one could only dream of in a potential Dem candidate. Most importantly, he has the stuff that will send GWB slithering back to his mock ranch in Crawford, TX.

His strategy is to not just appeal to the Democratic diehards. This won't win elections. Plain and simple. There is no way to make the diehards happy. Rather, I see him as positioning himself first, and the party second, as it should be. It will make him stand out from the crowd. This is the only way to bring in moderates and undecideds who would easily sway toward Bush in '04. And it could help the Democratic party in the next election and in the future. Otherwise, we're heading to the end of a dead end road.

As far as newer posters, I admit, I am fairly new to the board. I've been reading DU for a few years, and decided to venture to the board a couple months back. Not because of Wesley Clark. But because I wanted to. And I've seen quite a few 1000+ posters who are Clark supporters. I was not one sent by the Draft Clark movement. I came here on my own free will.

And I like sausage, mushrooms, onions and jalapeno peppers on my pizza. With extra cheese.

[robbedvoter]

24. 1. To build support across party lines (and has succeeded)

At our meet-up there were Greens as well as GOP-ers (ex).
2. Cuz he's been drafted?
3.Check my profile. As for others (most?) all I can say - people join this movement every day - the meet-up, the Clark discussion groups organizations - and apparently DU. I guess it's a good thing.
4. Mushrooms.

[Donna Zen]

25. Answers;

1) While we are a two party system, many people and especially those in the military do not think in those terms.

2) Why did he wait? There are many reasons that I understand from reading and listening to him including the degree to which he would plan something of this size; however, in one article he explains that it is not enough to just want to win and beat the other person. The reason must contain a goal and vision. Apparently, he reached that point in his thinking.

3) Ah post count! I registered at DU way back because of a link at TT (Table Talk). At one point I forgot my password and had to request it. Mostly, I've used LBN and lurked a bit, but posted in another group. When I discovered DU had some Clark supporters, I chimed in.

4) Veggies and lots of cheese

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

27. Clark Is Unique In American Politics - An Intellectual

“…What few people realize is that behind the four stars and a mountain of insignia, is an irresistible urge to be recognized as a political intellectual and an ideolologue of social welfare.” “…a soldier who dreams of being a man of letters…”

Gabriel-Garcia Marquez, 1999

[KT2000]

28. He is running against Bush

not the other Democrats. He knew where Bush was headed with Iraq and probably waited till he got there before declaring.

[jumptheshadow]

31. Green olives and carmelized onions

1) A) He has worked in fields that require non-partisanship and objectivity, 2) He wanted to raise the level of political discourse so we would focus on issues rather than parties, and, 3) He is a strategist who knows he must win over lots of people who voted Republican the last time. I think his announcement as a Democrat was handled brilliantly, if you look at his ultimate target, which is the general population.

2) He was genuinely undecided and didn't want to enter unless he thought he could win. He's a man who can take decisive action when he needs to and holds back when it is the wiser option.

3) Coincidence. I just happened to be a fairly new poster who likes Clark. I met my first Clark supporters this past Monday. I've been a Democrat for 32 years and don't need to apologize to anyone for 1) registering at DU, and, 2) holding a political viewpoint.