Kerry/Clark= lights out for Bush

[quinnox]

I think this ticket would be a formidable one. You have Kerry, a Vietnam vet with medals for his service, and Clark, a bonafide general and former supreme commander. National security is likely to be a major issue in the campaign for 2004, with Bush saying the country needs to stick with him to keep America safe. The RNC scheduling of the GOP convention near the unveiling of the Sept. 11 memorial underscores their strategy. With this ticket, that strategy would be a no go or at least ineffective. Then Bush will have the weak economy and high unemployment to run on, and he will be rolled over by this ticket when they use attack ads on his poor performance in this area.

[tomp]

1. another vote for the militarist ticket. nt

.

[sirshack]

2. a military background is not enough....

Clinton didn't have a military background......

[molly]

10. We weren't at "WAR"

[Dr Fate]

3. Clark is from the South too- Arkansas...

...which cant hurt one bit.

[w13rd0]

4. Gore was a veteran too...

...does anyone really think that stacking the ticket with military credentials will make it bulletproof? Perhaps you should have a chat with Cleland...

[Dr Fate]

5. Well, Gore won by 500,000 votes and...

...I followed Cleland's race- he diid not lose in a landslide- and he did not have the campaign funds to counter-act the false, negative ads against him...

[sangh0]

27. Bullet-proof?

Who said anything about "bullet-proof"?

That sounds to me like making the perfect the enemy of the good.

[w13rd0]

30. No, the perfect the enemy of the good...

...would be thinking a stacked ticket would be a "slam dunk" when the stacking is all you've got going. You want a "military ticket", fine. But tell me why I should be excited or support a military ticket. It's as likely that people would see this as a move of desperation, and a rather shifty move at that.

Tell me why this military ticket would have any impact at all? Why not just run of mannequins dolled up in flight jackets?

[Dr Fate]

31. Well...

you start out by suggesting that John Kerry and Wesley Clark are empty suits-"mannequins dolled up in flight jacket" I'm not buying that one-
that sounds just like BUSH- not a real combat Vet/war protester and a General.

As far as Clark goes- perhaps we should hear more from him- but we do need a Southerner on the ticket- and I dont prefer Edwards as a nominee...

[sangh0]

34. All *I've* got

I think it's absurd to say that all that Kerry and Graham have are miltary uniforms. You're talking about people who have a history of liberal legislation (Kerry) and investigating the govt and Repukes (both of them), not to mention a history of getting elected.

[Kahuna]

33. There are vets and then there are HEROS who took...

4 bullets and lost chunks of flesh in the service of our country.

[derrald]

6. military alone may not be enough

the press showed Bush in the flight suit. Like it or not, that will sway 20% of voters to thinking that Bush fought in the war himself. So, we need someone who can call Bush not only on the military but also on healthcare and the economy. right now, Kucinich and Dean look like the best candidates for that. In the end, though, I would still call for a military person. A Dean - Clark ticket could get a huge percentage if they're willing to put Bush in his spoiled-ass rich boy place.

[Alex146]

7. Wouldn't that cause

the antiwar crowd to vote third party?

[molly]

11. Not if they are smart and think logically

[Pastiche423]

23. Why would a Dean supporter

ask such a dumb question?

[Emoto]

8. Kerry has a long way to go

Bush is well liked by many Americans and has the ability to connect with the average Joe. Kerry, on the other hand, while a nice enough guy (I have met him) bears the burden of being seen as a wealthy elitist northern liberal. It does not matter if those charges are true or not, what matters is if he can connect with the average guy and dispell that perception.

[vi5]

9. I'm starting to think that way too.....

Shallow and misguided a reasoning as it may be I really think it is the only way that will make it hard for bushco to pound back effectively. Let them try to paint 2 military veterans as "soft" or "too liberal".

[aquart]

14. Jesus Joseph and Mary! Too liberal??????????????????

You're already letting the GOP set the language? You wimp!

Too Liberal? And you counter with pictures of candidates in uniform instead of Yes, I believe American children should not starve. Yes, I believe every American should be able to find a job that makes the most of his/her abilities. Yes, I believe in talking before shooting. It's real soft not to want bodies in mass graves or to have city after city of grieving wives and mothers, isn't it, George?

They can't counter with the military. They have screwed the military. DO NOT GIVE THEM GUNS WHEN THE ISSUE IS BUTTER.

Too liberal? I believe every soldier and his family should have enough to eat, to buy shoes for their children, good schools wherever they are stationed.....is that too liberal for you, George?

Too liberal? When I go out hunting, I want clean air in the woods, and the running rivers to be pure and full of fish. Is that too liberal, George?

Being scared of the word liberal (from a Sumerian -yeah,Iraq- word meaning heart, core, family) is the dumbest most DLC witless idea I've ever heard.

You take the words they hurl and hurl them back, with a little nuclear tonnage.

[sangh0]

16. Talk about not getting it

You're already letting the GOP set the language? You wimp!

No, we're talking about a pre-emptive strike so that they can't even use the language they prefer.

And you counter with pictures of candidates in uniform instead of Yes, I believe American children should not starve.

No, we're countering with pictures of LIBERALS IN UNIFORM who believe that American children should not starve.


And you counter with pictures of candidates in uniform instead of Yes, I believe American children should not starve.

Do you really think a liberal is incapable of saying this while wearing a uniform? Why do you assume it's one or the other? Why not BOTH?

They can't counter with the military. They have screwed the military. DO NOT GIVE THEM GUNS WHEN THE ISSUE IS BUTTER.

Where have you been? The issue is "GUNS" - National security is going to be one of the critical issues in the coming campaign. There will be little talk of "butter"

And yes, they can talk about the military. Maybe you haven't noticed, but the public doesn't realize that Bush* is screwing up the military.

Being scared of the word liberal (from a Sumerian -yeah,Iraq- word meaning heart, core, family) is the dumbest most DLC witless idea I've ever heard.

Where did you get this ridiculous idea that someone who has served in the military can't be a liberal? And where did you get the silly idea that anyone who served in the military is "afraid" of the word "liberal"?

[blm]

19. Kerry is already the most liberal candidate

out of the first tier. He and Kucinich are pretty close with Kerry more liberal historically on a few issues than Kucinich, and vice versa on others.

For Kerry, there is no running away from his record...why would he? It's solid.

[jonnyblitz]

38. good post.

too many DUers get their cues from a right wing analysis...

[Kahuna]

44. It's called being prepared.

[cally]

12. I think so

It would help take the national security issue off the table and allow Dems to focus on the economy and environment. Repukes can't use the unpatriotic charge or lack of experience charge on Dems.

[w13rd0]

13. Haha, like hell they can't...

...the Democratic party could put MacArthur and John Wayne on the ticket and if they ran as Democrats, the Republicans would paint them as unpatriotic soft on defense tax and spenders. Quit allowing the Republicans to define us and dictate our policies and candidates...

[sangh0]

17. Take your own advice

You advise us to "Quit allowing the Republicans to define us", while at the same time, you reject a Dem military candidate because "the Democratic party could put MacArthur and John Wayne on the ticket and if they ran as Democrats, the Republicans would paint them as unpatriotic soft on defense tax and spenders"

[w13rd0]

29. I don't "reject a Dem military candidate"...

...because of what I think the Republicans would do. I reject a Dem military candidacy because I reject a military candidacy.

[sangh0]

36. If you reject candidates with military experience

then that's the argument you should make, and not waste anyone's time with arguments that even you don't believe. Your responses don't offer any arguments to support your opposition to candidates with military experience, not even this last response of yours.

But I don't blame you for not making such an argument. Your position is intolerant, and if widely held, would have invalidated the candidacies of some of our best Presidents, like Washington, Jefferson, Ike, Teddy Roosevelt, Gore, etc

[DrGonzoLives]

35. ...so you deny that the Republicans would do just that?

You seem to have your head in the sand, thinking that the Republicans wouldn't dare come after military people, but you're wrong. They will still be painted as "soft" and "too liberal," like it or not. The question is, how do we respond to that, not getting pissed off for pointing out that that will happen.

[sangh0]

39. No, I do not deny that

What I'm saying is that the charges of too "soft" and "liberal" will be harder to make against a Dem who served with honor. Just look at how Kerry responded when Repukes criticized Kerry for his "regime change" comment. Basically, he said something like "It'll be a cold day in hell before the likes of people who didn't serve, like DeLay, tell me what to do."

[phillybri]

15. Cleland didn't (couldn't) fight back....

Don't think for a second that Kerry and/or Clark would take any shit from the Reich Wing...

Like it or not, countering the national security issue will be huge in '04.

[wndycty]

18. I like Clark and Dean.

I have joined the Draft Clark movement, however I am happy with him as VP. I think Clark and Dean is a good ticket because we need both a moderate and a true liberal. I like Kerry as well but he has been a disappointment lately. If we get Kerry we don't need Clark or visa versa. Just my thoughts. I don't want two military men I think that is overkill. I would be happy with a Clark/Dean or Kerry/Dean ticket. Clark is my favorite but we need a strong liberal on the ticket. Now Clark would be very good with a strong Black congressman or woman.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[revcarol]

21. No way, Jose.

These two nominees are guaranteed to tick off the base, the swing voters, the Greens and independents. This would be a landslide for REPUBLICANS.

[molly]

24. Where did you get your stats?

and your reasoning?

[dpbrown]

22. That would be a formidable ticket

I still think Kerry poses one of the biggest threats to the Idiot Usurper, although Dennis is the best candidate in the pack.

[Jolene]

25. Just a note of warning to Kerry supporters...

I'm not sure everyone is aware of this, but there was a movement in the Spectator to connect Kerry with the Mena stuff they tried to pin on President Clinton.

The plan to implicate Kerry was tabled, but I would be prepared for it to be revived. The rightwingers will try to pull a 'Clinton' on Kerry...

This is for informational purposes, only.

[blm]

28. HAHA...Kerry investigated Poppy Bush and MENA...

Let the Spectator bring it up. Kerry was the INVESTIGATOR of CIA drugrunning and Mena was part of it. Does Bush want the "classified" parts of the investigation released to the public? Kerry does. heheh

[moondust]

26. You mean

overwhelm and neutralize them militarily which is all they have to run on and once you've done that move on to all the other issues that desperately need the attention of real national heroes?

Yeah, I can dig it.

[wheresthemind]

32. this would be a damn good ticket...

and I think it would beat Bush.

but Dennis is my man.

[robbedvoter]

37. I like Clark - more and more. Mr "get over it" does NOT belong

on the ticket with Clark - let alone in the top position. Clark actually opposes bush.

[curse10]

43. Oh come on

Kerry does not support Bush.

I wish Kerry bashers could come up with something a little more original that that. :eyes:

[GOPBasher]

40. Yeah, this ticket would make KKKarl Rove

shit his freaking pants!!! :-)

[Terwilliger]

41. would you get off it?

unless Clark runs, your arguments won't go anywhere

Is he going to run? I keep hearing that he won't.

[robbedvoter]

42. I think he will - but not as "Get over it"'s nr 2

I can see how Kerry supporters need reinforcements for validation. Dream on: Gore will NOT campaign for "Get over it" and Clark will run his own ticket - hopefully HIS nr 2 will be a bush opponent.

[Unity]

45. Don't forget that Clark is a decorated Vietnam vet also...

From DraftClark.com-

"As an infantryman in command of a mechanized company, Clark saw combat in Vietnam and was wounded four times in action, while fighting against the Viet Cong. During his Vietnam service, Clark received the Purple Heart and a Silver Star."