Is Clark hurting his credibility ?

[kentuck]

By going on air so many times to make the point that he hasn't yet made a decision about running for the Presidency? Doesn't he run the risk of looking manipulative? Although I'm sure he is going on the cable shows because he is being asked. Still, should not this be a concern for him and shouldn't he perhaps clarify this situation when he does come on air? Perhaps he should tell the reporters that is a subject he will not discuss until he makes his decision, then maybe it would permit him to maintain his credibility?

[AP]

1. He's definitely getting into Powell-Cuomo territory.

He's actually playing it a little smarter, but I guess we'll all know on the 16th.

I wonder -- and I'm totally guessing here -- if the DNC has told him that he can enter the race if he can get two or three of the other candidates to drop out, and the last couple of weeks have been negotiations to see who's willing to drop out. He did say that he has been in contact with all the campaigns.

[KittyWampus]

2. Mostly, He's Been Going On The Air Talking About Issues

And the interviewers always end up ask about running....

so NO, I don't think he's "hurting" his credibility.

[diplomats]

6. I agree. It's not like he's vacillating

He'll announce a decision next week. He's not ready now so that's why he's not confirming it.

[cjbuchanan]

3. Not yet

If he is still doing this in a month, then yes, people will be tired of it (including the press). However, I think we will know within a week if he is in or out.

[tjdee]

4. Too much more and it'll get annoying---but he HAD to address

the Dean/Clark stuff.

So he did.

I wouldn't be surprised if Rove is on the go go go.

[TheBlob]

5. I don't think it will be a problem.

Once he announces his candidacy people will quickly forget about the way he's dragged this out and see it for what it was.... "Strategery."

However, if in another week, after all this stringing along, he announces that he is NOT running, I think a lot of people will be pissed off and turn on him.

[dfong63]

21. a lot of people do think it's a problem

However, if in another week, after all this stringing along, he announces that he is NOT running, I think a lot of people will be pissed off and turn on him.

a lot of people reached the point of being fed up with his "stringing along" a month ago. the clark camp started persistent rumors that he'd announce by labor day - which was late. labor day has come and gone, and no declaration. his time to sh*t has passed. now it's time for him to get off the can.

clark's "strategy" is evasive, manipulative, arrogant, and not what i want in a chief executive. if this kind of game-playing is what we can expect from a clark presidency, i want NO part of it.

[TheBlob]

23. That's fine.

The only people paying attention right now are political junkies like those of us here at DU. Mainstream America will be asleep till early next year. Hell, most of them still can't even name the Dem candidates.

So the few impatient people here that are so "fed up" with the procrastination will be replaced by TONS of middle-of-the-roaders who will be jumping on the Clark bandwagon once he announces.

See ya.

:hi:

[Pepperbelly]

27. Give me a break ...

You have NEVER posted anything positive about Clark. Don't pretend this is some late breaking development. We all know you don't like him.

:eyes:

[oasis]

7. He's getting solo face time, by announcing now, he'll be thrown in the mix

When and if he gets the nomination and then the White House, this particular strategy will be called as a "masterstroke."

[Dookus]

8. Nope...

not in the slightest. The election is 14 months away. He's making his decision based on HIS schedule, not the media's, and certainly not DU's.

He's also not equivocating. He has said consistently that he hasn't made the decision yet. He's not switching between yes and no.

Also, HE is not consistently raising the question. He's being asked about it everywhere he goes, and gives consistent answers.

[Capn Sunshine]

9. Depends if he's running for VP or not

until I hear otherwise, and in light of the newest Dean camp story
it would seem he is.

[diplomats]

17. Nobody runs for VP

eom

[The Night Owl]

10. Clark is a former General, and as such, he operates strategically.

I am certain Clark has some strategic reason for waiting so long before jumping into the race.

[roughsatori]

11. I was thinking today that Clark may "Peak" before he announces

But upon reflection I don't think that has ever happened to a candidate, but I could be wrong. :shrug:

[XEON]

12. He runs the risk of exposure.

I have been looking at this site for about a year and I am appalled at how politicaly stupid the people here are. The yes and no game with media is great. Clark has kept "shorty blowhard" out on the limb. Maybe Clark will announce next week. Maybe not. What is shorty blowhard to do? He has to give head to stay alive.

[roughsatori]

13. You write that you are appalled by how stupid DUers are

but you have continued coming here for a year. :shrug:

Thank the Lord you are here to lift our political IQs.

When you are calling others "politically stupid" it does not reflect well on you to misspell the word "politically" in the same sentence that you deride our intelligence.

[TacticalPeek]

35. How typocal.

[Evil_Dewers]

15. Well..

at least some people here are stupid (namely you). 12 posts in a year and that's!!! what you chose to write?!?!?!

I think I know of some sites better suited for you:

http://www.lucianne.com (ask the old bat about LBJ's schlong).

http://www.unfreerepubliKKKan.com

[diplomats]

16. The suspense does keep the media interested and guessing

eom

[Cocoa]

24. are the Clark supporters deliberately obnoxious?

Is it some kind of strategy, like shock and awe or something?

It's so extreme I can't see how it's coincidence, though it hasn't been too bad recently.

[Pepperbelly]

28. I wonder the same thing about Dean supporters.

Go figure.

[RetroLounge]

34. Are we playing with mommy's computer today?

Are we playing with mommy's computer today?

24 posts, so far, every one nasty and anti-Dean.

Not a single complete sentence or any substance in any of his posts.

Not to mention his 5th grade spelling level.

[jeter]

14. No. Clinton didn't announce until November of 1991.

That would be two months away in this election cycle.

Why is everyone in such a hurry for Clark to announce?

Bobby Kennedy announced in Feb of 1968. JFK in Jan. of 1960.

Get over it.

[FubarFly]

18. Because there are nine other candiates in the field and

the incumbant is George W B*sh.

Uncertainty at a time when we should be focused on removing this monster from the WH is a bad thing. The sooner we know where Clark stands, the sooner we can focus our energies on ending the hostile neo-con fascist takeover of our country.

Unless of course you already "got over" Election 2000, 9/11, and the Iraq Invasion. In which case, nevermind.

[dfong63]

19. but clinton had a political track record - clark doesn't

[AP]

20. This has to be one of the least informed comments made about Clark

Clinton din't announce until November in the same sense that Edwards and Kerry didn't announce until September. Has there been any doubt in your mind that Kerry and Edwards have been running for president? Announcing is a ceremonial thing. The key thing is when you file.

I believe JFK filed with the FEC on Jan 1, 1959, so Democrats who want to tap into that legacy also file on Jan 1. Edwards filed with the FEC on Jan 1. I believe (but could be wrong) that Clinton filed on Jan 1.

Clark hasn't filed and he hasn't announced. Again, I could be wrong, but I don't think there was a single day in 1991 during which it wasn't clear that he was running for president. (In fact, Bush sent his first dirt squad down to Ark. in '89 because it was so obvious Clinton was a threat to the Bush hegemony.

I'm not saying that Clark couldn't make up a lot of territory very quickly, but he definitely has a lot of territory to make up, and the "Clinton announced late" argument does more to hurt the argument for a Clark run than help (because Clinton DIDN"T wait, and because Clinton, unlike Clark, was thinking about the presidency, and laying down the groundwork in 89, and probably as early as the day he picked his college).

[dfong63]

22. exc points

because Clinton DIDN"T wait, and because Clinton, unlike Clark, was thinking about the presidency, and laying down the groundwork in 89, and probably as early as the day he picked his college

interesting point. but do we know for sure that Clark hasn't also been thinking and laying the groundwork for years?

the point about not filing papers seems stronger.

[StClone]

25. No Bush played coy for a long time

before annoucing he'd run. But it's not always good to follow the lead of a loser.

[Kahuna]

26. He's been saying all along that he's been getting..

approached by a lot of people.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

29. Not one bit. Right now he is like a movie release and getting hype

He is also getting his opinions on the air without being slapped down with the partisan label. As such, when he speaks on matters, there isn't the media storm to immediately discredit him.

Barring the behavior of some of his supporters..who like SOME Dean supporters, I liken to fanatical Christians who can ruin Jesus for others, Clark's strategy is one of the more brilliant things I have seen come out of the Dem camp in a while.

TONS of support, groundswell and not a dime of corporate cash spent yet.

If anything, he is a genius for capitalizing on all the free media.

He is also being a leader not following anyone's time frame but his own and he HAS called the shots in this so far ( at least by all appearances)

I give him an A+ plus for great strategic marketing.

[Pepperbelly]

31. I agree totally ...

he is polling at 10% nationally without spending a dime. He is blessed with copious face time.

Personally, I really think that the Big Dog is somewhat behind Wesley's strategy. Why jump into the middle and become one of ten, fighting for every second of exposure when one can keep everybody guessing, maintain an air of both mystery and credibility, and be a significant topic of conversation by doing ... nothing.

If he decides to run, no one will remember this except for political junkies who will marvel over the intelligence of his initial foray into the battle. And remember this: Wesley's strategy experience is military where, if it's not possible to achieve strategic surprise, it is absolutely necessary to achieve tactical surprise. If he runs, when he announces, everything will be in place and the war will start.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

36. Kumbaya, My Friend, Kumbaya!

:loveya:

DTH

[Cooley Hurd]

30. I think it would be to his benefit to tell us his decision sooner...

...than later. The sooner he gets the question out of the way, the better, and start talking about the issues...

[Pepperbelly]

33. why is it better?

He is ALREADY discussing issues and getting some good nasty digs in at Whistle-ass. Without announcing, he is polling at 10%. Without announcing, he is getting tons of face time and not having to struggle for every second as the others are finding themselves doing.

Why hasten to become 1 of 10 when it is possible to stay one out of one.

[Cooley Hurd]

37. ...better because a political strategy needs to be in place in 6 months

There's going to be a huge fight between the Deanies and the Clarkies, and I'd like to see it resolved by next spring.

[Pepperbelly]

38. who sez?

What makes 6 months golden?

If he is going to run, I would actually wish that he could milk it for another month or so. You can't BUY this kind of exposure.

And one way or the other, I expect that someone will be the apparent nominee by April Fools Day.

[Starpass]

32. Welcome to Modern Day Amureka

Most of them can't remember what happened yesterday, know absolutely zip about politics and, thus, the smart candidate would be the guy who raised some money, didn't bother campaigning, and then pelted the tv with ads 3 days before blowing the whole money on non-stop ads. That might...I stress might...work and then, again, 3 days is a long time. Or let's put it this way. There was one thing years and years ago when you had to get out the horse and buggy and the train to campaign for a zillion years prior to election. Today we can make national heroes and break them in 10 days or less. (note: GWB---the greatest leader EVER and now he's being turned on). The idea is to do the best job of catching the wave...