Clark is great... for Vice President

[ChompySnack]

Everyone here is getting a big bee in their bonnet about how Clark is great or not great. Relax everyone, he is in there to take away the Republican's biggest weapon against the Democrats. He takes away the "tough on terrorism" angle that is the entire basis for the Bush re-election campaign (and "presidency"). With him in there they will be hard put to make a credible argument that Democrats lack patriotism, foriegn policy experience and military leadership. That's the whole ball of wax for them, what else does Bush focus on now? His tremendous domestic policy achievements?

I don't know who I personally am pulling for but I do know that Clark is *great* for the party right now. It's a long time from here to November 2004, let every Democrat be heard and make a lot of noise and generate a lot of press about our different viewpoints, it is our strength. There will be no real Republican primaries, no choice, nothing to get energized about.

From what I have seen, Clark is bit hard to swallow for the Democratic party. That is why I don't think he is really running for President. I don't think that the talks Dean had with him prior to his announcement were about Dean trying to weaken his campaign postiion, they were about the killer ticket. Dean/Clark 2004.

Mark my words, it's gonna' happen.

[Brucey]

1. In the old days,

a VP candidate was supposed to be someone who could take over in case anything happened to number one. Of course, in practice, it was rarely the case. In fact, in a number of tickets the VP was much preferable to the P. Also, in many cases the VP was selected because he was thought to make the ticket more electable (so far, the argument for Clark). Sometimes geography mattered. Personally, I like a nice team that can work together well, like Carter and Mondale or Clinton and Gore.

[Renew Deal]

2. Dean is a perfect Surgeon General

He's a doctor. It's a perfect fit.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. President AND Surgeon General!

You've got a lot of confidence in him!

[Renew Deal]

4. Nope, just Surgeon General.

unless he really screws something up in this campaign like calling terrorists soldiers.

[clar]

5. That doesn't seem

to have hurt him. To date, not much has. If he can continue to climb in the polls despite the attacks, and is still in good shape a month from now, he'll almost certainly get the nom. I wouldn't bank on his imploding.

[Prodemsouth]

13. He is not the nom yet, if he gets it you will not hear the end of it.

n/t

[jeanmarc]

6. Clark as VP would be a bottom heavy ticket

Clark is too sharp, too qualified by general acumen and public service, to be relegated to VP.

Let the best man win the top half of the ticket. I think we should pick a great VP, not on regional preference this time, but on ability to win the next 8 years as President.

This is a chance to own the next 16 years of the White House.

[dfong63]

7. clark is no more qualified than schwarzenegger

[drdigi420]

9. Clark may or may not be the man

but he is infinately more qualified than ahhnold

[Prodemsouth]

11. Notice you didn't give us a comparison, because if you start

to give an example other than never held elected office stuff your argument falls apart. Ike didn't either. Arnold is an actor, Clark was a NATO commander, had numerous responsiblites overseas, Arnold no.. Shit, I am the idiot for spending time with this I am ashamed of myself

[dfong63]

15. similarities - clark and schwarzenegger

both media celebrities with no political experience
both attempt to capitalize on physical attractiveness
both played "announcement flirt game" for months
both vague on positions
both skipped debates
both attempt to play up "cross-party" appeal
both a bit hazy on past voting record

Arnold is an actor, Clark was a NATO commander, had numerous responsiblites overseas, Arnold no.

Arnold is a hundred-millionaire businessman, with numerous responsibilities, also. both Arnold and Clark had impressive achievements outside the political arena. so what? neither is qualified to hold the (resp) office he is seeking.

one difference i can see, though, is that Arnold at least has been a proud member of his party (repub) for years, admitted it openly, and contributed to his chosen party thru donations and appearances.

whereas 2 years ago, Clark was still helping raise money for repubs. that's sick. he claims to be a "liberal"? let him prove it by deeds, not just words. let him run for senator and governor, and see what kind of record he builds for himself - if he wins. all the other top-tier candidates did that. or is Clark "too good" to work thru the system?

this race and this office (presidency) are too important to risk on a neophyte.

[WillyBrandt]

12. 16 Years of Dem Dominance

Can anyone say Clark/Edwards?

[Prodemsouth]

8. I like Dean/Clark, but the other way around here is why.

Defense and Foreign Policy issues are going to be front and center despite a bad economy. Wesley Clark's strength. Face facts we have got to appeal to the "moran" American crowd we need to pick the brighter one off as well as the Perot voters/Reagan Democrats this is were Clark comes in. Believe me given a choice between a guy who is most famous for letting Gay people "get married" in his state or Bush, people will go with Bush, esp if the economy is just "kinda" bad like it is today, if it gets much worse Dean has a shot to make it if he is at the top, but with the media and others trying say things are not that bad don't bet on that being the case.

In the campaign to win the White House, Dean would be a very strong VP. It is the Vice President that pulls no punches on the campaign trail. We all know this is Deans' strength. Why not place him where he is best able to topple Bush for all of us. The rest get comfortable with him after 8 years and it is all his, he would still be considered "young."

[ChompySnack]

14. I agree

I should have mentioned that the other way around would work just as well. I am assuming that domestic issues are going to be front and center since Shrub & company aren't going to be able to tout their successful foreign adventures.

[dfong63]

16. all the polls say you got it backwards

Defense and Foreign Policy issues are going to be front and center despite a bad economy.

the economy is number 1 issue for most people. all the polls say so. and it makes perfect sense. saddam never was a threat to us. the biggest threat we now face is our imploding domestic economy. the repubs would love to run this race on foreign policy/national security. that's their favored turf. they WANT it to be front and center, but it ain't so.

sure we face some threat from foreign powers and terrorists, but realistically those threats have been far overblown, and would naturally decrease if we'd just mind our own business.

[JVS]

10. Kind of reminds me of triumph the insult comic dog