Clark a more loyal Democrat than Dean...

[Memekiller]

Who would have thought Clark would prove to be more loyal to the Democratic party than Dean? Clark's allegiance may be recent, but at least you don't hear him insinuating his troops won't support the party if he's not the nominee.

Until now, I respected Howard Dean. I would be willing to support anyone who got the nomination. But if Dean is making veiled threats to bolt, I'm not sure I can support him.

[polpilot]

1. O.K.

Dean '04...

[demsrule4life]

2. Two types of people I have real trouble in trusting

a turncoat and a woman that cheated on her husband then wants to marry me.

[ima_sinnic]

3. whatever

Howard Dean '04

[OrAnarch]

4. Clark's a democrat?!?

Incorrect premise from the getgo.

[Memekiller]

5. And Dean is?

It seems to me Dean's ego and political career is more important to him than defeating Bush.

[ima_sinnic]

6. wrong

[Memekiller]

7. Then he ought to stop...

You say Clark's not a Democrat. Yet I haven't heard him make any noises about picking up his marbles and leaving if things don't go his way. He's willing to live by the process. Is Dean? Or is he merely "hinting" out of sheer political opportunism?

[ima_sinnic]

9. I never said Clark isn't a Democrat, that was another poster

Dean never said he would "pick up his marbles and leave," that is the way you WANT to interpret what he said. And I find it is futile to keep repeating the same things over and over to people who have their own agendas. If you take the time to read Dean's speeches and listen to him speak you might learn something.

[Memekiller]

10. If Dean reiterates his support to the party...

...I withdraw everything I said. But right now it appears to be a winking threat, and I don't like blackmail.

But Dean's ahead. And if he shows the same willingness to throw his support behind whoever the Democratic nominee is, I'll surely throw my support behind him, if it comes to that. But this has certainly lowered him a peg or two in my eyes.

[ima_sinnic]

14. Dean has earnestly pleaded with his supporters to rally behind

other Democrats in state races. I have received e-mails from his campaign asking for my support of candidates I'd never heard of, in other states. He also let it be known--LOUDLY--that said candidates were in no way beholden to him; i.e., they did not have to endorse him or anything in return, just that he wanted the people to rally behind DEMOCRATS. He is considering not only the presidency but also the all-important Congressional races as necessary for taking back our government. His own ego, as far as I can see (& I have been watching him since about March 2003), is just not involved. He is striving mightily and sincerely to bring the government back to the people.

[Turkw]

11. Yes Wes is, and I'm glad for it, too

All patriot, no act. No litmus test either

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

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[Memekiller]

13. That's fine...

... if you're more interested in forwarding your candidate than defeating Bush, welcome to another four years -- enjoy them. But I still have a problem with your candidate wanting Democrats to rally behind him, when he won't do the same if things don't go his way.

Yeah, yeah, he says he'll support the Dem out of one side of his mouth, then say his supporters are "non-transferrable" out of the other. It's the same tactic Bush uses -- saying he's seen no connection between Al Qaeda and Hussein to get his critics of his back, then mentioning the two together every chance he gets so the public makes the connection.

I just wish you Nader/Dean supporters would wake up and see that this election is the most important election in decades. It determines whether the neo-conservative vision solidifies its hold. It's about the country, not any one candidate -- and there is a difference between each and every one of the Democratic candidates and George W. Bush. A HUGE difference.

[ima_sinnic]

15. he can't "make" his supporters do diddly-squat

Dean is just saying that the new, young, punk, disassociated, uninvolved voters that he has recruited cannot be guaranteed to turn out for anyone else. He will of course advise them as strongly as possible to vote for the Democrat but how can he force them to do so? Can Clark guarantee that all of his supporters would vote for a different Democratic nominee? Dean is not "threatening," just making a comment that is not important enough to warrant all this hysteria. It is NOT an issue.

[Memekiller]

16. Why is he saying it?

It may be true, but the only reason to say it is to make people aware of the threat so they'll be badgered into voting for him.

[ima_sinnic]

17. have you bothered to check the context?

do you think he just said this out of the blue?
I personally do not know the context and I don't care. I have confidence in Howard Dean. Probably some reporter asked him something. You should check the context before you go into a flap.

[Beearewhyain]

18. Hmmmmm

Dean said something political...Clark said something political...could they be... politicians? ;) The point is neither of them are totally beholden to the party, they will do what they think is in their best interest to secure the loyalty of their respective base. It is up to US to tell them what position to take, not the other way around.

[He loved Big Brother]

19. Clark voted for Reagan and Bush the First

Both really great Democrats.

Except for the "great" and "Democrats" part.

Sorry, Clark doesn't get my trust. And I doubt he will get my vote.

[DianeK]

20. i am an independent

and i never really got the 'loyal to the party' thing..parties be damned, this is about bringing this country back to what it once was so that we can begin to move forward in the right direction...an awful lot of democrats have been content to roll over on this one which is why dean has my support..he actually has a spine and that is a good thing

[polpilot]

21. The Dean troops OPPOSE the losing demo mantras and have chosen

to take the party away from repub-lite. The loyal losing demos' time has passed.

Dean '04...