Gloves come off: Dean outs Clark

[Printer70]

Dean: "I think General Clark is a good guy, but I truly believe he's a Republican. I do. Harry Truman once said if you run a Republican against a Republican, the Republican's going to win every time," Dean said.

"Look, I don't mean offense to Gen. Clark. He is a good guy. And I don't mind that he voted for Nixon and Reagan. That was a long time ago," Dean said. "What bothers me is he went out and raised money for the Republican Party and said great things about Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and George Bush."

--
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040114/ap_on_el_pr/democrats_clark_14

[Eurobabe]

1. yawn

wake me up when you have a real message here...

[Printer70]

7. Wake up!! (shaking crozet4clark)

eom

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

102. Clark has an "A" rating from the NRA, supports "free trade" ...

... and spent his years as governor fighting the environmentalists on behalf of corporations. Oh, wait...

[sallyseven]

8. Watched Hardball

Dean's strati8strategist was not very good. He was very obnoxious. Dean's people need an attitude change or he is going to lose.

[TrueAmerican]

15. You seen that too

The guy reminded me of a rank ameteur...someone who's only previous experience in politics was posting on a bulletin board.

[RetroLounge]

63. someone who's only previous experience in politics...

...was posting on a bulletin board

Did you miss the irony of your own statement?

[TrueAmerican]

73. No

But I don't pretend to be a campaign advisor.

[Printer70]

20. I saw that...

I didn't find him obnoxious. He had a sense of humor ("because I'm a man of intrigue").

[Closer]

54. You saw it

He 'seen' it.


Go figure :eyes:

[zulchzulu]

2. Dr. Dean proves his word means nothing

No attacks on the other candidates...oh no...pass me the pin cushion.

[bitchkitty]

56. It's called defending oneself -

and it's about time! This is proof positive for me that Dean listens to us, and that my concerns are his concerns!

[Tim_in_HK]

58. Defending himself?

From what? The constant bashes that Clark has done regarding Dean's record? Get real.

[bitchkitty]

60. No Clark doesn't bash. Um hm.

His supporters do that for him. He just floats rumors about imaginary offers to be VP.

[elixir]

116. They are no more rumors than Joe Trippi saying that they didn't discuss

the VP slot. It's he said, he said on that one. BTW, Joe Trippi is sounding pretty defensive these days, I think the Dean camp should relax and enjoy their lead - they're coming off as nervous and defensive.

I hope the best man wins.

[drfemoe]

78. Yup ..

It is way past time for Dean to start exposing Clark. I've been begging for this and hope he keeps it up and publicizes more "concerns" a lot of Dean supporters have about Clark.

[Crunchy Frog]

90. I hope he keeps it up too

It will hurt Dean by making him look like just another politician on the attack, as well as a hypocrite who can dish it out but can't take it. The information that he is "exposing" has been out there all along. It comes up in virtually every television interview that Clark does. These attacks make Dean look scared and desperate, and will only help Clark by showing him to be above such petty tactics.

[Bread and Circus]

93. First off, Dean is making shit up...calling Clark a Republican is like...

calling Dean a true Liberal...it just doesn't really
match reality for anyone intelligent who has been
paying attention.

But hey, Dean can get away w/ anything he wants...right...
after all, he is the saviour of our Country and our Party.

[Oreegone]

123. What are you talking about?

Clark was a Republican he hadn't even registered as a Democrat (EVER)
until after he announced.

[elixir]

115. Defending himself? Against what?? What did Clark say about him?

That he is one of the career politicians? That's about it. Clark has run a very clean campaign except the remark about skiing. Sounds like Clark will need to defend his surging position in New Hampshire against Dean's attacks.

[Democrats unite]

3. So what your point?

There were alot of Reagan Democrats that came back & voted for Clinton. This is still America, choice is what it's all about. I am a die hard Democrat & I do not have a problem voting for Wesley Clark.

[beaconess]

59. I don't get it

If, as he claims, Dean believes that we must reach out to southern Republicans to get them to vote Democratic, who better to convince them than the candidate who used to vote Republican but now votes Democratic?

Dean's rhetoric is so all over the place, he's about to meet himself halfway.

[Bread and Circus]

94. The reason you don't get it is because Dean makes no sense.

[elixir]

118. Excellent

[elixir]

117. Clark's voting record only displays that he is strong on national defense.

Well, so am I. This is so a non-issue. We will be lucky if Clark's voting record is the main issue.

Don't forget during Nixon's campaign and the beginning of his term he was a terrific president with amazing international skills. Unfortunately, his medication wore off and we had a national tragedy.
I hate to break it to you but a lot of people voted for Reagan, a former democrat himself, thinking he was the real deal. 20/20 hindsight on voting records is nice, but, consider Clark's voting record on Clinton and Gore. Oh, that's right, this is the time when the opposition says "well, that's what Clark says but we don't know for sure that he voted for Clinton and Gore".

[TrueAmerican]

4. Howard Dean: Takes One to Know One

LOL Since Dean is more right leaning than Clark.

[jmaier]

5. As a Clark supporter, I hope Dean keeps using this attack

NH voters are pretty savvy and pretty independent. Given his past votes for Clinton/Clinton/Gore and his position on the issues it isn't going to sell outside a limited highly partisan crowd. It just doesn't pass the "sniff test".

Also, I bet quite a few of those independent minded voters heading to the democratic primary polls in NH also voted Reagan and Bush I so it's slamming them as well.

In summary, this attack will add more votes for Clark than it will drain in NH and probably elsewhere.

Nice try, though.

[LuminousX]

6. I said this in another thread, as a Dean supporter

If this is all Dean is going to hit Clark with, he is just spinning his wheels. All that matters is what Clark is saying and doing today, and Clark is hitting all the right notes right now.

[Printer70]

12. Actions are Louder than Words

I don't mind a lifelong Republican becoming a Democrat but without a day of governing as one, how do we know Clark has shaken off years of conservative ideology?

[LuminousX]

18. We don't, but have no way to prove it to an independent electorate

Take Joe Sixpack who only knows the candidates by their soundbites. Clark, since Kosovo, has sounded and acted like a conservative Democrat but then comes out with strongly worded statements about being pro-choice and how he will never ever, not in a billion years, ever appoint a pro-life justice.

To Joe Sixpack, that sounds pretty darn Democratic, and oh yeah, he is saying being in Iraq is a bad thing.

Yes, I believe his history is suspicious. I believe he could have batted for either team. No one but people like me care. We are talking about an electorate who would have loved McCain to have run as a Democrat.

[Printer70]

26. "electorate who would have loved McCain to have run as a Democrat"

This is what scares some people. McCain's a great Republican but he would not be my ideal nominee for the Democratic party. He's wrong on so many issues- and worst on national security where he's every bit as hawkish or more so than the Administration. Would we make a similar mistake with Clark?

[LuminousX]

44. My case is They Don't Care

Powell could have run as a Democrat in 2000 and my Democratic friends would have creamed themselves.

The electorate doesn't care. Unless you can show exactly where he has done something against the Democratic positions beside the fundraising, this line of attack does not have traction, especially among independent voters who vote on positions not party.

[dolstein]

19. Well, Howard Dean governed Vermont as a DLC centrist

What makes you so sure that he won't revert to form once he's sworn in?

Sorry, but Howard Dean's the last person to be attacking others for ideological inconsistency.

[Printer70]

24. Balancing budgets is no crime

And please name me one governor in the union which did not incentivize businesses to move jobs into their state.

[elixir]

119. Show us the "conservative idealogy"

[liberalmike27]

106. Song

Well, Clark did have to learn the democratic song, being he is a Republican.

[rumguy]

9. Gawd, will this ever end?

This Dean vs. Clark stuff is getting hella old. But, like moths to the flame, you guys seem to eat it up.

[11cents]

10. Kudos to Dean for bringing these stunning allegations to our attention!

LOL.

"Polls go down" = "gloves come off"

[Philosophy]

11. This is at least as relevant as:

Howard Dean changed his mind once since 1987! He's a flip-flopper! You can't trust anything he says!

[Kahuna]

30. "Once?!?!"

Don't be coy.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

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

[Printer70]

17. All Dean's asking Clark: Sign ONE bill proving you're a Democrat

Prove that it's more than words. You can't expect everyone to assume that overnight you've gone from a Republian to promising to govern like a Democrat. I just don't know where all this certainty comes from about Clark that he will fulfill progressive goals.

[mikehiggins]

29. Not at all, Printer. Dean is simply saying Clark is a Republican

There's no original slant to the comment. Its the same thing people have been hitting him with since the campaign started.

What surprises me is that Dean has turned his back on what he had pledged about not attacking other Democrats (well, actually that wasn't all that surprising. When this started he threatened to "out" any Democrat that rejected public campaign financing) but that he is forgetful of his own experience.

This comment will help Dean as much as Kerry's "Dean, Dean, Dean" helped him.

Bad move.

[Printer70]

35. Certainty without proof

You are POSITIVE that Clark will govern as a Democrat, despite his history. What makes you so sure?

[Kahuna]

43. Clark is a man of honor and a man of his word. "We" asked him to run..

as a democrat, not a republican. He is truly giving us the power. "We" determine the agenda. This is truly democracy in action. And, we will previal.

[LuminousX]

51. Ah yes, Caesar....

[Turkw]

55. Because of way he Governed as a Independent commander

1. promotion of minorities and women, this was a focus during his carer.
2. involvement in improving the education of soldiers children in NATO bases, he was involved in developing the curriculum and personally went out and found additional sources of funding.
3. Personal involvement in plan to protect endangered species at one of the bases he commanded/
4. one of the first military commanders to recognize and combat the problem of domestic abuse in military families.
5. commitment to multilateral actions without surrendering US sovereignty. Exhaustion of diplomacy before going to war. This is how he operated a NATO commander, very unlike the Republican unilateral, war when we want approach.

These five things fit very well into my Democratic way of thinking.

[mikehiggins]

86. You misunderstand me, Print

I am supporting Wes Clark because I consider him the strongest Democratic candidate to face Bush* in November. I expect his performance as President to fall somewhere between what his positions are and what he needs to do to get things done and keep the government moving. As someone else mentioned here, compared to my personal political idol, Harry Truman, Clark's positions put him to the left of Ralph Nader, which I believe is probably true.

Certainly, Clark has never signed a bill, but neither has any of the other candidates except Doctor Dean and Congressman Kuchinich. Dean was a Governor, and Kuchinich was a Mayor. Representatives do not sign bills, they vote on them.

If I thought a regular politician could beat Bush* I'd probably be supporting John Kerry but this time, this election, I think it is going to have to be an "outsider", and of the two reputed outsiders in the race I think Clark has more going for him than Dean.

Either, and any, of the Democratic candidates will do a better job as President than the current one (yes, including Lieberman) so my only judgment revolves around who has the best shot at winning. In my estimation that guy is Clark. Others disagree. In a short time we'll know what the voters think and we'll be able to move on into the main job, removing the taint of this present administration from the nation's capital.

[elixir]

120. What history? Where's the record besides voting his conscience on both

sides of the fence?

[tameszu]

82. He doesn't need to sign a bill: he gave up his career to advance

Democratic/liberal internationalist goals in Kosovo, a mission that the Republican Pentagon, a Republican Defense Secretary (don't even make me start on what it says that Clinton's 1 bipartisan Cabinet pick was Defense), and a Repub Congress opposed.

[Bread and Circus]

95. All I am asking Dean, make one sacrifice to prove you are a true...

Patriot.

Bills schmills...

Clark has done more for this country than Dean has in
my opinion.

[KaraokeKarlton]

61. What the heck are you talking about?

Vermonters declare their party and so does Arkansas. You don't HAVE to declare your party, though. I'm registered as an Independent, which is what you pick if you aren't affiliated with either of the two main parties. Arkansas is the same way. I know this because I looked for the voter registration form online, downloaded it and lo and behold there was a little check box for Democrat, Republican and Unaffiliated. This sorry excuse is getting mighty old. If Clark were a Democrat he would have registered as such prior to entering the race.

[Jerseycoa]

69. Custom in Arkansas

Nearly 96% of all Arkansas voters express no party preference when registering. Party preference is "optional" on Arkansas voter registration form, and only 2.6% of the state's residents were registered as Democrats at the end of 2001, according to the most recent statistics published by the Arkansas Secretary of State. Only 1.4% registered as Republicans.

[democratreformed]

99. This is more correct:

Arkansans were not give the option to declare party affiliation until about two years ago. In all honesty, I don't know what my registration shows b/c I registered long ago. The way it worked was like this: when you went to your polling place, they asked you "Democrat or Republican" and you were given the appropriate ticket. I have always said Democrate. I suspect that all the older folks (older than 20 lol) who registered before that option was given are now listed as Independent. That would explain the high percentage of independents. I have been meaning to go check mine and change it but haven't done it yet.

[carpetbagger]

75. 97% in AR don't declare affiliation.

He's voted in Dem primaries as an independent.

[Printer70]

14. Here's the issue- we don't know about Clark

If Clark was a lifelong Republican, but spent 4 maybe 8 years governing as a Democrat, we would know he's ditched that conservative ideology for good. But it's so recent and he hasn't signed one bill proving he's a Democrat...so how come people are so certain he would govern as one?

[lancdem]

27. What would be the point of masquerading as a Dem?

if he were a Repub he'd back Bush.

[Printer70]

32. I don't know- why did Bloomberg run as a Republican?

Bloomberg has governed as anything but, and has made numerous GOP enemies since taking office. And there's a "Republican"-wing of the Democratic party and we know it when we see it- Joe Lieberman for example.

[incapsulated]

64. Because he couldn't win as a Democrat

Although he's a lifelong Dem, the field was crowded and competitive. He ran as a Republican all by himself, it guaranteed him the nomination.

[Crunchy Frog]

81. There is no evidence

that he ever embraced a conservative ideology. He was in the military and has said that he voted for the people who he believed were most supportive of the military and were strong on national defense.

[elixir]

121. His record speaks for itself. His military policies, his opposition to

the war in Iraq, his current policies regarding healthcare, education, national security and the economy.

[John_H]

16. Oh the irony. Dean governed like a moderate republican. Now he

wants everyone to believe he's a liberal democrat. Can someone please point out how Clark's domestic policy proposals could in any way be confused with Republican agenda?

[Printer70]

22. Proposals, Proposals, Proposals

How about signing ONE bill proving that he can govern like a Democrat? Talk is cheap.

[jmaier]

28. I'm sure that he'll sign

plenty as the next President. :-)

[elixir]

122. WHAT BILL???????? HE CAN'T SIGN A BILL!!!

[jcgadfly]

103. Get it right

Dean has never claimed to be anything but a centrist. His supporters from what I've seen, never claimed him to be anything but a centrist. The GOP wants you to believe that he's a liberal.

And you swallowed it. Hook, line and sinker.

[BootinUp]

21. copy and paste from dupe thread: That Rat Bastard!!

Politics is a filthy slimy dirty game.

(some more embellishment added for good measure)

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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

[KittyWampus]

25. Okay- Doing This In My Best Spock Voice "Fascinating"

[BootinUp]

34. No....but its...Interesting.

Spock II responding to Spock I.

:hi:

[jmaier]

31. Quoting Truman?

Compared to Truman, Wes Clark is left of Nader.

[zulchzulu]

33. Watch Kerry's NH numbers go up...up...up...

Howard and Wesley on the mat will help John a lot. Wesley's been pretty much alone in NH recently sans debates as well...we'll see how this plays out.

[poskonig]

36. Staying out of the slime is helping Kerry in IA.

I hope we see a similar effect in NH.

[adadem]

71. This wouldn't be

the first time Kerry has come from behind. This is beginning to remeind me of his race with Weld. Once voters see the difference in the candidates JK stands above the rest (not only in height!).

[tameszu]

83. Staying out of the slime? I seem to recall surr. Shaheen yesterday

trying to restart this meme.

Kerry's horrible position in NH will improve if and only if he pulls off better than 3rd in IA--and, surprisingly, it looks like he actually has a shot at it. But anything less, and he is toast by Jan. 28.

[incapsulated]

37. Clark, Clark, Clark, Clark!

Dean's developing an obsession...

[Kahuna]

38. LOL! I realized on New Years Eve that the "Clark is a republican" ..

attacks would ensue... But, DAAAAMN! }(
And that was before Clark started climbing in the polls. Keep it up guys. Attacking Clark is like attacking Little Freddie Bartholomew of Little Elijah Wood. Who could hate a kisser like this?

[incapsulated]

39. Clark just waved it off...

If that's the best he's got, things are going to get mighty repetitive.

;)

[AP]

40. He was good enough to be Dean's VP back in the day.

Dean needs to explain why he liked Clark last summer and fall, but has a problem with him now.

[Printer70]

41. He said, she said

No one knows whether the VP position was offered but the people in the room. It's inconclusive. Personally, my view is that Dean was trying to find where Clark stood on the issues since he has no record.

[AP]

45. Dean tried to undercut Clark's announcement by making it sound like

Dean wanted him as VP. Whether he really asked him or not is irrelevant. Dean wanted people to associate himself with Clark. He wanted people to think that Clark was good enough to be his VP. If he wanted to claim Clark was a Republican down the road, he shouldn't have acted like a Republican was good enough for his VP.

You have to stay consistent or people won't know what you stand for.

[BootinUp]

49. "have to stay consistent or people won't know what you stand for"

heh heh

thats funny! Someone should e-mail this to Dean.

:smoke:

[Kahuna]

57. And notice..Once Clark made it perfectly clear that he won't be..

Dean's "Dick Cheney" Clark's own numbers started to go up. Dean did indeed try to sell himself as half of a Dean/Clark ticket.

[Bucky]

47. Dean sounded out Clark on the issues by offering him the VP slot?

Well, that's certainly an interesting strategy...

[AP]

50. You don't remember that? That's what he claimed. He made it sound like

Clark was considering it.

The whole story was most likely bunk. But Dean can't pretend that he offered Clark the VP slot back then, but now thinks he's republican. It's inconsistent.

[bitchkitty]

88. Maybe he got to know him. n/t

[digno dave]

42. Is this the same Clark Dean WANTED as his VP?

ss

[Cheswick2.0]

92. prove it

I'm not taking Clark's word for that conversation

[Name removed]

46. Deleted message

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

[curse10]

48. Dean outs himself as a jerk

What an ass. He's a moderate for chrissakes! He can't go around calling people republican or bush-lite when he's the worst offender.

[Jerseycoa]

52. Ridiculous

Should Howard Dean reject Martin Sheen's endorsement because Martin Sheen is anti-Choice? If Howard Dean does not reject Martin Sheen's endorsement, does that make Howard Dean anti-Choice? I mean, birds of a feather, right? As long as we're presenting ridiculous arguments, I thought I'd join the fun. :eyes:

[Hoppin_Mad]

53. He was expressing what many people are thinking - Thanks Howard -nt-

[Renew Deal]

62. Clark can beat this over the head of Dean.

This is a bad move by Howie. This is one of Clark's greatest advantages. Clark can spin it as him not being a politician. Watch the politicians attack me. We obviously need a change. That, and Clark can break out the many conflicting statements from Dean about attacking his rivals.

[billbuckhead]

66. 8 "A" ratings by the NRA and Dean's calling everyone else Republicans?

On the positive side, Dean does have chutzpah.

[beaconess]

67. Just what we need - another President with chutzpah :-)

[mmonk]

65. I believe Dean

wanted to cut medicare and medicaid like Newt, right? This is an example of what the Clark campaign could use, but hasn't so far. Maybe it's because Clark's campaign hasn't wallowed around in the mud with everyone else yet.

[mmonk]

68. I wonder if

Dean's internal polling numbers are starting to go bad?

[Crunchy Frog]

70. I think this kind of tactic

is going to backfire on Dean. Negative campaigning has only hurt candidates in this race.

[adadem]

72. A agree

calling Clark a Republican is stooping pretty low.

[PassingFair]

76. Stooping?

Clark didn't become a dem until recently, VERY recently. He has been a lobbyist for republicans, he couldn't "remember" who he voted. Oh yeah, he voted for Nixon and Reagan. To call him a republican is not stooping, it's merely making an observation.

[Crunchy Frog]

84. Yes, but in politics

it's appearances and perceptions that matter, and the perception is going to be that Dean is "stooping". This will make him look bad, and hurt his popularity. Especially after running crying to McCaullife about oponents attacking him. The perception here will be that he is a hypocrite, or that he can dish it out but can't take it.

Very good for my candidate.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

74. "Outs" him?!!. We've heard this a million times. They have no other dirt

This is really pitiful....

[Crunchy Frog]

85. Really

In almost every television interview that I've seen he gets grilled about this. There is nothing to "out", everything is already out there in the open.

[JVS]

97. Yup, nothing to hide in Clark's background

[JVS]

96. It is hard to find dirt on people who don't do anything.

Well don't do anything politically, anyway. Then again, none of the other candidates had civilians cluster bombed, so I guess Clark has done some things.

[idlisambar]

77. As a Dean supporter...

I think this is a dumb attack by Dean -- I didn't like it a while back, and I don't like it now. Clark's record is definitely fair game but calling him a "Republican" is over the top.

[drfemoe]

79. over the top?

It's just the beginning. I don't care who Clark voted for either that much. I DO care who he wrote speeches for, sold defense contracts for, and snuggled up to when he thought he had a chance to make it big in the R party. :nuke:

[LoneStarDem]

80. Huh?

What, you mean like testifying before Congress against going to war and in support of gays in the military.

You wanna back up those insinuations of speechwriting and defense contracts?

[Bread and Circus]

98. Not to mention, turning down offers to run as a Republican and writing...

an Amicus Brief in support of Affirmative action.

But hey, that just doesn't fit with the smear "Clark is a
Republican, always has, always will" that Dean is trying to
spread.

Dean's big strategy:

1.) Anyone who challenges his candidacy, call them one of the
following - Bush lite, Republican lite, or Republican.

The sad thing is, it has kind of worked.

It's a form of McCarthyism if you ask me.

[drfemoe]

110. Facts not insinuations

Speech writer for Nixon staff: • White House Chief of Staff -- Alexander Haig 1973-74 (see Gerald Ford Administration). Wesley Clark was a speech-writer for Haig: <1>). http://buddhistpeacegroup.org/pnac/richardnixoncabinet.html
http://buddhistpeacegroup.org/pnac/

He may have more "experience" in that area that hasn't come to my attention yet.

Defense contract seller: If you happen to support Clark and are unaware that when he started his bid for president, he was a registered lobbyist for defense, homeland security, spy ware, et al, more investigation into your candidate might be in order. You will notice gaps in Clark's official bio everywhere (except as previously posted numerous times on DU), especially between 2000-2003, during which time he was a lobbyist, R fundraiser, war commentator, etc. He was trying to get hired into the B*** admin. But he really showed them! He became a Democrat! Or was he showing the Dems where to stuff it by being a Republican?

Indeed, Clark's delayed entrance into the Democratic Party might be traceable to his abrupt and callous dismissal at the hands of William Cohen, Clinton's Secretary of Defense, and Clinton's failure to back a successful General who had won him a war, and, in retrospect, one of Clinton's most important foreign policy legacies.

http://www.clarkmyths.com/myth10.html << pro Clark site

[JVS]

87. This is good

[FrenchieCat]

89. It's not just good....

it's hillarious! Howard Dean doesn't need those others to attack...he's committing Hari-Kari....very well all on his own!

[onehandle]

91. "Dean stoops to level of forum spammer"

This negative comment is less about Dean, and more about all of the candidates.

This is getting nasty. I will be sooo happy when it's over.

But considering how close the race is getting...it's gonna be a while.



Howard...You've finally pissed me off.

[Hep]

100. Some here will say Dean has no right to be bothered.

Dean isn't lying. If Dean is bothered, then he's bothered.

[returnable]

101. Dean's starting to sound like Kerry...

...circa late-summer.

And watch his NH numbers continue to drop in a similar fashion.

Keep up the negativity, Dean - it works so well :hi:

[jcgadfly]

104. We see what politeness, compromise and bipartisanship got us.

A war based on lies and Democratic leadership (those formerly known as the opposition party) standind shoulder to shoulder with Bush.

[Bread and Circus]

105. Dean: Clark, Clark, Clark, Clark

[liberalmike27]

111. Republican, YES

Calling Clark is a Republican isn't stooping at all. There's video folks, this isn't some rumor? You will see more of this video too, in commercials as the primary heats up.

Dean's negative campaigning is terrible? Why? He's been assailed for months now, mercilessly by those he now answers. I think it just show's he has backbone.

The media doesn't want him to answer, as they know that backbone, and making sure to answer each accusation is imperitive in a campaign. Look at Clinton/Gore, they were called Bozo and Ozone man by Bush, immediately they go out and introduce themselves as Bozo, and Ozone man. Best to use humor and laugh off the attacks, but sometimes, calling a Republican a Republican is necessary. He needs to include some of the film of him at the Bush fundraisers, with dates at the bottom.

Personally, I don't care if it is before 9/11, I don't much care for the idea he was associating with the evil cabal that now inhabits the White House.

[returnable]

112. "I think it just show's he has backbone."

Fair enough.

So I guess Kerry was showing "backbone" when he lashed back at Dean after absorbing months of abuse, right?

[in_cog_ni_to]

113. He's a REGISTERED Democrat. n/t

[ourwinter]

114. Dean Trolls Prowl as Numbers Dwindle

For Immediate Release
Dean Trolls Prowl as Numbers Dwindle

-Faux News Staff Writer

Filed 8:42pm

In a striking turn of events bloggers from every Democratic campaign have noticed an odd spike in obscenely redundant bloggers leaving messages for other candidates on their communities blogs. As Dean’s numbers go lower across the nation, the internet supporters have taken to the internet striking out at anyone within reach.

Finkletimes a self-professed blogger found on Kuccinich’s community website: "Yeah, they just come in, tell us how much we suck, how many bats were recently broken, or what the last thing Trippi said and then tell us again how we’ll never win and then they leave again. It’s getting a little bit silly." I then asked what Finkletimes did about it.

"Well, what could I do, I took off got some coffee and then talked to some of my co-workers, but I don’t have time for this stuff you know?"

Reggiestiger, a blogger from Wesley Clark’s home page described one interaction with a blogger as "real ugly" by telling this reporter:

"Well it started off civil you know?" I nodded, urging Reggiestiger to continue.

"I had just sent an email message telling my fellow bloggers that we should remain positive. All of the sudden this message popped up from an anonymous blogger." Reggiestiger took a second to calm herself and continued.

"Who said that Clark: ‘sucked, Madonna sucked too much because she is always sucking face,’ and that we all suck and to ‘give up now and submit to wrath of Dean.’ I was kind of taken aback about all of it but tried to remain positive and wrote another message to ignore it. Then the blogger reappeared and said we are all: ‘worthless & weak’ and ‘don’t really have a Democrat candidate but, a wannabe donkey in a Elephant’s bad fitting costume’ and that ‘no one is going is going to pin the tail on him." Reggiestiger, admitted that she "lost it" and said some really "messed up things" about Dean, but wanted me to know that she never goes to Dean’s website to leave messages, that it was "all to defend our candidate." I asked her who she thought the bloggers were:

"Well I guess, they’re angry Deaniacs," Deaniacs is a term used for supporters of Howard Dean. "But" Reggiestiger continued "They could be anyone, who the heck knows, maybe they’re Republican spies trying to get us to hate each other." Pausing the reporter pondered the possibility of a conspiracy breaking open.

A blog as the computer help desk technician of this office informed me, is:

"kinda like writing on the bathroom wall at your local mall….You get to see what other people think in, like a really short period of time. A blogger then is one who writes in a blog."

I assumed that this takes place usually while people are on the toilet.

"so a blog," he continued "becomes a long string of bathroom wall messages." This reporter asked if he knew of many bloggers that went to the bathroom while they left messages for each other, when the help desk technician seemed to look quizzically at the reporter, and said flatly:

"No." and walked out of my office.

This odd spike in these "drive by blog attacks" seem to be caused from the recent diminished poll numbers of Howard Dean which bought Wesley Clark as the Democratic Presidential candidate nationally within the margin of error at 20%. Howard Dean’s 24% still remains in possession of first place nationally, yet his numbers have dipped for the past 3 months. All calls to anonymous Dean bloggers were not returned.

[in_cog_ni_to]

107. Let's just add it to the list of Dean bashes on Clark.

Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean yesterday blasted new 2004 candidate Wesley Clark as "a Republican until 25 days ago" who has become the "desperation" candidate for establishment Democrats. "What you see in the Wes Clark candidacy is somewhat of a desperation by inside-the-Beltway politicians," Dean told the CBS program "Face the Nation."

"You've got a lot of establishment politicians now surrounding a general who was a Republican until 25 days ago, voted for Ronald Reagan, voted for Dick Nixon, supported the war last October."

Pincushion? Anyone? Pincushion, pincushion, pincushion, pincushion, pincushion......Custom made for the Dean campaign. Finely embroidered with..."I'm tired of being a pincushion, waaaaah!"

"Look, I don't mean offense to Gen. Clark. He is a good guy.

Oh, REEEEEEEEEEEEEALLY? I don't mean offense? Then why say it, Howard? This made him look very foolish...again. After whining about being a pincushion....he turns around and does the same thing he was whining about. His strategy is backfiring....he's plunging in the polls. Keep it going Howard! Keep it going. :bounce:

[ourwinter]

108. Game Set...

Clark

Wednesday, January 14th, 2004
I’ll Be Voting For Wesley Clark / Good-Bye Mr. Bush — by Michael Moore


Many of you have written to me in the past months asking, "Who are you going to vote for this year?"

I have decided to cast my vote in the primary for Wesley Clark. That's right, a peacenik is voting for a general. What a country!

I believe that Wesley Clark will end this war. He will make the rich pay their fair share of taxes. He will stand up for the rights of women, African Americans, and the working people of this country.

And he will cream George W. Bush.

.............


http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php

[meow mix]

109. thats gloves comin off? haha

dangling dean, whyd you dangle then??? bwhahaha

[Larkspur]

124. Thank you Gov for speaking the truth about Clark

I wrote the Dean Campaign after Clark jumped into the Prez race about my concerns that Clark should not be allowed to get away with saying he's a Democrat. He's got no verifiable record as one. If Clark wants to be taken seriously as a Democrat he should have worked his way up the Party, from the bottom up, like Dean did.