How Elizabeth gets it right and evidence McAuliffe is an idiot.

[Bread and Circus]

This is a must read link: http://www.nybooks.com/articles/16965

I got a call from the DNC last night asking for money. I told
them to get bent and told them why. Allow Clark to get Crucified
by the right is not my idea of good party politics.

If people want a fairly accurate and unvarnished review of the
primary season to date, they should read the above link.

Elizabeth Drew has it correct and all in perspective.

I hope Kerry beats Bush but either way, we need to re-examine
how we nominate our candidates. Right now it sucks.

[citizen snips]

1. I just got a letter from the DNC.

I got a letter from the DNC thaking my family for donating to them. :D

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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

[citizen snips]

8. I don't care.

n/t

[BL_Zebub]

2. You needed evidence McUseless was an idiot?

I thought that was common knowledge after the midterm fiasco? :evilfrown:

[flpoljunkie]

3. I have never liked William Cohen.

A poor choice for Secretary of Defense for Bill Clinton.

[Bread and Circus]

5. Bill had some real mistakes, Cohen was one of them.

[bain_sidhe]

6. Excellent article!

I have to run off to the dentist, so I couldn't read it closely, but I look forward to giving it a closer read when I get back!

[BootinUp]

7. Agreed -eom-

[Deaner1971]

9. I just sent in another one

I am quite happy to help my party in a crucial year when both the White House and Congress are up for grabs.

[Bread and Circus]

10. I tried to help my party...but too many insiders made it impossible.

[Bread and Circus]

11. P.S. folks should read the articles, I don't care whether you donated

to the DNC or not.

[Deaner1971]

12. Sorry I thought we were trading stories

You were happy to point out that you told them to "get bent". I thought that meant we could offer our reaction to fund raising. In the future I will confine my responses to your talking points.

[Bread and Circus]

13. Thanks

:thumbsup:

[Deaner1971]

14. She had some good points

I liked the completeness of the article. I actually agreed with many of her points. It seems that she clearly is unahppy with the party's handling of the candidates but, isn't afraid to show that each candidate has his share of blame.

I am curious to see whether or not a successful Presidential campaign will protect McAuliffe. In all honesty, I think there are better people for the job than him. I would prefer to let him handle this election with a lot of coaching from his successor and let him go out on top. I don't want to see internal strife tear us apart in a crucial election cycle.

[BootinUp]

15. McAuliffe announced he will not return

after his current term is up (Feb 2005).

[Deaner1971]

16. ?

Then why is everyone piling on the guy? Just let him leave (please God with a W in the "Presidential Election" column).

I guess I was never that bothered by him.

[BootinUp]

17. a fair question

There are two main reasons as far as I can tell:

1. To many liberal democrats, he represents the moderate wing of the party that has both lost elections and moved closer to the right over the last decade. Of course it is not that simple, there are many factors that resulted in the dem party losses over the last decade, some of it due to the liberal wing of course.

2. People such as the original poster are unhappy with Terry's brainchild "front-loaded" primary schedule, and behind the scenes maneuvering to thin the field, and feel that it did not result in the strongest candidate to go against Bush.

[Deaner1971]

19. I see your points

However...

1) Wasn't this "moderate" move the same one that got Clinton elected to two terms? I think moving toward the left-center is a stellar move as the Righties keep going to too far right and pushing its moderate members to look for a new home.

2) I agree that this was not one of the better ideas I have seen. As a former Clark supporter, I could find traction with this argument but, I think Gen. Clark's late entry and lack of political "name recognition" were bigger factors. I wonder if there would be the same criticisms of the front-loaded schedule if Dean had stayed the front-runner and gained the nod? I think alot of the criticism of the schedule stems from the idea that Kerry's campaign benefitted too much from the victory in Iowa without a "cooling off" period.

[BootinUp]

21. You can call me a Clinton democrat

I don't agree with point one, but tried to state it as accurately as possible. There are many DUers who detest the DLC, and McAuliffe and even Clinton. Also, based on Deans early strength you would have to admit that a significant group of democrats feels this way to one degree or another.


My personal opinion as to the party's problems is that we failed to use the media as effectively as the republicans, we lost some voters over social issues that were further highlighted by Clintons personal problems and the resurgent Christian Right, and we offered no leadership on the Iraq war issue (see ineffective use of media).

[orwell]

18. Best Shot

The writer obviously favors Clark as a person, but admits to the possible weakness of running him as the Dem standard bearer. There is some insinuation that despite his character, he was not ready for prime time.

I came away from this article with the feeling that Kerry, flaws and all, is the most formidable of the Dem candidates to face King George. While I am most ideologically aligned with Kucinich, I think Kerry realistically has the best shot.

And yes, McAuliffe has been a disaster. I would much prefer a street fighter like Carville to be calling the shots.

O

[Bread and Circus]

22. I agree with you and I agree w/ Drew - Clark wasn't as good as he should..

of been...politician wise.

He definitely needed a better team behind him. He made
a lot of mistakes.

I think he would have made the best President if he had
gotten elected.

[orwell]

20. The Enemy is US

The closing paragraph struck me as a bit ironic:

"Such journalism is not only a waste of time but can seriously distort the electoral process. Forecasts by the press that a certain candidate will win may produce contributions, volunteers, and energy (as with the early endorsement of Dean by labor unions)— and the reverse is also the case. That they mislead the public seems not to matter. The entire nominating and election processes need to be reconsidered by the political parties and the press. The voters deserve to be better served by both the politicians and by journalists; otherwise the principle of democratic nomination and election through informed choice is made a mockery."

Journalism has been allowed to disintegrate into the sorry state of entertainment over reportage because the spoiled, complacent American public has allowed it. I watch zero CNN, MSRNC, FAUX, network news. I choose not to reward propaganda. The Internet allows us to be our own news service.

I take my responsibility as a citizen seriously. Would that the rest of the suddenly "Patriotic" Americans did the same.

O