For Clark Supporters Who Might Be Worried About Him Missing Today's Debate

[DoveTurnedHawk]

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Clark had an amazing appearance this morning on Meet the Press. MTP typically draws almost four times as many viewers as Democratic candidate debates on CNN.

According to Nielsen Media Research data, "Meet the Press with Tim Russert" easily outperformed the Sunday morning public affairs competition for the week ending Sunday, December 7, 2003. For the week, "Meet the Press" attracted 4.544 million total viewers, a 33% advantage over CBS "Face the Nation's" 3.394 million, 48% more than ABC "This Week with George Stephanopoulos'" 3,054 million, and 177% more than FOX "News Sunday's" 1.636 million. "Meet the Press" has now placed first among total viewers for 155 weeks (when all Sunday shows were airing at full coverage).

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3403149/

During the debate from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Atlanta-based CNN attracted an average of 1.2 million viewers, up from 475,000 during that time in October.

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/cnn/1103/07cnn.html

DTH

[wyldwolf]

1. Plus he was allowed more than just one or two sentences

like they usually get in the debates.

[Scott Lee]

2. Clark's chickening out on this one.

He's really not a good debator and to his credit, he knows it. Given the choice of the debate or a single appearance on MTP, if I were him I'd have made the same decision.

[Nashyra]

8. It was a great interview

and he is getting more exposure on Wolf's

[DoveTurnedHawk]

9. Let Me Guess: A Non-Clark Supporter Chose to Click on This Thread Anyway

And made some snide comments about Clark?

I'm shocked I tell you, shocked.

DTH

[Scott Lee]

12. Well sorry, you needed an injection of reality

And as they say - The Doctor is IN. :)

[Bolo Boffin]

21. Reality

Love the Doctor, save me from a vocal minority of his supporters.

[Turkw]

52. I'm sure we will all go running to Anti-Clark posts & Fox for reality

when we could go to forclark.com instead.

[MoonRiver]

23. Yes, not shocked, sadly.

I'm resigned to this modus operandi.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

24. Not a Clark supporter, but I do have a question

and I'm not being disrespectful-why can't Clark attend the debate? Previous commitment? Logistics?

I don't get MTP, and will miss not having all candidates there for the debate.

[Toucano]

27. That's very odd.

You don't get NBC, but you do get CNN or C-SPAN? That is a real bummer!

[MidwestMomma]

38. Delete by me

[democratreformed]

40. What?

I just recently began getting NBC b/c I switched from C-Band satellite to Dish Network. On the big dish, local networks were not available but I did get CNN and C-span. I chose not to replace my worn-out roof-top antenna b/c I thought I could live without the local networks.

One of the great things about Dish Network is that they do offer access to local networks and I have found that I enjoy getting local news again.

As you can tell, I am in a very rural area and do not have access to cable.

[MidwestMomma]

44. That's why I deleted my post...

I realized there could reasons someone could get a cable channel and not get local channels. Or I thought maybe the person was going to the debate in person. My bad.. :spank:

[MidwestMomma]

29. I read on another thread that this was the due date for his grandson

So he didn't want to miss his birth because he missed his son's birth while in Vietnam. Guessing if he would have tried to participate at the last minute people would have complained about him not committing initially and wanting in now that grandson was born early.

I think it's funny that some people who have complained in the past about there being too many people in the debates are now complaining about too few. Go figure...:shrug:

[DoveTurnedHawk]

32. After the Huff Lieberman Made About Last-Minute Participation Last Debate

There is no way Clark could have come in at the last minute at this debate. It's smart for Clark not to have even given Lieberman the opportunity to shut him down.

(On background, a couple of candidates objected to Lieberman coming in at the last minute at one of the last debates. Lieberman singled out only Clark for condemnation, however.)

BTW, the bit about Clark's grandson is exactly right.

DTH

[Turkw]

53. One of the original reasons was it was the date where his grandson was

expected to be born. But the conception of his grandchild was a Republican/Clinton/DLC/military industrial complex ploy in the minds of some, god knows everything else about Clark is.

[MidwestMomma]

55. Your right...

He probably forced his son to have a son just for a campaign ploy! :D

[Bolo Boffin]

16. Why Clark didn't do Iowa

From the MTP transcript:

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3849657/

MR. RUSSERT: General, as you know, there's a big debate in Iowa this afternoon. You will not be participating. Was it a mistake by you to bypass the Iowa caucuses?

GEN. CLARK: Absolutely not.

MR. RUSSERT: Why?

GEN. CLARK: Because to participated in Iowa would have taken 20 to 30 days and $4 million starting in mid-October, and I just didn't have the time to do it. I had a lot of support in Iowa, and I still have a lot of support in Iowa. And when I'm the nominee, that'll be the first place that I campaign. But, Tim, just to be practical, I couldn't split my efforts or the resources starting in mid-October between Iowa and New Hampshire. It just wasn't practical.

Add that to the ratings difference and time difference in the appearance, and it's easy to see: Clark made the right call here. He stays away from the Dean pile-on that the moderators will be egging on, he proves his debate qualities by handling Tim Russert (R-Media Whore) with grace, facts, and resolve, and he gets his message out.

All in all, a good job by Clark this afternoon.

[windansea]

22. yep

:thumbsup:

[MidwestMomma]

25. I can see why Dean would want him there

Based on his refusal to attack Dean despite Russert's numerous attempts to get him too, he might have been the only candidate not jumping on the attack Dean bandwagon tonight. :P

[Shakespeare]

28. "Clark's not a good debator"

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

(pause to catch breath)

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Best laugh I've had all morning.

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. You're wrong,

again. Clark was on the debate team at West Point. He's VERY experienced in debating and GOOD at it.

OK, next bash.

[jumptheshadow]

54. No, it's pragmatic

His time is better spent in New Hampshire.

And maybe he wants to distance himself from the clubbing which other candidates may give Dean today.

[Clark Can WIN]

59. Yeah, first in the class at west point, taught philosophy and

economics at Oxford, 4 star general. Obviously he sucks, I'm sure you would beat him hands down in a debate.

[newsguyatl]

3. yeh

forget about him actually having to go against his opponents and showing what he's got (if anything) in a debate... all that matters for the pretty prince is how many people see him talk on television to tim russert...

makes sense to me...


on edit: actually, come to think of it, this sums up his candidacy (and bush's) to a tee... it's all about image, no substance...

[Bolo Boffin]

20. Clark didn't go against opponents today?

LOL, I suppose you think Tim Russert is a shining example of the liberal media. One softball question after another from that whore...Please.

[in_cog_ni_to]

34. No substance? Hahahahahahahahaha!

He has more to him than any other candidate. Have you seen his resume? Pretty impressive if you ask me!

Clark was on the debate team at West Point. He's VERY experienced in debating and GOOD at it. Pretty Prince? Hehe... He IS pretty, isn't he? :loveya:

OK, next bash.

[Lefty48197]

49. Clark sat down with a journalist and allowed himself to be questioned

Bush hasn't done that, and I don't think Howard Dean wants to go anywhere near Russert these days.

[LiberalBushFan]

56. Clark is not afraid of one-on-ones

which are much more useful to the audience. Then there's Howard "too scarced to debate Kerry one-on-one" Dean.

[maddezmom]

4. not worried :)

Isn't he meeting with Women voters of NH today?

[jonnyblitz]

5. I agree. His MTP appearance was probably more helpful

for the reasons you stated. I believe it would be nitpicky to imply otherwise.

[MasonJar]

6. What did he have to say?

I turned it on and there was Safire blabbing away so I turned it back off.

[goobergunch]

31. Basically nothing about domestic issues

besides "See my website."

[MidwestMomma]

36. That's because he spent his time trying not to attack Dean...

Russert lobbed opportunity after opportunity for Clark to bash Dean. Clark knocked them all down and took the high road. One example, when Russert asked Clark if he thought Dean's lack of foreign policy expertise makes him unqualifed to be president, Clark said, If George Bush is qualified to be president, then any of the candidates are better qualified to be president.

Russert did not give Clark many opportunities to talk about domestic issues. Maybe none. Clark is announcing a major policy plan tomorrow that is addressing the changes to the tax code. That's about as far as Russert addressed domestic issues.

[goobergunch]

42. Why didn't Clark try to change the subject on Russert?

IMHO, he should have suggested that they should be discussing the issues instead of the other candidates. I don't recall him doing so.

[KittyWampus]

47. Maybe You Missed Clark Saying He'll Be Proposing New Tax Policy Tomorrow

and I suppose next time Tim Russert asks Clark about Osama he should just launch into a spiel about his Education Policy... nothing like a non sequitor to endear himself to the media...

[goobergunch]

48. I caught that

Best part of the interview, IMHO.

[Lefty48197]

50. perhaps a discussion of tax policy would have been an appropriate

response to the Osama question?

[BootinUp]

33. Then you missed when Safire

said Dean would be mince meat against the shrub. He also did not want to say Dean had it in the bag yet.

[windansea]

7. what me worry?

[MoonRiver]

10. I saw it and was absolutely awed by the General!

This man has everything it takes not only to beat the *, but to be a president par excellence!

GO CLARK!!! :kick:

[Scott Lee]

11. I think you might have been awed by him had he ordered tea.

But, that's to be expected.

[MoonRiver]

15. I try, but sometimes fail, not to bash Dean or his supporters.

This is because I believe it is in all our interests to defeat *, no matter who our candidate ultimately is. I don't sense you ascribe to that same philosophy, however. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[democratreformed]

18. Yes, I'm bleeding now.

The blood is running from my tongue where I have nearly bitten it in two. :)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

26. This Dean supporter believes in the 11th Commandment

Don't speak ill of another Democrat. As you said, the important thing is to beat Bush. Anything said telling the truth about this monstrous mal-Administration is helping the cause. If the General said things against Bush on MTP, more power to him.

[MidwestMomma]

43. One of Russert's questions allowed Clark to point out ...

there was no link between Saddam and 9-11 and that Iraq was not an imminent threat. Anytime that message get outs I'm glad. Maybe one day the American public will get the message too! Thanks for your support of the 11th commandment. I'm trying to be a supporter too. But sometimes I slip. }(

[MoonRiver]

45. Thank you!

General Clark has served this country all his adult life. Although he, and many others, think he's our best candidate, I believe if someone else wins, Clark will enthusiastically support that nominee. General Clark is my roll model, and I will not only vote, but actively work to defeat *, no matter who gets the nomination. I don't like Lieberman, but I'd even work for him. ABB.

[billbuckhead]

17. These debates with 9 people in them are debates in name only.

Why appear in this negative environment?

[Bolo Boffin]

13. Transcript's up for the MTP appearance

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3849657/

[robbedvoter]

14. Nh voters will be flattered. As Iowa voters were when Gephardt skipped

the RTV debate to be with them. And Clark promissed: once nominated, the first place I go is Iowa! He never got more that a total of 10 minutes tottal of face time on those debates. And two more are coming anyway.

[SayitAintSo]

19. Clark was a class act ... He gets better and better

He Left nothing on the table with Timmy the Whore...

[H2O Man]

35. I think that a growing # of Americans ...

... see that Clark may be the best bet our nation has to repair some of the horrible damage that bush/cheney have done. I do not think that it is a betrayal of loyalty for my good friends who support Dean to admit that Clark is becoming a serious threat to the bush-cheney junta. To paraphrase U2, bush stold the white house from Gore and now we're stealing it back.

[MoonRiver]

51. Absolutely! There is no better candidate than Gen. Clark to beat the *.

GO CLARK!!!!! :kick:

[Toucano]

37. Today's events in New Hampshire

The "Women for Wes" event and the "Conversations with Clark" will do more to help his campaign than the debate would have anyway.

I don't recall anyone being influenced by a candidates 8-11 minutes of debate time, but I know quite a few who have been influenced by the "Conversations with Clark".

But what about missing a national audience? There will be plenty of time for that. A strong showing in New Hampshire is very important and time is running out.

[beachdreamin]

46. Women for Wes

I'm glad to see Clark have the conversations with women in NH.
Clark's time will be better spent talking to the citizens of NH then doing the "dog & pony" show in Iowa.

Clark is coming on really strong and did a excellent job on Meet the Press this morning. Women need to become more comfortable with Clark as a candidate and I know once they listen to him speak to issues that effect families and issues that women are concerned with they will love him, this is a man who has class and dignity and he has a record of service for this nation that Bush doesn't come close to.

Wes Clark will make a great President and America will benefit from his service.

[beachdreamin]

39. Clark & the Iowa Debate

I agree with you, Clark did a excellent job on Meet the Press and more people usually watch MTP more then any other Sunday talk show and more then who will watch the debate this afternoon.

Clark, is clearly the Anti-Dean candidate and he proved it this morning, he was clear, concise and appeared Presidential and he showed solid leadership on many issues.

Clark, will be the man to beat, Dean is not electable for 04 and Clark can defeat Bush on the issues of both foreign policy and JOBS and security at home.

[moz4prez]

58. Hello, BEACHDREAMIN

:hi:

[TankLV]

41. I'll miss his sticking to the issues, and his good zingers against bush*

He's a good to great speaker.

[Donna Zen]

57. Worry

An old adage: Never worry about what you cannot change.

It is truly a wonder of this campaign season that so many who by their own choice have determined to discover nothing about Clark, make so many supposedly "absolute" statements.*

The debates, which do not accurately fit the definition of the acedemic genre, have morphed into a battle of soundbites. All of the candidates have practiced and memorized a few pat responses, but they are not a forum for seriously dissecting policy differences. They have the benefit of providing free airtime, as the candidates are once again displayed in the show ring. Nevertheless, every minute counts. Questioning Clark's ability to communicate effectively doesn't count. Questioning his courage counts even less.

*Note: bookmarking negative articles about any candidate may prove one's devotion to a particular agenda, but it is not the mark of a serious scholar seeking a serious discussion.

[TexasSissy]

60. I'm not worried. He's not campaigning in IA. He made that clear

in September.

I saw the MTP interview. Awesome. Those rough media edges are smoothing out very nicely. That's my man. Our next President.

[stickdog]

61. Plus, Clark had more important things to do.

He's building an underground bunker that's gonna put Cheney's to shame!