A question for Dean supporters, and please don't flame

[WilliamPitt]

I'm asking for trouble by asking this, but I am wondering. What will you do if Dean somehow does not get the nomination? It isn't the sure thing it was a month ago - not uncommon - and he may have a fight on his hands with Wesley Clark.

This question is coming from a guy who has supported Kerry. I'm basically at the point now where I am 99.998% sure he will not get the nomination.

I'm not asking for a loyalty oath, but I am genuinely curious. It's March. Dean's momentum has stalled out. What will you do?

I suppose "Not gonna happen" is an answer of sorts, but not an honest one, unless you have a cool crystal ball.

[hellhathnofury]

1. Support the nominee. I'll work for whoever it is, ABB.

It's Dean though until he drops and endorses.

[adamrsilva]

2. What will we do?

We are Democrats. We will vote for the Democratic nominee.

[BurtWorm]

3. In March, I plan to vote for Dean in NY

but if Dean loses the nomination, I will switch to whoever is the nominee, with a vengeance. Cause vengeance is what it's all about for me. (Almost all about.)

PS: I'm more concerned about what happens if Dean wins. Will the people who have been hacking at him here at DU be able to shake off their revulsion and support him as the nominee. That seems less likely to me.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

26. I'll vote for him. Won't work on his campaign though.

I've worked on the Gen Election Campaign for the last 4 elections. It would be sad. I just can't stomach him THAT much.

[BurtWorm]

35. I don't get the fear of Dean. From Democrats.

I just don't. :shrug:

PS: I get fear of Dean from Repubs. ;)

[adadem]

73. I'm the same

As a precinct delegate I've worked my butt off on many campaigns but unlike other candidates in this race the govenor is the only one I will not commit one moment of my time or any more money to. I did support him early on but my enthusiasm has turned to revulsion.

In response to the thread question I can and will support General Clark if he gets the nomination though I do not believe he has the (national) experience and dedication to the Democratic Party that Kerry or Gephardt have.

[pasadenaboy]

4. I'll vote for whomever it is

I won't give time or money to any pro-war democrat, though. The anti war dems I would support with time and money, but not as enthusiastically or thoroughly as I would Dean.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

5. Kill myself.

It's the only honorbale thing to do.

[Clark Campaigner]

85. Don't do that!

Clark will need your vote!

[lurk_no_more]

117. Can I have your computer?

I'll really need a back up to help Clark even more!



” JAFO”

[ryharrin]

6. I'm with the SOB who posted above me.

With Dean until he officially drop out. I really, really doubt it will happen, but I'll definitely support the nominee when it comes down to it. Especially since Clark is the only one with much of a chance to beat Dean, and I don't mind Clark too much.

on edit: damn! there was only one other post when I started to write this. You're a popular man Will.

[hellhathnofury]

8. It's good to be an SOB.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

25. Hey!

I prefer to kill myself by myself.

[ryharrin]

56. Well, I was talking to

the SOB who has SOB in his name above you :) So, don't worry, I'll leave you to kill yourself in peace.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

58. Oh, *that* SOB!

[hellhathnofury]

63. As a Californian, I can confirm Ahnuld is an SOB too.

[Khephra]

7. You know me,

I'm ABB, silly.

;-)

[ryharrin]

10. He was saying "what would you do if it was March and Dean stalled"

Not "Dean is stalled".

[tishaLA]

13. It says IF in March the momentum stalls.

not that it already has.

[WilliamPitt]

14. Not now, but in March

[Khephra]

19. Oopps

I'm up too late, I guess.

:evilgrin:

[BurtWorm]

21. Oops myself.

;)

[Khephra]

See #19

Sleepytime, I guess.

;-)

[BurtWorm]

28. I can dig it.

:hangover:

[jonnyblitz]

9. support Clark.

the only other option is Bush and that really isn't an option.

[hellhathnofury]

12. Canada? or Cuba if you don't like the cold.

[Lisa0825]

11. ABB, all the way

After my Dean Meetup tonight, I managed to get to my county dem club meeting before it adjourned. I think the only other candidate represented was Clark. I didn't see any visible signs of others. I didn't get to hear what the guy speaking about Clark said, because I was late, but I did walk up and introduce myself afterwards, along with 4 other Dean supporters who sped to the meeting. ALL of us cordially introduced ourselves and said we were glad to meet him, and will joyfully work on Clark's behalf if he wins the nom... granted we'll do what we can to prevent that... but no way in HELL will I let anyone sway me from ABB... with all my available cash and energy.

edited to add: guess I tried to skim too fast... if it is March, it depends on WHEN in March for one thing.... and how far we (hypothetically) are behind. I am in Texas, and if there is a snowball's chance in hell of Dean winning, I'll vote the primary for him. But if/when it appears no chance, I'll do whatever I can for who looks to be the viable candidate.

[Hoppin_Mad]

15. Wholeheartedly support any nominee but Joe - Him begrudgingly -eom-

[priller]

16. Go with the nominee

Fortunately, it won't be Lieberman either. :evilgrin:

Sorry about the Kerry flameout, I know you announced support for him early on, and in so many ways he would be a great president. But he really did run a poor campaign. I would be interested to hear if they do any kind of "post-mortem" after it's over.

[Lisa0825]

17. dup

oops.. connection probs... dup

[PretzelWarrior]

18. I've already said it...and I'm a recent convert

but I feel I could easily support Clark, Kerry, or Edwards if he didn't get it. I am having major problems with Gephardt and Lieberman. If Carol Mosley Braun, Kucinich, or Sharpton got the nomination--what? BUWAHAHAHAHHAHAA!!

Anyway. That's where I stand. I suppose Gephardt has a minor chance especially if he pulls off suprise comeback in his home area in Iowa.

If Gephardt is a 5 on scale of 1-10 for me...Lieberman is a 3. But I will support any of those guys over GOOODDAAAAMMMM F*CKING BUSH.

[Lisa0825]

40. I'd pay good money for

a bumper sticker with your last sentence on it!

;-)

[Redneck Socialist]

20. support the nominee. n/t

[OrAnarch]

22. Move to Canada using skilled-workers immigration...

Dean is one of those I would vote for, but I am no means a "supporter" (a defender maybe). He definately is one I see who is reaching out to teach the people who have been deluded by right-wing talking point, and to realign the political spectrum with a thinking class of people again. If it was between him and Clark, I would most definately go. I do not want to live in a country where the only way to win is to pick a candidate who appeals to right wing ideaology. I do not want to live in an America where the only way to win is to join them. Clark may be "electable", but only because he appeals on so many levels that the right-wing dominated press has drummed up: military, tax-cuts, charisma, military, etc. (Mostly the military bit).

I want a new America where liberalism comes first, and where military service comes last. An America where a leader is defined by a man who spends years defending not his life, but liberalistic institutions for his posterity. If I wanted the old America, Id vote Bush.

I need a candidate that believes in liberalism and who will do their best to not pander and appeal to the "middle", but rather, to reach out and pull the middle left. Clark is not that man...Clark is the candidate for Bush's Middle America...not my America. He is being judged upon the premises that the far right extremists have laid out the last 3 years, and on those standards, he looks great no doubt. But those will never be my standards.

Canada would be one step closer...


On Edit: Oh BTW, no absentee ballot for me. Bush's America, whomever they choose, will reap what they sow without my aid either way. A time approaches where the buck must also stop at the people, who are ultimately responsible in this "democracy" for letting us drift in the direction we have. From Nietzche: "Überzeugungen sind gefährlichere Feinde der Wahrheit als Lügen" - "Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies".

[DoveTurnedHawk]

64. Your Statement That Clark Appeals to RW Ideology Is Ignorant

God, I love DU.

:eyes:

Have fun in Canada.

DTH

[CWebster]

100. Speak it, brother!

No clouds in your eyes.

I despise the entire lockstep of ABB. It could be Stalin running, sporting a liberal Democratic smile, and the suckers would still line up because he wasn't Bush. People should open their eyes and examine their priorities, they got you by the shorthairs in your willingness to vote for ANYONE other than Bush. People are so easily hoodwinked out of fear. Why give away the entire farm because of a bad harvest? We have the opportunity to build our party up again as DEMOCRATS rather than seeking Republican symbols to beat Republicans since they OWN the discourse--which our party allowed to happen.

I am a Democrat and if the party domination by the Republican wing is secured, I will have to go elsewhere to be a Democrat and I will not vote for a Republican.

[adamrsilva]

23. I'm sorry, but is Dean supporters loyalty being questioned?

It's more likely we would have people like Lieberman's supporters not supporting Dean if he were the candidate.

[hellhathnofury]

27. Pretty much. Loyalty oaths.

I think he should ask the Clark and Kerry supporters this question too.

[WilliamPitt]

50. It's not a loyalty oath

I thought I'd ask the question so we can all shock the shit out of each other and discover we're on the same side.

[hellhathnofury]

60. I think it somewhat is.

Remember the "I don't know where my supporters will go" bit. We've been getting flack ever since.

That just might be a good idea Mr. Pitt. I suggest you do it everytime you see a thread where there should be near total agreement and we're bickering.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

37. Ya think? Naw. Couldn't happen here

again. Hasn't happened here since ...
this morning.

[WilliamPitt]

51. It's not a loyalty oath

I thought I'd ask the question so we can all shock the shit out of each other and discover we're on the same side.

[A-Schwarzenegger]

65. If it looks like a loyalty oath, and it smells like a loyalty oath,

and it quacks like a loyalty oath, it's probably
just curiosity. If we're not on the same side yet,
we soon will be. It's gotta hurt some though, to
get everybody back together, like the re-setting
of broken bones. Howard Dean or Hari Kari!

[WilliamPitt]

49. It's not a loyalty oath

I thought I'd ask the question so we can all shock the shit out of each other and discover we're on the same side.

[jsw_81]

24. I will support our party's nominee

This election is far too important for us to have a childish "my candidate didn't win so I'm not gonna vote" attitude. We're talking life and death here, folks. War and peace. Prosperity and depression. Sure, I'll be disappointed if Dean doesn't get the nomination, but you can bet that I'd crawl over broken glass to vote Democratic on election day.

[Hawkeye-X]

29. If Dean wins Iowa and NH outright

then noone is not going to be able to stop him on Feb 3rd which is 7 states and if he manages to win six of seven, then he will have the big momentum swinging his way. Not even Clark can stop him with his limited budget, and it was a fatal mistake, IMHO, to skip Iowa entirely.

I know Clinton won without Iowa caucuses, but Clark isn't Clinton by a long, long shot.

Hawkeye-X

[sfecap]

30. It depends.

I could support Kucinich, or Edwards.

I will not vote for Clark. I would stay home or vote for a third party candidate if he is the nominee.

Frankly, the Democratic Party is becoming an embarrassment. If Dean isn't the nominee, I expect 4 more years of *. Fortunately, I can afford to live in another country.

[OrAnarch]

39. Dont stay home...leave with me.

:) No CMB for you?

[indigo32]

31. Support the nominee

no offense but we get asked this about every other day.

[Hep]

32. Depends.

I'll vote for most of the others.

[askew]

33. I will, of course, work my butt off for whoever gets the nomination.

If you are asking what I will do if my candidate stalls before the primary is finished and there are still 2 candidates left in the race. I will back whichever candidate isn't Clark, because I think Clark is the most unelectable and the least appealing candidate to me personally. So, if Dean isn't going to win this nomination quickly, I hope that it ends up being a three person race between Clark, Dean and probably Gephardt/Edwards/Kerry/Lieberman.

[Sapphocrat]

34. Throw my full support behind any other Dem except Lieberman n/t

[dsc]

36. With all due respect

I, for one, am getting tired of the loyality oaths. I guess I could tattoo it on my forhead but I have said over and over and over and over again "I will vote for the person who is either leading Bush or in second place to him on election day." Barring the political equivalent of lightening stricking a lottery winner that would be the Democratic nominee.

[WilliamPitt]

52. It's not a loyalty oath

I thought I'd ask the question so we can all shock the shit out of each other and discover we're on the same side.

[dsc]

70. fair enough

I think it is understandable why Dean supporters might feel put upon in this regard. This may be the 50th time this has been asked.

[Fleshdancer]

38. I am a Democrat. I will do what a Democrat does...

I will support whoever wins the nomination.

[w13rd0]

41. Oh look, a loyalty oath...

...and I'd gone the whole day without one.

When it comes time for the general election, presented with options on a ballot, I vow that I will not vote for Bush. I will, most likely, vote for the nominee for the Democratic ticket. But I registered Democrat to participate in the primary process. Dean is the only candidate running that will motivate me to remain in the Democratic party. Furthermore, he's the only one to date that has been able to engage me in the process, and motivate me not only to vote (I've voted since I've been legally able to do so, I understand that much about civic participation) but to REMAIN participatory in the process. Any of the other candidates, I would do more for them than I did for Clinton, which is to say I'd vote for them. And then once they were elected and inaugarated, I'd view them (and all of Washington) with a healthy dose of skepticism.

When it comes down to loyalty oaths, I'll put it this way. You can ask us to swallow, but don't pat us on the friggin heads and tell us to lie and say we like the way it tastes.

[WilliamPitt]

53. It's not a loyalty oath

I thought I'd ask the question so we can all shock the shit out of each other and discover we're on the same side.

[Shakespeare]

68. heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeheee

You're cracking me up now. Keep repeating it, maybe they'll get it eventually.

Then again, maybe they won't. This is DU, after all.

[dfong63]

42. now ask the same thing of Clark supporters...

why give Dean all of your negative attention? i'm tired of all the self-appointed pundits looking thru their shit-covered glasses at Dean. it's just as likely or more likely that Clark will be the one to "stall out" instead of Dean.

[hellhathnofury]

44. Because you can't trust Deanies. We have shifty eyes.

The kool aid warps our minds into absolute devotion to the cult. Dean or die!!!

[Andromeda]

75. I agree with you, dfong63...

nobody seems to ask that question. Maybe it hasn't occurred to some people that Clark might be the stalled candidate.

[wtmusic]

43. Go into denial and vote for him as a write-in

j/k, ABB

:silly:

[slinkerwink]

45. I'll support the nominee but god help me if it's lieberman...

;-)

[Oreegone]

46. As Dean asked the other candidates

Will you support the nominee...???

Of course, I would even support Holy Joe,,,,with nashing of teeth,,,,but it is anybody but Bush and anyone who understands the reckless power of the Bush Family Evil Empire will also support ABB.....

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

47. The primary will be effectively decided by March 2.

9th at the latest.

Now if you were talking February.....

[w13rd0]

48. Oh, by the way...

...another thing. Is the reason this is asked so frequently of Dean because he's actually gotten strong backing amongst Independents and dissaffected Republicans, more so than any other candidate? Otherwise, it's not all that logical a question to be asking. Or are those that wish to stopdean willing to admit that their concern is that Dean HAS brought so many back into the process, and you think "bait and switch" is a good marketing tactic?

[CWebster]

101. the usual baiting

trying to single out Dean supporters to make them appear that they are not singularly committed.

[Gman]

54. You can see it happening almost in slow motion

Dean seems to be getting winded, Clark is moving up on the outside, both followed by the rest of the pack.

[Larkspur]

116. I love it when Clark supporters get cocky

Clark's slight rise is attributed to him skipping the Prez debates and him having to make up lots of lost time campaigning in NH.

When Dean returns to campaign full throttle in NH, Clark will be left breathing the dust he already is.

If Clark was such a great candidate, he should not have fumbled the media hype that he entered the race with. If Clark can screw that gift, he'll screw up big time in the general election, should he be the nominee.

[kerrygoddess]

55. I have a lot of respect for your work

I am sorry that you feel so negative anout Kerry at this point. I will point out that this post has now proved that you have sold out like the rest of the media has in trying influence voters by making predictions such as this about Kerry.

Very sad Mr. Pitt.

[ryharrin]

57. So realizing that Kerry has no leads in polls anywhere,

including Mass., is falling into third in NH, and has to finance his own campaign because of lack of donations means that Will has sold out?

[WilliamPitt]

62. Spare me, please just fucking spare me

1. When I post on DU, as I have for the last 1,000 days, I am just being another DUer. I am not 'the media.' If you can find anywhere in the 700,000 words I have written for truthout that writes Kerry off, as you think 'the media' has, I will give you my next three paychecks. All I've done as a member of 'the media' is write two long, luxurious backrub articles for Kerry in the last month. It is this kind of crap attitude that caused someone to write to my boss because she didn't like what I had to say about Dean in this fucking web forum. Repeat, this fucking web forum.

2. When I am not here, I am still not 'the media.' I am with truthout. 'The media' is CNN, NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox. If you cannot see the difference between my organization and that crew, you need to bone up on your reading.

3. Kerry recently had to loan his own campaign $6 million to stay alive. This sounds healthy to you? Just before Christmas, Howard Dean lost 8 points in New Hampshire, Wesley Clark picked up 4, and Kerry stayed completely put. His campaign still has no traction, and it's getting awfully late. The writing is on the wall.

End of message from 'the media.' :eyes:

[kerrygoddess]

66. I read your back rubs

And I liked them, I've quoted them and posted them on other forums and blogs including Kerry forums and blogs.

You are writer/journalist and you are paid to write your opinions. Correct? If you are paid to write your opinions then, you can't take the hat off an come here and be just Will Pitt. Everyone knows who you are and it's not as though you asked nuetral question. This election is too important.

The polls are still meaningless until voting day in NH and Iowa. There are so many different versions of the polls that all say different things. Kerry has a lot of support and many voters see Dean's campaign as imploding and Dean as very unelectable.

Sure, it's getting late. Remember however, that Kerry has a strong history of coming from behind in a crunch.

[jsw_81]

69. No need to get upset, Mr. Pitt

Sure, your candidate is sinking faster than the Titanic, but there's no need to swear.

[LSdemocrat]

59. ABB

I've always voted Democratic. I certainly don't see any reason to stop now.

[FubarFly]

61. If Dean doesn't win the nomination?

I will endeavor to build a time machine of course. I will spend the rest of my days looking for a way to undo this foul tragedy.

On edit: NM

Of couse I will work for the nominee.

[clarknyc]

67. I am ABB.

What will you do if Dean somehow does not get the nomination?

I will support the nominee, Will. What will you do if Dean somehow DOES get the nomination?

It isn't the sure thing it was a month ago - not uncommon - and he may have a fight on his hands with Wesley Clark.

It wasn't really a sure thing even a month ago --- not a single vote had yet been cast --- just polls and speculation have fueled the assumption.

I'm not asking for a loyalty oath, but I am genuinely curious.

You may be "genuinely curious", but it really does seem to be a question of loyalty. Perhaps you should expand the question to supporters of all candidates regarding their own disappointments and whether they will stay within the Democratic fold.

[eileen from OH]

71. No worries here, Will

Just came from a Dean Meetup of 100+. No other Dem candidate bashing (I am the host and I am a Cruel-But-Capable-Ruler and it is not allowed). While I didn't take a vote, I'd venture to say that Bush-Be-Gone was a prime, motivating factor in bringing us to Dean in the first place. Sure, we love the Deanster, but we love our country more and we all recognize that our country's future is at stake.

But, wait - you said March. If you mean, in March, if Dean is still viable will I switch? Probably not. March is awfully early. Don't know that I would at that point but well. .. it would depend on where things were at at that point.

So, to answer your question - this Dean supporter is ABB.
And ABBBIILIWNMS (Anybody But Bush But If It's Lieberman Will Need Many Scotches.)

If any of that makes the slightest amount of sense.


eileen from OH

[WillyT]

72. Not To Worry Will --- ABB Here As Well !!!

:bounce::kick::bounce:

[Polemonium]

74. well ABB of course

I imagine it would take some time to get involved with the new candidate, their alot of tools being used by us regular folks to support Dean. Those would not transition over night to another candidate. For example, thousands of personal Dean websites, the data bases of information, the people made literature etc. So I'd have a tantrum, drink some beers, grit my teeth and get on with ABB. However, as long as this campaign contiues to grow and continues to be supported by the people both fincacially and with volunteer support I think Dean is unstoppable.

[bowens43]

76. I will support any of the Dem candidates in November except

for Clark. If Clark gets the nomination I will vote third party. There are , IMO, worse things then 4 more years of bush and giving Clark the top spot in our party is one of them.

[Paragon]

77. If that happens, we all plan to drink Kool-Aid, Jonestown-style

Dean or death, baby!

Yes, ABB'ers who support Dean are somehow different than the rest of you, despite the fact that we are a MAJORITY of you, according to the polls. What a wack-ass question.


P.S. Please no more using the "backrub" analogy about Kerry - suddenly it's like the restored cut of Spartacus in here. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[He loved Big Brother]

78. Then I will vote for the Dem who does win, unless it's Lieberman

If Lieberman is the nominee, I will vote third-party or skip that portion of my ballot.

[Padraig18]

79. ABB. n/t

[mandyky]

80. I'll be depressed and angry, probably

Especially if the front runner is Clark. To me Clark announcing he was running before he had bothered to register as a Dem, with his past voting record, is a big deal to me.

I will work for Dean until he drops out, but I'll vote for whoever gets the nomination, I guess.

[rogerhall]

82. Enough with the not-a-Dem - might as well assume I've got the rebel flag

BTW - just a quick point on the 'Clark is not a Democrat' meme.

I live in Arkansas, and it is true that less than 5% of voters here are registered Democrats. Registered Republicans are also in the single digit percents.

It is pretty much par for the course here to say that you have no party affiliation, regardless of whether you are a long haired hippie freak or a bible thumpin Christian. I have never voted for a Republican (above the city level election), but I am *not* a registered Democrat.

So ... this attack will never play down here. In fact, it gives Clark serious credibility (throughout much of the South, actually).

Many people love the fact that he voted his conscience. If there is one thing we can't stand, it is someone who is 'always right'. When you sign up for a political party, you take a risk of being seen as a smarty-pants. No one likes a smarty-pants. :}

(That is the all-inclusive 'we', not necessarily 'me'.)
A fellow at the http://wesleyclarkweblog.com/ actually articulated my understanding of Wes' position very well:

http://wesleyclarkweblog.com/archives/000692.html#more

My own take is that Clark lived in the military bubble in the 70s and 80s, and reflexively voted for the guys who came off as supportive of the boys and girls in cammies. But as he picked up stars and moved into policymaking roles, his world view expanded beyond the post perimeter.

His focus was naturally foreign policy, and there he put himself firmly in the camp of Wilsonian internationalism, the Democratic foreign policy tradition. But foreign policy is not an island unto itself - it is part of a broader world view.

There are two basic outlooks you can have: law of the jungle versus we're all in this together. A seamless web of policies grows out of each, from global strategy to health care. And a guy who'd voted for Reagan found himself voting for Bill Clinton.

In my book that makes him a Democrat.

Edit: addition of explanation for 'we'

[mandyky]

84. The point is that when he announced his run

he was not yet a Democrat. It shows disrespect, in my opinion and I've been saying that since before he announced. I understand being an independent, and what I said is no meme, it is the way I have felt all along.

[rogerhall]

97. He was supposed to be, but it was an early failure in his ...

campaign staff. It is (apparantly) one of the reasons Donnie Fowler was fired. The paperwork was signed, but not delivered.

Personally, I think you are disrespecting those of us in the south that are as liberal/progressive/non-suck as anyone else who are also not 'registered Democrats'. Like, say, me.

As for it being a meme, it is now a meme.

[mandyky]

108. If you choose to feel disrespected that is your choice

but you are not running for president, either. Wesley Clark is, and he is running as a Dem supposedly. As I recall Clark ended up announcing early to drown out Edwards.

Just because it has become a meme, in your opinion, does not make it untrue. Facts are facts, when Clark announced he was not a registered Dem, which not only reflects on Clark, but the Dem Party that welcomed him without vetting him properly.

For instance, say Jim Jeffords, an independent decided to run for president - he's now an independent and was a moderate Republican who allied himself with Dems many times - I would be just as upset if he announced before actually being registered as a Dem, and if the Democratic party did not double check, it would make me wonder.

To me that is important because I am a registered Democrat. Maybe Independents who are progressive do not mind, but the party should vetcandidates fully and properly.

[rogerhall]

125. Whatever! He is as progressive as anyone, and

that is what is important to me.

I am not offended. I am trying to point out how insensitive you are to the Southern culture.

Hey - it's a big deal to you. Fine.

It aint to most of us down here in God's Country! :}

[tedoll78]

81. I chose Dean..

because I think he appeals widely and has the most potential to bring new voters into the process. It might take those new voters to defeat Bush. So, believe it or not, electability is my main reason for choosing him.

(pause for laughter)

If Dean doesn't get the nomination, I will continue to send $25 a month to whomever does. I want that Chimp OUT.. to the point where I'm willing to stoop to his level and cheat to get him out. Serious. I am desperate to see this man go. The idea of John Paul Stephens being replaced with a Scalia clone nearly frightens me to death!

[JNelson6563]

83. I am undecided

Being heavily involved in my local Dem party I have done much work and made much progress that whoever wins the nom will benefit from.

If I am too disgusted to work really hard for the nominee I've still done much. That may be about all I do.

We'll see how it goes.

Julie

[quaker bill]

86. Continue to campaign for Dean

I will vote for Dean on March 9.

That being aside, I would be pleased if Clark was the one left standing to face off with Dean. This would mean that either way it turns out, I get an anti-IWR candidate at the head of the Dem ticket.

To my mind this is 'mission accomplished' and I will support the nominee with great vigor.

I expect and will work to make Dean the nominee. But I will be just fine with Clark as an alternative. Jimmy Carter and Al Gore are the only candidates I have supported through the primary process that actually won the nomination.

I have gotten rather used to falling in line with the party's final choice.

[WI_DEM]

87. Don't flame?

yet you present this question only to Dean supporters? as if we are going to sit on our hands and let Bush win? I'll support the eventual nominee and most Dean supporters I know will do so as well. However, I do know some people who support other candidates who say that they will vote for anybody but Dean. A few of them even on this board. Why don't you broaden your question to include everyone and not just Dean supporters?

[bitchkitty]

88. Hold my nose

and vote for the nominee. If it's Clark, I'll vote for him, because it's important to get Bush out, but I won't give the Democrats any more slack. The behavior that I've seen coming from Clark supporters has made me hate the man with a deep, abiding passion. Not logical? Who the fuck cares. I hate them.

[goobergunch]

89. ABB

But I must say that I would not be able to support another candidate as enthusiastically as Dean.

[farmbo]

90. If Dean's out...I'll support Kerry. Clark's campaign is doomed.

Kerry at least had the common sense to "opt out". The boneheads at the Clark campaign will be legally prohibited from spending money to counter the $200 million Rovian mudslide headed toward the eventual Democratic nominee.(Their federal "match": $3.7 million which will be late in coming)

We'll need live ammo to beat Bush.

[Walt Starr]

91. Talk a walk

Seriously, the DNC and Democratic insiders have been working overtime to destroy Dean's candidacy. If they succeed, I'm done with the party.

They destroyed us in 2002 with their bullshit wimp ass agenda and I will NOT support their hand picked nominee.

[KaraokeKarlton]

92. I'm going to be perfectly honest, which will piss some people off

I probably won't vote unless I can write in Dean or find a third party candidate I can like. Clark is the only one who stands a chance of beating Dean, and I don't like or trust Clark. I was nervous about his support for the Bush administration and then finding out he has connections to the military industry made that even worse. After seeing his ridiculous plan to even further cut taxes I'm convinced that if Clark is elected he's not going to be any different than what we have right now.

I'm NOT a Democrat, so I'm going to say that before I get a bunch of the typical "party unity" posts responding to me. I'm a registered Independent because I've always had a real hard time trusting either party, so I vote individuals.

I feel that a lot of people supporting Clark do so only because he was a general. He's not qualified for the job and has never even won a single election for anything in his life. He has no political record to look at to see if he's actually consistent with what he's saying. He considered running as a Republican, too. Clark could be worse than Bush for all I know. He's never held political office before, so I can't look at how he runs things. And frankly, as an ex-military wife, I don't like the idea of a military leader running the country.

[Walt Starr]

94. I think there are a lot more of us than anybody realizes

Most people who feel the way you and I do will never even visit DU.

[KaraokeKarlton]

105. I know there are a lot of people like me supporting Dean

And he's a proven candidate who has never lost an election. I think people are supporting Clark because they think his military uniform looks more tough than Bush's flight suit. But frankly, Clark has nothing else to offer but his military experience. He was a lobbyist for the military industry seeking contracts from the government. This makes me VERY nervous. I am seeing visions of more Halliburton type dealings if we get another close connection to the military industry in the white house. Look at what Cheney has been up to. I am seriously concerned that if Clark wins we'll see more of the same. :shrug:

[HFishbine]

93. Playing it by ear. Reserving judgement.

Too many unkowns to say for sure. Will have to see how it plays out.

[eyesroll]

95. I will vote for the eventual nominee. I also will do some combination

of the following, depending on who the nominee actually is, and what Vince's campaign is doing after his primary:
1. Financial contributions
2. Phone bank/lit drop/clerical volunteer
3. Stick a sign in my yard
4. Attend the local rally
5. GOTV effort on Election Day.
6. And so on.

[CWebster]

96. I will not vote for a Republican

No matter what he calls himself at the moment.

[4dsc]

98. I will support the nominee of the party

with the same invigor I support Dean with.. And so should every democrat live!!

[NoPasaran]

99. As long as Dean is in the race I am with him

I will support the nominee of our party, whomever that turns out to be to the best of my ability. There is nothing more important than getting Boooosh out the the White House and shipping him back to Connecticut.

[SnohoDem]

102. ANYBODY BUT BUSH

Anybody.

[Duder]

103. In February...

I'll vote for Howard Dean in the primary. In November, I'll vote against Bush but if Clark is the nominee, I'll mentally prepare myself for the headline - BUSH WINS. Any hope that the divisions between the progressive and ol' southern DLC wings within the Democratic Party can be moderated will be severely diminished and the benefit to Democracy of having only two corporate parties as being representative of the populous will be questionable in my mind.

[LuminousX]

104. Simple. I campaign for the person who got the nomination, in Dean's name.

[9119495]

106. I think he is beign mercilously savaged for few good reasons so

I will suport the nominee with my vote, but due to some of the nasty posters on this board and the pundits, I'm losing faith in the process. The Reps have set out OUR lines of debate.

An example would be Dean's "America is no safer for having caught Sadam" remark. This is truth and Dems should know this by now. Heightened terror alerts, al-Queda motivated for vegence, fingerprinitng everyone, cancelling flights---its all so clear. But opportunist candidates saw it as a chance to find a way in. For such behaviors they are becoming less worthy to receive anything beyond a vote.

And that sickens me. Three weeks ago, I would have done anything to get another Dem in, but I actually begun to ask myself: "If Dean loses not through a fault of his own, should I just give up my activism and go through life like most Americans? Doubting the power of the people? Following issues from a distance?" Its sad, and I'm not there yet, but I could be soon.

[Woodstock]

107. the other day you called for peace, and now want to stir things up?

Why are you singling out Dean supporters? You know darn well there are just as many nobody but Kucinich, nobody but Clark, etc. people on this forum.

If a few people answer you and say NBD, that doesn't mean a damned thing. Well, yes, it does, because it will ignite the NBD wars around here again, and then the flood of ABB Dean supporters will have to hop on, and there will be general animosity (more so than usual - animosity is the norm for this forum) for the next few days.

I'm in touch with HUGE amounts of Dean supporters, and all I hear is ABB.

[chocolateeater]

109. It' a fair question

a lot can happen between now and the convention. I prefer Dean, but if he drops out, I will probably support whoever the presumptive nominee is. The important thing is to get BushII out of office.

[John_H]

110. An important thread for those who dismiss opinions that

the Dean campaign, like a new superbowl team, attracts too many bandwagon jumpers-- who will jump off the bandwagon in a second if it stops rolling--to win a general election.

that too many people still buy into Dean's "outsider" BS. The oft proven fact that he's a consumate and enthusiastic insider misleading people to win the nomination needs to be proven more often.

Read all of the responses--the answers are all there.

The real question is what will these people do if Dean wins?

What will they do when he starts sucking up to the "insiders" he's using to attaract supporters now? He knows he'll need them to win. Many of his supporters do not. Will they get disillusioned and leave when turn-around time inevitably comes?

What will happen when is 200 million in Chimp Change begins to bring out Dean's actual moderate record? How many people on the left will leave once they realize they've been duped?

111. support the candidate

who ever it is.
I was a Kerry supporter 2 years ago. He looked so good on paper. Pity.
First saw Dean at some talk in Iowa on C-span around a year ago at which point I began to consider switching my allegiance precisely because I am cynical about the reasons people get elected - I think Bush got selected because of his Act of folkiness and that Gore seemed too elitist to a lot of people - and that Dean might have the best chance of countering Bush on this score.

[silverweb]

112. Dean is the Man.

If, by some fluke of fate, another Dem gets the nomination, I will give my allegiance to the Democratic nominee, as Dr. Dean has said he will.

The BFEE has got to go!!

[LittleDannySlowhorse]

113. For the billionth time,

YES, I'll support the Democratic nominee. Christ...

I am SO SICK of having to take this fucking loyalty oath every couple of days, particularly since there will be another one tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day, and so on.

OK?

[Walt Starr]

114. I got sick of the required loyalty oaths a while back

Yet another in the long list of reasons I said fuck it, nobody but Dean '04.

[Zomby Woof]

126. so sick of HAVING to?

I don't see anywhere in DU rules, or Will's post, where he (or DU) is REQUIRING you to answer his questions. Hide his post, ignore it, whatever, but no one is compelling you to answer it. :-)

Best laugh of the night, lol.

[Larkspur]

115. My vote would be ABB, but my $ and enthusiasm go to MoveOn.org

None of the other major candidates inspire me or give me hope that they can make this country better.

Clark is a doppleganger, not a Democrat. Don't trust him at all. And Clark would never get any of my money since he thinks that it's OK to ship my software engineering job to India. Clark also lacks the ability to inspire. Saw him on C-Span and he even had Clark supporters yawning.

Kerry is politically myopic and makes bad decisions on important issues. His imploding campaign that he's trying to salvage with a personal mortgage of his $6 million home speaks volumes about his executive leadership and budgetary skills.

Lieberman is a pro-corporate Dem who reminds me more of Elmer Fudd than a presidential candidate.

Gephardt is a Chamberlain redux -- Oct 10, 2002 treacherous appearance in the Rose Garden is still fresh in my mind.

Edwards is politically immature or at least appears to be and the IWR vote cost him any hope of attracting the enthusiasm of Democratic activists.

[mrgorth]

118. As upset as I'd be

I'd be happy to vote for Clark as long as he doesn't move too far to the right. The only way I can't vote D is if the dems go with a 100% pro-war ticket (Lieberman and Gep).

[eissa]

119. ABB, baby!

I'm a huge Dean supporter, but I will support whomever the nominee is. The only problem I would have is if (God forbid) it should be Lieberman (by the way, the people at New Republic can kiss my ass).

[lastliberalintexas]

120. On March 9th

I will be voting for Dean in my state's primary. (actually before that since we have 2 weeks of early voting)

If Dean does not get the nomination, my support for the Dem depends on HOW that person gets the nomination. If it is through some back room deal that is cut by the party establishment to undercut the frontrunner (who is still most likely Dean, btw), then I will have a very hard time voting for that person. No matter who it is. No matter how Clark gets the nom, it will be hard for me to vote for him. I'm working on that, so maybe by next Nov I'll be able to do so if he is the nominee. I just pray it doesn't come to that.

So you people know, I am a loyal Democrat who has worked for the party and Democratic campaigns for the past 20 years. About 10 or 11 people in my family have held elective office and/or worked for Dem elected officials, so the loyalty to the party has run deep for most of us.

HOWEVER, 2004 is the very last time that my party gets a pass from me. Hereafter, they will have to EARN my vote, by God. Until my party gets a backbone and stands up to the bastards, they will continue to lose people like me.

Want to know why we are a minority party? Rowland freaking ADMITS to unethical behavior in the furtherance of his official duties, and we Dems sit back and CONSIDER whether or not to bring impeachment proceedings. CONSIDER?!!!!!! WTF are they considering? Repubs would have had impeachment papers already drawn and presented even before a Dem governor admitted to the wrongdoing!

For those of you who say that's not noble- well, politics ain't either. Never has been, probably never will be. Yes, there have been shining moments in politics, but overall it is a hardball, down and dirty bloodsport. And until we wake up and realize that fact, we will continue to be in the minority.


And this would be a good question to turn on its head. I think I've probably seen as many or more supporters of others say they will refuse to vote for Dean if he gets the nom. But that wouldn't be as much fun as asking us Dean supporters the same darn question we've been asked 100 times before, now would it?

[Walt Starr]

124. I'll be voting for Dean on March 16 AND Novemeber 2

Even if I have to write in his name on November 2.

[RandomKoolzip]

121. Look, I like ALL the candidates.

Dean is just the one who spoke most directly to my heart and head. I love his fighting style and his confidence; and his policies on everything I care about seem to be the most aligned with my own personal beliefs. Now, should he not get the nod, I'd be more (way more) than happy to cast my vote for Clark, Kerry, Kucinich, WHOEVER, just so long as it's not Bush or a third party. I will vote Democratic, no matter who gets the nomination. (And I like Clark A LOT. I'm not one of those "Dean or NOBODY" losers or a guy who hates Clark because he's NOT Dean- that's stupid.)

We have a great field of candidates, and I like both the frontrunners- it's a win-win for me as far as the nomination goes.

[poskonig]

122. I'm not sure what I would do.

I'd support the Clark that talks about healthcare access and tax fairness. The patriotism, family, and faith agenda in contrast is a little creepy.

[frank frankly]

123. I will fight with all I have for any of them

Dean is still my favorite, but there will be no dropoff in my effort if he doesn't get the nomination...

[Zomby Woof]

127. I'll write myself in

Because by gum, if Dean doesn't get the nod, then it's ZombyWoof in '04 baby!

I meet all of the constitutional requirements, and I am not Bush, therefore a damn good ABB candidate.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

128. only .002% chance for Kerry?

well, as the chicken Ginger says in Chicken Run- even if the odds are a million to one, then there's still a chance.