The Fury of the Democratic Convert (Wes Clark)

[cryofan]

I guess one of the themes of this article is that Clark is making up for showing up as a Democrat-come-lately by stressing strenuously core Democratic principles, especially progressive taxation. I really really like any candidate who talks a lot about progressive taxation. Clark could very well get my vote over Geppy if Kucinich fails to catch on by the time Texas primary rolls around. And I think I could donate to and work for Clark in the general election.

Here are some excerpts from this article, which also addresses/mentions pretty much all of controversies/questions surrounding Clark:


The fury of the Democratic convert
By Derrick Z. Jackson, 1/16/2004

GENERAL Wesley Clark played the role of true believer to the point of slamming the table and raising his voice as if he were talking to 200 people in New Hampshire, not merely seven newspaper columnists. Asked why the attacks of the Democrats on President Bush's invasion of Iraq have not yet cut significantly into Bush's support from average Americans, Clark said:

....

"You've got a Republican Party under Gingrich and Tom DeLay that says, `Here's what I want' . "Then you've got the Democrats over here saying, `Yeah, ah, yeah, we could, some of what you say makes pretty good sense.

...

"What we've got to do is stake out our position. For instance on tax reform, stop saying you agree with simplification of the tax code. . . . We stand for progressive taxation. We're proud of it. If you make more, you should pay more, period!"

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Preach it, brother, preach it!


more here"
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/01/16/the_fury_of_the_democratic_convert/

[funky_bug]

1. It is precisely

posters such as yourself that give merit to our party. You have a firm grasp of which issues are important to you, and you give careful consideration to all the candidates based on their positions. Not only do I thank you for an informative post, but I applaud you for your open-minded approach to our candidates.

If we all take your cue, perhaps we can re-unite... at least re-unite here on GD...lol

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Clark hit the nail on the head

We must stake out our positions. We must be firm. Sorry, but if we try to be polite and compromise, the Rethugs roll over us, ignoring our elected representatives to craft legislation with the lobbyists of special interests.

[madmax]

3. Amen

Clark knows what he believes in and he is able to convey that in plain well spoken and understandable English. He doesn't need a Karen Hughes to come out and say, 'well, he meant'.


"We stand for progressive taxation. We're proud of it. If you make more, you should pay more, period!" Wes Clark

[Upfront]

5. Carefull General

You don't want to be called angry do you? Lol Reminds me of another angry candidate. Good for Clark.

[Jerseycoa]

8. I would never say

Clark is not angry. He is one pissed off fellow, in fact.

[Crunchy Frog]

17. I really like Clark's brand of anger.

It's more of a "controlled burn", rather than an explosive burst. I resonate with his anger but I even more strongly resonate with his hopeful vision of what this country has the potential to be. I think that vision, and the ability to articulate it in a way that voters can grasp is what will win him the election.

[Old and In the Way]

4. Interesting thing about converts.

People I know who are religious converts usually take their religion far more seriously and practice it more faithfully then those who are born into it.

I can believe that Clark may well be a convert to the Democratic Party....and his late life conversion may well inspire other like minded Republicans and Independents to follow his lead.

[funky_bug]

6. WOW

That is an interpretation I had yet to hear. Very interesting theory, and I commend you for your insight!

(and I also think it's pretty cool)

[CalProf]

7. That's true...

Historically, missionaries found that those indigenous people they managed to convert were more zealous than the missionaries themselves.

In any case, wherever Clark came from, he's welcome to my party any day.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

10. I'm a convert too. I've worked for more Dem candidates than most life-long

Democrats. The older I get - the further to the left I move...

[Killarney]

11. Interesting point!

I agree with that.

[Bucky]

14. Exactly. Any Dem would govern well. But Clark could mean realignment

Imagine a strong on defense, strong on economics, strong on crime prevention (rather than just punishment), strong on education, strong on patriotism, strong on morals, strong on open government Democratic party for the next two generations squaring off against a Republican party that has to live with the Bush mess the way their grandparents had to live with the Hoover legacy.

That's actually not fair to Hoover. Herbert Clark (*ulp*!) Hoover was a well educated, and personally highly respected man with a long record of service to humanitarian causes. After he left office and sulked for a few years, it was his Hoover Commission that helped to cut a lot of inefficiency out of government in the 40s and 50s, leading to another generation of success of the New Deal program.

George will just retire and fumble thru some speeches in Japan for several millions of dollars like For, Reagan, and Poppy did. Service to humanity is a joke to these fat cats. To people like Clark, Kerry, Gephardt, Dean, Kucinich, and even Herbert Hoover, it's a calling and way of life. God, I can't wait for November to get here.

[Leilani]

18. True

It's also like people who quit smoking...they become the most strident anti-smoking people around.

[Eurobabe]

9. Excellent article

Especially after I attended a Dem breakfast this morning and the Lieberman surrogate cracked that old tired *Joe has been a Democrat for 30 yrs. opposed to some in the running who have only been Democrats for 3 months.* I did not hear this from ANY of the other Democratic candidates surrogates.

I get so furious when I hear this comment! It does absolutely NOTHING to make me want to join the Democratic party. Yes, I voted Repub. early in life, but went Dem in 1992 and never looked back. I consider myself an Independent who leans heavily Dem. This blue-blooded claim to pedigree does nothing to inspire people to join in the Dem party, even Carville addresses this in "Had Enough?"

I'll stay Indy (VA does not require to choose party anyhow, but in PA I was a registered Dem) until this rhetoric stops, thank you. For the record, I doubt seriously that KKKarl minds how long you have been a Repub., just as long as you have a pulse and can vote.

[pop goes the weasel]

13. Don't let them put you off

with snide comments about how long you've been a Democrat. I notice the Republicans don't care how newly minted their candidates are, as long as they are Republicans. If we make longetivity in the Democratic Party more important than commitment to Democratic principles, we will never be able to re-gain former Democrats or garner the support of disaffected Republicans.

[TreasonousBastard]

16. Absolutely!

I go slightly insane when I see this nonsense about who's a "real" Democrat.

A real Democrat is one who is running for office or working for the party. How long they've been doing it makes no difference at all.

I can't imagine why we would want to throw newcomers out.

[windansea]

12. good one Cyrofan!!

if you put strenuously in front of stressing your post would be perfect...:toast:

[KittyWampus]

15. Thanks For Posting, Great Piece