I am hereby announcing that, after many months deliberation, struggle, and mind changing, I AM SUPPORTING WES CLARK FOR PRESIDENT IN 2004. Once and for all.

Let the mockery begin. I expect to hear from some of you who will wonder why I have deserted the various camps I've been in over the past year. I know that I spoke with cocksure enthusiasm for various candidates, but I can assure you that, in truth, I had never really made up my mind.

Until now. And it has nothing to do with commercials or any other superficial factors. In the past week, I have been watching the developments in Iowa closely, paying attention to electability above all else. In the past, I always put electability in the back seat to other issues, but for whatever reason this has become the most important factor to me. Almost subconsciously, I am constantly weighing each candidate's rank in electability as I watch them speak.

And Wes Clark is our man. Trust me. From someone who has followed politics (and in a few cases, been involved in it) very closely since I was 8, Trust me. Wes Clark will win the next election if he gets the nomination.

And I put this in the misc. section because I wanted everyone on the board to see it.

(Edited by roadie at 8:53 am on Jan. 17, 2004)

Yeah, I think he may be the most electable. He's running a close 2nd for me behind HD. What are your thoughts on a Dean/ Clark (or Clark/ Dean)ticket? I kind of think their personalities wouldn't allow it, but it would make me happy.

Bold, Roadie, I mean, it's hard to know who to pull for out of this bunch. It's been a weird week with all these people jumping behind Dean and yet he's slipping in the polls all over the place. I can't help but look at Dean and think of the Daily Show's joke that he'll be on the cover of "Strange Grimaces Monthly" and if he wins the election, that "magazine" will go Weekly.

My biggest hesitation about Clark has been his flip-flopping in the last few years on his party leanings. I would hate to think he's running under this great platform then conveniently decides to switch sides again once he's in the Oval Office. But the guy did push for key social issues when he was in the military with improved education and health care for all his troops. He seems to genuinely care for people.

And while I know all about how powerful and manipulative commercials can be (since I have made a few myself), those Clark commercials running here are VERY good. I would love to see Clark and Bush in a debate. My guess is Clark would clean his clock, but I'm just not confident enough that it'll ever come to that.

I'm pretty sure I'm a Clark guy too. I understand that he was formerly a "republican", but his credentials are outstanding. First in his class at West Point, Rhodes Scholar, Nato's Supreme Allied Commander...and a pretty charming guy to boot.

He's also the candidate that evokes trust and relatability more than any other... that means alot I suppose. Dean just always strikes me as slimy, like he's hiding something from me and going to giggle maniacly once he's backstage.

Okay, not that bad, but you get the picture.

Will

Good for you, Roadie on making a decision. I am stumped on this one.

That's truly sad.

I've tried and tried, but I can't find the post from uglyapeman that I wanted to quote, where he talks about people who, in 2000, were so supportive of third parties, but now in 2004 have tossed that allegiance out the window. So the two party system is suddenly okay again? I know you hate Bush, but is a Democrat really the solution? Let's pretend for a minute that Clark does get elected. In 2008, these people are going to be singing the same tune as they were in 2000. The short-sightedness is really frustrating to me. Vote your hopes, not your fears. Out.

Oh good, I thought you were going to announce that you're gay.


I'm just playin man

For me, things have changed. I dunno, in 2000 I was definitely a big "vote 3rd party" supporter. And I did. I felt like enough people would vote third party to at least demonstrate that people aren't happy with the two party system. Even that didn't happen. So it seems people are happy with the two party system, on the whole.

I genuinely like Clark alot. To my knowledge, the Libertarians haven't yet announced a candidate, and I've no idea who it will be. So for now, I'm looking at who I'd most like to vote for from the system. And it isn't Bush and it isn't Dean. Another part of the problem in 2000, for me, was that I hated both major candidates. I really really liked both McCain and Bradley, and would have had no problem voting for either of them. I was somewhat amazed when both parties picked the candidates that I liked least, and that I personally found the least electable.

I lost track in the midst of writing this when my roommate came in. I don't remember where I was going, but here's as far as I got anyway.

Will

They will pick their candidate at the national convention, which is in May, I believe.

GAY????


howard Dean rocks.

I believe it is time for a third party pres. to be elected. but, i think the reason nobody, during this election, is supporting third party hopefulls is because during the last election the people really did not want bush or gore and decided to throw away their vote. this time the voting public wants to oust bush, so they are going to do the job that should have been done four years ago and vote for a stronger democratic candidate.

bring back the whig party for 2008.

Vote Green, get all your friends to vote Green. Convince a large part of young voters to vote Green. That way, you'll hand the election to Bush, and the vast majority of people will STILL not give a shit about the Green Party, or the ideals of it. Right now, I do think a man like Clark is the solution.

All I know is, everyone I know that voted Green party last time are voting Democratic this time. I sincerely think that the Bu$h presidency has set the idea of voting for a third party back a few more decades. It's now an idea of getting the "lesser evil" in office!!

I say, Vote for who you think will do the best job, regardless of what party. If you don't you are cheating yourself, and said politician. I think it's too easy to get caught up in this throwing your vote away bs, and it just scares people away from 3rd parties. if enough people throw thier vote away, maybe someone worth a shit will be elected.

As I've said before, when we do elect a 3rd party candidate as President, maybe the Easter Bunny can be the VP.

That way they can sell government land to the highest bidder, you know, like parks, wildlife reserves, puerto rico.

I will vote for a third party candidate when there is a democrat in office with less of a threat. I promise you this. But now is not the time to vote for a third party.

For those of you who mocked Nader supporters in 2000, and continue to mock us for "changing our minds," guess what...You win. You were right. We were wrong. So fucking what? At least we believed in something, and who could have expected something like 9/11 which really gave Bush the vehicle to push an ultra conservative agenda? Had I known 9/11 was going to happen, sure I'd have supported Gore.

The point is, let's all just shut the fuck up and come together and get this cowboy outta there.

i'm voting wes clark. madonna told me to.

(attn: idiots, i was being sarcastic about the madonna part)

and i really hate to disagree with jamiecarroll and agree with roadie, but going back to a third party after "there is a democrat in office with less of a threat" looks like the best thing to do. and honestly, after w.bush won the primarys, the words "third party" went completely out of my head and i knew that the 2000 election wasn't just going to be happy fun time election but rather a manipulation. i didn't want this asshole in office, and at the time i didn't want to go to war, and i sure as fuck didn't want plane crashes and people throwing themselves out of buildings right here in america. i want this fucknut out.

for serious


and i still don't know why this wasn't posted in News and Politics and i think it should be moved.

Oh well. I guess I'm just a dreamer.

In reality, I suppose our country will probably always be mired in this red vs. blue shouting match, and no real, positive change will ever occur.