|
So Dean,
Kucinich, Sharpton, and Edwards are still in, but the General's out.
I personally think it is absurd and maybe teaches a lesson that you
should never draft someone, because they have to want it in their
own stomach.
Look at this from
an e-mail sent out today to supporters by Senator Edwards:
"I want to make
sure you understand that this campaign is far from over. Democratic
voters want a contested election to produce the BEST candidate to
face George W. Bush in November. They do NOT want a coronation.
There are 36 states (including Wisconsin, California, Maryland,
Minnesota, Georgia, New York and Texas) where Democratic voters have
not yet voiced their choice for the Democratic nominee. There are
still 80 % of the delegates up for grabs."
Clark almost dropped out after OK, even with the win in that state,
and then did the next week. It is clear he was talked into it
somewhat by McAuliffe and others promising him an "active" roll in
the party. In other words, he gave up his independent run for the
presidency so he could could be accepted by the Democratic Party,
rather than assailed as an outsider.
It is a good
news/bad news. Bad news, the best choice for pres. is out. Good
news, you may get Clark for what he is best at anyway, Secretary of
Defense or State. Who could be stupid enough not to put him on the
ticket - who has ever had a potential cabinet member on the ticket
who could win states all by himself?
Kerry has the
military background and economic/domestic experience that Clark
lacked. Edwards has the charm and warmth that Kerry lacks. But
Edwards alone could not bring in any southern states for Kerry.
However, Kerry and Clark together, the southern charmer and the
southern vet, would have a legitimate shot at winning at least a
couple of southern states for Kerry.
Kerry/Edwards/Clark? This season, when they are going up against the
Bush dynasty juggernaut, it will indeed take an army, not just the
right man, to do the job. People want to feel secure, and security
comes in numbers. They are so worried about the economy, and so
worried about foreign affairs.
On the Kerry team
as well, but not often mentioned thus far, are three other soldiers
ready – a entirely fired up – to do hard battle against the Bush
regime.
Rand Beers,
former top counter-terrorism adviser to President Bush (and three
other Presidents) who quit last year citing Bush’s horrible failure
in fighting the War On Terror. (see article:
Umm, It's Another One Of
Yours, George)
Also on the Kerry
team is former-Ambassador Joseph Wilson – yes, the man whose wife
was the victim of the currently-under-investigation White House leak
to Bob Novak that, illegally, blew her cover as a CIA agent.
And then there is
former-Senator Max Cleland, whose story was one of the motivating
factors for John to join the race. Cleland, a war veteran who lost
three of his limbs in battle, was painted during his re-election bid
in 2002 in South Carolina, as unpatriotic, with direct aid in the
unthinkably amoral smear campaign from the Bush team. Kerry’s wife
in particular, Teresa Heinz-Kerry, still fumes to this very day, and
this story is one that will be hung around President Bush’s neck all
election long.
Yes, Kerry has
the troops lined up. And his has the money to fight and – unlike
Clark had – has forgone matching funds, and so can raise as much
money as people will give him, allowing him the opportunity to, at
least potentially, compete with the Bush fortune.
Most importantly,
his sites are directed directly against the coming ridiculous
onslaught of personal right-wing attacks. And he has shown this far
he knows what it takes to manipulate the media in his favor – with
the help of a little good luck.
If there were to
be a team that has a shot a unseating George W. Bush, this just
might be it.
Of course, Kerry
might not win the nomination and the ticket might end up with Dean
on top, Dukakis asked to come out of retirement as his runningmate,
and Jane Fonda as his Secretary of State.
Wait, I think
that was the Limbaugh dream team – you know, the one he used to
visualize while drooling on himself in an Oxycontin-induced stupor.
The real team the Democratic Dream Ticket this year is one that
isn’t induced by Limbaugh’s Oxycontin dreams, but instead causes him
to want to pop a few of them ‘ol babies in order to calm his nerves.
But the one thing
you really have to wonder is how Clark so easily became a quitter.
Kerry has about 500 delegates, Clark has 100. 80% are still
out there.
His exit was way
too early and shows he did not, in fact, want to be President badly
enough that he deserved to hold that office. | 
