Reply #66: well, it's called a primary

[appal_jack]

And primaries come before elections.

Hopefully primaries serve to illuminate candidates good points, but they also give us the chance to witness and evaluate how the candidates deal with smears and trash-talking. I hope the eventual Democratic nominee is one who can handle every primary-era-smear thrown a her/him with aplomb, humor, and wit. Cuz once the general election campaign starts, the smears from the Repub's will be much, much worse. A candidate who can shed attacks like water off a duck's back is what we need. Might as well find out sooner rather than later.

And yes, I'll go ahead and say it. I am so unimpressed with Senator Clinton, that I could very possibly vote 3rd-party (or write-in Clark, Obama, Gore, or Barbara Boxer) if Clinton is the eventual nominee. I hate to say it, but Hillary's policies are far too corporatist and statist for my core beliefs. Flame away if you must...

-app