Reply #7: Their pre-emptive attacks make sense

[karynnj]

Assuming that Bill and Hillary Clinton don't speak out against PNAC or about the DSM, who is the most credible person from a national point of view? Kerry and Gore (and possibly Kennedy) have the most visibility. They may have succeeded to use Gore's anger (as they have Dean's) to marginalize him. Kennedy is almost considered to be from a different era. Clark, doesn't have as much visibility, but if he is at the same place as Kerry - he might become a spokesperson.

At this point, Kerry has annoyed the media by staying around, looking good, talking very rationally and sending out his emails. Kerry was the most articulate anti-war voice of his generation in the 70s. I would bet his outrage on having all of these things confirmed in the DSM is at least as great as the outrage he felt in 1971, because this time he's one of the Senators.

Also, I think they want to eliminate any strong voices. They will easily marginalize Dean, as he makes it easy. I'm not sure where Edwards, Bayh, vilsek, or Warner are on this issue. Conyers is great, but he is considered to be outside the mainstream (though Delay gets press.)