Reply #85: Hmmm

[waggawagga]

Clark is like Jimmy Carter but in ways which I think aren't flattering. He's too pleased with himself. He has this air of someone who thinks he's the smartest person in the room when he isn't (though he is smart). He's someone who needs to get over himself. And if he does that he might have something to offer.

If he runs I don't think he'll get more than a few points in any primary. I'm trying to figure out why. Here's the best I can suggest. Clinton often did come off as the smartest person in the room (he was certainly someone who realized his own abilities) but he had this talent for putting people at ease. He knew that forming connections mattered and that he could learn things from others.

Clark, just going by my impression, doesn't seem to have learned this. It's ridiculous at this point that he hasn't declared some political affiliation. This creates an appearance of arrogance and egocentrism ("If I run as a Democrat you'll be lucky to have me").

Which is not how you win in politics. I'm sorry. It's not. Jimmy Carter, to his credit, balanced his arrogance (which he had) with a sincere belief in populism and a religiously-inspired humility. When people connected to Carter, and they didn't always, it was to this person.

To sum up, someone needs to give Clark a good slap. Unless he's setting himself up to be a pundit (in which case, who cares). People didn't vote for Clinton because he was a Rhodes scholar. This might sound cynical but I think many voted for him despite this.