Name one thing Clark brings the Dems that Kerry doesn't

[kerryistheanswer]

Following up on someone else's post, I'd be interested in knowing what about Clark clearly differentiates him from Kerry and makes him the better candidate. Let's try and avoid the issue of electability because national polls suggest they're generally tied.

Peace.

[Mattforclark]

1. Arkansas

Hey, you said one thing.

[TacticalPeek]

18. It coulda been the diff in 00.

It could be the diff in 04.

Who knows? I dream of landslide seachange.

[Scott Lee]

2. Clark brings a straight story and nothing to apologize for.

Clark didn't vote for the IWR.

Clark didn't vote for the Patriot Act(s).

Clark hasn't been part of the Democratic Bush Enabler Gang in Congress.

This is why he is my second choice. You can't go too wrong with this guy.

[sandnsea]

16. That doesn't help

He isn't pure on the war either, but that's not the point in the GE. Most people still support the war and the Patriot Act. He isn't calling for a repeal of the Patriot Act anyway. Congress will be exactly the same because we've got centrist states and their representatives still have to vote to please them.

Like I've said, quit throwing out the war vote and the patriot act as an excuse to choose one candidate over another when none of them are truly different on them. Except Kucinich.

[coralrf]

17. war vote? There was no such thing..

Kerry voted for a resolution that would have tied Bush's hands had he kept his end of the deal. It is sad to see even Kerry supporters calling this a war vote.

[KittyWampus]

3. Cutting Pentagon Budget

Without which we realistically can't accomplish much in the way of social programs....

The MIC is like a cancer.

[sandnsea]

4. One word: General

Kerry is my guy, no question.

But, Clark brings one thing. He's a General. I know Kerry was in the military, but that was a long time ago. He also is a Vietnam protestor and hasn't supported every military boondoggle that has come down the pike.

A General. Can you imagine the right and the freepers attacking his patriotism etc. with anybody taking it seriously? They would embarrass themselves insinuating a General wanted to lose wars, turn the world communist, etc. It would be really tough. That's one thing I think Clark brings just a little bit more than Kerry. And in these political times, every little thing counts.

He also brings some other problems, but then again they all do.

[jumptheshadow]

28. Yes, he has credibility

To cut the military budget.

[tameszu]

5. The Internet Draft Movement and 40,000 more MeetUp supporters

Also, not that national polls mean that much right now, but Clark has been consistently running around 5-8% better than Kerry in national polls.

One thing Clark doesn't bring to the table: cheesy motorcycle outfits! =P

[Jerseycoa]

13. Correction

50,000 meetup supporters

[WillyBrandt]

6. Southern vote, outsider cachet... (cont'd)

already excellent record of working with foreign leaders, as well as the ability to speak with conviction--and to be seen speaking so. (This last one is a skill Kerry has lost, unfortunately. And I like Kerry--a lot.)

He also brings a strong grassroots following that Kerry does not. Moreover, should he be the nominee, having the very many Deanies come over should be fairly easy: the two candidates share many qualities that attract the disaffected base.

Kerry would have a harder time doing the same.

Moreover, as a candidate who in terms of his history and geography belies the false stereotype of the Democrat that the GOP uses, has the ability to refracture politics in the US upon class instead of cultural lines--given the state of things, and demographic trends, he could usher in a Democratic majority that no other candidate can.

Clark has a lot.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

10. ability to refracture politics upon class instead of cultural lines

That's what I was hoping, but he needs to get going on it.

[WillyBrandt]

14. He cannot do this in the primary

This is a general election thing. The primary is a very different beast: the party can be remade in the primary, but the country cannot be politically refractured.

That has to wait until the general (General?)

[HuckleB]

7. Welcome to DU.

Do you work for Kerry, by any chance?

Just curious.

[mikehiggins]

8. Kerry fell down and can't get up. That's the difference.

He didn't react fast enough to what Dean was doing and let the doc get the jump on him.

By rights, John Kerry should be the nominee-elect of the Party at this time, striding like a giant among the others. Instead, he's hoping for a chance to derail the Dean express in NH. If he doesn't things look bleaker that bleak.

His situation is almost heartbreaking, except politics is a blood sport and he'd so the same to Dean in a New York minute if he could.

If Clark wins, I think Kerry would be a dynamite Secretary of State but even if Bush wins I doubt we've heard the last of the junior senator from Massachusetts.

An upright, honorable man.

[sandnsea]

22. Clark's not really getting up either

You either figure out the media or you're doomed. Kerry or Clark. They have the exact same problem.

[mmonk]

9. well ....

Administrative experience on a large scale
Commanded an international force
Speaks four languages
Has had to negotiate with and between different countries

[Jakey]

11. Less ego...

Kerry, IMO, has always wanted it too badly...

[coralrf]

12. Natioanl polls suggest that Clark and Dean are very close..

and that Kerry is a distant 3rd. When you poll the candidates against each other you just get a mess..you must look at how the nation polls Clark and Kerry against Bush. Polls suggest that only Dean or Clark have a shot at Bush.

The primary elections are Democratic affairs. The general election is what it is all about. Look there..the prize is not the nomination it is the White House.

[BurtWorm]

15. Middle class background

One of his most appealing aspects is his history as a person with money problems, not through profligacy or any fault of his own, but because of his military pay scale. This makes him seem symaptico--unusually sympatico for a candidate this year. (Kucinich is another whose economic history makes him appealing to me.)

[Donna Zen]

19. Kerry is on my short list.

I always worried that while Kerry had good credentials, the throwing of the medals--while I agree with his action--would really be exploited. That said, I think Kerry is a strong candidate who deserves respect and support for his history of liberal stances. He has come through for us many times. I do not litmus test the IRW, because the subject is both complex and really bush's fault.

Kerry's negatives are regional and personal. Kerry is very funny and quick, but often comes across as too stiff and full of himself. Whether or not he would come across with the voters as the guy to have a beer with is anyone's guess. But my guess is "no." Something seems to have happened to Kerry on the way through the Senate hoops. Whatever it is, he is having trouble connecting.

Massachusetts is always a tough sell. Not just in the South, but in many parts of the country. It is pure preception of course, since the state is certainly not the holy grail of liberalism it once was. I mean they did elect a Mormon republican, and there are strongholds of very conservative folks who keep the "D" but vote the "r." Anyway, the job the repubs have done on turning the public on that state is stuck-bunk.

Clark on the other hand is a general and his background is far from Hyannis chic. People know they can have a beer with him, he's one of the guys. Again, it is all in the perception. Moreover, Clark has always had that something..."Q factor" charisma, whatever. Watch him on MTP. Or better yet, watch the 60 Min. II video. He's got it.

He definately is from the right region. A region that breeds a certain confidence clear up to Maine. For me, it means that Clark can be as liberal as he wants to be, his aura of moderate will remain intact. He can actually deliver on many policies that the other candidates can only talk about. Given that he has lived everywhere and in under many circumstances, won't change that fact. What he really brings from the South, is the ability to slip the knife without ever having to seem angry. He leaves one saying: Did he really just say that? While he leaves the fool across from him legless.

Clark is not a politician. He is someone whose whole life revolves around his word being a badge of honor. While many on this board don't get that, it is very important.

[catherineD]

20. I agree. Plus here are a few fun things that work for me...

1. He has a 100 year plan. It's on his site, and it isn't yet that well-developed, but how many presidents do you think have had a 100 year plan? This guy means to make a plan for the US based on what we should look like 100 years from now!

2. He was CEO of an alternative energy company. Somebody who has had a personal involvement with moving away from our oil dependency? What is the potential there?

3. He's had that very positive involvement working with militaries and governments while living overseas as the head of NATO. A guy who already has friendly relationships with a number of heads of state and who speaks Russian, German and Spanish? Who understands NATO's capabilities in his gut, from top to bottom? Whose time in the military makes him entirely familiar with just what parts of the military-industrial-complex need to be trimmed? All right, I guess that one wasn't as fun, but it seemed relevant.

4. I like that they gave a test in the military to 1,000 officers (or was it 5,000?) to see who was best able to identify trends and he came in first.

5. I like that he still gets excited about the physics of time travel and likes science fiction. (Go nerds!)

[LiberalBushFan]

21. clark is better looking

hey, it helps

[bluestateguy]

23. He is a career military man

What a candidate did as a young man can only take you so far. Look at Max Cleland. The Goopers were able to make the race a referendum on his record as a Senator, and dismiss his heroism in Vietnam. Clark, on the other hand, has spent a lifetime in the service of his country, in a position of high military leadership. His military career defines who he is, rather than simply being one part of his past that preceded a political career.

[moondust]

24. Management of a large, complex, international organization.

And ultimately proving the relative effectiveness of that management when said complex organization was called upon to act decisively under his command in dangerous circumstances. No casualties to said organization save for a few trying to get their poorly maintained Apache helicopters to the battle.

[Josh]

25. He wasn't Dukakis's Lt. Governor

This isn't huge, but I didn't want to repeat anyone else, and you said 'name one thing'. :)

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. Foreign Diplomacy experience.

Think Israel and Iraq...hell, think the WORLD! We are hated by the entire world and Clark has the experience and temperament to repair the damage to our allies by the shrub.

[Kamika]

27. He looks better

not a Clarkie!

[NewYorkerfromMass]

29. Kerry's taller

back atcha!