After watching some of the Florida Convention...

[Alex146]

Clark has moved way up on my list of candidates.

Dean did the best.

Kerry was slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooow. He had a few good lines, but they were pretty much spoiled by his lack of vigor.

I didn't see the rest.

Alex
Dean/Clark in 2004

[Brucey]

1. I saw them all, and it's funny how people interpret these things, because

I disagree with you quite a bit. I am not yet favoring any candidate, by the way. I would vote for Hitler or Satan before Bush. But in the presentations given to the FL convention, I thought Kerry was the best, Dean a close second, Edwards was fine, Clark very poor, and Kucinich awful. That is my objective opinion based only on those speeches. In general, I like Dean's organization, ability to get fanatical support, and speaking ability. However, I believe that his anger works great with Dems but will not bring around many repugs or independents or greens. I do not like a military person as a government leader, but think that Clark does very well when he is answering questions or talking to people. He does not do as well in a large public address. I think he has the best chance of winning the election, however, because he can get repugs and indies to vote for him, and the Southern connection might help. I like Kerry, but never was able to build up a strong feeling for him. Also, I think he would have trouble winning because he is from MA, has a long, tired face, won't get Dems fired up, and is viewed as too liberal by repugs and indies. I love Kucinich, his heart, his policies, his stamina. But for some reason he has not caught on, and he is now a long shot. Unfortunately, he does not do well as a speaker.

[OhioStateProgressive]

2. funny...since Kucinich did the best, and is the best speaker(nt)

[JohnKleeb]

3. Ive heard like wise from people who support others

I didnt see it but I heard he did good. There was a post on it in GD, much praise from the Dean supporters, Kerry supporters, Clark supporters, and others.

[OhioStateProgressive]

5. yeah, Dennis fired the crowd up

he also tore Dean apart in the Q & A done later on

[JohnKleeb]

6. I heard it was civil but I heard Dennis did good

as well. All is good.

[diamondsoul]

10. You know it's funny-

I've heard a few Kucinich supporters express dislike for Dennis' passion. That always shocks me since it's one of my favorite things about him.

[Sean Reynolds]

13. HE did?

You sure you were watching the same Q & A that I was? Both did REALLY well, there was no attacking - hm, quite odd you'd say that.

[OhioStateProgressive]

14. my mistake

i worded that very very poorly...I meant he outperformed him, and many people agree...I did not mean he attacked Governor Dean, and i'm sorry if it came off that way

[RevolutionStartsNow]

4. After rewatching some last night

I cracked up when Gep said "I'd like to leave you with this" and then talked for 15 more minutes.

[a_lil_wall_fly]

7. Personally

on a scale of one to ten:

Kunnich 9 (he was on fire)
Edwards 8 (just a lil off)
Kerry 7 (yes, if he was more vibrant much higher score)
Dean 7 (his answering the Q&A was choppy too me)
Clark 7 (just did do nothing)
Gephardt 6 (rambling man with no passion in his voice)

I think Sen Lieberman will have a 7 or 8.....he is the direct opposite of Congressman Gephardt on the issue of passion.

[BootinUp]

8. Didn't see Dean

Watched Kerry, some of John Edwards, and some of Clark.

I'm sorry but Kerry was like cold oatmeal.
Edwards is always pretty good.
Clark got some standing O's when he heated them up on issues like Bush's failed foreign policy, republicans stealing the flag/patriotism, Ashcroft and the Patriot Act.

If someone says Clark didn't do well they weren't watching or are attempting to slime him.

Keep it real folks

[ewagner]

9. Watched some of them too

My observations:

First: They are all better than Bush

Second: Dennis was absolutely the most passionate. No question

Clark said the right things but his message wasn't as passionate as it should have been.

Dean said the right things but I had the feeling that he was just doing a "standard" stump speech. I didn't see the fire in the speech that I thought I would.

I'd support any one of them if they get the nomination.

P.S. Didn't see Gep Edwards, Lieberman or Kerry.

[jmaier]

11. Huey Long or FDR

I heard both Wes Clark's and Howard Dean's addresses and they both seemed "passionate" to me, perhaps in different ways.

Howard Dean reminds me, sytlistically not substantially, of the old newsreels of Huey Long -- he could pep up a stump speech with volume and anger and it sure could stir up a crowd. Conversely, Clark's style is more calm and considerate like FDR's radio addresses. I don't think he lacks passion but he is not a cheerleader. Frankly, the reasoned, straight talk of Wes Clark appeals a bit more to me. I've never been one of the "fan" type.

I'm not arguing against either fellow -- I'm just saying that a sincere conversation isn't exactly dispassionate.

[no name no slogan]

12. Even though you've got a Packers avatar, I agree

(just a joke-- I'm one of your boneheaded neighbors to the west--Minneapolis, MN to be exact ;-))

Kucinich is a brilliant public speaker, and writes his own speaches. He also does a lot of extemporaneous (sp?) speaking, which is a big part of his job as a congressman.

IMHO, Dean has the passion, but it always seems to me that when he's in a Q&A-type forum (even the debates), he reverts to rattling off his stump speach, instead of addressing the question that was put to him. In that sense, it seems a little too canned to be "straight talk", imho.

However, I still think they ALL did better than El Arbusto could have ever done-- at least without a cochlear implant wired directly to Karl Rove's talking points on infinite repeat.