Exeter (NH) News-Letter Endorses Clark, Pans Dean

[Jerseycoa]

The fact of the matter is that to us and the American public these arguments hold no meaning. With regard to the economy, Iraq, and the war on terror, we as a nation find ourselves stranded on a rock in the middle of a raging river, and while America is looking for someone who would get us safely to the other side, the Democratic candidates have been arguing over how we got there in the first place.

So if you want to name a winner of this meaningless debate, we would have to give that title to Howard Dean. He has been very adept at espousing -ad infinitem - Democrats’ anger at President George W. Bush and congressional Democrats for bringing us out onto this isolated rock, but he has not offered a compelling enough reason why he would be able to lead America to the other side.

There are also aspects of his campaign that have given us the very strong impression that Dean does not have what it will take to truly challenge Bush nationally for the presidency. In fact, his flip flop on whether he would rescind the tax cut for the middle class or not and his complete lack of foreign policy experience - as evidenced by his statement that, regardless of the wisdom of going into Iraq, America is not safer with Saddam Hussein in captivity - have failed to impress us.

Beyond his ability to voice Democrats’ frustrations, there’s little left for the rest of America to see in him that merits nomination for the presidency.

There is, however, a very viable alternative in the campaign of retired Gen. Wesley Clark, and we are more than happy to endorse him for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clark is an intelligent man who brings to this campaign a sense of where he wants to bring America. He has a vision and the varied experience that makes him uniquely qualified among the Democratic candidates to answer the question of how America will ford the seemingly impassable waters that now surround us. He is also a man who is not driven by ideology, but rather a deep and abiding desire to find the best solutions to strengthen all Americans and our reputation around the world.

Source: Clark experience, intellect to lead nation; Exeter News-Letter 1/16/04

[in_cog_ni_to]

1. WooHoo!

One more. A step at a time. Great news!

There are also aspects of his campaign that have given us the very strong impression that Dean does not have what it will take to truly challenge Bush nationally for the presidency. In fact, his flip flop on whether he would rescind the tax cut for the middle class or not and his complete lack of foreign policy experience - as evidenced by his statement that, regardless of the wisdom of going into Iraq, America is not safer with Saddam Hussein in captivity - have failed to impress us.

Spot on!

Thanks for posting this!

Go, Wes!

[Democrats unite]

2. Great!!!

This train keeps a rolling!

[HFishbine]

3. Whoo Whoo, indeed

Circulation of 6,800 and an editorial "board" that, were it to lose two people, would no longer be able to use the pronoun "we."

[Dookus]

5. And if they'd endorsed Dean

I doubt I'd see the same response here.

[papau]

4. Boston/NH TV stations Clark education ad now airing

A clean script - "...As a leader in the Army, I fought time and again for better schools for the children of the men and women in the service. I'm Wes Clark and I approve this message. And, as president, I'll work for all our children, but unlike George Bush, I'll make sure our teachers and kids get what they need to make our schools work. Because our children are the future."

- the missing $6 or 7 billion to stop states from draining other education funds for No Child Left Behind Act mandate is countered in news show discussions by someone quoting from a Rove/Bush script that states are sitting on billions of federal dollars meant for schools, so there can not be a real problem - implying that the Dems and the educators and the states that complain are therefore all liars - but for some reason the news shows do not mind calling folks liars - as long as they do not call Bush a liar.

[mantis]

6. YEAH!!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Dookus]

7. Most excellent...

they nailed it. They were able to express my concerns better than I've been able to.

Dean appeals to people whose main motivation is anger at George Bush. Not people who want to look ahead to solutions, but people who's motive is pure revenge against a man they hate.

I understand that motive. I share it, but only to a degree. The fact is, we are where we are, and the problem now is figuring out how to get where we want to be.

Arguing about how we got here isn't going to win an election.

[OneBlueSky]

8. nice for the Clark folks, but . . .

the Exeter News-Letter is a really small newspaper . . . I think their readership is like ten . . . (yeah, it's an exaggeration, but you get the idea) . . .

[Jerseycoa]

11. Population around 13,000

Circulation about half. Looks like just about all folks of voting age to me. We'll take it happily. :)

[DancingBear]

9. Even if the Exeter News-Letter is a small paper

"That's one small step for for Wes, one giant step for Wes-kind." :)

[Clark4VotingRights]

10. Wow, that's a hulluva endorsement. Just two quibbles...

"Dean does not have what it will take to truly challenge Bush nationally for the presidency. In fact, his flip flop on whether he would rescind the tax cut for the middle class or not and his complete lack of foreign policy experience - as evidenced by his statement that, regardless of the wisdom of going into Iraq, America is not safer with Saddam Hussein in captivity - have failed to impress us."

"There is, however, a very viable alternative in the campaign of retired Gen. Wesley Clark, and we are more than happy to endorse him for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Clark is an intelligent man..."

Clark's not just intelligent; he's brilliant.