This diary entry is a result of my realization that General Clark's rhetoric is beginning to look like his civilian shoulderpads: image without support. I know he's a brilliant man, so why is this happening? I continue to wonder if he thought, or was convinced, that once he entered the race, his aura and resume would effortlessly carry him to the head of the pack -- and that his recent illness is a result of his body & mind picking up on the disconnect between that assumption and reality.
Clark was living the good life, with tens of thousands of dollars per speaking engagement, a war-hungry administration providing him with consultant and talking-head gigs on TV, and board positions bringing him influence and more money. But he's ambitious, and the idea that his smarts and experience and military background would sweep the other Dems off the table must have been enormously tempting. I think there must be some moments when he grabs one or another of the Little Rock Mafia and asks, "what the hell happened? Didn't you tell me you had this all worked out?"
Meanwhile, I continue to feel John Kerry's pain, but it's not making me like him any more.
I get that he's frustrated. It absolutely wasn't supposed to be this difficult. He's a decorated veteran, he has worked hard in congress, and he's married to a fortune. And I'm one of the people he probably thought he could count on. I expected, a year ago, in a vague way, to be a Kerry supporter. But that was before Iraq. And Dean. And before Kerry came out of the gate riding dressage rather than racing hard and tough.
Interestingly, from the shallow end of the pool, my view has changed as well. I remember thinking about Kerry as rather a handsome chap with great hair. Now he seems more ike "The Scream." And the more he goes on the attack, I think, "no one's hair is that perfect."
Addendum: One of the only reasons I can appreciate the huge number of overpopulated debates is that Dean is getting lots of practice and, for the most part, it's helping. He seems to be growing a bit of a neck, substituting his "in person" smile for that initial creepy one in the early debates, and he's the best at staying within his time limit, which makes him look more in control.
Dean's campaign has surprised him as well, but in his case, he's worked incredibly hard (in pure campaigning) for what he's achieved.