This Dean supporter just got back from a Clark Q&A...
The "Clarkies are mean to Deaniacs" and "Deaniacs always attack Clark" stuff that pops up on the threads periodically has always mystified me, because I've never had anything but a positive impression of Clark, although I currently support Dean. I haven't been able to catch most of the debates (no teevee) so I finally got a good dose of Clark today at a "town meeting" format event on the college campus where I work. I have been aggrieved by the "electability" cross-blog spat that's been going the last couple of days, so I wanted more perspective.
High Points:
There's no doubt about it, Clark looks good and he sounds good. He exudes authority and competence. He talked at length about security and foreign policy issues, and for the most part (exception noted below) I felt so secure, I could have just curled up in my footie pajamas and nestled my head in his lap.
He turned a hostile question about chumming it up with Mladic into a terrific answer conveying shrewdness in diplomacy, charming innocence to dirty ol' politics, and a sense of humor. He's so articulate, the very thought of him dismantling Bush in a debate makes my sphincter tingle with predatory anticipation.
He unabashedly busted out the word "chickenhawk," prompting mid-sentence applause by yours truly, and responded well to the give and take of a live audience. All in all, a strong show.
Low Points:
The campaign booked a venue WAY too small for the crowd, and difficult to find for off-campus people. The result was, a security guard standing in front turning community people (and one spluttering campaign staffer, tee hee) away, while all the students who knew their way around simply went to one of several unsecured rear entrances. A small thing, but a shame. Dean will be here tomorrow, speaking in a venue that's centrally located and probably 5 times the size.
One really dumb joke about "America is from Mars, Europe is from Venus" fell flat. Hope he chucks that one.
One answer to a question that struck me as bullshit: responding to a question about "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" he indicated that he was unaware of the policy until a good soldier under his command was being processed out for being gay. Um, how the hell could he have not known about the policy? Generals don't get the paper delivered? (aside from this, btw, his answer was very good)
One policy idea that struck me as loony: He wants to work with our "allies" in Saudi Arabia and put Saudi troops in Afghanistan to secure it, because they know the culture better. Naturally I will grant up front that he knows a gazillion times more about foreign policy than I do, but I'd have to hear a lot more about this idea to be convinced it isn't nuts. Saudis in Afghanistan? Isn't that how we got the Taliban?
One campaign slogan that gives me the creeps: "A New American Patriotism." But I guess I see the appeal of this to some...
Probably the most (or only) serious low point: After standing up and sounding f*%king great talking about policy, ideals, etc, for an hour, at the end, he had to give a "join our campaign" pitch to the crowd. And he sounded totally awkward, I mean, it just fell flat and it was like he was embarassed to mention it. He held up a volunteer card and looked at it like he'd never seen one before and stammered, "sign up for, uh, Clark-corps, or whatever, don't worry about that military jargon..."
The reason I identify this as the only real low point, is that it stands in such contrast to Dean and the strength of his campaign apparatus. That "you have the power" business makes people want to sign up without waiting to be handed a card, and he can shout it from a podium instead of acting sheepish about it as everyone's getting up to leave.
In the end, seeing Clark confirmed what I already thought: If Clark had started when Dean did, I'd probably be a Clark supporter instead of a Dean supporter. Now, I like Dean on his own merits, but I totally see what's so appealling about Clark. But he needs a campaign to make it work for him, and he ain't got one. Yes, all of us Deaniacs could jump ship and put our energy into the Clark campaign - but this is asking people to act against human nature. People want to be loyal, and especially after they've spent money on a candidate, they want their investments to pay off. I wish to god Clark had gotten off the pot before he did, I wish he and Dean would run together, and I SURE wish everybody would give the "Dean is unelectable" business a rest.