I just have to get this off my chest. I suppose this could just be seen as another spate of anti-candidate bashing, but I think there's also possibly something deeper going on here that's worth discussing.
I was sold on Dean about nine months ago. I heard buzz about Clark, but didn't know who he was. Then I found some online footage of him and was really impressed. This guy seemed really articulate, and really able to oppose the GOP trash. For a while I wasn't sure about Dean, and really wanted Clark to join the race. Then Clark joined, and I was feeling like that either Dean or Clark would be great for me, head and shoulders above the other guys. This lasted for a while. He stumbled out of the gates and that didn't bug me, either.
But something funny happened. It was right around when that footage was being sent around of Clark slamming that Fox anchor about not supporting the troops. Everyone was happy about it and I liked the display, even though it did seem a bit like he was responding to something the anchor didn't explicitly say.
Then I saw him on Hardball and it just started to seem really weird. Laboring points, not really knowing how to converse... I wondered if he's the sort of guy that when you try to talk to him, he always starts talking when you start talking, and pausing when you pause. And then there's all those awkward silences when he's evidently pausing to make a point, or for emotional emphasis that feels manufactured, or for applause that never comes.
It's just weird. The guy officially creeps me out now. Is it just me? (Cue flamer: "It's just you.") I don't think it's just me, I've seen people talk about how he's just so.... earnest... as if they're trying to put their finger on something. And today I saw the first hint in the media of Clark, not Dean, being branded as the Angry Guy. So what's going on? Is the gloss coming off this guy?