Reply #94: Based on... what?

[jpgray]

Comparing gubernatorial, military and congressional records which are largely incomparable, or comparing statements and stances? If you want to talk political expedience and harm to people, talk Dean's throwing VT's environmental laws in the shitter to make deals with IBM et al, or his shipping of waste to Nevada. For Clark, you have his support of Republicans in the past and his work with some odious defense contractors. Kerry's bad decisions and votes have been plastered all over this board, being part of a congessional record and therefore more suitable to be posted and spun than Clark's or Dean's records. Does Kerry's record constitute a wholesale rightward departure from Clark or Dean? I would say no.

Clark and Dean are both good men--the differences between them and Kerry I would say are chiefly in terms of presentation and political history. Note that all of them supported a Bush-says-go-we-go war resolution (though Biden/Lugar was better than the IWR), all supported "fixing" rather than repealing NAFTA, the Patriot Act, etc. In policy, they are hardly significantly different from each other. You want a big difference, take Dennis. Dean, Clark or Kerry would all have made fine presidents, however.