Looked at my profile, and it was one year ago that I successfully registered at DU.
The Iraq War pissed me off enough that I rekindled my interest in politics (always leaned to the left). I discovered Buzzflash, which led me to the Top 10 Conservative Idiots. I originally registered as 'fightingirish' around the start of the Iraq War, but never got a confirmation email, so I lurked a while, and blew off steam on non-politics boards (while attracting the ire of conservatives that had to read my rantings). Got interested in Clark right before he threw his hat in the ring, and decided to try and register again. Chose a different moniker, in honor of my dog (just happened to come to mind). And the rest, as they say, is history.
I decided to go off searching in the archives just on the off chance that I could find some of my early posts. Wouldn't you know it? I found my very first post!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=156559&mesg_id=156907&page=Found it around page 3573 or so in the archives.
Imagine that!
Here's my very first post, 5437 posts ago:
RatTerrier (1000+ posts) Sun Aug-10-03 08:36 AM
Response to Original message
39. The others will hurt themselves first
First off, this is my very first post here, and after having visited DU for a while, I am happy to see like-minded people who aren't falling for all the Bush hype, and want truth in our government. I see I am not the only one to avoid the Ashcroft 'Orwellian' brainwashing.
Many are concerned that it is too late for Wesley Clark to enter the race. I think the next couple months would be perfect timing.
Right now, the nine Dems are slugging it out to even make a small impact and resonate with voters. I'd be surprised if any of them get the nomination. Why? There's nothing exciting there. I don't want to sound negative, but do you really think the names of Gephardt, Lieberman, Kerry, et. al. are enough to get people excitied, especially moderates, independents an undecideds?
Dean and Kucinich are getting heavy buzz because they are looked upon as mavericks. They are not afraid to stand up to the Bush Regime. They bring something fresh and new to the table. They're turning heads.
Are either of them electable? Not likely. The truth (and I hate to admit it) is, their issues are not really in step with the average person. After being brainwashed by the GOP machine over the years by a 'war'-winning president, right-wing 'news' (Fox) and the flaming Nazis of AM radio, the mere mention of the word 'liberal' will send Joe Sixpack and his minions running for the hills. It is the sad reality. The GOP (Gestapo-owned Party)machine has won the propaganda war since the days of Reagan, sad to say. Liberals, they say, are weak on war, they spend too much money (not as much as Ripofflicans, but money is spent on issues right-wingers hate, like the environment, veterans, etc.), and are a bunch of weenies overall. Kucinich and Dean are going against the grain at a time when most are afraid to. Admittedly and realistically, both are the right candidates, wrong time.
Kerry, Gephardt, Lieberman, etc. are entrenched Washington insiders who are well known. This will become their achilles heel. TOO much is know of them. All three caved in to the GOP on the Iraq war. All three bend easy so as not to rock the boat. The perception has been and will be that they're wimps, afraid to stand up to Bush and the GOP'ers in Congress. This will kill them. They're wafflers.
Americans love mavericks. Outsiders. People that bring something fresh and unique to the table. Notice that all but one President in the last 28 years was a former Governor, with no Washington experience? People get bored with the ususal Washington crowd, since they associate them with the mess that's already there. That's why you see the rise of guys like Ross Perot. People are sick of the status quo. They want a tough talker that isn't afraid to roll up his sleeves and dig in and clean up the mess.
Enter Wesley Clark.
Many say it's too late to jump in. I say it's perfect. The nine guys now are beating each other up and killing each other off. People will tire of them, or they won't take them seriously. Wesley Clark can come in to the dance late and steal all their dates. It worked for Clinton in '92. After all, did you really think we'd have a President Tsongas? Naah.
Clark's military background is only part of the package. What he offers is honesty, integrity, and assertiveness. He is progressive on many issues, but not progressive enough as to drive away middle-of-the-road voters (who the Democrats need if there is any chance of getting rid of Bush). He has not given his opinions on all issues, only a taste to build the mystique. He has not declared, but there is a heavey grass roots movement, mostly internet based. I see it as perfect timing that a candidate is elected by a huge internet groundswell movement. He also stands up well to Rovites that would assail the patriotism of any other Democratic candidate.
Clark sounds like the complete package. Tough-talking progressive, decorated veteran, political outsider, and one that possesses the 'Perot-like mystique' that can sway the undecideds. IF Clark is a solid campaigner that eventually rounds up the nomination votes during the primaries, I sure hope the other candidates rally around him strong. Dem-on-Dem bashing would kill any chance of defeating Monkeyboy in '04.
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