The Democratic Debate
The debate was good and I thought Al Sharpton, as always, did the best job.
Funny that Joe Lieberman said "Welcome to the Democratic presidential debate General Clark", because it truly was trial by fire for Clark and he did a fine job. I wish someone would bring up the fact that many Americans had mixed feelings about the war in Iraq before it occured, to listen and be able to change your mind is to me an asset, not a liability.
Which brings us to the next point that Lieberman and Kerry kept dragging out, the issue of Clark's political loyalties. Clark was right to say he was non-partisan while in the military, I'd expect that much from any senior officer. If Clark were at one time a Republican he's a Democrat now, pledging loyalty to all the major issues in the party's platform. Yet again that doesn't seem to be enough for those self-appointed guardians of Democratic party membership.
Listen, we all change our minds, at least those of us who have 1/2 a brain do. It's puzzling that to be open to new ways of thinking and ideas is now somehow perceived as an incredible weakness.
John Kerry trumpets the fact that he's voted for Democrats for 36 years! Well I'd like for Kerry to answer how he voted in the 1990 Massachusets gubernatorial race when conservative anti-gay and anti-abortion Democrat John Silber was running against pro-choice, pro-gay rights Republican William Weld. Did he follow party loyalty then and vote for a candidate who's values were inimical to the Democratic party or did he vote for the Republican who's values more closely matched his own? I can tell you if I'd been in MA then I'd sure as hell have voted for William Weld. Kerry should answer this question becaue if he did vote for Silber it shows how he put the interests of the party above his ideals, and that to me is a bad, bad thing.
Clark is a good speaker and forcefully defended himself, I thought he did well. Now we wait for the next debate to see if the increasingly desperate feeding frenzy between Dean, Lieberman, Kerry and Edwards consumes them all or if they turn their attentions to explaining why they would be the best candidate for President and not why Clark would not. As of now none of them have clearly explained that answer.
6:57:11 PM 
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