Warning: Republican lies and slander ahead....

It is no coincidence that Republican hatchet man tom delay attacked Wesley Clark on national TV today. It is apparent that the Republicans are gearing up their Big Lie Machine to attack Clark because they rightly fear him as the greatest threat to oust george w bush and his cronies from office in November 2004.

I think everyone who visits this board regularly or who even just reads a daily newspaper is aware that over the last week or so a seismic change has occurred in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Many people are beginning to understand that Howard Dean simply does not have the experience, judgment, or temperament to be President. His brand of emotional politics, appealing to the deep anger that so many Americans feel toward Bush and his henchmen was well suited to the early stages of the process, when nothing much was on the line and people simply needed to hear someone from the Democratic party voicing their outrage at what bush is doing to the country that we all love.

But, just as the kind of fellow that young women might want to date is not necessarily the kind of man they want to marry, Howard Dean is turning out not to be the man that most Democrats want to carry the fight to george w bush in 2004. For that, we need a candidate who has experience in foreign policy, who has proven he can work with allies and can build consensus on tough issues, and who has the rarest of all qualities - the ability to lead. Someone like Wes Clark.

As more Americans come to realize that Wes Clark is the leader that we need in these troubling times, the Republicans will do all they can to distort his record, to misrepresent his statements, and to attack his character. The people who made slanderous and dishonorable attacks on the patriotism of American heroes like John McCain and Max Cleland will not hesitate to do the same to Wes Clark. We must expect to hear lies about Gen. Clark, and we must be prepared to respond - truthfully, forcefully, and repeatedly.

There will be difficult days ahead, but we have the truth on our side. We are fighting not only for an honorable candidate, but for a noble cause. We're fighting for the poor whom this administration has forgotten, the weak whom they have neglected, and the honest, honorable working men and women of America whose fears they have exploited for political gain. When I hear Wes Clark speak, I know I am listening to the voice of an honest man who cares deeply about the concerns of ordinary Americans, a man who can and will put this country back on the path to peace abroad and prosperity at home. Hang tough, Clarkies. Together we can win with Wes!

You and the impulsive, undisciplined doctor make a fine pair. Maybe Dean can run for mayor of Burlington. That's about his level of competence.

There are less than 1000 hours left until the ball drops.

We aren't going to convince anyone else on DU to sign up with our guy, not Dean supporters, not Kerry supporters, not anyone.

It really isn't worth the effort to reply to the old tried and true anti-Clark crap, whether its Pristina or Waco or whatever.

Just shut it down and let's move on.

We've got an election to win and it isn't going to get won here.

Well, you know where to find the door, chum. Don't let it bang you on the ass on the way out.

I don't think telling people "Well, you know where to find the door, chum. Don't let it bang you on the ass on the way out." is appropriate. You may want to tone down the rhetoric a bit if you're to be taken seriouly around here.

We have lots of lies, and dirty tricks to look forward to, no matter who our candidate is. Its gonna get very, very ugly.

Sure, I'd prefer to see Clark get the nomination, but either way, I'm going to be voting against Bush come '04.

"Howard Dean is turning out not to be the man that most Democrats want to carry the fight to george w bush in 2004."