Wesley Crusher Clark

So, the big political news tidbit for those of us only now sobering up is that General Wesley Clark has officially thrown his medal-encrusted hat (a Pickelhaube?) into the Democratic ring. Will he be a loose cannon, rocking the establishment boat? Or all in all will he be just another brick in the wall?

The Washington Post had an article about him, which you can read here. Or not, depending. This single article constitutes most of what I know about Clark at this stage. Despite my complete lack of real information, I am compelled to pontificate: this is a blog, after all. I can't fail to talk about things simply because I'm grossly unqualified. (So teaches St Andy, patron of all blogs in Christendom.) Clark has been rousing a fair deal of excitement (excrement?) among some Democrats for quite a while now, as some people's Ideal Candidate...I've heard sentiments like 'I'm for Dean...For now. But if Clark comes into the race...' And I'll admit, the guy has some serious image going for him. Rhodes Scholar, general, commander of a major NATO military operation, CNN talking head, patrician but in that cute homey Southern way...It is true that Bush would likely shit himself if forced to debate national security with such a person, with more or less impeccable security credentials...And Clarkistas are right to giggle at the prospect.

But.

That seems to be the one thing you can point to about Clark and say, 'Yeah. This is why he's my man,' that image of Bush shitting himself on national television.

Now, don't get me wrong. I want to see Bush squirming in his own excrement as much as the next man. I'm just not convinced at this stage, with the Republican Attack Machine all geared up to grind challengers' bones to bake Bush's bread, that one befouling will be enough to bring Bush down.

This is not to say I think Clark couldn't do it. I really don't know enough to say at this stage. I don't think anyone does. He hasn't campaigned yet. He doesn't have...positions, or anything. He's just a pretty face. Maybe he'll be great. Maybe he won't. Who can say? If he can win the nomination, I'll support him. But I've seen nothing yet that makes me think he can pull that off. While, on the other hand, Howard Dean is still a motherfathering rock star.

Clark...

• ...is a military man. I instinctively hate the military.
  
• ...has not demonstrated an ability to raise mad cash.
  
• ...may or may not win over the media; the Washington Post article seemed awfully skeptical about him.
  
• ...is too tall.
  
• ...Has no real positions yet, apart from being not-Bush and not-Dean.
  
• ...wants to be nonpartisan. This is just silly. The Republicans are out to destroy the Democratic Party and all organised opposition to their Norquistian agenda. This is a fight for survival. (Don't take my word for it; take Paul Krugman's.) We need partisans. Like it or lump it, the war will be won or lost with highly partisan vicious backstabbery and bickering. That's politics. Healing and building bridges and so forth won't win any mileage at all. Clark's jerking off into a cup and calling it coconut.

On the other hand, Howard Dean has proved himself a really potent candidate already. Dean...

• ...has established a firm base of fanatical supporters.
  
• ...can raise money out the wazoo.
  
• ...has made the media his bitches.
  
• ...is king of the anti-war hill.
  
• ...is sort of short.
  
• ...knows how to go for the throat.
  
• ...reminds me with his pugnaciousness of Giordano Bruno, slightly. Though you shouldn't carry the comparison too fear.
  
• ...knows how to dominate the discourse.

Dean is hardcore. Dean is kicking bottom and taking names. At this point, it may well be that Clark is the only credible non-Dean candidate. But maybe not. Maybe Clark will prove himself. But maybe not. It's all going to come down to how well they can campaign; issues-wise, they both seem to be more or less centrists of some stripe, so I doubt that'll differentiate them much. We'll just wait and see.

My money's still on the Doctor.

Posted by aloysius at September 19, 2003 09:38 PM | TrackBack |