Bloodless Coup

That's all well and good, and all I have to offer is a subjective analysis, but I just didn't like the guy. I think he's an unappealing candidate. He's abrasive and kind of bullying and he just doesn't look like a president.

Without a makeover, I say he goes nowhere.

I have less of problem with Clark than jacflash; of the field (as it stands now) I'd go with him over anyone else. That being said, like jacflash, he doesn't thrill me. However, its early, and Clark could do reasonably well (if nothing else, he might position himself for SecState or VP, which wouldn't be a bad thing).

Well honestly I quite like Clark (though I didn't back him last time) - but I don't think he'll go far this time b/c I don't see where his money comes from. I think the money people who might otherwise back him will go to Hillary. I just note this b/c 1) I think it's accurate and 2) I think it nicely shows the pernicious and arbitrary impact that the pundits and talking heads can have. I've always thought that the perception of Edwards (who I also find that I like, to a certain degree) as a winner on Southern Tuesday was basically due to the fact that he happened to win the state where the polls closed first - so the talking heads kept talking about him as a winner. And even if someone later caught up to (or exceeded) his performace - well the meme or whatever you want to call it had already been written - Edwards was the Southern candidate and the man who could pick up votes in conservative areas. Yeah Clark could do the same thing (which I think is important to keep in mind for 2008), but in 2004 he did so too late in the night to be noticed.

I never found him bullying during the campaign. But that's just me.

I know someone who worked for him at flunky level who said nothing that sounded like abrasive or bullying. On the contrary, he was a good boss, and concerned about people at all levels in his office being interested and challenged by their work. This person was there for a limited time, but would have liked to have stayed on.

For whatever it's worth, Kos is running another one of his 2008 polls for the netroots and Clark retains a rabid following among that set. At the moment 3 people are more or less tied at the top with each having received 2300-2500 votes: Edwards, Obama, Clark. These would pretty damn clearly appear to be the only people the netroots are interested in at this point as the next highest finishers, Richardson and Clinton, only have around 425 votes apiece.

Richardson? New Mexico; former Clinton UN Ambassador? That might be interesting...he's reasonably moderate, right?

Well of course that's a relative thing, but on some issues, yeah, moderate would be a fair categorization. For example, he was nixed by the environmental-issues activists when he was floated for Interior Secretary back in the 1990's. Not Green enough.

On paper he' got a great resume. But I don't see him winning. Not the right personality to survive a campaign with an image of a "presidential demeanor" intact. And in this age when which sports you enjoy and tea you drink is fair fodder for national columnists ...

Btw, I should have mentioned that the three mentioned above are the netroots favorites if Gore's not put into the field. In a separate poll with Gore in it - well, Gore's victory in that almost defies description. His vote was well over 4 times that of Obama. The netroots LOVE Gore. Though, that said, I haven't seen any sign of him actually running.