Clark likely to run

[BJ]

Clark likely to run, says Democratic panel chief
By THOMAS BEAUMONT
Register Staff Writer
08/28/2003
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Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe told Gov. Tom Vilsack on Wednesday that he expects Gen. Wesley Clark to run for the party's 2004 presidential nomination.
(-snip-)
"Chairman McAuliffe indicated he thought General Clark would get into the race," Vilsack press secretary Matt Paul said of Vilsack's conversation with McAuliffe.
(-snip-)
The comments about Clark were in passing as the conversation ended, Paul said.
(-snip-)
http://desmoinesregister.com/news/stories/c4789004/22108708.html

The significance of this "passing" conversation is that Governor Vilsack is a prominent member of the DLC. I think this indicates that Clark will be the DLC's poster boy should "Holy" Joe Lieberman stumble.

[diplomats]

1. I think a lot of nonDLCers want Clark to run, too

We need the strongest field possible.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Yes and Clark's the man to do it!!

He's an expert on defense issues (long running military service) and agrees with the Dem's more progressive policies as opposed to say, Lieberman who plans on being Bush-Lite!

[budmo]

6. yeah

I like Clark...I think he'd make a great Veep!
But I too, don't have a clue about this guys postions....does anyone know anything about him?

How did he become so popular...just fromm CNN ?

Dean/Clark 2004!:toast:

[dsc]

15. How do you know

what he stands for. I have asked time and again and have recieved nothing but empty platitudes as to what he believes. If you have specific things where he is more liberal than Lieberman on domestic issues please link them.

[renie408]

3. Explain to me...

What Clark offers that other candidates don't. This is a real question, I am not saying that he doesn't have anything to offer, I just don't know what it is.

[Ishkaboogl]

8. articulate, brilliant, quick, handsome, charismatic, southerner, credibili

the only thing he brings to the table that no one else really has is not just security credentials, but military credentials. sure, kerrys' got some of that, but the same way that cleland had it. no one can touch clark, and he wouldn't go down on that issue like cleland did or kerry will (just my speculation. i love kerry)

besides that, its mostly the combination of assests he brings. he's articulate like edwards, but he's straight-spoken like dean. He gives some amazing interviews and is quick to his feet. check out his performance on crossfire.
http://mirror1.draftclark.org/video/2003/06/25/Clark_Crossfire.mpg

he's handsome, something that is important. sure, dean's kind of handsome, kerry used to be, and of course edwards is, but clark has it too, along with being a man in a uniform (btw, i'm a straight male, and this assessment is purely objective and for the purposes of political analyzation only).

he's also a southerner. so's edwards, and to a lesser extent graham (only parts of florida can be considered the south, and while graham is a true southerner, he's not from a true southern state). arkansas is a swing state, and one could argue that he's more likely to win arkansas than edwards is to win NC, especially with lincoln on the ballot as well (hopefully huckabee's declining to run will dampen gop turnout).

the title "general" carries with it a lot of weight. people need to feel comfortable and secure, and a general certainly does it. no one can attack him for his "inability to lead" or "stature." he led not just the US to victory, but all of NATO. he won a war, for fuck's sake, all with the loss of one american life.

2 questions remain: can he light up a room like clinton, convincing people who wanted to sabotage his campaign instead to eat out of his hand? probably not. but he'll still need to wow the rest of the uncommitted interests. luckily, with probably 7 candidates dropping out in the next 6 months, that will free up a lot of support that will then go on the market looking to endorse someone else. can clark convince them that he's their guy? not sure.
also, can he govern? no question that he can lead, but as truman said after eisenhower's inaguration, ‘‘Poor Ike. All his life he has told soldiers ‘Do this, do that’ and his orders have been carried out. Now he’ll do the same from the Oval office and discover that his commands are not always fulfilled’’. although that didn't exactly happen with ike, may that prediction fully realize itself with clark? we'll find out.

[TacticalPeek]

13. "a man in a uniform"

I hereby predict that if Clark runs and is elected, we will have now seen the last of him in uniform until after 21 JAN 13.

Of course, running, there'd be plenty of pretty file pics of him with stars, all commandery, in-chiefy, etc. KKKarl the Roven should be forced to endure the splendored vanquishing at his end of this battle, before he partakes of the meditative, quiet relief of federal prison.

Ike, Truman, orders, and governing? It could be that if governing this country is like threading a needle, then you may need to push a little at first, but then pulling will yield much more progress. "Pulling" would be leadership, and while you are correct, we "don't know", consider that when graduating first at West Point, Clark had already read plenty of Ike and Harry, possibly even talked with some who knew them. I know he has talked to Clinton, who, like many presidents, has mentioned the onus of governing against the inertia of vast agencies, ancient turfs, Congress and courts, and so forth. So, who could be better prepared to shoulder these burdens, knowing the climb ahead?

[burr]

4. Lieberman has already blown it!

This is why DLC members are looking to Clark as the new "centralist" candidate of the race. They want someone who they feel can actually beat Dean or Gephardt in the primaries, so they will not have to fear a nominee that may challenge their 12-year domination over the DNC.

Lieberman is already aware that most in the DLC have turned their backs on his losing campaign, and is now attempting to adjust his campaign strategy by presenting himself as someone who will rally behind the Democratic nominee...whoever it may be.

I believe Clark has already decided to run. He is holding off until September 19 for three reasons. First he can avoid announcing on the same day that Kerry will be, second this gives him an excuse for avoiding yet another major Democratic debate, and finally it will allow him to take advantage of the constant media attention focused on the second-year anniversary of 9/11 to make his announcement.

[budmo]

7. It's over!

I agree, Lieberman has already blown it...he just doesn't get it and he doesn't want to. He's convinced that his path is the electable path which just goes to show you how out of touch the Washington candidates really are. When you live in a bubble and only come out of the bubble on the election cycle.......your going to miss alot.

[budmo]

5. Clark

I'm a huge dean supporter and through my rumagings about I've come across several pieces that have made mention of Dean and Clark talking quite a bit. Speculation runs deep that Dean would pick Clark as his running mate which I think is brilliant! Gives him the military clout plus the connection to the south.
I hope he comes into the race but makes just enough noise to bring his supporters over to Dean once Dean get's the nomination.
Call me idealistic but I have never been through a campaign like the one that's going on with Howard Dean.
As for the DLC....who cares what they think...that's their problem is that less and less people care about what they think or who they back!:kick:

[Ishkaboogl]

9. don't worry

once clark wins the nomination, he'll pick dean as his running mate, and you guys will find a new home in the white house.

[burr]

11. I only care if Vilsack or Breaux becomes the next DNC chair...

otherwise it aint a big deal. :smoke:

[DrFunkenstein]

10. You Missed The Important Part Of The Article

"While a Washington, D.C.-based effort to draft Clark to run has been running ads in several states including Iowa, the retired army general told The Des Moines Register on Tuesday that he would decide whether he will be a candidate by the time he speaks at the University of Iowa on Sept. 19.

The Iowa visit is of interest because the Iowa Democratic precinct caucuses kick off the 2004 nominating season on Jan. 19."

PS - Anyone know what Clark's Health Care plan is? His plan to revitalize the deep recession? Exactly.

VP material, all the way.

[davidinalameda]

12. huh?

PS - Anyone know what Clark's Health Care plan is? His plan to revitalize the deep recession? Exactly.

VP material, all the way.

if he's not a candidate yet, why would he have released any plans yet?

Usually, and please stop me if I'm wrong, most candidates don't make their platforms public until they announce.

Right?

[dsc]

16. Only Dean has officially announced

and most candidates have specific plans on the issues he just asked about. In addition, every candidate save Sharpton, has a public record from which one can divine their platform. Clark doesn't. It is very legitimate to ask what his platform is.

[genius]

14. I've heard phoney rumors about Gore getting in.

Anyone have any inside info directly from Clark?

[burr]

17. There are two reasons I think Clark is running.

First, in every television appearance and interview he seems to encourage the perception that he could be announcing for for President. Politicians who are not interested in doing this, would deny it immediately. Secondly..I don't think that the DNC chairman would be expressing his belief, that Clark would be running, with Democratic Governors unless he had already recieved some information from Clark or his supporters indicating that Clark is likely to run. Terry would just be doing his job by spreading the word to different Democratic leaders, before Clark annouces.

[kang]

18. One good thing about Clark

is his position about war criminals and regimes that commit genocide. While serving, Clark was one of the few senior officers lobbying hard for action in Bosnia (I'm not sure what his opinion of Rwanda was). He also was a strong advocate of conducting "snatch and grab" operations for indicted Bosnian Serb war criminals hiding in Bosnian territory.

So it isn't just that he successfully commanded the politically-challenging mulitlateral NATO war against Serbia, it's that he had the moral conviction that it was the right thing to do long before this. That's why he advocates the US joining the ICC to reassert America's moral leadership.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have a record on the domestic agenda and although he can play the "outsider" non-politician angle, people might want a little more reassurance that the next President knows how to grow the economy and help working families.

I will risk getting laughed at again, but people who are intrigued by Clark running should try convincing Bob Kerrey to run instead. He's got the Edwards/Kerry/Dean combination (down-to-earth speaker/war hero senator/fiscally responsible ex-governor with record of results).

http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Bob_Kerrey.htm

http://www.cs.umb.edu/jfklibrary/forum_kerrey.html

http://www.votewithavengeance.com/kerrey.html

I know, I know, pie in the sky.