Sen. Levin close to endorsing Clark? and: Will Bush leave North Korea..

[wyldwolf]

... situation for the next Democrat to handle?

Sen. Carl Levin isn't ready to commit yet to any of the nine Democratic candidates for president, but he is intrigued by the entry of Gen. Wesley Clark into the crowded field.

"Clark getting in is a very significant element for two reasons," Levin said. "He is an impressive person. He brings credibility that would eliminate this whole commander-in-chief approach that Bush is taking, basically running on 9_11, running on what was perceived as a strong suit on foreign policy and security policy."

Levin made his remarks Wednesday in a wide-ranging conversation with Observer & Eccentric editors.

The senator said fellow Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts was the only other candidate with similar military credentials. Kerry is a decorated Vietnam veteran. But Levin said he had been impressed by Clark's testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee last year and his foresight into potential problems with Iraq.

"Clark, before the war, was very strong that we don't have a post-war plan for the problems we'll have. He said we'll have to go to the U.N. and work a plan," Levin said.

Levin said Bush's "pre-emptive doctrine" presented a lot of problems, essentially giving other nations an excuse for invading their enemies.

"You can't attack every country," he said. "North Korea is a bigger problem than Iraq. They have weapons of mass destruction. They proclaim it. They want us to believe they have weapons of mass destruction as a deterrent."

Levin said it was important to work with allies in Asia on containment and to find ways to help North Korea work out of its isolation and poverty.

http://www.hometownlife.com/news/WestBloomfieldEccentric/default.asp?Page=10-12-2003/FullStory/10_12_03.1st.15.htm

[goobergunch]

1. *sighs*

I'm tired of people supporting Clark just because he's a general. We don't need a general to beat *.

I still want to know Clark's specific stances on domestic issues. The only thing I've seen so far is his job creation plan.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

3. Give It a Couple of Weeks

Four major policy statements are on the way and scheduled.

DTH

[goobergunch]

4. Thanks

I'll give him two weeks and make up a formal opinion then.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

5. Here's the Schedule

The first speech, scheduled for tomorrow, will focus on national service.

The second speech, scheduled for October 20, will focus on health care.

The third speech, scheduled for October 27, will focus on the economy.

The fourth speech, scheduled for November 4, will focus on national security, with an emphasis on extricating the country from the current foreign policy morass and better protecting citizens at home.

DTH

[goobergunch]

6. Thanks again

I'll be paying close attention....

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

9. Me, too.

And maybe Levin should hold his endorsement in abeyance until then, too. :shrug:

[RandomUser]

14. The transcript

for the first speech is online.

http://www.clark04.com/speeches/005/

[RandomUser]

11. Thanks for the heads up

I'm looking forward to those four speeches.

[davidinalameda]

2. Levin will be a good endorsement in Michigan

especially since his wife is state party chair

[union_maid]

7. It's not just because he's a general.

Not just any general off the street would do. People who support Clark often like the fact that he's a general with extensive knowledge of foreign policy, though. That seems very pertinent to this particular election year. They also like that he's got some impressive acts of heroism on his resume. That doesn't hurt and it speaks to the kind of leader he'd be. Then there's the first in his class at West Point thing. That's not peculiar to West Point. First in one's class at any top academic institution would be good. West Point is tough and that's why being number one there is impressive. Then there's the Rhodes scholar thing. The degree in economics doen't hurt either, at a time like this. Then, most people who support him also take into account what he's said in interviews and speeches. We don't necessarily bother with the snippets that are taken out of the full context. A lot of us know where he's really stood on some issues for quite some time. Fact is, based on his resume and his interviews, we'd like to hire him for the position of POTUS which should be opening up next year. It's not just because he's a general. He's been a four star a general because of the extraordinary kind of credentials and abilities he'd bring to any career.

[mikehiggins]

8. Not to mention

that there is really very little about Clark's past that leaves much room for "surprises" and contradictions. If he keeps to a "high" road throughout the primary season and stops letting himself being drawn into "clarifications" and "explanations" he can't help but come out the other end in good shape, even if he doesn't win the nomination outright.

The next time someone asks about that Lincoln day speech, the best answer would be the one Reagan used when Carter accused him of being anti-Social Security. "Well," Ronnie said, "there you go again." After the laughter died down, Reagan went on to say what HE wanted to say, and barely answered the original attack at all. After Arizona, what other answer would be better to use?

If some other Democrat wins (other than Dennis K, of course) Clark would have a good shot as Secretary of Defense. Actually, if Dennis did win, Clark would have a good shot to be his Secretary of Peace.

This really is a win-win situation for Clark and for the party though I, for one (and there are a lot of us) really beleive Wes as the Dem Candidate is the best shot we have at helping Dubya get to work starting his Presidential Library in Texas in January 2004.

And wouldn't we all like to see him back in Crawford, for good?

[eileen_d]

10. Crawford is too good for Bush

We should send him back to where he really came from - Hell!

[FrenchieCat]

12. Levin will be one of many

Bush's approval marks back up......damn!

That's allright, that's OK
The General will kick him all the way!

Back to Crawford, Back to Crawford
We need Bush like we needed his War!

[RandomUser]

13. You're right about Bush approval marks

I hate seeing them go up again like this. But I'm sure they'll dip again and rise again over and over before Nov 2004. But the important thing is Clark will have a good shot, probably the best shot, no matter how high or low Bush might be.