Does anyone still want Wesley Clark to run?

[ecstatic]

:shrug:

[mikelgb]

1. no

[salin]

6. why not?

I wasn't a "Clarkie" in 2004 - but grew to respect him. Not sure that he would have my primary vote -but I am undecided at this time. Thus - for me the more the better. Wondering why "no" (ala no more running) is your choice, am interested in your perspective.

[Snap]

23. why not ? II

What you said.

[Clark2008]

2. Most people here do.

Check any poll that has him in it - he's either first or second behind Gore.

P.S. I find this year's crop SORELY LACKING in any honesty, gravitas and electability. Other than Gravel, who's a pip, the rest are boring (and will NOT pick us up any swing Bubba votes in the South and mid-West, which is probably the most important thing).

[adigal]

65. I agree - I don't think any of them can beat Giuliani either

Even some Dem friends of mine, and moderate republicans, buy Rudy's BS about being a big hero. The FDNY is trying to get the word out that Rudy is a first class uncaring SOB, but the media is protecting him, as he would be as good for big business and wars as Bush is. We have our work cut out for us.

[mmonk]

3. I wouldn't mind. I joined the draft Clark movement

and later tried all I could for the campaign until he bowed out before my primary.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Yes.

[Captain Hilts]

5. I do! I do! nt

[MonkeyFunk]

7. I wish he had run

but I don't see it happening at this point. I think the train has left the station, and tonight's debate showed that there isn't a gaping vacuum for a savior to come in and save the party.

We have a strong field, and the fundraising game is too far underway for somebody new to jump in now.

Clark's biggest mistake in '04 was entering too late. He won't make that mistake again. If he were running, he would already be in the race.

But he's certainly a top-tier vice-presidential candidate for any of the potential nominees.

[Blue-Jay]

60. You just like the uniform!

Come to think of it, Wes looks friggin GOOD!

I'd vote for him too.

[Cameron27]

8. Yes!

[Adelante]

9. Me, me

YES!

[karlrschneider]

10. No. I voted for him and my state is the only one he won in the primary.

But he basically disappeared and he's a non-person at this point. I think he's a good guy (is he even still alive?) but his 15 minutes expired 10 minutes ago.

[ecstatic]

13. LOL @

"is he even still alive?"

[Clark2008]

16. Slight correction: he "disappeared" to the corporate media.

He's still a very popular draw at Jackson Day Dinners and did so much work for the 2006 candidates that it would take me half the day to list them all.

Problem is, the corporate media keeps ignoring him, even though solid Dems throughout the country clamor to hear him speak.

What's up with that? :shrug:

[MonkeyFunk]

44. The "corporate media"

ignore him, because there's no reason to cover a retired general giving a speech.

Until and unless he places himself back into public life via a candidacy, it's not newsworthy. Thousands of people give speeches every day - there's no reason for the media to cover them.

[karlrschneider]

45. Well, there you go. It's a bit like Kuchinich's call for Cheney's impeachment.

Nobody knows about it because the M$M doesn't report it and they don't report it because nobody knows about it.

[phillysuse]

11. Wes is the Mountain, the rest are just pebbles

Only Clark and Gore have the gravitas and international experience to fix the mess the World is in.

[ecstatic]

15. Gore is for peace

and Clark seems more inclined to go to war. Would that be a good combination?

[FrenchieCat]

18. You mean Clark was for intervening in Rwanda, Darfur, Bosnia and Kosovo.....

and Bush wasn't and isn't?

[Clark2008]

20. Where the hell did you get that idea?

Clark's pat phrase is "war as a last, last, last resort."

Clark has never been inclined to go to war - in fact warned all the Dems on the Senate Judiciary Committee not to do it. He can't help it that John Edwards came out of the hearings voting it out of committee and then co-sponsoring the legislation.

[ecstatic]

40. I've never heard him say that but I'm grateful for the correction

I've seen him on TV interviews in the past where he came across as a bit hawkish. I have a very hard time forgiving and forgetting, although every time I see him, he wins me over (for the most part). It's just that when it's all said and done the distrust sets back in.

[phillysuse]

Clark says war is the

very last last last resort. Abnd he believes it because he has been there.

Unlike Hillary, Edwards, Obama, Kucinich, Richardson, Biden, Clark has seen war, he has seen his men blown away, he was wounded in VietNam.

He is the last person who would misuse the military because unlike the others, he doesn't have to prove his masculinity by going to war (that includes Hillary).

[stevedeshazer]

12. He has to declare his candidacy

I like Wes, but the clock is ticking.

[Swamp Rat]

14. Of course! n/t

[FrenchieCat]

17. Hell yes!

Considering that some think that Biden is the Foreign policy heavyweight along with Richardson......makes me "frightened". If some believe that the best answer for Iraq is carving it out and creating separatists states, which is the Biden plan is good foreign policy, this makes me nervous. Like who's gonna volunteer and tell those folks who don't belong in one sector to move to another....in particular if their families have been living there for centuries?

We need some rational thought in this Foreign policy and war debate...that's for sure.

[mike_c]

19. no....

Not even a little.

[Blackhatjack]

21. I like Clark but I think his train has come and gone for a 2008 run....

Clark would make a good VP running mate for whoever wins the nomination, but there is going to be a real horse race among the candidates who do not get the nomination to fill that position.

IMHO If Clark was going to run, he would have already thrown his hat into the ring.

[Clark2008]

25. That may be true.

And, if it is, I'll be sitting here on Feb. 4, 2008 wondering who the hell I'm going to vote for the next day.

I think most of the other candidates are as exciting as dry toast: too handled and coiffed.

[Canuckistanian]

22. I remember a quote from a GOP official in '04

He said that they feared Clark the most if he had declared and won the nomination. And why?

Because Clarke had no demons. No skeletons in his closet that they could exploit.

And because he was a military commander, there was no chance of using the "Dems are soft on national security" angle (lie).

In short, they would have lost on all their big points.

[phillysuse]

27. Right you are - the MainStream Media feared Clark the most

A true but stealth liberal who could have brought along independents, miliary people, gun owners despite his support for civil unions for gays and SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE.

That's why they hired Peter Jennings to destroy his candidacy (at least cosmic karma got Peter Jennings for his role in attacking Clark) and that's why they tared him with his support of Michael Moore.

The MSM wants us to run Hillary or Obama - because they will lose to Giuliani.

[Clark2008]

30. Or F. Thompson.

I fear him more than Guiliani.

[Canuckistanian]

42. Thompson is no lightweight

But if he's to declare, he'd better do it soon.

[Canuckistanian]

41. Then the MSM is insane

Giuliani is a nightmare. And it won't be hard to show that.

[BeyondGeography]

24. Still our most authoritative voice on national security and foreign policy

Can we please substitute him for Gravel?

[Bucky]

26. I do, but I'm pretty much thinking he won't

Once sigfile are back on, you'll see my Clarkie sigfile. But I think he's seeing the mountain as too high to climb and is exploring other venues for serving his country. Cool enough (tho I wish he'd tell his fanbase the fat lady's singing). I'll probably settle on Obama or Richardson in a couple of months once that last nail hits the coffin.

Life is compromise.

I know Wes Clark has done his very best for his country. He's gonna be an issue guy and probably a second tier cabinet advisor to the next president. I'll still snap to when he asks me to donate. I'll still hug his photograph beneath my pillow at night.

Oh shit, I didn't type that out loud just now, did I?

[Adelante]

28. You couldn't help it

:D

[Clark2008]

33. At least you've narrowed it down.

I really don't like any of them this year... I feel resigned to go ahead and start talking about President (Insert Republican Name) because I just don't feel any of ours can swing the red states needed.

Sorry to be a downer - it's a gut feeling that won't go away.

[Tinksrival]

29. In a Hilary Clinton New York minute.

"Just when the world is being dragged into the death spiral of an unending cycle of violence by a vision-less, coldblooded collection of think-tank warriors goose-stepping their way into the new millennium with a stunning lack of respect for human rights, the environment, or international law, along comes a man with the proven credentials of intelligence, integrity, and courage singularly equipped by his spirit and experience to lead us out of this mess. Don't listen to what the lying liars say about him; listen to what he says. Wesley Clark is a prayer answered."
Peace, Kris Kristofferson

[kiteinthewind]

31. Gore/Clark

:thumbsup:

[phillysuse]

34. Two adults

Gore/Clark.

Get the kids off the stage.

[Art_from_Ark]

49. Gore/Clark

Get the first string in the game

[Hissyspit]

32. Yes. n/t

[Texifornia]

35. Yes

very much so. I would also like to see Gore run. Gore/Clark would, in my view, be unbeatable.

[iamjoy]

36. Wouldn't Do Any Good

I mean, it doesn't matter to me one way or the other. But, I don't think he would do very well.

In 2004, we were so desperate to beat Dubya. And with the war being a top issue and most Americans still supporting it (or not completely opposed), we wanted some one with strong military credentials. Well, who better than an actual retired general? Problem was, Clark came across as uninformed about the other issues (at least at first). That sort of hurt his chances.

Anyway, it's a different scenario now. We're not so anxious for some one with strong military credentials. We have a lot of good candidates generating a lot of excitement. I don't know that there's room for some one like Wes Clark.

Might not be a bad idea to have him on the short list for VP, or to openly discuss him as Sec. Def.

[Cameron27]

46. It's what's behind the military credentials that's important.

Leadership, problem solving, diplomacy under the harshest conditions, and knowing better than anyone else that war is always the last alternative.

He's solid and without pretense, which is more than I can say for some.

[bonito]

37. YES!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Solo_in_MD]

38. Never did and still don't

[CarolNYC]

39. Most definitely....

There's a whole mess of us hoping and praying he jumps in....We really need him.

[Maru Kitteh]

43. YES, absolutely, yes. But I think we're out of luck.

I'm left hoping he'll be picked up as the Vice or somewhere in the cabinet.

[grasswire]

47. of course, of course

He would be my first choice. I don't know what's goin' on with him, but where is he???

[nickinSTL]

48. I'd like to see him run...

but I worry that it may be too late...I know it's ridiculously early still, but :shrug:

[WA98296]

50. If he OVERWAITS it again, then forget it. Get off his butt and do it...or not. But,

actually, I would love to see his son run! Have you ever heard that guy tell it like it is!?!

[Clyde39]

51. Yes.......and soon!

[Nicole]

52. Yes! n/t

[nonconformist]

53. HELL YEAH!

Clark is my #1 pick.

[Maddy McCall]

54. Sure. I want Clark and Gore to run. If Gore runs...

he'd get my support. If Gore doesn't run, I'd go with Clark. If neither run, then I'm supporting Edwards with gusto.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

55. Yes, very much so.

Gore/Clark, Clark/Gore. Only two people qualified to be president IMNSHO.

[Hatalles]

56. Absolutely.

I haven't had a chance to watch the entire debate, but from the clips I've seen, Obama is beginning to scare me. Gravel and Kucinich were awesome. Clark seems to me to be most like these latter two and far more electable.

[On the Road]

57. I Would Prefer Clark to Any of the Announced Candidates

only Gore or Dean would rank higher.

But I'm getting the feeling that Clark will not run.

[Clarkie1]

58. Absolutely. nt

[napi21]

59. NO! Wes doesnt have theexposure to the battleof politics.

You may think that doesn't matterbut it does. It matters a lot
1

Look atObama tonight. He'sa great candidate,but he doesn't have that instant responsethat a seasonedand battled candidate does. Nor wouldWes.

[tokenlib]

61. Yes....Still waiting and hoping...

There are many of us just waiting...Hoping for Clark or Gore.. Feeling a bit empty and discouraged without them. I think there are a lot of us who think this race is all too soon and too early. Way too early for endorsements--how many may later regret sticking their necks out so early and eagerly--it's food for thought.

A lot of us are going to sit back and wait--for quite awhile yet..

[KT2000]

62. Yes

but it's starting to be too late.

[Greyhound]

63. The more quality candidates we have, the better. I think Mr. Clark has many good ideas

and a unique and potentially beneficial skill-set.

[DFW]

64. Wes Clark would probably make a fabulous president, BUT

we'll never find out, because he wouldn't make a fabulous candidate.

He has been a REAL decider, and therefore not one who needed to shout
it to the masses with TV cameras rolling. He is almost surely the brightest
start in the constellation (possibly excepting Gore and Richardson), but
he does not have a dynamic speaking style, and the MSM would crucify him
better than and right-wing attack ads.

As a stealth VP candidate, he might be a real asset to any Democratic ticket.
I know him slightly, and on those one-on-one TV interviews, he'd just clean
up for us and the presidential candidate while he or she is off making speeches
for the 11 o'clock news.

So, do I want him to RUN for president? No. I'd love for him to BE president, but
I don't see him travelling the only road there is to get there. As someone who despises
bullshit, he's about as handicapped as anyone who tries to play the game. A run for
the office would just be a doomed distraction--unfortunately for the country. We could
ask for no finer man to sit in the oval office, but the election process is not geared
for fine people to win.

[Raine]

66. Yes

if only, I need someone I can really get behind and support. I want Clark, Gore or Kerry.