MSNBC Hardball - Clark quits Presidential Race

[darknemus]

No source yet - apparently an AP story.

-darknemus

[PartyPooper]

1. They're starting to drop like flies.

This is so sad. My favourite candidates are Dean, Clark, and Kucinich.

But, I will support ABB! Looks like it's gonna be Kerry on top of the ticket. Who will be his choice for VP?

:kick:

[caledesi]

5. Same here. Sad day. nt

[qanda]

2. So sad!

I have a big lump in my throat right now. :cry:

[Beetwasher]

3. Clark Is A Great Man

If this is true I hope he's open to VP. That ticket would be unbelievable.

[kysrsoze]

14. I like Clark. I also like Dean and think Clark should support Dean

Tennessee had 16% between the two of them. Wisconsin is a real no B.S. state, so I'd like to see what happens there. This is pretty much the last chance - not expecting much, but you never know.

[Beetwasher]

4. Blitzer Just Confirmed: Clark Out!

n/t

[FlashHarry]

6. Link here

Reuters story here

[Bake]

7. There are many many posts where he could serve admirably

in the NEXT, DEOMCRATIC ADMINISTRATION!! VP, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense ...

We've not seen the last of The General!

Bake

[eridani]

18. VP would be a real waste

Sec'y of State or Defense would be much better.

[SanchoPanza]

29. Clark doesn't really fit in anywhere.

With such a narrowly divided legislature, a Democratic President would need a real mover-and-shaker as his VP, whose official task is to preside over the Senate. Lacking any legislative experience whatsoever, Clark would not be an ideal candidate for VP. Secretary of Defense might not be such a great task either, since Clark and the Pentagon are not necessarily on the friendliest of terms. The same was true with Robert McNamara under Kennedy, and the relationship between the administration and the Pentagon was at its most strained at that point than any other in recent history.

Best bet would be Secretary of State, given his postive relationship with other world leaders, or National Security Advisor as that only has a cursory relationship to the Pentagon. But that's just for the sake of having Clark in a new administration; IMO there are more qualified choices than he (no disrespect to Clark supporters).

Remember, the Vice President is not just someone who irons out a Presidential Candidate's percieved weaknesses among certain segments of the electorate. JFK may have selected Johnson so he had a better shot picking up Southern votes, but the choice had the added benefit of Johnson being perhaps the most skilled legislator in U.S. history. An ideal VP in a Democratic Administration, given the current congressional climate, would be something along those lines. However, IMO, a VP has to be actually qualified for the job, and not just have a nice looking resume. Substance has to trump style.

To that effect, I think Sen. Bob Graham or Rep. Dick Gephardt would be the best choices available.

[bluestateguy]

8. I have now changed my avatar and signature

General Clark is an honorable man and a team player.

[seventhson]

12. which one is FBI director Mueller?

Kerry's Hockey teammate from St Paul's Episcopal?

[HerbieHeadhunter]

9. Sorry for the dupe - Press conference at 2:00 at the Peabody...

Hotel in Downtown Little Rock , just a stone's throw from the the Clinton Library, per KATV in Little Rock.

[HamstersFromHell]

10. Ooops...I made a dupe in LBN, but it's all but official.

Our local (Nashville) CBS affiliate just reported live from Clark's Memphis HQ, where he gave tonight's speech.

His campaign manager met with the press shortly after his earlier speech. On the local CBS affiliate in Nashville, they broke in on the local news to their reporter in Memphis. The reporter said Clark's campmpaign mgr. told him after some thinking and soul searching, Clark will withdraw from the race. This was live at 10:20pm

Manager said he'll make a formal announcement in Little Rock tomorrow at 2pm CST.

Finishing third and lack of money seem to be the reasons.

Sorry folks, he was my guy too.

Hammies!

on edit: spelling)

[scarface2004]

11. abb....

kerry is good enough....let s go kick some neocon ass!!

[colorado_ufo]

13. Alas for America - another missed opportunity

for greatness. Let's hope that Kerry, who will no doubt get the tap, chooses the leadership factor and becomes a truly formidable team with Clark.

General, we salute you! We hope you will consider another post in service to your country. Thanks from many thousands of us.

[salin]

15. While not yet decided... I was growing more and more

interested in, and supportive of General Clark's candidacy. *sigh... campaign season...sigh* My 'condolences' - in the sense of the sadness of this decision - for all who have given time, money, support and heart to his campaign.

[maggrwaggr]

16. Wow. that sucks big time

is all I can say.

Who's left to root for? Kucinich I guess.

[Isere]

17. Who's left?

Whoever is left will be the one I'm supporting.

Anyone but Bush! We have to devote ourselves to regime change!

[burrowowl]

19. Damn!

I'm a Kucinich supporter, but I don't like seeing Clark quitting.
He brought issues to the table that need to be heard.

[jenk]

20. Clark hijacked Edwards campaign kickoff

remember, stole his thunder. here comes wes to save the party, who is this Edwards kid in single digits? he's doing worse than Sharpton?

Graham came and went
Mosely Braun came and went
Gephardt came and went
Lieberman came and went
Dean came and went, he just doesn't know he's "gone"
Clark came and went

Yet Edwards remains!

he beat them, then he beat them again, and he beat them again and again...

Kerry is an uphill battle, but if anybody can beat him for the nomination, it's edwards.

[VolcanoJen]

21. Clark Website "Goodbye" Here

:-(

http://www.clark04.com/speeches/042/

Excerpt:

Our goal remains the same: to change the direction of our country and bring a higher standard of leadership to the White House.

And there is no party more committed to that effort, no party more committed to the American people, than our party ... my party ... the Democratic Party.

MY Party!!! The Democratic Party!!! GO DEMS '04!!!

[calimary]

22. Hey, Clark fans, my deepest respects! To and your guy.

He still stands mighty tall. PARTICULARLY after today, and all the bush AWOL crap starting to hit the fan. This Dean person feels your pain. Mine is probably next. I salute you, one and all, and Clark. The general put up a great fight. I just wish he'd gotten into the game a LOT earlier. And I hope we haven't heard the last of him. He strengthened our hand, and our bench.

[Snazzy]

23. thought he ran a great campaign

Late and outsider must have hurt, but he was a champ.

I hope he does something hardcore like sec d or s.

ABB. His endorsement (and the Clinton's?) will be big.

[LiberalTexan]

24. He didn't have my vote but

he had my support for being a voice out there to challenge Kerry. I don't believe we should lay down and just give Kerry our all. I think Clark brought some good arguments to the table. I am saddened that we won't be seeing him anymore. Or maybe we will see him campaigning for someone else. I was hoping he would have stuck it out longer. But, I know all good things must come to an end. I know because my candidate will be making a concession speech soon, too, I fear. And, then I will be left with no voice.

[Piperay]

25. Damn...

I'm brokenhearted. :cry:

[ze_dscherman]

26. Reuters: Clark to Quit Presidential Campaign

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Reuters) - Former NATO commander Wesley Clark will announce on Wednesday he is pulling out of the race to be the Democratic challenger to President Bush after a poor showing in Virginia and Tennessee primaries.

Campaign spokesman Matt Bennett said the retired general, who had hoped for wins in the South to revive his uphill campaign, would formally drop his bid for the White House in his home town of Little Rock, Arkansas.

"General Clark has decided to leave the race," Bennett told reporters traveling with the Democratic candidate in Memphis.

Bennett said Clark's decision was due to the momentum built up by front-runner John Kerry, a senator from Massachusetts, which made it difficult for the Clark campaign to raise money.

More: http://news.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=4330260

[Chicago Democrat]

27. God Bless Wes Clark!

God Bless Wes Clark!


A man of courage and honor who fought a high-road campaign with honor! I want him to be the next Sec of Defense!

Or Sec of State!

Or Senator!

I gave him money early on, the day after Mike Moore endorsed. But Wesley Clark is not ready to be President, but he's a wonderful man. A hero, my hero. Thanks for running Wes, we all are honored to get to know you! I hope he sticks around and helps John Kerry get elected. I love Wesley Clark; Madonna loves him. I'm so proud he is a Democrat! Thanks.

TAJohnson

Democrat

[Chicago Democrat]

28. My Letter to Wes Clark

You are my hero!

Dear General Clark,

I want to say thank you for running such a positive, issue-focused campaign. You are an inspiration to me.

Thank you so very much for the incredible personal sacrifice you made for the campaign. Thank you, most of all, for being a Democrat. I can hardly believe we finally have a true progrssive war hero. It makes me so happy to know you are on our side.

I know with people like you fighting the extreme agenda of the Bush White House we can only prevail.

God willing.

Your sincere admirer,

TAJohnson

[Voltaire99]

30. What is a "progressive war hero"?

Is that like being a compassionate conservative?

Clark's putative "heroism" is debatable. What isn't is the term "progressive," which denotes an anti-war position -- and that hardly fits Clark, the man whose bombing campaign sent many civilians to their deaths even as he sought to widen the Kosovo war.

[DU GrovelBot]

31. ## Support Democratic Underground! ##

RUN C:\GROVELBOT.EXE
 
This week is our first quarter 2004 fund drive.
Please take a moment to donate to DU. Thank you
for your support.
 
- An automated message from the DU GrovelBot

Click here to donate.

[0007]

32. I thought Clark had a lot going ...

My mind just wasn't completely made up about him. Sorry to see Clark go -

[dbt]

33. Thank you General Clark!

You and Governor Dean showed the Democrats that it was OK to get in Der BuschFuhrer's face. Well done, General. You have served your country in an exemplary manner once again!

:bounce:
dbt