Will Gen. Wesley Clark enter the race?

[Composed Thinker]

And if so, when?

[graham67]

1. I think he will

and I think it will be around Labor Day or shortly thereafter.

[Composed Thinker]

4. What makes you say that?

And I'm assuming you like Bob Graham, and after catching a bit of him on "Kudlow & Cramer" last night, I do, too. He seemed to be making a lot of sense. I was annoyed that Kudlow got in with the last word.

[graham67]

6. I caught what his son said....

on Kos' blog, listened to the General's responses RE: The draft movement, heard a couple of people (who are better informed/wired in than I) say that they're 99% sure he's going to run.

I don't dislike Bob Graham. I think he'd make a fine VP but the #1 slot is out of his reach.

[Composed Thinker]

8. Link?

"on Kos' blog, listened to the General's responses RE: The draft movement, heard a couple of people (who are better informed/wired in than I) say that they're 99% sure he's going to run."

Do you have a specific link or will it be on those sites?

"I think he'd make a fine VP but the #1 slot is out of his reach."

That seems to be a fair assessment, at least from what I've seen.

[graham67]

11. I'll go find some links.

Comments are archived. BRB

[Composed Thinker]

12. Thanks

[graham67]

15. OK, here's the last comment Wesley Jr. made...

on 7/9. It's a bitch to look up the comments. More coming as I find them.

http://www.dailykos.com/archives/003322.html#003322

(If you visit the link, click on the "temporary comments" even though it says -0-. The comments are there, some screwy Haloscan thing going on...)


Just a couple of comments (and yes, I am who I say I am as Kos can attest),

I don't know if he will run but he'll make an announcement either way (my guess is at the very latest labor day). I understand that the wait might be frustrating for people in the DraftClark movement and the Democratic party - but if he runs, I assume that those who think he is a good candidate now will probably not hold it against him just because he waited a few extra weeks.

He won't be running as a Republican.

He IS NOT campaigning for a VP slot.

He is very progressive on every issue - he's stated that global warming is happening, that he's pro-choice, that he's pro-affirmative action, that he's pro-union, that the tax code should remain progressive, that multilateral solutions should be found for the world's security concerns, that he was against the decision to go to war in Iraq and that we need stronger social safety nets. I don't know what other positions people need to find out which direction he leans but it seems fairly clear to me.

He is most of all interested in the battle of ideas and not that of individuals (to include himself). I'm sure he'll help out whomever wins the nom for the Democrats when it comes time to bring down Bushco - whether he mounts a campaign himself or not.

I don't know if he would be able to win the Democratic nom but I believe he is the only one who can win the general election because it will be about one thing - national security. I wish it were about health care, the coming water crisis, the need for alternative energy or the economy but it won't be. National security is now personal security and that trumps every other issue.

As an unrelated aside, does anyone else out there believe that the real reason the Repubs are having the convention in NYC isn't to crow about 9/11 but to provoke a riot a la Chicago in '68?
Wesley Clark Jr. | 07.09.03 - 5:05 pm | #"

[Composed Thinker]

17. Thanks

But while he may not be actively campaigning for the VP slot, he'd certainly make one hell of a running mate, don't you agree?

[graham67]

20. Absolutely....

but I don't know if he's best being second banana. It seems like a waste of his talents.

[newyawker99]

35. Hi graham67!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[izzie]

36. These type of men like things that are well planned and Dem are hardly

that. Fact it is what I like about the party. Every can come in

[Feanorcurufinwe]

2. I'm betting no.

I'm betting no. To me, he didn't sound like here really wanted to in the latest interview I saw. He looked flattered, but not eager to run for President. I think he'd make a great VP candidate so I hope that's how it works out.

[Composed Thinker]

7. I was asking

I was asking if he'd enter in either spot on the ticket.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

16. well I think he is more likely to accept a VP nod

Well I think he is more likely to accept a VP nod than he is to jump in with both feet. But he'd have to be asked. And we don't know who the nominee will be or how that person feels about Clark.

[Composed Thinker]

19. That makes sense

That's pretty much what I think, although I'd imagine that most candidates would feel lucky to have someone like Clark.

[jenk]

3. no, and if he does he has no chance

.

[Composed Thinker]

9. Why doesn't he have a chance?

[NNN0LHI]

5. Don't know. But the Repugs are peeing themselves with worry he might

[Composed Thinker]

10. Is there any way you can verify that statement?

[robbedvoter]

23. Yeah, there's a bushel of GOP pee at your door

Sorry, but your obsessive, repetitive and nasty threads are becoming transparent.

[Composed Thinker]

24. No

I just want to understand more about this man, and some of what I need to know isn't easily found or isn't out there at all, so I come here.

Free Republic is a horrible, horrible site. Its users are whack jobs.

[11cents]

13. I've also heard almost certainly yes

... from the more-wired people in the Draft Clark movement. He himself has said he'll announce one way or the other by Labor Day.

His son has posted occasionally in the "Cattle Call" topics on dailykos.com. People who profess doubt about whether Clark Sr. is a Democratic would have no doubts about Clark Jr., BTW.

[Composed Thinker]

14. I'm such an ass

You know, I've never actually visited that site. I should do it some time.

"People who profess doubt about whether Clark Sr. is a Democratic would have no doubts about Clark Jr., BTW."

How liberal is Clark Jr. in comparison to Clark Sr.?

[graham67]

18. Liberal?

Wesley Jr. likes Sharpton

[Composed Thinker]

21. Well then...

[mlawson]

22. Maybe he is angling for VP??? n/t

[Pepperbelly]

25. I don't think he knows yet ...

I haven't heard a word from Aunt Shirley so word has not made it through the family. :shrug:

[Composed Thinker]

26. I like

I like you even more now that I've noticed that Truman picture near your name.

[TheBigGuy]

28. its amazing that u are related to Clark.

...for some reason I think thats sort of cool.

I recall you posting about this before, but forgot if you said if you actually met him at a family get-together?

[Pepperbelly]

30. He was a fixture in early youth ...

the example held up to the rest of us who had taken another route ... long hair, the whole bit. :D

[graham67]

27. I haven't found the thread yet....

but I did see what Jr. wrote several weeks ago about the possible late entry. Wesley Clark was a soldier all his life and isn't sitting on millions of dollars in family money. Unlike the other candidates who are in elected office, he would have to quit all his positions (with Wavecrest, et al) and would have no income. Apparently this has been one of the major considerations. There's more to it, I need to find that damned thread....

[dfong63]

29. not a republican?

He won't be running as a Republican.

this kind of coyness is a real turn-off for me. here's this guy who wants to be president. if he's planning to use the dem party as his vehicle, he ought to at least be willing to declare that he's on that party's side. he ought to have at least some consideration for the other candidates of that party, IF he has any concern for the fortunes of that party.

the guy does not seem to be big on party loyalty. he wants to parachute in from nowhere, with no history as a democrat, no history of campaigning for democratic candidates or ideals; and expects the party to fall in behind him???

cmon folks, we can do better than this.

[graham67]

31. Not a Republican!

You see it as coyness, I see it shrewd. Have any idea how many moderate Republicans are hot for him? Right now its about ideas, not parties.

[Composed Thinker]

34. I don't think that's a fair characterization, at least not entirely

I don't know how he voted throughout his life, but I believe he voted or intended to vote in the Democratic primary in AK recently. He says he has "tremendous regard" for the Clintons and holds many left of center positions, so I don't think it's fair to say he doesn't share many ideals. And he's also been a general for a long time. How is he supposed to campaign for other Democrats in the same way politicians campaign for their friends?

He's exactly what the party needs right now, so I am willing to get behind him for that and for so much else as well.

[quam]

32. How Late...

can he wait? Once the debates (of current candidates) begins, is it then too late?

[Mz Pip]

33. Going to my

first Clark Meet Up on Monday Aug 4. I'll let you know what the gossip is at that time.

I hope he runs. If not, I will have to figure out who else I will support.

MzPip
:dem: