Media Alert: Wes Clark for Kerry on Wolf Blitzer Today

[Adelante]

That's now on the East Coast.

Turn it on :)

[Nite Owl]

1. Thanks, for Wes

I'll break my boycott.

[Wonk]

40. mp3 & vp3 here for those who missed it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=109x8081

[TacticalPeek]

2. Turn us on.

:)

[Wonk]

3. on now

[laruemtt]

4. god i miss him -

what a breath of fresh air. why isn't HE our nominee...........

[TacticalPeek]

5. The gods frowned.

We are not worthy.

[sadiesworld]

6. Wes did such a great job for JK!

:bounce:

[Adelante]

10. He was fabulous for Kerry!!

I am so proud. :)

[BeyondGeography]

7. Compassionate, intelligent, honest

"My whole career was spent recovering from Vietnam."

"We're again asking the military to do things they're not capable of doing."

"We're asking our men and women in uniform to put their lives on the line to fix the political mistakes that shouldn't have been made."

"What is the mission of the troops after June 30?"

"John Kerry was a public-spirited person who put his life on the line for this country and spoke out about his beliefs when he came home."

[returnable]

11. "My whole career was spent recovering from Vietnam."

Wow. Wes still knows how to hit 'em out of the park.

Fuckin' eh. It's just gotta be Kerry/Clark

:kick:

[Adelante]

18. This was so sad

"My whole career was spent recovering from Vietnam."

[Leilani]

20. He understands what Vietnam did to the military

& now what Iraq is doing to Wes s beloved Army.

The military did not want this war; the cilvilian chickenhawks at the Pentagon pushed it.

[Nite Owl]

8. Sure hope he's our

vp candidate.

[madmax]

9. I love Wes Clark

Please John, pick Wes Clark for VP.

[Leilani]

12. Just watched him!

Terrific as always!

He presents the most authoritative voice on military issues for the Dems!

Nobody does it better.

My scenario: Kerry chooses Wes as Veep, sends him to Iraq to assess the situation. Wes returns & reports to Kerry the true situation & they work out a success strategy.

[TacticalPeek]

15. "Fix the mess in Iraq."

A la Ike, circa '52 and Korea.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1457422

[loudsue]

13. Damn! Missed it!

Was he brilliant, as usual?

He and Kerry would certainly make one kick-ass team.

:kick:

[madmax]

16. Absolutely brilliant !!

As always articulate, knowledgeable and gorgeous to look at :evilgrin:

[shrike]

54. Glad to know I'm not the only DUer who thinks Wes Clark is hot

[Adelante]

17. Oh, loudsue

He was so on point it hurt! Never missed, not once. He gave a great defense after Wolf showed the video of that wretched O'Neill person. Wes talked about Kerry's courage in first volunteering for dangerous duty in Vietnam and then coming out and having the wisdom and courage at that young age to call it wrong. Outstanding, Wes!

[BeyondGeography]

19. It was so good to see the man again

The Dems better give him some prime airtime in Boston, even if he's not the Veep nominee. Lots of people love this guy, and he totally disarms the Republicans on patriotism and national security issues.

On edit: It's good to see all the Wes Heads here again, too.

[loudsue]

26. I love that picture of them, WesDem....

You can just feel the vibration...the dynamics. I think they look better together than either of them look separately (though they both look damn good separately!). I wonder if Kerry "gets it"?

It hasn't looked like he's even considering Wes. I have to confess, though, that just LOOKING at the two of them together makes me feel more secure. I think Wes brings the best out in Kerry.

:kick:

[Adelante]

32. Well that picture

was the day Wes endorsed Kerry. The spirit between them that day was incredibly beautiful. I was a basket case that day and I drew so much strength from how brave and loving they were with each other at that ceremony. I will never forget it. It was so strange in a way, Wes there to honor and show respect to Kerry and he certainly did, but Kerry showed reverence almost for Wes, like he couldn't quite believe Wes was there doing this two days after stepping down. It was very moving. Shit, I'm crying. :cry:

[Wonk]

22. Check this thread in about 40 min for mp3 & vp3 versions of it

:D

[LittleApple81]

33. Wonk, have I ever told you how much I appreciate you? n/t

[Tatiana]

38. I (heart) Wonk!!!!!!! Thanks so much for all you do for us. n/t

[LittleApple81]

47. Wonk: thank you for the opportunity of watching Wes in action. GREAT!!!

[Crunchy Frog]

69. Thank you Wonk!

:hug: :yourock:

[KittyWampus]

14. I MISSED HIM. And Have Been Jonesing For A Wes Fix Too!

Life is so unfair. :(

[Gloria]

21. After seeing Wes, I had this thought...

If nothing else, Wes should inspire Kerry to return to what he was 30 years ago....help renew the spirit he had, shed some of the Washington ossification he has been displaying lately with is various pronouncements on Iraq and Gaza "plan."

I don't know if Clark swallows all of Kerry's stuff....but wouldn't it be wonderful if Clark could pull him back in time a bit???

Sigh. Clark. Sigh....

[BeyondGeography]

31. That's a great thought

One of Wes' advisors (think it was Jamal) once said Wes is a born idealist who was able to stay that way because he never had to play electoral poltics, Washington-style.

Of course, that rawness makes people nervous about him as VP, but Kerry would do well to listen to and to emulate to Clark's characterizations of him.

[madmax]

23. For all you Wes Clark fans and supporters

:grouphug:

:loveya: :toast: To our VP. (I hope).

[Adelante]

27. I miss our hugs

:grouphug: for all Clarkies :loveya:

[Tatiana]

39. I miss our group hugs too :(

:grouphug: to all my Clarkies. We can only pray he is selected as VP. He is the man with a sensible solution for getting us out of Iraq and some sense of stability to that region.

[democratreformed]

24. I MISS WES TOO!!!!

Wish I could have seen it.

[tom_paine]

28. Wes would make a TERRIFIC Veep

Which is why the Bushevik Moles and the DLCers won;t allow it to happen.

Can't let anyone have a platform who would use it to "challenge the Matrix", you know.

By the by, though I don't advertise it, I;m a Wes Clark Democrat, too!

[democratreformed]

30. Oh, if only....

I still haven't recovered from the lost hope that his dropping out brought on.

[Leilani]

35. Tom, why am I not surprised?

It seems I am always agreeing with you.

[jeanmarc]

25. Has to be the veep, he's the guy[nt]

[VolcanoJen]

29. Again, I am convinced that we're nominating the wrong candidate.

Clark or Edwards, that's the way it should have gone down.

Call me a defeatist, but I support Kerry and will work for his victory. I just wish he was showing a little more to us, right now. Clark defends Kerry's record better than Kerry has.

[Adelante]

34. Kerry will make a great president

And he has everybody at his side. It will be good, VolcanoJen. We just have to get him elected.

[Leilani]

36. I hope you re right, Jersey!

IMO Kerry will have a better chance if Wes is his Veep!

[VolcanoJen]

37. Kerry needs to turn it up to 11, though.

Of COURSE Kerry will make an excellent, admirable, accomplished and honest President. Of that I have no doubt.

However, as a candidate, he's lacking. I could go on and on about why, but we all know most of the answers.

I'm behind him, as I would, and have been, behind every Democratic candidate ever nominated for the highest office in the land. However, so much more is at stake this time around, than at any other time in my life. I'd like to see Kerry highlight more of his differences with Bush, rather than his similarities. And I realize it's April and early, but this is one helluva unconventional election, and I don't think conventional wisdom will be enough this time.

At any rate, I enjoyed Wes Clark as always, and felt he did a much better job defending Kerry's voting record than Kerry has so far. But, I would expect no less from my beloved General. :-)

[Adelante]

41. Well, I was just tryin' to hug ya in my way

:hug:

[VolcanoJen]

45. Thanks, and I accept "your way," WesDem!

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[kentuck]

42. Wes would make a terrific President !

But I would settle for VP... :)

[newsguyatl]

43. wes was fantastic today!

i can tell ya tho, he's not interested in vp, he wants secretary of defense... said today "that's a job i'd take."

[LandOLincoln]

46. Did he also mention that he's not

eligible for SecDef, since he hasn't been out of the Army long enough?

I notice too that he always says he's "not interested" in VP, but has NEVER said he would refuse it if offered. Of course, I'm one of a number of Clarkies who think he's already got it... :bounce:

[Adelante]

49. Wes Clark would never refuse

a President of the United States anything. This we know. If Kerry wants him, he's got him, whether Wes wants it for himself or not.

[Adelante]

48. He said that?

When and where? Thanks.

[democracy eh]

44. don't forget the VEEPstakes

on MSNBC.com

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4565073/

[indie_voter]

51. The commentary about him is utterly obnoxious.

Who is writing the blurbs?

Field day indeed.

Bring it on.

[Adelante]

50. Transcript: Wes on Wolf Blitzer Reports 4/22/04

http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0404/22/wbr.01.html

[cally]

52. Thanks Wonk

I would have missed that without your post and link. :hug:

Wes was wonderful. He actually has some ideas about how to get us out of this mess. He has to play a large role in the Kerry administration.

[BabsSong]

53. Given the media will keep Iraq front and center, Wes would be

an excellent choice. Unfortunately, I understand that the reason he won't be is that he said some nasty stuff about Kerry's "intern problem" when that crap was tried out by Drudge,et al against Kerry. Apparently, that took him off the list right there because no one wants the press to come back and say, "Yo, Wes, so tell us more about what you know about Kerry's problem". I have no idea why he ever said that crap in the first place; but now it's a no go in any Kerry administration. Too bad.

[madmax]

55. What intern problem?

What did Wes say? I don't remember reading or hearing anything about this.

[Sparkly]

58. It was discredited

by reporters there who actually were named. It was a smear from Drudge and some "unnamed" sources.

[madmax]

60. Thanks

Since it wasn't true there is still hope for Clark as VP.

[osaMABUSh]

56. BS - nobody would believe Drudge on any intern stuff now

That Wes intern comments stuff is off the table. Drudge will be ignored again if brings up any intern nonsense.

I think your logic is backwards. If Kerry selects Clark as VP that in itself would squash any discussion of bad blood between the two.

Frankly, with Iraq (by some twisted logic) actually helping Bush right now, Kerry has NO CHOICE but to select Clark for his military and international experience.

Without Clark, Kerry loses.

[madmax]

63. I agree

I believe a Kerry/Clark ticket is the winning ticket. I've felt this for a long time. Kerry was my number one until Clark came on the scene. I'd never heard of him before but, he just moved me! Not your ordinary everyday politician. He'd be a great asset to Kerry imho.

I like the idea of 2 war vets with brains. They could turn this country around.

[Kool Kitty]

57. Did he really say that?

Was Drudge the only source?

[Sparkly]

59. No, he didn't say it

Drudge was the only source, in a smear that was full of lies all the way around. People who were there said Clark did NOT say it.

[Kool Kitty]

61. Thank you, that's what I thought.

I knew it was bullshit. Having said that, I gotta say, I miss Wes. And I missed him on Wolf's show. Dammit. :cry:

[BabsSong]

62. It was brought up again on something like Inside Politics

(I think that was were I heard it). They were doing a run down of possible VP's and outright said that his unfortunate "comments" on the subject have removed him from consideration.

[LandOLincoln]

64. Yeah, right---in their dreams.

[Kool Kitty]

65. Well, if CNN reported it,

then it is bullshit. They seem to get their headlines lately from the RNC's daily talking points memo.

[Adelante]

67. Well, he never did say it

After the lying Drudge Report Sean Hannity claimed, "The reason this story is out there is because Wesley Clark wanted it out there." Washington Post reporter Cici Connally corrected Sean Hannity's assumption while on a panel on his FOX television show. She said she had spoken with the journalists present at the off-the-record conversation during which Gen. Clark is supposed to have remarked on an impending scandal concerning Senator Kerry and an "intern." She verified that Gen. Clark had said no such thing; in fact, the topic was never under discussion.

Craig Crawford, formerly with the Congressional Quarterly and now a columnist with MSNBC, retracted a statement cited in a leaked to Drudge memo of his that pointed to Chris Lehane of Clark's staff as the originator of the smear against Sen. Kerry. He told Joe Conason of Salon on February 13: "The comments attributed to me are from a private email to television news associates based on conversations with Democratic campaign operatives. I did not consider any of it confirmed enough to report or publish. I can only verify that Chris Lehane's rivals in other Democratic campaigns made these claims and I have found no independent source to confirm it. Which is why we did not go with the story. But then someone sent my email to others, which is the only reason it got into the public domain."

I have posted the above about a hundred times on DU, but it's been a while. Note "Democratic campaign operatives" - "rivals in other Democratic campaigns" - collaborated with Matt Drudge to smear Kerry through Clark. Common sense dictates if Clark believed Kerry's campaign would soon be bogged down by scandal, he would have stayed in the race himself past Tennessee and on to Wisconsin, where he was doing very well in the polls and had considerable support on the ground. This is one of the sorriest tales of the primary season. But Wes Clark had the balls to stand for Kerry the very next day after the Drudge Report and put the kebosh on this false intern story. Wes Clark never said Kerry was having or ever had an affair with an intern. Every single reporter who was in the room has confirmed this.

In any case, Kerry is a bigger man than to fall for this nonsense.

[bobbyboucher]

68. Bull

shit. Why don't you back up that scat with some facts, names, places, etc. etc. Who do you know in the Kerry camp?

[dogman]

66. I would like to see Wes as VP

but it's not a deal breaker for me. After seeing a clip like this I just cannot imagine how Kerry could pass him up. If things change between now and his final choice I can imagine a different outcome but at this time and place Clark is definitely the man. I cannot picture anyone else doing that good at dealing with the Iraq War and national security advantage that B$$$ presently holds.