Wes Clark isn't a republican

[Mass_Liberal]

That's one of the main things (and one of the few things) that my candidate keeps saying that I think is wrong. For one thing, the comment is just not true. Just look at his stances on the issues. For another, it doesn't pay to alienate the one guy in the race that has the same goals as you: to change America so that you don't have to be a washington insider to be President. They could both stand up to Bush.


I'd much rather that Dean and Clark could be good friends. Of course, there's a chance that the whole comment was just political theatre.

[jmaier]

1. Of course it's political theater

Of course, that doesn't justify it -- I'd say you can attack Wes Clark for a number of positions if you're Gov Dean, but being a Rethuglican is wrong-headed and counterproductive.

[Mass_Liberal]

2. hmmm

thoughtful post. I like the word rethuglican :-) very creative.

[bhunt70]

3. Thanks!

I agree with you and I actually think there isn't much animosity between Dean and Clark, just some of their supporters here.

[funky_bug]

4. Thanks

I read that comment last night and almost changed my pic... not saying I won't, but the unity has been lovely, and that comment is NOT helping.

Come on, Dean... for the love of pete, the repug thing didn't work before, and it ain't gonna help you now.

Dean has the fire and passion to whoop Kerry in the debate. He needs to keep his gun aimed in the right directions. Sad as it is to say, Clark appears not to be a threat to him right now.

[Mass_Liberal]

5. that pic is pretty encouraging

it does make it seem like there isn't real animosity between them. I guess it's just vaguely dirty political theatre.

[youneedthetruth]

10. WESLEY CLARK, America's Savior?

WESLEY CLARK, America's Savior?

Wesley Clark is the man.  He is the ONLY candidate who is
hell-bent on gutting the IRS and eliminating all of the
loopholes that corrupt corporations feed from.  General Clark
wants to create a system where any family who makes $50,000 or
less would not have to pay any income tax, and they would not
even have to file a tax return with the IRS.   And for those
who do file, all the taxpayers would have to do is fill out a
three-question form.  

General Clark would also repeal the Bush tax cut that only
benefits the top one percent of our population to make up for
the shortfall in taxes his new IRS restructuring would create.
  General Clark also plans to slightly increase the taxes on
those who make more than a million a year.

No other democrat, and certainly no republican, is doing
ANYTHING to restructure the IRS.   In fact, the
republican-dominated government has added hundreds of pages of
code to the 50,000 page IRS manual in the past three years. 
And those additions are loopholes for corporations and the
wealthy to further enrich themselves.  The loopholes were put
in our tax code by lobbyists who have most of our
representatives in their pockets.   They allow corporations to
have offshore accounts, offshore fake 'home offices', and huge
loopholes for the wealthy.   Republicans 'say' they are for
less government but how can that be if they are increasing the
size of the IRS and expanding the size of the tax code that we
all have to adhere to?   The word "hypocrites" comes
to mind.

Remember during the 2000 election/selection when
candidate-Bush said "Businesses must be allowed to
regulate themselves!"?   It is obvious that Bush and the
GOP would have no problem with having an Enron on every block
in America.  After all, Enron "regulated" themselves
and look how many millions of people had their investments
wiped out by corrupt corporate crooks.  

Republicans will argue that their "Trickle-Down
Economics" works.   Some will say that if you give the
wealthiest Americans more and more tax breaks it will lead to
money "trickling" down to the masses.  That is pure
baloney, rancid baloney.  'Trickle-Down Economics' didn't work
under Ronald Reagan and it certainly is not working under
Bush-Duh-Second.  Even Bush-Duh-First called Reagan's
'Trickle-Down Economics", "Voo Doo Economics"
when he was running against Reagan for the 1980 republican
presidential nomination.  Today's republican version of
"Trickle-Down Economics" should be more aptly named
"Doo Doo Economics" because it reeks of special
interests and corruption.

Republicans have the misconception that the richest Americans
immediately recycle all of their windfall tax breaks back into
the economy.  But when the wealthy get additional money they
don't immediately say to themselves "Gee, I am going to
immediately build new factories and hire thousands of
Americans".  No, they do just the opposite.  They close
down factories, fire American workers, and then send the work
to slave-labor countries.   They also merge existing American
companies and fire tens of thousands of workers.  The money
they get back in huge tax breaks is not spent on building
businesses in the United States.  It is mostly hoarded.   That
money doesn't reenter the economy as many would like to
convince you.   And it certainly doesn't "Trickle
Down" to the average American.

There is only so much toilet paper, detergent, and food that a
wealthy person needs and buys.  Do republicans really believe
that if you give the wealthiest one percent of our country
huge tax breaks that their spending on toilet paper would
skyrocket?   Hardly, unless they defecate constantly at the
news of getting a few extra million dollars each year.   

The best way to invigorate the economy is to put the money
into the hands of those who would return the money back into
the economy almost as soon as they get it.  And that means the
middle class and the poor.  The average American drives the
economy, not the extremely wealthy.  

Aren't you tired of the massive corruption in our government? 
 Aren't you tired of feeling victimized every year by the IRS?
  Don't you want to put more of your hard-earned wages into
your pockets and less in the government's coffers???   The
time for a change is now.  We the citizens of our country have
the power to take back our government and our country from
those who are using our treasury as their personal piggy bank,
while forcing the middle class and the poor to have to pay for
the shortfalls they are creating.

To change the system we need someone in the White House who
cares about the average American, and American families.  As
Wesley Clark likes to say, "one party likes to 'talk'
about 'Family Values', but I value families".   Mr. Clark
is the only candidate who would make changes that would
benefit the middle class and the poor.  Currently, we have no
one in government who is looking after our best interests.  We
need to change that.  And we have the power to change that, if
only we act.


BTW: Republican propagandists are already trying to tie Wesley
Clark to the Clintons.  I suppose the republican party will be
running against Clinton forever.  The republican party used
all kinds of references to Clinton during the 2000 election. 
And now they are trying to do the same dishonest thing again. 
 Intelligent voters won't fall for their scheme but the
non-thinking republican party lambs will.  It is unfortunate
that they can be led like hogs to slaughter so easily.  
Lastly, the republican party must be very afraid of Wesley
Clark if they are trying to link him to the Clintons.  That
fear means that they believe that Clark would be the most
formidable candidate against Bush.

[newyawker99]

23. Hi youneedthetruth!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Tatiana]

35. PHENOMENAL post!

Wow... I simply have no words to do your post justice. Thank goodness you get it, and hopefully the rest of American taxpayers will get it too. We need Wesley Clark as our President.

[Anwen]

14. I love that picture!!

I also wish Dean would lay off of Clark. I am still holding out a slight hope that they can reconcile... I think if they worked together, they could kick some major butt!!

The Doctor and the General...sigh :loveya:

[Bucky]

41. I am now going to ruin that Clark & Dean picture for everybody. I am bad.

Already my mind is filled with remorse for having done this.

[HFishbine]

6. When I first heard Dean say this

I thought, "Right on!" Now I wish he'd drop it.

I'm an independent voter largely because I recognized that party labels have lost all meaning. "Democrat" no longer means in opposition to right wing policies. Clark should be evaluated on substance, not meaningless labels.

[Toucano]

36. That's a nice post

And big of you to admit your outlook has changed.

Kudos.

All labels interfere with seeing the truth about something.

[arewethereyet]

7. Clark is NOT a Republican, and I don't even like the guy

but I am sick and tired of hearing this inane junk. That its coming from a democrat is inexcusable.

The general says he's seen the light, he's seen the light.

Now its fair to ask him to justify prior actions but to make this assertion is beneath contempt.

[Quixote1818]

8. It's Ok I know Dean used this to go after Kerry. It's run it's course

on Clark already. I am glad Dean said it and I am for Clark.

[Bad Thoughts]

9. Thank you. eom.

[janx]

11. Actually Dean and Clark have each insulted eachother once.

Dean said the "republican" thing (and I don't like it either), and Clark went into Dean's skiing in Aspen when he (Clark) was in Vietnam.

They're one-on-one in terms of insults, and I wish Dean would not repeat his.

These two put their heads together very early on in the campaign. From what I've seen, Clark is the guy Dean respects the most out of all of the candidates.

So I wish he would not do this.

[mikehiggins]

28. Clark made one remark in passing about how Dean would

probably beat him in a skiing contest because he got to practice while Clark was in VietNam.

Dean has repeatedly challenged Clark's credentials as a Democrat.

I don't think the score is quite "one-on-one" at all.

Dean also keeps hitting Clark as being for the War in Iraq, a position even Richard Perle doesn't agree with.

Clark has studiously avoided getting involved in negative campaigning, and Dean has fallen into it more than a few times.

It does make cooperation a little more difficult.

[flaminbats]

12. Good!

Because it would become a crisis if a shadow-repuke won the nomination.

[slinkerwink]

13. I agree that Clark isn't a republican

*shakes head*

[Feanorcurufinwe]

15. It would be more accurate to say

that he is a newcomer to the Democratic party, a lobbyist who raised money for Republicans and voted for Nixon, Reagan twice, and Bush Sr.

If Dean wants to criticise Clark, that's what he should say.

[OKNancy]

22. What did he lobby for?

a database to catch hijackers ( and all involved said he was very aware of protecting privacy)

an electric bicycle

a vaccine.

[Lefta Dissenter]

25. and in the interest of full disclosure,

which is one of Clark's hallmarks, you might add that he also raised funds for Democrats and he voted for Clinton twice and Gore once.

Hey, if McGovern is willing to forgive the Nixon vote, so am I!

[Auntie Bush]

37. But that is only a half truth. He also voted for Clinton twice and Gore.

[RichM]

16. I agree. Actually, MOST Democrats are Republicans. Clark is no worse

than the rest in the respect, & he's at least as good as many. He's less a Republican than Lieberman. He might be less a Republican than Kerry, whose ugly rightwing attacks on Dean have taken my breath away.

Is Tom Daschle a Democrat? That spineless miserable excuse for a "Democratic leader?" If he's a Democrat, so is Clark. This is not because Clark is so wonderful (though he seems a reasonably decent chap), it's because the rest of them are such a sorry lot.

[dansolo]

17. I agree, it doesn't do Dean any good

I made this point during the "say something good" thread for Wesley Clark. I don't consider Clark to be a Republican. I believe that he is sincere in that he recognizes that his own personal views are dimetrically opposed to that of the Republican Party. I was a little bothered by his apparent reluctance to commit early on, but now that he is here, he has been possibly the hardest and most vocal critics of Bush policy (possibly even say harder than Dean). Perhaps his willingness to do this is due to his inexperience as a politician, but I welcome it. Clark is my second choice after Dean for this reason. Dean is making a mistake to alienate Clark and his supporters. In the possible event that Clark drops out before Dean does, the only way to challenge Kerry would be to pick up the supporters of the other candidates. This is not the way to do it.

[Bread and Circus]

18. Hey wow, that is so honorable of you to point out !

Either way, I hope Dean and Clark continue to help
working to promote liberal goals and ideals.

:yourock:

[cheezus]

19. How long has he been a democrat?

I'll buy that he's not a republican. But really, how long has he been a democrat? Maybe we should make the leader of the party someone who has been in the party for a while?

Wes needs to run for a lower office and get some experience. I think then he'd make a good choice for president.

but not this year.

[Lefta Dissenter]

26. He was an independent while he was in the military

He registered as a Democrat in 02, and why the heck should only career politicians be able to run for the presidency? :shrug: He has more actual executive leadership experience than any of the other candidates!

[mikehiggins]

32. Well, then, how about Kerry? He's sure a Democrat, tried and true.

You should be overjoyed with him, right?

[Auntie Bush]

40. He'll be too old to run in 8 years and besides isn't that when Hillery

will run? What a waste of a wonderful, intelligent and honarable human being. Why? Because he has only been a Democrat for 12 years.
I'm an avid Democrat and hell...I voted for Bush 1 and Ray-gun. The two worst mistakes in my life. People can learn from their mistakes.
He's seen the light...that's what countsand he is a fast learner.

[corporatewhore]

20. clarks an imperalist democrat as opposed to an imperalist repub

or a neoliberal not a neo con or tweedledee not tweedle dumb

[Mass_Liberal]

21. qua?

could you elaborate one what you said?

[corporatewhore]

24. he supports imperalism via "free"trade and he supports

the SOA thugs who "enforce"it in lain americahe also supports the colonialism via the occupation in iraq and palestine

[Lefta Dissenter]

27. I suggest that you go to www.Clark04.com

and read his position papers. You also might want to read his testimony before the Senate regarding our invasion of Iraq. Then you'll be able to comment from a more educated viewpoint.

[The Sausage of Death]

30. Like Clarke I recently converted to the Democratic Party’s....

.... system of values. Please explain what "supporting imperalism via "free"trade" means and whether its good or bad.

[kaitykaity]

29. Clark is definitely NOT a Republican.

No Republican would be caught dead posing for a 'hot hot hot' cover on a GBLT advocacy magazine. (Rick Santorum would commit suicide first.)

[bicentennial_baby]

31. Bingo!

What a pic! Meow... :P

[shivaji]

33. That's the problem...Clark does not know who he is....

He votes repug when it helps advance his career
He switches to democrat if that is the only avenue open for higher office
He will be for the Iraq war if working as a CNN analyst
He will be against the war if running in the democratic primaries

Who knows what the next Clark Avatar will look like! And I ain't taking
chances.

Go Dean/Kerry/Edwards....all solid democrats to the core.

[krkaufman]

34. The irrational gnome..

... needed to identify states where he stands no chance of getting to the 15% threshold, and tell his supporters to go for another candidate that *does*. Else Kerry will just get more delegates.

[Tinoire]

38. Charming. Most supporters of the "irrational gnome" are too aware

of the CSIS, the NED and the SOA to even fathom doing such a thing.

It may shock you to know that Kerry is the number 2 choice of many of the "Irrational gnome"'s supporters. Clark is tooooo far away from the "irrational gnome" on the issues that matter the most to us.

Rhodes scholar vs Skull & Bones? Both stand for Anglo domination of the world... Most of us would prefer the known entity with an established record, even if some will have to have a gun held to our temples to pull the lever for Kerry.

I contend that we are the finest race in the world, and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race. I contend that every acre added to our territory means the birth of more of the English race who otherwise would not be brought into existence.
Added to this, the absorption of the greater portion of the world under our rule simply means the end of all wars. The objects one should work for are first the furtherance of the British Empire, the bringing of the whole uncivilized world under British rule, the recovery of the United States, the making of the Anglo-Saxon race but one Empire.

Cecil Rhodes


Kind of puts a whole new light on the things Clark and Clinton embrace such as NAFTA, WTO, an imperialist war in Yugoslavia to recapture Europes richest mines and build oil pipelines? And always with our good friends the British at our sides.

Gotta go. Got some more work to do for that "irrational little gnome". Gotta make sure the plans Clark drafted for the occupation of Iraq aren't enacted for the glory of the Anglo empire. Gotta bust the illusion that Dean is the anti-war candidate and some far-out Leftist. Or that Sharpton is ignorable.

[maxr4clark]

39. ...and he was never registered as one.

He voted for both Republicans and Democrats. THAT IS WHAT INDEPENDENTS DO!!!

The only party he has ever registered for is the Democratic party.

Think he's Republican because he appeared at a Republican fund-raiser? Two weeks later, he appeared at a Democratic fund-raiser.

Think he supported the Iraq War Resolution? Check factcheck.org. Checked it before? Check it again, they looked again and got it right.

I'm proud to support a Democrat that happens to have been a General. I wish there were more like him to support.