Wes Clark Just told Ed Schultz, " I haven't said I won't run..."

[Eurobabe]

"I am working on things that are very important right now."

[ginnyinWI]

1. he means he can't do those things when he's running

It's kind of the same reason John Kerry decided not to run. When you are a candidate everything you do and say is interpreted to be a political ploy rather than a sincere effort. Kerry wants to get the troops out of combat in Iraq, and Clark is working with Vote Vets to prevent war with Iran. Both are putting the country before their own political fortunes.

[FrenchieCat]

2. Correct!

:headbang:

[blm]

10. That's exactly what I see - what good is ANY campaign if the media is misrepresenting

everything you say about the most crucial issues confronting this nation RIGHT NOW!!!

[Clarkie1]

17. That's exactly right. nt

[yellerpup]

13. Now, that's a patriot for ya.

And a man of principle. :patriot: :loveya:

[Colobo]

3. I hope he becomes our next Secretary of State

Under Obama's administration.

[ginnyinWI]

6. how about:

Clark for Sec. of Defense, and Kerry for Sec. of State? Kerry's a born diplomat, and Clark can certainly command troops!

[FrenchieCat]

11. What about the other way round? Clark negotiated the Dayton Peace Accords, and

testified at the Hague.

Clark is a road tested Diplomat...considering that the peace treaty he helped craft is still holding after a decade!

He is also one that called for intervention in Rwanda, has long worked on the Darfur issue, had the right take on what would happen in Iraq, and is currently working hard to promote Iran/U.S. Talks. Further, he was also involved in diplomacy with North Korea under Clinton, along with Bill Richardson.

Also, as the most decorated officer since Eisenhower, He's got two streets named after him in Kosovo....and is very well respected by the world community...including Muslims (as that is what Albanian Kosovars are). Considering his long term known stances and deep historical understanding on Iraq and Iran, he projects "honest" broker through and through....in particular in dealing with Israel.

I think that Wes Clark and his Rhodes scholarship are much more broad than simply sticking him in as Sec. of Def., something he couldn't be eligible for until 2010.

On the other hand John Kerry as Sec. of Defense would restore the fact that he was a great veteran...something that has been marred...and as a long time civilian, it would be more apropos, IMO.

[Bonobo]

20. And no salivating to be POTUS either... only willingness to serve.

[ginnyinWI]

32. oh I thought Clark could be eligible to be sec-def by now.

Yes I agree it would burnish Kerry's national security credentials to be sec-def. How ironic that would be--a former war protester. :)

[k_jerome]

25. he is certainly good at serving his country under great men. nt.

[Eurobabe]

4. When will you announce?

I'm busy working on the policy right now, not the politics. Interesting.

[snowbear]

5. Big Eddie: "When will you make your decision?"

General: "No timeline.."

Dammit!

[wildhorses]

7. it is STILL too early!! patience, my friends patience

all in due time, all in due time

[Adelante]

8. Stop it!

I'll have to :spank:

IRAN IRAN IRAN

[Tom Rinaldo]

9. It's 11 months before the next Presidential Primary

It may only be a few months before the next War.

Yes, focus on Iran. I can't argue with Clark's priority here. Thank god someone is making this a priority.

[David Zephyr]

29. I agree.

Well said!

[phylla]

12. I would trust Wes Clark with my life so

I certainly trust his timing decision.
As usual, Wes puts our Country first.
And himself second.

[Eurobabe]

34. Hey Phylla!

(Seems I can only reach you on DU, my emails don't go through? :( )

And yes, Wes Clark is thinking about our future before any political career. He's got grandsons to worry about now.

Gotta love him!

[Pawel K]

14. I would support him before I would support anyone else

Unfortunately I didn't know much about him in 2003/2004 when he was running. He is an amazing person, I love him!

[jerryme1]

28. Support for Clark

This man would be a great leader.

[roguevalley]

15. he's working against the attack on iran. god bless him.

[PATRICK]

16. He is doing things

presidentially in the great void to offset the horrors done by the anti-President. it is the swiftest course to two things. To show people better service to the nation in crisis and thus propel his candidacy or at least to walk away with the accomplishment of leading the nation out of a crisis without getting "rewarded" with the job title. A true American chooses duty first. People tempering their duty with political calculation meant more to insure "winning" the job title neither assure the electorate nor provide the actual leadership. In Profiles in Courage there are just a few examples of those shrugging off ambition, power pressure and even public support to do the right thing. We need a whole lot more in our day, but not in any fashion a routine political circus show as if nothing can be done for the nation meantime.

Unfortunately, becoming a candidate too often means being retracted forcibly from the limelight, not winning a new podium. Nonsense is accented, not real leadership.

[Forkboy]

18. All well and good,but c'mon

I mean really people.Do you like being jerked around like this?

Nevermind...I already know the answer.

[Bonobo]

22. He's jerking us around by not running a 2 year campaign on our tax dollar?

Hillary and Obama should be WORKING FULL TIME for us. Not working full time for their next job 2 years from now.

Do you like being jerked around like that? ...Nevermind, it's obvious you believe it is a foregone conclusion that pols should do that.

However, Clark is NOT supposed to be serving as a duly elected member of the senate and has no responsibility to the US people and yet he is doing more to serve them than our own senators...

Some people can't be satisfied. Go figure.

[Forkboy]

23. So sensitive

Hillary and Obama should be WORKING FULL TIME for us. Not working full time for their next job 2 years from now.

I actually kind of agree with that,though expecting candidates to not campiagn seems kind of unrealistic,no?

Do you like being jerked around like that? ...Nevermind, it's obvious you believe it is a foregone conclusion that pols should do that.

Assumes evidence never presented.

However, Clark is NOT supposed to be serving as a duly elected member of the senate and has no responsibility to the US people and yet he is doing more to serve them than our own senators...

He also has the freedom to actually announce or not.By waiting he jerks around those like you who want him to run,and those like my father who like him a lot but don't want to donate to someone who isn't going to run.

Some people can't be satisfied. Go figure.

Is there a single reason you can think of why we should be satisfied with things right now?

[Bonobo]

24. Glad you agree with the main point.

>I actually kind of agree with that,though expecting candidates to not campiagn seems kind of unrealistic,no?

First, there has to be a public outcry for election reform. It's certainly not going to change as long as we all accept it as business as usual. Saying it is unrealistic is part of the problem.

As for the rest of your post, sorry I seemed sensitive.

[Forkboy]

30. The public outcry goes unheard,sadly

No apologies necessary.It's politics and I wear a cup! :)

[LittleClarkie]

36. I actually admire him for being more concerned with the country than his ambitions

Same reason I admire Kerry decision not to run, and for putting together a "set a deadline" campaign.

[NV1962]

19. Yup - important things, like: avoiding another endless war with Iran

Run Wes, RUN!!! :yourock:

[Superman Returns]

21. another one with loyal followers

whose not gonna run.

[Eurobabe]

35. Don't be so sure about that...

BTW, what's your point? Many of us like Obama, so don't come on our thread and dump piles.

[w4rma]

26. He sounds like Gore. They'd make a great team. (nt)

[snowbear]

27. Didn't Bill Clinton enter the race sometime in the autumn?

Are we buying into the media's hype about when candidates should announce?

For all we know.. General Clark has a date in mind?

[jen4clark]

31. For all we know about Corpress

why so many of us buy into their hype and bullchit is beyond me. General Clark learned many lessons from his last run. He will not make mistakes again. It is not too late. Corpress SUCKS.

I bet anything, one lesson he learned is NOT to talk about stopping media consolidation, until AFTER he's President.

[vikegirl]

33. larissa.....

[JI7]

37. that was only the official announcement i believe

but it was clear he was running long before then.

[Leilani]

38. I trust Wes Clark to do the right thing.

I certainly hope he gets in the race.

If not, I believe it will be for a very good reason.