Draft Clark for VP. Lets get this show on the road!

[Quixote1818]

A friend just sent this e-mail to me:

We need to start a movement to draft Clark for VP. It is the only way to get Bush out of office. Why? Because the strategy against Kerry is already emerging: He will be painted as a man who came back from Vietnam loathing the military, squeamish about using military force, and a man who sold out his fellow veterans by accusing them of war crimes. He will be portrayed as a wacko peacenik who befriended Jane Fonda. The only way to counter this will be to have Clark, a career military man, as VP. This is the only way to knock Bush and Rove off their game.

To those who think Kerry's war hero status will insulate him from defeat, two words: Max Cleland.

It's time to move forward and defeat Bush. Kerry/Edwards won't do it. Edwards cannot guarantee a single state for the ticket. The south just won't vote for a northeastern liberal. I know. I live here. Clark, however, can put several western states in play: Arkansas, Arizona, New Mexico. He can shore up California.

Clark as VP wil take the national security issue off the table. And without that, what has Bush got to run on? We need to make these arguments NOW, before Edwards is anointed as VP.

[Adelante]

1. Isn't that for the candidate to decide? nt

[Quixote1818]

2. Of course it is but we still can try to influence the decision

[Leilani]

5. Last night during Kerry's victory speech

he gave his web address, & said he wanted ideas & input from people for his campaign. I think he was trying a populist approach.

Therefore, I don't see anything wrong with making suggestions; he said he wanted that.

I don't think Clark will be Veep selection, but if it helps people feel involved in the process, it can't hurt.

[cryofan]

32. an internet poll by Kerry to let public choose the VP?!

An EXCELLENT idea! Very mediagenic. That would attract even more media attention to the Dems. And it could be cheap, being run on the Net. This could help boost the Dem ticket between now and the convention....

[Adelante]

52. No, it can't hurt

Especially if he's provided a form on his website. I'm not saying don't go for it. Just I doubt a VP will be selected until the nomination is won and it will involve a lot of balancing issues. I'd prefer Wes as Secretary of State more than anything.

[GreenArrow]

54. it could hurt

consider the support that Dean had/has among the online community. It didn't translate very well into votes, and if the internet using public selected a seemingly likely candidate, there is no garuntee that excitement for that candidate wouldn't carry over to the voting public at large.

And what's to prevent Repbulicans from go to the web-site and making a sleection for weaker candidates.

IMO, Clark is already selected.

[quinnox]

3. Go for it!

As a Kerry supporter, I think Clark would make a great VP.

[Crunchy Frog]

4. I'm with you

It would make me alot more enthusiastic about supporting Kerry, if only Wes doesn't feel too burned by the experience of running for pres that he would turn it down. I believe that he genuinely likes and respects Kerry and probably prefers him for the nomination.

The best thing is that the media wouldn't be able to ignore him and marginalize him anymore if he was officially on the ticket. People would actually get a chance to hear what he has to say.

Got I hope he would do it, and I hope that Kerry would ask. That would truly be a strong ticket.

[mmonk]

6. It will help

against the Vietnam vets the repubs are going to cart out and make commercials with talking about how bad it felt for Kerry to be out protesting.

[funky_bug]

7. My husband used the phrase

War chest full of medals. I'm not too keen on Kerry, that's for sure... and I wasn't sure Kerry would consider Clark, given their bit of tit-for-tat, and Kerry's military credentials...

BUT my husband reminded me that thanks to Moore, military credentials are going to be an up-front issue this election. Kerry and Clark and their chest full of medals would be very strong against Bush and "got better things to do" Cheney.

Aside from that, Clark could soften Kerry's "oops I voted for IWR" position, and (bonus for me today) buy Edwards a ticket back to NC.

That being said, it's not our decision. We can't draft him, I'm sorry to say. It's up to the eventual nominee.

[PatGund]

49. From your lips.....

....to what ever God or Gods you hold dear. Let it be so! (and I'll even chip in on the bus ticket for Edwards)

[Toronto Ron]

8. I think Sec'y of State makes more sense for Clark

unless it's made clear that Clark's responsibilities as VP would be substantial, specializing in National Security, etc.

[Adelante]

48. Absolutely agree nt

[worldgonekrazy]

9. I believe Edwards is the better pick

We can agree that it needs to be a southerner, so that leaves three obvious choices: Edwards, Clark, and Graham. I think Edwards has the edge because he has shown to be second to Kerry in the primaries (at least thus far).

Why Edwards? Because he is personable and charismatic. Kerry comes across as somewhat dull and boring, so it would be good to have a really likable guy like Edwards as his second hand man. Imagine if Gore had had somebody like Edwards as his running mate...the whole "he is boring" thing would not have mattered nearly as much, IMO.

As for Clark, we don't need a total military ticket, nor do I want one. Yes Cleeland was beat in 2002, but that was a VERY different time. Bush was considered Mr. Popular at the time and the people of Georgia bought it hook, line, and sinker. But now Bush is all but gone...I don't foresee anything bringing back his fake popularity that he enjoyed for a while after 9/11. The war in Iraq didn't help him much, nor did the SOTU or even Saddam Hussein's capture.

Kerry/Edwards in '04.

[Quixote1818]

11. Edwards dosent shore up Kerry's weakness and this isn't a popularity

contest. Plus Kerry won't want Edwards to over shadow him with is charisma. A Kerry/Clark ticket will have stars and stripes written all over it!

[worldgonekrazy]

23. A few points

1. Yes, it is a popularity contest. Why do you think Al Gore came so close to losing even though he was following Clinton, who only gave this country 8 of the best years it has ever had? The answer: because Gore was boring and Bush "seemed like one of us." Absolutely ridiculous, I know, but still true.

2. I don't want a full on military ticket. This would only reinforce the notion of the United States as a police/national security state. I don't want to turn Presidential elections into a matter of "who can kick more ass".

[Quixote1818]

43. Kick more Ass? Clark was a Dove and against the War. You don't seem

to know much about EVERYTHING Clark was about. He is not just a military man. Much, much, much more. I never even thought about him as a military man.

[bowens43]

24. We don't need the stars and stripes to be written

all over our ticket. You should have learned that from Clark's experience in the primaries.

[Quixote1818]

42. The Far left doesn't appreciate Clark's military experience but

the rest of the country does. Most people are drawn to people of honor who dedicate there lives to protecting there country and worry about themselves last. I am disappointed in the Far lefts attitude about military people. It's getting real old.

[mmonk]

13. Would you prefer a one on one debate between

Clark and Cheney or Edwards and Cheney? Think about it.

[Quixote1818]

16. Clark would be better against Cheney but no one watches the VP

debate anyway.

[worldgonekrazy]

26. Edwards vs. Cheney

But I'll admit that Clark wound do a fine job as well.

However, imagine this: Cheney up there with his insane maniac look versus Edwards and his charismatic appeal. It would only serve to further highlight how truly scary Cheney is. Image matters in U.S. politics, more than it should.

[West Coast Democrat]

36. Edwards can't even guarantee us a win in N. Carolina

but Clark can guarantee us a win in Arkansas, and he'd be a great help in delivering New Mexico, Arizona and perhaps Florida.

[bowens43]

38. Clark can not guarantee a win in Arkansas or anywhere else.

There are no guarantees.

[West Coast Democrat]

44. Clark has great favorability ratings in Arkansas

Edwards' approval ratings in N. Carolina have been mediocre for the past few years

[SEAburb]

45. Edwards is a pillow fighter just like Lieberman was in '00

In fact Joe has shown more fight during the nomination battle than Edwards.

[hippiegranny]

10. i could get behind that

i really like clark and think his being southern could be a big asset. however, would the ticket then be too militarily weighted for some?

[Quixote1818]

14. We are at War and Kerry is a Senator not a military man.

[bowens43]

29. We are not war.

We are conducting a military occupation of a much poorer and weaker nation. The United Staes did not declare war against Iraq. We do not need a general in a leadership position in our civilian government. Clark's campaign proved that we don't need or want a military man running our goverment.

[Quixote1818]

39. Terrorists want to kill us and you are telling me we are not at war?

Look, as Michael Moore said we were given a gift with General Clark and the Far left wing of the party threw this gift away. NICE JOB! However, most of the people in the middle and the Right appreciate a person who dedicated his life to protecting his country. We recognize a person of honor and sincerity even when too many Democrats can't. That's a real problem for our party and General Clark has done wonders to shore up our image and no one should ever forget that!!!

[knight_of_the_star]

12. We have to WIN!

Let's do everything we can to influence John Kerry to pick Wes as his VP! If Wes is anywhere on the ticket I will bet money that Rove will be shaking in his shoes.

[robbedvoter]

15. Nah. Not democrat enough for them.

Me neither - so I vote Clark.

[Nashyra]

18. OK lets go

that's the only thing that will get me in Kerry's camp. Can we use the term "Clark's Army" we were a force to reckon with and we could bring alot of hands and money to the general election. I missed Kerry's e-mail. I will pledge my support, effort and money when Kerry picks Clark as his Vp

[ecstatic]

17. i'm a little confused

Please don't take this offensively, but Clark was not that popular as a candidate, so how exactly can he help Kerry?

[Quixote1818]

19. Clark was the front runner when he first got in and he transends party

lines. Most of Clark's support was in tiny rural towns that usually vote Republican. Clark apeals to country, down home, conservative Reagan Democrats.

[Nashyra]

21. He was popular as a candidate

he was highly ignored by the press and if Kerry picks him up as his running mate there is no way that the press can ignore his credentials, Clark has a tremendous amount to offer this country and brings a tremendous amount of clout to foreign policy. 55 Diplomats from former administrations endorsed him but you never heard that on the news. There is alot about Clark that never saw the lite of day and not because of a lack of effort.

[bowens43]

20. Clark's numbers in the primaries

show that he has very little support. It would make no sense to choose Clark as VP. Clark would however be a good choice for a cabinet position.

[knight_of_the_star]

25. Clark's numbers in the primaries

Were due to the fact that the media either

a.) smear him or

b.) ignored him

[bowens43]

35. Nonsense.

Clark's numbers were low because he has no relevant experience, he lacks Democratic credentials, he had no viable policies and the people by and large are hesitant to turn over the government to a career military man. You can blame the media all you like but it was Clark who defeated Clark. He spent way too much time with the soldier rhetoric and way too little time explaining how he was going to get his pie-in-the-shy policies through a republican controlled congress.

[Quixote1818]

41. It's obvious you never took any time to really look at Clark because

you have no idea what Clark was about. No idea!

[prodigal_green]

27. One word--independents

Clark may not have appealed to registered Democrats (or they didn't see him as electable) in large enough numbers, but I think he's the answer to the NASCAR Dad question (if we believe that is a voting bloc). The tone and tenor of his campaign vs. Kerry was a lot less acrimonious than Reagan and Bush the Elder (anybody remember voodoo economics?)

I would love to see this pairing!

[ecstatic]

30. Also, many voters don't know or care who the VP is

I'm embarassed to admit that some members of my family do not know who the Vice President is! I saw some skits in the past that show that there are other Americans just as clueless! Based on that info, it seems that the frontrunner is much more important than the VP; I think Kerry could choose virtually anybody (except for the likes of Joe Lieberman) and still get elected.

[Quixote1818]

34. I am not willing to take that chance. Even if Clark brings in an extra

2 or 3% that's all that will seperate the winner from the looser in November. VP is extremely important! Extremely when elections are close.

[Quixote1818]

37. You can't tell me that people didn't vote for Bush knowing Cheaney was

on the ticket. Cheaney wone the election for Bush and Clark cand certanly help Kerry.

[Quixote1818]

33. You mean first in OK, second in NM, AZ, ND.

Clark had plenty of support and if Kerry had not taken off Clark would have had all of Kerry's support. To say Clark had very little support is just flat out wrong.

[waldenx]

22. Let it go

clark supporters need to wake up, the fantasy is over.

[Quixote1818]

28. We have the freedom to fight for any cause we want to and we will.

[truebrit71]

46. Two words for you...

..and the last one is "off"...:grr:

[PatGund]

51. Two Words

...."Bite Me"

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[heidler]

40. How about Dean/Clark?

By now both candidates might see an advantage where as before Clark was strongly against it. Clark claimed that only he could offer national security and only as President.

This might revive Dean's chances as well and Dean is not under the campaign spending limit which helps. I would like to see outsiders get elected or at least pull the promises made more in that direction. Both Dean and Clark see the outsider issue as very important.

[Ilsa]

47. There are many, many Conservative Dems

and fiscally conservative Repubs here in TX who refuse to vote for Shrub. Getting Clark on the ticket might actually bring them out to vote to send junior the same message his daddy got in NH in 1992. (at least, I think it was NH that Bush41 lost to Buchanan or someone, right?)

[MAlibdem]

50. Shouldn't tie the hands of the nominee

Whoever that may be ;)

[poskonig]

53. contradiction

If being a decorated war veteran won't prevent Kerry from going down in flames, I don't see how adding a decorated war veteran helps.

I do agree that having two war dudes on the ticket would be bad-ass. Kerry-Clark or Kerry-Cleland would be pretty much unstoppable, though it looks like Kerry-Edwards right now.

[knight_of_the_star]

55. Anyone who wants to do what is suggested in this thread

Go to the link in mine and sign up!