Thank You from Wes Clark

[Adelante]

Dear Friends,

Today, we end the campaign for the presidency. But the campaign for America's future -- for the future of all our families -- continues on.

You have proven what a General can do when he has the greatest troops in the world. I can't tell you enough how honored and humbled I am by your commitment, your spirit, and your sacrifice. Because of all of you, this has been a cause, as much as it's been a campaign.

Together, five months ago, we began our journey for the presidency. We had no money, no office and no staff. All we had was hope and a vision for a better America.

Today, after traveling the country, after visiting with the American people, we end that journey even more full of hope and even more committed to building a better America.

I will support our Party's nominee, to continue this campaign until we take back the White House next November. This soldier stands ready for duty. It's not going to be easy. So I've got one bit of advice for our nominee: give 'em hell and never retreat.

As a general who spent thirty-four years fighting for my country, here is my pledge: I will do everything I can - everything - to make sure George W. Bush doesn't play politics with national security.

For me, this race has been one of the most liberating experiences of my life. I've been able to talk about what I believe in and fight for it. You've given me the greatest gift a person can receive: the support to make that fight real.

I'd like to thank all the foot soldiers in this battle: our terrific staff, our dedicated volunteers, our thousands of loyal supporters. Most of all, those who believed in me long before anyone even knew who I was: the people who drafted me into this race.

I want to thank my family for always standing by my side, especially my wife of 36 years, my best friend, and my partner, Gert Clark. She is the general's general, and I wouldn't be here today without her. I'd like to thank my son, Wes, Jr., and my daughter-in-law, Astrid. I am so proud of them and so proud of all they have done for this campaign.

I'm going to fight on, and I hope you will join me, until we win the campaign to create a new vision for America in the twenty-first century. Because I believe America's best days lie ahead. Today, I end my campaign for the presidency - but our party's campaign to change America is just beginning. This old soldier will not fade away. I'll be in the field and out in front, working the issues, supporting our candidates, and doing all I can to contribute to building a new and better America.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

This was on the Clark '04 site. :cry:

[Maddy McCall]

1. I haven't shed a tear through this whole thing...

until I read this. Tears of joy that he is now free to be who he wants to be--a TRUE DEMOCRAT. He has always been a great American.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. I so admire this man.

Coming of age with Kennedy assassinations, and Nixon, and the false front fake universe broadcast daily, it is so easy to be a cynic. And then, if you are graced, you find someone like Wes Clark, and then you can believe again.

[Leilani]

5. Beautifully said!

You always say what I feel, but I don't have your way with words.

[Adelante]

16. We are so fortunate

Blessed, really.

[mmonk]

3. tough, isn't it?

[dogman]

4. A Higher Standard of Leadership!

A man for all reasons.

[childslibrarian]

6. Thank you for posting this

I am so proud of Clark and his campaign...

[DancingBear]

7. Just received this as an email

This man is no longer in contention for the Presidency, while two minor leaguers who toed the party line still are.

Congratulations, America. The dumbing down is complete - vote now for a) war stories or b) I'll fight for you (and 1/3 of the settlement).

I fear for us. I truly do.

[Maddy McCall]

8. I just received it too.

[madmax]

11. Thanks Dancing Bear

I done did it ;) doh!

[Adelante]

17. Yayyyyy

Good for you! :D

[truebrit71]

15. I absolutely could not agree more...

The ONLY shot the Dems had at independents and swing/moderate republicans just withdrew from the race...

The ONLY way that Kerry wins in November is if Clark is on the ticket...

[boxster]

18. Thanks, DB.

Wow, and I thought that *I* was cynical! Hehe. I hear ya.

Your comment:

"b) I'll fight for you (and 1/3 of the settlement)"

made me laugh out loud.

Thank you for a small moment of cheer on a sad day.

[Adelante]

9. It just came in my email, too

I wish he would set something up for us. Keep his site and turn it into a national service sort of thing for his followers. I know I will choose a candidate to support fairly soon, but I would still like to be connected to this good man and all his good works.

[madmax]

24. Sniff, sniff - got one to too,

addressed to me and my hubby. He's as upset about Wes as we are. He heard Clark speaking on CNN as a Military Analyst and he said, "NOW, THAT GUY, should run for President".

[madmax]

10. Kerry better bring Clark into his administration

if he has any sense. If he's the nominee.

[Bread and Circus]

12. He's a wonderful man and I am proud to have been a part of the...

Draft Clark movement.

I started the official website for Clark in a major
state as well as its yahoo group, with over 200 members.

Everything we've done has been from the heart.

I am glad he gets to rest now. He deserves it.

[lastknowngood]

13. The General is a class act

let none of us go quietly into the night.

[boxster]

14. Argh...

I'm surprised at how upset I am about his departure from the race. I've always been a political junkie, but Wesley Clark inspired me, and I've been more involved in this race than any other in my lifetime. It all ended much too quickly.

Five short months. Amazing what he was able to do to us, and for us, in that short period of time. Most of America may never know what opportunity was missed by dismissing the General. I hope that they have another chance to see him the way we have.

[grisvador]

19. No General

It is YOU who have our appreciation. It is YOU who have restored lost hope and a dream of a better future to us.

We followed - YOU Led

Keep leading and we who have renewed hope will follow.

[Adelante]

25. Oh, God

:cry:

[democratreformed]

20. My daughter and I were interviewed by a reporter on the way out

One of the questions we were asked is if we would do all this again. We both said definitely! He also asked if we would stay involved. I told him that I don't think a person can go back to being uninformed after becoming active in a campaign such as this. He asked how Wes seemed while we spoke with him. He asked if he seemed as upset as we obviously were. He suggested that maybe it was harder on the supporters than the candidate. We told him Gert seemed a little more sad than Wes. I told him that Wes knows more about what is really going on that we do, so maybe that is why he seemed positive and upbeat about the future. My daughter told me later that she saw him tear up once and step behind the curtain (which I missed) but that she wasn't about to let that reporter delight in his sadness. Truly, though, I never saw it. He just seemed like Wes - determined to stay positive and FIGHT.

[Adelante]

23. That's wonderful

I want the whole world to know!!

[BootinUp]

21. I can't read it, I am waiting for the speech on CSPAN

Got me a double scotch on the rocks too. I know when I watch the speech I am going to be very upset.

[maddezmom]

22. just got mine in my email

too sad for words.:cry:

[Lurking Dem]

26. I read this in my email

right before I logged on here and got all sniffly.

I'm trying not to tear because I have mascara on.

Ah....HELL.....

[MrSlayer]

27. I wrote him back. Any chance he reads that stuff?

I sure hope so. I offered my undying support for any endeavor he may choose.

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. I can't tell you how much

I love that man. :cry: More than I could ever put into words.

We had the PLEASURE of spending some time with him in Tennessee the last 4 days and I feel so honored and blessed to have done so. He is a wonderful man. I miss him already. :(

I even had the pleasure of spending about a half an hour just chit- chatting with Wes Jr. while we both smoked a few cigarettes outside at the Tennessee Democratic National Convention on Saturday night. ;) The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. They are "real" people. They are kindhearted souls. *sigh*

[janx]

29. The greatest beauty of this speech:

"You have proven what a General can do when he has the greatest troops in the world. I can't tell you enough how honored and humbled I am by your commitment, your spirit, and your sacrifice. Because of all of you, this has been a cause, as much as it's been a campaign."


Generals are normally used to giving orders and dealing with governance from the top down.

This man is HUMBLED by his supporters' commitment, spirit, and sacrifice. His candidacy started out, at least, as a grassroots movement, from the *bottom up*!

That's unbelievably beautiful.

Cheers to all of you guys, and to Wes Clark! :toast:

[GOPBasher]

30. What an incredible man.

I'm so depressed that he's out of the race. :cry:

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[Mz Pip]

32. I do not regret

for a moment the time, effort and money I put towards his campaign.

Wes Clark is a class act and it is sad that people focused on conspiracy theories and rehashed untruths to bring him down. If the media called Bush on 1/3 the nonsense they used on Clark we would have Gore in the White House today.

I'm done for now. I will support the nominee but until then the candidates can toss insults at each other and destroy the party from the inside.

Sad to say that the newest Dem turned out to be the classiest one. I hope Wes stays invoved to remind us of what we can do and where we can go as a country.

MzPip
:dem: