Something Gen. Clark said to Aaron Brown tonight

[PlanetBev]

led me to believe he is now open to being VP. Aaron Brown asked him if he would consider being the Veep, and the General said that "it's a little too early to think about that". Aaron Brown said, "no, General, it's not too early". I think Clark would go for it, but if Kerry becomes the nominee, would his ego allow him to pick Wes Clark as VP? I'm not putting down Kerry, I just think that Clark has quite a following and would Kerry mind that...

[Bucky]

1. DUers have said Kerry's ego won't allow him to pick Clark or Edwards as VP

But dammit we know he's gonna pick somebody. I don't get this line about him being too snotty to pick a VP who can do a great job running against Cheney-Bush. I'm not a huge Kerry fan, but let's give the guy the benefit of the doubt.

[eileen_d]

3. Were these DUers people who hate "all things Kerry"?

I think either Edwards or Clark would be a great VP choice, and I don't see what Kerry's ego has to do with it. :shrug:

I have nothing but respect for General Clark, and hope he serves in some capacity in the next Democratic administration (i.e. next year!)

[Robb]

13. To be fair, I think Dean's ego is too big for this move also

...although Clark would be such an asset to Dean, I would expect his staff to really be pushing the idea. Unfortunately, for the move to have any weight, they'd have to announce it before Wisconsin, and I don't see that happening.

[eileen_d]

24. I think if a certain ticket becomes politically expedient

none of the candidates' egos will get in the way. That includes Kerry, Dean, et. al.

I also really don't think anything VP-related will be set in stone until a nominee is chosen.

[juajen]

2. Actually, this is easily solved.

If both Kerry and Clark were agreeable, Kerry could simply say, "Well, I always wanted to command a General!" However, as a Clark supporter, I haven't thought that far ahead and will not give my permission to the General to do this yet. LOL

[incapsulated]

4. "Well, I always wanted to command a General"

And, BAM, you've summed up quite nicely why this Clark supporter is against this idea.

It's up to him in the end, of course. I will respect anything he decided to do in that regard. (pleaassee don't!!) ;)

[maddezmom]

5. only time will tell :)

[TreasonousBastard]

6. Well...

Presidential candidates have never been all that big on picking their competitors in the primaries as running mates.

It would be nice to see the trend change, and a great way to keep Clark in the public eye. And public service.

[Turkw]

7. I really hope he doesn't, if the Democratic party doesn't want him as

president, then I think the best way for Clark to help this country is to change the Democratic party. If Kerry is so good, he does not need Clark's experience, leadership, and international prestige. Let Kerry take Kennedy, or Jeane Shahene (sp?).

On a more practical note, Kerry is going to have so much trouble with the Republican congress, he would do better to have someone from congress who is well respected there and a seasoned infighter. Graham, or one of the other senators who are not going to run, especially if from a swing state would be a better choice.

And I really do think the party needs to change. I am going to switch my affiliation to independent as a protest to the way the media has, once again, interfered with an election.

[dusty64]

8. He would make

an excellent Vice President. I hope when the nominee is chosen that they quickly pick a VP candidate and start hammering the regime. Why wait till August, no one but political junkies watch the conventions anyhow. I imagine rove will be trying to keep crashcart under wraps and it would show a stark contrast between hope and fear.

[mikehiggins]

9. Clark may be willing, but why should Kerry bother?

Unless someone comes up with a picture of Kerry eating a small boy alive the Senator will most likely get all the ABB votes anyway. What else would Clark bring to the table?

He was never a politician (could barely be considered one now), is almost a total newcomer to the party, has no visible base of support AND is demonstrably superior to Kerry in a great many ways.

Even Bayh, Gov. Richardson, any number of other Democrats come to mind as likely VP possibilities before Wes' name even bobs to the surface.

The only way Clark has a shot at the job is if his supporters cohese into an ongoing movement in support of the Higher Standard of Leadership that he advocated during his run. Holding our elected leaders to that standard would be a legitimate binding thread to bring all the diverse Clark support groups together under one umbrella and make them/us a formidible political force this year in this campaign.

Wait, and we will wait forever. This is the best chance we will ever have to make Clark's influence in the Party real and lasting.

[GiovanniC]

10. What Would Clark Bring to the Table?

How about Independents and moderate Republicans? People from the heartland who may not feel that a New Englander shares their values. People who think that Clark's foreign policy experience and relationships with other governments, particularly in Europe, will be of benefit (also relevant for a Sec of State role). People who feel that Wesley Clark is more inspiring and tougher on Bush than Kerry. I don't think many people can deny that Clark has done a phenomenal job of hammering Bush (think: AWOL story, which Clark, Jennings, and Moore brought into the spotlight after four years in the shadows).

[spooky3]

14. I wish DUers would give up consideration of Bayh.

Women and men who are concerned with abortion rights are not going to like his record, and there are more than a few around. He is not going to deliver Indiana to the blue state column because it is never there. Ohio will not care whether the VP is from Indiana, so it would not deliver Buckeye votes either.

[Renew Deal]

11. I noticed that.

And I think Clark would do it. I don't think there would be an issue.

[Zolok]

12. Something in today's Boston globe suggests

that Clark might yet be considered for the veep slot.
Apparently Kerry's "aides" are unimpressed with Edwards' vote-getting ability in Dixie...meanwhile Edwards' high command thinks if Kerry is dfefeated this year they can rise from the ashes in 2008 win the whole game.
We'll be reading stuff like that all summer long so get used to it.
All I wanna do is collect an enraged mob to surround the Vice Presidential Mansion the night after we win to chant "GET OUT OF JOHN EDWARDS' HOUSE...or Wes Clark, or Bill Richardson, or Bob Graham, or Diane Feinstein, or Earle K. Long....whoever...
:)

www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com

[Snivi Yllom]

15. I thought Clark was on the record saying NO WAY?

Does anyone have credibility any more?
Tell me I'm wrong or Aaron Brown is full of shit.

[abburdlen]

17. I'll google but

I recall he said no to being Dean's VP

[abburdlen]

19. Then again...

"I'm running to be the president of the United States, not the vice president, and I will not accept that nomination," Clark said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

[Adelante]

16. I hope Clark doesn't want VP

He could accomplish so much more as Secretary of State. We need a solid legislator as VP.

[wadestock]

18. Not the first choice for VP....

Yes I saw that program and the comment you mention.
Clark would make a great VP but it's a low probability. Gephardt was the first ex-candidate to endorse Kerry, so he could be the first choice for VP....possibly followed by Edwards.

Edwards is probably the most intelligent choice if it comes to that...considering the southern potential and the positive overall feelings he brings to the party.

Clark may get a nod as secretary of defense.

But the most interesting comment I keyed in on was when he talked about being sick for 5 days and how this took him out of IOWA.

He also mentioned how many people had been talking about the town hall meeting in NH that was considered the best of all time.

I agree...it was that meeting which put me over the edge in terms of support for Clark.

He had clearly surpassed Dean or anyone in terms of quality of message in my opinion. His was pure and to the point of why we should be PROUD to be democrats. I see this as the only true way to counter the Limbaugh Reaganite Liberal bashing that has taken root for the last 20 years.

It included:
a. A heartful explanation of how democrats LIVE their religion. (we HELP people...a very effective way to counter the psycho religious ideals of the right)
b. We will ASK for those with incomes over 1M to contribute (a better approach than saying we will REPEAL tax cuts which comes back to the overall bad rep of dems being for higher taxes. This was the most palitable form of discussing the tax issue I heard.
c. Most clear on the Iraq war. He was the only one I would have confidence that could end it as soon as possible.

If Kerry was to co-op part of his message, he would be much better off than with his "bring it on" current campaign. Don't get me wrong, Kerry has improved in a number of respects, but he couldn't match Clark in terms of true appeal of message. The other problem with Kerry being inflated about his war record is that this cannot be used as an offensive tactic because it will backfire. Such a positive attribute has to be completely left alone and downplayed on his part....and allowed to be appreciated by the voter privately.

[Nashyra]

20. I got the same impression

He did not say no, he said he would do anything ANYTHING the party asked, and he like the poster said it was too early. John Edwards said the same thing about not being veep. Clark could have stayed in but he dropped out for the "good of the party" sounds to me like he is a team player. What could bring, the south, independent, swing, moderate voters, and don't forget he has forgotten more national security than * ever knew, foreign policy rxperience. The list goes on

[Cheswick2.0]

21. VP is not important on a ticket

Clark doesn't need to think about this now.

[kodi]

22. does kerry want help for the election or after it from a vp?

frankly it is rare that the vp helps much to elect a president.

go back to johnson as vp for kennedy for such a value.

but if kerry wants help AFTER he becomes president, then the best choice is gephardt, since gephardt knows so much about the washington culture and with his 25 plus years in congress knows where all the bodies are and can work more effectively with an expected republican congress than other potential choices for vp.

holding the white house is essentially meaningless unless a president's programs can pass congress, and this includes federal and scotus appointments. so if kerry wants truly to be successful in the implementation of his political agenda, he best find a vp who can help him in this matter. neither clark nor edwards can do this as well as gephardt can.

one can question such a choice as "politics as usual" and normally i would side with remarks howard dean has made to this affect, but considering the current state of affairs in washington, the democrats will have their policy initiatives best served by being able to play ball in congress to roll back what the busheviks have done these past few years.

[Adelante]

23. Exactly

Gephardt or Graham for VP makes much more sense for all of those reasons.

[celticartemis]

25. Clark might go for it, but

I don't think Kerry will. His ego wouldn't let him. Clark is so much the better person than Kerry, it would be too much competition. I want to see Clark in the position with the most influence on the government - is that really the VP position, or could Sec of State be as influential? We REALLY need to fix our international relations after the Texas gunslinger has destroyed them!