Clark is the ONLY Candidate Likely to be V.P.: He's One of The Brothers!

[WiseMen]

The media keeps boosting Edwards for reasons I don’t understand.

It is now time to stop any talk of Edwards as a better V.P. choice than Clark? I don’t see how Edward’s readiness for the role of Head-Of-State and Commander-In-Chief compares with Wes Clark’s, and for the same reason that Clark could not endorse Edwards, Kerry is unlikely to consider him for V.P.

Clark has diplomatic experience. Clark’s major posts as Commander in Chief of the United States Southern Command and then as Nato Supreme Allied Commander were essentially senior diplomatic positions negotiating and implementing U.S. foreign policy objectives.

Clark has Policy Experience. Clark’s stints at Washington assignments (White House Fellow and as Special Assistant at OMB) as well as his stints in economics and Wall Street finance should provide him with some grasp of domestic policy issues.

Of Course, his record of military command is stellar. In Vietnam he left the battlefield severely wounded and received the Silver Star and a Purple Heart. His post-Vietnam awards include numerous medals and commendations including honorary Knighthoods from the British and Dutch governments, commander of the French Legion of Honor. In August 2000, President Clinton awarded General Clark with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

What about John Edwards? As far as I can see his experience is principally as a great liability trial lawyer who amassed a huge fortune ($50 mill) suing huge corporations. He made a ton of money an then decided to use some of it to run for the senate. Now, before completing his 1st term, he decides to run for the presidency.

What is the substantial basis of the Edward’s candidacy? It appears that his success is based mainly on his skills as a litigator – great argumentation, great presentation, great closing arguments.

This is not insignificant. But why he has been compared favorably with Wes Clark most of us in the Kerry camp really can’t understand.

Welcome Wes Clark!

[jmaier]

1. Wise, you're a shameless hustler!

:-) but from your keyboard to Kerry's eyes. I agree that Wes Clark and Kerry seem to have more affinity than Edwards and Kerry. As a Clark supporter, I'm quite biased and think Wes is the better choice.

My instincts are telling me otherwise, though. For some reason, I see Gephardt with Kerry after the convention. I"m not sure why.

[Adelante]

10. Oh you tickle me

:D

[BigBigBear]

2. Nice idea but

Clark would never take it, imv.

[Nashyra]

5. Clark would take it

He has said that he would do "anything, ANYTHING", the party asked him to do to get rid of *.

[bowens43]

3. Clark has no relevant experience.

And the Democratic base have already told us what they think of him. He had a hard time beating Sharpton. Clark's military career is as relevant as lips on a chicken. Selecting Clark his running mate would be a fatal mistake for the Kerry campaign. Clark has said several times that he would not accept the VP slot. Another Clark flip flop in the making? Probably. Clark will do what ever furthers Clark's interests.

[jmaier]

4. bowens

You win gold stars for consistency. LOL

[krkaufman]

37. Agreed. He/she gets me howling nowadays. LOLOLOL n/t

[OKNancy]

6. That was about Dean

He respects Kerry.

[Qutzupalotl]

8. Clark hasn't ruled out being VP for Kerry.

He's only said that national security has to be at the top of the ticket. With Kerry, it is. With Dean, it's not.

[Sensitivity]

12. Competely Agree. His justification for refusing Dean was specific.

If Dean wins he will have to get a different V.P. than Clark.
Clark has definitely written of any role in a Dean admin.

[WiseMen]

9. Wrong. I that why Dean has not won 1 state yet. Clark & Kerry catered to

same voter: those who wanted an experienced candidate. They split
the serious vote.

[mmonk]

28. Supreme Allied Commander

Speaks four languages, registered investment banker, former economics professor, has worked with heads of state, etc. Yeah, no relevant experience, I can see that.:eyes:

[retyred]

38. As of today Clark is still tie in the winning of one primary

a honor only Kerry and Edwards can relate to, that does make him more voter friendly than the rest at this point.

Clark's military credentials along with Kerry's put them head and shoulders above any left standing and after Wisconsin that message will be demonstrated yet once again.

As far as Clark's not wanting to accept a VP slot, that statement was given while a Presidential candidate, it was never made in the context of him not being a candidate, so a decision to the contrary now would not be a flip-flop except to those not offered the position.

I don't see him taking a VP slot but, if he did it would be along the line of doing what's best for the party and the Country. I for one have before and will again support whatever decision Clark makes and will rest assured in the fact that it will be the right choice to make.

At some point it becomes clear to even the most enamored that the voters don't want you and grasping at straws no longer becomes a statement but a journey in deanile.

The best thing now is not to contemplate Kerry's choice for VP, but to contemplate on how to help make Kerry the nominee first.



retyred in fla
“Good-Night Paul, Wherever You Are”
So I read this book

[ShaneGR]

7. We'll see about that

Keep in mind Edwards will be in this through Super Tuesday, boosting his name recognition and standing within the party.

[WiseMen]

39. They Say Teresa like your guy

[Adelante]

11. I've said before, but I'll repeat

Clark is not the best choice Kerry can make for a VP. Gephardt, Graham, any number of solid legislators would be better. Secretary of State is what Clark is made for. Having said this, if it's what Kerry wanted, Clark would run as VP, because he would view it as his duty. Whatever Clark does in a Kerry administration it will be connected to national security and foreign policy, I am sure. Edwards is a great campaigner and I could actually see him as VP before I can see Clark. But, let's face it, it's going to be Kerry's call.

[Dob Bole]

13. You're all wrong! Screw you all!

Dean did win primaries (in Japan and Sweden)

And Edwards does have appeal...macropolitics would give him a shot at Florida, West Virginia, and his home state...a hefty sum of electoral votes.

But Wes Clark is not a bad idea, either. The other very good possibilities are Gephardt and Bill Richardson.

[WiseMen]

25. Congrats on those primaries

[Sensitivity]

14. Sorry! I'm not sure Mr. Kerry thinks he needs other guys now!

[WiseMen]

15. Clark Looked Happier Than Ever! Go General Clark!!!

[polpilot]

34. Mission Accomplished Gen. Clark!...Thanks from the pro-war DLC!!!!

Dean '04...The Anti-Iraq War...Anti-Establishment...Pro-America candidate

[mgarretson]

16. I'm not sure...

about the prospects of Kerry picking General Clark as a running mate. Doing so would provide overwhelming strength on issues of National Security and it would make for a fun VP Debate!

But, until today it seemed quite a bit more likely that Edwards would be the VP choice because he has no where to go if he doesn't win the nomination. He's also the "Boy Charming" lawyer from the South.

I guess I'm saying I love the idea of a Kerry/Clark ticket (I'm an international affairs major at OU), but I'm just not sure that I want to put my money on it.

From Clark Country,
I'm another Clarkie for Kerry!

[Adelante]

17. Welcome to DU, mgarretson

:hi:

[flpoljunkie]

18. Welcome, indeed, mgarretson. We will need all the help we can get to beat

the BFEE and their lackeys--Rove and the hapless, Ed Gillespie, RNC chairman. They have already proven there is nothing they won't do to win an election--just ask John McCain.

[MoonRiver]

20. I don't think it can be Kerry/Edwards for two reasons.

1.) Kerry needs to pick a Washington "outsider". Two Senators on the ticket is a liability that * would definitely capitalize on.
2.) The only possible area of vulnerability for Kerry is national security. Edwards is barely wet behind the ears in that area, and voted wrong on the IWR to boot. Having Pres. and VP candidates who voted wrong on Iraq is another big liability among Independents who opposed the war. A Clark VP would negate all these concerns. Clark has mega experience and credentials on national security, obviously. He also has taken an anti-war, or at least anti-war *'s way, stance from the beginning. In other words, he has no IWR ghost to haunt him.

These are just some of my thoughts as to why I believe Kerry will choose General Clark to be his VP. I also think Clark will accept the offer.

[mikehiggins]

19. And Goodbye, Wes Clark!

Now that he has Clark's endorsement safe in hand you can be absolutely assured that is the last we will hear from the good general in terms of doing anything but holding Kerry's coat.

Forget VP, and forget any substantive role in a Kerry administration.

Clark will find himself the tool of political pros half his age who have no idea how to best utilise a man of his talents. A few encounters or so and Clark will find himself sitting at home watching the campaign on TV, being trotted out once in a while to make an appearance when Kerry has some national defense issue to take up.

It doesn't matter what "agreement" the two men have made about any possible role for Clark in the Kerry campaign, that is how it is going to end up.

Mark this note, come back in six weeks and tell me if I'm wrong.

If I am I'll be happy to admit it but I don't think I'll have to.

[Leilani]

21. I fear that you may be right

Clark is truly an outsider, & I don't know that he will be included in a Kerry administration.

They will probably use Clark on the campaign trail; 4 star General looks impressive.

But Clark was never accepted as a real Dem, & I don't know that will change, & the fact that he's not a Pro is seen as a drawback. He also might say some truthful things that people don't want to hear.

So I'm afraid I share your pessimism about the political future of Wes Clark.

[mikehiggins]

22. Well, actually I'm not really pessimistic, just experienced

in the way these things play out.

Actually, if the Clark supporters hold together, I think Clark has a very bright future, or it might be more accurate to say that America has a good chance at being able to have Clark in its service again.

I don't think there can be any argument with his program that the United States really needs a higher standard of leadership. Well, the only way we're going to get that is to make it happen from the ground up, the exact same way the right wingers took over the GOP from the Rockefeller/Eastern Liberal establishment.

The Wesley Clark Society, Wes Clark's Army, Hlinko's reborn DraftClark movement and dozens of others are springing up from the grassroots now that the thumb of the "pros" has been taken off their backs. Just like Dean touched a sore nerve in a lot of Democrat rank & filers when he stood up and told BushCo to go fuck themselves, so did Clark hit a note that resounded among lots of dissatisfied voters who looked on the candidates chosen for us who were acceptable to the powers that be and said Phooey!

The pros did their best to turn the grassroots into Astroturf but we're still here, and we won't be fooled again.

So, as long as Wes Clark stays true to Wes Clark, he'll always have an army of supporters within the range of a loud yell.

HooYaH!

[Leilani]

24. Thanks for your reply!

I'm still a Clark supporter, regardless of the developments that have taken place. And I'll continue to support Clark through any grass roots organization I can.

I'm not quite as thrilled as others seem to be about the Kerry candidacy. I want Bush out, & will probably vote for Kerry, but my loyalties remain with Clark.

Anyway, it should all be very interesting to watch in these coming months.

[LandOLincoln]

23. Why do you say that, Mike Higgins?

I can't imagine Wes Clark sitting still for that kind of treatment, nor can I see John Kerry expecting that he would.

But I don't think Clark will be Kerry's VP, nor do I think he should be. He'll be his Secretary of State, and I think that will be better for Wes and for us.

[mikehiggins]

27. Just years of experience, Link

You know, there is no mystery to this "political operative" stuff. All it takes is an intense desire to spend your life scrambling from campaign to campaign, networking with your peers, coming up with bright appearing tactics and occasionally, like Trippi, being at the right place at the right time with the right idea.

Otherwise, its all just old math. What you bring to the table determines your seat. If Clark brings thousands of volunteers and the ability to raise millions for the campaign, then he speaks from a position of strength and has to be catered to. If he just brings himself and his nifty resume, he gets to hold Kerry's jacket.

It really is that simple. I'd say more but I'm beginning to think I ought to open up a consulting firm and take some of these candidate's money. Maybe even hire a couple of these "pros" to do the dirty work for me. Like another kind of "pro" they'll usually do just about anything for a buck.

Anyway, if we hang tough and NOT merge into the Kerry Camp, Clark gets listened to. If we disappear, well, you do the math.

I got involved with the Clark campaign because I didn't see any other candidate in a good position to take on Bush. Nothing has changed. We have to keep Clark on the stage. The curtain has yet to come down on the performance.

[WiseMen]

32. Don't have to wait 6 weeks: YOU ARE WRONG.

[Kahuna]

26. I still don't think Kerry will choose Clark. Clark..

can't be handled and says some controversial things. i.e., Bush didn't do all he could to prevent 9/11. I'd love to see Clark on the ticket. But I don't think it will happen.

[dolo amber]

29. I'm just about positive

that I heard/read Clark say he "wasn't interested in the VP spot, he was running for president" (quotes mine). Anyone else remember that? For some reason I seem to remember him saying it to Ol' Potatohead Russert...can't find a link anywhere because I don't remember exactly HOW he said it...:shrug:

[dolo amber]

30. Helloooo....

Is this thing on?

tap tap

;)

[WiseMen]

35. Clark: "I'm not going to be Howard Dean's Dick Cheney"

[dolo amber]

36. Ach...I see

Thanks! :hi:

[DU GrovelBot]

31. ## Support Democratic Underground! ##

RUN C:\GROVELBOT.EXE
 
This week is our first quarter 2004 fund drive.
Please take a moment to donate to DU. Thank you
for your support.
 
- An automated message from the DU GrovelBot

Click here to donate.

[Politicub]

33. Kerry/Clark works for me

because John Edwards is who I want to be our next Attorney General! :bounce:

And since we're talking about my dream team, Carol Mosely Braun as US Ambassador to the UN, and Bill Clinton as Secretary of State (I can dream, can't I?)