Should Dems Now Take Bill's Advice: Kerry/Clark 04

[WiseMen]

Well now it is out. Bill Clinton effort to put together a Kerry/Clark Dream Team was just reported in Mainstream press. Some have known this for a while, but the pundits kept on raising issues with a Kerry/Clark ticket. More often Edwards is pushed, then Graham, Gephardt, Bayh etc.

With Clinton promoting it, is time to focus on Clark, as V.P. 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.

I have previously argued Clark suitability and advantage in the V.P. role.

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.

Bill Clinton is probably the smartest Dem politician around. If he is pushing Clark it is likely not just because he is a fellow Arkansan. Clinton has long admired Clark and owed Clark, big time. Clark carried water for Clinton -- pushing a Bosnia and Kosovo policy that Clinton and Albright wanted but the Pentagon opposed -- yet Clinton let the Pentagon bosses fire him after Clark won the war. But his push for a Kerry/Clark ticket now is likely based on more than his debt to Clark. Bill probably has good information that that is a ticket that will win.

[59millionmorons]

1. It's up to Kerry

He has to do what he thinks is best.

[digno dave]

65. What are the Clintons' true motives?

I agree. How much of JKerry's ear does Clinton have to manupulate?
I have a serious question as to the allegiance the Clinton's have to the party and or nation when put up against their quest to have Hillary in the White House. If Clinton truly wants Kerry to win then Hillary is looking at '12 to run. How old will she be then? She doesn't want to wait that long.
I am very suspicious of the Clintons' motives at this particular time.
Maybe he truly believes Clark would make the best VP candidate. I know the repugs would have a field day with the conspiracy theories if in fact he ends up being the VP.

[laruemtt]

2. as a die-hard clarkie

i could support this ticket! i love 'em all - edwards, kuch, dean, and sharpton - but this ticket can take it home!

[poskonig]

3. Sounds good to me.

Unfortunately, it isn't up to me.

[MrSlayer]

4. I'm for it and have been since Clark dropped.

I think they would crush pResident Cheney and the Chimp frontman. I think it would be great for the party.

[goclark]

8. Kerry /Clark

All the way to the White House!

[mdmc]

5. Bill sure is smart

but he was dumb and horny too.

The veep should be able to help win states. Or should at least carry their home state.

Bill Clinton didn't carry his home state for Gore in 2000.

I like Clark for veep, but Clinton isn't God. Remember, all those Nader voters were pissed at 8 years of drug wars...ect

[diplomats]

14. Gore didn't use Clinton in 2000

That won't be the case this time. BTW, a Kerry-Clark ticket appeals to a lot of people, so even Clinton (if this story is even true) doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. :)

[mdmc]

42. Gore didn't use Clinton in 2000

So, Clinton had no influence over AK?

[R3dD0g]

16. Clinton didn't campaign anywhere in 2000.

For anyone.

He didn't campaign in Arkansas, he didn't even campaign in California, nowhere. If you'll remember after the Dec 2000 coup some here complained that Gore didn't use Clinton.

[WiseMen]

38. I think Clinton can bring most of the party together

[diplomats]

6. Someone mentioned on Tinoire's thread

that this is a N.Y. Post story. It may be true, but I would prefer to see it in some more reputable paper before giving it credence.

[_NorCal_D_]

7. That's an outstanding ticket

that I would be proud to support. B-)

[SHRED]

9. Kerry/Clark

YES!

[SEAburb]

10. I don't believe Clinton is involved in picking VP, yet.

This story smells to me. VP choice will be decided months from now.

[funky_bug]

29. As much as I want to believe this story...

I'll wait to hear it from either horse's mouth. There has been far too much media crap the last few days for me to take it with anything but a grain of salt. Sigh.

Kerry/Clark... what a day that would be for me.

[gyopsy]

11. Clark is the best man for V.P.

Hands down. I'm convinced. And I think he might pick up the votes of some conservative moderates too.

Of course, Edwards isn't too bad either.

[bigwillq]

12. I would so back a Kerry/Clark pairing

I think it would be an excellent team. However, until my candidate drops out officially, I am still voting for Dean in my primary. You always have to keep the faith.

[Taeger]

25. I would back

I would back a REAL Chimp and a Gorilla over Chimpy.

It looks like we will have to choose between Tweedle-Bonez and Tweedle-Dipshit-Motherfucker-Bonez.

[funky_bug]

30. I'm still pulling for your guy too

Once we dreamed of a Dean/Clark or Clark/Dean ticket. My hopes remain that Clark will be there no matter what, but I'm still hoping to see Dean overcome this mess his campaign managers got him into.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Adelante]

21. Right on time

:tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat: :tinfoilhat:

[janx]

15. So, Clark was running for VP after all!

Thanks for finally letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak.

Clark did admit on Charlie Rose the other night that he got in the race because Kerry wasn't getting any traction. And Kerry wasn't getting the traction, initially, because of Dean.

So it makes sense now. It would explain why he got in the race late and also why he dropped out when he did.

Welp, here's to the "Dream Team"! :toast:

I can't wait to watch more military motifs on TV. This should be exciting.


:puke:

[Tweed]

19. Here's something to cheer you up!

With this team, Bush will be out of office. Thank your lucky stars

[janx]

Right!

Oh I am. Make no mistake. I'm thanking my lucky stars.

And I thank God that democracy works, that the people have chosen the fighting men who should go up against Bush.

Really!

:puke:

[funky_bug]

33. The people vote too, don't they? Or is it just the media? eom

[janx]

35. WOAWF, do you know when I am scheduled to vote?

Take a guess.

[funky_bug]

39. Maybe the same as me

Super Tuesday? ... it sucks for me because my guy dropped out... but your guy is still in, so hang tough!

[janx]

45. The dem ticket has essentially been chosen with only 25% of the

primary vote's being cast. This thing has been orchestrated.

That doesn't bother you?

[funky_bug]

31. Oh come now

Whatever Clark's intentions are, he's good for this party.

[janx]

37. Do you know when I am scheduled to vote?

?

[democratreformed]

41. May 18 for me LOL

What a joke my vote is. Someone tried to tell me that a while back and I got aggravated. I just didn't understand the system at the time. I sure have learned quick.

[janx]

53. Well, some of that is going to change.

Check with the Dean movement in the future for updates.

[MilDem]

17. I'd like to see it

I'm in the military, and it would be nice to have my guys be the one's with all the military credentials. I think that ticket would allow the Democrats to make real inroads into the very Republican military vote.

[Tweed]

18. Kerry/Clark 04: My Dream, Rove's Nightmare!

[kaitykaity]

20. I could support Kerry without reservation

if he were to choose Clark for VP.

As it stands now, I'll pull the lever for Kerry but
that's about it.

[gyopsy]

23. That's kind of how I feel

I'll vote for Kerry but I'm just not that enthusiastic about his campaign at the moment. If he could pull a guy like Clark into the fold as his VP, I could see myself voting for him with a lot more vigor.

It's all about unity now.

[Taeger]

22. terms ...

I don't think that Clark would want to go to Washington and be a "typical" Veep with nothing (if anything) to do.

Clark would have to be a Veep AND Secretary of State rolled into one. Clark simply doesn't have the legislative experience to muscle bills through Congress.

Kerry himself, seems to have a hard time getting his bills passed.

I really think he needs someone closer to the legislative side of things.


BTW, I have Clinton buyers remorse. Clinton screwed us on the whole free trade deal. And I'm suspicious (rightfully so) that Kerry will do the same.

I don't want ANY ticket that Clinton wants. I think it's time for the party to turn it's back on Clinton.

[genius]

24. It's a good ticket but Kerry-Edwards or Kerry-Kucinich are better.

Kerry and Edwards would unite the environmental and labor communities, norh and south. Kerry-Kucinich would unite the Democratic Party and destroy Nader.

[revcarol]

26. No.

Only my vote counts. Endorsements, machinations behind the scenes to get a DLC team, don't count.

Bill Clinton can take a flying leap over the nearest pile of manure.

the primaries aren't over.

[Adelante]

27. Right ticket to me

But I would respect John Kerry's choice -- he's the one who has to balance fifty million reasons on the head of a pin. Kerry has promised Wes a national security spotlight as he speaks out on everything else he wants to say, and I am thankful for it.

[DeepModem Mom]

28. Dem war heroes vs. Repub Iraq chickenhawks....

Bring this ticket on! Kerry can stand above the fray, while Clark attacks, like he did on that cathartic Fox News audio. I truly believe that Clark got into the race to bring the Bush cabal down, and restore our country. (See my sig line.) My wish is for all of our other candidates to be out there, too, Edwards talking about the two Americas, and Dean, who's already earned a place in the history books, telling it like it is, Gep talking to the unions, maybe even Lieberman on board, all of them crisscrossing the country, taking it back, voter by voter.

[anti-NAFTA]

32. NO NO NO. It would look like a cheap attempt

to play the patriotic card by having two military heroes. It would be overkill and would piss a lot of people off.

[funky_bug]

34. IMHO That's the card that wins the hand

Bush has tried to take patriotism away from anyone who doesn't support him. It's time we took it back, in spades.

[anti-NAFTA]

48. it won't work

it'll look like we're trying too hard. it'll look pathetic.

[poskonig]

44. Two heros are better than two crooked draft-dodgers.

The public, after 911, will appreciate those who know something about national security. I know I do.

[Renew Deal]

60. Who is it going to piss off?

It would be FP overkill, but they are trying to make a power play on security.

[rucky]

36. Maybe Clark could talk him into cutting the Defense budget?

[Padraig18]

40. Actually, the RUMOR was reported in the mainstream press.

I thought we were all down on rumors here. :eyes:

[Padraig18]

46. And the Kerry campaign spokesman just DEBUNKED the RUMOR!

Next!

[WiseMen]

52. Clinton is working to put that ticket together. My Info.

[Padraig18]

56. So, you know more than the Kerry campaign spokesman?

I rather doubt it.

[KC21304]

43. What took you guys so long ? I've been saying Kerry/Clark

since Clark first said he was just thinking of getting in the race.
Would like to know myself just when that happened but I know it has been a loonnnnnnnngg time. Welcome aboard everyone.

And thanks all the other candidates for their hard work, especially Howard Dean.

[eeyore]

47. Absolutely - It will get my Repub dad to vote Dem

I posted in another thread that my dad, who has never voted Dem, told me how much he admires Clark. I've never even heard him say anything positive about a Dem at all. If Clark can attract someone like my dad, who is a patriotic fiscal conservative Repub, then we've got a good thing going. He would never vote for any other Dem, but with Clark on the ticket he just might abandon the liars. Pigs may just fly this year!

[DeepModem Mom]

49. Welcome to DU, eeyore --

[leyton]

50. An awesome ticket

Even if Clark can't carry Arkansas all on his own, the ticket would have a lot of power throughout the country in general, and bring us enough votes in states like Ohio, Missouri, Louisiana, that we don't have to worry about one state like Arkansas.

This is kind of like Clinton/Gore in 1992. While most candidates chose someone that offered geographic balance, Clinton decided that instead he would get the guy that increased the existing Southern pull. With Kerry/Clark, we'd be doing the same thing - instead of having a slight edge in domestic policy and a slimmer edge (as the perception goes) in national security, go for the slam dunk in national security, because those who vote on domestic policy are probably going to vote for a Democrat anyway. (That is, Bush's Republican base consists of the religious right, which we have no hope of getting, and the national security voters, where we can make major inroads.)

Clark can also campaign all around the country for our congressional candidates, like, say, the one in my sig :)

[liberalpragmatist]

51. This may actually KILL a Kerry-Clark ticket

Don't get me wrong - I love the idea of a Kerry-Clark ticket (w/ Edwards as attorney general and '12 nominee), but this may actually make Kerry LESS likely to pick Clark.

Kerry's going to want to be his own man. Especially if he becomes president, he's not going to want to be doing things at the whim of Bill Clinton; Kerry will want his own powerbase.

For this reason, I think it's very possible that, if Clinton tries too hard, Kerry may well react against Clinton by picking somebody else.

[nolabels]

59. I would reason not

A guy that can spend 19 years with them folks in the Senate Room with them bickering about every little thing under the sun, probably can figure out when he needs to compromise a little. Besides they could be buds in the knowledge that the time they and blood they lost in Nam were not in vain, if you will pardon the pun.

Army generals, you either love em or hate em, I think I like this guy, he seems genuine to me

[]Kerry / Clark

[TheDonkey]

54. Did Clinton give any reasons for wanting Clark as a VP?

I'd like to hear his insight on the matter.

[KittyWampus]

55. Clark's Stump Speech About Democratic FAMILY VALUES

is what the Democrats need to win.

Also, Clark came in second to Kerry and beat Edwards except in Open Primaries where Republicans were actively trying to undermine him.

Also, Clark takes the South in a way that Edwards can't- with both Brains AND Charisma.

Post Script: Don't know if I believe Clinton is really pushing for this.

[Nashyra]

57. This would not have been leaked unless Kerry

wanted it to be. There are no mistakes at this stage. Kerry making the announcement the "Clark was not going to stand behind him but side by side up to the convention" was very telling. Me thinkith that was a hint.

[DjTj]

58. Edwards/Clark would be better, but

Kerry/Clark is probably our next best option.

[drfemoe]

61. Mainstream Press?

I missed it!! Please provide a link or reference. Thank you.

[Leilani]

63. It originated in the NY Post

Not exactly mainstream...it was a hit piece on Clinton.

[drfemoe]

64. Well that sounds like it might be

"a highly questionable and inflammatory factual assertion about a candidate," (without) ... "a link to a reputable source to back up your claim. Rumor-mongering is not allowed. Allegedly "innocent" questions which are actually an underhanded effort to spread rumors are not allowed. If you really need to know the answer to your question, try Google."

Or am I crazy? :crazy:

[lams712]

62. The further away Bill Clinton is from this process, the better....

...Bill and his DLC stooges help nearly destroy the Democratic Party. His ego is huge, and this is a way for him to stay in the headlines, by trying to wield some influence in the party.


ON EDIT:
As to the actual choice of Clark as VP, I don't have a problem with it, I think Clark would make a great VP, but an even better Secretary of State.

[Moderator]

66. Locking

8. If you make a factual assertion about a candidate that is not generally accepted to be true, you must provide a link to a reputable source to back up your claim. Allegedly "innocent" questions which are actually an underhanded effort to spread rumors are not allowed. If you really need to know the answer to your question, try Google.