Clark & Military Spending: Ever take your car to a mechanic?

[catherineD]

You know how it is when you take your car to a mechanic and you don't know anything about cars? Sometimes the mechanic tells you the truth and sometimes he doesn't and you don't know which is which, but you pay through the nose either way. Now you could say that Clark knows something about cars. When Congress or the Pentagon comes to him wanting to fund expensive things, Clark will know who is lying about their necessity and who is not. He will know just what kind of systems we need post cold war and just which ones we should let go. And the Pentagon and the Congress won't be able to accuse him of being soft or otherwise intimidate him. Think about it.

[Fleshdancer]

1. okay

so he knows Foreign cars. Is he familiar with Domestic?

[NV1962]

4. Yup: Clark sees 470+ lives and 200bn+ wasted abroad, so far - n/t

[Donna Zen]

5. A continuing metaphor

Buying a new domestic model while extremely desirable, cannot be done with money. Of course one continue take out a big fat loan, as we are doing now, or one can propose austerity programs as some candidates are doing which would mean skipping a few meals.

In this case it becomes a bit more complex, because while we need a domestic car the payments on the Humvee are twice as much as much as it should be. Bad dealer; bad banker.

All of the domestic promises a candidate makes don't mean diddly if the money's not there. Clark refers to the Pentagon budge as the "make want" budget. He is the ONLY candidate that can take on that particular pork barrel. Not even bush can take them on.

There are two candidates who are talking about cutting defense spending and only one that can delivery. I support this man for many reasons and especially for this one.

[giantrobot_2000]

2. ...

Clark's been inside the Pentagon and he knows how the military/industrial complex fleeces both taxpayers and screws the soliders. While these corporate jerks are spending billions on Star Wars-style nonsense, soldiers aren't getting equipped with basics like flak jackets and clean food in the mess halls. Clark will cut the pork out of the Pentagon.

He's promised a "top-to-bottom review" of military spending. He wants to cut the Pentagon's budget by 15%-25%. Sounds good to me.

Edit: Read "Waging Modern War" for his insider's account of the insanity he had to deal with in regards to military spending within the Pentagon.

[BeyondGeography]

3. Credibility with the Pentagon

is a huge issue. We're running a $500 billion deficit and much of what we want government to fund in terms of social spending is going to have to come from controlling defense spending.

If you're perceived as being soft on defense and a foreign policy novice, it's politically difficult to go up against the Pentagon. Stories can be leaked about your supposedly outrageous irresponsiblity, the right-wingers start screaming about lily-livered liberals, etc. Clark has the chops to get the job done, and he'll know how to get even with any military types who cross him.

Good post. It's an important point.

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[BootinUp]

23. In times of economic downturns your going to benefit

from some deficit spending. The problem with Bushes plan is he gave all the money to those that are already gluttons, and the money is not getting to the manufacturing sector, its not all getting spent by consumers, neither is it helping our savings rates.

A true recovery would greatly reduce the deficit from increased tax revenues without higher tax rates.

[Name removed]

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[BootinUp]

28. I don't have a lot of time, but

I seem to recall Bushes tax cut was 1 trillion over 10 years or something like that.

I don't have a problem with higher tax rates, but increases should be done in moderation, and coupled with plans to invest and stimulate the economy. You didn't really address the point I tried to make.

[Name removed]

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[BootinUp]

30. Just a bit extreme

You'd put half of america on the streets with your tax plan I'm afraid.

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

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[BootinUp]

33. History shows

that deficit spending during downturns is not necessarily a bad thing, if it goes where it is needed. All things in moderation is the best approach when it comes to the national budget. People were alarmed with the deficit in the late 80's but it was turned around within 5 years.

[CWebster]

7. Its nice that he knows about cars

If cars were all that matters. But does he know about plumbing or electricity or setting tile or painting or...

[SahaleArm]

8. Why - Are you remodeling your house?

:7

[NV1962]

9. Lost in metaphores, eh

BZZZZZZZZZZZZT!

No, Clark's no car mechanic, plumber, electrician or other working class association enabling profession.

He's simply #44 with multiple times the brains, character and integrity of #41 and #43 combined.

No, I'm not the least interested in knowing whether he knows how to throw a grenade.

It's enough for me to know that, just like Ike, he knows the dark threat that emanates from giving too much space and bucks to Pentagon toadies with zero wartime exposure, hence nothing to lose in frivolous wars.

But above all, he knows which nonsensical Pentagon projects can be cut, and where to spend the precious money, instead: on socially relevant issues.

That's good enough for me to kick the flyboy monkey into unemployment.

[michaelbmoore]

18. No kidding! Metaphor Hell,

is like this. Adding to you post above, he will know how to fix the socially relevant issues.

[CWebster]

21. Yeah, just like how General Ike

dealt with Joe McCarthy.Ike didn't complain about the MIC until he was heading for the exit.

[giantrobot_2000]

26. Random

I think that wins the Most Random Post of the week award.

Congratulations.

[CWebster]

32. no it isn't

but thanks.

[bowens43]

10. It's not up to the President.

Congress controls the purse strings and anything they want will be buried in a spending bill that will be impossible or next to impossible to veto.

The last thing we need is a freakin general in charge of our civilian government. Clark would be a disaster of monumental proportions.

[giantrobot_2000]

11. ...

Remember who handed the left that storied term the "military/industrial complex"? Remember that man's previous occupation?

[worldgonekrazy]

14. Remember who said:

"I'm one of those military-industrial complex guys your parents warned you about" (or something to that extent)? It was Clark. See the article the Nation did on him a few months ago for the exact quote and context. It isn't any better, I guarantee you.

[SahaleArm]

15. My parents never warned me about the military-industrial complex...

If this kind of talk sounds familiar, that's because it is. Clark doesn't hide it. "I'm a product of that military-industrial complex General Eisenhower warned you about," he said with a smile a few weeks ago, during a speech at the UNH campus in Manchester. The general assumed--correctly--that the term no longer inspired revulsion in young audiences.

Quoting Tiabbi's editorialized quote to claim context? Where's the rest - before and after? The guts of the quote is missing but of course Tiabbi's editorial is gospel to some...

[Eurobabe]

19. debunked here

Not the full quote in context. Do your research before you foist these half-truths on DU ok?

http://www.retroheaven.com/rally/clipofclarkatunh.wmv

[NV1962]

12. Line item veto

Would make him popular with the Repugs even.

But passing up on the opportunity to evict an un-knowing, unthinking, uninvolved monumental disaster for President, who ran into two full-scale occupation wars no less, with no clear strategy: now that's what I call a campaign winner.

However: that's the charm of democracy... We'll see on November 3rd who was right here. :)

[worldgonekrazy]

13. Car mechanics rip you off

When I first saw your analogy I assumed your conclusion was going to be that Clark would milk Congress for even more unnecessary military spending. Personally, I feel that it would have been a more appropriate comparison.

[NV1962]

16. Haha! That crossed my mind too

Yet for some truly inexplicable reason, I didn't bring that angle up... ;)

[BootinUp]

24. The jist of the analogy of course was

car mechanics don't rip off other car mechanics. Clark will be able to deal with the pentagon very effectively. And how much clearer can he make it? He intends to cut the defense budget significantly.

[catherineD]

34. If Clark was like that, he wouldn't have become a CNN

commentator -- he'd be making 10 million a year in a cushy job within the military-industrial complex like most retired generals. Do you get the feeling that the people in the military-industrial complex like him? Have you heard anything about them donating to his campaign?

[Mairead]

17. It's almost proverbial, though, that generals are always one war behind

They still, for example, are beating the drum for heavy bombers and missiles to use at high altitudes and long range...weapons that are good against WW2-type massed armies (and that murder civilians very well) but aren't worth a damn against today's guerilla forces.

Look at the training being given the Iraq occupation forces--given by the Israelis who got it from the Boers. Training that's known to create deep resentments and new terrorists, not pacify the population. But the forces aren't being given body armor or vehicle armor against home-made bombs and rockets, which means they're creating more and more people who will kill and maim them in a morale-destroying way. That's madness.

History says it's a mistake to think generals have good foresight.

[NV1962]

20. Excellent point - but Clark's not running for General

He's been there, done that already. He's looking for the top spot instead.

And once he gets there, he won't be spoiling for fights, like the current general-wannabe in the WH, who so far managed to win two wars and lose two victories by the same stretch of insanity.

It takes no general to figure out that's not right. But Wes Clark's true asset is that he's really able to tell what's wrong with the picture here, instead of having to rely on painting by number briefings - which W apparently still manages to misunderestimate. Time and again.

Added to Wes Clark's domestic agenda, that's what makes a better, stronger, more just America, led by a real President.

[catherineD]

35. Once upon a time Clark was tested with another 1,000 officers

or was it 5,000? to see how they did at predicting trends. Clark did the best of all of them. Traditionally within the Pentagon, the branches of the military -- Air Force, Army, etc. -- are vying with each other to get the most money to come in. They team up with members of Congress who will direct that flow of money into their districts and states. They're all busy making up stories about how important their projects are. Now, tell me, would you rather have a guy who doesn't know anything about these things making the final decision about which of these projects are worthwhile, or somebody who does know something? Yes, you first have to believe that the guy who "knows something" is ethical and cares about our country and not about lining his own pocket or those of his friends. The best way to determine that is to find out more about him and his past actions, and not to be automatically prejudiced against people in the military. That's why so many people in the military are Republicans today -- because Democrats have expressed prejudice in the form of contempt and distrust toward people in uniform. Let's not be prejudiced and prejudge people.

[HFishbine]

22. Dean and health care, ever take your child to a doctor?

Oh, never mind.

[BootinUp]

25. valid point

Dean does have a good handle on healthcare of course.

[catherineD]

36. Maybe someday a doctor will be best. But not now, I think.

As Clark says to paraphrase...if you want a doctor, elect a doctor, if you want a lawyer, elect a lawyer, if you want a leader...