"I am not a candidate... yet"
General Wesley Clark's flirtation with a run for the Presidency continued last night at DL21C's 'Road to the White House' bash at Taj; one of his biggest applause lines was this post's headline, including a very dramatic pause. Applause started flowing after the 'yet'; well, I say 'applause', but 'whoops and hollers' would be more descriptive. Azi Paybarah's take is here. Lipris from The Albany Project was there with a camera, so we can expect video sometime today, I guess.
Clark was introduced by Jon Soltz of VoteVets.org, an organization of Iraq War veterans. Soltz set the theme for the evening with an anecdote: when he came back from Iraq, he was approached by a veteran of World War II, asking to shake his hand. This veteran of an earlier war had in turn once shaken the hand of a veteran of the Civil War; and that man long before had once, when very young, shaken the hand of a man who had taken part in the American Revolution. That's an unbroken chain of patriots who fought for everything this country holds dear, going back to the founding. It is precisely this tradition of honorable service that is today being dragged through the mud by the cabal of draft-dodgers in the White House; Soltz was there, it seemed, to reclaim his good name, and ours, from the current administration, which seems to be doing its level best to make 'American' an epithet.
Clark's speech was notable for several things. First of all, the man actually takes positions, in marked contrast to certain other Democratic candidates that can't even bring themselves to say that homosexuality isn't immoral, and seemingly need to run every statement past a panel of rednecks for their approval. There's none of that with Clark, and it's so god-damned refreshing that you have to wonder why we don't hear more of it. Eh, Hillary?
What was most remarkable, to me at least, was the General's genuine outrage over the way this administration has conducted our national affairs. America today is a nation that tortures people, hides them in secret prisons, goes to war based on self-serving, premeditated lies, and where the rule of law may not apply to you. Clark is looking at the tradition Soltz evoked, and saying simply that we are better than this. And we are.
On the web:
VoteVets.org
SecuringAmerica.com
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2008 Elections | History | Iraq | Politics | War | New York City | Progressive Movement
Wes Clark
Submitted by mole333 on 15 March 2007 - 11:16pm.
I have felt for a month or more that Clark will declare. There has just been too many emails I get, too many events and statements that seemed geared towards running.
Personally I have never been impressed with him. Not that I am UN-impressed. I think he would be fine. But he doesn't thrill me. He and Hillary are the least interesting of the main candidates. Lately even Biden has been more exciting, though I am not at all impressed with him overall.
Still leaning Edwards or Obama, with some interest in Richardson. But overall happy with all the front runners on our side.
By contrast, the Republicans have squat. McCain, the Veteran hated by Veterans, and Giuliani, the supposed 9/11 candidate who is despised by firefighters to the degree they won't even invite him to the forum they are hosting for all the Presidential candidates. LOSERS. That's what the Repubs have got.
Wes Clark 2008
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on 16 March 2007 - 10:46am.
Not for nothing, but -- as I recall -- when Wes Clark ran for prez the first time, he was roundly criticized for coming out of the box without views on the major issues of the day (abortion, etc.). Maybe, just maybe, his current "speak truth to power" image is the product of the Gore truism (i.e. not running for office is liberating) rather than him being the Democratic answer the left has been looking for.
Glad you went, sorry I couldn't
Submitted by sidnora on 17 March 2007 - 12:22pm.
I'd be interested in your up-close impressions of him as a campaigner, apart from his laudable willingness to take positions.
Last time around, he wasn't my first choice. I do have a problem with the idea of a career military person as president, even one I'm in tune with politically, though of course I would have worked just as hard for him as I ended up doing for Kerry (also not my first choice), had he won the nomination. My husband was a lot more interested in him than I was, but even his interest evaporated after seeing him in a few televised campaign events, largely because, as a speaker, he was just not ready for prime time.
I must admit that I haven't seen him speak, even on TV, in ages (I won't watch Faux under any circumstances). Has he improved in that respect? It may seem like a superficial attribute, butif he can't connect with the voters, no amount of good positions, or good intentions, will substitute.
a story to prove that Clark is the best man to replace Bush
Submitted by Anonymous Coward (not verified) on 17 March 2007 - 2:19pm.
It's set in the context of a teacher discussing with his adult students all the evidence that the Bush administration is as corrupt as they are incompetent. I took the liberty of writing in comedians and our favorite political commentators to play the students, so it's very funny despite how infuriating it is....and every day since I wrote the first draft Bush keeps making it more relevant than the day before. I've had Bush supporters change their minds about him and Jim E. Gregg said of it: "Found the message worth the time it took to read. Its references are most impressive. And the teacher and use of well known folk as students worked. [This is coming from a reader who] is a 79+ year old vet of WWII and a former college journalism and political science teacher. I was a senior staffer and speech writer to a governor, research assistant to a U.S. Senator and personal staff consultant to state-wide office holder. You made me feel guilty for not paying closer attention to Clark in 04!"
And as "The Fighting Dem" said about it: "You have cleverly used the Liberal entertainers to drive home and teach the horrendous lesson that the policies of the Bush Administration have not only failed us time and time again, but have caused damage to the U.S. that will be hard to repair. I think that this is an absolute tribute to Wes, and that you are indeed, a TRUE fan of Wes Clark.
Thank you for sending this to me. I thoroughly enjoyed it."
Someone from Daily Kos wrote to me that she felt like she had PTSD from reading it. And I could go on about some of the accolades I've received for it; like the soldier I met online who that he wants to shake my hand.
You can access the word doc from my geocities page at clarkvsbush.com or ask me to email it to you via afanofwesclark@yahoo.com
Wes Clark
General Clark is the only internationally recognized, national security and foreign affairs expert, in the race, er, sort of in the race. Lol!
His current OpEd in the Washington Monthly (Link TextAverting the Next Gulf War) shows his grasp of international affairs and his commitment to our nation. We are better than the dirty version of America besmudged by teh neocons.
Speak on, Wes, and announce soon (by June before the first debate).
Noel Schutz