Blogging Wes Clark for President 2008

DU Clarkies is a group of supporters of General Wesley Clark, who frequent Democratic Underground (DU). Some of our members are bloggers promoting Clark's vision for America. "Blogging Wes Clark for President 2008" reflects a weekly newsletter our membership receives by email, reporting a selection of updated blogs. WesPac Securing America is not connected with this grassroots website, nor is any other Wesley Clark organization, website or campaign. If you would like to learn more about General Clark, please visit Securing America and join in the discussion at Clark Community Network or read the Wesley Clark Wiki.

The General for President notes that General Clark is working to get people displaced by Katrina back to New Orleans:

In response to a question about rebuilding New Orleans after Katrina, Clark says:

In one of my business connections, we’re working with the state of Louisiana and we’re trying to fix this. We’re also going to reach out to those people who’ve lost their homes, especially those in the 9th Ward, and try to get them BACK home to New Orleans. This is a tough challenge, now. This is a tough challenge because you’re dealing with the federal government that hadn’t exactly been competent in this. (laughter) So it’s taking a LOT of effort. (Applause)

Moderating the Madness has a post by Arkansas Politics:

He’s a brilliant tactician, decorated warrior and commander, so has the deafening silence from the Clark camp been a tactic? Has he waited until the announcements of Clinton and Obama quieted down before he made his move?

Two weeks ago Barack Obama took the leap, threw the flare out for all to see, he is running for President. The light was intense and bright; the press clambered, the cameras flashed…for a moment. Don’t get me wrong; Obama has one of the brightest political futures I have seen in my 30 years of politic watching. However, regardless of his charisma he lacks one critical attribute, experience. In 2000, America looked to an affable and comfortable Governor from Texas who assured us that his lack of experience on the international scene would be no problem. I see nowhere in the tea leafs that America will again in my lifetime elect a President that needs on the job training. If Obama is really running for a VP nod, I am in all the way.

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wes for pres liked this piece by Scott Nolan:

People have been pinging me about 2008 Presidential Contenders, and while I still think it is too early (we have a 2007 election here in Virginia to get through first), I have already spent a little time on this topic. Everything I said about Wesley Clark in October is still true today. I firmly believe that he is uniquely qualified to lead the United States of America out of the quagmire that is Iraq. Furthermore as a man of integrity rather than ego, he has been waiting until the congressional elections of 2006 are completely resolved before committing to a presidential race in 2008, I completely agree with that set of priorities and heartily applaud him for holding off.

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I am as excited about the prospects of Bill Richardson as anyone else, in many ways he is the perfect candidate for the office. My main reasons for supporting Wes Clark first, and Bill Richardson second are that Wes clearly has the experience needed to get us out of the mess we are in now regarding both Iraq and Afghanistan. Let the man with experience get us out, then step down after only one turn (yes, Clark has the integrity to do just that) and then let the healer and diplomat take over in 2012 and beyond.

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From A Scientist for Wes Clark:

Of all the prospective candidates, only Wes Clark seems to understand the level of effort needed to remake the American economy. Our economy over the last 25 to 30 years has been transformed from one based on manufacturing to one based on the financial service industry. In the process we have neglected science and engineering training. It is going to take a major national effort and a large funding base to develop better batteries for storage, safe nuclear power, sequestration of carbon dioxide from burning coal, more efficient electrical transmission lines, etc. Wes Clark understands the profound change that is needed in this country to move forward to the future.

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A Left Turn FOR CLARK argues that Wes has time:

Conventional media is owned by those who sell conventional wisdom, so it is no surprise to see them use it promote their conventional spin. Until Wes Clark actually joins the presidential race and shows through his actions that there's more than ample time from that moment until the first 2008 contest for him to build a strong and winning campaign, conventional wisdom will push a flawed rear view mirror conclusion that since Clark entered the 2004 race too late, he must be entering the 2008 race too late also. That's their conventional meme and I think they'll be sticking to it, until facts on the ground start to prove them wrong, which they will.

A Wes Clark Democrat responds to some of the reasons Clark should not run again:

A few points being offered up around the web for why Wes Clark should not run for president in 2008: He can't win because Democrats won't vote for a military guy; he can't win because he has no experience in governing; he can’t win because he’s a genuine liberal Southern general; he can’t win because the election will be about domestic policy; he can’t win because he can’t handle the bumps of a presidential campaign; and, somehow or other, he's going to ruin any chance of becoming Secretary of State.

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RAPID FIRE - Silver Bullets takes measure of the field overall and finds Wes playing an interesting role:

Interestingly enough, Wes Clark is the one who could dramatically change the current dynamics of the primary race. First and foremost, the situation in Iraq/Iran makes Clark once again a relevant candidate for the times. The General’s record of military success is unmatched by any other candidate, including John Kerry, as Clark would be the only candidate who successfully planned, led and won a war, all the while negotiating with multiple heads of states. His intense knowledge of foreign policy stands to make a large dent in Richardson’s claim as the candidate best versed in the area. It is in fact Clark’s “early and often” detailed plans of reasonably securing Iraq while negotiating the U.S. out of the war that could neutralize Hillary, (as she and the Big Dog come as a pair), considering her documented hawkishness and lack of apologies on her Iraq vote.

Wesley Clark adds domestic national security to the national debate, something none of the other candidates offers. As the former director of Strategic Planning for the Joint Chiefs under Clinton, Clark as the “competent and credible national security” candidate could spotlight the issue of domestic terrorism. As an emergency preparedness expert (in partnership with former FEMA head James Lee Witt), Clark brings in disaster management (i.e., Katrina) as an important component to the national debate; an issue which would otherwise go missing and a debate unfortunately focused currently on personalities and charisma.

Wes Clark also disqualifies Obama as the only top contender who was right on Iraq. Not only did the General see the invasion as a bad idea as early as the summer of 2002, but he also foretold how events would unfold 98% accurately.

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The new Iraq plan that George Bush unveiled this month can be boiled down to three words: "Stay the Course."

The President's proposed escalation of troops does nothing to change his failed strategy. Without the "carrots and sticks" that could be used in an all-out political and diplomatic effort throughout the region, the 21,500 American troops that President Bush wants to send into this cauldron of violence are unlikely to prove decisive, while risking the lives of U.S. forces as well as further alienation of the Iraqi population.

Sending more American troops now would not do anything to fix the core political problems in Iraq, as it is not so much insecurity that is driving the violence but rather the struggle for political dominance. But it is American soldiers and Marines who will suffer the consequences. That is why I am joining with the Democratic Congress, and over 70,000 other grassroots activists who have signed a petition expressing our vehement opposition to George Bush's escalation in Iraq.

The one and only way to ever get through to George Bush is to create such a massive groundswell of resistance to this plan, that he is forced to pay attention. You have already helped us to do so by sending a message to President Bush, but there is still more you can do to help us get through to him:

Click here to invite your friends and family to email President Bush as well, saying loud and clear that they are against his escalation in Iraq.

There is no magic bullet to fix Iraq, but there is a way to proceed, as I outlined in my USA Today OpEd published in November, much of which was picked up in the Iraq Study Group recommendations. We need a full court diplomatic press to force the Sunni, Shiite and Kurdish factions to resolve simmering disputes over issues such as the distribution of oil revenue, the infiltration of sectarian militias, and reconciliation with former Baath Party members.

Changing our approach in Iraq must go hand in hand with fixing a regional strategy that has been an abject failure. For three years, the Bush administration has hectored and threatened Iran and Syria, and unsurprisingly, they have both worked continuously to feed the fighting in Iraq. It's time for us to get serious about talking with our enemies. And it's time for us to redouble our efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is at the root of so many problems in the Middle East.

To date, the Bush administration has shown no inclination to take these steps, which means that a troop surge will only cost more lives and time. This president needs to hear from every one in America that we will not stand for his escalation in Iraq.

We have to get the President to change the strategy -- and the only way to do that is for the American people to tell the President to stop his troop surge so that the Administration will bring forth a real, workable strategy.

President Bush's proposed troop escalation is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, with an iceberg fast approaching.

We need a real change in course -- and there is no time to waste. Urge your friends and family to contact President Bush today!

Sincerely,

Wes Clark