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.

It’s here on YouTube.

Then go give VoteVets money to keep their ads going.

Here is the email I just got from General Clark:

For too many years, those of us who advocate a responsible use of our military, and thus have spoken against the President’s failed Iraq policy, have been falsely tagged as against the troops by the Bush Administration, neo-conservatives, and their cronies. Today, that all changes.

VoteVets.org, the leading political group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, is launching a television advertisement that makes it crystal clear - opposing the President’s escalation of the war in Iraq means you are supporting the troops. VoteVets.org is joining organizations such as MoveOn.org, SEIU (Service Employees International Union), and Center for America Progress as founding members of Americans Against Escalation in Iraq. I am proud to say that I am an active Board of Advisors Member to VoteVets.org, and even prouder of how they are taking up the fight and leading the way in opposing the President’s folly.

Read more on Wes for Pres

A storm of criticism has hit the Edwards camp over the presidential candidate’s lifestyle choices. Depending on whom you talk to, it’s none of our business how he spends his money or it’s every American’s business to find clues as to how he would lead the country toward a more equitable planet share. Climate change, sustainability, consumption, and environmental protection will be big in 2008. Maybe not as big as war, but right up there behind it.

Another issue is whether a Democrat who has chosen to run on a “poverty platform” has an obligation not to rub his money in the faces of the poor, as in the heated walkway between wings valued just under $200,000, which might have built four houses in New Orleans, where Edwards announced his primary campaign.

It is worth noting that every candidate can expect to be tested on “green value,” including General Clark, if he decides to run. Clark’s overall commitment to sustainability can be evaluated by reading this website, but his personal “carbon footprint” is something any Clark for President campaign is going to have to set forth, it would appear.

Read more on The General for President

"The Iraq War has driven a silent wedge between the GOP and the serving military voter"

Kos put a diary up last night that drew a ton of comments:

I was starting to think that Clark was shying away from a presidential run, given that every other potential candidate save Gore had jumped in. Apparently, a Clark "adviser" says he'll be making an announcement in two weeks.

There is a very interesting post in the comments section by self-identified Republican "Infantry Field Grade," who writes: "Myself, I would have a hard time voting for Hillary. But Wes Clark? This republican military voter would do it in a heart beat."

Read more on Moderating the Madness

While his supporters sit on the edge of their seats pleading for an announcement of a second presidential primary run by General Clark, he will not be moved. He has said several times, when pressed, that partisan politics will have to take second chair to the more immediate issue of impending war with Iran. "Once a person becomes a candidate, then everything they say becomes viewed through a political lens. I don't want this viewed through a political lens. This should be viewed as a policy issue."

Read more on zaczaca's blog

Here's a hint of the "Good" that comes later in this post:

Wes Clark quoted while talking to Sean "Gaston" Hannity,

"If we could change people’s mind without using the military, we’ll all be a lot more secure"

Now for the Bad and the Ugly......

Read more on RAPID FIRE - Silver Bullets

Wes Clark was a guest on Hannity & Colmes the evening after Bush's State of the Union address. And soft pudgy too-good-to-enlist Sean Hannity presumes to lecture the four-star general and decorated combat veteran on military strategy?

Un-effin'-believable.

There's a video of the relevant piece at Crooks & Liars, or you can watch the whole interview at WesPAC's website. But here's what Hannity said:

Hannity: You said there was no new strategy. Let me tell you what the new strategy is 'cause clearly, uh, I guess you’re missing what the President’s saying here. The prior strategy, and the President admitted that there were some mistakes made, was that they go in and they’d clear out the insurgency and they didn’t stay long enough or hold those areas long enough. Now the new strategy with the troop surge will be go in, remove the insurgents, hold the areas as part… and also accelerate the training of Iraqi troops and police. That is a new strategy.

Read more on Soldiering on for Wesley Clark

A perfectly clear, sunny, 68 degree L.A. winter day presented itself for the General at UCLA Law School this afternoon," wrote ms in la recently, on her CCN blog.

MS is a very fine writer and blogger, so I’m not about to do anything but point you to her very well done first hand account of General Clark’s lecture at UCLA.

Read more on Dead Messengers

For several reasons, Wes Clark has the greatest untapped upside potential of any Democrat in the race for the 2008 presidential nomination. It starts with General Clark being the only current dark horse candidate with significant Netroots support, but that isn't the only reason; most Americans have yet to witness Clark's dramatic improvement on the stump since the last time he ran. Still though, it is quite telling that Wesley Clark continues to have that type of Netroots support even though he is not yet in the race, and despite the mainstream media dismissing Clark for over a year while having touted, to varying degrees, virtually any other Democrat who has shown an interest in running in 2008.

Most recently, when Richardson entered, the AP ran stories listing the other current Democratic candidates, while mentioning that Gore and Kerry were still on the sidelines, without any corresponding mention of Wes Clark. The netroots may not be typical voters but they are still subjected to media buzz about who is and who is not viable, and of course that has an effect, otherwise Kucinich would have much more grassroots support than he now does. And the netroots remain a potent force. Just ask Jim Webb if you doubt that.

Read more on A Left Turn FOR CLARK

1-Media Alert: General Clark will appear on Chris Matthews' "Hardball" on MSNBC, Friday, February 2:

5:00 PM EST | 4:00 PM CST | 3:00 PM MST | 2:00 PM PST

All times of scheduled programs are subject to change. We recommend tuning in a little early.

This show repeats at:

7:00 PM EST | 6:00 PM CST | 5:00 PM MST | 4:00 PM PST and

3:00 AM EST | 2:00 AM CST | 1:00 AM MST | 12:00 AM PST

2-DNC Winter Meeting, 'Strong Leadership for America's Future' Features Democratic Presidential Contenders

The Democratic National Committee will hold its annual winter meeting to highlight "Strong Leadership for America's Future" in Washington, DC from February 1-3, 2007. The meeting will feature presentations from the Democratic Presidential contenders on their visions and ideas for America's future.

The candidates will join more than 400 DNC members from around the country, DNC Chairman Howard Dean, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D- NV) to talk about the strong leadership Democrats are providing now in Congress and around the country and will provide in the White House.

The following presidential candidates will speak at the winter meeting: Sen. Joe Biden, Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.), Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. Chris Dodd, Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Mike Gravel, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Sen. Barack Obama, Gov. Bill Richardson, and Gov. Tom Vilsack.

Read more at Clark Community Network