Ex-Nato chief to run for President

[Judi Lynn]

Fri 29 Aug 2003


Ex-Nato chief to run for President


FORMER Nato Supreme Commander Wesley Clark is poised to announce his candidacy for United States President, his friends said today.

The retired general has said he will make a decision by the end of next month about his plans to enter the already crowded race for the Democratic nomination for the White House.

"I’ve got to by then," said the 57-year-old, who led Nato forces in Bosnia. "I can’t have done nothing, and if I do it, there’s groundwork to be laid."

Supporters said he had the backing of his family to throw his hat into the ring, but was approaching the final decision "like a military man". (snip/...)

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[DoveTurnedHawk]

1. ARGH!!!!!!!

MISLEADING TITLE! MISLEADING TITLE!

This is also a dupe of info from articles posted yesterday.

DTH, Who Just Got All Excited for Nothing :-(

PS: No offense to you, JudiLyn! I know you didn't editorialize.

[lanlady]

2. still the same old speculation

I wish Clark would stop being coy.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

3. DUPE

Of info from this NYTimes article yesterday:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=86565

DTH

[msanger]

4. can you say "mario cuomo?"

I don't know if it clark or his supporters that are starting to get on my nerves.

I agree with several others that this apparent "will I or won't I" is getting a little old, and already sowing seeds of doubt about his ability to take a stance and hold it.

why not jst say "I'll announce my decision Sept 16th" one way or the other.

[DemNoir]

10. Have have got that right!

I am already so sick of this guy I can't stand it!

Especially when you have Dean out there working his butt off and taking on bush everyday. Contrast that with this diletante that keeps wondering
if all this is worth messing up his hair. The Perfumed Prince indeed.

[goobergunch]

11. I concur.

If you're going to run, just say so...and tell your supporters to tone it down. I'm personally impressed with Clark, but the "maybe I will, maybe I won't" is getting on my nerves.

[Kbowe]

5. Just can't support him

Unless it's between him and Bush

[LizW]

6. misleading headline

The quote from Clark himself in the article clearly says he has not decided, and will not decide until the end of next month.

Clark's beginning to piss me off a little. The race against Bush (not to mention the following 8 years)is going to take a person with passion for the race and even more passion for the Presidency. I'm getting fed up with this diva-like posing.

Do we really want a guy who must be begged to run?

Edited to say I know you didn't make up the headline, Judilyn.

[demnan]

7. No

Two words - Go Dean!

[Mackay]

8. Dean will be nominated

However, Clark will make a useful VP for pulling in the 'jarhead' vote.

[MGKrebs]

9. My only concern is that he would suck funds

from the other candidates, making it harder for any of them (Clark included) to raise money.I know it's not zero-sum, but realistically there is only so much money to be tapped.

Clark may bring money into the process that wouldn't have been there otherwise, but I think that would be just a small percentage of his overall money raised- the rest will have to come from money that would otherwise have gone to other candidates.

And having said that, what does Clark think he brings to the table that isn't already covered by other strong candidates? Military? How about Kerry. Smart? Kerry, Dean. Experience? Hmpph. Populism? We don't really know where Clark would be, but Dean and Kucinich and probably Gephardt have that territory well covered. Foreign policy? Kerry, Graham. Charisma? Too subjective to be a good reason to jump in with no other big reason.Keep his name in the news until somebody selects him as a VP?

Besides, Clark has given the other frontrunning candidates a $15-20 MIL head start.

[keopeli]

12. Clark is buying time by stalling so he can save his money

A presidential campaign is expensive. Dean is doing great things with the Internet. Kerry is doing some clever old school stuff. Clark is stalling for a late entry so he can save money. It's early folks. We're all anxious to rid ourselves of *, but the election is over a year away. These are three good candidates, and they will work through the primaries. Let them do it in whatever way they can manage.

One more point: Clark gets a lot of free publicity by remaining undecided, publicity that disappears once he's decided to run. Our troops are in harms way on the other side of the globe. We can use an intelligent and thinking career military candidate to validate the debates we will have for the American public.

Keo