To Clark supporters: CRANK IT UP!!!!!!

[wndycty]

Gen. Clark's Order: 'Crank It Up' Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark
appears to be...

593 words
9 August 2003
National Journal
English
(c) 2003 by National Journal Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Gen. Clark's Order: 'Crank It Up' Retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark
appears to be getting close to throwing his stars into the 2004
Democratic presidential nominating contest. Clark recently phoned one
close adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity, and said, "Crank
it up." The Clark adviser said that the former NATO chief is smart to
stay out of the race until after Labor Day, but not much longer after
that. He pointed to the number of debates and forums that the
Democratic hopefuls have on tap and the chance that these encounters
will do little to clarify the race -- as was the case in the recent
AFL-CIO forum in Chicago. The Clark adviser speculated that the
general will be better positioned for a run if he has a message that
seems fresher for not having been part of the clutter.
-snip-

I don't have a link yet, but I just got it e-mailed to me by some friends.

To all Chicago area DU'ers who want to join the movement visit:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/chicagodraftclark2004warroom/

[ibegurpard]

1. I was given the impression that Clark had nothing personally

to do with this. That this was a group of people who were wanting to draft him? So is that not the case?
:shrug:

[wndycty]

2. Well yes. . .

. . .he has nothing to do with the draft movement, but he is obviously responding to it.

[BOSSHOG]

3. General Clark's position has been that he would not announce

unless there was a significant draft effort. I think (and hope) that the effort has been successful in getting him to run for President. It certainly is not too late to enter the race. A big labor day announcement spectacular would be quite appropriate. I look forward to the haters efforts to smear this man.

[wndycty]

4. Boss. . .

We can use you (49 y/o white male veteran--I got that from our other discussion) in the draft movement. Please if you haven't written him a letter please do!

You can get info at:
draftclark2004.com

[BOSSHOG]

5. Already done Wndycty

I don't know which democrat I will support but I do have a great deal of respect for General Clark. I recall the last time a Rhodes Scholar from Arkansas took on an incumbent bush. I think if the General announces I will be on his bandwagon easily.

[wndycty]

8. Thanks Boss

:kick:

[Kahuna]

25. General Clark has stated that he feels an obligation to the..

"Draft Clark" groups. Particularly John Hlinko who has been working day and night on the draft Clark movement.

[wndycty]

26. He said that?

He said that? He said that? Where? I would love to provide my Clark group with a link!

[Kahuna]

28. Jeez. I can't remember exactly which TV appearance he said it on...

I'll be if you go to the yahoogroups discussion board you can find a discussion about it.

I think that he may have said it on his Crossfire appearance before this the last one. I may have it on video tape.

[NNN0LHI]

6. Really wouldn't bother me at all to see the General get into the race

After listening to him I think he gets it. Don't really know where he stands on too many domestic issues, but as far as foreign matters go, he is different then all of the other candidates. He seems to know and not be afraid to say the real truth of what he thinks of our international policy. Our international policy sucks. And not just Bush's either. Historically it has sucked. Changes need to be made soon. I am not sure he or any one man can change this, but I sure would like to hear what he has to say.

Don

[wndycty]

7. Has anyone seen the Esquire article?

:kick:

[RamboLiberal]

10. Yes I have the magazine. It's in my car - good article

If you want a synopsis, PM me. Or would be glad to post here over the weekend.

[Cornus]

16. Esquire article

I have the hard copy also, but you can read it on line here:

http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2003/030801_mfe_clark_1.html


For those who do not yet have allegience to a specific candidate, read this article and you should be convinced.

If only he'd announce!

[starscape]

9. Need to know more about Clark

I've heard nothing but good things about Clark, in most cases, and I want to support someone with integrity. Problem is, I can't seem to get my hands on much about his specific views, platform, etc.

I realize that if he hasn't announced a candidacy yet, he probably hasn't formulated a platform. But I need something, anything, I can sink my teeth into. I was told that he recently said that he could not even definitively call himself a Democrat, which kind of raises my eyebrow.

It gives me the impression he's very moderate (poor phrasing on my part, how can anyone be "very" moderate, but I can't think of any other way to say it)... I won't rule him out on that point though.

Any insight or good links?

[wndycty]

11. Here is a link to some of his views on the issues

http://www.draftwesleyclark.com/on_the_issues.htm

[starscape]

15. Thanks.. that helps.

He sounds like a Democrat to me! Based on that, I really like what I hear. Some of it is very vague, but I'm sure we'll hear more if he runs, of course.

Go ahead General, throw your hat in the ring!

[Nashyra]

12. I hope he is in by the middle of August

He said in mid June that he would make a decision within a couple of months, to me that means mid August. We need him sooner not later, maybe he can kick Arnold offf the front page.

[indigo32]

13. God wouldn't that be nice

to kick Ahnuld off. I'm a Dean supporter... but I have no problem with Clark joining in. I actually don't know enough about him to feel one way or another.

[wndycty]

14. From the link I posted earlier

-snip-

On Gays in the Military: "But essentially we’ve got a lot of gay people in the armed forces, always have had, always will have. And I think that, you know, we should welcome people that want to serve." Meet The Press
-snip-

I am not sure if that is progressive enough. . .but it seems like he is preaching tolerance.

Even though he is a military man he might be the one guy as progressive as Dean.

[Nashyra]

17. If you would like to see him jump in

help by going to the draft Wesly Clark site. Whether he can be a successful candidate or not is yet to be seen, but I think it would do the Dems well by having him in the ring. I am a Clark supporter but more importantly he could lead a media friendly dialouge on the National Security issue and perhaps be "the" vp candidate for a more progressive Pres. candidate. I think his candidacy could only help about right now, the Repugs and Karl Rove would have to spend way more time and money discrediting him on National Security and while they are tied up with him our other candidates can make in roads about other issues.

[wndycty]

18. Kick

:kick:

[Kahuna]

27. I would hope that one of the main reasons for the General's delay...

in announcing his candidacy is so that he can study the issues and fine tune his positions. From what I know about him thus far, he does nothing half way.

In the Newsweek piece by Jonathan Alter, Alter wrote that Clinton is encouraging both Biden and Clark to enter the race. There is a lot of insiders who are uncommitted at this time. My hope is that they are waiting to see if the more moderate Biden or the progressive hero Clark enter the race to determine their support.

I know this won't go over well on DU. But, if Clark doesn't run and Biden does... As much as Biden annoys me personally with his center-right stances, I'd support Biden over the other candidates in a heartbeat. For I feel that Biden, because of his center-right position would be more palatable to voters in a general election.

At first I was puked out at the thought of Biden running at all. But if Biden in the centrist who can oust Bush, I'd have to support Biden. This election to me is about ousting bush. PERIOD! I want a candidate who can do that. At this time, I just don't see any of the current candidates being able to do that. Does that make me desperate? Hell yeah, I'm desperate.

[wndycty]

29. I keep hearing centrist this, centrist that. . .

What I like about Clark is that he is a centrist without really being one. His comments on gays in the military back up that point.

[starscape]

19. merchandise link

I wanted to buy a hat or something. That's my favorite way to donate, because I get a cool souvenir and, if I commit to the candidate, I can advertise for them.

unfortunately, the link didn't work, and their seems no easy way to contact them. Has anyone else tried this, and did it work for you?

[graham67]

22. Merchandise Link

http://www.cafeshops.com/excamp

[Starpass]

20. trying to get the cobwebs out of the brain

..caught something this a.m. on Washington Journal (C-Span). They were reading an article from one of the major newspapers and my impression was that the writer was getting the impression that Clark was going to jump in after Labor Day??????????????? I wasn't paying a lot of attention to it and can't give you any "details"....just "impression"

[wndycty]

21. The thought is . . .

. . .the end of Labor Day weekend.

[Mz Pip]

23. I agree

Early Sept would give him plenty of time to take part in many of the Dem activities that are planned.

Coming in late doesn't really hurt him. It's not that late since most people aren't really paying attention yet.

MzPip
:dem:

[wndycty]

24. His new book

Is coming out in September.