"retired general with a four-star military resume but no political"

[a_random_joel]

How many times are we going to see that phrase in the next few months?

Just like John Edwards name was never mentioned without "trial lawyer" attached.

How come no one ever said the "failed alcoholic businessman with no political experience?"

Isn't being in the military itself a "political experience"?

Some of these people should read Ike's bio...

[Richardo]

1. That's my meme, too - Ike held no elective office before President

'nuff said. Next?

[MrBenchley]

2. How about steroid-poisoned movie star

with no political experience?

[a_random_joel]

3. Touche!

Great point!

[WesWing2004]

6. just the mere mention of Ahnuld

I loved your post, steriod-poisoned movie star they are all wanting as guv of CA. That'll shut those freepers up.

[RobertSeattle]

4. Generals are very political - it's the nature of the beast

Your job is more political the more you go up the chain in the military...And 4 stars is the top of the chain.

The "pundits" better be careful - people may rethink Shrub's "experience" as a business man and a governor.

[lebkuchen]

5. Anybody but Bush

That's all that matters.

[Paragon]

7. Governor of Virginia with no military experience

Retired General with no governing experience

Dean/Clark 2004. 'nuff said.

[Pltcl_jnky]

8. after tomorrow

Im guessing it will be more like Clark/dean

or the extremem outside chance of Clark/Clinton

[Larkspur]

10. Tomorrow Hurricane Isabel will be nearing or hitting North Carolina

and Isable, not Clark will be the big news.

[pruner]

17. Dean was the governor of Vermont… not Virginia

n/t

[Larkspur]

9. But generals don't beg civilians for votes to get their job

The military is a hierarchal system and a very male supremacist one as well.

Generals may play politics with their peers and superiors, but trekking to country fairs to shake hands with common civilians, walking in parades and greeting civilians along the parade route, giving stump speeches for the upteenth time in the backyards of school board members in small towns in small states is not the kind of politics generals usually do.

Dean is a workaholic in his campaign. Can Clark match the drive Dean has? Can Clark humble himself to go to the out of the way places to beg for votes and money?

[Starpass]

11. Washington, Grant, Ike and .....

..Clark. Carrying on a tradition of people turning to Generals AFTER a war............sounds hot damn perferct to me!! Did they mention that little piece of history. "After war" - yes, that's the line Clark needs to use to remind them.

[dfong63]

15. clark is not in the league of washington or eisenhower

both Washington and Eisenhower fought years-long campaigns that tried the nation's soul, against enemies that threatened the US. Clark's Kosovo war was a mere skirmish in which he had overwhelming military superiority from the outset. and against an enemy which posed absolutely no threat to the US.

[MarianJack]

12. I Remember...

...during bush sr.'s gulf war, one of the qualities they cited for Schwarzkoph (spelling?) was political skills. They went on to say that that was one of the qualities required for high command today. Some are saying that Gen. Clark was unpopular in the Pentagon BECAUSE of his being political.

Of course, the media whores will go along with any Clark bash that kkkarl comes up with, but I think that anybody who who underestimates Clark's political skills just may have their heads handed to them.

Welcome & Good Luck, General!

[zoidberg]

13. Might be a good thing

I'm sure plenty of people think higher of the guy because he isn't a career politician.

[Starpass]

14. Marian and Zoid--you both have good points

It wasn't only Stormin Norman that they got all hyped up about but also Powell. Don't tell me that stars don't sell. And, as Zoid pointed out you keep hearing how people hate "politicians". It's a plus not a minus for him. Sooooo many have served in the military and been told to follow their "leader"--that's why Bush dresses up and plays da' Commander bit (don't question, just follow, it's unpatriotic not to follow the commander, etc.). I say Clark will cause people to listen. Hey, even if he doesn't get the nomination, he gets people to listen to the Dems positions and to listent to criticism of the fake commander.

[dfong63]

19. yeah, stars sell really well - especially in banana republics

where they hate "career politicians", only there they refer to them as "civilian government".

[Pepperbelly]

16. Failed alcoholic businessman ...

You've got a mean streak. I like that.

[dfong63]

18. let's turn that question around

How many times are we going to see that phrase in the next few months?

as long as the clark supporters keep bragging about the four stars, you can count on the skeptics to keep bringing the lack of electoral political experience.

Just like John Edwards name was never mentioned without "trial lawyer" attached.

actually, i like the "trial lawyer" bit about Edwards. unf Edwards is also light on political experience. and he voted for the Iraq war.

How come no one ever said the "failed alcoholic businessman with no political experience?"

people did say that.

Isn't being in the military itself a "political experience"?

if that's true, then Dr Dean's political experience should also count as military experience, cause political campaigns can be like war. but no, the two are different. just look at his evasiveness on the "democratic" question. in politics you can't hide behind the "none of your business" excuse. that's not the way politics works. the fact that Clark took that tack is a great illustration of how different the political and military milieux are.

Some of these people should read Ike's bio...

Clark isn't in Ike's league... Ike fought a world war against an enemy that threatened the US. Clark didn't do anything comparable.