Me's-Thinks the General better get his shit together and Quick!

[trumad]

I mean come on...Clark's had months to prepare for his new gig and he can't answer simple ideological questions. This Miami Herald piece is exactly what I am talking about..http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6808621.htm..

Gen. Clarks on a listening tour after he jumps in?

So is the routine for the next umtenth months..

Reporter: Gen Clark: You endorsed a moratorium on the Death Penalty..does that mean you'll stop executions...

Clark: Mary!!!!!! Help! ( My words not Clarks)

I mean come on...these are basic questions that even my 10 year old knows how to answer......

The General better quit riding the fence and he better hurry or he's gonna flame real quick!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. what a kvetch

nt



on edit- I regret that kvecth characterization.... I want to elevate the discourse... I read an account of the conversation in the New York Times... Wes will find out shortly to be more careful around the press.... At least he didn't get busted for making ethnic jokes like Reagan did in the 1980 campaign....

[JNelson6563]

2. did they get that on film?

the "Mary help!" thing? If so, and if Clark were to somehow win the nom, I can tell you what the GOP's commercial will look like....

Julie

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. I Have A Headache This Morning,,,,

Fuck the GOP....


No.... Really fuck the GOP

[Catch22Dem]

8. Uh....are you high?

Did you see where trumad said "Mary Help" were his words not Clarks? Have some java!

[trumad]

12. Actaully I stoled the "Mary Help" line from this piece..

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/19/politics/campaigns/19CLAR.html?ex=1064635200&

[HereSince1628]

20. The trouble with the "3rd way" is that its trying to catch a moving target

in this nytimes piece Clark demonstrates deftness placing foundations on both sides of some issues.

He avoids a position but also doesn't get pinned down. So he can continue doing the 3rd way until near the last moment, which is seeking the mode of the electorate...even if their drawn to the right.

That's actually the professional politicians two step which is perfect for a DLC candidate because their pragmatism prioritizes winning above ideology. BTW, Taking one politician's rhetoric to the "center" is easier and cheaper than trying to "move the center" by educating the electorate to the values of other ideas or philosophies.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

15. The Fuck The GOP Was Not Directed At The Person Making The Post

it was directed at the GOP... I can't stand the sons of bitchs....

[KaraokeKarlton]

4. This is what happens when someone with no political experience

runs for president. If he doesn't pull it together right quick he's going to blow his shot at VP. I'm thinking it might have been a better idea if he had not run.

[trumad]

6. I like Clark...I really do

but it seems to me that with all the months before he announced he would have assembled a team that got his head right on matters other than the war. I have read several articles where the guy has refused to answer questions because he was afraid of saying the wrong thing. All I'm saying is he better have some solid answers on important issues and make it quick....

[KaraokeKarlton]

18. I agree

I was really thinking he should be Dean's VP pick, but given what I've been seeing, I'm starting to think he might not be the best pick afterall. I guess it's better to see what kind of reactions he gets now rather than later. I'm glad he entered in that respect, but at the same time, if he doesn't pull it together I don't want Dean to select him as his running mate.

[Rowdyboy]

5. 2/3 of American can't name ONE Democrat running for president...

Take all the time you want, Wes. Do it on your schedule, not theirs and ignore anyone that gives you crap over it.

[trumad]

7. That's not the point...

I mean come on...if you don't have a strong solid opinion about the death penalty by now than :wtf:?

I do...Don't you?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. Some Folks Position Are Too Subtle To Be Reduced To A Soundbite

For instance, I oppose the death penalty but I won't go to San Quetin prison to hold a candlelight vigil when it comes time to execute someone like David Westerfield who raped, murdered and discarded like trash a seven year old girl in California....

I am pro choice but I would counsel any woman who was having an unwanted pregnancy to put the child up for adoption...

on edit- the rejection of substance and the premium the press puts on style is the reason where we have arrived at the sorry state of politics we have today....

[IndianaGreen]

16. Like Kerry's explanation for his "antiwar prowar" vote on Iraq?

"Some Folks Position Are Too Subtle To Be Reduced To A Soundbite"

We don't need another waffling Kerry in the race...

I actually want Clark to do well, and I am counting on him taking supporters away from Kerry.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. That's A Little Different

but I am sure you can see how folks of good will can be torn about the death penalty and abortion...

[HootieMcBoob]

9. Sweet mericful crap!

The man will be laying out his platform in the coming days and weeks. He's said this. In fact, today I believe, he will be giving a speech in Iowa outlining his economic plan. He has his stuff together.

[trumad]

11. Platform

He's now a presidential canidate and he can't answer a death penalty question?

[leetrisck]

13. bush answered no questions

on the campaign trail and even today he could no more tell you what his position is on a topic than a man in the moon. I'll take any Democrat over the criminals in the yellow house

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. "yellow house"

That's great!!!!

ROTFLMFAO

[Skwmom]

19. I don't have a problem with Clark not shooting from the hip.

Seems to me he really wants to understand an issue before he takes a stance. In other words, the man likes to do his homework. I don't have a problem with this. I'm sick of politicians who take stances based on a polling of the issue versus really trying to understand an issue and then making an informed decision.

Considering how ill-informed the majority of Americans are, relying on polling to determine your stance on an issue is really kind of scary.

[sfecap]

21. Fair enough.

So what's he been doing for the last six months while deciding to run? I haven't head one legible policy statement from him. He's had lot's of time.

He should be hitting the ground running. He s way late in the cycle, and he should be prepared. After all, he is a Rhodes Scholar.

[Pastiche423]

22. That's what I would like to know too

For months, while he was being "coy", why wasn't he firming up his stance on the issues? Hell, he's had more time to prepare than all of the other nine candidates.

I've heard he has a vision, yet he doesn't know how all of the important issues fit into said vision?

[moondust]

23. They once bitched about Clinton taking so long

to set up a cabinet and get the ball rolling, etc. Measured steps paid off.

[Bertrand]

24. Interestingly

he did come out in favour of engaging Cuba through business as opposed to being pro-embargo.

...

But the former chief of the U.S. Southern Command, who oversaw military operations in Latin America and the Caribbean, said he is inclined to favor engagement as a means to democratization.

''If you look at the way we operated in Eastern Europe, we were effective in taking down communism because there was no embargo,'' he said. ``The Iron Curtain was something they built, not something we imposed.

''The best way to remove those regimes was the way that we did it,'' continued Clark, who led NATO forces as supreme Allied commander during the liberation of Kosovo. ``We brought Western companies in, we worked with their governments. Bit by bit those people realized they didn't have a system that worked and that they wanted a democracy like everyone else in Europe.''

snip