A Tale of Two Generals: Clark versus Powell

[dolstein]

A lot of people are asking themselves whether Clark is really a Democrat. Well, how many people are still asking themselves whether Powell's really a Republican? Even though he obviously disagrees with the Bush administration on many things, Powell's a team player. He's chosen sides and he's not going to switch. And it should be pretty obvious by now that Clark's chosen sides too. And though I think Clark made the far wiser choice, I believe that choice, like Powell's, had much to do with happenstance.

Now this is pure speculation on my part, but I suspect that Clark could have ended up as a Republican. And Powell could have ended up as a Democrat. They're both pro-choice. They're both pro-affirmative action. They moderates on economic policy and internationalists on foreign policy. The Democratic Party would have welcomed Powell with open arms, just as the Republican Party would have welcomed Clark (don't let their current attacks fool you -- you can bet they wouldn't be saying these things if Clark had decided to become a Republican).

I suspect that Powell became a Republican because it served his needs at the time. He was interested in a high level foreign policy position, not the presidency, and he had a better working relationship with the foreign policy team in the first Bush administration than he had with Clinton. It's also worth noting that at the time Powell was trying to decide whether he was a Republican or a Democrat, Gore didn't seem to have much of a chance of getting elected. It's interesting to ponder what might have happened if there had been no Lewinsky scandal, and Gore looked like a shoe-in. Could Powell have hitched a ride with the Gore express? Definitely.

It's also interesting to speculate about what might have happened to Clark if the Iraq invasion had never happened, or if he'd been offered a position in the Bush administration. While I don't think Clark became a Democrat out of spite, I also don't think Clark would have turned down a choice spot in the Bush administration had he been offered one. Instead, fate conspired to keep Clark's options open long enough for world events to sharpen in his mind the differences between the two parties. This time fortune smiled upon the Democrats.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

1. Thank You for a Reasonable (as Usual) Post

I think Clark used to be a Republican, until Bill Clinton, and then he leaned Democrat but preferred to believe he was mostly non-partisan, as many military men do. It was only after he saw the increasing insanity of Shrub that he really jumped into the Democratic camp. It was certainly clear after 9/11, IMO, where his true loyalties were: the Democratic party.

DTH

[leetrisck]

2. Thank you for putting into words

in one place what some of us already know but is difficult to get across to people. Also, Colin Powell's wife is definitely a Democrat and didn't make any bones about it.

[StephNW4Clark]

3. Clark was asked...

...to be a Republican and declined.

See www.talkingpointsmemo.com for more information

[SeattleRob]

4. Powell....

With his phony pre-war UN presentation and all the other lies, he has completely lost all credibility. He'll proabably end up working for a Defense Contractor or the Carlyle Group.

[MoonRiver]

5. Thanks. It's rare to get such a rational and dispationate analysis

of our candidates. What a lot of true believers, from all sides of the political spectrum, fail to realize is that politicians are human beings. Their opinions change and evolve through time. I could give a rat's arse whether Wesley Clark once or twice or more than twice voted Repub. What I care about is what his positions are now and what he can do for this country. And I believe, if elected president, General Clark will turn around every horror and disaster Team * has perpetrated on US. THAT is why I'll give Clark my total support.

[ThomWV]

10. Exactly

You have said precisely what I had in my mind. Thank you. This is the man who's stated opnions and goals today closest match my own. I do not care how he felt in the 80's, or 90's, or even much before this past summer to tell the truth. Right now I agree with him and right now I think he has the mix of qualities which will make him the greatest voter draw. And in the end that's what this part now, the pre election time, is all about. Its voter draw, and in some cases that means the candidates platform, sometimes just opnion, sometimes just being from the same region is enough, sometimes its the accent, or the age, or the looks, and often its the ability to speak coherently. Clark shines in all of the above. So he is the one I wish to see go against Bush.

Thom

[FlemingsGhost]

6. Colin Powell and Wesley Clark are politicians.

'Nuff said.

[MoonRiver]

7. And what might Dean, Kucinich, Kerry, LIEberman, Edwards, Gephardt,

etc. be?

[FlemingsGhost]

8. Sadly, our last hope.

;-)

[Julien Sorel]

9. He's a witch! Burn him!

Burn this post, too, like all unpleasant truths that must be destroyed if possible!

[dolstein]

11. ???????

In case it wasn't apparent from this or any of my other posts, I like Wes Clark. I don't care if he didn't become a Democrat until very recently. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth.

[Julien Sorel]

14. LOL

I think you missed the point. ;-)

[dudeness]

12. Powell lied to you all.

as the perceived "voice of reason" in the bush admin..powell played the good cop role to perfection...Powells Feb 5 UN presentation was a case for war..a war that subsequently had no basis or foundation...for my part that places him in the same category as Kissinger..

[MoonRiver]

13. Well, I never believed him.

He sold his soul to Team *. Maybe he did it so his son could land a choice political position. Who knows. The fact is he made a deal with the devil. I hope he lands in the Hague with the rest of the * war criminals.

[MGKrebs]

15. Nice post, Dolstein. n/t

[Rowdyboy]

16. Thanks, an excellent post...

Good analysis...