What should I ask Wesley Clark?

[WillyBrandt]

I'm likely going to meet Wesley Clark tomorrow, and might even get a chance to speak to him for a reasonable time.

What should I ask? What should I say?

(Neutral and sympathetic comment only please. Deluded flamers, please move on.)

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Ask him this ...

Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost over night?
When your mother tells you to spit it out, do you swallow it in spite?
Well, do you, General Clark?

--bkl

[WillyBrandt]

2. Will do

But I can't imagine The General chewing gum.

[wyldwolf]

54. That would be John Edwards...

Remember when Drudge made such a big deal about Edwards chewing gum?

The depths the rightwing will go is astounding...

http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/data/2003/01/22/20030122_140733_je.htm

[kodi]

3. "why do you want to be president?"

and what do you envision america can be and how it can be created if you are president.

[Guaranteed]

4. Ask him about the Saudis

financing terrorists. Ask him why he thinks the Bush administration hasn't done anything about it. And ask him what he would do about it, if anything.

[WillyBrandt]

7. excellent question

on top of the list

[Rowdyboy]

41. Yes, this IS the question...

Ask him about our relations with Saudi Arabia...

[Kahuna]

58. Good question.

:thumbsup:

[boxster]

62. I agree - great question.

Frankly, I think we should ask all of the candidates this question!

[union_maid]

5. Ask him anything you want

Just be sure to report back here. Have a great time, too!

[mikehiggins]

6. You should tell him

to keep on refusing to go negative in regard to the other Democrats. Maybe it's just me but I think most of the people I know are just sick to death of the internecine warfare among our candidates. The "Dean Divers" do a terrible disservice to our chances of beating Bush in 2004, and so does Lieberman. I think a campaign which stresses positive values will go a lot farther than that other kind.

If attacked, Clark should of course reply, but should limit that reply only to the attack, and do that as succinctly as possible. Then get right back on message. Save the criticisms for the real foe and even then don't become obsessed with them.

There are going to be more than enough voices out there taking aim at the administration, ranging from MoveOn to just about every environmental group on earth.

Anyway, that's what I'd say to him. Your mileage may vary.

[WillyBrandt]

9. that's extremely smart

Clark is running as the positive, optimistic candidate, who nontheless exposes Bush. that might be smart strategy as well as moral on its own terms

[HFishbine]

60. The "Dean Divers"

do a terrible disservice to our chances of beating Bush."

I like Dean and I disagree with you completely. Now is the time to fully vet our candidates. If there is some horrid dirt about one of them, wouldn't you like to know about it now, rather than after we've selected a nominee and Rove goes diving?

[TacticalPeek]

8. "What are people for?"

[LuCifer]

10. FAIRNESS DOCTRINE!

Please ask him about that! We need to take back the media. Also, please thank him for making a call to Randi Rhodes!

ANYONE, and I mean ANYONE, BUTT BUSH 2004!

Lu

[Clark Can WIN]

18. He addressed fairness doctrine during his NH

town hall meeting about 3-4 weeks ago? Said it needed to be brought back. Talked about how much he despised "hate radio" and that media needed a return to balance.

[Bread and Circus]

36. Randy Rhodes of Ozzy....

or some other Randy Rhodes?

Is there any other Randy Rhodes?

[xray s]

11. Health insurance

Would he shift from an employer financed health insurance system to a government financed health insurance system?

[WillyBrandt]

12. he'll answer that soon

in a health care speech detailing his plans

[xray s]

21. Good...that and Iraq are is the issues I am hanging my vote on

The employer financed health insurance system in this country is imploding. The private sector has proven inefficient in providing this service. Employers are burdened with paperwork, skyrocketing rates and high administration costs. This has put us at a big competitive disadvantage internationally, as other countries have done the right thing by publicly financing health insurance.

Case in point, we are losing manufacturing jobs to Canada because of their public health care system.

People are ready for Medicare for all. Besides lifting an incredible burdon from employer and employee alike, you could also save money by eliminating the need for seperate administration for Medicaid and the VA health care system.

I do not think the answer is throwing tax subsidies at the curent system!

Here is an idea to start with. Offer the general public the option to buy into Medicare, regardless of their age. Offer employers the same option. Give the private insurance companies a little competition.

[Myra]

47. Another vote for the Health Insurance question

What will he do to insure that 'Merka
is ranked higher than #37 by the World
Health Org in the health care they provide
their citizens?

What will he do to insure that every 'Merkan
can have access to health care instead of just
five out of six?

What will he do to stop the drug companies from
gouging 'Merkans with outrageous prices?

Ask him if he thinks it's an absolute disgrace
that we're the only industrialized nation that
doesn't provide health care to citizens.

[PassingFair]

13. Ask him...

If he's registered as a Democrat yet!

[WillyBrandt]

15. he is

his official arkansas registration went in a few weeks ago. I thougt that everyone knew that.

[PassingFair]

19. Silly me...

So he's been a Democrat for a whole few weeks. Now I can sleep well....

[WillyBrandt]

20. Thank you very much for your insightful comments

You have contributed greatly to the discussion. I often worry that people will offer nothing but mindless snark, or maybe a superior snort--but you, well, you really added something original.

Thanks!

[PassingFair]

25. You're very welcome...

I'm heartened that you believe my sentiments to be unoriginal. It would be distressing if the fact that your candidate WAS NOT A DEMOCRAT until a few weeks ago had gone unnoticed.

[WillyBrandt]

26. It's good that amity is maintained

Nevermind, of course, that my candidate is from a state where less than 5% of people declare party affiliation, regardly of their loyalty.

Also, nevermind that his campaign contributions have gone entirely to Democrats.

Nevermind that he has only campaigned for Democrats, and has done so for more than a few weeks.

Nevermind that that Republican fundraiser was eclipsed by far more Democratic events.

And, oh yeah, nevermind that he's running on the Democratic ticket with Democratic positions, and has a chance of defeating the Republican president in a landslide.

What we need is a partisan warrior who can make the defeat most glorious. That is the goal.

No?

[PassingFair]

31. I don't know...

"How DO we feel about that, Mary?"

[WillyBrandt]

33. "Wes, I'll tell you that"

When you're President in 2005. Stop being impatient!

[wtmusic]

34. Never mind that in 2001 he said:

"We've got the great team in office, men like Colin Powell, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice... people I know very well - our president George W. Bush. We need them there."

[WillyBrandt]

I think that was quite perscipacious

"Men like...Condoleezza Rice"

Nobody else has pointed this out, as far as I know.

[wtmusic]

42. I admire Clark's perscipicascissity

it's statements like "were going to replace, 'Don't ask, don't tell' with 'everyone behave'" that bother me.

Thanks Dad.

[wyldwolf]

55. Nevermind in 2003, Dean said...

I supported the invasion of Afghanistan and the elimination of the Taliban. I thought that group was a clear and present danger to the United States, and I supported what the President did.

and in June of 2003, he said: Oh, well, I tend to believe the president. I think most Americans tends to believe the president.

[retyred]

61. Or that when

Clinton was president and the economy was better and the debt less than it is now, he felt we should eliminate Social Security, and medicare and raise the retirement age to 70.

But now while the economy is much worse, unemployment is a lot worse and the debt is the largest ever under bush, he doesn't feel the need to do any of that.

It couldn't be because he's running for "Top Hack" now could it?
It couldn't be because he wants the old folks vote now could it?
and it surely isn't because it's not what a good "liberal" candidate might say now could it?

Of course not so stop saying that!



Retyred In Fla
So I Read This Book

[PassingFair]

40. And by the way...

PARTISANSHIP (n): The strong supporting or endorsement of a side, party, etc.

Maybe you should coin the term Party SANS ship or SANS Partyship to describe your warrior.

[WillyBrandt]

56. Whoa...

That's just weak

[MoonRiver]

14. How will he deal with the issue of computerized voting fraud?

He may not know right now, but I sincerely hope he's willing to seek answers to this imminent threat.

[Clark Can WIN]

16. Ask him what he wants to do about Afganistan

What's our plan there?

Cause right now it's just gone back to a stinking fish hole. We went in there, blew more **it up and promptly left(90% of it or so anyway) without any of our grand plans. Where the hell are the Democratic elections that were supposed to happen?

Tell him he was great on hardball and Wanda says hi.

[WillyBrandt]

17. Here's what I want to ask

Do you understand how perilous America's position is, both at home and abroad?

- Abroad from terrorists, radical religious ideologies, and dissatisfaction that unfortunately finds (rightly or wrongly) America as the emblem and the cause. And from our horrible misadventure in Iraq.

- At home from right-wing nuts that have no regard for American values, and for American democracy.

I think he has a grasp on the first--as well as anyone. I'm not sure that he understands fully the nature of the right-wing assault on democratic norms and values. I want to know if he knows that this is a long, hard fight against an entire MOVEMENT and not merely Bush himself, that must take place on intellectual, social, cultural, and political planes.

Maybe this one: "General Clark, how will you help America redefine itself--yet again--in the face of danger? How will you help America renew its sense of Americanness?"

[tedoll78]

22. I have a good one:

Of the current US Supreme Court justices, who is your favorite?

[Clark Can WIN]

23. The one he hasn't

appointed yet :-)

[WillyBrandt]

24. fantastic...

i'm writing these down.

that one is EXCELLENT.

any non-political questions? favorite song? finest spice girl?

[tedoll78]

27. Thank you SO much!

I may be a Dean man, but I really really really like Clark. Heck, I'll add another really. If the polls in MArch show Clark beating Bush while Dean flops against him, I'll seriously consider jumping ship to Clark. I love Dean and all, but I want Bush out BAD.

[WillyBrandt]

you know why there are many Dean/Clark people?

Who are on the edge between the two?

Because these two candidates are the ones who are most FUN to support. I mean, it's almost a joy reading the cheezy blogs, going to the MeetUps, playing wannabe electoral theoreticians.

I'm energized, what can I say.

[tedoll78]

35. Yup!

You're right!

[union_maid]

28. favorite song and favorite author

Both of those would be interesting. Mostly, just tell him that a lot of us are pulling for him, believe in him and thank him for running.

[Clark Can WIN]

30. Yeah, does he have any hobbies?

What does he like to do when he's not trying to save the world?

[fujiyama]

43. As for non political questions...

ask him who he looked/ looks up to, his idol, role model, etc...

Ask him if he has a favorite president, or which president he really admires (ok I guess this is sorta political after all).

You also might want to ask him what he would do to try to bring peace in the middle east...

Another thing I would ask is when he realized he was a democrat...when it was that he realized that this was the party he belonged to...and how his experiences in the military would help suit him for the highest office of this country, and one of the most powerful positions in the world.

[FrenchieCat]

29. He already said

He liked Justices like Souter.

[FrenchieCat]

32. Ask him

If he might think of naming Bill Clinton to a cabinet post, Secretary of the Treasurer, or as the "Middle Peace Envoy" he talks so much about.

Also ask him if he would cancel the executive order Bush put on the Reagan papers, if elected.

[drfemoe]

37. Ask him

if he knows General Boykin. ..

Ask him what we are going to do in the next few years when cheap fossil fuel becomes scarce, and between now and then.

[andym]

38. Ask him what he thinks of Public Interest issues like ...

1) Ask him what he thinks of Public Interest issues like ...
a) the bankruptcy reform law (pro corporation) now wending
its way through congress

2) the extension of the copyright laws to 95 years in 1998
(Sony Bono copyright extension bill and the whole millenium copyright bill, of 1998), where big corporations are allowed to
hold on to their precious copyright versus allowing works to enter the public domain, nevermind the problems with the Millenium bill, which limits fair use.

Campaign isssue (Important)

3) Ask him whether a virtual suggestion box on his website would be useful. Where his supporters could make a bunch of suggestions, somebody might moderate it, and then the campaign or the general
himself might answer it. Ask him whether such a gimmick
might better help connect his supporters to the official campaign in
a relatively painless manner.

[cally]

39. Coming from the military

and a male dominated culture, can he adjust to the civilian culture. Where folks don't follow orders and women have more power than in the military.

[CoffeePlease1947]

44. Ask him for a job. That would be nice.

After all, he is going to be President.

Mike

[Chomskyite]

45. Black box voting

"Many of us on the Democratic side are becoming very suspicious of the fact that so many of the owners of touch-screen voting systems have Republican owners or pro-Bush ownership. Have you read much about this issue? Do you share this concern? What do you think should be done to keep our right to vote?"

[raysr]

46. Ask Him This

Please go away and get out of our party. I listened to M. Moore go on and on about this fraud and being a Viet-era vet I can assure you that military personnel achieving that rank are not socially oriented.

[WillyBrandt]

57. I'll be sure to say that

"Hey, Wes, man, this raysr dude says you ain't socially oriented. He typed the message to me. And then he edited it. So watch out!"

[FrenchieCat]

64. mmm.....mmmm.........raysr

Two posts says Clark should get out of the party and out of the race???

Now that's not anything any respectable DUer member would suggest. Many things have been said, but that ain't been one of them.

Is that you Karl Rove?????
Desperation has forced you to become a DU member????

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: WELCOME! :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[pa28]

48. Space Program

I've heard this is one of his pet issues. Ask him about his vision for NASA.

[jumptheshadow]

49. Thanks for this opportunity

Willy, I love the guy but the Axciom thing bothers me. I know he made a statement saying he was concerned about the privacy of citizens. But I would like to hear something stronger and more detailed. Does he favor data mining in the war against terrorism? What limits should it have? What privacy rights should our citizens have and what recourse should they have if their privacy rights are abused?

What would he do about Guantanamo?

The non-policy question (if you dare ask it) would be this one: Our DU astrologers have been trying to do his chart. They know the day but not the time of day when he was born. What time of day, to the minute, was he born? (And by the way, one of our better astrologers has done a "rectified" chart for him. There could be some trickiness next year but it's basically shows positive trends during the most relevant political periods.)

[Kamika]

50. ask him if he liked wesley crusher

I swear i always think about him when i hear about clark

[Skwmom]

51. Suggestions.

1. When is he going to put a rapid response team into place to counter all the lies slung at him?

[CWebster]

52. Position on Israeli-Palestinian conflict

and campaign finance reform.

And will he sign an oath in blood that he will adhere to his campaign promises and positions if he were to be elected.

;-)

[realFedUp]

53. Ask about the plight of the Iraqi women

or actually any women in an occupied nation...

[LWolf]

59. Ask him his position on

high-stakes testing in public education.

[JackRiddler]

63. The 9/11 question...

Same one I once got to ask Dean:

For two years, the administration has been blocking investigation into the events of 9/11, against the wishes of the 9/11 families themselves. The White House refuses to release classified documents to the independent national commission (Kean Commission), citing "executive privilege." Do you support full disclosure of essential facts the government already knows about the 9/11 attacks. Are you willing to make this an issue in your campaign?

-------------------

Dean gave a good answer but unfortunately when I asked him I forgot to include the last sentence, which is the key.

[lostnfound]

65. Will he continue Plan Columbia (spraying with Roundup)? AND

When the poor people in Latin America elect leftist leaders like Chavez and Lula etc, will he accept them and work with them, or will he try to overthrow them and blockade them, like Venezuela or Chile?

On edit: This is a sincere question. If he criticizes Plan Columbia and says he will not try to overthrow leftist governments, I'd be very encouraged by the prospect of General Clark as President.

[kang]

68. Do ask him to talk about the "Drug War"

since he could tie it into the US's failure to work w/other countries to really effectively solve issues that threaten American security. Ask him to talk about a national treatment program that cuts the demand and reduces addicts in America.

This is a strong message since Bush has left Pres. Fox out to dry even though there's a huge opportunity to reform Mexico and turn the tide against drug cartels.

By all means ask about Columbia and how we will handle the Columbian military's continued collaboration w/paramilitaries who are just as inhumane as the so-called Leftist rebels.

I think this is a very important area of our foreign policy that gets ignored too often. It's our own hemisphere after all!

And as a tie in topic, ask him what he thinks about the Pentagon's privatizing of many support services and other operations. I think he'll be best positioned to criticize such activities.

You probably already met him by now and to be honest I've shook his hand twice already (Dover and Manchester), but just thought of this stuff now. Good luck!

[Andromeda]

66. Clark and Dean are my favorites...

so if both are going to be neck and neck it's going to be a hard decision to make. I do think it's going to be between these two the way it's going.

Ask Clark to look into voter fraud and electoral manipulation. Bring up the Diebold machines and the concern nationwide about electronic vote tampering.

[elperromagico]

67. I have a question!

General Clark, this question is multiple choice.

You're the President of the United States, in a classroom, listening as schoolchildren read a book. Suddenly, your chief of staff comes in and informs you that the United States is under attack.

You would:

A. Remain in the classroom in order to avoid "scaring the children,"
B. Stare off into space like an idiot,
C. A & B, or
D. Get up and take immediate action to ensure that no further attacks can take place, thereby possibly saving thousands of lives.

What's your choice, General?