Looks like it will be Clark/Graham in 2004!!

[Kosmos Mariner]

Good choice Wes! :-) The VP slot has to be someone like Graham or Edwards. Graham has mastered Florida politics. You see, down here people like progressive ideas, but they don't want the "liberal" packaging. People are going to eat up Clark/Graham down here. They are just begging for "moderate" Dems to vote for. Go Wes!

<snip>U.S. Sen. Bob Graham slipped aside to meet with candidate Wesley Clark -- suggesting he is being sized up as a running mate. Graham said he offered Clark access to a group of moderate Democrats he leads in the Senate.

"Our membership would be very receptive," Graham told Clark as they stepped off his campaign bus parked outside a Disney convention center.

"I think we can put together a group of House and Senate Democrats that would be very interested in what his message is, and could be helpful," Graham said afterward.
<snip>

http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/localstoryN1207DEMSCON.htm

:dem:

[dean4america]

1. well, maybe...

clark needs to do one small thing first though, like get the nomination.

it will just as easily be Dean/Graham as Clark/Graham (though I think a clark/dean ticket speaks more to me as a voter).

[Hieronymus]

3. I like a Clark/Dean

or Dean/Clark.:hi:

[Kremer]

12. I said it a long time ago!

I told my dem friends a while ago and this could be their slogan: D.C. (Dean/Clark) for D.C. (District of Columbia.)2004

[neuvocat]

21. Yes but...

it sounds like some arrangements are being made. That to me is the implication.

[HootieMcBoob]

46. Whoever wins, Dean or Clark

is going to need a running mate with Washington experience. Clark/Dean or Dean/Clark would not be a good idea in my opinion. Grahm on the other hand would make an excellent running mate for either candidate.

[Bombtrack]

2. If he doesn't chose Edwards for runningmate, then he needs him for AG

(attourney general)
I just think Edwards would be a better campaigner in a general election. He's the best of any candidate I believe in one on one situations. (admitadly you can only do so much of that in a presidential campaign)

So I think it should definetly be one of them. it's a hard choice.

If he goes with Graham, what function would Edwards serve in the presidential campaign? Just helping to get Bowles win the senate race and NC, VA, TN, GA, and WV electoral votes?

[Kosmos Mariner]

4. Edwards....

He would be an awesome Attorney General! I really like him a lot. North Carolinians are lucky to have him. The Justice Dept. would do a 180 from its current direction. Edwards replacing Ashcroft, how sweet that would be! I think he would also be a great VP, but I am partial to Graham because I am from Florida, and I think his experience is invaluable. :-)

:dem:

[jbfam4]

9. I agree

Edwards would make a wonderful A G ..........what an improvement over what we have now. No more draping statues breasts with expensive material....

[Bombtrack]

10. He is the only candidate with fundemental justice dep. reform in his

platform.

Among them shifting responsibility of spying from the (often corrupted) FBI and to a new DHS intelligence agency that has ALOT more congressional oversight.

And creating an office of civil liberties and civil rights, that is an official government watchdog agencyt

http://www.johnedwards2004.com/civil-rights.asp
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/corporate-responsibility.asp
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/crime-and-justice.asp
http://www.johnedwards2004.com/security.asp

[Julien Sorel]

8. Actually, I'm leaning towards Edwards as DNC chair.

From what I'm hearing, Edwards is a master of the small room. He's demonstrated he can fund raise, he's moderate, from the South, pragmatic, and has a good eye for detail. If Dean wins the nomination, Edwards would be on my short list to try to put things back together after the carnage.

McGovern took a similar position and used it to catapult himself to the nomination. At Edwards' age, it might not be a bad move. Of course, it's best if things never come to that.

[Bombtrack]

11. why not Dean as DNC chairman?

Even though I don't really like him at all, that would subside if he get's beaten in the nomination.

It would be somthing to appease the Deanies

I think he wouldn't have raised ALOT of the money he did if he wasn't being helped by the vast right wing conspiracy. But he did earn alot of it.

[ibegurpard]

13. Bombtrack!

I though you abhorred the "tactic of many deanies of smearing his critics as Bush-lovers, Bush-lite, Rovian etc." Looks like you've managed to pick it up pretty well. You're a quick study.

[Bombtrack]

14. I do. I'm not saying Dean is complicit

Dean does not like Bush being president, and wants to beat Bush. and so do every one of the candidates.

Hoever he is still the candidate that the GOP has wanted nominated for a long time.

[MODemocrat]

50. Republicans don't want Dean to get the nomination

That is just another tactic they're using to sway people away from him. If they want someone nominated who can easily be beaten by the annointed president, they could just as easily pick any of the other candidates. The republicans always say exactly opposite of what they mean. They're particularly scared of Dean and Clark. :crazy: :eyes: :boring: :scared: :dem:

[Bombtrack]

52. That is rediculous and you clearly have nothing to back it up

or "debunk" the dozens and dozens of prominent right-wing journalists and pundits who have been permanantly overjoyed ever Dean's "success" in the primary process. They've also contributed at a minimum hundreds of thousands to his campaign if not millions.

The only case for "reverse psychology" that can be made with any sense of reality is the new Gillespie "attack" on him in Vermont, which they knew would do nothing more than rile up his supporters and give his campaign some juice for the rediculous arguments like the one you're making.

Dean's campaign staff even admitted that they loved the "attack".

[retyred]

61. How many times have I read

The more they attack dean, the more I love him, It only enforces my desire to see him win the nomination?

You don't think Rove knows this game all too well? Play it if you want but I want no part of it.



retyred in fla
“good night paul, wherever you are”
So I read this book

[Julien Sorel]

15. Dean would be a horrid choice as chair.

It's a position for someone who can unite competing and warring factions, not set them off. It's also a position that requires vision, not exactly a Dean strong suit. Besides, if Dean is the nominee and gets crushed, nobody is going to want to see him again, not as chair, not as anything. When was the last time you saw Dukakis?

[Bombtrack]

17. good point

In the general election campaign he could be given some responsiblity.

He could try campaign for Clark with his supporters in Iowa and NH. And maybe liberal metros in swingstates like Portland. Kerry could handle Pennsylvania, Arizona, Ohio, and New Hampshire

Leiberman in Arizona and South Florida, and Gephardt and Kucinich in midwest metros(MO, MI, OH, WI,), for varyingly moderate and very liberal audiences.

[mhr]

5. I Like Dean/Clark - Clark Is Not Ready For The Presidency!

eom

[Kosmos Mariner]

7. The article also stated that...

Dean spoke with Florida's other senator, Bill Nelson. He is a solid politician, but I wouldn't want Jeb appointing his replacement. :-(


:dem:

[Boo Boo]

32. Thanks!

I needed a good laugh.

[TrueAmerican]

35. I like Clark/and maybe Dean

Dean is not ready to be President. He was only a Governor of a state with the Population of El Paso, TX. (except they are all white)

[creativelcro]

37. absolutely... FL confirmed this impression.

PLUS, all the military crap, together with the flag, and the comments on religion, made me near barf yesterday. Before I was kind of neutral, now I know this guy will not be president.

[retyred]

62. FL confirmed this impression?

Was that before or after the 3 standing ovations from the whole room including supporters from all the candidates? Then again you were neutral right? LOL



retyred in fla
“good night paul, wherever you are”
So I read this book

[Gore1FL]

6. I imagine most of the current and former aspirants are on short lists

In all likelyhood, the VP will come from a non-candidate. I would guess if Dean or Clark find their way to the nomination, we'll see a "beltway" VP. Kerry, Lieberman, Edwards or Gephardt will probably bring a governor of a key state.

[mndemocrat_29]

40. Which governor of a key state do you think they'd choose?

There just aren't that many governors that I think they'd consider. The majority of the best candidates (Napolitano, Rendell, Granholm (though she's inelligible), Sebelieus, and Richardson) were just elected and it would look bad if they just jumped into the race. Therefore, the only choices would be:

Gov. Mark Warner (the best gubernatorial choice)
Gov. Tom Vilsack
Gov. Mike Easley (but then we'd have to find someone to run in his state)

And...?

[deminflorida]

16. Bottom line, Graham is going to be key to Clark winning Florida..

during the primaries. And he'll deliver too, I've seen this since Graham dropped out and his campaign workers showed up at Clark's doorstep in Little Rock. So for all the Dean supporters out there who think like me that this is going to be a long primary election, go ahead and take Florida out of your win column in March.

[Kosmos Mariner]

18. A great pair!

:dem:

[RamseyClark22]

19. Clark LOL

Congrats to clark, lets hope for another near ww3 like his kosovo fiasco before clinton finally let him get canned. that was just great when we bombed the chinese and russians from 30k feet, courtesy of clark.

[Kosmos Mariner]

20. the depth of your critique is amazing!

"Kosovo disaster"? "WW3"? Come on, you can do better than that. :puke: By the way, welcome to DU. :hi:


:dem:

[Bombtrack]

22. Well I can understand why someone who likes Ramsey Clark would be upset

After all he is a supporter of Slobenon Melosevik

as well as Saddam Hussein and Rwandan torturers

[VOX]

24. Same anti-Clark talking points as issued by the RW and the RNC...

:wtf:

[Jerseycoa]

23. Counting Chickens

The report sounds encouraging, let's hope. I would love Clark/Graham. I'm for Edwards as AG, but the idea of his chairing the DNC is interesting, too.

[chimpymustgo]

25. Edwards/Clark, Clark/Edwards. Graham - elder statesman.

Graham as vp leaves us in the lurch for 2012. He's a great guy, and it sounds as though he is trying to help Clark, which is wonderful.

John Edwards really needs to be on the ticket - dems would be foolish to ignore his incredible across-the-board appeal as a national candidate.

This thing is just getting more and more interesting.

[Bombtrack]

30. Not really, Edwards can veep in 08 after serving as AG, as Graham retires

I think Clark/Edwards is a great ticket, but I think Clark/Graham is just slightly better.

Florida, Arkansas, and Louisiana ARE the 3 southern states democrats could most realistically win.

The states an Edwards strategy would work more for: NC, TN, GA, VA, - are still within the realm of possibility, but still less so.

It's much wiser to attempt that strategy in 2008 than 2004, because of population shifts particularly in GA, VA, NC, and TN.

One of Clark's FEW weaknesses is lack of political office experience. Graham destroys that more than Edwards, who has just 6 years himself.

Also, instead of 2 guys from Dixie, it's Clark and a guy from Miami

[mndemocrat_29]

41. Why would Graham even need to retire in 2008?

He could serve both terms, then step down in 2008 and let Atty. Gen. Edwards run.

However, I think the best choice would be to have Clark/Landrieu in 2004.

[Bombtrack]

42. he'd be 72in08,it would give Edwards a better chance for winning in 2012

It would give him some real retirement years. He doesn't the pressure of being heartbeat away from the most important office in the world when he's 76.

[Kahuna]

36. Nope, Chimpy. Graham's expertise and gravitas is ..

essential for a political novice like Clark. I'm sure it would be understood that Graham would not run for reelection with Clark in '08. If Clark (or Dean) is strong and popular, they could probably run with Hillary, thereby setting her up for 2012.

[bowens43]

26. When did Clark get the nomination?

He's not even the front runner.

[JNelson6563]

27. can you imagine a Deanie thread like this?

Boy the Clarkies would be kickin' off a dozen Dean Haterz threads for retaliation.

It's all so laughable. In a sad sort of way.

Julie

[Justice]

28. I Agree That People Are Getting Ahead of Themselves

[chimpymustgo]

29. Julie, there are dozens every day. In a sad sort of way.

Many people believe Clark can win. Many people are still undecided. Lots of possibilities exist.

[Jerseycoa]

63. In a sad kind of way

I don't have to imagine. I can remember. Like it was yesterday.

[Hep]

31. Graham brings punch

to WHOEVER wants his help.

[Kahuna]

33. But..but..What about Deeeean? Dean shamelessly...

inferred at the convention that Graham would be getting a *wink wink* new job soon. :puke:

Dean was fiery. Clark was presidential. A blind man could tell the difference.

[JaneQPublic]

38. Grahams's daughters are already working in the Dean campaign.

I agree, Clark's speech was great -- had me thinking, "I could deal with that guy as the nominee." But his mysterious no-show at the candidate forum he agreed to attend was somewhat less than presidential.

[FrenchieCat]

43. Actually,

One daughter is working for Dean, one is working for Clark.

Clark spoke for 40 minutes. He had other engagements...that's why he spoke so long.

Dean & Kucinich spoke 20 minutes each and then had the Q & A.

I don't think that Clark leaving hurts his chances in Florida.

The media will only talk up Dean so more anyway, no matter what Clark does. So I'ts not as though it would make a difference.

[11cents]

44. One daughter is working for Dean, another for Clark

And much of Graham's campaign staff moved to Clark immediately after Graham's exit. Graham's campaign manager is now Clark's. And when Graham left the race he saved his highest praise for Clark.

There was nothing "mysterious" about Clark's no-show, at least not if you're satisfied with mere facts instead of searching for mystery. The Florida event was running late. Clark had a previous commitment in New England and needed to get there before the whole area was socked in by the storm.

Clark does very well with Q&A. (Townhall meetings are his best venue.) He had nothing to gain and something to lose by missing the Q&A.

[Myra]

56. If he had a good explanation then I'm glad, tho' disappointed he was gone

And the moderator was downright snarky about it.
Don't recall his name, but he took some pretty big and
public swipes over the episode.

[Boo Boo]

34. I picked this pair...

Before Clark even announced!

Geographically, it's a no-brainer. Plus, Graham has a very steady personality, been Governor of a *major* state, has great Enviro credentials, voted against the war... And, he's got a good face. Don't know what it is, but I look at the guy, and I just like him. He's an honest person, which makes him a bookend for Clark. He'd obviously make a good Dem leader on the Hill, and VP in the Senate.

When I was a kid, they used to shoot Presidents. I think a candidate should pick a person that can step in during a crisis and keep the ship on course. I think Graham and Clark see eye to eye on foreign policy matters. Besides, Graham knows what happened on 9/11---makes a nice insurance policy.

Obviously I like the idea. I think if Gore had picked Graham, he'd be President of the United States right now.

But... I've been wrong before! :-)

[Eric J in MN]

39. John Edwards or Bob Graham as vp

Bob Graham has a heart problem which would limit how much he can campaign.

John Edwards could campaign non-stop. He also has an economic populist message.

[FrenchieCat]

45. Agreed....

But I could also see a Gephardt as VP.

[Boo Boo]

49. Dick Cheney has a heart problem...

on more than one level.

Bob Graham is fine. He had surgery, he's as good as new.

[mmonk]

47. Clark/Graham is

what I've wanted for awhile now.

[in_cog_ni_to]

48. Should the General win,

Graham is the perfect choice for VP.

[ComerPerro]

51. That would be a good combination

I didn't consider that. But it would be powerful.

Now, the question is, will Greens vote for him?

[meow mix]

53. greens should like clark

if they want to beat bush!
no one else will..

but also,
he makes strong statements that should make the industrial polluters scared.

yaaaaay!
get em clark!! go go go!!!
i loooove you!

[Closer]

54. If by some BIZARRE

happening, Dean doesn't get the nomination, I think Clark/Graham would make a strong ticket.

[meow mix]

55. Clark on rise in New Hampshire

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/primaries/new_hampshire/articles/2003/12/06/clark_on_rise_in_new_hampshire/

But an hour and a half later -- after Clark had mocked Bush, hugged the American flag, and delivered a feverish rant against the military-industrial complex -- Bettilyon, a financial controller from Nashua, was closer to being convinced. "Very impressive," he said. "I may vote for him in the primary."

[Kosmos Mariner]

57. kick

nt

:dem:

[meow mix]

58. nuther clark article..

i hear a wave coming =)

"there may be one who seems to have what it takes to actually win and save the country from four more years of Mr. Bush’s stunning ineptitude. We’re talking, of course, about Wesley Clark"

http://www.observer.com/pages/story.asp?ID=8017

[chimpymustgo]

60. Nice piece on Clark. You should post is separately, meow mix.

nt

[retyred]

59. If this is true

It would be the winning ticket should Clark get the nod, I can't visualize a better match-up for the General. It would be the perfect political insider to compliment the General.

Not only that, but if it is true and Graham is as receptive as the article indicates, it could boost Clarks appeal and enhance his chances at winning the nomination and send a very subtle message to W's brother Jeb. Go Clark Go!


retyred in fla
“good night paul, wherever you are”
So I read this book