WHY CLARK '08 (CLARK'S CARE FOR SUBORDINATES)

[xkenx]

AN ARTICLE SHOWING GENERAL CLARK'S HUMANITY.

As a junior Navy officer, Eric Massa had no choice the first time he went to work for Gen. Wesley Clark in 1996, as Clark's assistant in Panama. The Navy set up the interview, and Massa hoped to mangle it with blunt honesty.
"I didn't want the job, and I told him so," said Massa. "I was afraid of working for a pompous moron, of which there are several wearing stars. I had worked for senior officers who didn't care about people, and I didn't want to do that again."
It turned out Massa and Clark had something in common there, and Massa spent the next four years attached to Clark, first in Panama and then in Europe, during Clark's stint as supreme allied commander in Europe.
When Massa left Clark in 1999 it was under protest and only because Massa had been diagnosed with advanced cancer. Now, years later, Massa - recovered and retired from the Navy - is working for Clark's army again, this time as a campaign staffer trying to get Clark elected to the White House.
Massa wasn't looking for the job this time, either. Clark asked him to come on board after learning a month ago that Massa had "involuntarily resigned" from his government job at the urging of Republican bosses. They were upset that Massa had visited Clark at a Democratic campaign event.
"They said I was a political liability and that if I liked Wes Clark so much I should go work for him," Massa said. A lifelong Republican, Massa just re-registered as a Democrat. Massa is the son of a Navy man, and as such grew up outside America and with a respect for the military. The family came to the United States when Massa was 16, and after graduating from high school in Louisiana, Massa attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.
In all, Massa spent 25 years in the Navy, 16 of them on sea duty. In the mid-1990s, Massa's commanding officer told him it was time to decide how he wanted to fulfill his joint duty, a requirement for officers to spend part of their service with another branch of the military.
When Massa said he wanted to do something out of the ordinary, he was told an Army general by the name of Wes Clark was looking for a Navy aide. All he knew about Clark was that he had stars on his Army uniform, and that didn't carry much weight with Massa.
Their 50-minute interview, however, convinced Massa to withhold judgment.
"He had questions I didn't expect from a military man," Massa said. "He asked me if I was familiar with Greek literature, if I read Homer, what I thought about the Illiad.
"And the last 20 minutes were devoted to people questions," Massa said. "He asked me what I would do if a young soldier came to me and told me his wife had died. Or a homosexual soldier told me he was being harassed. His whole thing was treating people with dignity and respect."
Three hours later, Massa was on a plane with Clark to Panama, where Clark was commander in chief of the U.S. Southern Command. Massa described his job as Clark's executive assistant and deputy chief of staff.
Once there, Massa asked Clark what the Homer question was about. Massa remembers the answer: "He said he was looking for someone who was well-rounded enough to talk about issues beyond military terms."
For about 13 months, Massa shadowed Clark, keeping notes of his meetings and drafting follow-up letters to the people Clark had met. Massa said Clark forbade his staff to begin any of his correspondence with "I" because Clark wanted the emphasis on the recipient, not himself.
________________________________________
A show of support
When Clark was promoted to supreme allied commander in Europe in 1997, he asked Massa to stay on and be his advance man. Massa agreed and moved his wife and kids, who had been waiting for him back in San Diego, to Brussels, Belgium. After Clark arrived, Massa was again a close assistant and became one of Clark's main liaisons to Washington, D.C.
Massa had every intention of staying in Europe as Clark's assistant until he got sick in late 1999. He hadn't recovered from running a half-marathon but chalked it up to the flu. He blew off a doctor's appointment his wife had made for him, thinking he'd work it off.
On Nov. 9, 1999, Massa looked up from his desk to find Clark standing there. Clark told Massa that his wife had called worried about his health.
Clark had arranged another doctor's appointment for Massa, and when Massa protested, Clark gave him the only direct order Massa recalls receiving in four years. "I think we have lost the fundamental relationship between a four-star general and a Navy commander," Clark told him. "You will go to the doctor."
The doctor diagnosed Massa, who had never smoked, with advanced lung cancer and gave him four months to live. Clark cut through red tape to get Massa and his family back to the United States for treatment.
Just before Massa left, Clark convened the staff and tearfully awarded Massa the Legion of Merit medal for his work. Clark had received the same medal in the 1970s when he was a speech writer for the then-supreme allied commander.
It's one of the few times Massa saw Clark cry.
"Everyone thought that was goodbye, that I was dying," Massa said.
Back home in San Diego, doctors were more optimistic and diagnosed Massa with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, not lung cancer, and began aggressive treatment.
Unknown to Massa, Clark had a soldier tracking Massa's surgery. As soon as Massa came to in recovery, staff told him he had a call. It was Clark. At the time, he was overseeing the bombing of Kosovo.
________________________________________
A different kind of service
Massa retired about three years ago; he waited so that the last thing he did in uniform was attend Clark's retirement. Now he's living in a hotel in Manchester, trying to avoid a fast-food diet and bringing his family in from New York when he can.
He talks wistfully about the job he lost to get here. Massa was in Washington overseeing part of the Navy budget as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. His departure was reported by the press and has since become fodder for online political sites.
But he doesn't regret where it got him. On the trail, Massa is helping get Clark the veteran vote - and whatever else needs doing.
"If Wes Clark asked me to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, I'd ask him if he wanted it done in the summer or the winter," Massa said.

WES CLARK HAS INSPIRED ME LIKE NO PUBLIC FIGURE SINCE BOBBY KENNEDY
________________________________________

[Psephos]

1. Dude's a general

I'd just as soon vote for someone without that baggage.

[robbedvoter]

2. Ugh, does the fact that his SUBORDINATES didn't see it as baggage

count for something? nah, i didn't think so....

[Psephos]

8. It might

Unfortunately, it's rather hard to be persuaded by someone who puts you on the defensive for expressing your own opinion, don't you think?

[RafterMan]

9. That must be what xkenx is saying

"Dude's a general"?

So was Marshall.

[moggie12]

3. Yo dude, did ya read the whole thing?

The guy might be a general, but like I read this thing and he seems to be kinda an alright guy, ya know what i mean, like not one of those sterotype kind of guys. Like the whole point of the piece this dude just took time to post was like -- hey, wow -- most generals are like pompous a-holes, but this Clark guy's got like, you know, like class or something. And like wow, dude, like I've always thought that some dudes go into the military for, you know, like noble kind of purposes, you know, like believing in that patriotism and defending the country stuff. You know, like that stuff you sometimes see in those old WWII movies on TV on saturdays.

[Psephos]

7. Yes, I did read the whole thing

I'm not sure how mocking me is supposed to help convert me into a Clark fan. Unless the subtext is that unless I come to exact same conclusions as you or other Clark supporters, my opinion should be mocked.

I don't mind if other people want to support him, and I won't rip them for feeling that way. I'd be glad to see him in the WH instead of *.

[moggie12]

16. Actually, I'm not a Clark supporter per se

If he get's the nomination in '08, I'll support him, of course, but I'm open to many candidates at this point. I mocked you for two reasons: 1) the poster obviously cares deeply about Clark and you dismissed the whole piece with a one-sentence "Dude" response, and 2) I don't like the idea of writing the entire military off as bad guys -- it seems to me like dismissing someone because they're a military person endorses that kind of thinking.

That said, I'm sorry if I came across as a snot. My Irish temper gets the better of me sometimes.

[Psephos]

20. OK, no problem

Now you seem like someone whose opinions I'd like to know. :-)

BTW, "dude" is part of my everyday lingo. I wasn't dismissing the poster, just saying the military brass aren't my cuppa. To each her own, right?

(But - never say never, I suppose.)

Peace.

[roguevalley]

4. Then don't vote for him. I suppose you wouldn't have voted for

Grant and Andrew Jackson and Eisenhower and George Washington on that criteria. I would jump off a bridge for Clark. You wanna know why? When he was running the campaign in Kosovo, my nephew was one of his soldiers. He got my boy back alive. Contrast that with dick whip.

[xkenx]

6. Baggage???

The post was directed at people who may think all military men are cold-hearted war-mongers. The Democratic Party is lucky to have a true progressive who could be our standard-bearer in '08, who just happens to have been the most-decorated military person since Eisenhower, and who just happened be responsible for his troops'(and
dependents')welfare, education, health care, social backing, and generally acting as a mayor or governor. Add to that the fact that he earned his political "stripes" leading NATO in negotiating with heads of state and military leaders of 19 countries. Then ridding the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo w/o the loss of an American life. Ask
any Kosovar Albanian what kind of man Wesley Clark is.

[Clark2008]

11. Ok, without ripping on you, why is being a general baggage?

I happen to think that anyone, in general, who has made it that far has:
A.) Learned how to politick.
B.) Learned everything they need to know to attain such a rank within the confines of the military structure.

And, in Clark's case, in particular, he still attained this level despite not being the pseudo-macho bad-ass. He got it based intelligence, preserverence and training.

Yes, of course, he probably killed a few people. I know this. It's a reality. But, he was charged to do so by politicians. He was an instrument at the time of the charge, now he is his own man. And men (and women) who have seen the autrocities of war, it has been proven, are less likely to take us there.

[Psephos]

22. Good points

I actually liked the part in an earlier post that he refills his own coffee, and offers to get some for others. "In the acorn we discern the oak." The official stuff doesn't impress me as much (no official stuff does).

As for the killing a few people thing...well, again, we each have our own opinions, and reasons for holding them, I suppose. I do agree with the part about experience with atrocities sometimes leading to an aversion to having more of them.

Peace.

[Donna Zen]

52. Aversion:

"Bad things happen in war; that's why you don't want to have them."

~Wes Clark

[Jim Sagle]

46. Wow - how constructive.

:eyes:

[Psephos]

50. My comment was not meant to be destructive

That's a spin I didn't put on it. It merely expressed my opinion, and what mattered to me. I fully expect other people to weight Clark's military background differently than I do...but that doesn't invalidate my point of view, if it should be different from yours.

My guess is that you are a Clark supporter, and you used the "how constructive" comment as a put-down. Why? Would you prefer I not voice my opinion? Don't you realize when you put someone down, you have just forfeited your chance to persuade them?

As I said in another post in this thread, I'd far rather see Clark in the White House than *.

Peace.

[The Traveler]

56. It is either baggage

or a great positive. The best generals are, above all else, men of true honor (as opposed to arrogant pride). Clark, thus far, seems to be one of these. This does not mean he is a saint. There are things in his record I find disturbing. But there are other things in his record too ... and these reveal a man of conviction who is quite willing to risk life and career to do the next right thing.

I worked in DoD during the 80s and the buzz on Clark (then a Colonel) was he was brilliant enough to be another McArthur but probably too liberal to make it. Clark has always drawn fire, from liberal and conservative ideologues alike, as men must when they face the horrors and ambiguities of the real world while refusing to surrender their ideals.

Though a Clark supporter, I encourage you to retain your suspicion ... just temper it with a little open mindedness, also. As Democrats, we must improve our ability to respond to real world, distasteful matters ... but that must be carefully done or we lose our purpose. A Republican is often an idealist who surrendered to expediency. I see no point in going there. Neither, apparently, does Wesley Clark or you. In this, I think the three of us are all in agreement.

[robbedvoter]

5. More: Chauffeured by the General

Chauffeured By The General
Thu, Sep 18, 2003
http://www.arkansasnews.com/279853299867856.bsp
Column By John Brummett
snip
He said there were two things I needed to
know. One was that the general was an
uncommonly regular guy. "You don't have to
bring him his coffee in a fancy cup. He gets up
and gets his own, and a refill for you."
The other was that Clark believed in "parallel
planning," meaning to proceed on two
options as if already decided in favor of each, so that
he would be prepared to go either way when
the time came. He said he leaned toward
thinking Clark would run, but that I should
not be overly influenced by the general's making
all the seeming preparations.
.......

"Yes, and I'm riding with him," Edwards
said. "I'm getting chauffeured by a four-star general.
I told you about him."
http://robbedvoter.forclark.com/story/2004/1/1/103242/1317

[RafterMan]

10. "Yes, and I'm riding with him"

who said? Oh, boy.

[Clark2008]

12. Not the same John Edwards!!

We used to get tickled at that at the Clark blog.

It's not the same one. :)

[AP]

13. Speaking of Edwards, he gave same-sex partner benefits to

colleagues and employees at his firm before he left for the senate. I'm not sure I'd describe those people as subordinates, but he was good to them.

Democrats are generally good to people who work for a living.

[Clark2008]

14. I think "subordinates" does have a nasty ring to it

But, yeah, people who work for him would be subordinates in the proper vernacular - even if the wordage is a bit "outdated."
But, anywho, that's neither here nor there.
Good for him!

[xkenx]

41. I'll Retitle to

CLARK'S CARE FOR THOSE UNDER HIS COMMAND

[Clark2008]

47. Heh! You didn't have to change it!

:)

[AP]

58. I just saw this and it reminded me of this thread:

And then I met Loretta.

You know I can still feel her hand shake—determined and strong like a truck driver. She spent 14 years working at a wash house—working for the minimum wage—earning a little more that $200 a week. She would always try to do better but no one would give her a chance.

Well, she kept pushing and pushing. She got her GED and a loan. And now she owns her own pizza franchise. We asked her how many people worked there. She said that there are "eight of us." Not "seven people work for me." There were "eight of us." She was asked about the cost of her employees and she said that it was an honor to be able to give them their paychecks. You could hear in her voice the respect she has for other people.


http://www.oneamericacommittee.com/100-club.asp

[Texas_Kat]

61. Wes provided full medical and dental benefits

Wes Clark insisted that his campaign provide full medical and dental insurance to his campaign staff.

That is VERY unusual in this era of 'hiring campaign workers as contractors'.

I'd be interested to find out if any of the other candidates in 2004 (and prospective 2008 candidates) did the same.

In other words, did they put their money where their mouth is?

[RafterMan]

17. Ha!

You were just waiting, weren't you.

[AP]

18. For what?

An opprotunity to point out that Democrats care about people who work for a living, and try to make their lives easier?

Yep. I'm ALWAYS looking for a chance to mention that.

[RafterMan]

19. For a mention of your guy

Like Dracula has to be invited into your home. :P

[AP]

21. I presume you'd throw in a good word for Democrats too

when you saw the opportunity.

However, I wouldn't characterize any Democrat as "Dracula."

[RafterMan]

24. Yeah, it's hard to find a chance to do that on Democratic Underground

How noble.

O8)

[AP]

25. Actually, a lot of DU these days is tearing down Democrats.

So, when you see a chance to let emphasize that they care about working people, one should be able to take it without getting a any shit.

[RafterMan]

26. Since there's no emoticon

for crocodile tears, you have the better of me.

[AP]

28. I wasn't looking for tears.

Just for an opprotunity to say Democrats are great.

Clark2008 understood.

[Sparkly]

29. Yes, Democrats are great!

And never greater than when they're putting their principles into action. There's another thread up now about Edwards doing that.

And I always enjoy threads like this about General Clark.

[RafterMan]

30. Sparkly

You're a better woman than I.

[Sparkly]

31. Thanks

(Not always.) I just want to see the threads on different candidates stay focused on those candidates.

[robbedvoter]

15. read the article - it explains:

That would be John Edwards. I do not mean
the one from North Carolina running poorly for
president. I mean the young lawyer from the
farm community of Scott east of Little Rock who
worked for years as a trusted aide of David
Pryor and later Dale Bumpers

[Sparkly]

23. That's a wonderful tribute

I wasn't familiar with it before. :hi:

(Is there a link to this article online?)

[Donna Zen]

27. Winning

Let me begin at the beginning of my decision making; a process that started several years ago. I knew then and I still believe that Democrats must get the weak on foreign policy meme off the table. Yes, they tried with Kerry, although from the get go I knew, and you must have known, that all of the antiwar history was out there--just waiting. Once Kerry was the nominee, I had hoped that somehow that could be neutralized; it was not to be. In fact, I would pose that this last election cycle has only made it worse.

Brand identification:

Naomi Klein recently did an interview discussing “Brand identification.” It was not the first time I had seen issue come up with its partner of “framing.” Out here in a rural red county, I can testify that the beast is alive and well. Most of my neighbors vote red, not because they agree with republican policies--hell, they either don’t know what those policies are or don’t care--they vote because what the republicans symbolize: NASCAR, country music, etc. To disagree with a republican policy is to attack these voters personally.

http://www.alternet.org/story/21099

So how do we change our brand identification? Main Stream Media is not going to help; not because they are controlled by the republican party, but because they are the republican party. Any non-winger that is permitted on the MSM is merely a token. So how?

It will not be easy, but I suggest that we start with a man whose first name is General. Oh_ and grew up poor and brilliant in a red state without any political baggage. Your alternative is to fight the unwinnable, rehabilitate an image that is so ingrained that it would take every campaign contribution just to supply the brain bleach, and invent credentials that will fall short and fail the sniff test. Why would anyone want to chose that route?

Funny thing about “brand identification” it is alive and well on the left too. Many people who would be the first to tell you how open-minded they are, will tell that they won’t vote for a general. I have a confession to make; I had that bridge to cross too. I looked, I read, I made phone calls, I wrote to friends who know Clark, I followed every wacky lead to smears that I found on dozens of internet boards...I am now absolutely amazed by this incredible man. And he doesn’t lie. Imagine.

Clark’s biggest hurdle has always been winning the nomination, not the general election.

Recently I was reading an interview with Frances Piven, a Green--I think, and she made a very good point: that without a Democrat in the White House, we cannot advance any progressive or liberal policies. Two million people could surround that WH everyday 24/7 and it will make no difference because bush doesn’t have to listen to people who don’t support him, and won’t. Any Democrat would look out of the Oval Office and see his/her pissed off base. And if you want to go to the Pentagon for pork, you're going to need to send a general. Ditto on DU, SOA, and ending the war. Only Nixon could go to China...and that is reality not some meme.

When Clark entered the race I thought that everyone would realize that we’d been granted one of life’s scant miracles: A four-star-brilliant-Rhodes Scholar-masters-in-economics-war-winning-anti-war-foreign-policy-expert-charismatic-down-home-liberal general.

How many of those do you think we’re going to get? How many are there?

[FrenchieCat]

32. I very much agree.....

and in fact, Clark is someone that none of the GOP powers-that-be expected or wanted rising from our Dem ranks....a great leader who can kick ass on National Security (the GOP calling card) and clearly explain Democratic principles to their own GOP rank and file.

The RNC and the media were and are betting against Dems picking Clark, as they take for granted that Democrats are not that smart about winning (we've already proven them right via this last election). They bet (and continue to count) on Democrats being afraid to put up a real intellectual fighter that also happened to big a great military strategist.

The GOP, I will say, have the Democrats pegged down pretty tight, pinned in the exact box they want us. Democrats will have to and will most likely have to be dragged forth scratching and clawing before doing anything as intelligent and as unexpected as nominating a General...cause to them, it seemed too obvious. Doh! Republicans, unlike Democrats, always do the obvious and that's why they win. When it's obvious on that side...that means that it's easy to explain. Dems can get a whole damn lecture, and still not see what staring them in the face.

It's a mind game....and the Republicans are kicking our ass at it.

The Docile Dems want the safe candidates (shivering in their boots as to what Republicans will say). The Democrats want a liberal who was born a Democrats or a moderate governor from a red state. The GOP is well aware of this. They understand that Democrats gave up their logical pragmatic fighting spirit long ago.....and now usually make just about the wrong move, every move.

The RNC never expected to see Clark rise from our voices. As much as they wanted him down....they couldn't quite get him out the way as efficiently as they had expected...even with the help of Clark's primary rivals. Why? Cause there are still enough democrats out there who have balls and understand the game (Clinton and Rangel for two).

The media brought Clark down last time, using every RNC memes that the GOP knew the Democrats would buy into. It wasn't that easy. They most likely shitted logs in their drawers when Clark won Oklahoma...and did well in those Southwest states. After that, it was like a hammer came down on Clark. But we can make him rise back to the top....where he belongs! The key is that they could only do their terrible work during the primaries...cause all of the baggage that clark has is really Extreme left wing garbage for the most part. And they were only able to attack his character...cause there is nothing else (that's their MO when someone is clean). But the problem with Clark, is that although they call him crazy, he doesn't come off that way at all.

Clark is the candidate that the RNC hey would least expect Democrats to nominate....and they may be right. Unless Dems work up some nerves...they will be too scared to get a Clark up there. Instead, they are about to retreat to the 1992 strategy (a nice safe southern moderate Governor....but without the Clinton charisma...so it won't wash), that worked well in 1992....but, xcuse me, that was the past and what's coming up will not be 1992....of that you can be sure. then.

Who needs a politician when we can have a real leader, with balls, no less?

[Donna Zen]

35. Someday a face to face

with you and every other leftist or left leaner who "got it." Some days I could just scream about all of this; today is one of those days.

You can't govern unless you can get elected; you can't make progress unless you're progressing.

Just up thread is a fine example of the perfectly well intentioned person unable to shake the ol' "brand identification." You know: I'm a liberal therefore anything that smacks of the military questions who I am."

Notice who the neocons installed in California? A pro-choice, pro-affirmative action Hollywood plant. Did the right wing reject Arnold? Fuck no...they wanted to win.

But this is greater than all of that; much greater.

It is dangerous to let the military become a wing of the republican party. Crazy dangerous. And that is what our good friends on the left are advocating. They also hang on to the mistaken belief that any currently mentioned Democrat if elected--a harder task than now appreciated--could stop Star Wars (Clark is against) or any other friggin boon doggle that porks up the military budget. Or as Clark calls it: the make-want budget.

The direction we are headed, in four years, we will be further branded, there will be no money to solve problems not hidden in the Pentagon budget, and living with fewer and fewer Constitutional rights.

Turning the party into a "full service" party is going to take all of us pulling together, and understanding with absolute clarity what is really going on.

Love ya' Frenchie.

[Clarkie1]

34. In answer to your last question: ONE. Great post. n/t

[yebrent]

37. Great points about branding.

I had to cross the "support a General?" bridge too.

I hardly knew anyone in the military. Certainly no one close to me. I never considered the option for myself, even for a second. I thought I had military folk all figured out. I thought I was better than them and looked down on their decision to join the service. I thought I was a lot more tolerant and open minded than I really was. It turns out, I was just ignorant

The General opened my eyes in that respect. And without him, I probably wouldn't have become really good friends with an ex military guy who served under Clark in Bosnia. Ironically he's one of the more progressive people I know. Being were in Oakland, that is very progressive.

[Donna Zen]

38. Well you know...

"When you think you are open minded, you've just closed your mind."

~Wes Clark

[xkenx]

39. Thank you,

DonnaZen

[Clarkie1]

33. Thanks so much for posting that n/t

[Guaranteed]

55. LOL

;)

Don't you think our focus should be elsewhere?

[Name removed]

36. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[robbedvoter]

40. You don't need to stand there hoping. Show some initiative!

After being snarky towards a parent of a child who has been in war (#4), the loss to humanity would be nil.

[xkenx]

42. Mario Cuomo Said

"Wes Clark is a man of whom you can ask a question, and he will look you directly in the eye, and give you the most truthful and complete answer you can imagine. You will know the absolute truth of the statement as well as the thought process behind the answer. You will have no doubt as to the intellect of the speaker and the meaning of the answer to this question....so you can see, as a politician, he has a lot to learn."

[xkenx]

43. Wesley Clark has

inspired me like no public fugure since Bobby Kennedy.

[Excelsior]

44. What a very good story about a very good leader of men

I have yet to read anything like this about any other candidate.

How inspiring. Is Eric Massa still doing well?

[Donna Zen]

45. Stopping by

to check this thread, I read the Massa story again. It occurred to me that unless you post at the Clark blog, one would be unaware that this story is simply how Clark leads his life. When the brother of a blogger was killed in Iraq, the office which keeps an eye on the blog posted a request for information. Later the man posted that Clark had contacted the family. All he wrote was that Wes and Gert are amazing. I could list the acts of kindness that have been given to those of us in that community, and there are many. I very much doubt that those acts stand alone.

Did you know that he pays for students to go to college that are deserving but unable to afford the tuition? He has said many times that he would like to make money so that he can give it away. Political? or as Clark recently reminded us: God loves a cheerful giver.

[FrenchieCat]

51. Amen to that!

Sista' "Z"!

[PatrioticOhioLiberal]

57. A personal experience of compassion

When my husband died in January, there arrived at my door via Federal Express a huge bouquet of fresh cut lilies. The card read simply, "With deepest sympathy, Wes & Gert Clark".

Yes, I've been involved in the CCN from day one. Yes, I was one who ask him to run, but I was never able to donate more than time on the computer writing letters to editors or pointing out gross errors to Corporate Media regarding Wes. There was nothing about me or my limited involvement in his campaign to draw attention to my presence.

And yet, the Clark family took the time to let me know that my husband was important...that I was important at the time I needed it most.

This is the type of person that doesn't have to tell you about being compassionate. The compassion is there for you to see.

I will be working to see him have his chance at a run in '08 if that's what he decides to do. And I will do so joyously.

[Tom Rinaldo]

59. I didn't know that

I don't spend that much time at CCN and I did not know about your loss of your husband, but Wes and Gert obviously did. I hope there are many who love you surrounding you. Drop into our Clark Support Group here at DU if you get a chance. We are trying our best as a community to support each other in times of loss and crisis.

[PatrioticOhioLiberal]

60. Support from CCN

My posting time has dwindled considerably over the past few months and most of it has been at CCN.

They say one way to take the measure of a man/woman is to look at the type of people surrounding him/her.

The love and support that has flowed so freely from Clark supporters has been overwhelming and awe inspiring.

I am so fortunate to have family that is there for me...and that family includes those I've "met" because my admiration for Wes Clark and what he stands for.

With time I expect you will be seeing more of me here...including the Clark Support Group of which I am a member due to the generousity of one of its members.

Right now I lurk a lot and post sporadically.

I always enjoy your posts Tom. They do Wes proud.

[Capn Sunshine]

48. Why Clark '08? Because Shalikashvili is so damn hard to spell

and Schwarzkopf isn't a walk in the park either

[Clark2008]

49. I "heart" General Shalikashvili!

And don't give one flying frig for Schwarzkopf (who, btw, wanted Clark's instructors to have him spend more time bruting up and less time on the debate circuit).

[NeoTraitors]

53. I agree with those who believe that

Clark is the candidate the RW fears most. The 2 biggest negatives from a lefty's standpoint are that he is a military man who used to vote republican. Those are huge plusses to the general public!

Is Gen. Clark a DINO or republican lite? Read about him and decide for yourself! IMO he is the best candidate for LIBERALS.

I believe that if we stick with Clark, not only will he be #44, but he will be the catalyst to changing the whole political landscape, much like Reagan was.

Reagan was a RW darling, with a LW background and an appeal to the public at large. Clark, IMO is our version of Ronnie. He stands side by side with us liberals, yet is able to appeal to folks to whom liberal is a dirty word.

I can't wait to campaign for Gen. Wesley Clark. He is a man we can all be proud of, no strings attached.

[xkenx]

54. Thank you,

"NeoTraitors" for your very perceptive comments. Would that more Democrats appreciate what a treasure we have in Wes Clark, and how he is SO ELECTABLE in the current U.S. political climate.