Clark adapts to superior officers (very nice Clark article)

[bicentennial_baby]

GOFFSTOWN, N. H. -- Such are the indignities of the presidential campaign trail: You might have commanded battalions and led armies into war, but today, you're bagging groceries at Sully's Superette and asking strangers, brightly: "Plastic or paper?" Or you're manning the drive-through at a Dunkin' Donuts in Derry, with 15 cameras whirring and snapping as you make change.

If this is a jarring transition for Wesley Clark, he doesn't show it. He wears a permanent grin, gripping every hand he can find -- even of an aide or a reporter. At the Dunkin' Donuts early Friday, he seemed intent on learning how to work the drive-through's sliding glass window, and he seemed reluctant when aides tugged him to leave his post and work the interior.

"Go back to the line?" he said. "I want to say `Hi' to this woman!"

The man who has never run for office quickly mastered the art of looking relentlessly cheerful, at town hall meetings, meet-and-greets, even tense encounters with press.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2004/01/25/clark_adapts_to_superior_officers/

I had to include this line:

"Not to mention the fact that your underlings don't have to be deferential. Clark's aides have commented on his less-than-rhythmic clapping and have mocked him for his music preferences, which tend toward 1980s power ballads"

[Pontus]

1. What about articles like these?

But what about articles like this:

http://www.suntimes.com/output/steyn/cst-edt-steyn18.html

If Clark gets the nomination what garauntee will Democrats have that this will change?

[bicentennial_baby]

2. Thank you for kicking the thread

[jmaier]

3. I know that it must be grueling

but in the shots I see and pick up form CSPAN and elsewhere, he does seem to be enjoying himself.

[Jerseycoa]

4. Reminded me of Bob Graham's Workdays

Which I always thought were a wonderful thing to do, although he was ridiculed for them. I know it's not the same, but brought the good Graham to mind.

[BeyondGeography]

5. He loves dealing directly with ordinary citizens

He says all the time this is the best thing he's ever done. He's only 60, and a youthful 60 at that; I expect him to remain in politics for some time to come.

[LandOLincoln]

6. Tut, man...

He's 59 & only just--59th b'day was 12/23/03.