Clark: "I want to hear your feedback and comments...

[Clarkie1]

-- and I hope you'll invite your friends and family members to take part in this conversation. We want them here and involved in our discussions. We want to grow the number of people taking part in the dialogue...

...As we're all aware, the country is completely focused on the relief activities associated with Hurricane Katrina. Now, President Bush has just appointed Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen to take over responsibility for the relief and recovery effort from FEMA Director Mike Brown.

President Bush's decision follows a flurry of meetings at the White House where Republican leaders discussed the need to appoint a "Hurricane Czar."

Well guess what? They had one in the FEMA Director -- or at least that's what they were supposed to have.

I'm glad President Bush finally appointed a competent person to run the Katrina relief effort. But he should have done that a long time ago, before deciding to appoint Mike Brown as FEMA Director.

We can't fall into the trap that everything is fixed by changing the person at the top. Truth is, disaster recovery takes a lot of experience, and that comes from training as well as learning from the "last time.".

You have to have teamwork, information flow. Taskings and suspense dates, follow-up reports and a strong sense of urgency. This takes some training - not just loud talk.

Of course, my friend and partner James Lee Witt has that experience. As a nation, we have to do the training. It'll take a while.

In the meantime, I hope we'll do more for the people who've been displaced. More on that tomorrow.

Wes

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/583

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

1. My opinion:

[napi21]

2. OH, but Witt is a Dem! You sure can't have any of those scumbags

in the Shrub admin!

I'm not in a position to know if there's any Pubs with that kind of experience, but THAT should have been the criteria for naming ANYONE to a position of authority! NOT who got Shrub and the Pubs the most $$!

[capi888]

3. Great Post Clarkie!

Good to hear the General ASKING people for feedback to get their ideas from discussion with him. Isn't that wonderful that a man with such Leadership would ask for opinions FROM THE PEOPLE..!!! How refreshing!!!

[Totally Committed]

4. What an opportunity!

Access to the thoughts of, and the ability to ask questions of a man that could be the next POTUS!

Wes really is building a grassroots organization from the grassroots up. If you haven't had the chance to get to know Wes, and his thoughts on the issues, this is just a great way to do that.

TC

[Clark2008]

8. I don't think anyone else is doing this sort of thing.

I know others allege they "listen" to the people who support them, but I haven't seen quite as open a blogging opportunity - ever.

[Totally Committed]

13. I don't think anyone else values the grassroots like Wes does...

Plus, most of them need to have everything they say and do pass muster with focus groups and "strategists". This is Wes, unadulterated, honest-like-crazy, and willing to hear what we have to say.

I think this is a very smart move, and an awesome opportunity. Only Wes cares enough to do something like this.

TC

[Donna Zen]

5. Excellent news!

I have a question for the General about bush's withholding of troops by trying to force Blanco into signing over LA. What was that about?

I enjoyed having General Clark blog at TPM, and looked forward to reading the threads there. This seems to be a continuation of that discussion. It would seem that Wes Clark enjoyed his time on line as well.

[AX10]

6. READ Clarkie1's post.

This is why I am for Clark! He's speaks the blunt truth.

Clark 08'!

[Clark2008]

7. kick!

Whadda man! :loveya:

[Adelante]

9. I'm so happy about this

It will be great to be able to pose policy questions straight to the General. :patriot:

[Texas_Kat]

10. It looks like this will be daily or almost daily

depending on his schedule.

Anyone who remembers the very first Leadership for America site waaaaay back will understand and appreciate WKC's intention to engage in dialog.

One of the most intriguing comments in his first TPM post was:

... I want to thank all of you who took the time to respond to my thoughts on Darfur and Iraq that have been circulating over the past week.  I appreciate the positive feedback -- and yes, I appreciate the criticism as well.  One of my objectives is to get people thinking and communicating about the challenges we face as a nation, and this constructive engagement in the blogosphere does that in a meaningful way.

After my op-ed "Before It's Too Late" appeared in the Washington Post Friday, I read some of the concerns about the viability of my proposals.  I really took those criticisms to heart, ...

Clark is one of the few who actually bothers to pay attention to what the grassroots is saying. Whether he agrees with you on a particular issue or not...... ya' gotta respect that.

[NCarolinawoman]

11. James Lee Witt Associates is doing Pro Bono work in Louisiana.

I knew they were involved, but I had no idea that it was Pro Bono. This information was found in a very nice article in The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. The article went into a bit of detail of what the company has been doing in Louisiana. Wes Clark's name was mentioned.

[robbedvoter]

16. Thanks!

Any link to that article?

[newyawker99]

21. Hi NCarolinawoman!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[lateo]

12. I hope Clark gets the 2008 Dem nomination for President.

I don't see him becoming a Republican punching bag like Kerry.

[blonndee]

14. I think Clark is my man, too. I'll vote for him if he makes a go of it.nt

[CarolNYC]

15. This is a very cool opportunity to have our voices heard....

Hopefully, people will take advantage of it....

[FrenchieCat]

17. Well Of course he listens....and it shouldn't be such a novelty.....

that a leader actually wants feedback and comments. After all, this is a democracy. We should be listened to! period.

Anyhow, I'm on the Harvard campus today talking about all of this political mess and talking up General Clark. Thus far, I have convinced quite a few that he's a level adult head that will bring us back to where we should be, "about our Country and our citizens above all".

Harvard Loves General Clark!

How Sweet it is! :hi:

[Texas_Kat]

18. From one end of the country to the other!

Hi 'ya back!

Hope everyone got settled in okay....

[Riverman]

19. Wes - I beg you to do this for our Country...

Get your military friends together, get whatever Senators who might have a spec of courage to join a coalition of the willing and Demand that the Entire Bush Administration Resign Now. The death and destruction must stop! We can't wait for the 2006 elections hoping for a demoncratic majority, and impeachment. Far, far too many people have died at home and abroad at the hands of the these crimminally negligent incompetents. They must be held accountable, forced to resign in disgrace and put on trial. Please do this for the survival of our nation.

[CarolNYC]

20. hey, Riverman,

Post this at the blog at the link Clarkie1 provides in the OP and Wes will see it....