Clark on 08: more worried about the policy. Doesn't want to be viewed through a "political lens"

[Clarkie1]

More interested in helping the Democratic Party pick the right policy. Calls for Iran to be dealt with now, while there still our options. This seems to be Clark's big focus now...getting the message out that Iran is the big, overriding issue moving forward and everything is interrelated. Here's a snippet of the full interview on AAR which took place a couple of hours ago...



CLARK: ....I think, you know, any American President is going to want to deal with Iran. What I am asking for is that we deal with Iran now, while there are options, rather than later, when there's no option but the use of force.

GREEN: General Clark, you say "any American President." In 1952, a Nato Commander, who had won a war in Europe, was trusted to extricate America from Korea... hmmmm... might you run in '08, and might you be the Eisenhower for Iraq? By the way, John Soltz (sic) told me to ask you that question.

CLARK: Well, I don't think history repeats itself, exactly like that. I haven't said I'm not going to run. I, I haven't taken the steps to form an exploratory committee, uh.. I'm very interested right now in trying to help the Democratic Party pick the right policy as it moves forward, and then we'll have to see as the weeks go by as to whether there is more to be done or not.

GREEN: One more question on that: Obviously candidates... yesterday, Sen. Dodd... are announcing now and having been a candidate, every day you are not running you're not raising funds which regrettably is a sin qua non of a candidacy, about when might you have to move from the policy focus you're bringing to Iraq and start actually running and raising funds?

CLARK: Oh, sometime within the next few weeks.

GREEN: Oh, that soon.

CLARK: Well, I don't think you can wait six months. But I don't have a definite timeline and, um, I haven't made a decision. I'm still working through this issue, and weighing it, and mostly I'm worried about the policy. Once a person becomes a candidate, then everything they say becomes viewed through a political lens. I don't want this viewed through a political lens. This should be viewed as a policy issue. That's why I'm advocating.


More of interview here on audio....

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/10473

[Gloria]

1. That's Sen. Dodd....

[Clarkie1]

2. opps, thanks. nt

[JI7]

3. should Congress hold hearings on this ?

can he be one of the speakers at the hearings ?

[FrenchieCat]

4. Sen. Webb did mighty fine today in asking that question.....

Whether the President thought that the IWR from 2002 was a blank check to also start war with Iran.

Condi said she doesn't "think so" but cannot speak for the President. Said she would respond in "writing".

[AtomicKitten]

5. Heard his interview today on AA.

Wes Clark is first and foremost an excellent citizen. He humbly serves this country by speaking out eloquently and with an unmatched fund of knowledge.

[Clarkie1]

6. Same could be said of Gore. nt

[Apollo11]

7. Gore - Clark 2008

Even though I get annoyed with all the "favorite ticket" posts here on DU.

And even though it's up to the nominee to choose his or her running mate, and so any speculation about the VP slot before the primaries have been decided is really a waste of time.

I just felt the need to share with you my current "dream ticket" for 2008.

In Gore We Trust :)
www.algore.com
www.algore.org
www.draftgore.com
www.draftgore.org
www.patriotsforgore.com

[shireen]

8. our political system is so screwed

the candidates with the best chances are the ones with the most money, which means they're constantly on the road raising money, not working on things that really matter like the way Clark is helping to shape policy for the Dem party.

our political system is so fucked up!

we need public financing NOW! that's the only way good people like Clark can have a fair chance in 2008.

[Sparkly]

9. But General, get the policy ideas forward with a candidacy!!!

There WILL be "more to be done," no matter what Congress does or doesn't do.

The General has consistently put forward ideas, strategies, proposals, warnings, insight -- and they don't get heard enough!

General, RUN -- and they'll (hopefully this time!) pay attention to what you say, report it, get it into the debate!! If for no other reason, RUN!! Let them attribute your criticism to "political" motivations if they will -- just pleeeeeeease get out there!!

"Next few weeks...." Oh please oh please oh please!! The candidacy itself would make such a great contribution!!

Pleeeeeeeeease, General!!!! :patriot: