More info on Clark's decision and his future role in the campaign

[AnnitaR]

I'm going to snip out the snarky parts of this article and focus on the the details.

Clark to Withdraw From Presidential Race
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=694&u=/ap/20040211/ap_on_el_pr/clark&printer=1

<snip>

Matt Bennett, a senior adviser to Clark, said the political novice and retired four-star general wanted to return to his adopted home town of Little Rock for the emotional announcement.


Clark made the decision after consulting with family members, who had been urging him to stay in. But Clark, who won only one of 14 contests, was under intense pressure to drop out because of John Kerry (news - web sites)'s success and a desire by party leaders for a quick end to a nominating season he has come to dominate.


"The mountain got too steep to climb," Bennett said.

<snip>

Still, the decision to quit was hard for a candidate described by aides as competitive and reluctant to admit defeat. He retreated for a late-night dinner with his family after reaching his decision.


EDITED BY ADMIN: COPYRIGHT

[eileen_d]

1. Thank you - this is good news for Democrats

Also, revealing my ignorance - Clark is only 59? I had it my head he was older :dunce:

[Clark Can WIN]

4. Could you explain what you meant by the first part?

What exactly is good news for Democrats?

[eileen_d]

5. Oh, I didn't mean Clark dropping out was good news!

:spank: me for my vagueness

I'm really sorry if that's what it sounded like. Clark and Kerry have always been tied for my top pick, and of the two I only donated to Clark. Most likely I would have voted for him in my primary (which isn't til June, so it's not like it matters)

What I meant was, it's good news that Clark plans to continue to have an active role in the Democratic Party by campaigning and advising on national security issues.

Believe me, I am really sad that he has dropped out. I think he would have made a terrific president.

[Old and In the Way]

2. I thought something was up in his post-election speech tonite.

I'm obviously happy for Kerry, but sad to see this happen as a Democrat...I think his campaign will be sorely missed by the Party.

[faithfulcitizen]

3. We're all Clark's now!

"with advisers urging him to quit and family pushing him to continue." God Bless his family! what the hell do his advisors know anyway...

[Julien Sorel]

6. I didn't think it would piss me off as much as it has,

but now that he's out, it underscores just what venal hacks people like Kerry and Dean are. They represent everything that's wrong with American politics. Reading Kerry's complete horseshit statement about Clark, after Kerry's underhanded Republican shit, made me ill. I'll vote for the piece of Lurch shit, but he won't get a dime, and I'm switching back to independent some time this week when I get free time. The Democrats can go on with their tired, lying hacks, but they'll do it without my active support.

[shindig]

7. i must be more like family

I was hoping he would continue. You know I even had this pipe dream earlier in the evening that maybe Edwards would not know where to go next and he might drop out, since Clark was showing a higher second place poll in Wisconsin. I thought, dang, Clark and Edwards keep splitting what is left of the anti-kerry vote. But if Edwards were to drop out...Right after I had that thought, dang if Edwards didn't come on TV announcing he would go on. Boy has this Clark campaign been all uphill for us. I pray something good comes from such determined effort in the face of everything.

[maddezmom]

8. thanks for posting :)

only read your exerpts, not in a place right now to read anything neg or snarky.

"He's at peace with it. He's obviously disappointed,"

[Jerseycoa]

9. You're still awake, too?

I'm going back to bed for the third time.

[maddezmom]

10. yeah, I cut out early

my nerves couldn't stand it. Then I've been up for an hour or so just reading. Not able to reply to anything. I'm numb.

[Jerseycoa]

11. I know

I'm a zombie. It's hard for me to sleep in the daytime, too, so I'll be a zombie tomorrow, um, today, that is.

[maddezmom]

12. it's going to be a hard couple days

for the reality to sink in. I'll be more comforted after I hear his words on this subject.

:loveya: Jerseycoa...all the Clark fans are going to have to start a yahoo group so we can keep in touch.

[Moderator]

13. AnnitaR

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
news source.


Thank you

DU Moderator

[Nicholas_J]

14. Notice which candidate was conmspicuous by absence

In Clarks speech last night. He called Edwards and Kerry patriots. But left another candidate out. Kerry, in his speech refferred to Clark as an important addition to our party and look forward to his help in defeating Bush in November.

I beleive Clark as already done what he anticipates will happen soon. THe leadership of the party will be asking the other candidates to get out of the way so that Kerry can be the candidate, and that there wil be enough time to raise enough money and stragegy to be sure of defeating Bush.

Clark was a military leader and a good one. He knows the importance of the group. The team. And he knows how to take orders as well as give them. He would have been a fine leader, as this is the most important quality in a leader. Knowing when to give and when to take.

I would not worry about Clarks political future. There is a cabinet position for him, most certainly with Kerry, as Kerry is not foolish enough to waste good material. I hope not as VP, because Clark would make a better Secretary of Defense, and the VP doesnt do all that much in most cases. It would be good for Clark to do a little house cleaning in the Pentagon, and get rid of all of those elements who wre just lurking around waiting for a hawkish Republican President to be elected. Clark is well up to that task, if not the man most qualified to do it.