Hold Your Heads Up High, Clark Supporters!

[DoveTurnedHawk]

General Wesley K. Clark is a great man. Many of us saw that. He is a man who excelled at every endeavor he ever attempted. He has a storybook life, a storybook career. He is a man of great integrity and honor, so great that everyone who met him knew it without doubt.

Without General Clark, the AWOL story never would have broken. Without General Clark, the exposes of Bush's military and foreign policy INCOMPETENCE never would have resonated as they have. A recent article said it best by crediting General Clark for the strength, conviction and EFFECTIVENESS of the recent Democratic attacks on the pResident's "wartime" policies.

We Clark supporters should be proud, proud of our candidate, proud of our efforts. Here in Southern California, we out-organized EVERYONE, every campaign, and from what I understand, that model held true in many other parts of the country. Hold your heads up high, because you stood up for your candidate, you BELIEVED in your candidate. And after years of disgust and despair, it just feels so good to believe in something, in someONE, in ANYTHING.

Perhaps General Clark will drop out tomorrow. I say "perhaps" because that "news" reported by the complicit, feckless media was new news indeed to General Clark's family. Regardless, however, even if it happens, know that you have made a difference. You have paved the way for the ultimate standard-bearer of the Democratic Party. And for that, he owes you his gratitude and respect.

My hat is off to John Kerry. He won this primary. His gutsy decision to "go for broke" (to use a term treasured by the Asian American community) in Iowa was an enormous gamble, but it paid off in spades. I wonder what might have happened had General Clark done the same. Yet hindsight is 20-20. The bottom line is that General Clark did not compete in Iowa, while John Kerry once again proved himself to be an amazing "closer" in that state, which in turn led him to victory after victory.

I will vote for John Kerry. I might even donate $250 to him. But I have to be honest, he does not inspire me. So I will write him a letter tomorrow, urging him to select the General as his running mate, or at least to state publicly that he will nominate the General as Secretary of State (and for those of you who are proposing Secretary of Defense, please forget that, because General Clark is not eligible for that position; it requires the nominee to be at least ten years out of the military). If John Kerry does that, he will have not just my money (much more than $250), he will also have my DEDICATION.

Politics ain't fair. The best person doesn't always win. All you can do is hope for the best, and respect the process, and the dignity and honor of your chosen champion. Wes Clark did all of those things. And my sincere hope is that he will continue to do so.

We strive for a higher standard of leadership. I pray it will demonstrate itself to us, and soon.

Best,
DTH

[incapsulated]

1. Although I don't respect the "process"

I respect the General and I respect you for all the hard work you've done for him.

Here's to Clark, the best President we could've had. :toast:

[eileen_d]

2. Cheers to you, DTH

Posts like yours inspired me to support Clark's candidacy by donating.

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

[Dookus]

3. DTH...

I want to single you out for extra-special praise. You walked the walk and really made a difference. I have the utmost respect for you for doing that.

Yes, politics ain't fair. But I will respect the Democratic voters and not try to tear down their decision by blaming the media, the DLC, Janet Jackson's tit or my left testicle.

Clark ran an exceptionally dignified campaign, and we have every reason to be proud of him for that. I really feel in my heart that we haven't seen the last of Wesley Clark. He'd be a singularly qualified nominee for VP, or an exceptional Secretary of State, or Secretary of Defense, or Secretary of Homeland Security, or Ambassador to the UN.

Again, DTH, thanks for your efforts. I know you and I are both shedding some tears tonight, but we have nothing to be ashamed of. Clark is an exceptional man, but we can't force voters to recognize that.

[Skwmom]

10. It is vital to our democracy that the media manipulation

in this primary process be exposed. Once the facts are compiled and put before the American people it will become quite clear that the media played a HUGE roll in pushing General Clark from the race.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. Sorry he's dropping out

but I look forward to seeing him included on the ticket, in the admin and would have gladly voted for him had he won the nomination.

You worked your butt off. :toast:

[shindig]

5. Any chance Kerry would consider putting him on the ticket...

Or should that be Edwards? Or maybe someone else? Thoughts?

[arcos]

6. Congratulations...

Your candidate sadly is now out, but you must feel very satisfied because of the work you have done. I've read several of your posts where you tell about all the hard work you did for Clark and that is remarkable. He certainly brought a lot of important things to the campaign.

It was proven again that Iowa plays a huge role selecting nominees, and I think that's a lesson that everyone should learn and start fighting now for that to change in the future.

And finally, interesting fact about the Secretary of Defense. I didn't know that.

[DemExpat]

7. I am so happy and proud that America "produced" such a fine man!

Wesley Clark!


This gives me hope.

Well done, DTH, with all of your energy, enthusiasm, passion, and hard work for this great American leader!

:kick:

DemEx

[Maccagirl]

8. Thanks for this post

I am a Clark supporter and while sad and disillusioned with the process, I am proud of Wesley Clark, his campaign and his supporters. November still needs to be taken care of and that is what I'll focus on now.

[maddezmom]

9. another excellent post by DTH

thanks for all you did and do for WES!

[Leilani]

11. You're Right, politics ain't fair

And the best person doesn't always win.

That's what is so frustrating; the Dems were given a gift, & didn't appreciate it. They blew it big time.

[texasmom]

12. DTH--Thanks for a great post

Wes Clark made me believe again. He gave me hope. You are so right when you said:
"And after years of disgust and despair, it just feels so good to believe in something, in someONE, in ANYTHING."

The last few years have been so bleak.

That's part of the reason it's so hard now.

[davsand]

13. All of us have GOT to get back to work.

I'll grant you, that it was easy for me to get behind Gen Clark, but now the REALLY difficult part begins--pulling up our socks and getting to work for the ultimate Dem nominee. Weep now, but get back up again in a day or two and get involved for another candidate. THAT is how we win.

Primaries suck when you don't win, but the party benefits by the ideas put forth by all the candidates. Clark did a great job of putting a high standard in place, and we will ultimately be a stronger party because of his influence.

Something I've been very proud of about Clark and those associated with him has been the classy way they competed without destroying the other candidates. I expect that will be made even clearer in the upcoming weeks when we get back to work.

Pax to you all, it has been a wonderful ride!

Laura

[ronnykmarshall]

14. Thank YOU as well.

I'll keep my Clark04 sticker on my car with pride. Of course there's gonna be a Kerry one as well. Hopefully it will be a Kerry/Clark ticket!

[Zomby Woof]

15. you gave your all

What more could be expected of a volunteer? You were one of the first, and strongest, of DU's Clark supporters, and inspired a lot of people to work just as hard for their candidate.

I admit I am surprised by the news. I figured he would stick around and keep the race competitive through Super Tuesday. His contribution was valuable as a candidate, and can still be valuable on the Democratic team.

We haven't seen the last of Clark. :-)