Wes Clark on TV--The Charisma of Competence..........Another

[Gloria]

boffo appearance by Clark on Kasich's Heartland on FAUX....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=552903#

But, it occurred to me, esp. after reading posts about how Edwards is so "electric" at Dem events....

It occurred to me that, although that may be true, when Clark goes on TV, he is speaking to a much wider audience....in other words, he's talking to the nation, on all sorts of talk shows, from network to cable, from fairly professional to low grade....

And listening again tonight, I was struck by the way he speaks. He ENUMERATES...first, second, third...his answers, so that they are very easy to follow. That's why he is so crisp and clear. It reflects a highly disciplined, organized mind.

Now, if I were picking a VP...not only on the basis of career credentials and experience--I would seriously consider the mind and communication ability necessary to explain very serious and complicated topics in a very easy to understand way. Barnburner speeches are great for fundraisers among the faithful...But consider the general public.
Confidence, clarity, and directness can be exploited into creating a sense of competence and leadership. Clark is so very impressive when it comes to presenting the image of a candidate who can help a person feel safer...he can present an orderly view of a very chaotic world.

That is why I fervently hope that Clark is the one that the public sees as the VP nominee. Because beyond his credentials he brings a certain comfort, a charisma of competence, to the political wars.....



Comments from tonight on FAUX....


first segment, spoke

a lot about Saudi Arabia and Iran...

Segment 2---Clark just explained why fighting in Iraq doesn't make
Edited on Sat Jun-19-04 06:18 PM by Gloria

us safer at home...in about two sentences.

Now, onto suicide bombers...

Now on to porous borders....

Explaining that the Iraqis have to feel they are really in charge of their situation.

Dismissing the idea of a loose confederation....potential civil war..

Now, on handover....Can we have a successful handover?

Says the Iraqis will wait and see...60-90 days will tell...

50-50 chance of getting through the next 6 months...but long term, the war on terror can't be won with military alone....

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. someone who

has the background, experience and capability to step right into the presidency on a moment's notice... yes, that's Wes. Now, I say this while assuming that John Kerry will enjoy a fruitful and productive eight years in the presidency, but I want to know that my Vice President doesn't need classes in foreign policy, economics and diplomacy before stepping in.

[cosmokramer]

15. Love this guy.

[Racenut20]

2. I am ready for another primary vote myself. But then I voted Clark

[cosmokramer]

3. Complete agreement here!

You surely don't see some other un-named VP contender doing the news circuit with commentary on foreign policy, or even education (as Clark did).

[sadiesworld]

4. I have to believe Kerry sees this, knows this.

[FrenchieCat]

5. I must agree....

I also watched the Fox appearance, as I have so many other Clark appearance. The great thing about Wes Clark is his unique method of using language.

That is why some of his greatest lines are still in use by others today:
"I can go Toe to Toe with George Bush"
"Prancing around the deck of an carrier with his flight suit"
"Republican Mean Machine"
"I'm not attacking him for attacking the terrorists, I am attacking George Bush for not attacking the terrorists"
"use force, only, only, only as a last resort"

Wes Clark does not memorize speeches....he talks off the cuff without stammering...without hesitation....and uses the English language like nobody's business.

If this election will be about substance...then he should definitely be the one to get the Veep nod.

Even if this election is about "flash"....he's got some of that too.

If this election is only about herding Sheeples (and it may be)....then maybe there are some other candidates out there that the media has fooled many into thinking are better candidates for the Veep job.

We will see if John Kerry has balls and foresight to make a great decision....or if John Kerry just wishes to satisfy the media choir and what it's selling.

[Gloria]

6. And, I forgot to mention....how he moves from topic to topic with

ease....Not only on global issues, but he can also speak effectively on the economy and many other topics.

Clarity is what the Kerry campaign desperately needs. Clark is the perfect "antidote" to Kerry's more convoluted style.

Clark is a breath of fresh air, no doubt about it.

You know, with all that's going on, you would think you would see more of Biden and Levin, for example, out there talking policy. But Clark is the one out there. The question is....who puts him there? And if it isn't always the campaign getting him book, either officially speaking for Kerry or not,---then he must be awful attractive and respected for the news shows to get him on. Think about that....the media that won't mention him as a presidential or vp candidate has no problems with him on as an expert....Which proves that he's respected....and I believe that respect can serve Kerry well if Clark is picked as VP.

And if the media suddenly turns into "trash" mode....Clark has no qualms about taking them on....

[Sparkly]

10. So true -- I think that's one of the things that separates him from

"politicians." It showed in the "townhall"-type appearance where citizens asked the candidates questions, and Clark responded directly to those people rather than the camera. It showed in the debate when he stopped Tom Brokaw's mischaracterization (that Clark espoused MIHOP) mid-sentence and said, "No, that's not what I've said" and clarified his spoken position succinctly. It showed when Wolf Blitzer interviewed him after a Chimp speech and said "Well, General, he didn't connect Saddam and 9/11 just now though" and the General said, "No, I think you really have to say he did," and explained exactly how, like an unwritten, unrehearsed, perfect editorial.

But above all, it showed in every town forum when people asked questions and he answered *those questions* rather than play a political-speech tape. That's what really made me a believer, admirer and supporter -- his mind got around each question, sometimes circling through related considerations and historical context and other questions, much like Clinton would, and then he'd reach an answer that was often honestly open-ended. It was genuine, thoughtful, and incredibly informed.

I still don't think the question is whether General Clark is good enough to lead this country, it's whether this country is good enough to know what we have in him.

[cosmokramer]

12. He is completely unafraid of anything.

[cosmokramer]

7. You forgot to mention the post commentary...

...in the VP discussions. The dem female remarked that Kerry would do well to choose Clark.

[Gloria]

9. Didn't hear the commentary....had to take the dogs out....

Plus, since I don't watch this show, I didn't know there was a post-commentary segment....

But...glad to know a Dem actually promoted Clark!!

Who was this woman???

[cosmokramer]

11. Don't know!

Strange to hear some media whore say something nice about Clark though...did they not get the memo?

[graham67]

8. Video is uploaded

http://www.us4clark.com/mediaclips.html

On edit:

I think I missed part of it. I thought he was finished at the commercial :shrug:

[Tatiana]

13. THANK YOU! n/t

[Adelante]

14. It's rerunning at 4AM

If you can set up the machine for the second half.

But thanks, I had missed it altogether and am very thankful you recorded what you did. There's just nobody like the General.

[graham67]

16. Yep!

I'll grab the second half.

I know some folks are having problems with the .wmv file types. I made my first attempt at a file that plays with Real Player. Hopefully this one will work~

http://www.video4clark.com/vidclips/FNC_061904.rm

[Jai4WKC08]

17. Oh no PLEASE

.wmv files are the best way, really the only way, for those of us with dial-up. .rm we have to stream and it always bogs down. .wmv we can download overnite and watch the next day. WAH!

Don't want to sound ungrateful to you or ice. I LOVE that site. But please think of those of us who live too far out in the sticks to have DSL or cable. <sniff>

[incapsulated]

18. jai, jai, jai...

What did I teach you? You can download the rm file by right clicking, "save target as".

[graham67]

19. You can use either/or...

Both links still work. I was experimenting because there were folks who couldn't view the .wmv files ;)

[Auntie Bush]

22. Thanks for the video! I missed it and was really bumming. n/t

[Jai4WKC08]

25. Thanks graham!

Uh, incap, I know... thought about how I did that with the Hague testimony. D'oh!

Well, dangit. I know some of the files at us4clark I can't seem to download. I'm not sure why now. I'm not usually totally illiterate when it comes to this stuff.

Oh well, it's a wonderful resource and I thank ice and graham for putting it together and keeping it running. May they have many more months of hard work in front of 'em!!

[incapsulated]

26. Strange

Oh, well. You saw it on tv, anyways. :)

[Scoopie]

24. Really?

I'm on dial up (can't afford DSL or cable, even though it's readily available) and I stream better.
Well, actually, what I do is stream the first time and then repeat. The second time is always buffered and does better.

[venus]

20. I've seen Clark three times in person

and let me tell ya' he IS General Electric.

[funky_bug]

21. Oh that's rich!

I love it! I agree... I saw him many times in person and he was phenominal. I never understood why that didn't translate in the debates.

[indie_voter]

38. It didn't translate in the debates because

He wasn't allowed more than a minute or two to answer the questions. Not only that, the questions posed to him were most often of the idiotic "are you a republican?" " will you denounce Michael Moore?" variety.

The spectacles we witnessed were not debates, I have no idea what they were.

In a real debate I have no doubt Clark would not only shine but wipe the proverbial floor with his opponent.

He is extremely intelligent and experienced. He speaks in paragraphs not soundbites.

I know Kerry is our nominee, but I will always wish Clark started earlier and focused on Iowa. LOL

[Scoopie]

39. Faux News purposely

set out to destroy him - afterall, he'd probably beat Bush without blinking.

[cosmokramer]

33. When I saw him...

...I was FOUR STAR STRUCK for days...

:evilgrin:

[Scoopie]

23. You know, when I want electricity,

I simply plug something into a socket.

However, when the electricity goes out, I call an expert in to fix it.

Edwards is a plug.
Clark is the electrician.

[in_cog_ni_to]

27. I missed this show.

:( Wes Clark can speak to any important issue of the day, in depth and intelligently. He'll be a great VP. Thanks for the recap. :hi:

[graham67]

28. Updated, both segments now available....

in Windows Media and Real formats. :)

http://www.us4clark.com/mediaclips.html

[MontecitoDem]

29. Thanks for this!

It's great to see him again.

[Spazito]

30. Thanks for doing this!

We don't get Faux news here in Canada (it does not meet the criteria to be an accredited news source) so your site is the only way I can watch when Wes Clark is on. He is so articulate and knowledgeable, I always learn something from every one of his appearances.

[juajen]

41. See, another reason I want to move to Canada

Too bad I'm too old. I always wondered how in the world I could be covered by medicare in Canada, as my hubby and I are retired.

[julialnyc]

32. thanks

I just got to see the second part. Great job....he was wonderful. I never cease to learn from this man.

[cosmokramer]

36. A Jewel!

[in_cog_ni_to]

37. First, let me get THIS out of the way...

He looked MARVELOUS DAHHHHLING! JUST MARVELOUS!! :loveya: OK, with that being said, that man knows so much about EVERYTHING. What an asset to our party. We are SO lucky to have him. Kerry will be on my list of fools if he doesn't choose Wes Clark to be his VP. Thanks for posting the video link. I was so bummed that I had missed him.

[cosmokramer]

40. Indeed he did!

[x_y_no]

31. What a terrific interview

General Clark really has his stuff together.

[cosmokramer]

35. He should make all dems feel PROUD to have him in our party!

[Selwynn]

34. There's something about Clark's style that is extremely appealing...

..to me.