The return of General Wes Clark!

[wyldwolf]

There is chatter in Democratic circles about possible interest from Wesley Clark as a candidate for retiring Democrat Vic Snyder's congressional seat... A credible source says that an internal discussion is taking place, and that Clark is giving it serious consideration.

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/01/19/wesley_clark_considering_bid.html

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

1. I like Wes Clark. I'd like him to run for the Senate if he could.

I'd encourage him to primary Blanch Lincoln. But I don't know if she's up in 2010.

[MidwestTransplant]

15. I agree

[GoCubsGo]

18. Me, too.

I was really hoping he'd run for President back in 2008. Oh well. I believe he could not only beat her in a primary, but win the seat next November. I hope he goes for that, rather than the House seat. What better person to introduce the bill to repeal DADT than a retired 4-star general!

[roguevalley]

34. awesome.

[shireen]

2. awesome!!!

he'll have support from all over the country, not just AR!

[Captain Hilts]

3. A congressional seat is small potatoes for Wes. nt

[Cosmocat]

9. gotta take when you can get ...

The flip side is that you have to imagine that he would be a great house candidate ...

He is such a great man and person - if he can get in here, maybe it gives him the traction to move up to Senator or govenor ...

[Schema Thing]

4. I've been wishing he could somehow be our "Disaster Relief Czar"

I'd so love him to be out front when things like Haiti happen. He's the best make-things-happen person out there, he's good with policy/international politics, and he's a great communicator. As much as I admire him, I've decided he's just a so-so politician. He's just out of his element when he doing politics for the sake of politics.

That said, I'll take it! :)

[Doctor_J]

5. He's not one of Rahm's boys

he should have been a major player in the admin from day one.

[bigdarryl]

6. OH PLEASE!!!! another horrible candidate like Coakley when are we going to learn

we can't keep putting up plain no campaigning candidates

[Adelante]

13. Greatly exaggerated

He performed as well as Edwards in 2004 and nobody called that slug a horrible candidate. Clark also was one of the top campaigners for others in 2006.

[karynnj]

16. I think the difference was that Clark had the gravitas that Edwards lacked

Doing essentially the same suggested that he had weaker political skills. It also is a function of the media's characterizations. I never understood their infatuation with Edwards. (They were disgusting when he was first chosen in their eagerness to positively compare him to the far better man, Senator and politician who beat him soundly to get the nomination.)

Edwards had far more media support. Clark had an initial burst of unbelievably good press, better than any I ever saw. However, after some missteps in the debate and in NH, he got far less coverage than Edwards. I suspect the media hoped for a 1992 replay. of sorts, where the first multi state day, with its mostly south and south west states would, as it did for Clinton, make Edwards the new front runner. (I really think the day it should have been clear Kerry WAS going to be the nominee was when he won 5 of the 7, Edwards won one and Clark won one.

[GoCubsGo]

19. He also had no campaign experience in 2004

And, he didn't have the name recognition Edwards had (or that Coakley has w/in MA.) He was not a "horrible" candidate. Just an relatively unknown and inexperienced one.

[Adelante]

22. He campaigned for 80+ candidates in 2006 and a whole lot of them won

He really is very skillful at it now with all the practice he's had. Running in Arkansas, his name recognition will be huge and he is very respected. Even without being an elected official, he's brought hundreds of new jobs to Little Rock with a new a factory making wind energy parts, helping to get handicapped-suitable housing for wounded veterans, and is a very active civic leader in general. Raised in Little Rock and returned there after his Army career. The sort of thing voters find appealing. I think he'd be very credible as a candidate for this office. I hope he does it.

[suzie]

26. He's a terrible stump speaker and doesn't exude warmth.

Does that sound a lot like Coakley?

[Tom Rinaldo]

29. I've been around Clark often

He exudes plenty of warmth, and charm, and I've heard him make speechs that made me want to walk through fire to help him get elected.

There is nothing phony about him and you can tell that immediately when you are with him. I've been with him in small groups and I've been with him in large crowds and he always impresses whoever he is speaking to.

[Dinger]

31. I've Met General Clark Twice. He's Warm, Friendly, Approachable,

and you feel like he is really listening to you. I was intimidated until he put me at ease with his class, warmth, and kindness.
:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

[suzie]

32. I've also met Clark and based what I said about watching him.

Don't get me wrong, he's a nice guy, but he's not a great speaker and I doubt a great campaigner.

[quiller4]

17. I think you would have a differnt opinion if you'd seen Clark on the stump

He actually does a great jump with crowds in person. He just didn't get much press covereage at all.

[dionysus]

28. come on, wes is a good man. he'd be a fine candidate

[Romulox]

7. Yeah. One MORE Clinton-era retread will turn the tide for this admin! nt

[quinnox]

8. He should be a senator

He is 65 years old, and to me a House seat is not good enough for a man of his experience and prestige. Too bad there are no senate seats he could run for.

[Adelante]

12. He should be, yes

But this is an open Arkansas seat and I'd be thrilled if he held it for the Dems.

[xultar]

14. +100 million gazillion brazillion trillion

[Pirate Smile]

10. Great!

[Adelante]

11. Holy shit, I was just saying to myself the other day

Bring the General into the US Congress and let him kick ass! :woohoo:

Edit: corrected excitement mistake

[PatGund]

Completely, totally AGREE!!

*smile*

[PatGund]

25. Completely, totally AGREE!!

*smile*

[ShortnFiery]

20. No thanks, two occupations ongoing and another trillion in the pipeline for the MIC ...

IMO, the last damn thing we need is a former General Officer in Politics. :thumbsdown:

[Cha]

21. I saw a little blurb on WashingtonMonthly

today about that..From Tuesday's Roundup Campaign by Steve Benen~

"And with Rep. Vic Snyder (D) retiring in Arkansas this year, will Dems find a credible candidate to step up? Apparently, they have two: both Lt. Gov. Bill Halter (D) and retired Gen. Wesley Clark (D) are interested."

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

23. His oponant would be Griffin, a Rove protegee from the attorneygate scandal

So go Wes!

[Adelante]

24. Rumor Confirmed

Wes Clark considering House run

Retired general and former presidential candidate Wesley Clark is considering running for Congress from his native Arkansas, a spokesman said today.

The spokesman, Erick Mullen, confirmed Little Rock chatter that the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander is weighing a bid for the House seat being vacated by retiring Democrat Vic Snyder.

"People are urging General Clark to run because of his national security profile and robust netroots support. He's not looking for a job right now, but he's listening," Mullen said.

Former Bush aide Tim Griffin, a Republican, is currently the frontrunner to take the seat.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0110/Wes_Clark_considering_House_run.html?showall

[FrenchieCat]

33. That would be so good!

:bounce:

[windbreeze]

27. UWesA....

I hope he does whatever he wants...but I'd like to see it him go for it...wb

[Dinger]

30. Oh Man, I'm A Clarkie Form Waaay Back

Do it Wes!:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot: