Wes Clark Dems: No more messin' around...

[Adelante]

The new front page at Clark 04:

A Message from Wes Clark
February 18, 2004

Dear loyal supporter,

I can't thank you enough for all the support you've shown my family and me over the past 5 months, and especially in the last week since my decision to leave the presidential race. Your emails, letters, and phone calls have meant a lot to Gert and me.

Right now, we're looking forward to a little time off. Today, Gert and I are flying to Los Angeles to spend the next week with Wes, Astrid, and my new grandson. During the next few weeks, I'll be reflecting a lot on all that we've done together and putting together some ideas about where we will go from here.

For many of us, this was our first time to really get involved in politics. I think we all learned a lot, and I hope you feel as I do: even more inspired to do whatever it takes to build a better America.

My pledge to you is to remain involved in the political process. And I ask you to do the same, because there is just too much at stake this election.

We cannot allow George W. Bush and the Republicans to play politics with national security.

We must reclaim the values of faith, family, patriotism, and inclusive leadership for America.

We must do everything in our power to send George W. Bush back to Texas and return the White House to its rightful owner -- the American people.

In short, I ask you to stick with me and support John Kerry. There is a long road ahead and a lot of work to do. I'll be back in touch soon with ideas about how we can continue to work together and spread our message across America. If you have any thoughts you'd like to share, please email me at [e-mail].

I look forward to continuing to work with you to build a better America.

[Adelante]

1. We have a Kerry Clark blog

Just now we are mostly Wes Clark Dems over there, but we've invited some Kerry supporters to join us. So anybody who wants to work together on our support for John Kerry, c'mon over. It's a nice place. :)

http://www.kerryclark04.us/usa/index.php?s=

[roseba]

29. CCN

And no one mentioned it on CCN?

[Adelante]

30. Don't know

It's not my group. I got an email about it and it was posted here on DU at some point.

[mikehiggins]

2. Ahem. Aren't you supposed to say "emphasis added" on something

like that. Maybe I missed it but that wasn't in bold when I read the copy I got.

Good luck with your blog.

[Bill of Rights]

5. Bold is in wrong place

This is misleading. The bold was ONLY on the part about sticking with Wes. The Kerry portion was NOT in bold.

[Adelante]

7. Jeez

I really didn't mean to start a commotion. I was merely pointing up an issue that has been under discussion: What does the General want?

In any case, this is from the Clark '04 site, as stated, where none of it is in bold.

Go look for yourself:

http://clark04.com/

[mikehiggins]

32. No commotion, bro.

Its just that putting that part in bold suggests that Clark emphasised that part as being more important than the rest of the note. It is my understanding that Clark endorsed Kerry and left it open to the rest of his supporters to follow their consciences.

You certainly don't want to misrepresent that.

[Adelante]

34. No I don't want to misrepresent

I did want to emphasize the change and wasn't thinking it might be misinterpreted. I couldn't edit, Mike, or I would've. And it's "sis" ;)

[mikehiggins]

37. Okay. No commotion, sis. n/t

[Adelante]

54. No commotion, bro

I had a nice sleep. :)

[BootinUp]

35. pssssst, Hey Mike

WesDem is of the female persuasion.
;)

[Adelante]

6. Okay

EMPHASIS ADDED.

Happy? ;)

[SW FL Dem]

8. Interesting

My email from Wes asked me to support the Democratic nominee.

[Adelante]

9. He seems to have gotten more specific

I don't think there's any obligation intended, but he's letting his preference be known.

[Lefta Dissenter]

27. Jeez, Jersey,

Don't ya know that you're supposed to space two times after a colon? For pete's sake! Would you be more accurate in your postings, please???? :P

By the way, a few of us Clarkies are going to the Feingold Meetup tomorrow night. It felt like a good way to work for a good cause while everyone else is battling over the Dem nominees. I'm guessing we'll get back into the Pres campaign once the dust settles and our wounds have started to heal.

[Adelante]

31. I'm getting beat up here

:cry:

That's great about the Feingold Meetup. Report back, okay? I was supposed to go to the Democratic Party Meetup tonight, but got hung up. Next time. :)

[texasmom]

14. Same here. n/t

[Adelante]

15. This thread doesn't refer to the email

But to the new front page. Just to be clear.

http://clark04.com/

[MrSlayer]

3. I'm In.

:hi:

[Adelante]

4. Saw ya!

:hi:

[deminflorida]

10. I'm and back on the board now....

Thanks...

Chris...

[Adelante]

17. Saw you, too

:hi:

[Tweed]

11. Count me in General! Kerry in 2004 n/t

[HuskerDem]

12. I support Kerry

and I still support Wes too.

[Adelante]

13. Wes, always.

:D

[AnnitaR]

42. I LOVE that pic of Kerry saluting the General!

Where did you get that??

I feel the need to say that I'm supporting Kerry as Clark asked... I gotta go find me a new pic for my sig line now...

[BootinUp]

16. Reporting for Duty Sir!

Sir, we are ready to follow your orders!

[mikehiggins]

33. Uhh,,,well, I'm ready to listen to what he says. I'm too old and evil

to just take orders.

[incapsulated]

18. Yoohoo! Check out my new banner!

Anyone who wants it can take it! :)

[BootinUp]

20. Wow thats pretty slick

don't mind if I do, thanks Incapsulated!

[Adelante]

22. Snatched it!

Thanks. :)

[democratreformed]

19. On board

Our Arkansas group has a new yahoo group as well - Clarkansans for Kerry

[bicentennial_baby]

21. Can't do that

It's just not my style...

[Adelante]

23. No fault BB

You picked a great man.

:toast:

[BootinUp]

24. I have a feeling

Wes would back you 110% on that. Thats just the kind of guy he is.

[incapsulated]

25. No problem, Kerry was my #2 from the start

That's why I'm backing him.

I respect the General, but I make up my own mind, as you should.

This is why I'm not "military material". ;)

[bicentennial_baby]

39. LOL, me too

I'm way too much of an independent thinker for that route! Thanks to all you understanding Clarkies. :grouphug:

[Bucky]

26. Sorry, General. I'm still leaning Edwards. But I still love ya.

Clark has had a multiplier effect on my commitment to changing this country. But he's endorsed someone for president who won't have the same impact on the electorate that he himself would. Clark's endorsement makes me think kinder of Kerry, but it doesn't swing me. I think Edwards would be the stronger candidate, tho I'm still not totally sure. I don't have to decide yet, anyhoo. I can wait.

[Adelante]

28. Don't let it trouble you, Bucky

We all gotta go the way that's right for each of us. :)

[King of New Orleans]

36. I think Edwards is the better candidate

or campaigner. But I believe Kerry would be the better President.

[robbedvoter]

50. Is it starting the war in Iraq or the PATRIOT Act? Just curious

Everyone is entitled to their choices. But when you go so opposite of Clark - you make me curious.
MATTHEWS: Would you have gone to Iraq?

EDWARDS: I would have gone to Iraq. I don’t think I would have approached it the way this president did. I don’t think-See I think what happened, if you remember back historically, remember I had an up or down vote. I stand behind it.
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3131295/

[For PaisAn]

38. Sorry Wes, no can do

My support of Wes is NOT transferrable to Kerry, a candidate for the Democratic nominee. DNC and media interference contributed to Wes dropping out. I am disappointed that Wes has now become part of that problem. I am sure he has honorable reasons for doing so but it doesn't work that way for me. I had imagined that Clark supporters would switch to Dean if Wes dropped out. I misjudged their allegiance to Clark's MESSAGE.

[Adelante]

40. What's this about?

"I misjudged their allegiance to Clark's MESSAGE."

Oh, let me shut up and go to bed. This place is just ugly tonight.

[For PaisAn]

41. Nothing ugly about my response.

Kerry in no way represents Clark's message. Just think about it.

[Tweed]

44. Who does then?

Kerry may have voted for IWR, but he is against the situtation now and says that Bush has screwed up our international relations. Edwards can not fix our international state as well as John Kerry can. For me, it was obvious that Clark endorsed Kerry and that Kerry would be the guy that I would move over to.

[Adelante]

55. It was the "allegiance" part

"I had imagined that Clark supporters would switch to Dean if Wes dropped out. I misjudged their allegiance to Clark's MESSAGE."

I wouldn't doubt any Clarkie's allegiance to Wes or his message. I would never have switched to Dean even if Clark had asked. But I do respect your choice in the matter or anybody's choice. I can't imagine any of us agrees point by point with everything in Clark's message, anyway. I don't care personally if the flag gets burned or not; he does. I think Kerry is the stronger candidate on national security and foreign policy. I think Kerry is the candidate who can beat George W. Bush. That Clark also thinks so has less to do with my choice than you may think.

[robbedvoter]

49. I am very close to your feelings. Still'm watching media pushing Edwards

on us (the guy who said on Hardball he would have STARTED a war with Iraq)
I understand his decision. Still voting Clark in the primaries.
Many feeling like you here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnitedForClark
and of course on the CCN blog.

[democratreformed]

58. NO other candidate comes anywhere close to Clark's message, IMO. n/t

[AnnitaR]

43. Thanks for this post!

I haven't been able to wander over to the site. It still pains me to this day that we let Wes slip through our fingers.

I believe in Clark so much. I trust in his belief that Kerry is the person who deserves our support. I trust that he believes Kerry can best get us out of this mess we are in. I trust that Wes would never ask me to support a man who doesn't deserve it.

I also believe that Kerry can best go toe to toe with Bush on issues of National Security.

I am a Wes Clark Democrat who supports John Kerry.

[ClarkUeberAlles]

45. I'm not supporting Kerry

My vote isn't transferrable from Clark either. I don't think Kerry is half the man Clark is and Mr. Special Interest doesn't represent Clark's message either. I think Clark's supporting him probably to keep open the possibility of a place in Kerry's administration but I cannot believe that Clark really believes in John Kerry.

I will vote for Clark on March 2nd

[Turkw]

46. In the GE, I'm Democratic Nominee, till then, I'm voting Clark

it's either that or leave the party. I am very unhappy with they way this race has been run by the Democratic leadership. Not only does the party need to stand up to the Republicans, stand up FOR the people, but they also need to stand up to the media.

[Adelante]

53. We all have our reasons and they may differ

I don't think anybody's vote should be transferrable from Clark to any candidate. Mine certainly isn't. I do agree with Wes that Kerry is the best candidate in the remaining field to beat George W. Bush and the best candidate on national security. You are incorrect in your belief that he does not believe in John Kerry.

This is what Clark said to the Boston Globe after he entered the race:

"I like John Kerry. If John Kerry wins and he becomes president, I'll be happy. The problem is, and the reason I'm in this race, is because I don't think John Kerry's going to win. He just hasn't taken off. He's not connecting. My wife said early on: `I like that man. He's a senator. He talks well. He's really smart. Why do they keep coming to you? Why don't they go to John Kerry?'"

He accepted the draft because at the time, Kerry was, for all intents and purposes, out of it. He may or may not want to be VP, I don't know, but he endorsed Kerry because he believes in him and moved the endorsement forward, because Kerry and the Democratic Party was in peril at that moment. He was brave and true when he made the endorsement and I am proud of him for it.

I'm voting for Clark in the primary, if it doesn't matter in the race between Kerry and Edwards. If it comes down to where the spread has narrowed significantly, I will transfer that particular vote from Clark to Kerry. It's what I want and it happens to be what he wants. The important thing is taking the White House. Clark's message has nothing to do with it. But as long as I can do it without jeopardizing the nomination, I will vote Clark in the primary and never had any other intention.

Clark has asked his supporters to support Kerry, and I don't fault anybody who doesn't want to do that, but some of us do want to do that. Between Edwards and Kerry, I take Kerry anyday, and between Kerry and Bush, well, there you go. But all of us would have wanted Wes Clark and all of us are loyal to him and his message.

[maddezmom]

47. thanks for posting, WesDem :)

I'm with ya in supporting Kerry.:pal:

And I support all the other Clarkies that have made different decisions. The important thing in all of this is, we remain involved nationally and locally in the party.

[robbedvoter]

48. Mine is hanging on the wall. has this great pic too

Most of us discussing this hang here
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UnitedForClark
if not at CCN.

[molly]

51. Thankyou for this very positive and uplifting post

together we will take back our country!

:yourock:

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[robbedvoter]

52. A voting guide for us:

 
Voting guide
by John in Houston
If I see Clark on the ballot, I vote for him.
If I see Bush on the ballot, I vote against him.
Simple.

[Crewleader]

56. Hi WesDem

I got the same message yesterday....I sent the General a message also. Told him to make sure he and Gert take lots of pics of their grandson and get some rest when they can. And that his army of supporters will be ready for service when he gets intouch again with his good ideas! :-)

[Adelante]

57. Heh heh

We sent the same message thought for thought. :)

[Crewleader]

59. Hi Wes...that's teamwork!

I did give him a P.S.

I let the General know about my brother who was drafted in the Army and did his tour of duty in Vietnam, his service 1966-68. He had one of the toughest jobs being a tunnel rat, being short in height awarded him the job and I'm sure the General knows.
Anyway I said to the General one of the most favorite jobs my brother did like was having his own jeep chauffuering a General and I know he was not one at the time.
But my brother sure would of been proud driving him around, I let him know of my brother's name if they ever crossed paths. You never know WesDem, anyway told him we will be ready to report for duty when he calls apron us! :hi: