What is the likelihood of Clark being selected as VP?

[Anarcho-Socialist]

The media seems to be ignoring him in favor of other candidates at the moment. Has Clark said if he is interested/uninterested in becoming Kerry's VP? As things stand do you think there is a possibility of him being selected as VP?

[JI7]

1. it only matters what Kerry is thinking and he is staying quiet

the only thing he has said is he hasn't asked anyone to be vp. and this was in response to the mccain rumors. the media has a history of being wrong on vp choices. they have been wrong about the democrats and republican vp choices at least from 1988 to 2000. so you can't really depend on what media says.

the only answer is we don't know and wont know anything until kerry actually makes the announcement. we can then look back and see if any of the articles which talk of vp were accurate or not.

as for what clark himself says, he gives a common answer most give when asked about vp. which is appear to be not interested or just say they have other plans. so you can't get much from the answers possible vp choices give either.

[in_cog_ni_to]

2. I hope so.

Clark has said all along that he isn't interested in being VP, but they all say that. The media has ALWAYS ignored Wes Clark because they shill for the WH and the WH FEARS Wes Clark being on the ticket. I was just reading on the "MSNBC Veepstakes" thread that MSNBC had shown the Veepstakes results, said Wes Clark was the winner this week for the 6th week in a row!!!!! and proceeded to discuss the VP possibilities and didn't mention Wes Clark's name ONCE! <ahem> Hello? HE leads in THEIR Veepstakes poll and he's not a possible VP in their eyes? The talking heads are just that talking heads for the RW administration and the RW corporations who own them. :grr:

Wes Clark has a VERY good chance of being VP. He's definitely the MOST qualified in Foreign Policy and IMCPO, if Kerry is smart, he will choose Wes Clark. Look at Iraq. Kerry NEEDS Wes Clark!

Go Wes!

[Darkamber]

3. Why is it that Conservatives say it is a Liberal media?

The media isn't mentioning Clark, but that maybe because everytime he is asked Clark very clearly says, "I'm not interested."

And this whole RW media thing is silly. If it was RW media why did the prison story every come out? If they wanted to keep W' in office they would not have ever reported it.

Only Kerry knows what the final choice will be, but I'm sure that Clark will have a place in Kerry's administration. He's already on Kerry's Military advisory group.

[wjsander]

4. The media isn't MENTIONING Clark...

They're just having him on as a guest ALL THE TIME.

But they're afraid of him. :eyes:

[Scoopie]

6. They are afraid of him coming into power

because he fully understands their complicit role in perpetuating the Military Industrical Complex.

However, he is bright, handsome and speaks well, so they can't NOT put him on as in the talking head role, particularly as he is now one of the most-known four-star generals and we're in a war.

There is a difference between his coming to power and his having chats with the media on news shows.

Now, as for his VP chances, here are my thoughts.

In Clark's favor:

A.) Kerry seems to really like him - Clark, along with Cleland, are part of Kerry's Band of Brothers.
B.) Clark IS bright, handsome and speaks well; therefore, Kerry knows he won't have any trouble with Clark on the ticket. In fact, the only trouble had in the primaries, really, was when the press misquoted him or took things out of context. I think Clark's only REAL faux pas was not realizing how infantile some members of the media can be.
C.) Clark would be the perfect anecdote to the doddering, slimy and potty-mouthed Cheney in a debate. Clark probably has forgotten more about foreign policy than Cheney ever knew and he would wipe the bunkered VP out in a rout.
D.) As a White House fellow who worked in the Office of Budget and Management on tailoring the budget and from governing thousands of soldiers and their families as NATO commander, Clark can speak as easily to domestic issues as well as foreign policy issues.

To Clark's detriment:
A.) He's never held an office; however, to Independents like me - that's a good thing because he isn't beholding to anyone. But I can understand why a seasoned politician like Kerry might consider it a minus.
B.) He's a shining star and Kerry might think that he could upstage him. I doubt Clark, who is used to falling in line as a member of the Army "team," would TRY to show Kerry up, but there are times when Clark's brilliance, particularly in his ability to predict what will happen next in Iraq, may cause the press to pay more attention to him.
C.) The media. I somehow don't think Kerry much cares about polls and media magpies, but, in the event he does, he has to know the media will do anything in its power to keep a smart man out of office.

[cosmokramer]

9. The media isn't 'having' him as a guest all the time...

KERRY is sending him to the media all the time as his surrogate. All of his television appearances are orchestrated by the Kerry campaign. And unless he is a there on behalf of Kerry, they don't mention him at all.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. CBS and Sy Hersh

exposed those pictures...not Faux News. Not CNN. Not MSNBC. Not CNBC....CBS who is the ONLY network to stick it to this administration. The ONLY reason the other networks followed suit by showing the torture pics was because they had no choice. It was out there. They would have looked more biased than they already do. The right wing media is there whether you want to see it or not. Look at Hannity, Scarborough, Brit Hume, Tweety, Paula Zahn, Lou Dobbs, Limpballs, O'Lielly, Judy Woodruff, Boortz, Ann Coulter, Christopher Hitchens, everyone who works for Faux News and so many more that I can't think of. How many LIBERAL talking heads do we see? Not many.

As for Clark saying he's not interested in VP...They ALL say that, but the RW media continues to discuss the others.... They aren't ignored. Why is that? It just couldn't be that they know who the WH wants to go up against? You damn well better believe that they have gotten their marching orders from KKKRove.

[WI_DEM]

5. I honestly don't think he will be

neither will my favorite candidate--Howard Dean. But I predict that both men will serve Kerry in their own unique ways and will be offered important posts in the next administration.

[deminflorida]

7. Very likely if Iraq goes into Civil War....

Kerry will want the name Clark on the Ticket....Also there's really no chance in Clark upstaging Kerry....he knoes what a chain of command is like no other in the Vetting process other than Max Cleland and Dick Gephardt.

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. Yes. If Iraq goes into civil war very soon.

If it falls apart in August the ticket will already be set. Aside from the arguable advantages Clark presents as our VP choice now (meaning, I acknowledge that people argue about it lol), Clark is the best insurance policy Kerry can take out to prepare for dramatic events that might suddenly shape the future of the campaign and the Election. The economy is in a slow burn, dangerous as Hell for our future well being, but not fast breaking. Any easily perceived new changes now are more likely to be viewed as positive to Bush rather than negative.

But there could be a coup in Pakistan, or a Terror attack in London, or God knows what, even if Iraq doesn't fall to pieces in the short term. Should anything like that happen between now and November, we could not conceivably have a stronger ticket than Kerry-Clark.

[cosmokramer]

10. Better than the chance of ...

...Edwards, but less than the chances of Gephardt.

Kerry wants a seasoned, capable person as his Veep--Gep is certainly this, Edwards is certainly not. Clark definitely is, but the friendship between Kerry and Gep is longer with deep roots.

If I were a betting person, I would lay money that it will be Clark or Gephardt, and would equally lay money that it most definitely will not be Edwards.

[Joe Fields]

12. It is a distinct possibility, but....

My guess is that Kerry will choose Gephardt, if only because the two have known and trusted each other for a very long time. I think the comfort factor will play out in the end.

[newyawker99]

13. Hi Joe Fields!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Scoopie]

14. Darn

I'm still holding out for a more charismatic world leader as VP, particularly one who has eyebrows!!
(Lots of eyebrows, to be specific!!! LMAO! Clark definitely does not come up short in the eyebrow department! :) )

[cosmokramer]

20. Luv those eyebrows...

:hug:

[Auntie Bush]

15. Welcome aboard Joe! I agree to the fact that Kerry may

first and foremost want to work with someone he enjoys working with (think McCain) but in order to do that HE HAS TO WIN THE ELECTION and inspire people to pay attention and get out and vote. I don't see Gephardt doing that. He fell on his face in the primaries and pushed for the war in Iraq. I really think Clark could help him win the election and he could reward Gephardt with a cabinet post.

However...if things go well in Iraq OR Kerry thinks he'll win in a landside...he will more likely pick Gephardt and give Clark a cabinet position.

PS Don't forget labor was going to endorse Clark until he decided not to campaign in Iowa...so I think Clark could still help Kerry with Labor if he doesn't pick Gephardt.

[Lefty Pragmatist]

16. Vanishingly small.

Clark is the classic guy who takes a run at the top job; he just isn't a veep type. Edwards yes, Gep unfortunately yes (I pray to whatever powers that we've learned something from the Reagan debacles, but maybe not). But not Clark, and I really like him.

[Tom Rinaldo]

17. Point taken

The reason I can see Clark as VP is because of the way in whuch that role has been evolving, at least since Mondale. And it would take a further evolution in order for Clark to be a good fit now for the VP role, but that may be possible. Take some of the power of Cheney, mix it with the teamwork perfected by Gore, and factor in a very challenging set of domestic and international concerns that must be simultaneously managed, and you have a recipe for a VP portfolio that might engage rather than waste the talents of a man like Clark IF Kerry is looking for that type of contribution. Clark is certainly comfortable with helping enable someone else's agenda, assuming he is on board for the big picture. He is a military man afterall.

[SW FL Dem]

18. I don't know - I don't think anyone outside of Kerry's

inner circle has a clue. It wouldn't break my heart, however, if he was :)

[artr2]

19. Slim to none

nt

[LandOLincoln]

21. About 100%, give or take a coupla

percentage points. :toast:

[fujiyama]

22. I'm thinking

it looks less likely than it did earlier, but I think the events on the ground in Iraq will really tell what his chances are really like.

I still think he would be a great VP, but for whatever reason many in the party seem to like Edwards a lot, which is understandable.

So, my guesses are right now in order of likelihood:

Edwards
Gep
Clark
Vilsack
Richardson
Graham

My own list would be

Clark
Edwards
Graham
Richardson (though he really doesn't seem interested in wanting it this year).
Gep
Vilsack

[notbush]

23. No chance...

Gonna be D.G.