WHY WE NEED GENERAL CLARK AS PRESIDENT

“Let's centralize the location for General Clark information.

Warts and all.....

I'll go first -

WHY WE NEED GENERAL CLARK AS PRESIDENT
Why I’m running for President
"I'm in this campaign because I love this country. I spent thirty-four years in uniform defending it and for the last three, I've watched as everything I fought for, everything I cherish, has been unraveling before our eyes. I've watched as people have lost their jobs. I've watched as we've lost the respect of the world community. I've watched as we lost our sense of security -- our faith in government. I've watched as the shadow of fear descended over the United States of America." Wes Clark, Remarks to Democratic National Committee (DNC), October 3, 2003.

On New American Patriotism
"I am running for President of the United States, and I am appealing to every citizen willing to open with me an era of New American Patriotism -- of Americans who speak their minds, serve their country, and demand more of their leaders. We are going to reclaim the label of patriotism; we're going to reclaim the right to challenge the President; we're going to have a rousing debate based on facts and results, and we're going to get answers about what's best for this country and who's best to lead it." Wes Clark, September 23, 2003.

On Iraq and Unilateralism
"The 1991 Gulf War coalition had troops from 32 countries. Sharing the decision to drive the Iraqi Army out of Kuwait by force led to sharing the costs. The total cost of the Gulf War was about $60 billion. The United States paid roughly $6 billion of that total. The rest was paid by our allies.

"Twelve years later, the decision to attack Iraq was not shared. Rather than presenting the international community with a problem and asking its assistance in helping to resolve it, the United States government presented the solution and asked for countries to back it. We refused to share the decision, and our allies are refusing to share the costs. The current $87 billion request before Congress, on top of the $79 billion already approved by Congress would bring the cost - so far - to $166 billion dollars paid by the United States taxpayers.

"We are weaker without allies. We are not going to be able to maintain stability in the Middle East, support reconstruction of post-Saddam Iraq, deal with the challenges of North Korea, continue this struggle against terrorism, face the problem of Iran and still return to prosperity in this country, unless we are sharing burdens with allies." Wes Clark, Second Annual Convention of Military Reporters, October 3, 2003.

On the Environment
"Looking ahead 100 years, the United States will be defined by our environment, both our physical environment and our legal, Constitutional environment…Environmentally, it means that we must do more to protect our natural resources, enabling us to extend their economic value indefinitely through wise natural resource extraction policies that protect the beauty and diversity of our American ecosystems - our seacoasts, mountains, wetlands, rain forests, alpine meadows, original timberlands and open prairies. We must balance carefully the short- term needs for commercial exploitation with longer-term respect for the natural gifts our country has received." Wes Clark, 100 Year Vision.

On Jobs and the Economy
"The plan would direct, over two years, $100 billion to effectively stimulate the economy, creating jobs and making America safer. It also includes $40 billion over two years to meet urgent homeland security needs, like training first responders and securing America's ports. An additional $40 billion would go into a State and Local Tax Rebate Fund to help keep college tuition affordable and lessen the need for property tax increases. An additional $20 billion over two years would provide incentives for firms to hire more workers and small businesses to expand investment. "The plan would not increase the deficit, and instead would stimulate the economy by redirecting the Bush tax cuts from families with annual incomes of over $200,000." Wes Clark, 2003 South Carolina NAACP, Oct. 10, 2003.

On Education
"If you want to improve schools, you’ve got to go inside the processes that makes a school great. You’ve go to look at teachers, their qualifications, their motivation, what it is that gives a teacher satisfaction, what it is a teacher wants to do in a classroom. We’ve got to empower teachers. Give them an opportunity to lead in the classroom. Teachers are the most important leaders in America. All that is lost in the sloganeering of this party that’s in power—it’s the sort of doctrinaire ideology that doesn’t really understand the country that we’re living in." Wes Clark, interview with Josh Marshall.”

“I like him.”

“Jeezus...why do people feel they have to campaign on TT? How many votes do you really think you'll get with a cut and paste no one will get more than four sentances into before hitting the back button?

My advice, actually join his campaign and do some really campaigning in the places it will serve you most...away from TT.

8P”

“Feeling threatened, huh?”

“I have a gut-level visceral feeling that I like Clark. His military background could be a great benefit.

One doubt: Clark has not shown much organizational ability so far in the campaign. He has abandoned Iowa because he doesn't have people on the ground. He also hasn't raised much money. Ability to manage a campaign is a good test for a president. I am waiting to see if he can administer his supporters.

Another doubt: He also initially said that he would have voted for war, but then backpedaled on the issue. There is no more important issue for the country. He should think before he speaks.

Doubt #3: Is Clark really a Democrat? The last thing I want is to be hoodwinked into voting for someone who will abandon Democratic core issues the second he's in office.

If Clark can get his house in order, I'll probably back him.

rl”

“"Feeling threatened, huh?"

Absolutely not. Why, should I?”

“He has my vote.”

“clark won't get the support of the REAL leaders of the democratic party cuz he's not liberal enough.


plus, he groped me back in '82....”

“He will get my serious consideration. However, I am also a "wait and see" person. There are some other people in the race that I think would make good presidents.”

“General Wesley K. Clark's vision for New American Patriotism has energized people across the country. It's a belief that citizenship comes with responsibilities as well as rights. It's a strategy for national and economic security that invests in people while returning the country to a path of long-term fiscal discipline. In a series of speeches, Clark lays out his policy plans for the future.

"My vision for a New American Patriotism calls for leadership that will make the right choices for all of our people as we confront enormous historic challenges: the right choices to make our country stronger, the right choices for health care, the right choices for the economy, and the right choices for national security," said Clark.”

“General Wesley K. Clark is one of America's most distinguished retired military officers. During his 34 years of service in the United States Army, he held numerous staff and command positions, rising to the rank of four-star general and NATO Supreme Allied Commander.

Born in Chicago on December 23, 1944, General Clark grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1962, he graduated from Hall High School, where he led his swim team to the state championship. Always committed to public service, he went to West Point at the age of 17 and graduated at the top of his class in 1966. He also earned a Master's Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar

From 1997 through May of 2000, General Clark was NATO Supreme Allied Commander and Commander in Chief of the United States European Command. In this position, General Clark led Operation Allied Force, NATO's first major combat action, which saved 1.5 million Albanians from ethnic cleansing in Kosovo.

From 1996 to 1997, General Clark served as Commander in Chief of the United States Southern Command, Panama, where he was responsible for the direction of U.S. military activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

From 1994 to 1996, he served as Director for Strategic Plans and Policy for the Joint Chiefs of Staff with responsibilities for worldwide U.S. military strategic planning.

General Clark is a recipient of numerous U.S. and foreign military awards, including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Purple Heart. He received honorary Knighthoods from the British and Dutch governments and was made a commander of the French Legion of Honor. In August 2000, President Clinton awarded General Clark with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.

An acclaimed public speaker and commentator for CNN, General Clark is the author of the best-selling Waging Modern War: Bosnia, Kosovo, and the Future of Combat. In his new book, Winning Modern Wars: Iraq, Terrorism, and the American Empire, General Clark describes his vision of America's global role in the 21st century.

In the summer of 2000, General Clark joined Stephens Group, Inc., and served as a Managing Director for the financial services firm from March, 2001, through February, 2003. He was most recently chairman of Wesley K. Clark & Associates, a strategic advisory and consulting firm. He is Chairman of the Board at WaveCrest Laboratories, a firm now developing a breakthrough electric propulsion system. He also founded Leadership for America, a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering the conversation about America's future.

Wes Clark and his wife Gert have been married for 36 years. They live in Little Rock, Arkansas and they have one son, Wesley, a screenwriter who lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Astrid Clark.”

“I would have no problem at all voting for him if I knew he wouldn't dismantle the armed forces. I fear a peacenick general would be devistating.”

“From everything I can see, he sure appears to be the real deal.”

“Bush makes ya feel safe?

Why is Clark a "peacenik general"?

He helped bring peace to Kosovo.”

“Holy shlt Tom. Don't tell me you're actually going to use Kosavoe as a reason to vote for him!! The guy was a total goatfucver in Kosavoe. I feel much safer with Bush than say a Gore.”

“A Vizla would be an improvement over what we have now.

BODIE FOR PRESIDENT!”

“What's "Kosavoe"?
ha ha ha!!!

Did Rush tell you that it was a goat-screw?
Students from Kosovo told me that things are much better now thanks to NATO.

It was pretty tough on Milosevic.
One more fascist in the slammer.


"I feel much safer with Bush than say a Gore."
None so blind as those who will not see!”

“It's my understanding that Clark would not dismantle the armed forces. He is up for changing the way the Military does it's biz. A more centralized Military is one idea I've heard. The idea is have the Military work more with each other, rather than compete against each other.”

“"Dismantling the military" is foolish talk.......paranoid fear >:O

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?”

“I do think Clark is a very wise man. I also think we should all listen to him and do as he says…

"And I'm very glad we've got the great team in office, men like Colin Powell, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice ... people I know very well – our president George W. Bush. We need them there.'"

Pulaski County Republican Lincoln Day Dinner in Little Rock, Ark., May 11, 2001”

“Politics.....

So he changed his tune......good thing.”

“Changed his tune or waffled? Nice to see he can change his mind to suite his own asperations.”

“Call it what you will.

I like what he says now.

The current regime keeps changing the rules.....and they are in power.

A candidate(potential) doesn't carry responsibility.


Come to think of it, the current regime doesn't carry responsibility and they are in power.....scary.”

“I will admit to saying the same things, Nigal. I, for one was going to give Bush the benifit of the doubt regarding his lack of leadership skills because he has those people working with him. Let us not forget that Bush is the but of many jokes. Ferrell made a carrer out it. Those people had pretty good potential to take care of biz. However, just like in many sports, these people failed to live up to it. Great things could be happening, but are not.”

“Oh, make no mistake Q. I don't think Bush walks on water but when I look at the alternatives it concerns me. I could vote democrat with a few of the demoCons coming out but I'm not seeing many with a strong military purpose or the willingness to use it if needed. We have to face facts, it's far different world for the '04 election than we had back in '00.”

“Why would a Democrat not use military force when needed?”

“Which Gen. Clark are you do you like. This weeks? Last weeks? A year ago? Ten years ago?”

“Come on Tom, no one can wage an effective war like a republican! LOL!”

“"Come on Tom, no one can wage an effective war like a republican! LOL!"
Nigal Voorhees
10:31:37 AM

That is a laughable statment!

The truth is that no one can turn a war into a money-making enterprise like a Republican.

Its happening now!

When has any Repub done that?

Nixon?

In the year 1969 American casualties totalled roughly what they were for '65, '66, '67 & '68........combined!
And yet, America didn't win.”

“[yawn]

We're talking politics Tom. Not propaganda. Let's try to remain non-delusional, mkay?”

“Your statement was propaganda, dingbat!


Nixon was inaugurated in January 1969.

My math is correct.

Nixon turned up the heat and opened the money tap wide open.

Then as now it was all about enriching contractors.”

“...further validation...”

“I think Bush-Cheney and their administration took a lot of people by surprise. I didn't see much difference between them and Gore... I thought BushII would be a lot like Bush I.... from where I sit, this Bush administration has done some very radical things.

I was slow to catch on. I did dislike Bush from pretty early on in the campaign, but I thought of him as being sort a Republican Bill Clinton - slippery, probably lacking a core. In some places the surprises came when it turned out he meant what he said, in other places it was his capacity for deception.”

“The Nixon thingy could be talked to death as both sides see it being what see it like. It's almost the basic argument between Dems and Repbs.


As for "Which Gen. Clark are you do you like. This weeks? Last weeks? A year ago? Ten years ago?........."


I say All of them. I like a person who doesn't lock into a "one mode" line of thinking. People have changed to where they have to be flexible in daily life to be so what successful, why not a President? Why can't a person change there mind?

I ask why that is so wrong....”

“That is somewhat true Q.

"It's the wmd! No wait, it's 9/11! No wait, it's liberation!"”

“Zippety Doo Dah~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~”

“Just for arguments sake TomT wasn't it Johnson who escalated the Vietnam war, but created body bag fillers with his and McNamara's infamous 'rules of engagement'.

Nixon recognised that if you were at war, do not give the enemy safe bases, fight them whever they are.
Nixon did escalated the war, but also recognised the futility and pulled out.

Johnson just got his own people killed, sort of like Les Aspen did in Somalia.

And yes, Bush in post Saddam Iraq.”

“hehehehe.....walked into that one.

You owe me ;)

What I'm trying to address is:

When a person runs fer President, they can't/won't do half of the shayt they say they will. I hate when canidates lock down on a certain stance and don't change. What I see from Clark is more of an outline right now. I'd much rather see some like that then get a load of bull shoveled my way.”

“Wasn't part of Nixon's platform he ran on was to END the war? So that would make him a........liar?”

“manuka, Johnson and Nixon were both war criminals.

My math is correct......political party aside, Nixon brought home a lot more body bags.
The figure for '69 was roughly 25,000 Americans killed, and to no avail.
25,000 dead guys adds up to more money spent on everything involved.
Blood money for millionaires.”

“I think Nixon did have a plan to end the war and he basically followed it - get more aggressive in order to get more favorable terms to end the war.

Besides, if his plan was to fight to win, that was still a plan to end the war.

Nixon lied plenty, but maybe not about that one.”

“There's nothing favorable about 58,000 dead guys.

The end result was still native control of the country.”

“Nixon PR: "Peace with Honor".

Remember?”

“Peace With Honor.....

Yeah, I remember that!

Peace with an additional 33,000 dead guys.

The wheelchair business must have been real go-go.”

“from DANCE WITH ME (Janis Ian)


I HEARD OF A PLAN
IN THE PRESIDENT'S MANSION
HIGH UP IN THE SKY
AND IT CALLED FOR A SACRIFICE
AND MY BROTHER PAID THE PRICE
SENT HIM HOME IN A BAG
THE AMERICAN FLAG
WAS DRAPED AROUND THE BOX
AND THE COFFIN LID WAS LOCKED
AND THE NOTE SAID "THANKS A LOT"

COME AND DANCE WITH ME
COME AND DANCE WITH ME
I'M HOME FROM OVERSEAS
I'M A CORPSE UP TO MY KNEES
CELEBRATE THE VICTORY
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DANCE
AND HOLD ME TIGHT
I'M FEELING MOST DISEASED
AND I NEED YOUR COMPANY
COME AND DANCE, COME AND DANCE

COME AND DANCE, COME AND DANCE
I'M HOME FROM OVERSEAS
AND I NEED YOUR COMPANY
CELEBRATE THE VICTORY
WOULD YOU LIKE TO DANCE
AND HOLD ME TIGHT
I'M FEELING MOST DISEASED
BUT I'M EASIER TO PLEASE
COME AND DANCE, COME AND DANCE”

“What I remember, being there at the time, was: "What shape should the table be?"
I guess you really had to stand firm to get Peace with Honor at a round table, or was it a square table?!”

“Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

--Ronald Reagan”

“Hmmmmm, Janis Ian and my youth.......


I hate dredge up this crap but there was no chance to win and our politicians knew it.

Invasion of the North was out of the question.

China would have entered as they did in North Korea.

Imagine China fighting for control in the southern half of Mexico.
Now suppose they decide to go for broke and take the northern half......in steps the U.S....”

“BUSH IN '04”

“Thank LBJ”