General Wesley Clark enters Democratic Primary - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Superbelt · 09-16-2003, 06:55 AM

http://www.cnn.com/

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Breaking News: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark decides to enter the Democratic race for president, CNN has learned. Details soon.

I would have preferred he had been partnered with Dean up front. I don't think Clark can gain enough traction on his own now. Hopefully after he loses the first couple states he starts running for VP, and he will have to run hard because it looks like Sen. Edwards is doing that exact thing already.

Any combo of Dean/Clark/Edwards would be very cool with me.

The_Dude · 09-16-2003, 06:57 AM

Quote:

I would have preferred he had been partnered with Dean up front

that would've been sweet! my support is now torn between dean/clark.

Superbelt · 09-16-2003, 07:02 AM

yeah their problem now is they are both fighting for the same voters. It is gonna split the support and leave them both vulnerable to... Lieberman.. maybe.

So one is going to have to bow out and I don't see Clark as getting ahead of Dean anytime soon.

Superbelt · 09-16-2003, 07:19 AM

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/....ap/index.html

mr sticky · 09-16-2003, 07:19 AM

Being a republican, I can honestly say that Clark is the only potential opponent I fear. The dems are portrayed as merely contrary, lacking a fundamental plan ( ironically, much like arnold in calee-fournnyaaa). Clark could come out with "anti democrat establishment" warcry, and absolutely clean up. However, if he merely joins the pack, shouts the same diatribes, the vote will continue to split according to name recognition. The latter is my prediction, which means another four years.

Conclamo Ludus · 09-16-2003, 02:24 PM

This will make the race more interesting. Its needed some spice.

bigjule · 09-16-2003, 02:53 PM

If you want a good run down of the General check out Esquire a month or two ago, it really made me respect him

2wolves · 09-16-2003, 03:42 PM

Ol' George will have to land on every carrier in the fleet now. While stuffing a feral ferret down his flight suit this time.

2Wolves

maximusveritas · 09-16-2003, 03:56 PM

His record is outstanding, but I want to hear his positions on domestic issues. I hope he doesn't try to be like Arnold and duck all the questions.

lurkette · 09-16-2003, 06:31 PM

http://www.esquire.com/features/arti...e_clark_1.html

Is this the Esquire article?

JoeyB · 09-16-2003, 06:55 PM

I don't know exactly where he stands on certain issues, which means he'll fit right in with the other 9 Democratic candidates.

Hopefully he will continue to be as up front and honest as he has been in the past.

MuadDib · 09-16-2003, 08:00 PM

OH BOY! I was hoping we could get to the double digits! I always wanted one more candidate.

Seriously we don't kow jack about this guy other than he is a former military general. Lets not forget history either that tells us how great of presidents they make.

Zeld2.0 · 09-16-2003, 08:14 PM

Then again that list of generals has its ups as well:

Washington, Jackson, Eisenhower

of course theres always Grant

MuadDib · 09-16-2003, 08:28 PM

Actually Eisenhower and Grant were ones I was including in my un-ethusiasm towards military presidents.

lurkette · 09-17-2003, 04:29 PM

K, so I read the Esquire article about him, and actually he sounds pretty cool. The two things that jumped out at me about him:

1. His primary governing principle is accountability, which would be a refreshing change from this administration and the previous one.

2. He thinks in the long term, and in terms of social institutions as systems. A refreshing change from pretty much any other politician.

I'll be interested to see what his positions are as his candidacy develops.

smooth · 09-18-2003, 01:05 AM

My wife was pretty excited about him, as well. I spoke to her about some of my concerns. Now, a few days later, I find an article that explains some of the issues I was telling her. I'm not going to post the lengthy article but I figure some will find it interesting:

http://alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16788

Moskie · 09-19-2003, 10:07 AM

I saw Clark for the first time a number of months ago on Meet the Press (I think it was Meet the Press...), and I liked him from the very beginning. Very personable and reasonable, and seemed to have many of his opinions based on an international perspective. I'm looking forward to him talking more about domestic issues.

I think Bush *can* be beaten in the next election. I didn't think that was the case until the war in Iraq fiasco came to end, but now I think its possible. My only fear was that the Democrats wouldn't be able to give a candidate who could beat Bush. Clark gives me hope...

Conclamo Ludus · 09-19-2003, 11:30 AM

I like Clark. I don't hate Bush. Its going to be close with these two for me. I want a good change, but I think Dean would be a little too much. I'm not happy with a lot of things Bush is doing, and Clark definitely sounds pretty refreshing. I look forward to seeing him campaigning. So far he seems like he would have the best chance against Bush. He'll get the moderates and the liberal conservatives if he doesn't resort to the same rhetoric as the other democratic candidates. The extremists and activists will stick to Dean, but if it was a choice between Clark and Bush, I think its obvious who they would choose. You might see Nader pick up a little more though because of Clark's moderate views. We'll see. I am glad he's running.

Rodney · 09-19-2003, 05:20 PM

Not familiar with him, but if he's even a real centrist (as versus the corporation-friendly Democrats in Congress), he'd be okay by me. Unless the Republican propaganda machine manages to shut him down -- I hear they're very afraid of him -- he and Dean will make a good pair of candidates for the Demo convention. The "Eight Dwarves" will have faded away by then. They're political insiders with no real support outside the beltway.

I know Dean is painted as some kind of liberal, because that's who he's playing to; but he's really a centrist who thinks that most social issues should play out at the state level. If Clarke is similar, then whoever wins will probably try to recruit the other as a running mate. And if _that_ happens, Bush has real problems no matter who's on the top of the ticket.

09-16-2003, 06:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
Superbelt This vexes me. I am terribly vexed. Location: Grantville, Pa	General Wesley Clark enters Democratic Primary http://www.cnn.com/ Top of page Breaking News: Retired Gen. Wesley Clark decides to enter the Democratic race for president, CNN has learned. Details soon. I would have preferred he had been partnered with Dean up front. I don't think Clark can gain enough traction on his own now. Hopefully after he loses the first couple states he starts running for VP, and he will have to run hard because it looks like Sen. Edwards is doing that exact thing already. Any combo of Dean/Clark/Edwards would be very cool with me.

09-16-2003, 07:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
mr sticky Psycho Location: NC	Being a republican, I can honestly say that Clark is the only potential opponent I fear. The dems are portrayed as merely contrary, lacking a fundamental plan ( ironically, much like arnold in calee-fournnyaaa). Clark could come out with "anti democrat establishment" warcry, and absolutely clean up. However, if he merely joins the pack, shouts the same diatribes, the vote will continue to split according to name recognition. The latter is my prediction, which means another four years. __________________ The sad thing is... as you get older you come to realize that you don't so much pilot your life, as you just try to hold on, in a screaming, defiant ball of white-knuckle anxious fury

09-16-2003, 02:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	This will make the race more interesting. Its needed some spice. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

09-16-2003, 06:31 PM	#10 (permalink)
lurkette My future is coming on Moderator Emeritus Location: east of the sun and west of the moon	http://www.esquire.com/features/arti...e_clark_1.html Is this the Esquire article? __________________ "If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France

09-16-2003, 06:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
JoeyB feeling tingly	I don't know exactly where he stands on certain issues, which means he'll fit right in with the other 9 Democratic candidates. Hopefully he will continue to be as up front and honest as he has been in the past. __________________ My mom is a Diamondbacks fan. She really likes the Big Unit

09-16-2003, 07:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
Superbelt This vexes me. I am terribly vexed. Location: Grantville, Pa	yeah their problem now is they are both fighting for the same voters. It is gonna split the support and leave them both vulnerable to... Lieberman.. maybe. So one is going to have to bow out and I don't see Clark as getting ahead of Dean anytime soon.

09-16-2003, 07:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
Superbelt This vexes me. I am terribly vexed. Location: Grantville, Pa	http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/....ap/index.html

09-16-2003, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
bigjule Upright	If you want a good run down of the General check out Esquire a month or two ago, it really made me respect him

09-16-2003, 03:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
2wolves Psycho Location: Just outside the D.C. belt	Ol' George will have to land on every carrier in the fleet now. While stuffing a feral ferret down his flight suit this time. 2Wolves

09-16-2003, 03:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
maximusveritas Winner	His record is outstanding, but I want to hear his positions on domestic issues. I hope he doesn't try to be like Arnold and duck all the questions.

09-16-2003, 08:00 PM	#12 (permalink)
MuadDib Psycho	OH BOY! I was hoping we could get to the double digits! I always wanted one more candidate. Seriously we don't kow jack about this guy other than he is a former military general. Lets not forget history either that tells us how great of presidents they make. __________________ "The courts that first rode the warhorse of virtual representation into battle on the res judicata front invested their steed with near-magical properties." ~27 F.3d 751

09-16-2003, 08:14 PM	#13 (permalink)
Zeld2.0 Cherry-pickin' devil's advocate Location: Los Angeles	Then again that list of generals has its ups as well: Washington, Jackson, Eisenhower of course theres always Grant

09-16-2003, 08:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
MuadDib Psycho	Actually Eisenhower and Grant were ones I was including in my un-ethusiasm towards military presidents. __________________ "The courts that first rode the warhorse of virtual representation into battle on the res judicata front invested their steed with near-magical properties." ~27 F.3d 751

09-17-2003, 04:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
lurkette My future is coming on Moderator Emeritus Location: east of the sun and west of the moon	K, so I read the Esquire article about him, and actually he sounds pretty cool. The two things that jumped out at me about him: 1. His primary governing principle is accountability, which would be a refreshing change from this administration and the previous one. 2. He thinks in the long term, and in terms of social institutions as systems. A refreshing change from pretty much any other politician. I'll be interested to see what his positions are as his candidacy develops. __________________ "If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." - Anatole France

09-18-2003, 01:05 AM	#16 (permalink)
smooth Junkie Location: Right here	My wife was pretty excited about him, as well. I spoke to her about some of my concerns. Now, a few days later, I find an article that explains some of the issues I was telling her. I'm not going to post the lengthy article but I figure some will find it interesting: http://alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=16788 __________________ "The theory of a free press is that truth will emerge from free discussion, not that it will be presented perfectly and instantly in any one account." -- Walter Lippmann "You measure democracy by the freedom it gives its dissidents, not the freedom it gives its assimilated conformists." -- Abbie Hoffman

09-19-2003, 10:07 AM	#17 (permalink)
Moskie Pure Chewing Satisfaction Location: can i use bbcode [i]here[/i]?	I saw Clark for the first time a number of months ago on Meet the Press (I think it was Meet the Press...), and I liked him from the very beginning. Very personable and reasonable, and seemed to have many of his opinions based on an international perspective. I'm looking forward to him talking more about domestic issues. I think Bush can be beaten in the next election. I didn't think that was the case until the war in Iraq fiasco came to end, but now I think its possible. My only fear was that the Democrats wouldn't be able to give a candidate who could beat Bush. Clark gives me hope... __________________ Greetings and salutations.

09-19-2003, 11:30 AM	#18 (permalink)
Conclamo Ludus Modern Man Location: West Michigan	I like Clark. I don't hate Bush. Its going to be close with these two for me. I want a good change, but I think Dean would be a little too much. I'm not happy with a lot of things Bush is doing, and Clark definitely sounds pretty refreshing. I look forward to seeing him campaigning. So far he seems like he would have the best chance against Bush. He'll get the moderates and the liberal conservatives if he doesn't resort to the same rhetoric as the other democratic candidates. The extremists and activists will stick to Dean, but if it was a choice between Clark and Bush, I think its obvious who they would choose. You might see Nader pick up a little more though because of Clark's moderate views. We'll see. I am glad he's running. __________________ Lord, have mercy on my wicked soul I wouldn't mistreat you baby, for my weight in gold. -Son House, Death Letter Blues

09-19-2003, 05:20 PM	#19 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Not familiar with him, but if he's even a real centrist (as versus the corporation-friendly Democrats in Congress), he'd be okay by me. Unless the Republican propaganda machine manages to shut him down -- I hear they're very afraid of him -- he and Dean will make a good pair of candidates for the Demo convention. The "Eight Dwarves" will have faded away by then. They're political insiders with no real support outside the beltway. I know Dean is painted as some kind of liberal, because that's who he's playing to; but he's really a centrist who thinks that most social issues should play out at the state level. If Clarke is similar, then whoever wins will probably try to recruit the other as a running mate. And if _that_ happens, Bush has real problems no matter who's on the top of the ticket.