Wesley Clark
The End of Wes Clark's V.P. Campaign
It may ultimately be a good thing for Barack Obama that Wesley Clark stepped into such a mess when he discussed John McCain’s military service this week.
The background of the Clark flap is by now familiar: On CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday, the retired general said that “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president,” a comment that has been portrayed by the right – and by much of the media – as an effort to disparage McCain’s service.
While Obama quickly rebuked Clark, much of the left has rushed to the Clark’s defense, noting that he was merely responding to a question that was almost identically phrased and that he was only drawing a reasonable distinction between McCain’s military service and the experience needed to set U. read more »
Wes Clark Is Right
Despite all the feigned outrage fanned by the mainstream media and the right-wing noisemakers, Wesley Clark—retired four-star general, former Supreme Commander of NATO, wounded and highly decorated veteran of ground combat in Vietnam, and a military man to his core—assuredly did not denigrate the war record of John McCain when he talked about the Republican candidate on television last Sunday.
Instead, perhaps naïvely, General Clark stated a very simple fact. Mr. McCain’s service in Vietnam doesn’t prove his aptitude or competence to serve in the nation’s highest office. Or as he told Face the Nation host Bob Schieffer on CBS: “I don’t think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president. read more »
Hillary's Would-Be Vice Presidents
According to the conventional wisdom that governs the career calculations of most ambitious politicians, there are two ways to get ahead in elected politics.
The simplest way is to run for the office you covet when it comes open and to win it—or, failing that, to wage a noble-but-losing campaign that puts you first in line for the next time around. This approach enjoys a long tradition—renewed this year with John McCain’s nomination—in Republican presidential politics.
And then there’s the other strategy: If there is an unbeatable and immovable force blocking you from the office you desire, yield to that force, embrace it and hope it will favor you with its blessing for the next opening. read more »
Clinton Campaign Stays on the Offensive Over Iraq
“I grew up in Lousiana and I learned a little bit about milking a cow,” said Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard on a Clinton campaign conference call today, referring to Barack Obama’s record on Iraq. “Just because you recognize the cow doesn’t mean you know how to milk it.”
“No one can tell you how to milk a cow—you have to learn that yourself,” Ballard went on. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he [Obama] can recognize a cow, but there’s no experience that shows me he know how to milk one.” read more »
Wesley Clark: Clinton Can 'Avert War With Iran'
Hillary Clinton debuts a not-particularly-timely ad in which General Wesley Clark says she can "avert war with Iran," although his vote of confidence may help her recover from the N.P.R. debate yesterday.
Clark also says in the spot: "I see that Hillary's opponents have started attacking her. That's politics. What this country needs is leadership."
Hillary Clinton, Wes Clark and Christie Vilsack Talk About 'Tertiary Recovery' at Breakfast
Hillary Clinton, Wesley Clark and Christie Vilsack just sat down for what can best be called a performance breakfast this morning at the Drake diner in Des Moines.
After greeting a few locals eating in the booths, the trio sat at the counter for coffee and fruit cup in front of about a dozen cameras.
After some niceties ("Well, you still swim everyday," Clinton said to Clark) the discussion took a sharp turn towards energy policy.
Clark talked about the "geology of bubbling carbon dioxide" and spoke about the ability to actually ship the gas between countries. read more »
Gen. Clark Rallies Hillary's Troops
Here's former general Wesley Clark stirring up the Hillary volunteers before last night's debate, and shortly before he was verbally assaulted at close quarters by a very angry Obama supporter.
Obama, Edwards Push Clinton for Hedging on Foreign Policy, Eliot Spitzer
Edwards and Obama leapt at the chance to take Clinton to task for what they said was her inability to talk straight with the American people. read more »
Hillary Gets Clark, Still Needs a Crowe
The value of Mr. Clark’s endorsement falls far short of the standard established by Mrs. Clinton’s husband when he snagged his own surprise military endorsement back in his first presidential campaign.. read more »
Don't Go AWOL on Wes Clark
Sure, they look like friends now, but Wesley Clark was anything but pandering when he exchanged words with Anna Wildling, one of the people who came to hear him speak at Taj Lounge last night.
During a Q and A, Wilding asked why America was so arrogant and, normally doesn't play well with other nations.
Clarke, standing on a square ottoman to address the crowd, began answering. Wilding interjected.
"You can disagree but you got to hear me out," Clark said, and then continued with his answer. When she interjected moments later, he replied, "I listened to you, now you listen to me!"
It only got better later. While discussing American security, Clark noticed Wilding was leaving. After she explained why, he briefly mimicked her accent and asked her to stay.
Wesley Clark: The truth is about America, and this is something that I wish, I wish this weren't true. But do you know one of America's great exports is security. You have to think about this. One of the greatest things America exports is security in the world. Please don't leave madam.
Anna Wilding: I've just been told to by your stoff.
Wesley Clark: You haven't been told to by my stoff because, staff because I don't have a staff here. So please stay and be part this dialogue, okay? Stay in here.
That's when the crowd started yelling "Stay. Stay. Stay." which she did.
-- Azi PaybarahBush Broke Baghdad, But Democrats Still Break on Clean-Up
Siberia: Is the End Near? Not on the Net!
Last night The Transom stopped by to raise a glass and give a bear hug to Tracy Westmoreland, the grizzly barman with a big heart, only find him huddling over a laptop.
"We're building the first step of what Siberia is online," said his computer wiz sidekick, Aaron Welch. He owns Advomatic, which builds political Web sites and blogs, he said, for the likes of John Edwards, Wesley Clark and Hillary Clinton. "The sort of essence of what Siberia means," he said.
Mr. Welch had been introduced to Siberia for the first time an hour earlier. He had got to talking with Mr. Westmoreland. Mr. Welch never leaves home without his trusty Mac. Mr. Westmoreland had an idea and immediately put him to work.
"I feel like I'm getting jerked off like an 800 pound guerilla," said Mr. Westmoreland. That meant he was excited.
The computer whiz, too, sensed something big happening. "God himself reached down out of the heavens and guided me and several of my officers into Siberia tonight," said Mr. Welch.
The result, up and running by night's end, was Sibera3.com, and it, at least, is here to stay. --Spencer MorganThe Life and Death of an Iraq Plan
The idea, associated most closely with Leslie Gelb, the President Emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, gained traction when it was endorsed by Joseph Biden, the incoming chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a possible presidential candidate. The two coauthored a widely noted op-ed in the New York Times endorsing "Unity Through Autonomy". read more »
Elsewhere: Hillary, Empire Zone, The Future
Hillary Clinton told supporters upstate that she is "so relieved and so exhausted" after this campaign season.
Not that she broke much a sweat anywhere during the campaign, but Hillary beat John Spencer in Yonkers, where he was mayor.
The Fix says she's the candidate most likely to win the Democratic nomination, but... "From a policy perspective, she may be vulnerable. Clinton's stance on the war in Iraq is out of step with many in the Democratic base, and she is clearly vulnerable to a challenge from someone who has been opposed to the war from the start."
Wesley Clark may announce whether he'll run for president in two months.
There are exactly 448,077 who voted against Joe Lieberman...in two elections.
The fate of the Times campaign blog, Empire Zone, is uncertain now that the 2006 races are over.
Also uncertain is the fate of Gifford Miller, who lost the 2005 mayoral election pretty soundly, but was just spotted chatting with likely 2009 mayoral contender Bill Thompson in Puerto Rico.
Ben has memories of people talking about impeaching George Bush and Dick Cheney.
Kos tells James Carville to quiet down after the Ragin' Cajun said Howard Dean should be replaced as head of the DNC.
Steven Malanga of City Journal says there is no pot of gold in DC for the city's congressional delegation.
New York typically ranked number one in per capita spending for social programs. By contrast, Mississippi (to take Rangel's example) received about 25 percent less per capita in social program spending than New York, though Mississippi has a higher poverty rate.
And pictured above is the upcoming New York Times Sunday Magazine post-election issue. read more »
-- Azi PaybarahThe Greatest Non-Candidate
W is for Wes
Donnie Fowler's P.R. Problem
On Dec. 22nd, Mr. Fowler's P.R. team posted a press release on its website announcing the members of the Fowler finance team: read more »
"Today, Donnie Fowler, candidate for Democratic National Committee Chairman, announced the leadership of his National Finance Team. ... Joining the Fowler Campaign as National Finance Directors are former Kerry Eastern Finance Director Stephanie Berger and former Wesley Clark presidential campaign Mid-Atlantic Finance Director Rachel Hirschberg. Former Clark campaign Midwestern Finance Director David Rosen will also serve on the committee." [Ital. added] But now that tell-tale last line is missing from the press release. Gone! It seems that shortly after the bad news of Mr. Rosen's indictment hit the wires, one of Mr. Fowler's campaign elves went back to the old press release and removed Mr. Rosen's name. Deleted him. Erased him. Expunged all evidence of him. Poof! No more Mr. Rosen, no more P.R. problem. ... And critics say this Fowler guy is an amateur!
