Reply #49: Sure. Clark as Former N.A.T.O. Supreme Commander AND

[Tom Rinaldo]

former United States Senator or State Governor would be an even more impressive resume than Clark as former N.A.T.O. Supreme Commander only. Nothing there to argue about, because if that were true, then no one could keep throwing the fact that Clark hasn't held those positions before in his face. But Clark doesn't need the experience. He's had the job responsibilities that deeply prepare someone for the office of the Presidency. More so than all but a handful of Senators and Governors at most. And Clark now has experience as a politician also, operating at the highest levels of "the game".

If Clark runs in 2008 Democratic voters will either embrace him or they won't, and that will be that, but I happen to think that they will. Regardless, lack of qualifications is not a weakness Clark has.

What if one reversed it? Wouldn't it be true that John Edwards or Governor Warner etc. etc. would be stronger candidates too if they had successfully led N.A.T.O to victory in it's first and only war? Obviously they would be stronger candidates if that also were on their resumes, but it isn't. There are say 25 current and ex Democratic Governors, and 55 current and ex Democratic Senators who theoretically could decide to run for President. Besides Wesley Clark, how many current or ex Democratic 4 Star Generals, let alone Democratic former N.A.T.O Commanders, let alone Democratic N.A.T.O. Commanders who actually won a war are there who could decide to run for President? Which credential is rarer, or ultimately more important? I say let the voters decide.

Clark is 60 years old. He would not cynically run for Governor in 2006 only to turn around and start running for President 6 months later. Realistically speaking, it is one or the other. If Clark doesn't run for President in 2008 all of us I am sure agree that we hope that office isn't available to another Democrat until 2016, when Clark will be 68. Reagan was the only older President, by a single year, and I think the public is sufficiently spooked now, after Reagan ended up with Alzheimer's Disease, that they won't be electing many more Presidents to begin their first term of office at that age anymore.

I will not back away from supporting who I believe is the best man for President just because some people think it would be better if he jumped through some other hoop first, one that I think is redundant anyway, and which in all likelihood would prevent Clark from ever serving our nation as President. I think that would be a loss to America.