Reply #31: My take

[FrenchieCat]

We all want to win this one.

I dare not opine as to what will happen once Kerry is President....
My only obsession, for the time being, is actually winning.....
Everything else after is just pure bonus.

My reasoning and my case for Clark as VP follows that path..... in addition to Clark offering the broadest and most guaranteed geographical strategy (south, southwest, west--and everywhere else for that matter) combined with stellar fundraising skills and energetic charisma, plus attracting the male demographics that Kerry is lagging with, such as the Nascar Dads who will respect a General more that Yale Skull and Boners (Bush/Kerry). The obvious appeal of a self made man of humble origins and non-partisan offering on the ticket would also increase interest from various uncommitted voting blocks, ....but the main fact is that

With Clark as Veep on the ticket, the Democrats gain a Pit Bull attacker and the Democratic Ticket becomes bulletproof in reference to runnning against an Incumbent WARTIME President (as Bush, Republicans and the media is calling Bush). The fact that the Republicans' convention will be in New York right before the 9/11 anniversary is not lost on us....is it?

Bush's "steady leadership theme" has already begun....and will continue like a steady drum roll that gets louder and louder.

Even as Republicans were floating rumors that Bush might replace Cheney with Guliani or Colin Powell...and although those rumors for the moment are said to be off the table (but I would caution to never say never)...why do you think these are the names being floated about?....a former Vet/4 star General/SOS and a "proclaimed" New York Hero of 9/11?...both with reasonable bipartisan appeal (some certainly will disagree with my description...but we are talking about middle America here).

Republicans are already Questioning Kerry's votes cast in reference to weapons programs and his actions shortly after Vietnam. There is also an old book that Kerry penned which has a picture on the cover showing Kerry with an upside down American Flag. (Maybe I shouldn't mention this, but If I know about it..and if I have seen this cover, then I know that Karl Roves knows about it too...and I am sure they are saving it, and will bring it out much closer to the actual vote, so that there will not be adequate time to explain it away....we must be prepared for it at all cost....don't blame me for bringing it up...it's out there, trust me. If it's a hoax, then give me the evidence of that...that would settle that dread that I have in the back of my head). It this is real, it will be very difficult to explain this picture away to Middle America without Clark on the ticket (who has said that he would not encourage, but he would support a ban on flag desecration. Regardless of how distateful this may sound to Democrats.....it could be a very useful stance....Kerry is on record of being against it...the mix is a good thing).

Also, for those who believe that Clark's experience are a needless duplication of Kerry's....this is not an accurate perception. It's simplistic, but not factual. Kerry's experience in reference to Foreign Relations and National Security as a Senator does not in any way mirror what Clark did as head of Southern Command and Allied Supreme Commander of NATO.

The National Security (which is not another label for Foreign policy...as is it a different skill set) knowledge that Clark has is executive in nature and he is considered an expert by most (even Republicans know this). John Kerry is currently polling lowest in that area and Clark would shore it up. Add the deep and expansive Foreign negotiating experience that Clark has, such as the Dayton Peace Accords for Bosnia, and the managing and substaining of the 19 nations coalision together during Kosovo. This is not experience that Kerry shares. Further, running an entire war and not losing a single American life is not what Kerry experience represents. The experience of these two war heroes, however, compliments the entire array of legislative/executive qualities of what may be the Presidential Election theme of 2004. There are not holes left in the ticket.

Take that theme away from Bush, and what is there left?

Gay Marriage and a proposed amendment? I also think that this issue would be easier for Democrats to deflect with two macho war Veterans heroes running on one ticket. The country would be made to understand, with these two voices speaking the same message....that the real issue is Human Rights and the need to recognize the issue as such, and not to temper with the constitution by adding descrimination to it. Coming from two patriots, discussion of the constitution and what it should represent, as opposed to what the Republicans want to turn it into would be effective.

If Americans know that the Military/War on Terror/War in Iraq/National & Homeland security issues can be handled effectively and more than satisfactorily by the Democratic ticket and that a transition could be easily maneuvered (Bush's theme again is ....STEADY Leadership), the election will then be about what it should be about....the economy, jobs, health care and the future of America. That is Kerry's forte and Americans would listen without the other background noise (fear, fear, fear, war, war, war, terror, terror, terror, 9/11, 9/11, 9/11).

That is why I believe that the Democratic Ticket should be the "Heavy Medal" ticket...... We must not just neutralize...but we must neuter BushCo. on the entire enchilada.....give them no room to move, not room to tinker.

Heroes vs. Zeros.....now, that's priceless!

Note: Clark appointed as SOS would mean going through a set of confirmation hearings. I don't know if we want to give the (most likely) Republican majority Senate a chance to "pay back" Clark...considering how he has spoken out against the Iraq War, PNAC, 9/11, etc...

And of course, that appointment could only be considered if we won.

That's my take....