VP Clark best positioned to hammer Bush on Iraq

[Skwmom]

1. Clark is a non-politician whose sincerity shines through. I think many of the undecided voters are fed up with politicians and have a hard time believing anything they say. In addition, the Republicans won't be able to argue "Clark is just engaging in politics as usual."

2. Clark is a non-partisan so the Republicans can't paint him as just "another partisan hack."

3. Clark can speak with authority on the subject and hammer home the fact that regardless of what happens after June 30th the damage has already been done.

a. Our children and grandchildren will be paying for this debacle for years to come (especially when you factor in the interest costs).

b. We had to borrow money from China (and other countries) in order to fund this debacle so the interest on the debt won't even be repaid to U.S. citizens.

c. Bush cronies used the Iraq war as an opportunity to raid the U.S. treasury. Halliburton has been caught illegally billing on more than one occasion. The fact that they billed soldiers for meals not received is outrageous (and no one can sell this outrage to the American public better than Clark).

d. The needless loss of life by engaging in an unnecessary war. In addition, a study showed that lives could have been saved IF the soldiers had been provided with the proper protective gear. However, I guess Bush was too busy paying Halliburton for fraudulent billings and calling anyone unpatriotic who wouldn't vote for the funding (that he wanted without proper oversight).

e. We have created more terrorists.

f. We are paying for infrastructure to be built in Iraq, a middle class country (in order to win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people) while our own infrastructure at home is crumbling. (Our bridges, water plants, schools etc. received a D rating upon review).

g. Our foreign relations are in tatters which affects trade negotiations, foreign investment etc.

On edit: Also, Clark has lived his life believing in the concept of "accountability." He can convince the voters that we must hold Bush accountable for what he has done.

[SharonAnn]

1. I love Edwards, but I think you may be right.

They're both great.

[chimpymustgo]

9. Iraq is hammering Bush on Iraq.

nt

[Tosca]

2. Clark

I like him and hope he's the one.

[cosmokramer]

35. Good taste!

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[girl gone mad]

3. It sseems like wishful thinking these days...

good thing I'm into wishful thinking.

[Auntie Bush]

4. All very good reasons to select Clark!

Thanks Skwmom. You done good!

[Skwmom]

5. Thanks.

There are so many good reasons for Kerry to select Clark (it's hard to figure out which ones to post).

[OneBlueSky]

6. another point . . . Kerry will need someone to counteract McCain . . .

if Cheney steps aside and McCain runs as the shrub's VP . . . which is beginning to look more and more likely, imo . . .

[Skwmom]

7. Which is why they need Clark to hammer Bush on what

he has done. It makes me sick that McCain says he will campaign for Bush. It shows that McCain is nothing more than another self-serving political hack that puts his own desires for power ahead of doing what is right for the country.

Let them put McCain on the ticket. By the time Clark is done hammering Bush people will be asking how McCain can still support a crook like Bush. It's hard to believe that at one point in time I liked McCain.

On edit: I do agree that the Republicans are planning to change their ticket. I just hope the Democrats are considering that possibility.

[cosmokramer]

38. Count on them changing their ticket. Cheney is an albatros

[venus]

13. McCain as V.P would be a brilliant move for Bush.

I thought Condi would also be a good choice; never considered McCain though. He'd be as powerful a choice as Cheney. If this happens, we would need Clark more than ever. Edwards vs. McCain would not be good.

[OneBlueSky]

19. and the important thing to remember is . . .

that the Repugs nominate after the Dems . . . so they can essentially react to whatever Kerry does . . . so Kerry best look at the real possiblity of McCain and act accordingly . . .

[cosmokramer]

33. Exactly. It is absolutely vital that this is considered...

...and Kerry's pick for VP better damn sure be able to match wits with McCain on foreign policy. Otherwise, we will lose.

[Skwmom]

36. Why Clark is an excellent counter to McCain.

I think McCain's appeal is that he doesn't come across as just another lying politician (well that is until he decided to blindly support Bush for re-election). Clark also has this quality in spades (and even more so than McCain).

[cosmokramer]

37. Precisely. His honor is without question...

...and his commitment to this country undeniable.

(edit for typo)

[Pachamama]

20. Very Very Good Reason....I have to admit, given everything going on ....

...the last few months with the Torture by Military scandal, the continuing War, "homeland security" and the continuing threat of terrorism etc. and "the possibility" of McCain remotely being a replacement on the Repuke ticket for Cheney, makes me agree that Clark would be an EXCELLENT choice for VP....Two men who can speak about Military matters would do very well....I am even more intrigued after looking at some other suggestions here on the DU that Edwards would be a great Supreme Court Justice....(or Attorney General?) In any event, there are some great Dems for Kerry to choose from, but its got to be someone who can get that "middle"....Clark may be that person....

:kick:

[MajorFlaw]

8. Agreed, to a point. If Kerry decides that Iraq is going to be the major

issue in the election, Clark looks like a very good choice. But, if our provisional government in Iraq looks like it can hold out until election day, it might make sense for Kerry to choose Edwards or someone else. Whatever it takes to win. Any of them would make fine VP's, the question is who will make the best candidate.

[Skwmom]

10. It's about more than Iraq.

Terrorism and national security issues will be with us for many, many, many elections to come (catching OBL won't even change that).

Clark as VP is about much more than Iraq. A Kerry/Clark ticket would be a very substantive ticket. Sorry, for this independent a lightweight, phony won't cut it.

[Skwmom]

11. I've heard Clark speak on many other issues besides Iraq.

And the funny thing is I actually believe what he has to say because he isn't just another self-serving politician. After this primary I now understand why so many people tune out politics.

[cosmokramer]

12. Amen!

[RummyTheDummy]

14. My lone beef with Clark

Is that he's not a very good campaigner. I saw a number of his events on C-SPAN last winter and he seemed awkward a good percentage of the time with crowds. Other than that, he'd be a helluva VP.

[wjsander]

15. I agree

VP is side-dressing. Clark should be Secretary of Defense.

[Protected]

16. Clark can't be Secretary of Defense.

First of all, Clark can't be Secretary of Defense because he hasn't been retired from the military for 10 years. Secondly, the way President Bush is using Cheney as an attack dog, the VP is certainly not going to be "side-dressing" in this election.

[cosmokramer]

18. I have carpel tunnel from typing the req. for SecDef so many times...

[newyawker99]

27. Hi Jonathan Little!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[deminflorida]

22. Clark can't be Secretary of Defense....

But Nader can be Secretary of Nothing...

:)

[cosmokramer]

31. Aren't you...

...just as tired as I am of explaining the damn SecDef requirement????

[Skwmom]

17. I watched almost every event and I beg to differ.

I also talked with many people in NH who went to see him that would also disagree with your comment. The whole Clark is not a good campaigner is nothing more than a myth created by the corporate media.

[venus]

25. Clark tore my heart out a couple of times

during the primaries. He was stroooong in those town halls too. His weakness was the damn debates for some reason. This could hurt him against Cheney or McCain. But since it's only one debate, with coaching and time he could hit it out of the park. Especially defending the troops and discussing the economy. Stellar. Something to look forward to.

[Tom Rinaldo]

41. The difference in the VP debate

Is that it is one on one, not a 10 person circus designed for 20 second sound bites. In one on one debate, there is ample time for making points, and following up on them when someone tries to twist them into a different meaning. Think of Clark on Meet The Press, that is a better indicator of how he can do. Clark will shine in one on one debates, with over 30 mins of air time to drive his points home.

[nursbetty]

21. Clark is the best qualified VP

Clark's leadership was crucial to ending the Bosnian War. He will continue to provide great things for Americans as the VP. Wes Clark gracefully ended his bid for the Presidency, and immediately began supporting John Kerry. John Edwards was still competing with him. Clark knows the Bush/Cheney machine inside and out. He is the only candidate eloquent enough to put Cheney down. Clark's the only candidate that had every conservative talk show host talking about him nonstop.

[cosmokramer]

23. ditto

[newyawker99]

28. Hi nursbetty!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[TexasSissy]

24. The VP doesn't go toe to toe w/Prez candidate.

I love Clark. I supported Clark for President and gave $$$ to him. BUT Kerry already has foreign relations/security credentials. It'd be nice if the VP could add to that, but it's unnecessary.

So what else is there that Clark can bring to the ticket? I'm not sure there's much else.

Harmful - he's not a good, experienced debater.
Helpful - the military vote will like it; he would be qualified to take over President's job, if something happened to Kerry.
Harmful - he can't guarantee the Arkansas vote (or any other state)
Helpful - he's sort of southern (born in the north; doesn't speak w/an accent, but still from a southern state)
Harmful - he's made some pretty big gaffs (because he was new to politics, I'm sure)
Harmful - his prior work cohorts don't come forward and endorse him
Helpful - he's not a Washington insider or northeastern liberal, as some call Kerry.
Harmful - he doesn't have a political record to stand on.
Helpful - he doesn't have a political record to attack.
Helpful - he has Gert.
Harmful - he has flip flopped on some issues.
Harmful - he's in favor of gay marriage (if Kerry is trying to win independent votes in the battleground states, this may be harmful; otherwise, not harmful)

He's sort of a mixed bag. I think Kerry will try to find someone who has more to offer on the "helpful" side. But, hey, if it's Clark, I'd be delighted. But I'm going to vote for Kerry, anyway, so he doesn't have to appeal to me through his V.P.

[venus]

26. The gay marriage and abortion stance think could kill it for Clark IMO.

[Sopianae]

30. Clark is for civil unions.

Where did you hear that he is for gay marriage? Do you have a link?

[quinnox]

34. As another pointed out

Clark is not on the record as in favor of gay marriage. I know this because I saw a debate and an after debate interview where he was asked specifically this question, he responded by basically saying that he thinks legal rights should be the same, in other words civil unions. He refused to answer directly about the gay marriage issue itself, and I think he is probably against it.

[Skwmom]

39. What utter crap.

1. Many deemed him the winner of the Iowa debate. He was on the West Point Debate Team. Some of the debates where nothing but attacks against Clark (while one softball after another was thrown at Edwards, who struck out again and again and clearly demonstrated his lack of substance).

2. He can deliver AK and many other swing states because Clark appeals to much more than the military voter.

3. Big gaffs. Says who - oh the republican controlled media. That's right. He kicked major a** on MTP while the personal injury attorney was destroyed.

4. Many military people stepped forward to praise Clark (one was even fired from his federal job for doing so). Of course there is the Republican Cohen who has unjustly smeared Clark (which is why McCaffrey and others stepped forward to defend Clark against this smear). The fact that superiors, subordinates, and peers ALL sang Clark's praises is amazing for a military man.

5. He is in favor of civil unions not gay marriage. In addition, Clark appeals to independent voters for many reasons.

6. He didn't flip flop on the issues and this charge can be easily dismissed.

[DemocraticEnigma]

29. Yeah,...

just like presidential candidate clark was supposed to be best positioned to hammer Bush.

[Sopianae]

32. Actually, he was.

He did hammer Bush on Iraq more than any other candidate.

[bitchkitty]

40. Agree 100%!

Clark will take the wind out of their sails.

[cosmokramer]

42. Just love that man! There is something about Cheney...

...having to address him as "General" in a debate that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

:evilgrin:

[cosmokramer]

43. Clark called it long before anyone else did...

...he called it on 9/12/01, when the 'connect Iraq to this attack' call came. And he has been 100% CORRECT about everything that would and did go wrong since.