Reply #130: It would really depend on what the General and his

[FrenchieCat]

colleagues would have to say about it. Problem with John Kerry is that he didn't make any statements to refute the "Tidy Bowl" accusations until it was really too late.

Again....What happened with Clark, even his "retirement" was brought up during the primaries, and he still managed to do quite well. The difference with Wes Clark is that all of his sides of any "controversies" have been well documented by mainstream media at the time that they were happening.

The only reason some smears may have stuck during the primaries was because he had an inadequate staff; was hit by the left and the right at the same time (this would not be the case during a General Election), and did not get the kind of coverage that he would get during a General election to always clear the air.

Please know that what did stick were issues that would be harmless in a General election....The "he's a Republican" would not have injured him then.....the "he's a lobbyist" would not have either against a Republican candidate. The "WWIII" would have highlighted that he really did win a war without Casualties. The "Waco" story was really not a story at all......and his "retirement" press was quite good at the time that the retirement occurred.

see:
http://wesleyclark.h1.ru/departure.htm
The following titled articles were written at the time that Clark was retired (and don't forget that he received the Congressional Medal of Freedom given to him by Clinton AFTER his retirement).
Outlook 8/9/99
-GEN. WESLEY CLARK WAS RIGHT -- AND SO HE MUST GO
-Levin Statement on Departure of General Wesley Clark
-Perspective on the Military: Why Wesley Clark Got the Ax at NATO
-U.S. Department of State, Daily Press Briefing Aug. 3, 1999
-Warrior's Rewards
-General Clark's Last Stand
-The Unappreciated General
-Clark's Exit Was Leaked Deliberately, Official Says
-President Clinton's "Distress"
-Washington's Long Knives
-Army Faces Reduced Leadership Role

You are talking about the most decorated General since Eisenhower....and I think that is something you forget. We are not talking about 40 years ago battle stories and 20 years worth of votes....we are talking about 4 time seriously wounded Rhodes Scholar 4 star general......you have to be an excellent officer and have gotten plenty of good written documented "words" about you in order to get where Wes Clark got. There are quotes from the likes of Colin Powell, Alexander Haig, and other prominent officers that negates anything that General Shelton (Edwards advisor) might have said (and later backtracked on).

The fact that Wes Clark won the only NATO war without any US Casualties cannot be "rewritten"....cause the recent facts are where all can see them. The fact that he did negotiate a succesful peace at Dayton for Bosnia cannot be seen as other than what it was.

Republicans, if they attempted to rewrite Clark history, would appear jealous and petty when Clark's campaign would compare Wes Clark's accomplishments in Defense next to what the Republicans have accomplished over the last few years.....the War we are currently fighting....which would be contrasted....if Kosovo would be raised as an issue.

So don't underestimate what a "good defense" could do and what an assertive offense could communicate. The fact that many of the alleged stories made up against Wes Clark are very recent (when compared to Kerry's) makes a "Tidy Bowl Vet" group with a differing account not likely.

The Republicans can do a "lot of things" against a candidate....the issue is how would it be handled? I just don't see Clark waiting around to see what would happen.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.