Washington Post's Richard Cohen on Clark: Karl Rove's Nightmare

[snyttri]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18406-2004Jan14.html

Karl Rove's Nightmare

By Richard Cohen
Thursday, January 15, 2004; Page A21

DALLAS -- Karl Rove had a bad moment here the other night. It came as Wesley Clark was speaking to a packed hotel ballroom, when the retired general derided the president of the United States for what was supposed to be his supreme, cinematic moment: landing on the flight deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln. "I don't think it's patriotic to dress up in a flight suit and prance around," Clark bellowed. The men had been separated from the boys.

For Clark, it was a monster evening. His campaign raised upward of $300,000, and the once-stiff speaker brought his audience out of their chairs several times. He was forceful and occasionally eloquent. But what really mattered was that Clark was prepared to go at President Bush in the one area where he once seemed unassailable: his leadership as a wartime president.

That was the moment I imagined Rove took notice. Of all the other Democratic presidential contenders, only John Kerry has the military credentials to challenge Bush. But being a wounded and decorated Vietnam vet is not the same as being both that and a retired four-star general. Anyway, Kerry is easily caricatured as a Massachusetts liberal.

Not so Clark. He is a "duty, honor, country" guy -- the West Point mantra he recites constantly. His themes are patriotism and leadership, and his credentials are unimpeachable. He was wounded in Vietnam. He rose to command NATO and made war in the Balkans. Four invisible stars glitter from his shoulders.

[Rowdyboy]

1. Flawless piece...

Cohen tells it as he sees it. This should be a must read for Clark supporters (though opponents will find a little also). Its a well written article.

[jmaier]

2. Thank you for the link.

I'm really liking this perspective. It's pretty much what brought me to Wes Clark originally. Then I became more enamored with the man himself, not just his oust Bush potential.

[Clark4VotingRights]

3. Thank you snyttri! I can't believe this was published in the WP.

...
The *WP*.

[Clark4VotingRights]

4. My favorite part:

"Some of that can be explained by a palpable desire for "none of the above" and some by record and some by the fact that on occasion he has delivered a good speech -- one, incidentally, that does not disparage his Democratic opponents."

[Leilani]

5. Wonderful Article

My fondest dream is watching Shrub debate the General on military, national security, foreign policy issues.

It would make up for 4 years of misery.

[BeyondGeography]

6. The heart of the matter

Take the fight to Bush where he thinks he's the strongest. You don't do that with a rich kid who figured out how to get out of Vietnam and who thinks some Latino kids join the military just to gain citizenship.

Sorry if that sounds unfair; it is. And I support everything Dean says about Bush. But the Republicans are going to play 9/11 for all it's worth in this campaign. We'll be watching the towers fall down 150 times per day during their convention in NYC. This was not just another event; it will frame the 2004 election. Fundamentalist fanatics want to kill us, and ChimpyCo knows how to milk the story. He's the media-supported incumbent, and we'll be forced to play the game on his terms. There's a reason for the Clark candidacy, and this is it.

[maddezmom]

7. Thanks for posting :)

"He is a "duty, honor, country" guy..."

[Snappy]

8. Winning

I think that Dean will get the nomination but I feel that a Clark/Edwards team has a better chance of defeating Dubya. I read that Clark is adament about not excepting VP offer. I hope he changes his mind.

[Eric J in MN]

9. Clark/Edwards would win (nt)

nt

[LandOLincoln]

10. I hope he doesn't change his mind.

A man with Clark's talents and moxie would be totally wasted as VP. Much better he should be SecState, on the off chance that Dean wins.

[Foehammer]

11. Dean or Clark Undecided now - Clark Supporter

Not that this Article changed my mind.
I watched, read, thought about Clark and Dean for months, and the Dean I liked alot in the fall isnt the same guy to me.
I'm going to the Clark Meet up in Feb here in Milwaukee and give him some money.