If Hillary Clinton is nominated, she should pick Wes Clark.

[PresidentObama]

Democrats, while in better shape than back in 2004, were seen in the last election as weak on national security issues. Weak on terrorism. Weak on foreign policy. Weak on defense. In my opinion, Wesley Clark is a credible voice on all of those issues, and would provide incredible qualities to a possible Hillary Clinton GE campaign. His experience in foreign policy and on the battlefield during this dangerous time of war mixed with Hillary Clinton's star power and experience would equal a nearly unbeatable ticket. I think Clark would be Hillary's best choice for VP.

Keep in mind, I'm for Edwards. And I believe Edwards will be nominated. If he's nominated, I'm pulling for Edwards/Obama. But I think if Clinton does pull it off, and wins the nomination...Clark, because of their clear friendship, would be her best bet.

Thoughts from the Clinton supporters?

[bullimiami]

1. i actually believe there is a very good chance she would pick him.

[MADem]

2. For what? VEEP?

I like him better in State, or maybe the UN, if she won. If you want him to 'grow' anyway. If you want him to do a job he could do easily, then DEFENSE.

He needs a little more "in government" experience before he takes on the Lady in Waiting job. IMO. I don't mean that unkindly. It's just that being in the military is not quite the same. Sure, you have to take shit from the Executive Branch and Congress (and if you're high up enough, it's PERSONAL, not rolling downhill) but when you go to your job, pretty much no one is arguing with you. Everyone around you is busting their ass to make YOUR life easier, your reputation burnished, and following your directives. As SECSTATE, you can't just say JUMP and the folks you're negotiating with squeak "How high?"

I know, Ike didn't have any background...but the world was a much simpler place back then.

FWIW, I am not a Clinton supporter, but I am not an 'enemy' either. I just still haven't settled on a candidate yet, and I'm not hurrying the process.

[PresidentObama]

3. I meant VP, but if not....a cabinet position would be good as well.

[JPettus]

12. Actually I like Clark

and while the interviews I've seen him do in the past month indicate he's not really interested in that at this time, I could support him as VEEP or as STATE or even Defense. He's intelligent, he seems to be thoughtful about what he says and why he says it and above all, he seems willing to say the unpopular thing if he thinks it's important to get it out there.

[Texas_Kat]

21. No one should be 'thinking VP" at this point

it's WAAAAAAY premature but I agree that regardless of the task, WKC would shine.

[AtomicKitten]

4. I hope any Dem administration utilizes General Clark.

[PresidentObama]

5. I do too, for what it's worth. A Clinton/Clark ticket, however, would be very strong.

[rwheeler31]

6. Not for VP , another cabinet post.

[Springg]

7. Wes Clark Would be Smart Choice!

I believe Wes Clark for VP would help whoever will be the candidate for Dem's. If Kerry would have chosen Clark...the Swift Boaters could not have been so successful. Several of my relatives in Ohio...said that they would have voted for Kerry if Clark had been on the ticket. I am not a fan of Hillary...but would feel a lot better knowing that Clark was advising her...or whoever. I am hoping it will be Obama/Clark

[Inspired]

8. This is a given if she wins. n/t

[CK_John]

9. Wes Clark would be a disaster on the campaign trail, Hillary needs to pick

Gov K Sebelius. Someone who knowns how do get things done. A symbol of the mid west, a blue jeans woman who can bail hay as well as run the State, not a condo office dweller lifestyle.

Many will say 2 women is more than the 1 woman on the ballot haters can take, like they will vote one for 1 but not 2. But I think people will like the contrast and each will reinforce the other.

[MADem]

10. A double female ticket is a very long shot. I doubt that will happen.

Years from now, it won't even be a consideration. But we just aren't there yet.

[CK_John]

11. Think of the media buzz. These two would would suck the O2 out of the GOP and show that totally

different women can get the job done.

Also the next 8+ yrs will be about crop migration as the south becomes more arid and water rights disputes between the states. This will require someone who understands those issues first hand, the Gov does.

[MADem]

22. Nope. I know you like the idea, but NOPE. No, no, and NO. And I am sure that is what

her advisers would tell Sen. Clinton in the unlikely even that she lost her mind and thought about a female Veep.

That Governor would be great at Interior, if she understands those issues. Or even EPA. But not Veep. Sorry.

Jumping way ahead of actual events, and assuming for discussion that Clinton gets the nom, she needs to go for balance in her ticket. And that includes gender. She needs to pick someone who brings to the table any qualities she feels she lacks, or any expertise she feels she's weak on, to say nothing of that 'geographic' aspect.

[Adelante]

13. Untrue about Clark

I am not a VP promoter. I'd rather see him in a real job where he can accomplish something for the nation in the next Dem administration. But Wesley Clark is a terrific campaigner and he will be for the 2008 nominee, whoever that ends up to be, running mate or not. He ran his heart out for Kerry-Edwards. He campaigned in 86 districts in 2006 and candidates everywhere, including the reddest districts, were begging for more. Even in his own primary campaign, he may have had things to learn, but to say he was a disaster on the campaign trail would be a gross exaggeration. New to politics, he was as or more successful in the 2004 primaries than 90% of his opponents, who were experienced in electoral politics.

[MonkeyFunk]

14. Yes

I think she should, and I think she will.

[derby378]

15. Clark would be a better choice as Secretary of Defense

He'd languish in the office of VP, even if he had Cheney-like powers. It's just not his ideal sphere of influence.

[MonkeyFunk]

16. That'd be a terrible choice

for both of them, as he's not eligible to be Sec. Def. for a few more years.

[MADem]

25. He retired in May 2000. He'd need a Congressional waiver for a bit more than a year and a half,

depending on how quick the confirmation process goes.

That shouldn't be too difficult to get, frankly. Hell, George Marshall got one from Congress easily five years after WW2 ended to fill in when Harry fired the incumbent in the job--the justification could easily be that they need an experienced guy in both the diplomatic AND uniformed sphere to clean up the mess the Monkey made in Iraq.

I doubt a Democratic Senate would have too much trouble advising and consenting on that score.

[Texas_Kat]

19. VP as omsbudsman

If Clark were VP, I can see HC asking him to fix the DoD and create a strategy to resolve the problems in the ME at the same time.

I don't agree that the VP position is or should be toothless. I DO see it as a way to actually accomplish some good. The scope of SoD and SoS is too limiting.

[CK_John]

23. He doen't meet the 10yr rule to be SofD. n/t

[FrenchieCat]

17. I think that Clark, 1st in his class at West Point (out of 580+) and Rhodes Scholar,

that Wes Clark would do anything put in front of him well.....in any administration. He is, what some will remember from previous administration (prior to Bush's).....MORE THAN COMPETENT at all that he does; including political campaigning. He actually did well when he ran for Prez in 2004, regardless that some fail to remember it that way....for whatever their reasons.
http://www.rapidfire-silverbullets.com/primary_campaign_2004/

[Renew Deal]

18. Ummm, no.

Clark should not be VP. He should be Secretary of State. He's a perfect fit for that job. One of my concerns about Hillary is that she's going to spend the entire time trying to prove that she's tough. Selecting Clark would be so transparent. Also, Clark isn't that great of a campaigner.

[Catchawave]

20. He'd be an amazing Sec. of State

I saw him speak at Yearly Kos and he totally gets diplomacy :D

[sniffa]

24. yes, i'm sure his credentiaLs won't be smeared

just as kerry was untouchabLe in that regard.

[FrenchieCat]

26. Clark's credential on National Security don't eminate from a 35 year old war......

So, no...I don't think that you can contrast John Kerry's record on Foreign policy/national security to Wes Clark's, a 4 star General who won the last war that we fought without any American Soldiers dying.....but thanks for making that suggestion.