Sign petition asking Wes Clark to run in 08'

[Clarkie1]

For those who are so inclined:

http://www.petitiononline.com/draftwes/petition.html

[PDittie]

1. 91 signatures total eom

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

2. Did it!

[jzodda]

3. hmmmmm I will sign it, because I think he has potential

Right now just potential....but hes a smart man

[Clark2008]

4. Already signed it

but I guess my name would have told you that! ;)

[jsascj]

5. Perhaps... but first...

He's got to learn how to blink.

That always bothered me about him...he'd go for minutes without ever blinking. I'd find myself blinking furiously just so maybe he would.

He's gotta fix that.

[Clark2008]

6. No, we have to start telling people the truth

and the truth is that people who blink less, lie less.

The fact that Clark rarely blinks means that, when he does, he's really only dusting his eyeballs and NOT telling a lie.

I know this sounds corny, but it's true.

:)

Besides, he's used to having to go eye-ball to eye-ball with some tough, young soldiers. The "not blinking" thing probably came from that - oh, and fighting in a jungle where blinking will get you killed.

[jsascj]

8. Good point...

Didn't think about his military training.

And true ...whenever W was about to come out with a whopper his eyes started flickering and looked like strobes...

But there has GOT to be a middle ground in there.

[Leilani]

10. He wears contact lenses

I think that contributes to blinkless, also.

[Progressive420]

7. KICK!

[jsascj]

9. YEA!!!

You from VA, too?

[Nashyra]

11. Kick

[tedoll78]

12. My simple statement:

"States won by Gore or Kerry = 264EVs. Add Clark's Arkansas.. 270EVs. Taa-daah!"

:P

[machiado]

13. I'm reposting what someone wrote at the Clark blog

Perhaps the author of the petition should consider removing the references to Andrew Jackson.


"I signed the petition, because I love Wes and believe he would make the best President this country ever had.
However, you should know that my heart stood still and a cold chill went over me when I saw that you have compared Wes to Andrew Jackson.
As one of Cherokee descent, I despise Andrew Jackson.

He was responsible for defying Congress and pushing forward the Trail of Tears which led to the deaths of ~4,000 Cherokees... for the love of GOLD!
(If I could afford it I would boycott $20 bills!)
Andrew Jackson to me is more analogous to Herr GW Bush!
Perhaps that's what the common man/woman wants.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h1567.html
http://www.rosecity.net/tears/trail/tearsnht.html

The Cherokees successfully challenged Georgia in the U.S. Supreme Court. President Jackson, when hearing of the Court's decision, reportedly said, " John Marshall has made his decision; let him enforce it now if he can.

http://www.rosecity.net/tears/trail/jackson.html"

[deminflorida]

15. I am the author of the Petition....

and I apologize for the reference. I have already submitted the Petition and I cannot change it now.

The references to Jackson where not to Jackson himself but to the resolution of the election of 1824 and the selection of the first President who was not from an aristocratic background. Our history as Americans is not a clean one, that includes at the top of the list the genocide of Native Americans. Wes Clark led a war against the genocide of a culture as well, and without the single loss of an American life in combat. He also had the support from more American Indian tribes in 2003 than any other democratic candidate.

Please I'm sorry for offending you.

Again American history is not always about the beautiful stories we teach our children. Lincoln is credited for freeing the slaves, but he is also sometimes considered the founding father of the African nation of Liberia. It was his first choice for the eventual deportation (a word he used) of all black people from the U.S.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo49.html

Again, if I could change it I would. I'm sorry I offended you. It has nothing to do with the way Wes Clark or for that matter the majority of common people in this country view Native Americans.

[AntiCoup2K4]

14. How about a petition to urge him to get some political experience ....

...in another capacity in the meantime. It would make him a stronger candidate.

He's not my first choice, but we could (and have) done much worse.

[Tom Rinaldo]

16. You'll have to start that petition yourself

And I won't be signing it. If Clark doesn't run in 2008 I doubt he would later. Age could start becoming more of a factor for one thing. I want whoever runs on our ticket next time to win and occupy the White House through 2016. If Clark got elected to any other office in 2006 he could not dump it two years later to run for President.

Clark knows everything he needs to know to govern well and wisely. In that regard he is highly experienced. And there is no crash training in Politics that can ever compare with a National campaign for the White House. Not only did Clark mount his own, but he was in the inside loop as a key surrogate for Kerry. Wes Clark is not the same "novice" today that he was when he first announced, and 2008 is still four years away.

[RafterMan]

19. I understand your concerns

I am a devout Clarkie, but freely admit that inexperience hurt a great deal in primary race.

But as a Clark watcher, I saw his amazing progression from neophyte to skilled spokesman for the Kerry campaign. As long as he makes the effort to spend a solid chunk of the next four years in front of neutral or hostile audiences, I don't think his campaigning inexperience will be a problem.

[Gemini Cat]

17. I'll sign it! nt

18. General Clark 2008

I signed it.
__________________________________________________________

General Clark has a unique liberal and progressive vision which can only help our fallen democracy. Our military-industrial-complex is out of control. General Clark is a practical person that has renounced militarism and I also feel that he has the skills then get our great country back to our liberal or progressive roots that at one time made us admired around the world.

Militarism has destroyed our educational, health, and scientific institutions. At one time in our history we were first in all those areas. General Clark once he is elected our next great President in 2008 will root out the cancer that has been destroying our culture and way of life.

[RafterMan]

21. Wow

That's a potent statement -- supporting a General as the best hope against the MIC. Of course, Ike was the last guy to stand up to them with his strategy of nuclear deterrence and demobilization, but such views are not widely held despite the facts.

Care to share some more of your internal logic in reaching this conclusion? I often try to make that argument and fail -- you as a case study could be helpful...

22. General Clark 2008- A liberal that is not a coward

Well that is a good question. I am just giving my own opinion it really seems that if you asked that question to General Clark he would better qualified to answer it then me.

I can well after saying that explain why I think he could win in 2008. He is not a coward. When asked if he is a liberal he says yes. When the other dems are asked they say no.

http://www.yaledailynews.com/article.asp?AID=23245

Published Wednesday, September 24, 2003
Wesley Clark: A liberal who can beat Bush

Clark, however, defies expectation and, more importantly, is not ashamed of being a liberal. In early September, during an appearance on "Real Time with Bill Maher," Maher relayed a quote from Howard Dean in which the former governor of Vermont attempted to shy away from the liberal label. Clark, however, refused to evade and emphatically responded to the quotation by proudly asserting his liberal politics and reminding the audience that America was indeed founded as a "liberal democracy."

He is not a career politician so he would define his own liberalism ideas. If you look at his resume he wins at everything he does.

When asked to join the Republicans 2 hours after 9/11 he said no.

http://www.nonviolence.org/articles/000126.php
June 20, 2003

From the 'Are We Surprised?' Department

This week former General Wesley Clark told NBC's Meet the Press that the White House called him just hours after the airplanes hit the World Trade Center, pressuring him to declare Iraq was responsible. He refused, citing a lack of evidence. It seems like evidence has never been terribly important to the Bush folks. They came into office wanting a second war with Iraq and have used every political opportunity to push this agenda. It's pretty disgusting that they were using the tragedy of 9/11 to manipulate public opinion while the buildings were still smouldering and the people still dying.

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[arewenotdemo]

23. Signed it and yeah, I think he could

definitely AR and FL. Clinton also won MO, LA, TN and KY twice. PLus several Western states...ah, hell, I'll say it: we're talking landslide, folks! (please don't flame me)

[FrenchieCat]

24. I Agree....

If any could, it would be Clark. The man knows how to explain progressive ideas in a non threatening common sense way. He does represent everyman in that regard. Maybe it's the fact that he came from nothing....didn't ride in on someone's coattails. Served as a public servant till 2000.....and then so more as a Candidate in 2003. Shows where his priorities are...Because a Rhodes Scholar he could have been making shitloads of money long ago.

[arewenotdemo]

25. How do you feel/think Clark would have done,

FrenchieCat? Is there a consensus among Clarkies that he would have won?

Just yesterday it sort of came to me that he would have. I always liked Clark but voted Dean in the VA primary and was more than happy with Kerry as the nominee. Now I really worry that no North Easterner can win it for the Dems. So my 2008 ticket of choice would be Clark/Dean.

[in_cog_ni_to]

26. signed!

:loveya:

[JNelson6563]

27. Out of curiosity

What is the General doing these days?

Julie

[Harlan James]

28. I'm in.

And I was in for 2004 as well. But this time we have the time to set it up right.

The thing I like about Clark is he rises above all the usual humdrum name calling and ideological quibbling. He's a leader, not a pin up for the usual agenda clubs.