"Commander in Chief" as meme .... and with respect to the 08 cycle .....

[Stinky The Clown]

No matter what happens in the next year and a half (to the serious 08 campaign season), the notion of the office of the President as the Commander in Chief will be there, always at or just under the surface.

While most of America think this war in Iraq is nothing short of a disaster - maybe even the greatest foreign policy disaster in our history - the idea of war and terror and Iran and and all the other crap that got vomited all over us for the last six years will still be operative notions. The next president will, in some measure (and I suspect some large measure), be chosen on the basis of his or her fitness to be a *real* Commander in Chief.

This is not to say that the country will be looking for a bully or a bellicose asshole (although you can bet the house that *some* will). They will, however, be looking for a person who can wield a wise and steady hand on our nation's security.

Say what you will (I'll refrain), but a pre-UN speech Colin Powell type would be a reasonable model. So would a Jack Kennedy. Or an Eisenhower. Maybe even a George McGovern, if only he would relent and use his war record this time. I cite these examples not based on politics or specific actions (like My Lai and the UN speech in Powell's case), but based on the popular view of the person.

Wise and steady hands.

The George Bush years will be over and the country as a whole will be glad to see him gone, glad to see him slink away as the failure he is.

But the issues will remain and the mess he created will need attention.

Sad to say, but we'll still be looking for a Commander in Chief.

A REAL one, this time.

Personally, I see this as a major filter through which our best hopes for the 08 cycle must pass.

[solara]

1. I agree with you that this will become an increasingly important consideration

the closer we get to '08. How will our new Commander in Chief relate to the leaders in the Mid-East? or China, North Korea? How will those leaders respond to her/him? Who can stand up and make the hard decisions that will begin to undo the extreme damage that has been done to this country and to the world? Who has the gravitas and integrity to rebuild our honor and respect in the world?

I am glad you posted this.

k&r

[rgbecker]

2. How about Tommy Franks?

Return to the Nixon days of swearing in the whitehouse, carpet bombing whoever and yet continue with the total lack of intelligence we've enjoyed over the last 6 years.

[Stinky The Clown]

4. With any luck at all, Gen Franks will be in the docket at Den Haag on trial for war crimes.

He's NO model for the type of person we need.

Now I'll tell you why ...... for all the hype, bullshit and bluster in the first days of the Iraq war, he had a MORAL obligation to stand up to the Asshole in Chief when he did the cut and run from Afghanistan ... you recall that place, dontcha? The place where Osama Bin Fucking Laden was. You know. The guy who did this to us?

Tommy Franks ... Four Star Toady .... and war criminal.

[Bitwit1234]

3. It irks me to no end that they call

Bush --Commander in Chief in referring to his control over the whole country. Bush is only the commander in chief of the military. Bush and any president will never be commander in chief of the country UNLESS the congress amends the constitution of the United States to allow him or any president to be commander in chief of the country, other than of the military bush is not the Commander in Chief. The press has a habit of falling in line when Snow calls him Commander in Chief and not telling the difference.

[earthlover]

5. Wes Clark!!!

Has strong defense/security credentials. Most decorated general since Eisenhower. War hero. STraight shooter. Not an aristocrat, has empathy with the common man. In my view, the most liberal candidate among the 2004 contenders, the only one not afraid to use the word "liberal". Helped immensely in 2006...including the decisive Webb election.

I would not argue with the premise that a strong commander in chief would be a good candidate. But why go to someone like Franks when we already have someone as strong as Clark who also is a liberal?

[NMDemDist2]

8. Welcome to DU earthlover! and you're preaching to the choir in this

thread methinks

pssttt... the estimable Husb2Sparkly was a Clark guy in '04 and now for not only the reasons listed above but many others I'm starting to lean in that direction myself

anyway welcome! :hi:

[benddem]

6. do any of you remember

any other president refer to himself as the "commander in chief?" Sort of like being a "war president."
This is just another indication of his narcissism.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I agree with you. Its just plain disgusting.

But then ....... he's a Bush. What else could we expect from Barbara's son?