My take on the Clark should be VP stuff... rational response

[ShaneGR]

I honestly believe Clark is better served to be using his talents as Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense. It's what he knows and his policies WITHIN the State Department or Defense Department will do far more good than what he would be doing as VP in a Kerry Administration. Especially as Secretary of Defense, Clark would have CONTROL of their budgets and needs. He could really start to streamline that force and have REAL power to start pulling them out. Keep in mind this guy is a genius when it comes to the military.

Thoughts? If you'd like to know why I prefer Edwards I'll tell ya.

:headbang:

[lancdem]

1. Clark or Edwards as VP is fine

Both would be fine choices, IMO.

[BigBigBear]

2. I have trouble

imagining Clark playing second fiddle to John Kerry as VP. He'll hold out for a cabinet offer, probably take a look at the administration, and decide then.

If I had to bet, I'd say he'd decline an offer altogether.

Frankly, I don't think Edwards would take one either - he's needed in the Senate.

[lancdem]

5. Edwards's Senate seat is open

He's not running for reelection, so he's not giving up anything to be become VP.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

3. I agree.

I was a Kucinich then Clark supporter. I do, however, believe that Clark should be in charge of Defense. I think all the candidates deserve a spot in the administration. They are our "star players."

[Tweed]

4. I agree with you on that one, but...

I think the state of our affairs with the world is so messed up that we are going to need more then one Secratary of State. Since the VP position is so open, Clark can be somewhat of a "superdiplomat"( Pardon the lame expression :) ). Plus, I think Clark will appeal to independents and Republicans in a way that no other Democrat can. This also gives us a Heros vs. Chickenhawk ticket that will make the Republicans look HORRIBLE on defense.

[lancdem]

6. I like that

Heroes vs. Chickenhawks.

[NV1962]

7. Rational retort: Clark can't be SecDef

That's to avoid conflicts of interest over budget and priorities - a good rule, IMO.

Besides, a Veep is constitutionally non-descript, other than having to unlock Senate ties and checking in on the President being alive...

A VP does what the President wants / allows him/her to do.

SecState would be good for Clark, VP even better for the country.

[RafterMan]

13. Who was

William Rogers?

I had to look it up.

The point is, both the Secretary of State and VP only do what the president allows them to do. I like the idea of Clark on the ticket because I like Clark, I think Republicans and Independents will like Clark, and his attacks on Bush have been utterly emasculating.

Plus, Clark on the ticket sends the message that needs to be sent about the war.

[HuskerDem]

19. Clark on the ticket says........ No........ really.......... BRING IT ON !

That's what W wants to make it on, but a Kerry/Clark ticket neuters that dog quick. That way we can get back to education, health care and jobs.

[Crunchy Frog]

24. The thing that I like about Clark on the ticket

besides being able to vote for Clark;-) , is that he can attract moderate and conservative/disgruntled Republicans without alienating the Democratic base.

The reason is that he is able to articulate liberal views in such a way that they are palatable to more conservative voters. Also, just who he is and what he has done with his life is naturally appealing to many conservatives.

I think that the range of people on the political spectrum that he has been able to attract is amazing. Many Republicans changed party registration just so they could vote for him. On the other hand, look at how many DUers who were going to vote for Clark are now planning to vote for Kucinich.

I realize that I'm a little biased:evilgrin: , but I just don't see the down side to a Kerry/Clark ticket.

Edited to add: Hey, I just joined the 700 Club!

[Bucky]

28. Why on earth did you join the 700 Club?

Or does that refer to the number of posts you've made?

[Crunchy Frog]

33. It's a reference to post number.

But hey, I kinda think that Pat Robertson is hunka hunka burnin love.:evilgrin:

[ablbodyed]

8. How about....

Bill Richardson as VP? That would solidify the Hispanic vote. Edwards would be GREAT, too.
Clark as Sec of Defense.
Gephardt as Sec of Labor,
Kucinich as Health and Human Services,
Mosley-Braun as Ambassador to UN,
But what if the thugs get rid of Chaney? Would Condosleeza help or hurt. Can you see Nascar Dads voting for her?

[HuskerDem]

20. Clark cannot serve as SOD

against the rules and a waste of his brilliance and talents.

[LandOLincoln]

32. For the millionth time (no, really!) 1. Clark can't be SecDef, he hasn't

been out of the military long enough (10 years required); and

2. Bill Richardson has sworn he'll finish out his term as NM governor. He has two years to go, and we aim to hold him to it. Go poach somebody else's guv.

[arewethereyet]

9. if you want to utilize Clark properly, NSA is the spot

he's in a poor position to interact with the Pentagon, his diplomatic skills are being over valued but he is in a pretty good postion to judge the veracity of intel.

Only problem is that its low profile (when done right, not like Rice) and he likes the spotlight.

But its the number 2 job in the country in terms of power.

[King of New Orleans]

10. I've been thinking about NSA

for Clark too.

However, Clark may want to be VP. While he wasn't perfect on the campaign (who is?) he did seem to find some enjoyment in it even when things didn't go well.

[NV1962]

11. "his diplomatic skills are being over valued"

Oh really?

How do you explain him holding eightteen military partners together in the politically highly sensitive task of getting targets approved, during the Kosovo campaign?

How do you explain the endorsement of Clark by no less than 55 (former) Ambassadors and high-ranking foreign policy officials?

Clark's diplomatic skills are over-valued by none - they are, however, underrated by far too many, instead. I think the opinion you just stated supports that.

[BootinUp]

18. check and mate -eom-

[HuskerDem]

21. Right now the #2 job in the country in terms of power is the presidency

The #2 spot is usually whatever the President decides it is. Clark would be best as VP.

[ShaneGR]

27. I hadn't thought of NSA

Intriging.

[Dying Eagle]

12. I agree

Clark would be great at Sec of State or Sec of Defense

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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

[JI7]

15. Clark would be a good vp for Edwards

if John Edwards wins the nomination i think Clark would be a good vp for him. Edwards himself said he would like John Kerry to be his vp. but i think an Edwards/Clark ticket would work better.

[incapsulated]

16. I would sooner

He fell off a cliff, lol.

Nothing personal, of course.

I don't even want him as VP to Kerry.

[Crunchy Frog]

25. I don't believe he would be Edward's VP

for the same reason he wouldn't be Dean's VP. He does not believe in the bottom heavy presidential model, where the VP is the one with foriegn policy expertise and not the President.

I believe that he would be willing to be Kerry's VP if asked, because he feels that Kerry has sufficient expertise to be the one ultimately responsible for his own foriegn policy, and not dependent on the VP to do it for him.

[WillyBrandt]

17. It's a toss-up. You have a point but the Kerry/Clark ticket

Gives us unimpeachable "warrior" credentials, which like it or not would be very useful.

Also: If Edwards were AG, and became a sort of national Eliot Spitzer, then he'd be in a great position to run for Pres in 8 years.

[HuskerDem]

22. And those warrior creds could be used to turn the discussion back to

Jobs, education and health care........... exactly what W does not want to deal with.

[Mobius]

23. Boo Clark needs to Veep

so he can be POTUS in 8 years. 16 years with Clark in office. Perhaps then he can be sec of Def. for Edwards after that :)

[OKNancy]

26. One thing people need to think about -- Clark's supporters

We are certainly go-getters and spirited. It sure would be a lot more fun with the Clarkies working for the ticket.

[John_H]

29. I agree. And since Edwards is running for the job so earnestly

we might as well just give it to him.

[hope42mro]

30. Good Points. But he'd make a great VP too. And...Flame it!

[OneBlueSky]

31. Kerry/Clark is the strongest ticket . . .

bulletproof on national defense and foreign affairs . . . which leaves domestic issues, where we can hang BushCo out to dry (deficits, program cuts, civil liberties, Supreme Court, etc.) . . .