Pundits predict Wes Clark as Obama VP?

[jumptheshadow]

Two of the pundits on Meet the Press today said that Barack Obama might choose Wes Clark as his VP. Is that a concept that is really gaining traction or are the pundits in la-la land?

[Arugula Latte]

1. What the heck? I thought Clark was a big Hillaryite.

:shrug:

[locker13]

3. exactly

that is why he might be chosen

[AllentownJake]

4. Why it makes sense

We need to get her people on board to win. Can't think of a better pick.

[truebrit71]

10. Exactly right...and a great choice to boot...

..

[RiverStone]

31. I'd be very happy with Wes as his VP..n/t

[TheWraith]

12. He's a Clinton supporter, but that doesn't translate as nutcase partisan.

No matter what GDP looks like.

The fact is, Clark has never been a surrogate for attacking Obama, unlike almost everyone else Clinton has. Plus he endorsed her early on, probably as a result of his close relationship to the Clintons in the '90s.

It's very much a real possibility. Clark is the perfect person for Obama: the guy is walking foreign policy experience, possibly more than anybody else who hasn't already been Secretary of State. Also liberal enough, and scary enough to the ultra-right-wing, that he can act as life insurance for Obama.

[Capn Sunshine]

21. Good point, but I think the pundits are talking out of their hats

If Wes would promise not to bring ANYONE from that miserable campaign into the fold, it might be doable.

But we don't want the DLC pundits anywhere NEAR our campaign. They are out of touch and elitist.

[cliffordu]

36. LOL!! Nutcase partisan....

precisely !

:rofl:

[blm]

23. He is - and it WON'T happen. Clark's attacked Obama too much, and the video clips

would be put into heavy rotation.

Clark put ALL his eggs in the Hillary2008 basket believing he'd be VP. Just as Bayh, Warner and Vilsack did.

[PatGund]

25. He did endorse Sen. Clinton

But there's also a LOT of Wes Clark Democrats that are Sen. Obama supporters. That would be a dream ticket to a lot of people, and give President Obama a VP with major defense and economic credentials.

[stray cat]

2. I think Clark is a strong Hillary advocate - but it would be a great ticket!

[dhill926]

5. been my hope from the beginning....n/t

[MarianJack]

6. I've Always thought that Clark would be a natural for Obama.

I'd been hoping for Kerry/Clark 4 years ago, too!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. Won't happen.

1. Hillary supporter

2.

Former NATO commander Wesley Clark, a Clinton supporter, called the comments "disturbing," and he accused Obama of not being prepared enough to be commander in chief and properly oversee an end to the Iraq war.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Clinton_camp_accuses_Obama_of_being_0307.html

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. The speculation may or may not have a shred of reality behind it

But what you list would not stand in the way. Do you remember that Poppy Bush ran against Reagan in the 1980 Republican primaries by blasting Reagan's "Voo Doo economics"?

If Obama wins and wants Clark as his VP, and if Clark wanted to run with Obama this is a blip easily dealt with. In fact it could be turned to Obama's advantage. Clark could say that it's true, national security concerns are of vital importance to him and he was initially skeptical about whether Obama could get up to speed quickly enough on them. And that is why, Clark could say, he spent serious time considering the proposition before accepting, and why he entered into wide ranging discussions with Obama on a broad mix of national security issues first to establish a sufficient comfort level. And now he is convinced that Obama has the judgment needed for a Commander in Chief and the good sense to surround himself with good advisors that he will routinely consult with, himself included he could answer with a chuckle.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

18. I basically agree that it would be easy to put behind them. But...

Raygun/Poppy was a mutually beneficial conjoining of bases and geographical regions. Not to mention Poppy's ability to construct the October Surprise. If we were talking Obama/Clinton, I think you would be more on point.

Look for Zinni or Webb before Clark for purposes of expediency.

[MidwestTransplant]

8. Jim Webb or Joe Biden would be my first choices.

[CJCRANE]

9. I hope so. nt

[saltpoint]

13. It's hard for me to picture a Dem 08 veep shortlist that wouldn't include

a General from the South with significant na me recognition.

If Clark is not on everybody's shortlist prior to the first primary/caucus in 08, it would be a true surprise. Ditto Gov. Richardson.

Clark helps us compete for a demographic we no longer have in the post-Nixon South, for example. He's media savvy and Hollywood-handsome and would like be a huge plus.

Obama's presidency would rise and fall, IMO, largely on whether he can undo the damage Bush et al have wrought in the Congress and introduce inititives -- also in the Congress -- which wil enhance individual citizenship and collective well-being, such as health care, education, and the treatment of our veterans.

For this he may feel he needs an experienced hand in the Congress, from one or the other of its chambers, possibly someone no longer in office but still sure-footed and well-liked and respected.

Bill Bradley, for instance.

[cooolandrew]

14. That would work very good actually considering. I like the sound of that a lot.

[Bensthename]

15. That would be awesome.

[FrenchieCat]

16. That's always been my ticket.......as Wes Clark thinks much more along the lines of

Barack than he does Hillary......in all reality.

[Hutzpa]

17. They can predict all they want,

its not going to happen, they can spin, twist, wine and dine
these pundits to spew crap(because thats what it is) its not
going to happen.

Wesley 'weasel' Clark IS NOT GOING TO BE OBAMA'S VP
so chill on the anxiety pill.

hmm k!

[Hutzpa]

19. It funny how its the usual suspects

pushing this crap, all y'all don't even qualify because all of you
at one time or the other has utter gabbage toward Obama.

[featherman]

20. We're all Democrats. Who we support in the primary doesn't matter in VP

selection when the party is finally united behind a candidate. I've been promoting an Obama/Clark ticket for some time.

[jumptheshadow]

22. Why this grabbed my attention

When Wes Clark was running for president he didn't get much coverage from these guys. That's why it's so interesting that they mention him out of the clear blue sky.

[Adelante]

24. There have been rumors to this effect on and off

It's the perfect ticket as far as I am concerned. Aside from the possibility that Clark could mollify the Clinton base, which may be valid to a point, he complements Obama extremely well in terms of experience and demographics. A white male Southerner with intensive knowledge of the Pentagon, military operations, foreign policy and diplomacy. He is also an internationally respected expert in domestic disaster prevention and response. He's got a degree in economics and is respected in the business world. He's even worked in the White House in the past and is an advisor to the OMB.

Obama's biggest challenge starting off his administration will be troop redeployment and nobody could coordinate that for the WH better than Clark. Obama will have to focus as intensely on the economy as he will on keeping his promise to end the war. He will need an extremely capable surrogate at his side. And Clark can offset some of McCain's appeal.

In addition, Clark can set the house on fire as a speaker and has become one of the best Democratic campaigners around, particularly in red states. Politics is politics, both Obama and Clark understand this. When this primary is over, it's in the past, just as it was when Clark became an important surrogate for Kerry after having run against him in the 2004 primary.

Finally, Obama and Clark share a world view. They are both internationalists, both are economic populists, both are pragmatic idealists, and neither is an ideologue as he goes about it. It's a team that works, imo.

[Milo_Bloom]

26. It would be a great pairing and put to rest

The idea that Clinton is playing for 2012.

For whatever reason, they own Wes Clark. They also know that he would shore up support for Obama and easily put him over the edge, making it a slam dunk ticket against McCain and whatever neo-con or zealot he dredges up.

[Tinksrival]

27. This country could do no better...

than to elect Wes Clark to higher office. Should have happened 2004!
It would be a bottom heavy ticket but could be the right formula for Obama as the nominee.
That said though, I doubt it would happen. But I'm just bitter at the whole mess.
This Hillary shit has me so depressed. She needs to go!

[msallied]

28. The era of groupthink is coming to an end...

Where politicians surround themselves only by people who agree with them. Look at what such a thing has gotten this nation into in a mere 8 years. I think Clark would be a stupendous pick.

[Bad Thoughts]

29. Clark will be in it for the party

He'll carry the water any way he can.

[progetto]

30. agreed. Clark will do what's right.

He might actually get the offer if he can convince Hillary it's over.

[loveangelc]

32. he should pick the governor of virginia

[Bensthename]

33. I hope so.. He campaigns OK but his real skill is his huge brain. He's a smart mo fo.

[tokenlib]

34. Obama picking a VP who has been openly critical of him? Genius!!

And I mean that. Barack has said that he wants advisors to challenge his mind--not to be "yes" people. So replaying videos of Clark being critical would prove Obama's point.

Clark has ECONOMIC gravitas too--he taught the subject.

[cliffordu]

35. YES!!! I've wanted that ticket for almost a year....

I think Clark is one of the great Americans to wear a uniform, and, yes, kids, he IS a fucking war hero.

He is PERFECT for a VP...his understanding of the world stage is magnificent -

GOOGLE his website.



:patriot:

[burythehatchet]

37. I miss Jon Stewart's Great Moments in Punditry

[TSIAS]

38. Personally, I want Richardson

Geographically, he'd help us more in Western States.

Clark would be a good choice as well, but I don't think any Democrat can make hay in the South. However, polls have shown that Obama could well make it competitive and force McCain to spend money there.

Richardson or Clark would both be good choices.

[NewHampshireDem]

39. Great choice

Before HRC announced, I was hoping that Clark would get into the race. I've always seen him as a good pick for VP for her--as a military figure he could provide 'cover' for people who otherwise wouldn't support HRC to support the ticket.

I think his strengths are a good balance to Obama's perceived weaknesses--and he's a DC outsider to boot. He's left of HRC on many issues. He would temper McCain's 'war hero' angle. He could help bring some of those take-my-ball-and-go-home HRC supporters back into the fold (so to speak).

As for the whole 'he was against him before he was for him' argument against him, I'd be curious of anyone can point to a single time a strategy like that has been used effectively in a presidential campaign. People may not be savvy about much, but I think they understand the idea of contested primaries. :shrug:

[Crunchy Frog]

40. My dream ticket.

If they want to bring the two sides together, this is probably the best way.

[Infinite Hope]

41. Webb is another possibility. But Evan Bayh is another.

Bayh has gubernatorial experience, national security experience, it'd be a friendly gesture to the Clinton machine (as would Clark's selection), he'd put Indiana in play and help with Ohio and other parts of the midwest, and he's a white male.

[NJmaverick]

42. It would be a great and powerful pairing

Their experiences and appeal mesh well and they are both Washington outsiders who can bring the desired change.

[madfloridian]

43. Well, remember 2004?

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080317/berman

"...."Howard Dean and Bill Clinton were both pragmatic, moderate governors of rural states who shared an affinity for balanced budgets and free trade. But ever since Dean became a presidential candidate, his relationship with the Clintons has been rocky. His campaign was a striking repudiation of Clintonian centrism, which had urged Democrats to support the Iraq War and throw piles of money at TV ads in a few key swing states every two to four years rather than systematically invest in long-term party building, from the local level up. The Clintons even urged their old friend Gen. Wesley Clark to run against Dean. When Dean entered the race for DNC chair in January 2005, Bill Clinton asked McAuliffe to consider staying on. When he declined, Governors Bill Richardson and Ed Rendell were floated as possible replacements. In the end, the Clintons remained officially neutral, and Ickes, a key Clinton ambassador to the party's liberal wing, endorsed Dean for chair, giving his candidacy a huge boost. But the brief honeymoon didn't hold"

He played a big role in 2004.

[my3boyz]

44. Not..gonna..happen! You think the Clintons were hard on

Richardson? They would destroy Wes Clark. I liked (until he kept standing by the Clintons as they played dirty during this primary) Wes Clark. I probably would have voted for him over Kerry if he had been just a little more experienced with campaigning. However, I would not trust him as VP to Obama. He is VERY loyal to the Clintons. I don't think Obama could trust him to put the ticket about his friendship with the Clintons. If he wasn't so closely aligned with them I would not mind at all.

[MrSlayer]

45. As much as I'd like to see it, I doubt it.

Clark is a strong Hillary supporter and dissed Obama's credentials.