Did you guys just see Wes live up to his nickname "General Smackdown" on MSNBC?

[wndycty]

He was on MORNING JOE to discuss/defend his criticism of John McCain and he stood his ground. He pointed out rather strongly that that serving in the military is not the same as being a military or foreign policy leader. There is a huge difference, he paid tribute to McCain's service and respects it but he demonstrated that while honorable, the act of serving that so not make one a foreign policy expert.

After Barnacle pointed out that Obama has never been a military/foreign policy leader Clark pointed out that Obama isn't trying to pass himself off as one.

I thought it was a very effective appearance by our next vice-president.

[Diamonique]

1. Saw it! Loved it! Go Wes! k&r

[BOSSHOG]

2. More level headedness from the General

mccain's honorable service as a Lieutenant Commander (O-4) in no way makes him competent to lead our foreign policy as he wants the lemmings to believe. I served for many LCDR's whom I wouldn't let walk my dog.

[fasttense]

4. But McCain retired as a Captain (0-6)?

Why do you bring up his LCDR rank?

[sarge43]

5. Johnny retired at O-6

Not that it makes any difference. We've both known O-6s who shouldn't have been out of doors without a keeper.

And salute General. You called it yet again.

[WinkyDink]

3. Somebody could tell these RR worshippers that Reagan had "never been a military/foreign policy

leader."
Let alone the obvious Bush43.

MORONS.

[roguevalley]

53. Ronny did fly bombing runs over Germany during WWII. Oh, wait a minute ...

[Raster]

60. Ronni the Raygun was BARELY conscious, much less an expert on anything.

[DrDan]

6. My absolute 1st choice for VP

How absolutely presidential he looked.

He completely removes mccain's lone argument for his election - the military/security angle. What better person than a 4-star general who was at one time in-charge of NATO.

A perfect candidate.

[Rowdyboy]

7. Really sorry I missed it.....He would be an ideal choice for vp....

[Adelante]

42. Here is video and audio

Quicktime
http://www.texasforclark.com/WPvideo/MSNBC_080613.mov

Windows Media
http://www.texasforclark.com/WPvideo/MSNBC_080613.wmv

MP3 Audio
http://www.texasforclark.com/WPaudio/MSNBC_080613.mp3

[July]

56. Wow, who the HELL is that totally unprofessional woman?

"John McCain?!"

"This is John McCain we're talking about!"

Yeah, we can expect the media to try to be nonpartisan this go-around, can't we?

[Adelante]

58. Mika Brzezinski

I agree with your assessment.

[independentpiney]

8. Damn, I'm sorry I missed that

I'm sure it will be on youtube soon, but it's about time someone like Wes Clark or Jim Webb, who actually has military leadership experience brought it up. That point really needs to be hammered home relentlessly.

[yellerpup]

9. Obama and Clark are both brilliant leaders

each with different areas of expertise. I hope, I hope Clark is Obama's VP choice. :kick: K&R!

[sagetea]

59. OOhhh, me too!! n/t

[Zachstar]

10. Awesome!!

[liberalla]

11. It was great - I loved it! Well done, General!

Here's a portion of the interview they were discussing:

Gen. Clark: McCain Is "Untested And Untried" On National Security (Huff Post)


In a wide-ranging interview with The Huffington Post, Clark offered opinions on the current state of American foreign policy, the Democrats' emergence as a more "full-service" party on security issues, and -- lest anyone doubt his potential use as a running mate for Obama -- the shortcomings of Sen. John McCain.

"I know he's trying to get traction by seeking to play to what he thinks is his strong suit of national security," Clark said of McCain while speaking from his office in Little Rock, Arkansas. "The truth is that, in national security terms, he's largely untested and untried. He's never been responsible for policy formulation. He's never had leadership in a crisis, or in anything larger than his own element on an aircraft carrier or his own congressional staff. It's not clear that this is going to be the strong suit that he thinks it is."

Resume aside, though, Clark also took issue with the Arizona Republican's instincts on national security. "McCain's weakness is that he's always been for the use of force, force and more force. In my experience, the only time to use force is as a last resort. ... When he talks about throwing Russia out of the G8 and makes ditties about bombing Iran, he betrays a disrespect for the office of the presidency."

[kentuck]

12. I could sponsor that !

Wes for VP !

[Froward69]

13. OBAMA/CLARK

OOOOOOOOOOOOOh I had not thought of that.

[safeinOhio]

17. Does anyone know his stand

on social issues?

[Sparkly]

18. Yes - he's liberal. nt

[Tom Rinaldo]

20. Almost always progressive

His old 2004 Presidential run web site is still archived. Clark had amazing stances on the issues and you can read about them here:

http://www.clark04.com/index.html

Here is Clark speaking when he introduced his progressive income tax plan:

"If Karl Rove is watching today, Karl, I want you to hear me loud and clear: I am going to provide tax cuts to ease the burdens for 31 million American families -- and lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty -- by raising the taxes on 0.1 percent of families -- those who make more than $1,000,000 a year. You don't have to read my lips, I'm saying it," Clark said.

"And if that makes me an 'old-style' Democrat, then I accept that label with pride and I dare you to come after me for it."

[wndycty]

25. In 2004 I really felt that if more people knew his stance on social issues they would be impressed

:kick:

[Thrill]

14. If polling showed Clark would help carry ARK and help in a few other places

I think he would have a chance

[goclark]

57. Wow! I forgot about the ARK connection nt

[Tinksrival]

15. Wow wndycty!

Your sig line is HOT!

[wndycty]

21. Feel free to use it. . .

:kick:

[Sparkly]

16. Go, General!!!

:bounce:

[Clark2008]

19. I'm stealing your sig line.

:)

[wndycty]

23. Go right ahead. . .I would be flattered. . .

:kick:

[rebel with a cause]

62. Okay, what is his sig line?

I can't see it but have been reading about it all day. :D

[girl gone mad]

22. My dream ticket.

I'm not getting my hopes up, but it's nice to think about for a little bit.

[chitty]

24. Gen. Clark was great......

He's is one of the few that can smack down McCain on that level.

I thought Mika was defending Grumpy a little too hard for my liking. She was kinda gushing over his service.

Being in a prison camp sure isn't fun, but how does that make you a military expert?

And why does that make you "untouchable"?

[rebel with a cause]

65. It makes you an expert on being a prisoner.

And how you think a prisoner should be treated. But when you suddenly endorse torture, then your expertise should be called into question.

"Untouchable" is exactly what they have made him. What I thought was good and sooo funny, was the one time when they threw mccain's injuries into Clark;s face as to why he shouldn't say anything about him, and Clark answered back and nonchalantly said "I served in Vietnam and I came home on a stretcher." or something like that. He just threw it out there, but it took the wind out of their sails a little.

[Colobo]

26. Go Gen. Clark!

[KittyWampus]

27. Wes is glad to be out of the circular firing squad known as the Democratic Primary

when people posted here how he was on tv and doing terrible as a Hillary surrogate, I KNEW it was because his heart wasn't in it.

[MTPF]

28. What a winning team!

[wndycty]

29. Welcome to DU!

:yourock: :toast:

[MTPF]

32. So do you!

:toast: :bounce:

[BigDDem]

30. General Clark

would be an outstanding choice as VP; hope it happens.

[Stinky The Clown]

31. I saw that

Tell me Clark's not the best surrogate for whoever he stumps for.

[momster]

33. The more I think about this ticket

the better I like it.

My very Republican sister-in-law (who hates talking about politics) asked me who I thought Obama should pick for Veep. I threw out a few suggestions...she lit up when I mentioned Clark's military background even though she didn't really know who he is. Yeah, she's Republican who doesn't think much about politics but I think McCain frightens her with his talk about more wars when she's got a 12 yr old son who might wind up entangled in one. I think Clark's military experience and air of calm good sense would make a lot of wavering Republicans feel more comfy in their authority-loving minds. McCain comes across as the crazy uncle/grandpa we don't let watch the kids, because the last time he had them out in the yard in 100 degree weather playing 'let's kill all the commies.'

[toadzilla]

34. General Smackdown! me likey.

[Tom Rinaldo]

35. Wow. Here is our attack dog ON THE JOB!:

"He's changed his position on torture. At one point he said he was against it, now he's for it. He's even come out against the Supreme Court decision that was made yesterday on the prisoners at Guantanamo. So, you know, what does John McCain really believe, who is he? Is he this sort of straight talk express maverick people that thought that he was in the 90's, or is he just a guy who wants to be President and he'll say what it takes to get the job?"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25139036#25139036

[TwilightGardener]

36. Sorry, Wes, you backed the wrong horse. You're not going to be VP, and I'm glad.

[Tinksrival]

37. Oh, go pet your dog!

I'm for UNITY! And a STRONG ticket!

[TwilightGardener]

39. LOL!

[Adelante]

40. We're all on the same side now

Don't be a small wienerdoggie - pat pat.

[TwilightGardener]

41. I feel the urge to keep biting Wes's ankles.

[anonymous171]

44. He backed a democrat. The only "wrong horse" now is McCain. nt

[TwilightGardener]

48. He could have backed Hillary without insulting Obama, but he made some

very offensive comments about Obama's foreign-policy/national security team. I won't forgive that. He can go suck eggs.

[sonias]

38. He did a great job on the show

Even when they tried to team up on him. He's smart and quick to fight back with facts.

MSNBC Video here.

Way to go General Clark.

:yourock:


Sonia

[anonymous171]

43. He would be a great VP. McCain was only a soldier, Clark was a fucking commander.

[eissa]

45. I am REALLY warming up to him

as the VP choice. I had originally held out for him to be the next Secretary of Defense. Either way, he'll be an asset in the upcoming Obama administration.

[wndycty]

46. He legally cannot be Secretary of Defense yet. . .he needs to be retired for 10 years

:kick:

[AllentownJake]

47. There is a provision for a waiver

Congress would have to vote on that as well during the confirmation hearing.

[demokatgurrl]

49. Or Obama could use Bush's favorite trick....

"emergency" recess appointment. (I think)

[wndycty]

51. I think its a mistake to put him at Defense there are positions VP, State, NSA, Homeland Security. .

. . .where he can make an impact and more importantly I think putting him in Defense limits the impact he can have.

[cottonseed]

50. I'm on board. We need a military attack dog? Well, we got one.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

52. If being in the service qualifies one for President, I have our candidate...

He's been in the military for something like sixty years. Who better?

[rebel with a cause]

66. Sadly, Beetle has more in common with our

present resident. Lazy, slow, lets the other guy do the work, and gets into fist fights with the sarge. yeah, I think I will pass. :rofl:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

67. Hey, don't diss the Beetle

Least hasn't gone AWOL (yet)!

[woolldog]

54. He did well. But

I still don't care for him.

[uponit7771]

55. GOOD!!! Now they're going after his strengths and making sure people know McSame is a flip flopper

[rufus dog]

61. some on the thread have said he is hard to like ... a hillary supporter..

As an Obama supporter from the beginning, and a guy who thinks a lot of people are hard to like, I think he is a guy that is VERY hard to dislike. He does a great job when interviewed, believes in his position but does not come across as entrenched. I would think he is a great pick for VP. Has a very special skill. For comparison (not for a VP but for being likable) David Gergen (Gergan?) always does a great job on the talking head shows.

[SeeHopeWin]

63. Right on.....I saw it!

Awesome

[jasmine621]

64. Wes would be great. Former Clinton supporter...

would do omuch to bring the party together. Might be what Hillary and Obama negotiated over besides paying off some of her campaign debts.

[Eurobabe]

68. B-b-but, he WAS a Republican.

He hasn't been a Democrat Since conception.

:eyes: :eyes: