What is the reason Wes Clark is being overlooked in favor of Gates for

[Bobbieo]

for Secretary of Defense?

[polichick]

1. Supposedly, continuity is the reason.

[MNDemNY]

9. Yes, continuity with the Iraq war, that sounds good.

[polichick]

10. Maybe they mean continuity of leadership as we get out.

[MNDemNY]

13. Leaderwhat?

:wtf: :wtf: :wtf: :wtf: Yup, theres been ALOT of that, now hasen't there?:rofl:

[polichick]

14. You don't think Gates has done his job well?

[MNDemNY]

15. As Bush's water carrier? Yes, yes he has.

[polichick]

16. Looks like Obama thinks Gates will carry out his orders well too.

[MNDemNY]

17. Great.

More "Yes" men, please.

[polichick]

18. Well, I can see the positives in keeping a guy who knows exactly...

...what's going on over there ~ imo it'll make it easier to get out.

I'm sure Obama will put in someone else eventually.

[MNDemNY]

19. We can "hope".

[polichick]

20. Yeah, hope for change! lol

[KittyWampus]

2. Why was he overlooked in favor of Hillary for Sec. of State is the more pertinent question?

[FLAprogressive]

3. Wes Clark has not been retired from the military long enough to be eligible...

He'll be eligible in 2010, when Sec. Gates will leave.....

[KittyWampus]

21. Congress could waive that restriction.

[Posteritatis]

4. I keep hearing that Gates isn't permitted to take Defense for two more years (nt)

[Kdillard]

5. I thought it was because legally he can't hold the job as yet. He has not been retired long enough.

I believe in 2010 he would be able to be offered the post. Also it makes sense to keep Gates on for continuity.

[progressive_realist]

6. He's not eligible for another two years.

Must have been out of uniform for ten years before becoming SoD.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Cause Clark isn't eligible for SOD till 2010.

One has to be out of the military 10 years to qualify. Wes Clark retired in the year 2000.

[Jennicut]

38. Oh, really? Well that is the answer then.Thanks FrenchieCat.

[AtomicKitten]

8. Maybe Wes needs a Bush Countdown Watch like Gates has.

Seriously, I'm not comfortable with Gates staying on but then again I'm just part of the peanut gallery.

[Bobbieo]

11. Thanks for the responses. I had heard he would not be eligible, right now

and it makes sense. Someone is urging me to join him in complaining about Gates, but I trust Obama's judgement.

[AtomicKitten]

12. hey, look on the bright side, maybe Gates is place-holding til Wes can serve

that would be kewl :)

[elleng]

22. THAT's the best I've heard!

SURE hope that's what O has in mind. Ignoring Wes troubles me A LOT.

[Perky]

23. I think public personas often can mask other issues that insiders are aware of,

[Dinger]

24. Something Tells Me Obama Doesn't Like Clark (nt)

[windbreeze]

28. why ?

2 alpha male personalities perhaps...??? I think about Obama and that picture of him and Lieberman in the hallway of the Senate...then I think of Wes and how I can see him doing exactly the same thing, can't you?..Obama is a leo...and Wes is a Capricorn, but also right on the cusp with Sagittarius...so fire signs or those influenced by fire signs would be quite a bit alike...and fiery...so perhaps it isn't actually dislike...but other things neither can control...wb

[Dinger]

29. What You Said Makes Sense

Especially the two alpha males part.

[windbreeze]

31. Plus

you have to add the intelligence factor...both are extremely intelligent and savvy...that also could factor into it...wb

[FrenchieCat]

30. They seem to get along ok to me.....

I think they are both way more grown up
then what you are suggesting.

[windbreeze]

33. I wasn't trying to find fault with either of them..

or say either of them was at fault....A comment was made, I was trying to figure out why the person would feel that way...sometimes things we have no control over...actually do exert control of a sort, over our lives...wb

[FrenchieCat]

35. I'm just saying those pics were taken on November 1st,

and then Wes Clark was at Grant Park on November 4th.
I don't think he was forced to come to chicago, yet there he was!

Wes posted about his experience of that night.

Change has come to America
Submitted by Wes Clark on November 5, 2008 - 6:49pm.
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/16778

[windbreeze]

39. Thanks for posting the pictures and

the blog..I had been staying away, so I didn't see that...wb

[Dinger]

34. I Love The Pics

And hope I'm wrong.

[windbreeze]

25. Wes has NOT been out of the service long enough

he has been out 8 years +, must be out 10...but...did anyone ever consider that Gates...just may hang in there long enough for it to work in Wes' favor, IF that's what Obama wants in a year or so...wb

[davidpdx]

26. OP thanks for asking this

I was wondering the same thing.

[kwenu]

27. How do we know he was overlooked?

[BlooInBloo]

32. Well, when I spoke at length with Obama today....

Sheesh.

[Jennicut]

36. I personally don't get all the Wes Clark love, I like Chuck Hagel better

but Gates will be around for about a year. Who will come after that?

[faithfulcitizen]

40. say what?

sorry you don't get all the Wes Clark love... you are missing the opportunity to appreciate a true patriot and American hero in every sense of the word. I like Hagel too as far as repubs go, but he doesn't hold a candle to the General.

[roguevalley]

41. check out his resume and then read his remarks. he -when NO ONE

else would say it- said he was a liberal on teevee. I love that man. But then, he was general when my baby was in Bosnia. We think he is THE MAN around our house. Read his stuff and I think your fears will be allayed. :)

[No Passaran]

37. He's not eligeble

[Stand and Fight]

42. He is perfectly eligible.

He simply is barred from having the job until after being out of the military for 10 years.

[TexasObserver]

43. 1) because Obama wants Bush to own the war, not him, 2) he'll jettison Gates later, and

3) he doesn't want to worry about transitioning on defense when he wants all the focus on his Economic Initiatives.

It's a smart strategy, made possible by the fact that many consider Gates the person who stopped any action against Iran.

[tomp]

44. gates is serious bfee. he needs to go. nt

[JVS]

45. Was he supposed to be some kind of lock for it?