Question: has Clark ever been elected to anything?

[mistertrickster]

I don't mean it to sound like a criticism (seriously). I just wondered . . . has he ever run and held public office?

[graelent]

1. No

He has never held public office

[mistertrickster]

2. *nod* thanks, that's what I thought

[cthrumatrix]

46. but...but...Madonna's email said he was good for us?

[Bombtrack]

3. Class president

And if you think the fact that he isn't a politician is a problem, please tell us whether you think it's a problem for being elected effectivly, or a problem for governing effectively.

I don't think it's either.

[dfong63]

29. both

And if you think the fact that he isn't a politician is a problem, please tell us whether you think it's a problem for being elected effectivly, or a problem for governing effectively.

both. and the fact that a man with no track record in electoral politics has no business running for the highest office in the land. it's like some kid who got straight A's in high school and immediately applies to be CEO of a fortune 500 company. sorry, i ain't buying it.

[MR. ELECTABLE]

4. Nope, Nada, Zip, Zilch, Zero

One of the biggest issues with his "electability" IMHO.

[Walt Starr]

5. Also a major issue in judging how he would govern

and it certainly would be an issue raised by the Bushwahzee.

They'll definitely point out that even if you don't agree with Bush*, you have no idea how Clark would govern because he lacks a political record.

I believe this single issue is Karl Rove's biggest wert dream this year because it will be easy to smear somebody with no record.

[KittyWampus]

6. Well, It Certainly Hobbled Eisenhower.

[PatrioticOhioLiberal]

8. ROFL

Yep, sure did. :-)

[Walt Starr]

9. Eisenhower was the worst president of the 20th century

until Reagan came along.

[Rowdyboy]

11. Coveniently forgetting Harding, Coolidge, Hoover

Nixon, Ford, and George Herbert Walker Bush who were all FAR worse than General Eisenhower, who presided over a booming economy. Your history is very selective.

[Walt Starr]

15. NOope, eisenhower was worse than all of 'em

except Reagan. The misery factor. The Korean War. The increasing tensions of the cold war.

Eisenhower was a wmore miserable failure than any other president of the 20th century with the exception of Ronald Reagan.

[Rowdyboy]

39. Gee I don't remember those years as so bad compared to

Watergate, the secret bombing of Laos, the murder of President Pinochet in Chile, Ford's bumbling destruction of the economy, Bush's packing of the judiciary with right-wing bigots; and before my time, Harding was at least as corrupt as Nixon, Coolidge didn't do a damn thing, and Hoover refused to offer any relief to those starving from the effects of the great depression.

Read more listory. Eisenhower's administration was one of the most prosperous and peaceful of the century. It was NOT one of the worst.

[janx]

19. Clark is not Eisenhower. n/t

[Walt Starr]

21. Thanks for pointing that out

It was Kosovo for crminies sake, not WWII.

:D

[janx]

37. I like Clark, but he is not Eisenhower.

That is so far over the top as to be laughable.

[KittyWampus]

40. Clark Is More Learned & A Better Speaker Than Ike

AND has a higher "Q-Rating" I'm sure. So you're right... he's BETTER.

[John_H]

38. Dean's electoral record isn't the be all and end all to be sure.

He was elected to the State Senate and then Lt. Governor against a very weak opponent. He then assumed the governorship when the Governor died.

Statistics show how easy it is for incumbents to get reelected, especially when the voters lean toward your party--and that's what Dean did many times. Except the last time he ran when he barely won.

Dean compiled a solid, moderate-progressive record as governor (which is why I used to support him until he started running away from his own record) But his supporters should stop acting like his electoral record can is anything beyond pretty good.

[Hoppin_Mad]

48. Did you check his school records ? -eom-

[Lurking Dem]

7. Not yet.

For all the Republican screaming about "career politicians" and being "outside the Beltway" all they put up for election are insiders.

[Jack_Dawson]

10. No, Thank God

People don't trust politicians. The essence of his appeal.

[maxanne]

12. if you think

career military men aren't politicians, you're delusional.

[Jack_Dawson]

13. That wasn't the question

Of course you have a point, but that wasn't the question. The point is Clark is not a career politician and people respect the hell out of that.

[Hep]

18. People don't trust politicians, yet people keep voting for them

Odd. You may disagree, but Clark has been a politician since the day he declared his candidacy.

[Jack_Dawson]

26. Like Arnold? Next...

[Hep]

30. Yep, like arnold

who also became a politician the second he decided to run.

[Hep]

31. Yep, like arnold

who also became a politician the second he decided to run.

[dfong63]

32. arnold is turning out to be a disaster - next

[dave29]

44. that must be why we've

elected so many Generals :eyes:

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

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

[Hep]

16. Held public office is the better way to put it

He was elected to be the supreme commander of NATO, but that's not what you meant!

:)

[Walt Starr]

17. Nope, that's an appointed position

The politics of the military is autocratic, not democratic.

[oasis]

24. Didn't someone die in order for Dean to become Gov. of Vermont?

[maxanne]

27. next rumor!!

Dean killed Snelling, in order to become governor of Vermont. :eyes:

He was relected four times - so it seems unlikely he was coasting on Snellings dead coattails.

[oasis]

47. Please remain calm. I was laying the foundation for my case. Dean first

became governor without being elected to that office. He ran for re-election as an incumbent of that small state for the other (2 year?) terms.

It's not too far fetched to conclude that, Clark, who was never elected to office, would be considered at least Dean's equal in administrative experience.

[Hep]

34. Dean has never lost an election. He served in the state house, as Lt. Gov

and as governor. He's never lost.

[Hep]

33. Well, I was using a very loose definition!

n/t

[Auntie Bush]

20. No, but he is going to! n/t

[Ksec]

22. Its not like theres a job that prepares you for the Presidency

I think being a Pres is all about showing leadership and leading by example. I also dont think theres an elected position out there that could prepare you for it. Being a General is about the best training one could get for that type of "job" Also we see these lifetime politicians who are so wrapped up in special interests and corporate whoring . It will be nice to have a guy who got there by grassroots and not a bunch of money he has to pay back in favors. His life is an example and an inspiration. Thats all I need.

[Walt Starr]

23. Sure there is. It's an executive position in government

Governorships are the best OJT for becoming president and that is born out in the records of previous presidents.

[Ksec]

28. No Its a whole different ballgame

Maybe quite a few Govs have been elected but it has about as much in common with being a Governor as does working in a Macdonalds.

[cthrumatrix]

35. I agree...I'm concerned that a Clark nod -- never held office would be

a gift to Rove....

Imagine a guy who was never a Democrat...nominated with no experience to run against Bush.

This terra game is just that. Where are the countries we are suppose to fight. They all have weapons.

This campaign should be about jobs, education, social security, medicare...etc

[democratreformed]

41. Would George Bush be an example of this?

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

[Forkboy]

25. No,but I dont really consider that a negative

[Maddy McCall]

36. How COULD he? He was in a partisan-neutral position...

How many 4-star generals can you list who simultaneously held, say, gubernatorial office?

This is really a moot question. Clark did not retire from the military until 2000. Exactly when or where was he to cram in an elected office between then and now?

Additionally, in his leadership position in the military, he was expected not to engaged in partisan activities. Read below a Naval officer's comments on political propriety in the military:

Historically, this relationship has manifested itself in strict political neutrality among the officer corps. Young naval officers were instructed that, along with topics such as religion and the various attributes of fellow officers' spouses, politics was a taboo subject for wardroom and workplace conversation. This strict line of demarcation was respected across the services. Retired Air Force General Merrill McPeak, Chief of Staff of the Air Force from 1990 to 1994, said "I think for years there was a kind of a wall, a separation in this country. The professional military were proud, made a point of pride about avoiding politics."1 Formal guidelines delineate such boundaries. Department of Defense Directive 1344.10 prohibits such partisan political activities as soliciting votes for a particular candidate or political issue, and soliciting campaign contributions from other members of the military or civilian employees. Further, Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) forbids military officers from using "contemptuous words against the President, Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any state," with violations potentially resulting in dismissal from the military and one year's imprisonment.2 There even exists a particularly draconian school of thought that military members, to preserve this strict neutrality and maintain a measure of distance beyond reproach from any perceived partisanship, should refrain even from voting.

http://www.veteransforpeace.org/Keep_the_military_060003.htm


Oh and on the topic of his congeniality toward Republican presidents, this guy sums up proper protocol pretty well:

The admiral's etiquette was not only proper but required. His salute symbolized a core tenet of U.S. government: the armed forces serve the elected civilian leadership. The salute acknowledged that relationship and its inherent implication—the military will execute all lawful orders and direction issued by such legitimate authority, regardless of the partisan, ideological, or political affiliation of such officials.

[Hoppin_Mad]

42. Let him serve a term as a gov, rep, or sen - get some experience -

walk his talk, and I'll gladly consider him for the highest office in the land.

[Maddy McCall]

43. Yeah, that certainly helped the current White House occupier.

/sarcasm

[LTR]

45. Oh shit, well, I guess George Washington was a lousy president

By your definition.

And didn't Lincoln lose every race he ran before getting elected president?