Wesley Clark: I don't get it

[geegee]

Here's what I find hard to understand. Clark is a career military man with (AFAIK) a distinguished career record, with his job rating in Kosovo apparently being the major negative of that career. When I listen to this guy I find myself thinking I haven't heard such a load of BS from one political candidate in years.

He seems to be someone who hasn't given an ounce of thought into why someone should entrust to him the leadership of this country, other than he now dislikes George Bush. A couple of years ago, he was a Bush supporter who thought our efforts in Iraq were headed in the right direction.

I was just watching him being interviewed by Tim Russert, who tried to nail him down on his apparent desire to distance himself from Michael Moore's comments about Bush being a deserter. He kept rambling on about his family growing up poor, the right of freedom of speech, blah, blah, blah. He would never actually answer the question or refute Moore's comments. When he was then asked about what others were saying about thim, he said something like "I don't believe in negative campaigning."

At this point I, don't believe there has been one former or active Army General that has come out to support this guy, which should speak volumes about his character. One would think that that fact alone should raise questions. What is this guy about, and what is driving him? geegee

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

He was put in there as a spoiler. Most members of this forum could articulate positions better than he. He is an empty shell that nobody bothered to fill.

Generals are politicians by nature. They are careful when dealing within the structure. When Hugh Shelton came out and said what he said.....well, game over, man. That was a HARSH indictment.

 

[El Tejon]

geegee, he is the stalking horse of the Clintons.

In militree terms, he was a delaying action to the Dr. Cowtip Offensive.

 

[ReadyontheRight]

I've heard him quoted: ~"If you want a gun join the Army".

Does anyone have a link to this quote? I want to spread it far and wide if this joker ever gets a VP candidacy. He'll never get a Presidential bid.

 

[longeyes]

Clark is the wet-dream candidate of deviant fascists like Madonna and Moore.

And, of course, house general for the Clintons.

Generals and republics of free citizens rarely go together.

 

[Lennyjoe]

I seen him on the news yesterday flipping pancakes.

He should stick to that instead of Politics.

 

[Bill Hook]

How could someone with so little ability to formulate and articulate his points be able to get a Rhodes Scholarship? Even Clinton, reprobate though he was, wasn't such a seeming dipsh-t and had something on the ball.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

Wesley Clark is just trying to get some name recognition by running for the nomination.

His real intention, I believe, is to be Hillary Clinton's VP in 2008.

 

[Leatherneck]

At this point I, don't believe there has been one former or active Army General that has come out to support this guy, which should speak volumes about his character

BINGO! I never served with him, but I work with several people who have. They characterize him as an egotistical self-promoter of world class. And they're not even gun nuts like us.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[jfh]

I've got a different take on him

But I freely admit I haven't looked at him closely--he is a Democrat, and I will not vote for ANY Democrat given the DNC's antigun position.

Keep in mind that this guy--even though experienced as a high-level military commander/CEO type--is NOT a 'natural' politician. IOW, he is being introduced to the world of political double-speak. He has yet to learn how to get out the kind of speech that sounds substantial (but isn't) to nearly all types.

If what I'm saying is true, then the issues outlined here may not only be substantive on his candidacy profile--but it also reflects on our own expectations of politicians (individually, as THR members/posters) and on our collective opinion as forum members.

This poor bastard has stepped into the doo-doo world of what politics are in the US, and other than inarticulatingly expressing his dislike of the Bush Administration, doesn't know how to be a politician. I hope he's learning enough to NOT become one.

 

[longeyes]

Clark is above the doo-doo? This is why he makes pilgrimages to Madonna, poses on the cover of The Advocate, and can't say, for fear of losing Michael Moore's support, that Bush isn't a "deserter?" I'd say he knows the stream pretty well and is a damn good swimmer.

Clark is no innocent among thieves and bandits. He is, you realize, a buddy of the Clintons.

 

[Quartus]

How could someone with so little ability to formulate and articulate his points be able to get a Rhodes Scholarship?

A Rhodes Scholarship has NOTHING to do with scholarship, and EVERYTHING to do with political ambitions and possibilities. It is nothing more than an indoctrination camp for potential future world leaders. Proimising young men and women are given Rhodes Scholarships based on their potential to rise to positions of power, and their ability to be molded into a good little New World Order puppet.

Some of the indoctrinees make it to the top, where they carry out their training, and some don't. Since you never know which ones will make it to positions of power and which won't, you keep a steady stream flowing through the sytem, and over time, you get the people with the "right" world view sitting in various positions of influence. Judges, generals, senators, Prime Ministers, Presidents, college deans, professors, leaders of teachers unions, school board chairmen, etc. etc.

High and low and middle, you get your people into places where they will work toward your view.

Over time, it works very well. Over time, they change the world.

 

[jfh]

I agree, longeyes. After I wrote my post, I realized it 'sounded' sympathetic to Clark--and I am NOT.

What I am trying to suggest is that, no matter what kind of personality / political interest / social concern any person has, the political game is alien to ANY of us.

QUARTUS: Gotta disagree with you on your assessment of Rhodes candidates--

I've personally known two of them, and my own daughter may consider applying for one in a year or so. ALL THREE OF THEM had outstanding academic records in high school and college--and college / undergraduate work was done at schools that are in the "top five" of the nationally-ranked schools.

These people are exemplary in their intelligence, scholarship, AND leadership, they are NOT necessarily politically oriented...

Perhaps you are identifying some of the stated goals of the program itself.
Since these kinds of exceptional people exist--i.e., the very 'brightest' of us all--there is an attempt to further their learning so they can have some influence in the world. Too bad sick Willly didn't work out, huh?

FINAL EDIT: Quartus, I just re-read your post--and it does sound like we're in agreement; I plugged in to your opening comment, and did not carefully read the rest--and couldn't see it/refer to it in the successive edits.

 

[longeyes]

Yes, jfh, I hear ya. It really seems these people occupy an alien reality, doesn't it?

 

[longeyes]

Quartus,

Is that the Rhodes or Skull & Bones you're talking about?

 

[longeyes]

As for the Rhodes, let's not forget the gentleman athlete-scholar connection. You have to be a jock, at least small-time.

 

[jfh]

you're right, longeyes--but it is downplayed. My daughter's (private) high school made sure she got some sports into her profile before they put her into play for college applications.

The other two--from my own undergraduate days--had a similar background from high school, and at that (private) college, they also got a bit of direction to have some sports beyond the PhyEd requirement for graduation.

 

[longeyes]

Clinton's athletic connection is a bit baffling. Unless "trying to inhale" qualifies.

 

[greyhound]

Its easy to understand what some Democrats were thinking.

The public is largely behind the war, and Democrats are usually thought of as soft on National Defense.

Therefore, they had to find a candidate with "military cred". (You might not have heard, but John Kerry served with distinction in Vitenam. He also however chucked his medals [I've heard they weren't really his but he pretended they were] over the White House gate.)

I think Wesley Clark has been meaning to run for President for a while - why else that crafty "I'm an Independent" stuff that only had him turning Democrat in time for the election?

Only a fool or a true optimist would buy this clown as strong on national defense. He welcomes Michael Moore's endorsement and basically promises to get permission from Europe and the UN for military action.

Then again. like a small child, if the leftists really, really, really, want something, it might come true like in a Disney movie.

 

[Mark Tyson]

Clark says what he wants now. He used to support the war and President Bush. He's playing up his "reluctant warrior" image which is why simpletons like Madonna adore him. As for Moore's endorsement ... either he's in denial, didn't research his candidate, or he's not as smart as I thought he was.

 

[longeyes]

It's all theater; it's all pandering.

It's ignominious for a "Supreme Commander" like Clark to pay homage to Madonna on her turf, as if she were the Pope of Pop. But that's what he did. He's on the cover of The Advocate. Is MTV next?

Of course, the GOP wouldn't do this. No, unless you count Bush hobnobbing with Ozzy Osbourne and Simon riding shotgun with Bono.

 

[Quartus]

As for Moore's endorsement ... either he's in denial, didn't research his candidate, or he's not as smart as I thought he was.

You thought Moore was smart ?







Longeyes, those are just two wiggles of the same finger.

 

[Sean Smith]

Clark is just a narcissistic sleaze. He waffled on the war issue, and doesn't even have the courage of dumb convictions; he's just saying whatever he thinks will sell his candidacy.

 

[Leatherneck]

At this point I, don't believe there has been one former or active Army General that has come out to support this guy, which should speak volumes about his character

BINGO! I never served with him, but I work with several people who have. They characterize him as an egotistical self-promoter of world class. And they're not even gun nuts like us.

TC
TFL Survivor

 

[Standing Wolf]

Are we showing enough respect for General Jell-o?