Reply #17: You're entitled to that opinion, [View All]

but you have to realize most of the questions Russert asked were about Iraq, Afghanistan, foreign policy - and Clark's one of our strongest critics of all three, with the most experience and authority of all our candidates in those areas.

He does seem to like to talk about his work in the Balkans, but he has every right to bring it up, the way I see it, because it gave him experience that he'll be able to utilize as president to bring us out of the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I liked the interview, since it gave Wes a chance to set out in detail his plans for Iraq. He puts it plainly, understandably, and as I said before, he has the authority to back it up. He gives a sense that he knows the situation well, and knows exactly what it will take to get us out. That will count for a lot with the average voter.

On the other hand, how many questions did he get about the economic situation in the country? One. "Growth is at 7.2 percent. Headline in USA Today: the tax refunds are going go to up 27 percent. If the economy is strong, can George Bush be beaten?" He was never asked about his economic plan.

Clark has more to offer than just military credentials, but it's a given that when he looks to provide personal experiences to back up his positions on the issues, he'll think to his years in the military. For example, talking about welcoming gays in the military, working for better education on overseas bases, better healthcare, etc. It's to be expected as far as I'm concerned, and it's just as valid as Howard Dean talking about what he did as Governor of Vermont. Every candidate will use the "Well, when I was Governor/Senator/Ambassador/General, I..." bit to point out their experience, but if the military angle turns you off, then so be it... different strokes for different folks. :D