Clark just told CNN...about VP spot

"I'm not interested in that position. I'm in the private sector"

he can save face.

plus he is probably really liking having money after all those years of public service.

please if anyone has insight let us know. He was awesome, he just gave Kerry his defining moment The election is about "judgement" and the the * has displayed none. The * is coming closer to "Kerry's" position, if you go back and listen to the primaries and of course if you do that you will see that Kerry is coming closer to Clark's position. I especially loved the part where he says that the repukes are running a smear campaign against Kerry and made the comparisons about their service and asked why they were even doing it? I pray that they tap him for veep.

If Kerry's people think Wes is needed to defeat Bush, Wes will do it.

Also, it seems like he'd have to participate in the vetting process, as reported earlier by Newsweek. If a person seriously didn't want to be considered, why would they participate in the vetting?

to prevent Clark from being reported about being considered by the Kerry campaign.

This is consistent with what he has shown. A clear disinterest in an elected political job if it isn't commander in cheif

hasn't he..... (sarcasm)

What VP contender HAS said they want the job?

His answer is perfect: he's not going to talk about the VEEP position, but he will do whatever he can to make John Kerry President of the United States.

don't ya think? :)

and this agonizing process of wondering whether it will or won't be Clark is over. I get my hopes up then down they go again. I just want to know one way or another, and move on!!

:(

Not interested in VP but was interested in President. I can't figure that out because the VP spot can be used as a spring board into the President's spot.

Clark is, what, 61? I imagine that he and Gert are somewhat conflicted by all this. Clark was not a career politician like Gephardt. Gep really has nothing else to do with his life, but Clark actually had plans! I desperately hope he serves if called, but would totally understand if he doesn't. :( Won't stop me from :cry: a lot though.

I wish Clark would be on the ticket too because then I won't hold my nose when I vote.

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that Newsweek has learned that Clark was being betted for the VP slot. His answer makes more sense now, trying to keep the wolfs at bay.

he's ruled the Veep nomination out?

Not vice-president. He had a different vision for our country. He feels like the people decided to go with Kerry's vision and he's respecting that. I don't find anything unusual with his answer.

I love Clark, I wanted him to be the next President, but I can also understand the fact that there may be significant policy differences between he and Kerry... significant enough that the could not be reconciled into a Kerry/Clark ticket.

in MANY respects.

I'd want to get as much mileage as possible out of the VP selection. Make a human interest story out of it. Get the public & the press debating the pros & cons a little. That might mean scripting a little drama. Whip up some interest in the whole process, get people thinking about the potential nominees, etc. Maybe set the scene for a little courting dance between Kerry & Clark.

Clark vetted.
Clarke: "I'm not interested."
Kerry: "Your party needs you!"
Clark: "Weeeellllll--I dunno."
etc.

This ticket doesn't need to go any further right than it has already..

. . .if you have both an open mind and any kind of intelligence I am sure you would not have made that statement.

of anyone but the Kooch.

I.E., the Kerry campaign is not conducting background checks on he and his family.

These checks are currently being performed, or already have been completed, for the following:

Sen. John Edwards (D-NC)
Con. Dick Gephardt (D-MO)
Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL)
Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA)
Gov. Vilscak (D-IA)
Sen. Mary Landreau (D-LA)
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA)

did the campaign release this info or was it reported somewhere? I don't doubt it; I'm just unaware of it.

It's been reported that he is.

"...Team Kerry has stepped up the pace of the search for a running mate. Jim Johnson, a longtime friend of Kerry's, is supervising the process, which has fully vetted two contenders so far, Rep. Dick Gephardt and Sen. John Edwards. A third is undergoing the process now, NEWSWEEK has learned. He is retired Gen. Wesley Clark—a further sign of Kerry's interest in the commander theme."

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4881085

Edited to add link.

how do you know who is in the vetting process... except what the media tells you?

Very interesting. I also take Clark at his word. If he were interested, he'd say, he's willing to do whatever it takes to help Kerry get elected.

I happen to think Clark is a good candidate for VEEP. But Edwards is better.

Curious DUers want to know...

...he COULD make a surprising choice with which I'm pleased, but hell, Gore selecting Lieberman didn't prevent me from voting for that ticket, so who cares...

It would not serve us well for 2 Senators to be on the ticket, also the fact that he made his millions as a malpractice trial lawyer will give the repukes way to much fire power. Remember it does not have to be true to be put out there and they will tie the health care cost to "malpractice lawyers" and many people who are uninformed want a "cap" on settlements. I know for a fact that there are 2 want to be Senators that are willing to use this issue in their race against incumbents, I have heard first hand a speech by the gentleman running against Senator Reid of Nevada and Reid only won his last race by less than 500 votes. 44 million more people are without healthcare insurance, think about it. My brother in law is the head of the infectious disease dept of a major city hospital and they are waging a campaign against the dems on this issue and scaring the health care proffessionals and gouging them for malpractice insurance. If it wasn't for the fact they have draft age boys they would not vote for the dem but they are in the minority. I know I am an outspoken advocate of Clark's but I have seen in person the people that gravitate to him from the opposite party and it could have been a toss up of who got out of the race first Clark or Edwards as it was Clark and Kerry would have been dividing the vet vote so I'm proud though disappointed Clark pulled out. Edwards is a great guy and has terrific values, he could make great strides as the AG. We need someone bright and articulate to undo the crap Asscroft has created.

I think Edwards inspires a lot of people. I know Clark does.

They're both winners, and I don't envy the Kerry camp's decision.

Clark seems the obvious choice now (and Edwards would make a crackerjack AG, IMO).

However, those poor devils in the Kerry campaign have to weigh the world situation as it is now against the world situation as it may well be six months from now, in which case it's at least remotely possible that a Kerry/Edwards ticket would be stronger (with Clark as SecState or NSA).

However, being a betting woman, I'm betting on Door #1. It's remotely possible that Iraq will be "stabilizied" at least cosmetically by November, but that still leaves Afghanistan and--most especially--al Qaida.

Of course, "cosmetically" may well be good enough for the majority of voters...in which case, Clark is still much stronger on the domestic issues that may prevail in November (his tax plan was even endorsed by the WSJ) than Edwards is on NS/FP issues, so I'd still go with Clark.

But that's just me. YMMV. ;-)