A Conversation with Gen Clark at the home of Chris Heinz

I posted this in a thread from last night but am now starting it's own thread as was suggested. :)

I had the pleasure of attending an NDN event with Gen Clark at Chris Hienz' place in NYC last night.

OK, first of all, I did find it kind of neat to be hanging out with Wes at Chris Heinz’ place…even if it’s uncool to say that. :)

I really wish I could remember more clearly more of what was said because I really fear misstating or misrepresenting anything that Chris or Gen Clark said, especially when so many here are poised to pounce.

It wasn’t a very big gathering, nice and intimate. Clark worked the crowd a bit before the speeches started and I got a chance to talk to him a bit. We talked about how disheartening the election was and he said he knew but “don’t lose hope.” I couldn’t resist asking him about 2008. He said he hasn’t decided anything, that he was out there speaking out and he had his website up but that we have to focus on 2006 right now and building the party strength now because whoever gets the nomination will need a strong party behind him or her….He did say he really really enjoyed being out on the campaign trail again when he campaigned for John.

Chris spoke first and, I must say, he is a bit of a cutie. He gave Wes a nice intro saying how much he enjoyed having him campaign for his stepdad, how moved he was by Wes’ endorsement of his dad and that he really would have liked to have seen Gen Clark as VP, and then added that right now he’d like to see any Dem as VP.

The format was a short talk and then Q&A. It was billed as a Conversation about America’s Role in the World so I think it was meant to focus on national security/foreign policy issues but Wes started out by saying that he felt the biggest national security issue was here at home. He spoke of how important it is that we maintain the two party system in this country. (And by that he didn’t mean that there should be no more than 2 parties but that there needs to be more than one.)

He talked again about Dems defending other Dems and how people won’t believe that Dems will be able to defend the country until they start defending each other. He said our principles are sound but that we need to articulate them in such a way that people can see that we are the ones who really want to do what’s good for the country….we’re not against gun ownership, we’re for what’s good for the country, we’re not against school vouchers, we’re for what’s good for the country. I guess part of it is articulating that we’re FOR something not just AGAINST something and what we want is what’s good for the country.

He came back to the voucher thing a couple of times because folks asked him about it in the Q&A. He said what we really need to do is help the public schools out. We’re not against school choice but the ones who don’t have the resources that allow them to make a choice are the ones that need the educational help the most and they will be the ones who will get left behind if we don’t focus on fixing what’s wrong with the public schools and giving them the resources they need. He spoke of how, when in the military, they pushed and pushed Congressman Jerry Lewis until they finally got a new school built in Ft. Irwin, CA. Also, he mentioned that he’d been asked to be superintendent of school system in CA when he’d gotten out of the military (which I don’t think I knew) and that, though he’d turned it down, he did spend a lot of time learning about the California public school system and then he ticked off about 6 or 7 things that were wrong and needed to be changed.

He talked a number of times about how we need to help every single person in this country to be the best they can be, that we have to work to lift everyone up, that even though we’re not all born equal everyone has to be given equal opportunities to better themselves, that it’s the responsibility and obligation of those who can help to help those who need it. He talked of how Gert used to coach the military folks who came to them who were having trouble paying bills. She’d help them try to find places where they could save, do things differently, whatever, to make things a little easier. He felt that everyone who needed it should have something like this service available to them. He spoke of how appalled he was when he got out of the military to find that there was no one fighting for those who had no power to fight for themselves. He really really believes that our country will only be stronger and better if everyone is as strong and as good as they can be...that we all suffer when the least in our society suffer. I'd heard people talking about how he felt like that but I'd never encountered him articulating it like that before...very powerful stuff. I just wish people who think he's all about the military could see him speak like this. He's just so passionate about the idea that every American deserves a chance to be something better.

He talked about the emergence of India and, especially China, as future superpowers and he came back to this a few times also. He spoke of how we can't give Bush credit for whatever good is happening in the Middle East and he said more on this but I don't have it down clearly enough in my head to relate it.

He also has such an obvious love of country...He really thinks that everyone should be inspired to do something in the service of the country. He talked of the Kazakhstan trip. He said that there were journalists from many countries at the forum and every one of them, no matter what country they were from, had something bad to say about the US and this hurt him very deeply...

He talked about faith and how we must never say the "Christian right" but only the "extremist right" and the "Christian wrong". He recommended again David Brock's "Republican Noise Machine" and talked about how we needed to focus on 2006 and getting rid of DeLay. He said that Harry Reid is a very strong and tough guy, that the Repubs are trying to paint him as weak because he's a bit soft spoken but he said, don't be fooled, he's very tough and he's good.

I found it interesting that he spent so much time talking domestic issues and that so many people in the audience chose to ask him non-military questions. There really wasn’t much talk about foreign policy or terrorism or such…although there was some.

Then Chris came back up and thanked Gen Clark and said the two events he was waiting for were getting rid of DeLay and taking care of Rick Santorium who holds his father’s seat.

Then Wes walked around again, shaking hands and talking to people further in small groups. I had brought two pictures that a Kerry photog had taken of my niece and nephew with Gen Clark at a Kerry appearance that Clark had made last fall and I asked him to autograph them. He said he remembered the event and the kids and how much fun that morning was. We talked briefly about the grandson and he confirmed that another little one was on the way.

And that’s about it…longer than I meant to go but I guess I got carried away.

Thanks for reading. :)

were to see Wes AND Chris Heinz!

How exciting for you to get to attend an event like that. GREAT report. I still wish that Chris Heinz would consider running for Melissa Hart's seat in the House in 06, but I understand that he is not running for anything in 06.:(

We must all work to restore sanity to this country...starting in 06. Rick Santorum MUST be removed from the late John Heinz's seat in 06 and I will vote for whomever the Democrats in PA choose as their candidate.:toast:

Hey ModRepubinPA, I wish Chris would run for something too. I think he'd be great. But, having seen the shit he's seen, I wouldn't blame him if he never chose to run...Still I hope he does sometime in the future. We could use more like him. And, yes, gotta get rid of Santorum.

she can take DeLay(?)down. She has no where to go but up. Unfortunately.

filled with details about Wes & Chris and what the tone was for the evening. It is like we got to go along on your shoulders and see everything. Thanks you! :toast:

It appears you recalled quite a bit. It isn't so hard because he lays it out so well. You sure had a night to remember. Two powerful men working for the good of all is a real treat.

Thanks so much, Carol :hi:

An evening with Chris Heinz and the General...?

I could handle that! :pals:

on the TEEVEE, we need to read some FACTS.

on my Teevee.

The contrast is so "there".

Honest deep felt answers vs.

(there nothing after vs....cause there was nothing there).

Thanks for the report. I'm glad to have read it.

between last night's event and tonight's joke of a press conference...although I must admit I didn't see much of it. I just can't bear to watch him. One smirk or that stupid heh-heh-heh nervous laugh at nothing funny of his and I've got to turn him off.

One thing, in contrasting the speaking styles here, after Clark had finished I went to speak to a guy I'd met earlier and he was most impressed with how well Clark spoke and answered every question. He was amazed that the Gneeral didn't utter one "um" or "uh" and never hesitated even for a moment when answering any question.

Sounds like a terrific evening. I really like Chris H einz as well, and hope he stays active in politics. What a contrast with the chimpy on tv tonight, not that I'm watching it, that would be too much torture.

What does NDN (event) stand for btw?

New Democratic Network...I think.

Glad to see he's focused on 2006 and strengthening the party. That's where we all need to be. Sounds like a wonderful evening, thanks so much for sharing!!

It looks like Clark is working hard on fixing the Party. I think that is an essential first step to electoral success.

The Democrats did not do this when they enabled the Rethugs to pass the one-sided bankrupcty bill. Surely, he cannot approve.

John Kerry, as always, voted against the bankruptcy bill. And, I understand, Nancy Pelosi has spoken with Steny Hoyer about her disappointment that the Democratic party did not stand up and stop this bill.

The Democrats must do whatever they can to reduce usurious interest rates that credit card companies are allowed to charge as well as their increasingly bloated late fees--all legal. They need to remind the country that the millionaires "asset protection trusts" remain available for the very wealthy as well as the unlimited homestead exemption in states like Florida--the time period is just longer--three years, four months to qualify instead of the previous 180 days.

An aside, Wes Clark was my first choice for VP, too.

That would have been a good question to ask...Too bad you weren't there to ask it...and I didn't think to. It would be interesting to hear his reaction to the passage of that bill. I wish someone had asked...Oh well, next time, I guess.

MAAANNNNNNNNN!


Oorah!






Thanks beaucoup, CarolNYC.

"he mentioned that he’d been asked to be superintendent of school system in CA when he’d gotten out of the military (which I don’t think I knew) and that, though he’d turned it down, he did spend a lot of time learning about the California public school system and then he ticked off about 6 or 7 things that were wrong and needed to be changed."

I'm a teacher in California, and I can guess what some of those things were. I'd like to know exactly what he said, though. Any possibility of a tape becoming available?

And I really don't remember what he said here. If you ever get the chance, you should ask him though. I'm sure he'd love to discuss it with you. You could see how much making sure everyone gets a quality education means to him.

Thanks for taking the time to share it with us.

Just kidding, I seriously envy you though. :pals:

I think I envy myself. :)

This event was right up there with the WesPAC fundraiser at the home of Ross Bleckner in the Hamptons (Truman Capote's former summer retreat...and I love Capote) one beautiful summer Sunday morning with Wes, Gert, Ross, Tom Daschle and Daivd Brock in attendance. I can't believe I've been able to go to these things!

:bounce:

"that he really would have liked to have seen Gen Clark as VP" in line with "Dems defending other Dems"? The race is past history, John Edwards did a good job of campaigning, and suggesting someone else might have done better strikes me as a splitting technique, and disappoints me.

Let's encourage all of us to be more positive, even if we are giving the party.

Thanks for the post.

and since he's no politician....guess it was ok to say in front of 50 people.

I don't think him making the statement is dissing Edwards as much as recognizing Wes Clark. Heinz had previously made a publicly known that he prefered CLark as the VP...he even posted at DU about, I do believe (during the period prior to the selection). I believe his mother did too. It's one of those little facts for the history books that won't be mentioned often. I don't think that it changed the fact that Edwards was the VP...and got a crack at helping the ticket.

At the end of the day, like Heinz said.....wish we had any Democrat as VP. that's the bottomline.

before the VP decision was made, MaryBear.

It's not that he's being devisive - he was just re-iterating a point he made on this very board (and in other conversations) prior to the Edwards pick. I think Bilderberg picked Edwards - but that's just my opinion.

.

That's how it happened, blm? I've been waiting for a book to read on 2004 to get inside stuff on how various decisions were made among Democrats. Have you heard of a good one?

on Crossfire that the ticket should be Kerry/Edwards, even when the primaries were still going on.

It also seemed last year like North Carolina was in play and that Edwards could have taken it over the top, so it wasn't exactly absurd to choose Edwards...of course...it's also why the electronic voting machines ended up to be huge problems in NC. I have no doubt that there was foul play all around the state.

But, as far as Kerry's personal feelings, I heard he felt very close to and most comfortable professionally with Clark and Gephardt. They both understand actual governance inside and out and Kerry respects that as a lawmaker who believes in good governance.

I was wondering if he/they, the "Carville wing," had that strong an influence over Kerry and if it is definitively known that this is how it all played out. It's just interesting.

I was for Clark for SoS, not VP, although if he and Kerry both had wanted it, I would have been happy about it, sure. I always thought Kerry would pick at his trust and comfort level and figured it would probably be Gephardt or Clark at the outside. I didn't see Edwards coming, though.

Thanks.

today than the media of 1992.

The rightward, corporatist, BushInc protection racket that dominates the mainstream media did not exist in 1992. The structure was still being put into place. It fired up in 93, though, just in time to push a Republican congress into place.

I wish Carville would take the blinders off. Alot of Dems could win the presidency if there was a real news media. Carville should try attacking the media problem and put his energy to constructive use.

I guess the real question is who's leading who? Is the media leading the choice or reflecting the currents set in motion by others?

In any event, as much as I would have preferred Clark, or argued for Gephardt, it's clear that Edwards was also a very obvious choice. I just wish we'd seen more of Edwards on the trail in the general election. He kicked butt on the stump in the primaries, but after the convention it seemed he was barely seen in the media.

I agree. I would have preferred Gen Clark as SoS rather than VP...but then I'd also have preferred a John Kerry presidency to a second Bush term. You can't also get what you want I guess. :(

but I think you're reading more into the comment than was there. He didn't say that Wes would have done better than John, just that he would have liked to have seen him as VP. I think it's common knowledge that Chris took to Wes and has a great respect for him, no? I don't think there was any tearing down of Edwards or anyone in that remark. I'm not of the belief that any time you compliment someone, you're knocking someone else. It would have been different if he said, if only Wes had been VP pick rather than Edwards, we'd be in the White House right now...but he didn't.

The only time Edwards' name came up was when, during Gen Clark's remarks, he spoke of how upset and disappointed he was by the election results and said that John Kerry and John Edwards would have done a great job of running this country.

I don't know what residue is left from the VP wars as I missed most of it here but I'd hate to have Chris dragged into it because of some comment of his that I relayed.

Plus, it's not like he went and said this some reporter or something...It was a small gathering with the General in attendance...Really, it's all good.

And I like his mom. And I have no problem with them voicing their opinions before the selection of Edwards. Still, without feeling upset, I do think language is important, and these little things are important. Maybe Clark would have made the difference, one way or another. Maybe not. But it's kinda like saying "I wish someone else got the job," when what needs to happen is figure out how to get the job done now. If Chris was not a politician, he certainly has become one knowingly or unknowingly. We all (myself included) need to do a better job of promoting a progressive agenda.

if you insist on seeing insult in the compliment, I guess I cannot force you not to. Thanks for reading...It really was a nice evening.

was no insult to anyone. At least, that's my point of view these many days later. Still, I do object to the strategic error in it. But, who am I and what do I know? I'll bet it was a nice evening and I'm glad you enjoyed it. In fact, I wish I had been there! Peace.

I wish you could have bene there also. :)

Be well...

Thanks so much for sharing it.:-)

Have you ever considered becoming a reporter? That is, if they actually hire any of those anymore.

By the way, you should post that on the Clark forum as well so that it will continue to be accessible. These things tend to fall off the front page in GD/P pretty quickly.

Thanks for posting your report of this event! I'm jealous, too. ;)

Of what must have been an amazing evening!

Thank-you so much for taking the time to share the experience here.

They appear to be doing some really great work!

I found this particularly compelling:

"The data does show that there is enormous running room for Democrats to put forward a positive agenda on security and the economy and use both to match the Republicans on security, and then OVERWHELM (caps mine) them with Democrats’ advantages on domestic issues. Indeed, the data shows that swing voters are thirsting for a positive Democratic message on security so that they can vote their pocket books and their safety – and not have to choose between the two."

http://www.ndn.org/assets/pdf/NDN_Strategy_Memo_September_2004.pdf

Inspiring, as always.

Thanks for posting. :)

it was a great event! Thanks for sharing your experience.

It was almost as much fun reliving it as I wrote the account up as experiencing it the first time.

You know what else was neat? There was a wicked thunderstorm that started shortly after the event began and ended before we left, so we got to see the spectacular lightning sky show from Chris' nice big windows.....

And I got the impression that Wes' endorsement of Kerry and all of the hard work he did on the campaign trail, as well as his call to his forces to get involved in getting John and John elected, were well appreciated by the Kerrys and the Heinz. That was nice....so all of you Clarkies who worked your butts off for this ticket (I know I did...which is a major reason why I wasn't here much until after the election...I just didn't have time) your efforts were appreciated. :)

Thanks for sharing.

Can you hear it Carol? Thank you.

Education--a little Clark-tale:

On the afternoon that Josh Marshall's interview with Wes made its debut at Talking Points, the teachers in my school were in a bit of a tizzy waiting for the 2:30 bell and freedom to read. By 2:35 we gather in the tiny guidance office with the door shut tightly against the eavesdropping ears of the rabid-right secretary, and our colleague from Little Rock honored us with a reading aloud from her laptop. When she reached the part of the interview about education, the moment brought unexpected emotions: people, including this writer, felt their eyes brim and then spill over. Wes was speaking to our hearts; Wes understood.

In education we are often talked about, an talked to, but very seldom are we "talked with." The usual politicos assume that if they throw money at us, we will crawl away to silence. What Wes understood/understands is what is at the core of education--relationships, service, and a professionalism that deserves respect.

I cried that day because all of the frustration and cynicism that must remain buried if I am to survive another day to do my job, rose in hope.

This morning is not such a morning. I've just finished a slew of letters to "LEFT WING" zines who seem content to spend their time misrepresenting a good man, an honest man, a true friend. Thankfully, there are posts like yours Carol; writing that restore my balance with an account that feeds the mind.

Just remember, as Wes said, "don't lose hope"...And I must admit it's hard not to feel hopeful in his presence...One of the guys I spoke to that night was impressed with his optimism. He really is an optimistic realist. He knows what's wrong but he doesn't think there's anything we can't accomplish if we put our heart and soul and strength into it. Very uplifting, very empowering...."don't lose hope". :)

Yes, Donna, I'm not a teacher, but my sister is.

I've always felt that Wes had an exceptional grasp of the needs in education. He's been courageous enough to say that not only is NCLB underfunded, but that the ideas behind it need to be changed. Standardized testing is not the linchpin of good education; there's so much more to it.

Ain't nuttin but a snapshot...

Wes has called NCLB a "trojan horse" meant to gut the public schools, which is exactly what it is. Think about it: if public schools fail, it will be the least of the least whose lives fail with the institutions. How can anyone be serious about addressing poverty and voting for a bill as disgusting as this one? Last night, that cokehead in a suit nattering on and on about classroom measurement was too too much.

I would dig out the Talking Points Memo, but I'm trying to clean up my desk and get out of here. If your sister hasn't read it, she is missing a real treat. We are not widget factories, we are places of learning.

the part about Clark talking about education.

"I mean this is just sort of basic principles. I think most Americans understand and appreciate it. For some reason, this administration can't. This administration has crafted an ideology that basically is designed to roll back the institutions that have helped this country. They promote the ideology through sloganeering, through labeling, name-calling, talk radio. But when you really get down and scratch it, there's not much there.

For example, take the idea of competition in schools. OK now, what is competition in schools? What does it really mean? Well, competition in business means you have somebody who's in a business that has a profit motive in it. It's measured every quarter. If the business doesn't keep up, the business is going to lose revenue, therefore it has an incentive to restructure, reorganize, re-plan, re-compete and stay in business.

Schools aren't businesses. Schools are institutions of public service. Their job--their product--is not measured in terms of revenues gained. It's measured in terms of young lives whose potential can be realized. And you don't measure that either in terms of popularity of the school, or in terms of the standardized test scores in the school. You measure it child-by-child, in the interaction of the child with the teacher, the parent with the teacher, and the child in a larger environment later on in life.

So when people say that competition is-this is sort of sloganeering, "Hey, you know, schools need this competition." No. I've challenged people: Tell me why it is that competition would improve a school. Most of them can't explain it. It's just like, "Well, competition improves everything so therefore it must improve schools."

If you want to improve schools, you've got to go inside the processes that make a school great. You've got to look at the teachers, their qualifications, their motivation, what it is that gives a teacher satisfaction, what it is a teacher wants to do in a classroom. We've got to empower teachers. Give them an opportunity to lead in the classroom. Teachers are the most important leaders in America. All that is lost in the sloganeering of this party. And the American people know it's lost. So you asked me to give you one thing about this party that's in power -- it's the sort of doctrinaire ideology that doesn't really understand the country that we're living in.

Nearly every other candidate brushed aside what NCLB means to the classroom with a simplistic notion of all we need is more money. No. We need a different paradigm, a different process of change, and different commitment on the part of legislatures.

Schools aren't businesses. Schools are institutions of public service. Their job--their product--is not measured in terms of revenues gained. It's measured in terms of young lives whose potential can be realized. And you don't measure that either in terms of popularity of the school, or in terms of the standardized test scores in the school. You measure it child-by-child, in the interaction of the child with the teacher, the parent with the teacher, and the child in a larger environment later on in life.

Chills... it still brings chills to hear/read these simple words.

Thank you for finding this, I have saved it and hope that this hard drive doesn't blow out.

Clark doesn't just take on the Republicans over this or that vote. He faces down their ideology and exposes their hollow profit before all else world view. Republicans boast that America is a great country, but they don't get that what makes it great is all of us working together to make all of us better. Republicans are destroying what is great about America.

As you might have noticed Tom, I have a love of language.:D At the time, what struck me about that interview was the precision of the language considering that it was done "on the fly" in the back seat of a car speeding from the airport into Washington.

Reading the transcript, it was clear that all Josh Marshall had to do was add the punctuation to well-organized, very pointed sentences. Amazing. Since then--it must have been done in October of 2003--I have come to expect Wes to always answer in this manner, but on first reading this, I could hardly believe my eyes.

I am an original member of the "Draft" but Wes Clark was more than I ever bargained for. The answer on education was one I'd been waiting a long time to hear.

This is pretty much what he was saying Wednesday night when he was talking about the comment made at the Milken Institute thing.

He brought up the Milken Conference he just attended and something that was said there about schools needing to compete more...In fact, he felt strongly about this because he mentioned it a couple of times. He was quite upset with the comment. He said that businesses compete but that is not the right attitude to take with the schools. I wish I could elaborate on what he said here but it's too fuzzy....In any event, he is very passionate about the whole school thing and I'm sure he's got lots of concrete ideas about how what's wrong can be fixed.

Thanks, Carol, love the details, you made me feel like I was there.

:yourock:

Thank you so much for this report. It paints a picture of a man full of heart and integrity.

I'm upbeat about Chris Heinz hosting this event, and his kind words of support for our General.

Wes is right, we need to concentrate on the 2006 elections, and get the support we need to put Dems in office, so they can support the next Democratic nominee. ( And of course..... that will be Wes!) :)

Thanks again! KayCeNM

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

...with Wes Clark leading the charge! Let's take that next hill!

Thanks so much, Carol, for your wonderful account. I think General CLark is dead on when he expressed that we need to get rid of Delay, Santorum and other Regressive Republicans. We missed getting Voinovich outta there in 2004 (perhaps some funny bizness there?), but we have a shot here in Ohio at unseating Mike DeWine (another gwb rubber stamper).

2006 will be a HUGE year for Dems. And we need to get Ohio in this mix in a big way (it seems so long ago we had Howard Metzenbaum & John Glenn in the Senate.)

Thanks again, Carol, for the great report!

I mean, people who founded this country had religion, they had strong beliefs, but they believed in reason, in dialogue, in civil discourse. We can’t lose that in this country. We’ve got to get it back.
- Wes Clark on Real Time with Bill Mahr Sept. 5, 2003

One thing that struck me about the evening was that even though I was surrounded by all of these important looking people in suits and stuff, he took the time to talk to me, underdressed, and certainly unimportant, in the midst of it all...so much so that someone had to come and move him along. And he really does make you feel like what you are saying is the most important thing that he could possibly be listening to. It's a very special thing. And he does it all the time.

thats kinda an insult to Edwards. I heard somewhere that he was never enthusiastic about Edwards.

The whole thing is history now.

and most dems would understand that. Chris personally preferred Clark, just as Carville personally preferred Edwards. Not an insult to either man, just a different view.

It really wasn't meant as an insult but a compliment to Gen Clark, I think. I really really don't think that Chris meant to be insulting to anyone. He just seems to really like Clark and the General was in the room and all. He neither said nor suggested anything about Edwards. As I said, the only time Edwards came up was when Gen Clark said that he and and JK would have been great leaders for this country. It was a great and uplifting night....no knocking down...I'm telling you, it was all good.

If you read one political book read this one, beeach!!!

I've read his "Blinded By the Right" which was quite eye opening but not "The Republican Noise Machine" yet...It's on my list of books I gotta read...

While a great read, Brock presents a history of how we got here from there. Its index allows you to look up any of the liars and check out their sordid past before setting your hair on fire. I keep it handy when trying to sort the news from the wingnut garble. Sad but a necessary reference in today's America.

Excellent report ---- really enjoyed it. Thank you for taking the time to post it.

I enjoyed reading your report. Here's a link with a couple of photos.
http://www.ndnblog.org/archives/000997.html

Carol in Miami

I wondered if it would show up on the blog as I saw Anna taking pictures.

doing for the last year or so on DU. Nice!

Seriously, though. It is your duty to go out and buy this book. If you don't have a copy of David Brock's "The Republican Noise MAchine," you are incomplete.

read it and passed it on to my Sister-in-law.

The best thing you can do with a book is to read and then pass it on.

Clark has recommended this book at a couple of events I've attended, the first I remember being the WesPAC fundraiser I mentioned upthread that Brock attended. I really wanted to talk to David but he'd left by the time I was willing to let the General's ear go. :) I will read the book. I'm sure it's disturbing and eye opening...as Blinded by the Right was.

Thank you, Carol for a wonderful report. I felt transported there with you.

I also recommend "The Republican Noise Machine" highly. Every Democrat intent on winning should read this a couple of times, and, as Frenchie Cat said -- pass it on to another.

P.S. The pictures at the NDN Blog ( http://www.ndnblog.org/archives/000997.html ), courtesy of mia, were great as well! Thanks for this wonderful thread.

TC

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

"he really would have liked to have seen Gen Clark as VP."

For real? Wow. I wonder what John and Teresa Kerry would think of that remark.

When I spent the day with Andre Heinz and Vanessa Kerry during the campaign, they seemed very gracious. I'm surprised Chris Heinz would say such a thing.

He never said anything against Edwards, just that he preferred that the VP-nom had been Clark. I heard, at the time, that the Kerry camp had more than a few people who favored Clark.

When he wasn't chosen, Wes did a classy job of supporting John Anyway, and did what he could to get the ticket elected. End of story.

Chris just voiced a personal preference.

TC

(first such event)

and as I recall, Chris said he thought Wes would have made a great vice president - not that he wanted him to be the VP choice. I think if you are hosting someone in your home, a nice line like that is permissable.

Now that I think of it, I also dont recall Chris ever mentioning Wes Clark by name during the vp selection process, rather that he thought that the battleground of the campaign would be on security issues, and that we should consider a VP with strong credentials in that area. Can anyone find otherwise?

in that sense, he seemed prescient.

also, at the ndn event, he went out of his way to support edwards and his family in a conversation i had with him. he said he is still close with their daughter (Cate) who supposedly also lives in Tribeca.

TC

Hey, check it out. I think you finally should be able to view my photos from the evening here:

http://carol-nyc.magix.net/

in the Wes at Chris' album.

Someone tell me if you can view them.....I've never psoted photos like this before. I hope it works. :)