The Real State of the Union; a comprehensive and far ranging speech delivered yesterday by General Wesley Clark for the keynote address at the New America Foundation Conference held in Washington.
I don't care if you like Clark or not. This is a major speech and it is full of substance. From my vantage point parts of it were uplifting, parts of it were frightening as all hell. Watch it before Bush gives his State of the Union. Watch it before Kaine gives the official Democratic Response.
Clark doesn't say so directly but it is clear he is running in 2008 and this speech gives the reasons why. I don't want to cheer lead with this thread, just get your reactions if possible. Al Gore gave a great speech, an important speech, whether you like Al Gore personally or not. People needed to hear that. Clark's speech is just as central to the debates America needs to be having right now, ranging from the need for single payer heath insurance to the looming threat of war against Iran if the United States refuses to talk directly with Iran NOW. Clark speaks about the flow of Capital across borders, the future role of Labor Unions, the emergence of China on the world stage, the defense of our Constitution, the growing political culture of Corruption, the importance of International Law, and so much more.
Yes Clark attacks the Bush Administration in the harshest terms, but he offers a vision for the future also. What do you think of it?
CSPAN has Clark's speech archived and available online. It is currently link number 6 in the list on the page listed below, though new links undoubtedly will get added that will lower it later. It is called "New America Foundation on State of Foreign Policy. Clark gives his speech well into the program, at approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes. A transcript of Clark's prepared comments is also available at his web site now, and an audio should be available there later.
CSPAN:
http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100WesPAC:
http://www.securingamerica.com/