Clark has made his intentions known...quite clearly.

“I’ve got a lot of different issues I’m working now. In particular, I’m really working policy issues, and once you get into a race it’s all about politics. People don’t take seriously what you say they just, they just grade you on your sort of litmus test and where you are on a spectrum of left to right – it’s a horserace coverage. I’m interested in serious issues…

When I ran last time it was very difficult to cut through the politics to get to the points I was trying to make…

I don’t have any timelines…I’m working the policy, not the politics.”

www.stopiranwar.com

How does this apolitical "working the issues" benefit the country, the world, in the face of what's going on now?

I naively hoped that people entered politics to change things...what other avenue has been been born that Wes Clark prefers to this?

Can anyone be more specific, on his behalf?

Once you run, people assume what you are saying is for your own political positioning, not necessarily what is the best policy. He's talking to policy makers and trying to influence the policy. He doesn't want serious policy discussions turned into a partisan political game.

It's a sobering commentary on the state of the American policial system and mass media.

but I will visit his site and see if that clears up my confusion....

Have you been to his website? That's a great place for starters!

http://securingamerica.com/

Check it out!

Will give this a look, and see for myself if WC's staying out of "the game" is really the best way to win it.

Somehow, though, I doubt...is this just angling for a cabinet position in the administration of someone who actually does enter the fray?

For one, we know he's been advising Congress on this whole mess with Iran. Maxine Waters said as much on Hardball a few weeks ago. I believe he thinks he can be a more effective voice of counsel with them if he's not yet a candidate....

and :hi:

But, he is a doer not just a talker. I saw him speak to a relatively small crowed in Los Angeles a couple of years ago. I think he really wants to serve our country, but he, unlike most candidates, does not have the false idea that he knows all the answers right off the top of his head. I would like to see him run for president, but if he decides against running, I will not despair. He will make a wonderful cabinet member. I don't think he is so much interested in winning elections as he is in doing what is right for America.

Personally, I want to see him run. I can understand, however, that he may be able to do more good for our country if he doesn't run. He was my first choice in 2004 (until he dropped out0. I haven't decided for 2008. It is just too early. I will always like Clark. He will always be one of my top favorites if not my favorite.

I think Clark is concerned about his ability to raise enough money. He may also be thinking that he could be very vulnerable to swiftboating. That is true for anyone who has done a lot and made a lot of decisions in their public career -- and he has. I'm sure he has his share of enemies as well as friends. The friends far outweigh the enemies, but the enemies can do a lot of harm.

No one likes going through it, but no one likes going through real war either, and Clark stayed in the military after he was shot 5 times. I'm not trying to be melodramatic here but Clark doesn't back down from what he stands for over flak, never has and never will. That's a lot of what I respect about Clark and why I also really hope he runs. The public debate will be positively changed by his inclusion, Clark doesn't shy away from comments that aren't focus group tested, just like he didn't shy away from Michael Moore when the press came after him over that in 2004.

The rest of what you raised I agree are real considerations that he must be weighing. I'm hopeful that Clark is attempting to maximize his impact with current policy makers through his inside non candidate game before he then steps into the ring as a Presdiential candidate.

Actually I think a little too much public attention is focused on timing of an entrance for candidates now rather than correct positioning. It didn't help Vilsack that he entered early, and it's not doing wonders for any of those in the second tier that they did so either. I think Clark is getting at least as much general attention for his StopIranWar.com initiative as are any of the second tier Presidential candidates for any of the things they are doing beyond their activities in public office.

Wes Clark will be in New Hampshire soon you know. He's doing a fundraiser there on March 2nd for new NH Congresswoman Carol Shea Porter (who is absolutely great, and a true grassroots activist).

Clark has more leadership experience than the rest of them plus the entire Bush administration put together.

He and Gore are the only "normal" people -- that is, people without any grandiose ideas of themselves. I like Obama and others, but Clark is above the crowd. I still like Gore a lot, and Obama also. Clark is just so smart and so honest and so humble. One question is whether he really wants the job enough to put up with what he will have to put up with to keep and get it.

great candidates....and General Clarke should join them.

But if he does run, you'll need to spell his name right!!


<--- Clarke ~~~~~ <--- Clark

:shrug:

..

You could be on to something.. Clarkies... Clark E's...

Do you think he will ultimately decide to run (and is just waiting for the best time to announce), or that he will rule out a presidential run (and this is just a way of letting down his supporters easily)?

But I am expecting him to run. That's my gut feeling. The stopIraqWar site is another step in his work going on for years now to stop the administration from a third war with Iran. He would have done this whether he were running or not running. I do think he will run, though.

Initially as you watch it you will say, :wtf:, but towards the end, I think you'll start to get it.

Funny and sadly true!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LG79hp1ooc

So you think Wes is intentionally holding off on an announcement to give the media/pollsters less time to tear him apart before the primaries begin?

doesn't want to become a bullseye right about now, cause it could affect more than just him.

Do you think he's still seriously considering running for president, or has basically taken it off the table?

he'll announce his candidacy later. It could be a good strategy to try and accomplish some things (preventing an attack an Iran) and developing solid positions instead of jumping in waaaayyy too early and end up like Vilsack.

He also could not want to run at all and is just trying to be a statesman, not a politician, and perhaps be interested in V.P. or Secretary of State in the upcoming Dem administration.

If Wes doesn't run for the top of the ticket, he'll make a great VP candidate or SecDef!

be anything like Cheney with a shadow government.

He's more concerned about his country than about his career. If he thinks he can be more effective NOT running for president, that's what he'll do. Right now his focus is on stopping another disastrous war with Iran, and if he runs he'll have to focus on all that politicking instead. It's also why I like Al Gore, whose work on global warming is clearly more important to him than another presidential run.

Ironic, isn't it, that the people who would be the best presidents are the very ones who aren't all over the news with their pollsters and their focus groups and their all-things-to-all-people blather, but instead are sincerely trying to fix things, putting their country ahead of their own ambition?