What's the WORST that could happen if Obama picks Clark for VP? Let's think this through.

To me,the worst that could happen would be that the MSM would NEVER let the Schieffer interview go. However, it might just play out early and be overshadowed by the fabulous record General Clark has had in the military, giving exposure to his terrific mind and his command of foreign policy issues. He is also extremely handsome and mature. His wife, Gert, is lovely and is an excellent speaker on her own (I have heard her speak in public).

This could be iffy, but it could turn out to be a dynamic choice in the long run.

was mostly because I wasn't crazy about any of the others. I never thought he was all that and a bag of chips.

But nowhere near VP/Presidential material. However, he would be a great asset to Obama's cabinet.

administration somewhere, but by the end of his 2004 campaign, I just didn't see much political talent there--not enough to elevate him to a VP pick.

to be the name of his PAC. Quite the coincidence.

But *none* of the other military picks entice me in the least. And with Clarks degree in economics... who could possibly be a better choice?

Committee, AND is a veteran, AND is about as well-informed on military issues as anyone in the Senate. AND is very progressive. AND voted against the Iraq war. He said he wasn't interested, but maybe that was just a smokescreen?

Doesnt help Obama much in the south unfortunately. I wonder how he plays with indies. :shrug:

1--Repub Governor of RI, would lose his seat. 2--Doesn't bring a state. 3--Short, not the best-looking dude.

kinda Nixonesque. Clark definitely wins that round. I do like his policy positions though (for the most part) at least what bits Ive read. If I cant have Clark, I 'spose I could live with Reed as his choice. At least its not Nunn.

Won't exactly help Obama in Virginia and the Southwestern swing states.

I think Obama needs someone who is experienced politically.

edit: i before e in wienergoggie. :D

They love to throw media off the scent. And, God knows, it's not hard to do. They're like Beagles ('cept not cute) following the scent of food -- they can smell nothing else but the food trail they're on.

Obama to float the name, get everybody used to it, and then make the announcement.

Plus... why would they use the name of Wes' PAC, knowing that tons of us would get our hopes up, only to announce somebody else. What military guy is better than Clark?

Also, on another note, I think this is a gentle way of preparing past Hillary supporters, so it won't be a shock when it's not her. And it will give them time to remember how much Clark supported Hillary's campaign. So they might not get exactly what they want, but they like the pick anyway.

Am I being too hopeful here?

And its Obamas fault for leading us on! :P

just sayin.

I wonder, did Dunn say more than she was supposed to? Did they mean to reveal the theme to that extent?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/11/a-vp-hint-vps-convention_n_118148.html

I spose it could also be possible that they might not have known the name of Wes' PAC? Seems unlikely but... :shrug:

http://thepage.time.com/dnc-release-on-conventions-nightly-themes/

It makes no sense to me they wouldn't know it's the name of Clark's PAC. It just seems way to coincidental to use the same exact theme, then say the vp candidate will need to be able to address these issues...

Maybe they didn't think the general public knew the name of the PAC? I don't know.

for sure if he is or is not in the running. Don't rely on the idiots in MSM to know everything. I have a feeling Obama is going to pick someone that is not on the "media's" short list. I don't know why, I guess because he always seems to go against conventional wisdom -- and it always seems to work for him.

That said. Just because the VP will be keynoting a Veteran's themed night, doesn't mean it's Clark. Could be Jack Reid, former Army Ranger, or Sam Nunn (hope not), or Chuck Hagel (doubt it).

The suspense is starting to get to me.

If it's the list that the media whores are pushing, then Clark is better than any of them, so far (Bayh/Kaine/unknown guy from the east coast/Republican electronic "vote" machine salesman/insert DLC flunkie here/etc.)

Truth is, I doubt the media has the real list at all. They're just putting out the names that THEY want to see.

camp has been pretty tight lipped about it. And the ones that were supposedly on "the list" were pretty ridiculous. Like Nunn, for example.

I do have faith that if he's given TIME (instead of just 20 seconds) to explain what he said, people could understand that he wasn't dissing McCain's service in any way.

Sadly, though, those who don't want to listen won't hear.

I think a bigger obstacle is convincing Obama that it wasn't a deal-breaker.

the media isn't going to give him the credibility he deserves. That was an important test, and although Clark spoke the truth, he failed--believe me, the Obama camp was watching. They do NOT want a liability or a target. Aside from that, Clark made some statements similar to Hillary's about Obama being CiC, and that is a no-go as well. It won't be Clark.

"the reason he came out of Europe early had to do with integrity and character issues,..."

So you have Clark's former commander during his command at EUCOM saying 1. Clark was relieved and 2. Clark lacks integrity and character.

That is the worse thing that could happen.

n/t

1. It assumes that vetting team understands exactly what happened to explain why Clark left EUCOM early. (Nobody in the know will talk about it). They would also have to talk with Hugh Shelton and get him to explain those comments, which I don't see Shelton doing.

2. It also assumes that the MSM would act responsibly, ie not claiming fire when there is no smoke. I don't have that kinda of faith in them.

statements about a candidate they are considering. It's just too important not to. The only thing they may not have is information that is not known yet. A John Edwards situation (prior to the hotel incident)that blows up in your face. But I'll betcha they have more info on the people they're vetting than we can imagine.

Your second point is my worry too, as I stated. Clark didn't need to hand them that stick to beat us with. He just didn't. I got the feeling that he really had contempt for McCain's "flyboy" status when Clark himself was "on the ground" in Vietnam. I think it was his agenda and itjust popped out, not good in the judgment department.

But he refuses. He has NOTHING on Clark.

Personally, I think Shelton doesn't like Clark because he went straight to Clinton and went over Shelton's head. That pissed Shelton off and he got back at Clark by having him replaced early.

Here is my take on Shelton's comments:
I think Shelton made that comment and didn't think it would get out. Once it did, Shelton had committed the sin of letting a personal problem between to four stars get out into the open, which is not good. Shelton was not going to apologize or take back his comment but he didn't want to make the situation worse, so he just didn't say anything about it again.

Says it all.

Shelton was a shill for the Edwards 2004 primary campaign and Shelton and Jennifer Palmieri seemed to have a real personal obsession to go after Clark. As General Barry Caffery said, General Clark was just too smart and too handsome for some of the brass to deal with. Ever check Shelton's creds, ever see his picture?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Shelton

Shelton's record is just as good as Clark's. These are two highly motivated, highly intelligent, very good leaders.

In the military world of schools, badges, and tabs, Shelton probably has the advantage over Clark. Shelton is a Special Forces soldier with Free Fall and Jumpmaster qualifications. Clark is just airborne with a ranger tab.

are those that are anticipated. Because Wes Clark didn't make it out of the primaries, the only attacks ever formulated against him were to rile the Left, not the conservatives.

And so I think that the McCain team would be hardpressed of any attack retorts against Wes Clark....even Clark stating that McCain's POW status doesn't qualify him as commander in chief, based on his lack of command experience. Would they accused him of nearly having started WWIII against the Russians, as was claimed throughout the 2004 primaries? I doubt it, considering that McCain's middle name is "Warmonger".

Here's my website on Wes Clark. There were many attacks to rebut.....but again, very few that would be seen as attacks that would stick during ia a GE if made by Republicans.
http://rapidfire-silverbullets.com/

Of course the Corporate media can spin anything......but then, that could be said of any Veep, I suspect.

imo more good than bad came from that episode even as it stands ~ it put the issue on the table and got people talking about it. Clark and other surrogates only need to continue to OWN it ~ even if Obama himself can't.

I mean specifically on his national security qualifications. I have a vague recollection of the Clinton camp's trotting out a bunch of generals and admirals around the time they started talking about the "commander-in-chief test". Clark was one of those, but I can't remember what he said.

He is not a negative person. If he sees something wrong, he doesn't bitch, he fixes it.

:patriot: :patriot: :patriot: :patriot:

that would definitely explain away any harsh comments that might have been made. I can't think of any right off hand, so whatever he may have said couldn't have been too divisive. Because I remember quite a few comments from quite a few surrogates. No reason I wouldn't remember Clark saying something bad.

He's just not that kind of guy, anyway. And whatever shortcoming he might have seen in Obama is something he himself could provide - like military experience and even economic experience.

"why have a military guy in the #2 spot when you could have one in the #1 spot..?"

Just thinking about it now, I have the feeling that Clark would have been the perfect VP choice back in '04* (as an effective counterbalance to heavyweight Cheney) but maybe he's more suited to a cabinet post now. Obama's message of new faces in Washington and uniting the country would suggest someone like Kathleen Sebelius instead for VP.



*Although Kerry/Edwards probably won the 04 election.

As for Uniting the Country, Wes Clark is as good as anyone, and better than others. He was non-partisan for years while in the army....and served under many Presidents. He voted for Republicans and Democrats, so I believe him to be for "country first".

I am. I just hope it will come to pass now that I've made up my mind on which one I'd like.

I can see Clark as Veep.......as he has been underestimated by the media who ignored him or panned him throughout 2004.

Wes Clark, considering world events, would be a strong rather than a safe pick for Obama.....but we shall see.

thinking aloud here. You're right, strictly speaking he isn't a "Washington insider" but he's been in the military for 34 years, which is no bad thing...but it doesn't fit into Obama's meme of Judgment vs Experience. Clark has both judgment AND experience!

We'll see how the political landscape unfolds...with the current situation in Georgia, Clark could turn out to be the best pick.

The Obama team will end up with Judgment AND Experience. That's the whole point.

But we shall see what Obama chooses. I'm going to go with that.....instead of selling myself to a particular Veep pick before the Veep is chosen.

and how easily they dance to their tune.

Maybe the impression that the electorate gets is right.

Maybe Democrats are to wimpy and weak to lead...

The worst thing he can do on the ticket: weaken Obama's chances of winning.

thank you.

By the ghosts of Grant and Ike.

Where do you get that crap?? The media? A lot of people would disagree with you. The media ignored Clark shortly after his announcement in 2004. He was quite good in the town meeting format and in other appearances during that campaign. He gets a bad rap that he does not deserve.

I don't think it will be Clark---but it should be.

He is a safe bet.

Obama/Clark '08!!

Same Hint guy that hinted that Edwards would endorse Hillary?

K.

so I don't know if it makes any difference. I believe that the M$M's feigned outrage over Clark makes him vetted. What more can they do to him? They have nothing else. And when they have nothing else, all they can do is try and smear him. They can't say that he doesn't support the Vets. That's a lie. They can't say that he doesn't support the troops. This man has been a successful general. And really...he has the credentials to go after McSame and his *lack of* foreign policy experience on the ground.

Obama MUST choose someone who can deliver the goods when it comes to foreign policy. If he doesn't, he could be finished.

1. He's from the South and can force McSame to spend money in Arkansas, TN and other military strongholds there.

2. He'll capture the hearts and minds of pro-military Independents who are concerned about Obama's lack of foreign policy experience, perhaps putting them at ease with Clark at the helm.

3. He can be an attack dog, going after McSame's lack of support for Veterans...and the fact that McSame lacks credible leadership during wartime. (He has no wartime experience; he's a POW, but made no decisions on the ground.) Despite how the media went after Clark for his comments, I still think that Wes would be an ideal attack dog, if for no other reason than the fact that the McSame and the Republicans (and their friends in the M$M) seem most threatened by him. Must mean that he's doing something right.

4. Because McSame has no war credentials and Clark has served at least two successful missions overseas, Clark will have the credibility to question McSame's lack of judgment on Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.

5. Clark is not tied to inside Washington poliTRICKs. Though he's a Clintonista, he's never served in a political capacity, thus in keeping with Obama's pledge to change the way things are done in D.C. He has no record in Congress that the Republicans can go after. That might be a slight disadvantage, but the risk is overcome by Clark's impeccable foreign policy credentials.

6. He appeases the Clintonistas. I think they would be happy to have Clark if they can't have Hillary.

7. Even liberals like myself would be satisfied with that choice. Clark was Michael Moore's first choice and is also revered by the likes of Bill Maher, Madonna, Martin Sheen, Rachel Maddow and is respected by others, including Keith O. and Jon Stewart. He was against the Iraqi invasion and wants to repeal the failed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. My undertanding is that he wants troops out of Iraq and into Afghanistan and stationed along the Pakistani border! Clark has a great relationship with the troops and the generals on the ground. They'll listen to him because he has the credibility to encourage them to follow through.

8. He's a white male, who is an elder statesman, FROM THE SOUTH.

9. His last name is Clark, a seemingly non-religious name and may diffuse the charges against Obama not being a wholesome American wholesome. While it's sad that Obama has to worry about such trivial matters as his name and whether or not he's patriotic enough, that's how it is and we have to work within those established parameters until Americans change their attitudes.

10. This is shallow, but let's face it, we Americans can sometimes be a shallow people. Clark is not only handsome, he'll look good standing next to Obama. They are just about the same height, with O being slightly taller. They both are in fantastic shape. They are lean men, built just right. Clark is very distinguished in his appearance and images work! He makes Obama look stronger because he is older, not OLD, but older.

***added from JenniferZ's post, Wes Clark has studied economics and policy!

if it's before the election (Clark would gladly endorse that idea) or she gets picked as VP if it's after the election. So the DLC once again is in control and we are back at square one.

Here, Clark's comment attacked McCain's supposed 'war hero' image. Don't know if it would work. FWIW, I don't think Clark is remotely in the running for VP.