In which I attend an endorsement event where Wes Clark speaks on behalf of Joe Sestak... from Saturday. First person account with some musings. And the chance to ask Wes about the "torture legislation."
...Spotted the right place & after making the turn was behind someone in pickup truck- through my open window I heard the staffer day- I'm sorry, but you can't park here, this spot is for General Clark! heh - YES! He was late too. Parked up the block & around the corner, hustled out of my car & started walking down the block to the corner where the VFW is. A little girl on a tricycle was blocking the way & we had a sort of clumsy cute dance- I wanted to grab her up, spin her around & say HEY! The future Prez of the United States of America is about to walk right into that building over there!!! but I just smiled & kept going...
A pretty autumn day and about a two hour drive for me- But I did cut the time kind of close. After I got off the turnpike & onto the Blue Route time was very tight & it started to seem like I might even miss the event--at least the beginning, but as I breathed carefully & surveyed the sea of red tailights in front of me I was actually confident that if I were 15 minutes late Wes would also probably be 15 minutes late! Been to enough campaign events by now to assume they will all start late!
But this one I was a wee bit concerned about as there was a scheduled event after & big big events way over in Johnstown inevitably involving planes to catch the following morning. By the way- I read another Murtha rally comment in a kos diary over the weekend that said Wes got the best line of that rally, something about how "We won't let Jack Murtha be swiftboated, shrimpboated, or any other kind of boated... " to the delight of the crowd... and then today in the MSM news I noticed Lou Dobbs prominently mentioning Murtha & some kind of earmarks, suggesting there was or is something sleazy going on with Rep. Murtha- so no doubt, these Fighting Dems are being noticed, make no mistake. Personally I quite invite strict scrutiny of all contracts relating to the Iraq & Afghanistan war(s).... particularly those of Halliburton! Anyway...
There is a long series of hills & dips lined with retail strips, big box stores, mini malls & car dealerships on the last leg-- I spotted a HAD ENOUGH? VOTE DEMOCRAT 06 & JOE SESTAK bumpersticker on the back of a passenger car, so I tucked in behind them for the last leg, light after light, figuring they would know the exact location whereas I was flying a bit blind with a Yahoo map.
Spotted the right place & after making the turn was behind someone in pickup truck- through my open window I heard the staffer day- I'm sorry, but you can't park here, this spot is for General Clark! heh - YES! He was late too. Parked up the block & around the corner, hustled out of my car & started walking down the block to the corner where the VFW is. A little girl on a tricycle was blocking the way & we had a sort of clumsy cute dance- I wanted to grab her up, spin her around & say HEY! The future Prez of the United States of America is about to walk right into that building over there!!! but I just smiled & kept going.
So I kept going on down the block- then Wes & his driver appeared, crossing the other street diagonally. I slowed down 1. so as not to stalk 2. to give him a clear path because I could see Joe Sestak & others around the corner waiting for him. Saw the grin & the big hearty handshake- kept going around to the front.
Always blows my mind that someone of Wes's caliber & career history just walks around just like that without a security detail. (And I don't like it.)
Anyway- pulled open what I thought was the right door & stood there blinking into a U-shaped dark bar bathed in smoky light with six or seven VFW members seated at it. They were friendly- said- you're in the right place, come on it-it's just up those stairs...
Dashed up the steps, made my way through the crowd & headed for the back of the split room just in time to hear Joe Sestak introduce Wes, to the wild applause & a standing O we expect to see as Wes Clark was actually greeted a liberator! heh
The details of the talk have been excellently documented elsewhere by CarolNYC
http://securingamerica.com/...
who I notice um did NOT share her brownie recipe, but, no matter- did briefly cross paths with DrSusan, Westcott, maria/meow/woof/I can't believe - and I'm sorry if I'm missing anyone here. I also met up with a nice blogger from DailyKos who I hope stops by & joins us... she got what has to be a great photo & I'll link to it when it comes available.
Wes was very well received. What I wondered was whether anyone was left at the bar downstairs- (the regulars) and if so why. But I didn't want to leave to go & check.
The talk was laser-focused on 06 & I must say, Pennsylvania would be quite lucky indeed to have Joe Sestak serve. That guy is Presidential caliber in his own right. I wish I still lived in that district, it would be a pleasure to volunteer for that campaign.
Anyway- the crowd was pretty pumped up, as much for Joe as for Wes so it was really really really non-stop great- they started up several chants spontaneously, etc.
One thing missing was a little literature to leave around- I wish I would have thought to bring some. Obviously the Sestak campaign had a lot, but I mean for http://www.securingamerica.com - I think it's too much to ask Wes to carry it- apparently due to the new airline security "um" rules, not even the former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO & the most decorated living American soldier is not even allowed to have toothpaste & shaving cream in his carry-on, for crying out loud!- but some literature going out would be a super takeaway for those attending. Even the kos blogger was like- SecuringAmerica.com- what's that? so.
I personally deeply appreciate the steadiness with which Wes goes after Rove as strategist, by name- you never hear anyone else do that with the possible exception of Howard Dean & I'm not certain about that. Wes has been doing this since his own 04 campaign- remember?
--
Clark Calls Out Rove with Bold Tax Reform Plan, 08-Jan-04, Wesley Clark
L.A. Times: "Retired Gen. Wesley K. Clark on Monday unveiled the most sweeping tax-reform plan of any of the Democratic presidential hopefuls ... Under Clark's proposal, a family of four making up to $50,000 a year would pay no federal income tax at all, and all families with children making up to $100,000 would see a reduction in their tax bill. The retired four-star general says he would offset the loss in tax revenue by asking millionaires to pay more.... Mindful that conservatives might criticize his plan as that of a tax-and-spend Democrat, Clark took them on directly, specifically Bush political advisor Karl Rove. 'Karl, I want you to hear me loud and clear,' Clark said. 'I am going to provide tax cuts to ease the burdens for 31 million American families, ... If that makes me an old-style Democrat, then I accept that label with pride and dare you to come after me for it.'"
--
Anyway- it was vintage Clark- we got impressions, accents, jokes, lame jokes (haha), some good lines worked in. He really does great European accents- guess speaking five languages helps there! Imagine having a legitimate President who could master simply one- English!
A real emphasis on dems successful track record with National Security issues & how to talk about this, as opposed to the Administration's sorry sorry record- if you recall, it was again Karl Rove who said:
"Has there ever been a more revealing moment this year? Let me just put this in fairly simple terms: Al Jazeera now broadcasts the words of Senator Durbin to the Mideast, certainly putting our troops in greater danger. No more needs to be said about the motives of liberals ... Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war; liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers.
-- "Turd Blossom"
Wes explained a little about how Democrats have come to be perceived in this manner historically, which was interesting- and-
The other thing I got was validation of a deeply disturbing pattern, or, unfortunately, patterns. What does that mean?
THE WES CLARK AS CASSANDRA FACTOR
One- Wes, deeply, deeply concerned about possible or possibly in-motion plans to strike Iran. We've heard strongly worded pleas recently from Daniel Ellsberg for those who are privvy to the planning documents to come forward with them in order to avert strikes- and of course, & all along we've heard from Seymour Hersh regarding the Administration's plans for Iran. PNAC's plan marches forward.
Two- a little story:
Cassandra is mentioned briefly in the Iliad of Homer... Cassandra was the child of King Priam of Troy, and she was considered to be Priam's most beautiful daughter. However, no mention of Cassandra's notorious prophetic power is made in this Homeric epic.
We first find the tale of Cassandra and her legendary gifts in other works of ancient Greek literature. According to one version of the story, Cassandra received the power to foretell the future from the god Apollo. Apparently, Apollo instructed the mortal woman and taught her about the art of prophecy because he had an ulterior motive - the god wished to win her affections. Cassandra accepted Apollo as a teacher, but not as a lover. Naturally, the god was insulted by this refusal. So he punished Cassandra. Apollo caused the gift that he gave Cassandra to be twisted, making everyone who heard her true and accurate foretellings of future events believe that they were instead hearing lies. In other words, the wondrous blessing bestowed upon a mortal became instead a terrible curse.
And indeed, the burden of Cassandra's "gift" is evident in mythology. She predicted the outcome of many disastrous events. In one memorable example, Cassandra announced the dire consequences of the Trojans accepting the infamous Wooden Horse from their Greek opponents. But as Apollo made certain, no one believed Cassandra when she warned her companions about the future. And this, in the end, was to be Cassandra's tragic fate.
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I dearly hope that forces in positions to actively do some good here heed this wise man's warnings & words. Because it is NOT the first time Wes Clark has warned this administration that events they have pushed into motion are incomplete, flawed & destined for abject failure. Was Wes not calling "not sending enough troops in!" in the opening moves of Shocking & Awful as it was being broadcast on CNN?! Yes, or no? (That's where I first came across Clark- he stopped me in my tracks with his level-headed, clear analysis... sounded like he was one of the few telling the truth even then!)
excerpt from House Armed Services Committee testimony (speaking, to the committe, Duncan Hunter presiding) is Jim Cooper, D-TN:
COOPER: I thank the chair.
Mr. Chairman, the Bible says, "By their fruits
we shall know them." And I think if you look at
the testimony that both these gentlemen
delivered to this committee prior to the war,
there's no question as to who ended up being
more correct. I think it's General Clark by a
wide margin.
And I could read all the statements in here. I
would encourage folks to look it up on the Web.
But it's results that matter for the American
taxpayer.
Regardless of the pros and cons of entering into
the war, we are there now. Somehow we've got to
pay for it, we've got to get out it and we hope
and pray it doesn't do too much damage to our
magnificent military.
We have in front of us a retired four star
general. And we have a defense intellectual, a
civilian. I think I trust, and I think that most
American taxpayers trust the professional
military more than so- called defense
intellectuals.
Because it matters that we do these things
right, with planning, with preparation and with
a minimum ancillary damage. And right now,
several of my Republicans colleagues -- and I
appreciate their pointing it out -- have pointed
out some of Mr. Perle's new outrageous
statements.
-----
Which is it- that no one is listening- or is it that no one in this Administration actually gives a shit or has to suffer any consequences for their actions whatsoever? They cannot claim they were not warned.
They literally can't even say they weren't warned - about 9/11 for god's sake. Anyway- "um" moving on.
-----
HELLO! yes- somebody finally gets it!
Some of the new framing - "Think of me as a doctor of strategy..." about Wes is superbly effective framing- I'm not sure if this was just organic stuff from from Joe Sestak's comments directly- but, it needs to be first & foremost always in the introduction of Wes - you know, the old 30 second elevator pitch- What does Wes Clark boil down to?
Wes stood up to the Washington establishment and insisted they do the right thing the right way for the right reason. according to international protocols while holding together a fragile alliance --all without losing a single American life.
The whole hammer & anvil approach is a great one, an idea that used to be known as "Diplomacy Backed by Force" to those who have read some of the General's books on the subject- But to say hammer and anvil communicates this more effectively & doesn't leave any room for conjecture, also uses a strong image, etc.
But YEAH! YeeHaw!
Wes Clark IS an American hero whose stature surely history will increase- that is assuming "we" get to live & have this history even written, ruled by madmen with their hands on "the football" even as we speak.
I really love the framing of Wes this way & I don't think it's been emphasiszed enough- the man IS absolutely a living legend. Great job in this appearance of quickly sketching out some of his role in the Balkans- and I think this is a little on the hard side to do because it was a complicated affair with lots of levels.
-----
I did get to ask Wes a question.
He was on his way out after having liberally spent time with many people, listening attentively & was on his way out. I thought- this is my last shot.
"Wes... Can you comment on the 'torture legislation?'"
Looks me right in the eye. He just had this look like I crushed a giant medicine ball into his chest-actual pain registered on his face.
Then looks down at the floor. Then silence. Lifts his head, brings his hands in close to his chest and says, "I don't have the words.... I'm ashamed for my country, and embarrased by it."
What more can you say. Goosebumps, yeah. But not the good kind. I just nodded.
---
Got interviewed by a local paper & didn't get the name of the paper or the reporter- but who knows it could possibly come up on a google alert if it's a weekly in upcoming days- in which I say a lot of positive pro-Clark things all of which are a complete complete blur! I did manage to say some great things about the Fighting Dems as a whole- and when they asked me what my "top two" issues were I said "Iraq & corruption in Washington."
so- that's about all I have to report-
:) off to make homemade chicken quesadillas & pico de gallo!!!!
Joe Sestak just emanates confidence & caring. I'm sorry I gave him short shrift here but I did miss the first portion of this event, so I just don't have that much to report other than he's really got the locals fired up! :)
Kanne Family Brownies recipe (this is Wes Clark's Aunt's recipe apparently!)
*KANNE FAMILY RECIPE*
Wesley Kanne Clark's Aunt Rosalie Kanne's famous fudgy brownies
Ingredients:
1 cup butter [NOTE: no way can you substitute margarine or oil! As if!]
1 cup flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
pinch of salt
4 oz. semi-sweet baker's chocolate, melted
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees, butter a shallow 9x13 baking pan. Cream butter and sugar well, then add eggs one at a time. Add remaining ingredients and stir well. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes (do NOT overbake!). Cut when cool.
Enjoy!
The Kanne family
original post from Saturday night (this version is slightly edited)
http://securingamerica.com/...