I'm one of those rabid Clark fans whose heart breaks whenever contemplating how differently things would have been the last 2 years if Clark had been our commander in chief. Granted, things would have been monumentally better if any average Joe with half a brain and some honesty had been in office the last two years, but the fact that the left hasn't exercised some Monday-morning quaterbacking to achieve some 20/20 hindsight so that we don't make the same mistake in 08 is vexing, to put it mildly.
It would be one thing if the reasons against Clark were based on accurate information but, by and large, they're based on fallacy or the wrong criteria. And if I had the kind of platform Oprah has, I'd have us a new president in the immediate future, because the truth is on my side.
Specious claim no. 1: "Clark was never a legislator, so he wouldn't be able to get the job done."
As Ellen points out in this diary
General Clark managed the NATO coalition diplomatically and militarily, so to suggest that he 'lacks' something because he doesn't have 'political' experience is foolish. Furthermore, from 1997, Clark headed the U.S. European Command, responsible for over 100,000 U.S. troops, their families, health care, education, social services, and all related infrastructure, and all American military activities in 89 countries and territories of Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He simultaneously held the separate NATO position of Supreme Allied Commander (SACEUR), which granted him Head of State status and overall command of NATO military forces in Europe and leadership of approximately 60,000 troops from 37 NATO and other nations in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
And as Best in Show points out in this post, "the General knows he has more knowledge/experience with government and politics than many first term Senators --- heck,to start, he was a White House Fellow." And if the rest of the link doesn't put an end to the notion that Clark would be at a disadvantage merely because he's never been a legislator, perhaps James Lynn's assessment of his performance will finally put such concerns to rest:
Major Clark is the most able White House Fellow I have known during my seven years in Washington...He brought to his work a brilliant mind and rare common sense. He has initiative, style, imagination, moral courage, and integrity--each in extraordinary degree...He has a rare sensitivity to others and a remarkable ability to motivate and lead them....He is totally dedicated to public service as a military officer.
-James T. Lynn, Director, Office of Management and Budget, July 8, 1976
Specious claim no. 2: "We can't have a general for a president because they are all inherently war mongerers." Baloney. You would think that progressives would know that we're supposed to judge a person's character as an individual, not necessarily by what group they belong to. The fact that Clark's testimony before Congress was the deciding factor for guys like Kennedy and Levin to vote no on Iraq should have put an end to this discussion already; (and simultaneously put the kibosh on the political viability of Edwards, Kerry and Clinton as presidential contenders). And if you're still leary about electing a general after reading this then you're the definition of "incorrigible."
Specious claim no. 3: "Since Clark initially said he'd be for a constitutional amendment against flag burning he would undermine free speech in general." It was for this reason that Martin Sheen and Rob Reiner endorsed Dean instead of Clark. Perhaps if meathead and the president didn't look at Wes through a keyhole they would have recognized that a military man knows the military constituency better than they do, so he understands how to walk the fine line between protecting liberty and accomodating the people's wishes. Ultimately Wes that said he'd let the people decide. He also said that he would have monthly town hall meetings. And of course, when Michael Moore called President Magoo a "desserter" in Clark's presence, he didn't bat an eyelash. So what's the problem?
Specious claim no. 4: "Clark isn't charismatic enough to get elected, let alone be an effective leader." Those who feel this way usually assert as such as if it were an objective certainty, despite the fact that plenty of other people's subjective opinion about Wes is that he's PLENTY charismatic. You're entitled to your opinion of course, but recognize that enough people disagree with you to make it a moot point. As my Bush-loving co-worker said after watching him on C-span, "Even with the sound off you can tell he's very approachable. And his integrity and military knowledge alone give you confidence that he should be listened to." (And Todd conceded that he'd prefer Clark to Bush, but would never say that about any other Democrat. And of course there is plenty of other anecdotal evidence that Clark is the Democrat who has the most appeal to those who would never label themselves as being on the left.)
Specious claim no. 5: "People in the military don't like him because he's a bad leader and he moved up the ranks due to political connections and Kosovo was a clusterf*%k because of Wes, yadda yadda yadda." Poppycock. General Barry McCaffrey: "We could fight Kosovo a thousand times, and we would lose a thousand times. Wes Clark is a national treasure." And from "Waiting for the General":
I spoke recently with retired General Walter Kross, a former four-star Air Force general under whom Clark served on the staff of the Joint Chiefs in the mid-1990s. For two years Kross worked with Clark from 6:00 in the morning until 9:00 at night six days a week, and sometimes on Sundays. He disagrees strongly with Shelton and Cohen about Clark's abilities and character. When I asked him why Clark was disliked by some military officers, Kross replied,
"He's not the army general officer from central casting. He's the extra-ordinary senior officer who can do extra-ordinary work on the entire range of challenges senior officers have to face—including Kosovo and the Dayton Accords, on which he worked himself into exhaustion. No army officer from central casting can do that work, but Wes did."
He added, "Some senior officers misinterpret drive, energy, and enthusiasm for overambition...he is outside the mold and that makes some other officers uncomfortable."
If that's not enough to convince you that the man is a Godsend, read this array of gushing praise he's received throughout his career. I can't imagine how Wes could have lost to Bush with this arsenal of accolades under his belt. Heck, Clark could have run a winning campaign with General Alexander M. Haig's efffusive praise alone:
Major Clark is one of the most outstanding officers of his grade in the U.S. Army...an officer of impeccable character with a rare blend of personal qualities and professional attributes which uniquely qualify him as a soldier-scholar. While he has the intellectual grasp of world affairs attained only by the top scholars in the field, he projects soldierly qualities of strength, character, leadership, and above all an unyielding sense of personal responsibility. It is this sense of responsibility that clearly sets him apart from his contemporaries. [He] has the intellectual, moral and physical stamina, coupled with an unrelenting quest for excellence, which insures the completion of every task to near perfection. Major Clark's earnestness, sincerity of purpose and absolute dedication convey a moral force in his work which gives him a significant voice in this headquarters...
-General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., July 19, 1978
Not to mention what Ambassador Andrew Young had to say about him:
I asked a whole lot of my friends who were generals and colonels and majors, who served over General Clark and under General Clark, and every last one of them said to me that this is a good man, and if he were leading our nation they would be proud. Son of the South capable of making a dangerous world a safer place for everybody. A man we are going to make the next president of the United States.
Finally, if he goes up against McCain, here's Wes' ace in the whole: McCain's quote on the inside of Waging Modern War: "Clark's insight into the nature of alliance warfare, the lessons learned from Kosovo and America's role in Europe will deservedly receive wide readership on both sides of the Atlantic."
I could go on. In fact, I'm about to have a 40-page political parable published that goes into all of it. As WWII vet Jim E. Gregg said of my story: "Found the message worth the time it took to read. Its references are most impressive. And the teacher and use of well known folk as students worked. [This is coming from a reader who] is a 79+ year old vet of WWII and a former college journalism and political science teacher. I was a senior staffer and speech writer to a governor, research assistant to a U.S. Senator and personal staff consultant to state-wide office holder. You made me feel guilty for not paying closer attention to Clark in 04!"
You can read it at http://www.clarkvsbush.com or ask me to email it to you. It's about forcing Bush to have to resign and allowing Clark to take his place. Scoff all you want, but after you watch how disturbed Joe Scarbourgh and his panel were by how "delusional" Bush is you'll find such a grandiose goal a lot more plausible.
Finally, in the spirit of Christmas and today being the general's birthday, here's a sample of my non-prose:
If Jesus Were Alive Today
If Jesus were alive today,
He'd surely feel despair,
Amidst a world of plenty,
And a bounty that's not shared.
If Jesus were alive today,
He wouldn't understand,
The system of oppression,
And how so few give a damn.
If Jesus were alive today,
He'd certainly be distraught,
Because the animals of Earth,
Are not treated like they ought.
If Jesus were alive today,
His eyes would have some tears,
And based on all the evidence,
I'd say he was sincere.
If Jesus were alive today,
He'd have to jump and shout,
To wake us from our slumber:
"THE FUTURE IS IN DOUBT!!"
If Jesus were alive today,
You know he'd try in vain,
To save us from each other...
(No doubt he'd go insane.)
If Jesus were alive today,
I expect we'd be rebuked;
It is likely he'd remark:
"Knock it off before I puke."
If Jesus were alive today,
No way he'd vote for Bush;
To those who say he should,
He'd say, "Kiss my tush!"
If Jesus were alive today,
With Bushites he'd be pissed:
"Ignorance is no defence!
Otherwise, get yourself a psychiatrist."
If Jesus were alive today,
He'd put John Kerry in his place,
As the world's lamest candidate:
"Why'd they even let that Jackass race?!"
If Jesus were alive today,
Boy, would Congress get a smack,
For practically everything they've done,
Especially for trusting Jr. with Iraq.
If Jesus were alive today,
He'd say the media was to blame:
"Don't think I haven't noticed,
That you people have no shame."
If Jesus were alive today,
The Democrats he would scorn,
For keeping out Wes Clark:
"Was it yesterday these fools were born?!"
If Jesus were alive today,
He'd be branded as a cynic,
Because no one wants to hear,
If it's raining at their picnic.
If Jesus were alive today,
He'd force us all to see,
That hope and love are the answer,
To who we're supposed to be.