A Democrat,a Republican, and a few cold beers.... Yes, I know that sounds like the start of this weeks tackiest joke, but I thought I'd post this to give people an idea of what is being said about 2008 and Wes Clark by voters on both sides of the fence, atleast in my neck of the woods.
I was speaking with a couple of friends of mine over a few cold beers not long ago and we started talking politics, one of the guys is a democrat and the other a republican. We where musing about the 2008 Presidential race and were shooting back and forth about the different candidates and their respective positions, abilities, etc. When asked who I was pulling for in 08 I said "Wes Clark, if he decides to put his hat in the ring again." The Democrat, who to my knowledge has voted democrat for 15 years, had no idea who I was talking about. The Republican, how ever, did know from seeing the General as a military analyst on Fox. (Gee, Republicans watch Fox? Who’d have thunk it.)
So I started going thru why I was pro-Clark for the 08 Democratic Ticket. The Democrat listened and was receptive to the General as a possible candidate to support and, when reminded, vaguely remembered the General taking Oklahoma and showing well in a few other states, but said to me,"I never see him on CNN or anything, he may have a problem with people not knowing he’s still around." The Republican said, "Thank God." I asked what he meant and he told me that Wes Clark was the only real threat he saw in 2008, Neither Hillary or Obama or John Edwards worries him. " That guy (Wes) is the only one I can think of that we (Republicans) can’t beat over the head with Homeland Security issues, scandals, or lack of expeireance. If you Democrats ever got your $#%! together and put all your efforts behind Clark, you’d stand a pretty good chance of getting him elected."
The conversation got me thinking about how to get the General more recognition on the national level. A lot of Kansas Democrats don’t or won’t watch Fox as they (rightly) view it as nothing more than a part of the republican party’s propaganda machine. I happen to watch it to see what sort of spin Rupert Murdock Incorporated is putting on the latest Presidential screw-ups. I talk about the Generals speeches and the points he makes on the economy, the war in Iraq, dealing with countries like China, Iran and N. Korea. I point out that unlike a lot of politicians who just point fingers and tell you what’s wrong, Wes Clark tells you what’s wrong and then says "Okay, here’s how we fix it." He has an idea of how to actually govern responsibly and has fairly good idea’s on getting our economy back on track. He knows you use diplomacy and keep communications open with other countries, even if they disagree with us. (Especially if they disagree with us). The General has actually been to war and knows it is the very LAST option you use. No other candidate can touch him when it comes to defending our nation or his hands-on experience in Kosavo and drawing on that experience in regards to the god-awful mess Bush has made in Iraq. Wes Clark also hasn’t been in politics for 20 or 30 years, so he has nobody he needs to grease when he gets into office (imagine that, a president who won’t pander to Billionaire Buddies, Corporate America, Big Oil, or the insurance or pharmaceutical companies)
If Democrats every where knew the General and of his qualifications, I think we stand a better than average chance of getting him into the top slot for the 08 Presidential Ticket. I know there are alot of "No Generals for President" Democrats out there who tend to shun anyone for political office if they've worn the uniform, but I truly believe that Wes Clarks education, intellect and expeireance place him head and shoulders above any other candidate on the field. I know people are excited about Obama or Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Obama is dynamic, and a great speaker, but has NO expeireance in the issues that will plague our country in the coming decade. Senator Clinton is also dynamic and MUCH hated by the neocons, if you think Rush and the swift-boat crew gave John Kerry a hard time, imagine what Mrs. Clinton's nomination would bring. White Water, the Rose Law Firm, any and every little thing that they could dig up. Also, Hillary's nomination would make sure that every registered republican on the face of the planet would vote. If Clark decides to run again, and I hope to god he does, I believe he's our nations best chance of putting our country to rights and restoring our national honor .