Clark - Live from US Senate Democratic Caucus - Phila.

Updates are being posted by Erick Mullen - Communications Director

Live at the United States Senate Democratic Caucus
Posted by erick on April 29, 2006 - 10:20am.

General Clark is addressing all, or most, of the Democratic Senators here at their retreat in Philadelphia.  Senator Landrieu just gave him a very warm and flattering introduction and General Clark has just begun outlining his vision.

Clark has outlined these strategies before,... but it bears repeatition for emphasis, as we outline the best strategy for America's national security interests, as well as prepare for November.

Erick continues...

What's our vision?  What's our position?  How do we communicate it?

In his opening remarks, General Clark drew enthusiastic applause with his vision. He laid it out thusly:

It's a five part approach:

1.  Responsible redeployment in Iraq

2.  Strengthen our homeland security operations

3. Hunt down Osama Bin Laden and ramp up counterterror operations

4. Energy independence

5. Reinforce friends and allies

Moreover, it should be United States policy to divide Syria and Iran; weaken Hezzbollah; reassure the Gulf States by tamping down "come home fever".  Blocking Russia from continueing it's quest for power and prestige in the region and persuing for the people of the region economic rights before human rights to ensure western style democracy takes root.

Or, please visit http://securingamerica.com/...

•  This looks interesting

  I've been wondering what's up. Please keep updating throughout the weekend. Thanks.

  by mexdem on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 09:25:25 AM PDT

•  That was just the intro?

  Looking forward to hearing him expand the points.

  A question.  Will Clark be sticking around after his speech?  A Q&A session?  Any discussion panels?

  by hfjai on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 09:51:12 AM PDT

•  Nice plan, but who's going to implement it?

  Let me see here, who has the knowledge to implement all those things? It would probably have to be someone incredibly intelligent, someone with integrity, someone with deep knowledge of the military, a strategist, someone well-respected abroad for personally having shown respect and fostered communication and collaboration. As far as #4, I'd have to guess that this person would probably come up with a good plan.

  Now who could this be???

  P.S. This someone would have appeal to our intellect as well as the guts of gut-check voters. You're going to get bored of reading this in my comments, but think about how "Supreme Allied Commander of NATO" resonates with the people whom we need to influence? We need a presidential candidate so far ahead in the polls that they can't possibly get away with stealing the elections a third time in a row.

  P.P.S. Now who among Democrats has had the audacity and ingenuity to go behind enemy lines? (Think "Fox".)

  by DrReason on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 10:10:05 AM PDT

  •  Beautiful, DrReason!

    It wouldn't hurt for that unnameed person to have been first in his class at West Point, and a Rhodes Scholar from Arkansas.  Maybe also some executive experience, running the equivalent of a medium-sized city in, say, Texas, and responsible for the welfare and education of thousands of families scattered all over God's half-acre in Europe.

    Stan Davis
    Lakewood, CO

    by Stan81747 on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 10:40:36 AM PDT

  •  I couldn't agree more, but...

    I think Clark's purpose is for every congressional candidate, House and Senate, to have an answer to the oft-repeated GOP charge that Democrats have no plan.

    I think he knows that Bush will never implement anything so wise, and I think he knows that the situation will be very changed, probably for the worse, by the time any Democrat can occupy the White House.

    by hfjai on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 11:20:57 AM PDT

    •  The repukes pretend not to get it

      The administration and their allies in the media and congress are always asking the Democrats for a plan.  If only it were so easy.  Clark takes a long range view of moving the geopolitical football down the field.  He believes in working incredibly hard and utilizing talent and intelligance of those around him.  The present gang in charge are ideologs who do everything on the cheap (not talking just money either).

      by haypops on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 03:10:23 PM PDT

•  Wes Clark Advising the Senate

  This is the kind of information that is not disseminated to the general public.  They have no idea of the stature of Wes Clark, and how our national leaders turn to him for guidance and vision.  He's the one Democratic leader who is busting his rear to make sure Democratic Senators see the big picture, and know how to express it, and who is traveling and giving almost all the rest of his time to Democrats running for office.  

  Wes Clark truly knows the consequence of not gaining back at least one House, and he's giving everything he's got to make sure we come out on top.
  Go Wes.  

  Help keep his words of wisdom out there.  Go to www.securingamerica.com and click on the link to contribute.

  by dburro on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 11:11:19 AM PDT

•  Very Interesting.....

  An Iraq platform that allows Democrats from all over the country to unite, no matter their district?  

  That's a wise move!  

  Much better than coming out with a position that some Democrats will back and others won't depending on the region they are contesting!

  Well, I hope they listen to the General!  Because I believe him to be a great strategist! And election 2006 will be nothing short of a war for our democracy!

  At least Mr. Clooney finally heard him...and put some of that good celebrity leverage to good use in reference to the Darfur Issue (that the General has been talking about for at least 2 years).  

  by ZootSuitGringo on Sat Apr 29, 2006 at 01:10:05 PM PDT