Daily Kos

I've been hoping for a Clinton/Clark ticket.  This makes it seem probable.

In what three demensional "here" world do you live?

You know he knows where all the bodies are buried. He was run out of the Armed Forces because he was smarter than all of them. Now he will be able to make things right. I think this war has shown we need BRIGHT people in the military.

keep your friends close and your enemies closer?

That's not the reason he wasn't raising money.  He wasn't raising money because he wasn't willing to spend the time on it.  Unfortunately, you almost have to NEED to be POTUS to be willing to invest yourself into it to the extent that you have to have a shot at it.  While it's good that people really have to want it to get it, it's bad that you have to want it so much that it becomes an obsession.  Ambition at that level can be dangerous.

democratic support and the whole field is hella good this year.

Imagine if it was only Hillary and Vilsack?

Frankly, all we need is someone in office who's willing to utilize him in some capacity, and we'll be much, much, much better off than we are today.

What I have on high but indirect knowledge (so no, it's not directly from Clark) is that Wes Clark was not deterred by the prospect of running against Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination for President. Had he been able to assemble the type of campaign he wanted with the amount of support he thought he needed, Clark would have run against her. That was made clear to me by people in a position to really know. You don't have to hate someone to run against them, it happens all of the time in Presidential Primary politics.

And I think Hillary already led in foreign policy over the others without a doubt, now it's almost a done deal.  Even though Obama has hired 1,000 foreign policy gurus to try and get him up to speed. I don't want a candidate going to the WH with Foreign Policy Cliff Notes.

One of my favorite Custer stories from the Civil War days, before he became a Brigadier General, was this:

A group of officers and their aides sat on their horses on the bank of a river, looking for a safe crossing for the troops. For some minutes they hemmed and hawed, wondering how deep it was in the middle of the river and if they should look for a different place to ford. Suddenly, Custer spurred his horse into the water and rode out to the middle, where the water swirled around his thighs. He turned back toward the other officers and yelled, "It's THIS deep!"

That's part of the personal charisma that made his troops love him.

The sabre-rattling rhetoric about "containing Iran" has escalated to the point where both political parties and practically the whole US Press corps accept it as legitimate and, in fact, honourable, that "all options are on the table," to quote the leading presidential candidates — possibly even nuclear weapons. "All options on the table" means that Washington is threatening war. The UN Charter outlaws "the threat or use of force." The United States, which has chosen to become an outlaw state, disregards international laws and norms. We're allowed to threaten anybody we want — and to attack anybody we want.

link

since Obama and Edwards are running in part against the Clinton years, and Bill Clinton once described him as the most powerful VP in history(ofcourse that was before we got to know Dicky).

Why, exactly, should he endorse Hillary or no one at all?

he thinks would be the best president...

But what do I know...

Democrats who are REAL honest realize that Al Gore would probably be president if Clinton had kept his zipper zipped. When the Clintons live in government housing, Bill's "behavior" is problematic - and it would be absurd and IMMORAL for me to vote for a repeat.

faster than you can say "Murdoch lovin', DLC triangulator."

I actually can't say that very fast.

in his work for Al Gore.

And, Neuvo is not a slacker in the least and he's very adept in his analyses.

You may not like his choice of candidate, but you shouldn't slam Neuvo personally.

And, since I've now left a comment in this Hillary love-in, Gore has not yet told his supporters to cease and desist their work.  He is aware of the great efforts and work going into the draft movement.

I am disappointed that the General has stepped in to do this, but not surprised.  Clark was a Clinton production in '04 and he obviously has loyalties.

when I am not around.

You should refrain from doing that. Making personal attacks when that person is not around is anti-social conduct.

If you have anything to say about me, say it in my presence, and please do not smear me when and where I am not around to respond.

I may consider TRing if you smear me in-absentia, in the future.

~~

"he would never go up against Clinton"

I don't think you have a good grasp of US politics or the interplay between the Gores and Clintons.

Al Gore from what I can see, has a mixed relationship with the Clintons. Gore and Bill Clinton do seem to share a degree of friendship and maybe some doses of warmth and loyalty towards each other.

I have seen little to suggest that Gore and Hillary Clinton like each other at all, nor have I seen much evidence dispelling the hearsay that they strongly dislike each other. If anything what I have seen tends to back up the hearsay. On the basis of many data points indicating friction stemming from Hillary Clinton's apparent attempts to marginalize Gore at various points, I tend to believe that Al Gore and Hillary Clinton are not fond of each other.

The question of whether Gore would run against the Clintons, whose combined pull is quite strong in the Democratic party has always been an open question.

The question of whether Gore could win against that combined Clinton pull was somewhat open, but a few recent state polls (MI and PA) asking how people would vote if Gore actually entered the race suggest that he might be able to, as they showed him polling over 30% and in first place, despite Hillary being in the mix.

The latent strong support (strong enough to support him over the Clintons) Gore seems to have with Democrat can probably be put around 30% based on those recent polls and some other polling data from the 2004 cycle.

What I am 100% confident is that if Gore and Obama team up as a Gore/Obama ticket, then they can easily overcome the Bill+Hillary Clinton pull. The same can't be said about an Obama+Edwards team (in either permutation), based on polls.

Gore was recently asked about whether he'd be hesitant to run against Bill Clinton's wife (or endorse someone other than her). He said that that would not be a  factor.

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"and would probably not endorse anyone but Clinton."

Two years ago, Hillary Clinton was my second pick for President in 2008, right behind Gore. Therefore, I am not your everyday Hillary-basher.

I have since learned more about her role (and triangulation) in the Iraq war, and the many currents in play in party politics and their approach and attitude towards the netroots movement, the roughing up of Howard Dean in 2004 after the Clinton establishment worked to keep Gore out of the 2004 race (apparently so as to keep her path clear for 2008), etc.

We'll leave the probability of Gore running aside for now, as that's been discussed day in and day out.

Conditionally, if Gore stays out of the race, whom would he endorse? One would expect many factors to be in play in such  a decision by Gore. Two or three factors probably weigh in heavily:

1. how much commitment is candidate X showing to counter global warming, and what sort of plan do they have.

2. does candidate X have a chance of winning the nomination if Gore endorses him. i.e. if X isn't HRC, then can Gore's endorsement put X over the top? At the current time with Gore not in the mix, Obama is trailing HRC by some 20 points, and Edwards is trailing by 25+ points. Potential boost from Gore's endorsement can be put in the 5-15% range, I estimate. Therefore, at the current moment, Gore's endorsement will probably not put them over the top. But, this could change down the road.

3. the role/games played by candidate X (vs that by other candidates) with respect to the Iraq war.

of personal attacks (in absentia), I have wasted 2 hours of my time, and haven't found the time to  even reflect upon the actual news, a fairly significant one, reported in this diary that Clark endorsed Hillary.

He is brilliant and dedicated but campaigning is not his strong suit.  In the cabinet definitely.

Now you're just being an ass.

"Actually, for your info, Neuvo doesn't have an axe to grind with Hillary.  He is accepting of her as the possible nominee."

I'll support her if she's the nominee, but rank below Gore, Obama, Kucinich and Richardson in my list for the nomination itself.

"He's just working diligently for another candidate at this point.  But, he has nothing against Hillary."

Actually, I have defended Hillary from unfair and unfounded attacks many times. For example, long before the emergence of the group of HRC supporters, I frequently pointing out that HRC did have a progressive voting record, outside of the war.

Because of her war support, she should not be trusted on foreign policy. That's my main misgiving about Hillary.

I support Gore because he bears the best combination of factors for the Presidency at the current juncture.

not exactly giving me a hard time.

...opens up a debate about Gore's next move. Clark was suported by a reasonable number of Dkos posters. In a similar, but smaller scale, way that Gore is now supported. Now that Clark's decision is out, Gore is likely to be next big name to make a decision. Gore can't get Clark's endorsement now. The longer he waits (well it's over now for Gore IMHO) the less endorsements he will be able to pick up.

I'm guessing that Clark has been in discussions with Gore, Edwards, Obama, Richardson at some point about his decision. This news indicates that Gore will not be running. Clark is a massive coup for Hillary--he would have been a massive and key endorsement for Gore, if Gore had a serious inclination to run.

Are you kidding me? hahahaha. You accused me of hyperbole!

Oh well. Beyond this it is quite possible that the general election is just a matter of timing. 8-12 years is the natural shelflife of any admin. Bush winning in 1988 was the anomally, because 8 years for either party is the more common stae of affairs. The cyclical theory.

It may be that the electorate (Electoral college in 2000) just wanted to give the Republicans their 8 year chance.

relevant to this diary.  You and Salo can do a whole diary on the blowjob if you want.  But, I don't think it is at all relevant to this diary.

if he couldn't overcome somebody else's sex scandal. It wasn't even all that juicy of a sex scandal, it's not like Lewinsky was underage or getting paid.

If Clinton himself could overcome it, then why the hell would it stop Gore?

you're such the expert - you sound just like the corporate media, "experts" all. And your "analysis" has as much credibility.

If only there was an ignore button...

Gore is a beloved figure across the party, but there really aren't all that many people he can move by an endorsement - he didn't help Dean in 2004.

And what does Gore get out of an endorsement? His public influence will be huge under any Democratic president. It won't be much greater for having endorsed, while if he backs the wrong horse it leaves needless friction with the president.

they can't stand each other and Gore kinda blames the Clintons in part for fiasco in 2000. I kinda see Gore going with Carter on this one.

The "inevitability" line has only been around for, oh, 7 years or so.  I think I heard "Hillary in 2008" back when Gore was running in 2000.  That's a long time to push a message on the populace.

DKos has the most diverse of Democrats represented, in age, in economic status, in education, of any group of Democrats I have been privileged to get to know. The main thing we have in common is our wish to restore a real government for the people, and of the people. I would expect more from you PP, instead of the blanket statement.

to support the man for crying out loud.

I've been a Wes Clark Democrat since the Draft Clark days.

The fact that I will not support Mrs. Clinton, no way, no how, takes nothing away from my respect for General Clark.

Maybe some will go that route but most won't.

an "asskissing little chickenshit"... the implication is as inaccurate as it is insulting... or vice versa...

Not true , imho .