Consider this an exploratory committee. And consider it's goal less about traditional campaigning, than about wrestling the soul of our party away from the MSM, DLC, and Newt Gingriches of the world.
Among those who have made up their minds, Wes Clark is far and away the choice of Kossacks for 2008. However, there is a Hillary contingent in the extreme minority that is becoming very vocal here. It is small wonder that this should be the case, just a short time after Hillary first acknowledged the netroots by calling for a truce and simultaneously attacking us.
The rightwing media, and the Republicans, and the DLC, none of whom have ever been good to us (Democrats in general, or the leftroots in particular)... Are all trying to coronate Hillary the nominee for 08. In fact to listen to them, and some voices here today, they have already succeeded.
Time to circle the wagons to show them who is boss.
Wes Clark is a figure I welcomed into the Democratic Party in 2003 as an early Draft Clark signee. I felt his campaign was too late in starting, and that the candidate himself was too untutored in his public appearances regarding some domestic issues. Also, he is what I would consider a Republican convert... A frequent republican voter registered as an independent in a state where party registration is not required so most people are "independent." I'm not too keen on the militarization of America, so military experience alone would not be a strong selling point for me just now. But nevertheless, I have resolved my concerns and will now support Wes Clark.
This is not just a "stop Hillary" move on my part, nor should it be on yours. Wes Clark of course was a favorite son of the DLC, and quite possibly the Clintons, in 04. Wes Clark is not a liberal dreamboat despite some supporter's contrary claims. And he isn't even a "libertarian democrat" by some key measures like second amendment. But what he is is manifestly loyal, evenhanded, and willing to lead where we wish to follow on issues that centrists tend to eschew.
And there is still plenty of breathing room for him, with our help, to articulate what he can offer Americans in the way of renewed freedoms, restored ecology, rebuilt diplomacy, and advanced economy.
Furthermore, I think he would be an excellent President.
Will you endorse Wes Clark for President in 08? Will you actively take that campaign beyond the internet, and make history with not only an inevitable candidacy, but an inevitable presidency, thoroughly vetting him and helping him hone and broadcast his message long before the primaries?
In this, of course, we must be very mindful of the Dean candidacy's undoing. Dean of course had a candidacy much like that up to the primaries, as did Kerry after Iowa.
I know many of us are holding out for Noam Chomsky and the Ghost of Alan Berg to catch fire in the popular imagination and throw their hats into the ring. And some of us would rather have a candidate with a 6'4" brylcreemed pompadour, backed up by NASCAR fandom, assault weapons, and Bambi's Mother on a platter swimming in deep south gumbo served by Saddam Hussein in his underpants. But neither of those scenarios is in the offing as of this moment. And the likelier scenario, that John Kerry could recapture the nomination and win handily now that he has been proven right (but not too far to the left after all), is simply an impossible cause to advance through a netroots that never liked him well enough to begin with.
But it is time to stage a countercoup against Hillary. Not all of you would support Clark for that reason, in fact I'm certain the arkansan aura is part of Clark's appeal.
It will not of course be decisive anytime soon. And we may end up with another "general," since an army is never about one man. It would be unbefitting not to adopt another candidate if one appears more perfect for the position. But many of you may agree we need to position a strong Hillary alternative, if not an outright Hillary stopper.
Are you in?