Thanks, Lowell, for bringing up this topic again.  As an early (2003) and continuing Wes Clark supporter, I will not commit to any other Democratic presidential candidates until Clark announces that he's not running.

On the present national political scene, Wes Clark has the equivalent of Jim Webb's stature here in Virginia as it was presented to us just one year ago.

Clark possesses a unique blend of significant accomplishments, experience and intellect that no other current candidate can rival.

In my opinion, Wes Clark can win the presidency in 2008.  It's just that simple. 

At this point, I'm not so sure about our other front-runners...

Thanks again!

Steve

particular candidate.  Actually, I think we've got some excellent ones out there.  Of course, as a former Draft Clark leader, I continue to believe that General Clark would make a fine leader for our country.  Having said that, I really wonder if he had his best shot in 2004...

I just had dinner with a former West Point professor who taught with General Clark there. He couldn't say enough good things about him.  I like what I've seen.
 

I'm always impressed. I'm just looking at the field (and the money) right now and wondering if he has a chance to compete...

Looking at that same field, regardless of the money. I wonder if General Clark is the ONLY shot.

Add Chuck Hagel to the 'R' mix.

I have not wavered since june 2003.
BTW, I would like to name a small court (6 houses)after Wes Clark. Do you think that this is too small a deal to put his name on?
Opinions?

If we get him into the White House, I know of one major federal office building, and a nearby airport that we could rename after him as well.

sounds good to me too. 

We actually had something close to this in 2004 (Kerry, Edwards, Dean, Lieberman, Sharpton, Kucinich, Clark)--but it's good to see that we might have this again.

Clark's biggest hang-up is going to be cash.  If he can get the funds this time, watch out.

I was standing four feet away from Wes Clark when he signed the book in Concord, NH to enter the primary and volunteered for him throughout the primary. Jim Webb is prelude to Wesley Clark. Virginia has just crossed the psychological river sooner than the rest of us. Here in NH we are lucky to have the occational voice of Haviland Smith, a retired CIA station chief, in our local paper. Like Wes and Jim Webb, he opposed the invasion from the start. He says today: "Those Democratiuc members of Congress who fell for the Bush rationalization for the Iraq invasion and voted to enable it are, quite frankly, morally and politically compromised on this issue. Except for those few who have repudiated their own votes, they have lost their standing and credibility."

I would take it a step further and say that althouht it is good that they repudiated their vote, they showed failure of leadership at the critical moment and should not consider public office. If they were hockey or football coaches they would be fired. (And their wives would not be allowed to coach the team after that, either.) We should show them the same love and respect and send them home.

The Democrats are still in a state of denial RE the leadership failure we are experiencing in this country. Some Dems want to go back to the '90s, some to the '60s, some to the '50s. Therer is no going back. When we face the crisis we will go with Wes.

I hope and pray he makes the GOOD decision to run!

I love Virginia's new Senator too!  GO Sen. Webb!!

because I think he's waited too long AGAIN. All of the disillusioned Feingold, Dean, or Gore supporters are flocking to Edwards or Obama. A lot of those would, and still could, be his.

He told a few regulars at CCN that he would know in a few weeks and that was a week ago so I expect to hear before the dnc winter meeting around the 10th of FEB.

That is STILL way earlier than last time he waited until Sept!

The election is not until NOV 08 so there's plenty of time.
Now the money issue I'm not sure about but his grassroots support is huge so I doubt he'll have any trouble!

Have faith!

In Fall of 2003, Dean was the only candidate that people were getting excited about.

Hillary, Edwards, and Obama are juggernauts. This is a much, much tougher field than last time.

There's a reason everyone's announcing so early.

they "flock".

How many times will these candidates announce!!!

This is like the 4th time for Biden for 2008
Edwards announced twice in 2004
Obama "Announced" but will be announcing Feb 10
Hillary has been running since 1992

Is "Too late" just yet another meme? I think it is.

That's funny but oh so true about Hillary!

She needs to give it up.  She's NOT going to be the Democratic Candidate!  Nancy Pelosi has a better chance of becoming the FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT!!

Kathleen Sebelius, Governor of Kansas, was voted with Mark Warner a governor of one of the five "best-governed states in America." She would make a great President in '08 or any other time.

Moderate Republicans have been bolting the Kansas GOP left and right. She could be leading a mini-revolution down there.

I doubt she will do anything this election, but her name will come up during the veepstakes next year, count on that.

Chuck Schumer needs to go after her about running for Senate at some point in the future if she's not interested in the White House!

That was my ticket. I still have that sticker on my car, along with a Warner 08 and a Clark 08.

I will be with the General again!

Now THAT'S what I would call a dream ticket...

Thanks!

Steve

He doesnt run.  I am going to be honest - I dont trust a man that was raising money for republicans in 2001, and wanted to be a Democrat in 2004 because he had thoughts of being President.  He ran an inept campaign then, and I would expect nothing less this time.

Lying Liars!! 

Arkansas political folks wanted General Clark to run for Governor.
General Clark had just retired, he gave a speech at a political event where he lives, one of which was a Republican local local local. He of course was in no way "Fundraising" for these guys, but was only there to deliver a speech, in which he tried to talk about policies that the country ought to involve itself in order to move forward into the 21st century.
Previously General Clark had "U.S." on his shoulder. This will continue to guide him as he works for the best interests of the United States.. As a Democrat.

I appreciate your telling it like it IS!!!

GO WES IN 08!

I respect Gen. Clark, but the truth is that nobody outside of the progressive blogosphere has thought about him for four years now.  What's he been doing?  And I wonder why hasn't he used that time to run for an office below president, like Senator or Governor.

Furthermore, the media won't cover him if he runs because he's old news rather than the fresh new thing.  I'm open minded on the '08 candidates, but thinking realistically, I don't see any way Clark could pull this one off.

But feel free to try to persuade me otherwise!

sigh

For some reason, since Eisenhower, Generals and politics don't mix.  Eisenhower was pulled into the race and the presidency by his immense popularity following World War II.  MacArthur was just as popular and expected to be president but the call never came.  General William Westmoreland tried to run for Governor of South Carolina and didn't scratch.  Gen. "Pete" Dawkins, All-American footbal star and Rhodes Scholor, retired from the Army early to enter politics and promptly vanished.  Gen. Alexander Haig never got a serious start.  I believe General Clark knows that he would be swimming hard upstream, especially with fund raising, and might prefer to gamble on a major cabinet appointment after vigorously supporting the eventual Democratic nominee.

Now you've totally bummed me out.  LOL

Thanks for the quickie history lesson.  :-\

Time will tell.

demoralize.

And hey let's add Tommy Franks to your list of Generals who will never be President, oh and why not add General LaMay who firebombed Japan killing 100,000 a day.. hmm

We're talking about Wesley K Clark here kiddo. :)

If Dawkins had run as a Dem in 2006 instead of 1988, my sense is that he probably would have beat out both Menedez and Kean.

2008 also isn't 2004.  I think voters will be placing a higher value on national security experience than they did when GWB was elected in 2000.

My biggest concern with Clark is just the question of whether or not he can line up the funds to be competitve.  Money is a problem that can be fixed.  The environment and the resume are likely to favor a Clark candidacy.  He's also had a couple years to hone his stump, TV, and campaigning skills. 

If Clark runs, it suggests to me that he thinks he'll be able to get the funds lined up.

There is a brilliant essay posted on Jim Webb in today's DKos: "Sweeping Jim Webb Under the Rug." The comments and the essay bring out what I have been feeling all week: That we crossed a river in this country on Tuesday night and Jim Webb is Pathfinder to a new country. The author claims that only candidates appealing to Wall St. are allowed to survive. I would add that this is a conditioning that most Americans themselves are "programed into" by conditioning in the last 30 eyars, but this is a skin which can and will fall away quickly. I personally find Senators Clinton and Obama "brand marketted" to the "surburban" Democrats Author talks about, but when the "new realization" begins to hatch, they will fall away. Wes Clark needs to enter in on this. Pathfinder's trail leads to Wes Clark. Last week he was speaking Union in Montgomeny, AL, to a crowd as far from WAll St. As it gets. WEbb and WEs are the opening Democratic Paradigm.