Fineman: Wes Clark Is In

[DoveTurnedHawk]

Appears to be mere speculation on his part, but still interesting:

<...>

Another sure thing: Wes Clark is in. The retired general and Rhodes Scholar increasingly looks like a seer for his pre-war comments. Go back and read what he had to say in the months leading up to the invasion of Iraq. (Any of the Clark for President grassroots Web sites will do.) Clark, who was leaning toward running in any case, almost certainly can’t now resist the chance to say "I told you so." And, more than any other possible Democratic candidate (with the exception of John Kerry), Clark could brush off the soft-on-defense rhetoric that GOP oppo experts are preparing to throw at the Democratic Party.

<...>

http://www.msnbc.com/news/955004.asp?0cv=CB20

DTH

[bluestateguy]

1. Fineman is a fool

He just goes whatever way the wind is blowing. A true media whore. After 9/11 he was just drooling over Bush, beside himself with adulation for God's Chosen Leader.

[DoveTurnedHawk]

2. Umm...What Media Folks WEREN'T After 9/11?

That was a time of unprecedented patriotism and solidarity. It's no surprise Fineman was acting that way, too.

He's definitely not my favorite, but he occasionally has some decent viewpoints and opinions. I view him as relatively moderate.

DTH

[Isere]

13. Fineman is the Media Whore par excellence!

Sorry, DTH, but you are giving Fineman way too much credit. He is one of the top-ranked Media Whores and has won many awards on mediawhoresonline.com for his incomparable servility to Bushco.

Witness this fawning statement about the Usurper in Chief:


"He’s the Texas Ranger of the World, and wants everyone to know it. He’s the guy with the silver badge, issuing warnings to the cattle rustlers. He will cut deals when necessary — his history shows that — but, as a matter of inclination and strategy, he’s the toughest talker on his team."

Whew! Howie must have been channeling Peggy Noonan when he wrote that.

His cheerleading for Bush pre-dates 9-11 so it isn't a matter of increased patriotic fervor with him. All throughout the 2000 election he trashed Gore and gave Bush the kid-glove treatment.

[HFishbine]

16. Solidarity?

Not hardly.

[jfkennedy]

6. Clark

I know once the polls start coming out the people will be pleased because my guess is once it's official the first poll will come out with Wesley Clark in a poll that says 72% Clark 28% Bush. 35% Dean 65% Bush.

[Kahuna]

7. I don't think so. People don't know who Clark is..

It'll take longer than a month for people to get to know him. But your way sure sounds nice to me. :D

[delhurgo]

3. If true, this is very good news for dems.

Clark is probably the only person republicans fear more than Edwards. He's sort of a middle of the road type with immediate credibility and strength on national defense; the one place where dems are most vulnerable. He's also very good on television. Ive seen him several times over the past couple weeks and he's been excellent every time; he's calm and was very well-spoken. He was especially good on the Iraq war question suggesting that although reasons for going to war were questionable, now that we're there, we must finish the job. I think he can appeal to pro and anti-war types both - which is quite a feat. Although possible, it seems unlikey (unfortunately) that he could be the nominee in '04. Its more likely that he would be the veep nominee, which is a real gift for whoever the dem candidate is. I cant imagine anyone passing up the chance of having him on the ticket. This also could be the beginning of a more active role for him in the dem party, and in the event that the dems lose in 2004, it sets him up to run for pres in '08. I gotta say again how lucky the dem party is to have him as an option during this time in the nations history. A candidate wearing the uniform of a five star general would be very impressive and reassuring to the American people. I have no doubt he makes Rove very nervous.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi delhurgo!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Rex]

4. I hope he runs

I haven't decided yet on who I favor, but Clark is looking good IMO.

[Oracle]

5. That's good news...

more for the repugs to think about...

But theyare going to steal it anyway.

[Kahuna]

8. They will certainly true. California is more than a power grab...

It's about getting control of those 54 electoral votes.

[lanlady]

9. I hope Fineman's sources are good

Brazile also said that Clark is in, but I have issues with Brazile. I like Dean but the GOP attack machine would too easily chew him up and spit him out. Of all the candidates, Clark could get Democrats excited again that 2004 won't be a repeat of 1988.

[gully]

10. What are Clarks positions?

where can I find information. Thanks

[tjdee]

12. Here you go:

Keep in mind, he's not affiliated with these sites, so he'll obviously flesh out his positions after he throws his hat in.

http://www.draftwesleyclark.com

http://www.draftclark.com

[dArKeR]

20. HIs position is an undercover NSA/GOP agent doubling as a Dem.

[Proletariat]

21. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA

Yes, that's why he's voted Democratic all his life and is friends with Bill Clinton.

[Northwind]

14. As noted before

For two weeks prior to Gore's most recent announcement that he was NOT running, we had day after day of stories by people "close to him" who said he was running. Don't believe anything until you hear it from Clark himself.

[wes_clark_for_pres]

15. Agree...

Fineman has been the most disgusting cheerleader for Smirk and the whole Smirk family... Yet, I don't see Clark as an "I told you so guy..." He currently has been offering many many suggestions on what to do in Iraq now...how to help the people of Iraq, how to move forward and how to regain lost friends and allies.

[Starpass]

17. Don't care who Howard bends and spreads for.....

his line about brushing off the view of Dems as "soft on defense" is RIGHT on the mark!!---and like it or not, trip through the tulips or not, THAT is what we have to fight in '04 because Bush, the media and Bush's $200 million plus ad campaign are going to make this ALL about defense/security/terrorism. If you think Dean, Kuchinich, etc. are going to wipe that image away, well, then you believe the people will also vote in droves for Nader. Howard is speaking the truth---he ought to know 'cause he will be one who will lead the charge to make this ALL about just that issue!!!

[charlie]

18. True dat

Howie was one of the first out of the gate pushing the Bush As Churchill (!!) meme after 911. He will be shilling for his boy in 2004, if for no other reason than to keep from being regarded as an intemperate loon for his gushing.

[dArKeR]

19. Hot off the press 1000 seconds ago. New Whorwie pic!

http://darker0darker.tripod.com/

[Proletariat]

22. This is HUGE news

Clark is the MESSIAH for us Dems. Hopefully people like Lieberman, Edwards, Mosley Braun and Sharpton pull out.

[tjdee]

23. Oh brother.

I like Wes Clark very much, and eventually I *may* switch allegiances.

But how in the WORLD can you say he is the Dem "messiah" when a)you don't know the specifics of his platform (does he want to raise the retirement age? Does he want a single payer health plan? Does he want to roll back all the tax cuts?) and b)We have no idea how he'll play as a candidate (in terms of stump speeches, ability to connect personally with voters, etc.)???????

And, as an aside, I get so sick of people saying Edwards should drop out--when he's polling #2 in SC, and has the 2nd most money (would be #1 if Kerry wasn't using money from his Senate campaign). Not to mention he has excellent ideas and is the most optimistic and forward looking of all the candidates. When people say that, it leads me to believe they don't know anything about him--rather than that they're right.

In fact, in any combination, Clark and Edwards would be the best ticket for us.

[poskonig]

24. Messiah?

You're fucking weird.

[neuvocat]

25. Was Fineman tired or drunk when he wrote that article?

Clark will certainly run but to say that the U.N. blast will be the thing that Bush will answer for-as compared to going to war in the first place-is way, way off the mark.

Then you have statements like this: "John McCain, the Democrats’ de facto secretary of defense..."

That sentence just doesn't make any sense whatsover.