Obama / Clarke

[Milo_Bloom]

I've brought this up before, but feel a little more confident about it now than I did, as there is some new info...

First, I am not talking about Wesley CLARK (the general supporting Clinton), but Richard Clarke, the former terrorism czar who worked under Reagan, Bush, Clinton and then little bush and could have prevented 9/11 if anyone had listened to him.

After doing some fiction writing for a little while, Richard Clark is back with a new political book called "Your Government Failed You: Breaking the Cycle of National Security Disasters". I just got finished watching him on Bill Maher (Tivo'd from last night) and he is just so damn refreshing.

He is non-partisan, having worked under both GOP and DEM administrations.

He is a foreign policy EXPERT, who has probably forgotten more about terrorism and our real enemies than any of the other suggested VP's I have seen know today.

He accurately named Rice as the worst national security advisor EVER.

He is a grade A pragmatist who wants to get things done, without destroying the constitution.

He has spoken out against torture AND the new FISA laws, which for someone in counter-terrorism, really impressed me.


I want to see a new kind of politics, but not at the expense of putting an arch-conservative like Hagel on the ticket, just because he is right on one issue... I would much rather see someone like Clarke who actually transcends party and politics... someone who is known for doing his job and doing it well. Someone who the public won't see as being paid back for a political favor or being given a VP slot in return for some earlier support.

Obama needs someone on the ticket who America can look at and think, "yeah, I trust national security decisions to be made properly" and I think the man who, if listened to, would have prevented 9/11, is the perfect person for that job!


What say ye?

[AllentownJake]

1. Dead on

He unites the party without bringing Clinton onto the ticket.

[Milo_Bloom]

2. I think Clinton is toxic to the ticket...

We need someone "outside" the establishment.

Clarke worked in WA for years, but still seems like an outsider, because he didn't get caught up in politics and favors.. he just put his head down and did his job and did it well... amazingly without having to torture anyone or trample on rights.

[cyclezealot]

3. I like it

A Clinton backer. With decent anti war credientials. Yet, military. We'd be silly not too. Plus he is a southerner.

[Milo_Bloom]

4. Actually, I think he is originally from Boston.

This is not Wesley CLark the General, but Richard Clarke the counter terrorism czar.

[cyclezealot]

13. Sorry . Wesley vs RIchard.

Think I'd still stay with Wesley. Is Richard Clark a Clinton ally? To the extent of Wesley. I think the military credientials of Wesley would really help the ticket. Being that Democrats are always thought of as anti Military by a public listening to all the stupid pundits. .

[Lucinda]

5. He's from Massachusetts

[AllentownJake]

7. Raised in

Arkansas though

[Lucinda]

16. When? He graduated from Boston Latin and then went to college at U of P

[Milo_Bloom]

20. I think people often confuse him with Wesley Clark

[Lucinda]

30. Thanks!

That makes sense. :hi:

[parasim]

6. I would certainly up for that ticket! nt

[Eurobabe]

8. I met Richard Clarke in Munich

I think he would make a good cabinet member, but has held no political office. JMHO.



And yes, I took this photo.

[Milo_Bloom]

15. Why is previously winning a political run a pre-requisite?

Wesley Clark has never held a political office, but people seem to think he would be a good choice. Richard Clarke has held a cabinet level office before, but was taken out of the loop by bush b/c he wouldn't play ball.

[krawhitham]

9. CLARK would be better

[Milo_Bloom]

14. Why would Clark be better?

Since he has run for president before, he is seen as partisan.

The idea with Richard Clarke is that he is above the partisan fray.. having served with both GOP and DEM... however, his democratic leanings became clear and solidified when bush threw him under the bus.

He represents all those people who may have given bush a chance, but were ultimately betrayed, ignored, etc.

[Neshanic]

10. Finally. Brains in the group appears.

[MagickMuffin]

11. I, too just watched his appearance on Real Time, so I did a little research

He donated $2300 to Barack's campaign. He seems to have endorsed him as well, although I did not know it until tonight.

I think he would definitely add something to the ticket or even the Cabinet.

[phrigndumass]

12. Perhaps Homeland Security?

... if not VP. Or Obama's National Security Advisor.

[SKKY]

17. Well, there's a name I haven't heard mentioned as a possible VP...

...I wonder why? I like him. Does anything think he'd be a viable candidate?

[Bonobo]

18. Please edit title. No 'E' at the end of Clark's name.

[Milo_Bloom]

19. It is Richard Clarke (with an E)

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/105-7524358-9753211?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Richard+Clarke

[Bonobo]

21. Wow. Are you serious? I would not be behind that. nt

[Milo_Bloom]

22. Why not?

[Bonobo]

23. Well, my first thought is that he is too closely tied to Republican admins. No?

[Milo_Bloom]

24. You haven't read his material or heard him speak.

He was originally hired by Reagan and served under Bush, Clinton and then little bush, so he carries with him an air of being non-partisan.


HOWEVER

He has spoken out strongly against this administration and its methods.

Came out strongly against torture.

Strongly against the new FISA laws.

Named Rice as the worst national security advisor in history.

On Bill Maher on Friday talked about how badly this administration dropped the environmental ball and laughed at the idea that McCain was "better" on the environment.

[Bonobo]

25. Okay, let's assume that is all 100% true. Don't you think the "association" I made

would be damaging?

[Milo_Bloom]

26. To who?

[Bonobo]

27. To "core" Dems and peace-lovers?

At this point, I am still listening and thinking. I am not convinced it is a bad idea (or a good one).

Frankly, I never considered it, so I need to think about it more.

Thanks for putting it out there, Milo.

[Milo_Bloom]

28. He was strongly against the Iraq war.

Has called it stupid and distracting.


From a politcal independent review of his 2004 book "His second, more powerful one is that by going after Saddam immediately and unnecessarily after 9/11 - usurping resources from the fight against the real criminals - "Bush" has haphazardly allowed Al Queda to "morph into a many headed" monster that has now become infinitely more difficult to defeat. Clarke argues persuasively that Bush has also made the world infinitely more dangerous rather than safer. In other words, Bush and his team have failed us all and we will pay the price for our ignorant, unquestioning following. Clarke is a true hero who lays out the disastrous sequence in detail. He is unfortunately, as a result, ceaselessly being attacked for daring to speak out. Shame on Bush, and shame on the Repubicans for such slanderous character assassination. And shame on the Democrats for not having fought back hard enough, for Clarke, and earlier, for the nation. "

[Adelante]

29. Clarke is a career civil servant, not a campaigner

His expertise is in anti-terrorism and intelligence. It makes more sense to me that he serve in that capacity in Obama's administration. I think he would much more want the opportunity to strengthen our national security procedures than to serve in elected office. That's my impression of him.

[Milo_Bloom]

31. Is Wes Clark a "capaigner"?

Ultimately, I would rather people serve where they WANT, since they do a better job that way. So if Wes Clark wants to be head of Dept of homeland security... more power to him.

I just think he adds a ton to the ticket and creates the feeling of that "new type of politics", since he is considered non-partisan.

[Adelante]

32. I was talking about Richard Clarke

But to answer your question, yes, Wes Clark has evolved into a terrific campaigner. He's campaigned just about non-stop for one Democrat or another for five years now and is very good at it. I do think he adds a ton to the ticket, as you say, Milo, in many ways that complement Obama. He can do almost any job in an Obama administration, though, if that's the way Obama thinks he is needed, including Homeland Security, National Security, State, Defense, whatever.

[Milo_Bloom]

33. I only asked because...

A lot of people I talk to dismiss Clarke b/c he has never held political office.

However, Wes Clark has never held political office either; however, when I bring up his name, they think he would be perfect.


In reality... I like both of them for any position they want and I think both are very powerful discussing the issues.

[Adelante]

34. They are both terrific

They are in fact long time friends. Wes was one of the few people Clarke turned to for guidance when he was about to go public on Bushco, I've heard. And when the media storm broke, Wes was one of a few vocal defenders of Richard Clarke. He even defended him on Fox where Clarke was considered a traitor. Yes, both of these men will serve their country well again. It will up to Obama to decide the capacity, but they will surely do whatever he asks of them.