Wes Clark on Ed Schultz and Blog Talk Radio today

[CarolNYC]

Wes Clark will be on Ed Schultz and Blog Talk Radio today discussing his StopIranWar.com effort with VoteVets.org.

Thursday on The Ed Schultz Show!

Former Gen. Wes Clark joins the show to discuss his efforts to Stop an Iran War.

http://www.bigeddieradio.com/todayonshow/index.asp

Listen here: http://www.bigeddieradio.com/listen/index.asp

Host Channel: Heading Left

Dial In Number: [phone]

segment date/time: Feb 22, 1:30PM

segment title: General Wes Clark Heads Left.

segment description: General Wes Clark and Jon Soltz of VoteVets.org join us and discuss their new project, www.stopiranwar.com

segment duration: 60

http://blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=13467

[Mika]

1. I wonder if Big Ed will ask WC if we should nuke Iran and/or Bin Laden.

That's been his obsession the last few days - after a fundie told Ed that she thought that Bush should nuke Iran now. Ed has been questioning callers whether we should nuke Bid Laden if we knew where he was.

:crazy:

[FrenchieCat]

2. I'm sure that Wes will change Ed's mind if that's what Ed has been saying.....

If you haven't, sign Clark and VoteVets.org's petition at their new website!


http://www.stopiranwar.com

[Ninja Jordan]

3. But, but Ed's a GOP shill!!!

[CarolNYC]

4. Even if he were...

I don't think Wes would pass up the opportunity to reach as many people as possible with this effort. As he's said, it's way too important an issue to be politicized....

Please, all, do be sure to check out www.stopiranwar.com.

Thanks!

[KingofNewOrleans]

7. The next thing you know, Clark will

be showing up on Fox News or something.

[FrenchieCat]

14. and kicking ass and taking numbers!

[KingofNewOrleans]

16. And cashing a paycheck

and not getting seen by Democratic voters, except for hardcore Clarkies. I mean realistically what percentage of Democratic primary voters watch Fox? 5%?

[Adelante]

17. How many Dem voters go to the gym?

The grocery store. The gas station. The barber shop. And so on. How many of those places are running Fox News on TV and how many CNN?

[Tom Rinaldo]

18. Stopping a war with Iran takes reaching more than liberals

I'm sorry, if I had to choose between having Clark as President, which you know I want, or stopping a war with Iran, I choose stopping a war with Iran. The only thing that will stop that war in my opinion is if the public starts weighing in agaiinst it by 70% to 30% margins. In other words strongly enough to scare the shit our of Republicans who still need to run for reelection.

Clark has one of the few Democratic voices for sanity that does reach well beyond typical Democratic voter ranks. Thank God for that now.

[Sparkly]

19. He's not on Fox to address Democrats

He does that in his appearances, blogging, website, podcasts, emails, etc...

He's on Fox to bring the truth to those who are most misled. More power to him for that!

(Btw, is "cashing a paycheck" a bad thing now?)

[KingofNewOrleans]

22. Not attacking his right to make a living

But being on Fox (and even then, sparingly) and virtually never on MSNBC or CNN makes him virtually invisible to Democratic primary voters.

[Adelante]

24. If or when he announces

He won't be under contract to Fox. He gave up CNN last time. He'll be on all channels and primary voters who don't watch Fox will seem him.

[Sparkly]

25. Which goes to show you...

... he cares more about doing what's right and effective, even if it's difficult and doesn't serve to promote himself.

[CarolNYC]

27. Yeah, it also goes to show how rare a quality that is in politics.

People are apparently so used to politicians being in it only for their personal ambitions and interests, they can't even begin to comprehend a political figure who actually has our interests in his sights....Sad really.

[KingofNewOrleans]

28. Which is great

I've been to the site, signed up, sent my e-mail to the Prez. And while "Wes Clark--He does Fox News so you don't have to" is a kind of amusing campaign slogan, Fox News is not a good way to expose yourself to the Dem Primary electorate.

[FrenchieCat]

29. It's easy to sing to the choir, and promise them everything and say all that they want to hear...

Much more difficult talking to the opponent and getting them to see it your way.

one takes leadership, the other can simply pander. Who would I want leading this country.....the leader of course!

Here's a post that I did a while ago for someone else who's insight was not very deep. Whatever posts you see there in reference to him kicking ass on Fox, add about 25 more....since I don't have the time to dig them up (since I'm supposed to be working right now!)

Clark knows that the Left hates Faux. He knows that this will not win him any popularity contest with those who vote in Democratic primaries. But he also knows that based on his skills, this is something that he can do to affect some change. It may not be a lot, to some....But it's really the only way that we are going to save this country....bit by bit.

Clark is not the DNC Chair. Clark is not a Senator. Clark is not a millionaire with a poverty center. Clark is a retired NATO Commander and General who has spoken, written and done commentating on the various aspects of this War, National Security and Foreign relations....and the ramifications of those issues. Clark is doing what Clark can do help and bring some sanity back to this country.

It's very sad and disheartening to see those critics that would be so petty as to only become indignant in principle but forget what our real goal ought to be. Clark is going to informed Fox viewers as to what a real Kickass Democrat looks, sounds and thinks like.

Like Howard Dean said....we have to talk to those folks in their pick up trucks. I think those folks watch Fox, don’t you?

The real issue of discussion should be how to save this country ...and not the issue of picking on the few who are doing what they can to do just that.



June 17, 2005
Wesley Clark Surprises Hannity
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/06/17/wesley_clark_surprises_hannity.php

July 08, 2005
Hannity Tries To Spin London Attacks As Proof Of Bush's Wisdom
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/07/08/hannity_tries_to_spin_london_attacks_as_proof_of_bushs_wisdom.php


September 24, 2005
Wesley Clark Stands His Ground - Defends Cindy Sheehan
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/09/24/wesley_clark_stands_his_ground_defends_cindy_sheehan.php

September 24, 2005
Campaign to Blame Louisiana Continues as O'Reilly Plays Race Card Once Again
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/09/24/campaign_to_blame_louisiana_continues_as_oreilly_plays_race_card_once_again.php

October 04, 2005
Who Says the Democrats Don't Have Solutions?
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/10/04/who_says_the_democrats_dont_have_solutions.php

November 12, 2005
Wes Clark: Intelligence Was Hyped
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/11/12/wes_clark_intelligence_was_hyped.php

November 18, 2005
Sean Hannity Tries To Blame Democrats For Iraq War Problems
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/11/18/sean_hannity_tries_to_blame_democrats_for_iraq_war_problems.php


November 22, 2005
"Chicken Little" and Big Bad Oliver North
http://www.newshounds.us/2005/11/22/chicken_little_and_big_bad_oliver_north.php

[FrenchieCat]

20. Sorry, in case you didn't know that a large enough percentage of Fox viewers

are Democrats. 25%, not 5%
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=1187

a fair percentage still call themselves Independents. You know, those who helped us take back congress in 2006?

[Sparkly]

23. You know, he's such a "bad campaigner" though, because...

1. He hasn't announced whether or not he's running. He's too concerned about things like BushCo starting another war. No good candidate would waste their time on such things when the Primaries are heating up!!

2. He talks to audiences who aren't primarily Democrats. I mean, is this a primary, or not? It's no time to be talking to anybody but Democrats! What could possibly be more important?

3. He has made far too few visits to Iowa and New Hampshire. Last year he spent his time running around helping other Democrats get elected, when he should have chosen a handful of races where the spotlights were, and gone to Iowa and New Hampshire as much as possible.

Unless he starts paying more attention to image, money, and cautious "positioning" himself -- instead of speaking and writing in such indepth detail that it gives the RNC quotes to cherrypick and spin -- he's just never going to be able to compete against all the GOOD candidates.

:sarcasm:

(Not to say we don't have other good candidates... Just sayin', The General is in a league all his own.)

[KingofNewOrleans]

26. You misread my statement

I said what percentage of Dem primary voters watch Fox News? Not the same thing as what % of Fox viewers are Democrats. 5% is just a guess but probably close.

[Jai4WKC08]

37. I understand the difference

But I'm guessing (correct me if I'm wrong) that you have no objective data to back up your 5% estimate, right?

If I were to guess, I'd say the percentage of Democratic primary voters who watch Fox probably varies wildly by where and when you collect the data. For example, NH is a somewhat conservative/independent state, but a very large percentage of people there participate in their primary. So I'd guess the percentage of Democratic primary voters who watch Fox is pretty high... maybe close to 50%. You have to remember that Fox has more viewers than all the other cable news networks combined.

But you take a state where the primary is not as well attended and the population leans farther to the left, and I would imagine your 5% may be more accurate.

I would also add to what WesDem said above, not only to Democrats go to the gym, grocery store, bars, etc where Fox is on all day, but even more so, Democrats have to work at these places, so they're almost forced to watch Fox whether they want to or not. You don't think the workers at these places are Republicans, do you?

As for your rather snide remark above about Clark getting a paycheck from Fox... you don't know that, do you? I've never seen the information released as to what, IF ANYTHING, he's paid. I suspect he does get a check, but I bet it's not much, because the money is not why he's there -- they pay him NOTHING like what he gets in any of a dozen other jobs and offices he holds. Clark is at Fox for one reason only and that's to get a liberal pro-Democratic point of view out to the Fox audience, for that percentage, whatever it might be, who are open to hearing it. It's the same reason he calls in to right wing talk shows and asks us ALL to do so as well.

I honestly don't get why any Democrat would criticize any other Democrat from appearing on Fox or any other right-wing news/opinion venue. We can't change this nation if we can't get our message out and that means thru any means possible. It does us NO good at all to preach to each other.

[Texas_Kat]

21. Last Pew poll I saw showed

21% of Fox viewers as self-identified Democrats and 28% as self-identified Independents.

It may have slipped some since then, but even those numbers would be hard to ignore.

[Clark2008]

36. 28 percent and higher

[oasis]

5. k&r for the General.

[stillrockin]

6. Not a fan of Big Ed's . . .

:nuke:

[Texas_Kat]

8. But it's always fun to hear someone change his tune

Wait till Wes get ahold of him about Iran.

:popcorn:

[Adelante]

9. Heh

The General will convince Big Ed away from the dark side, if that's where he's going.

[snowbear]

10. Big Eddie promises he'll ask the General if he's jumping in!!

He'll be on sometime within the hour.

Rock on Eddie ~~~ Talk the General into it!!!!

[Eurobabe]

11. On now, first question, will you run? I HAVEN'T SAID I WON'T

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[snowbear]

12. He's been answering that question the same way for months & months now...

C'mon General, just DO IT!!

[Tom Rinaldo]

13. Clark just made a great point

He said that the United States wasn't trying very hard to find an alternative to conflict with Iran. Schultz asked, do you mean diplomacy with Syria and Iran? Clark replied to the effect: I'm not using that term, how about having unconditional direct dialog.

[Adelante]

15. Excellent change of phrase

Very good, Wes. :)

[Auntie Bush]

30. I missed it. What else was said? n/t

[FrenchieCat]

31. It will be up at Wespac soon, if it isn't already...

[Auntie Bush]

32. Thanks, I keep forgetting that. spend too much time here and forget to go over there.

But I'll learn...especially after he's in the running on his white horse...right into the arms of the Democratic party. IMHO :)

[Mika]

33. Did Big Ed ask WC if we should nuke Iran and/or Bin Laden?

I couldn't listen on Thursday.

Thanks in advance.

[CarolNYC]

34. No....

Hi Mika,

Sorry it took me a while to answer this but, no, Ed did not ask that...

Here's my transcript of the Iran portion of the interview (I don't think Bin Laden was mentioned at all).....

Ed Schultz: General Wesley Clark with us here on the Ed Schultz Show. He has joined VoteVets.org in a launch of a new website and that website is stopiranwar.com. S-t-o-p-i-r-a-n-w-a-r.com. It’s a one stop resource for all Americans to weigh in on this. General, tell us about this and do you really think that the President’s makin’ a case to do something militarily with the Iranians?

Wes: Well, I think the President has a military option and he’s had it for a long time and he’s got the pistol loaded and cocked. It’s there. Now he doesn’t, I don’t think he’s going to do it if there’s a reasonable alternative. But I also don’t think the Administration’s trying very hard to find a reasonable alternative so I’m very worried about the direction of US policy.

Ed: When you say not trying hard, you mean not negotiating with the Syrians and the Iranians?

Wes: Well, I don’t call it negotiation. How about unconditional dialogue?

Ed: Mmmhm. Now how do we interpret another carrier group in the region? How do you interpret that?

Wes: Well, it puts a little more military pressure on Iran. The question is how Iran interprets it. And they know we’ve got lots of aircraft carriers and besides they’re not sailing around, you know, in sight of the Iranian coastline everyday so it’s not like, you know, worried Iranian citizens are calling up and saying, ‘My goodness, there’s all these aircraft carriers. Please surrender to the United States.’ I wish it were true but it’s not happening. What it does is it probably hardens their resolve that they’re not going to be bullied by the United States.

Ed: How would you do diplomacy right now? Would you have the President of the United States in front of Ahmadinejad?

Wes: No way, no way. Absolutely not. But what I would do is I would put a team of very senior representatives of the Defense Department, the Department of State and the White House and do a shuttle in the region, talking to the leadership, not just Ahmadinejad but the leadership in Iran, Syria, um, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, all the countries that are most affected and I would be looking for areas of common interest on which a statement of principles could be agreed. I’d be opening a regional dialogue and hoping to promote a forum where matters of security concern could be brought directly in front of governments and receive prompt resolution.

(snip)

Ed: Our next best move with Iran would be at this point?

Wes: Shuttle diplomacy. Get over there and talk to ‘em.

Audio of the interview is here: http://securingamerica.com/node/2262

[Donna Zen]

35. An excellent interview

you always learn something new listening to Clark. Hersh has a new article in The New Yorker which is not online yet. Things are grim.

I hope everyone writes.