Hey Barack and Hillary - Do you want my Vote?

[BOSSHOG]

I'll vote on 11 March, haven't made up my mind yet, thankful that our party has not one but two (actually several) capable candidates for president, but there is the ultimate tie breaker for me. One of you step to the microphone and say that General Wesley Clark will play a prominent role in your administration (I suggest SECSTATE) and you've won me over.

[SteppingRazor]

1. But, Boss, no one makes cabinet announcements in the middle of the primary.

Nothing else than can sway ya?

[BOSSHOG]

16. It'll depend on something else then

but surely a hint here, a nod there would be appropriate. I think identifying those that you will have working in your cabinet and administration is a helluva lot more valuable then endorsements.

[MadBadger]

2. Considering Clark is a big Hillary supporter, I dont think you'll be going for Obama.

[BOSSHOG]

6. I know who Clark supports

but that does not mean that Obama could see him as the awesome asset that he is. Obama and Clinton might be on the same ticket after crossing swords for months, so crossbreeding and hybridization of supporters should not be unexpected. I hope the hell that Obama and Clinton supporters on DU have some infreakincredible makeup sex when we have a nominee. In my very humble opinion General Clark is the very best person to be our Secretary of State regardless of who is elected President.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. The note in my hand says "No."

:shrug:

[Skinner]

4. Clark supports Clinton.

So, Senator Clinton is likely to give him some position in her administration, I think.

And Obama is likely to give him nothing in his, I suspect.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

7. Really? Why?

"And Obama is likely to give him nothing in his, I suspect."

Generally everything is bygones be bygones after the primaries are over. Kerry ran with Edwards.

Clark's been pretty quiet, hasn't spread any ill will from what I've seen.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. It's not always bygones but Obama could still appoint Clark to something

[mtnester]

5. Boss, if either one of them announced their VP candidate tomorrow

it could and would swing my vote completely. And it could be a couple of folks...Wes Clark is one of them.

[BOSSHOG]

11. I was a Clark supporter in 04

and was very happy to see that he sucks as a politician. I was a Clark supporter early in this campaign and even though he's not running I'm still a Clark supporter. I think his talents are more needed at State.

[nonconformist]

8. I strongly suspect that Clark will have a significant role in Clinton's administration

Perhaps even VP, but possibly Secretary of State.

I don't think he would have a role at all in Obama's administration.

[MADem]

9. Clark is on the Clinton team, FWIW...

Here, let him tell you HIMSELF--

http://www.chbn.com/Clip.aspx?key=AA588B92E1DEDF8B


You know he'll get something. I think he'd make a sharp SECDEF, myself. We need someone who knows the lay of the land and is willing to roll up those sleeves and spend three or four years fixing our shattered military. Also, we need someone in the job who understands that while the military can be used as a diplomatic too, someone needs to pipe up when the tool is being abused or misused--and he's the one to do it.

[BOSSHOG]

12. Oh I know about his relationship with Hillary but

Obama could still offer him a position. I don't believe his being a Clinton supporter would preclude him from taking a position in a Democratic administration. Maybe there will be a brokered convention and the General will come riding into town with his tanks.

[MADem]

23. Never happen. NEVER. Read this blogger's interaction with that camp

(This person is not an advocate for any candidate, FWIW). They don't forgive anyone who is disloyal, and that sense that this attitude is a top-down one I suspect is right on the money:

http://www.groupnewsblog.net/2008/02/obama-cult-of-personality.html

Friday morning I headed out to the Obama rally. They made the press wait outside in 40 degree cold in the wind for an hour before letting us in to searches and more waiting around, showing of press credentials and signing in. The Obama staff didn't know me from Adam and couldn't have cared less. (Sam, on their national blogging team has been nice to me.)

Frozen, I headed down to the convention floor. While I won't go into details (I hate process stories), I'll simply say the Obama volunteers pushed the local press around. I made it clear as a national blogger I wasn't going to put up with crap at all.

In comparison to how the Clintons treated the press, the Obama people treated the press disrespectfully and arrogantly. Furthermore, they didn't have anyone available to us except starry-eyed volunteers.

Shorter me: the Clinton camp was respectful of me and other press. The Obama camp was arrogant as all hell (with the exception of national web-guy Sam.) HUGE difference, and differences like this in my experience come from the top down......The kids supporting Obama at the Seattle event, from the volunteers to the people in the stands, seemed high, as in not in full control of themselves. That they were high with a peak experience is great and good for them, but they still weren't in control. They were filled with this great joy. They bumped into things and laughed.

When I talked to them, all were thrilled I was there to write a great story about the Senator. When I softly corrected them I was just there to write a story on the event and what happened, not to make it great about the Senator, you could see their claws come out, anger cross their face, and then as one, they would paste a smile on, almost as if they knew they had to be nice to someone not yet in the club.....

[MADem]

10. PARDON my doubleclick!!!!

[BOSSHOG]

14. I was double clicking to beat the band yesterday

[MADem]

22. I think it happens when there's connectivity issues...or maybe because I am an old fart! nt

[JimGinPA]

13. Obama is Going to Win the Nomination

I doubt he is going to select anyone for any government position before that happens.

[BOSSHOG]

17. And New England was going to win the Super Bowl

I find telling me who will be in your administration much more valuable in my decision making process then telling me who has endorsed you.

[Straight Shooter]

15. I'm thinking SecDef, also.

There was a limitation on him being able to accept that position in 2004, had bush not stolen the election. Has that time expired, and he's now qualified?

I would like to see Bill Richardson or Joe Biden as Sec. of State, maybe even Joe Wilson.

[Olney Blue]

18. BOSS, I understand the agony of deciding between our fine candidates.

:hi: I voted for Hillary yesterday, but will be thrilled to support Obama if he gets the nod.
I would love to see Wes Clark as Sec State, and his endorsement of Clinton was important to me.

[Maddy McCall]

19. Hi,. Boss. I'm going with Hillary. Here's what Wes says:

I’m proud to endorse Hillary Clinton - by Wes Clark

Today, I am proud to announce my endorsement of Senator Hillary Clinton as President of the United States.

Senator Hillary Clinton has earned the support of millions of Americans in her campaign for president -- and today I am pleased to count myself among them. The world has reached a critical point, and we need a leader in the White House with the courage, intelligence and humility to navigate through many troubling challenges to our security at home and abroad. I believe Senator Clinton is that leader, and I whole-heartedly endorse her for President of the United States. Senator Clinton and I share a worldview in which diplomacy is the best first-strike tool in our arsenal; in today’s complicated global system, the United States should be making more friends than enemies.

Never before have so many Americans had our well-being so closely tied to world events. Our economic and national security has become more complicated than ever before, and we deserve a leader who draws on wisdom, compassion, intelligence and moral courage -- in short, we need Hillary Clinton. She is tough but fair, a rock-solid leader equal to the many weighty challenges ahead of us.

As I make this endorsement today, I realize this may disappoint many of you who hoped that I would run for President myself in 2008. But rest assured: I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to continue to speak out on issues I care about, to work with you to support good Democratic candidates who will help restore the kind of leadership we need in America, to make sure our nation is as secure at home and abroad as it possibly can be.

Your support has been absolutely essential – to our country, to our Democratic candidates, and to me personally. I would never have run for President in 2003 without your support – after all, you drafted me into the race! I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’ve been standing with me since my campaign for President and right up until now. And we still have so much work to do.

Together, we made a huge difference in the 2006 elections. We helped 42 candidates win their races across America, including 25 candidates who flipped their seats from Republican to Democratic seats. Our Clark community raised more than $1 million for candidates, not to mention the millions of hours of volunteer time members of the Clark community provided to campaigns in every corner of our nation. And I am most proud of the fact we helped elect a number of veterans to the House and Senate. What a tremendous victory for America – and it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work that you and I and tens of thousands of us put in over those 24 months.

The fight is just beginning for the future of America. Through WesPAC, you and I and thousands of other Americans will continue to play a very active role throughout this entire upcoming campaign -- to support strong candidates, to get them into office, and to get our country back on the right track.

Your continued participation in the political process is absolutely critical. I hope you’ll all join me in supporting Hillary Clinton’s campaign for President. And I hope you’ll continue to be active here at WesPAC as we support many candidates up and down the ballot in 2008, and continue to speak out on the issues.

I’m proud to endorse Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. But I’m not going anywhere, and I hope you’re not either. We have a lot of work to do in the months and years ahead to get America moving forward again – and I need you with me.

Thanks so much for everything you’ve done – and everything I know you’ll continue to do – for me, for Democrats, and for our country.

[Hippo_Tron]

21. They generally won't do that because it undermines their transition team