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Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Amanda Carpenter :: Townhall.com Columnist
Signs Hillary Will Tap Clark as VP
by Amanda Carpenter
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Hillary Clinton has been working closely with decorated anti-war retired Gen. Wesley Clark on foreign policy, fueling rumors he could be vice-president on a “Clinton-Clark” ticket in 2008.

In recent months Clark has joined Clinton several times on the campaign trail, has been publishing a number of profile-raising editorials, and is making a substantial effort to keep his slick PAC website updated with his media schedule. He also promotes email campaigns that solicit names and contact information, as he did in his recent push to remove Rush Limbaugh from Armed Forces Radio.

Clinton’s 2002 vote to authorize President Bush to use force in Iraq has haunted her, but having a former military general as a running mate could boost her foreign policy credentials on the campaign trail. In 1999, Clark led efforts to remove Slobodan Milosevic during the Kosovo War as the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and has been an outspoken critic of the Iraq war.

Clark also has presidential campaign experience, as he unsuccessfully ran for president in 2004. Like Clinton’s husband Bill, Clark is also originally from Arkansas, which could help Clinton’s standing in southern states.

Independent of his work with Clinton, Clark is positioning himself as an authority who could stave off a future war with Iran planned by President Bush. Two weeks before he endorsed Clinton for president, Clark released his memoir “Time to Lead” in which he claims a “senior general” told him after 9/11 that the Bush administration planned to bring regime change in seven Middle Eastern countries, which include Iraq and Iran, by 2006. The other five countries allegedly included in this plan were Lebanon, Libya, Somalia and Iran.

So, are the rumors true? Is Clark preparing to jump on a 2008 ticket with Clinton?

Here’s a look at how they’ve been working together over the past few months.

September 4: Releases his memoir “A Time to Lead” that claims the Bush Administration plotted regime change in seven Middle Eastern countries after 9/11.

September 9: Writes in The Independent that the “The US should take a lead in talking to Iran – now.” This is a position he modifies later after Clinton rules out negotiations with Iran in a televised Democratic debate.

September 16: Formally endorses Clinton for president.

September 16: Defends Clinton on CNN when Wolf Blitzer asks if she was right to say in a televised Democratic presidential debate that she would not engage in talks with Iran.

Clark says, “Senator Clinton is exactly right. You don't go to these summit meetings at the head of state level without knowing what's going to happen there. You always have some deliverables when you have a meeting like that. You don't run out as president of the United States and start shaking hands with people and say, “Gee, what can we talk about?’ These things are worked intensively behind the scenes because each one of these meetings carries consequences. And you want to make sure you get the right consequences.”

September 16: Publishes an op-ed in the Washington Post titled “The Next War” that suggests the U.S. will take military action against Iran.

September 18: Holds a conference call with liberal blogs like MyDD and TalkLeft.

September 19: Attends a New York town hall fundraising event with Clinton

September 19: Appears on the Daily Show with John Stewart

September 20: Appears with Clinton at a New York fundraiser

September 27: Launches an email campaign to get conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh’s program removed from Armed Forces Radio through his “Help Democrats” website.
On October 12 Paul Greenburg, editorial director of the Clark’s home state’s Arkansas Democrat*Gazette, calls this effort “sad.” 

October 14: Publishes an op-ed in the influential New Hampshire Union Leader titled “Clinton's approach deters a rush to war” that defends Clinton’s vote in favor of a non-binding resolution sponsored by Sen. Jon Kyl (R.-Ariz.) and Sen. Joe Lieberman (I.-Conn.) to label Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a foreign terrorist organization.

October 15-16: Campaigns with Clinton in Iowa.

Mid-October: Clinton sends a mailer to Iowa activists in which Clark defends her vote to authorize Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

October 16: Delivers a lecture at the University of Arkansas’ Clinton School of Public Service and the Arkansas Committee on Foreign Relations.

October 26: Appears on HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Mahr”

October 30: Blogs at Daily Kos and defends Clinton’s vote to label Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as foreign terrorist organization, but says the U.S. should also talk to Iran. Clark wrote, “Use sanctions against their terrorist elements as a way of underscoring our purpose, but talk, and talk without pre-conditions to explore their interests, understand their motives, and seek some common interests.”

October 31: The New York Observer reported Clark fires up the crowd for Clinton at the MSNBC debate. Journalist Jason Horowitz’s article says: “In front of the dozens of Hillary volunteers, Wesley Clark stood on top of a short white stepstool in a dark suit yelling into a bullhorn. ‘And she’s got a secret weapon,’ said the retired general and Clinton supporter. ‘Hillary is a great person. She’s warm. I like her. Don’t you like her?”

October 31: Campaigns with Clinton in New Hampshire.

November 8: Finishes his three-part series in Fortune magazine about the “nature of power.”

November 15: Writes an op-ed for the Financial Times urging Turkey not to invade Iraqi Kurdistan.

November 19: Makes a “surprise” appearance with Clinton at an unscheduled campaign stop at a diner in Des Moines, Iowa. They both ordered fruit bowls. Later that day a writer on the liberal MyDD.com declares Clinton-Clark would be his “dream ticket.”

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About The Author
Amanda Carpenter is the author of “The Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy's Dossier on Hillary Clinton,” published in October 2006.
 
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A Premature Prediction
Um, don't you think we ought to wait a spell to make sure Hillary Clinton is the nominee before placing bets on who her potential VP is going to be before you anxious conservatives trash him/her too???? Have litle patience--no one has gone to the polls yet and we haven't selected a candidate yet. Talking about jumping the gun.

I hope so.....
If Hillary becomes the nominee for the Democratic Party - the worst thing she could do is to further alienate Obama/Edwards supporters by shunning either of them to be the VP.

This move would assure ANY Republican the White House.

Do Hillary supporters NOT know to win the Presidency the candidate must win THEIR base plus draw over independents and disenchanted voters from the other party???

OH NO
Not the same GEN that BILLY(THE SCUD) CLINTOON relieved from command in Bosnia because he was bombing MILOSAVICH off the MAP. How dare she. The same Gen who supported the War until we didnt find WMDS in IRAQ. Where oh where is his experience in foreign policy at when Bill had to relieve him of his FOREIGN COMMAND IN BOSNIA. That is some pretty good foreign policy to me. Maybe the Hillebeast is having an affair with him, it would fit the mold since her old man(BILLY BOY) did it and probably still doing it.

As 2008 Redy says
I really do hope she picks Clark for VP.

Last time I saw anyone with that last name running for a major post (PM of Canada), he could only eke out with help--and got clocked within one year from inside his own party. Newspapers, by labelling him "Joe Who" showed just how hopeless he was.

As a candidate for presidential nomination in 2004, Wesley Clark proved just as hapless a loser as "Joe Who" did for PM (or party leadership)--and IMO, he will prove just as useless as a VP candidate!

One failure leading another
How typical of that end of the political aisle.

Class A A-hole
This is the same Clark who said that political speech should be monitored?

This is the man who almost started war with Russia.


Hasn't he caused enough damage?

Apparently not...
Vince P asks "Hasn't he caused enough damage?"

I find it interesting how military service isn't necessarily a predictor of political leaning, based both on my observations of people like Clark and Tommy Frank (from a distance, admittedly), and on the military officers (active duty and retired) that I've actually met. I expect military service teaches discipline, but it doesn't necessarily change one's worldview, gained in childhood and adolescence. Although why some folks from the socialist side of the spectrum went into the military and stayed there, I couldn't begin to guess.

Those are just my thoughts.

*Shameless blog plug* I've posted the 14 short stories that make up my latest work of fiction, called "In the Twinkling of an Eye." They can be read in any order, but make slightly more sense if read from Part 1 to Part 14.

Enjoy!

generals as pols
Someone noted here recently that if you want an honest opinion about Iraq, e.g., from a military guy who has been there, don't ask a general, because they are all political animals not to be trusted. Having watched Clark on TV interviews, he has plastic, disingenuous, self-aggrandizing weasel written all over him... he should pair well with Shrillary. I could see why she might pick him (hoping he would add stature), but he would not seem to add anything in terms of constituency.

ex-wyomingite
i seem to recall that clark was turned down for his last star. He went running to the clinton's who saw that he got his star. But worst still he is an incipent whiner. It really doesn't matter who the missus clinton picks as her vp candidate. They will be exciled to the hinderlands. Sent to represent the clintons at funerals and shopping mall ribbon cuttings and an occaisional visit to the senate. Bubba and his missus will again enact the co-presidentcy. As we all know she lacks the will power to stand up to bubba as her history of being his enabler. Plus having been president, he has the prestige of that office and all meetings will automatically defer to him. But it appears that only the missus clinton is too dense to figure this out, but she likewise knows that without bubba's support she stands little chance of gettting the clinton's back into the white house

Weslay Clark
To the American populace, he looks impressive at first glance. Republican scrutiny should reveal Clark for the liberal guy he is, but the Republicans have to dissect him and his record carefully - he is a soldier. Hillary despises all things military - leave it to the Queen to find old Arkansas crony for appearances sake.

Wesley Clark as VP?
Expect all the comments about "Ashley Wilkes" to be recycled. Regardless of his standing at West Point, he is still very much a preening metrosexual.

It will help her foreign policy creds.,
... but it won't matter. She will have a BETTER chance picking Barack Obama or Bill Richardson:

http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://OsiSpeaks.org

Not a bad
choice, for Hillary to make. He's known by the public, been on numerous FOX News spots as an expert, against the war as is the general populace and so on.

Could Rudy or Mitt win against that ticket? I really don't think so. Hiilary would eat either one of em alive, but then again, perhaps that has been the plan all along. Even Bush is supporting Hillary by his most recent statements, over all the candidates.

Wasn't it Nixon who said "Nothing happens in politics, that wan't already planned." or something like that.

Give me a break
Clinton fired Clark for ethical lapses as the NATO commander.

God, what a suck up he proved to be. Political officers are just that.

Those scratches on his face are from Hillary scratching her A$$.

Hay alloysteel, don't ask don't tell was probably his idea.

I Didnt Think It Was Possible
There are so many reasons to be against Hillary Clinton. Corruption, incompetence, Socialism, thuggery, smugness; how could there be any more?
Now we've been presented with the most compelling reason of them all...a Kook-Sin-Itch style nut case positioned just one beat of Her Thighness stony heart from the Presidency. She couldnt at least pick somebody SANE? Is she trying to outdo her husband's choice of the chronically broken Algore? These libs are trying to turn the White House into a half-way house for ambulatory schizophrenics.Unbelievable.

skep41
you left off contempt for others. This applies in particular to all who are not her loyal bootlickers but also for any who she feels the need to sacrifice upon the pyre of clinton personal ambition. The only saving grace for the rest of america is that these two shallow self lovers are married to each other thus sparing two others from a miserable life.

Wildwest
Sorry, I thought I had it covered. I'm starting to think that she's a bit much even for Democrats. Attacking Zogby for publishing a poll that shows she's slipped! What a junkyard dog. But Clark is worse. Hillary is rational if you accept her looney premises, Clark is not.

Conjuring Wesley Clark's...
....name brought a picture of him, sitting down at a large mirror, waiting for his make-up technician.

That's all I recall from his foray into the 2004 presidential race. And most people will remember less.

Wesley ?

Soldiers wouldn't stoop so low... An exception might prove this.

We don't need another Carter
Gen Clark owes his whole career to the Clintons. He was passed over 4 times for his first star. For a West Pointer once is the kiss of death. If it wasn't for Bill, he would have retired into oblivion as a Colonel.

Bombing the Chinese
Well as the NATO commander Gen Clark did bomb the Chinese and of course the already alluded to incident with the Russians at the Pristina Airport where he tried to start WWIII in the same place WWI was sarted.

"The British commander of the Kosovo Force, General Mike Jackson, however refused to block the Russians through military action saying "I'm not going to start the Third World War for you." Jackson has said he refused to take action because he did not believe it was worth the risk of a military confrontation with the Russians."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Clark

The Dayton Peace accords he helped with were pretty good and he is Intelligent. With the uninformed sheeple in America his stature as a VET will serve him well.

I think he is a beter choice for Sen Clinton as VP then an Obama because Gen Clark is a known sycophant who won't out shine her.

my $.02 Tinsldr2@yahoo.com

It Won't Matter
What difference does it make who she picks. I don't think the press should keep crowning her as the nominee as it might not happen. Then again the CORRUPT CLINTONS will not anything get in ther way to take the White House. She is a dishonest ad disingenuous politician who belongs on Mars certainly not the US.

Picture a Clinton – Clinton ticket ….
...which is NOT restricted by the Constitution, although Billary would not be able to become President if something happened to Shrillary. The succession would be up to the House, with Senate approval. It might even be the Speaker with no Senate approval. I only suggest this as a possibility because the Clintons are so devious that it would be a natural for them. Too, no one would go into the office of POTUS with the idea that they wouldn't finish their term(s), so the worry that Billary would have to become POTUS wouldn't be a concern for them (or their devoted worshipers in the liberal party and MSM).

Just a thought or two--------.....

TBC :>)

Man, what is wrong with ...
...this website today? It's taken multiple tries to post here and I have had trouble all morning just pulling up columns.

Now it's starting to snow -- sheeeesh.

TBC :>)

For YLG @ 20:12 yesterday
You're right, it conjures up less for me (true in 2004, and still). I always associate the last name "Clark" (in anyone seeking political leadership role) with Joe Who--and assume a hapless, useless LOSER.

Hilary's Cabinet
Clark as V.P.

Hilary's cabinet
Sorry didn't finish it.Sandy Burlar Attorney General Ruth Ginsberg as Sec. of state and Helen Thomas as press secretary.Bill as ambassador of broads WHOOPS abroad

Clark as VP
I'd love to see Wesley Clark as Vice-President. I supported him in 04 and think he would really boost Hillary's chances. Hillary is not my top choice (I'm supporting John Edwards in the primaries), but Clark is a great man and I'd love to see him in any Democratic administration. We need to currently change the direction of American foreign policy, which has been disastrous under Bush/Cheney, and Clark would lead in us in that direction.

fascinating tidbit...
with an air of knowing authenticity...

re:
*************************************************
SEAvet writes: Wednesday, November, 28, 2007 9:57 PM

We don't need another Carter

Gen Clark owes his whole career to the Clintons. He was passed over 4 times for his first star. For a West Pointer once is the kiss of death. If it wasn't for Bill, he would have retired into oblivion as a Colonel.

Tapping Wesley
Would "tapping" Wesley Clark be like an "I should have had a V-8" tapping?

hillary and clark
You got to be kidding. Boy,I bet Russia,China,Iran,and North Korea are just shaking in their boots over that prospect. Give us a break.

Nope
She'll pick Richardson and in doing so she'll pickup Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona and perhaps Texas, but even without Texas, she'd still win.

Notice in the debates how Richardson no longer attacks her? If she wins (and I expect her to), Clark will go to State or as her Nat. Security Advisor.


Clark
Heyjude:

Clark is a bonehead who almost started a war with the Russians when he ordered the British to expel the Russian forces from the Pristina airport--luckily the British refused telling him it wasn't worth starting WWIII over.

You support Edwards? That figures.


reply to: Akagi
Richardson is CLEARLY jockeying to have Shrillary ask him to be her veep, but I have heard that she would not pick him, perhaps because a woman and a Hispanic at one fell swoop might be questionable "strategery."

Just as Richardson holds back on the Wicked Witch, there is talk that Huckster would take the second spot with Regularization Rudy... I have a hunch that their past positions will bring them heartburn under closer scrutiny, however-- Middle America has little interest in Huckster's "compassion" toward ILLEGALS.

Not According to Coulter
Not going to happen. Ann Coulter reported a while back that he was last seen auditioning for Dancing With The Stars.
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