53 comments

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  carsick

  10 months ago

  I'm a big supporter of Gen. Clark. I even registered as a Democrat in 2004 just so I could vote for him in the primary. I hope Sen. Obama embraces him more than he was last night. Other than that, last night could not have been stronger.
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  mythster

  10 months ago

  Aa a Marine veteran (6 years service during the Korean era) I think I know something "whereof I speak" concerning the military and the career soldier. We learn to obey orders - instantly and without hesitation. If we take time to think about the validity or wisdom of an order we might endanger our own lives or the lives of our comrades. Ostensibly, this behavior should be confined to our military activities but the reality is that the training is all-consuming and permeates our whole brain (not just the "military region" which must be centered in the amyglia. Therefore one must be wary of a soldier's behavior since it is very much conditioned (often subconciously) by orders and instructions he was saturated with early in his career training. To paraphrase General McArthur: "Old Soldiers never die they just think that way
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  voter

  10 months ago

  What the heck does this mean? Someone told Gen Clark to show up so he did??
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  Mike Carter

  10 months ago

  I worked for Wes Clark. I have listened to him on the subject of blind obedience. Why do you think he retired? Or didn't you listen when he explained? Congrats on you service, but other than Infantry recruits and fighter pilots, we got away from the whole "cognition slows reaction" thing a long time ago.
  
  If Wes Clark didn't want to be there, he'd be nowhere near.
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  Devon Thyme

  10 months ago

  As a retired Army Officer who knows General Clark, with all due courtesy, you're about a million miles out of line. The man is a Rhodes Scholar in Economics, Speaks several languages and if he can hold a nineteen-nation coalition like NATO together, he should be the poster child for diplomacy. He is a loving father and grandfather. His wife, Gert, would make an incredible First-Lady. While I thank you for your service to our country, you're thinking like a Marine. Army Officers have minds of our own and while we were taught discipline, commitment, honor and leadership. This nation was fortunate to have General Clark in command in Bosnia. It was an ugly conflict that was successful and did not cost any American lives. He always put his troops first, as he puts this country first.
  
  LTC Devon Thyme
  US Army (Ret).
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  Martha Benedict

  10 months ago

  Wesley Clark was in the lineup of generals that came on the stage earlier. He was not the speaker, however. I hope the Obama campaign uses General Clark to criticize McCain's fitness for leadership. As has been pointed out, five-and-a-half-years in a POW camp does not qualify a man to be president. Crashing military planes over and over also does not make you fit to be commander in chief. Clark tells the truth, out-ranks McCain and can stand up to the smear machine that has tried to refute him.
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  berliner2

  10 months ago

  My guess: Secretary of Defense or State.
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  Eric

  10 months ago

  Clark could not be Secretary of Defense. You have to be retired from the Armed Forces for 10 years before holding that position.
  
  I think he would make a good Sec of State or maybe National Security Adviser.
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  grg

  10 months ago

  Tell that to George Marshal.
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  Virgil Smith

  10 months ago

  I want him as Sec of Homeland Security. That Dept could be important and viable if it had some strong leadership and organization.
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  EagleFury

  10 months ago

  The Dept of Homeland Security is as transparent a manifestation of dictatorial power run amok as we may ever see in US history. It needs to be dismantled, and laws passed to prevent anything like it ever being created again. Shades of the Gestapo...Hello?!
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  Mike Carter

  10 months ago

  The ten year thing applies to flag and field grade officers being hired for GS positions related to their last billet. Doesn't apply here Secretary-level appointments are at the pleasure of the President, and are not affected by Civil Service rules.
  
  SecDef is a good idea, and he has the gravitas internationally to do SecState, but I like the idea of letting him turn the overbloated Homeland Security apparat into something functional. LOts of savings to be had there, and it might even start doing something useful.
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  mag-atl

  10 months ago

  He already has a National Security Adviser, Dr. Susan Rice - another African-American. please do your home work before blurting out anything...
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  Virgil Smith

  10 months ago

  Your tone is way harsher than it needs to be.
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  willfillmore

  10 months ago

  Ok, how long was rumsfeld retired from the Armed Forces? Oh, that's right - he never served. Where did you get that little tidbit of misinformation?
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  bigO

  10 months ago

  He was onstage when eleven or so admirals, rear admirals, and generals stood onstage while one of them gave very firm support to Obama
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  anghiari

  10 months ago

  How about secretary of defense.?..works for me!
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  DanaDane

  10 months ago

  More and more high-ranking military officials are coming in line with Obama's views. The troops were sent into Iraq ill-equipped and for the wrong reasons. Bush has gotten them bogged down in the middle of a Sunni/Shia crisis, and McCain doesn't do anything for them once they get home. I ask you: who fought for all armored Humvees and flak jackets? TED KENNEDY (D)- Mass did!
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  chyko

  10 months ago

  McCain picks Sarah "who" to be his running mate - there goes the experience and judgement question used against Obama. I know what McCain is up to. He knows that he will not win this election so, he is trying to make history by becoming the first Republican nominee to select a woman as a running mate. That was smart move.
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  Ione

  10 months ago

  It wasn't McCain who chose her. McCain was ordered by the REPUGS
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  Bonnie Gibbons

  10 months ago

  To those suggesting Clark as SecDef - he's not eligible. A certain number of years must elapse after military service before taking that position, basically to keep it a civilian post.
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  Bonnie Gibbons

  10 months ago

  Oh, and I disagree with the poster. Clark WAS dissed. He HAD to be among the retired generals because to exclude him would have been SO blatant. But at the very least, he should have been the speaker. This WAS a snub.
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  brad

  10 months ago

  Sorry but you are totally mistaken. The only requirement for the post of Secretary of Defense or any cabinet level position is that a person be nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
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  dan

  10 months ago

  Count me as one who hoped Clark would get the VP nod. I actually believe he is a stronger candidate for president than either mccain or Obama. That said - I hope Obama finds a place for him in his cabinet. Clark is brilliant - and can provide the kind of military advise that keeps this country strong...and smart.
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  Jules

  10 months ago

  Wesley Clark was on stage and honored as one of the retired military in the hour before Gore spoke
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  Jules

  10 months ago

  PS, the retired generals were the one who chose their speaker ,not the Obama camp.
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  breakbeatbilly

  10 months ago

  Why is this freaking news!?!? He was more than spotted, he was actually part of the convention on Thursday night! If the media actually watched the convention this may have been noticed by a third-graders attention span...
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  carsick

  10 months ago

  breakbeat...
  The post was written before Clark went on stage. I think there was a presumption that Clark would be a surprise speaker.
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  Kimo

  10 months ago

  Perhaps the right wing was very successful (in the eyes of the Democratic Leadership) when they attacked General Clark so hard for his comments one day.
  Hopefully after some time, he will re-emerge as a top Political leader in this country. Cabinet member?
  I am a fan and a supporter of General Clark.
  
  Go Obama/Biden!
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  Mike Carter

  10 months ago

  VOTE WES CLARK FOR PREZ and TONY McPEAK FOR VP 2016!!!!!!!!
  
  Sorry for shouting. Overcome by the possibility.
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  Jennifer

  10 months ago

  Were Bill and Hillary at the Convention at Invesco Field?
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  Joan

  10 months ago

  Hillary was there, not Bill.
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  David M. Sklan

  10 months ago

  Wesley Claark is a Democrat out of the same material as FDR. All those high and mighty Republicans can just kiss me where the Sun doesn't shine. They talk as if they have some kind of monopoly on patritism.
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  Fernando

  10 months ago

  For a man who had been a Republican and run a failed presidential bid four years ago. Gen. Clark has a surprising number of hardcore supporters, including yours truly. I would have liked him as running VP, but now that the position has been filled, Obama should appoint him Secretary of State. Gen. Clark is THE man for the job.
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  Lynda

  10 months ago

  Wesley Clark is well qualified and a supporter of Barack now. The rest is drama of politics. He is more than welcomed to contribute his national security expertise and will hopefully.
  
  This season, the roster of clout and experience I witnessed in the Barack campaign and inside the democratic party, i.e., in senators, former senators and Presidents, and a Lureate in Gore, is to instill pride in us and confidence in leadership exemplified in the Democratic party today.
  
  Republicans appear steal and full of politics versus interest in policy and the American peoples welfare. I am eleated by the roster inside the Democratic leadership for the first time noticed in my voting career, Wesley Clark is one of many. Thank God.
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  Fremon

  10 months ago

  I was hoping that Clark would have been Obama's selection to fill in the security/military expertise. I had hoped that Obama would go for expertise in either this area or economics or foreign relations. I am very happy he went with Biden so to me it was a wash with Clark. Clark is something special as he not only is a 4 star but a Rhodes Scholar and first in his West Point class. What a contras with McCain. I hope Obama chooses Clark as Sec. of Defense. The military needs to be balanced with those being elevated during the Bush administration. Clark can do that and so could Gen. Shinseki who was relieved of Command we he wanted to do Iraq with more troops then was done. We need to straighten out some of the military thinking. In fact, I wish they would bring back Shinseki as Joint Chief Commander (4 stars never retire) to work with Clark as Secy of Defense.
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  easterman

  10 months ago

  He is as qualified as General Washington to made his point about John McCain and leadership. A good soldier does not necessarily translate into a wise leader.
  
  General Clark's leadership has been proven in battle....so his argument is well taken.
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  anon

  10 months ago

  Why do people go nuts over this d-bag anyway?
  
  Wow he bombed a bunch of civilians in Serbia!
  
  pbbbps Please...
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  C. Neiman

  10 months ago

  He was also on stage as one of the many retired generals honored.
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  RLGiarrusso

  10 months ago

  I think he'd make a great Sec. of Defense.
  OBAMA/BIDEN '08
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  James Craven

  10 months ago

  General Clark called it right: Being a POW does not qualify one as Commander in Chief; especially in another illegal, preemptive and aggressive war like Iraq. See a letter from fellow POW (with McCaine) on why he is not voitng for McCaine: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/articl...
  
  Those who have not served in the military often try to deal with the cognitive dissonance by being a) Chickenhawks and sychophantic in support of our troops if right-wingers; b) sychophantic and uncritical support of our troops and offering a black check if a bit to the left. In any case, it is often sycophancy and toadying because of inability to answer the question: If you are so pro-war or pro=troops, why did you never serve when you had a chance?
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  philip Johnson,PE

  10 months ago

  GLAD TO SEE GENERAL CLARK AT DENVER CONVENTION--WISH HE WOULD HAVE SPOKEN. I LIKE JOE BUT CLARK WAS MY CHOICE FOR VP.
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  ozzie

  10 months ago

  He was probably there for security...lol
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  Bruce G.

  10 months ago

  It was nice to see Susan Eisenhower (former Republican) granddaughter of General Dwight Eisenhower speak at the convention. She is a foreign policy specialist who realizes we have been on the wrong track for the last 7 years; now we need General Colin Powell to speak his mind and endorse Obama. Wouldn't we like to know why he dropped out of the administration after the first term?
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  W.R.Printz

  10 months ago

  Remember, Clark is also a certified financial advisor, and an ace on monetary issues. He could end up as Sec. Treasury or Commerce just as eaisly as Def. or State.
  
  I personally think John Kerry or Bill Richardson will be heading to Foggybottom....
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  owlhowl

  10 months ago

  I'm glad he choose to go. He's a class act. He GETS IT!
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  snickers

  10 months ago

  Duh! He was ON the stage with the other military men and women announcing their support for Obama's candidacy.
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  Pam

  10 months ago

  It was terrific. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing from the generals. They had endorsed Obama earlier this year in Chicago at the History Museum.
  
  Very Happy to see General Clark!
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  Walter

  10 months ago

  Wesley Clark is a war criminal and Obama needs to distance himself from the likes of this liar. It’s bad enough that Obama chose a warmonger like Biden, a Cold War left over. Obama needs to put a leach on his attack dog Biden because we are sick of Biden’s lies on behalf his lobbyists. We are sick of Biden’s association with the terrorist KLA and I am a Zionist speeches. Biden needs to speak on how he plans to win the peace not how he wants to win wars. If Obama wants change great speeches will not get him there. Hitler also made great speeches to screaming crowds. Obama will be judged by his deeds. Russia bashing and posturing to promote another Cold War is not the direction that Americans want. America needs to return to championing international law observing its covenants and being the example that follows due process, rule of law and being a partner not an adversary in world affairs.
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  ZekeBundren

  10 months ago

  Wes Clark is a brilliant man more fit for the presidency than either major party candidate.
  
  Obama made a mistake picking Biden. But, given Obama's commitment to appeasing Simp and Republicans it is understandable that he wants little or nothing to do with Clark. That it is a mistake is the product of both naivete and hubris in Obama.
  
  The question is this: are naivete and hubris enough? Obama has my vote, but I'm voting against the Republican. The millions of fools too stupid or banal to understand the need to punish the Republican Party are waiting to be convinced. Clark might have done that. Biden is incompetent to do that, but maybe Obama can make the sale.
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  eve

  10 months ago

  wesley clark spoke the truth about john mccain, that everyone seems to be afraid to do. I respect mccains service to his country but that does not qualify him to be president. He would bring back the draft, where wesley clark respects peace & is a much more qualified to speak about mccain.
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  ajm8127

  10 months ago

  Hear, hear! I liked Clark for VP myself, especially because of that comment made about McCain's military experience somehow qualifying him for the presidency. I like people who speak their minds and tell it like it is. My grandfather used to always say that, "Tell it like it is." Enough reminiscing, we've got an election to win!
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  hrh

  10 months ago

  Remember when Clark asked how McSame's POW experience prepared him for an executive position and the Rethugs pounced on him and the spineless Demos did nothing, NOTHING to defend what he said? They let him be vilified in the corporate media for days.
  
  Personally, I believe Obama doesn't want any part of him, for whatever reason. He's never been invited to any campaign events or even the convention, has he. He's become a non-person to them. Why?
  
  He was the PERFECT VP choice!
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