C-Span at 12:37ET: Wes Clark teaches and kicks GOP bootey for 1whole hr!

[FrenchieCat]

I missed the first two airings. This is General Wes Clark at John Hopkins University.....his taped appearance from earlier today.

I understand that he clarifies Kerry's IWR stance better than anyone has yet, among many other issues. Clear, succinct, and forceful...he breaks down the complex issues so that even the dimmest sheeple and the f*cked up press can understand.

The man is pure Democrat Gold **** National Security for the Democrats would not be a losing issue if he would have been on the ticket. The Economy could have been front and center (Kerry and the DNC, what were you thinking?)

I just hope that John Kerry still has some moxie left to include Wes in his cabinet (if he wins)...preferrably as the SOS (Screw Holbrooke!)

This is a 4 Star General; former CIC of Nato; former Supreme Allied Commander of Europe and of the Southern Command before that. The only General to have planned, led, and won a war without a single American soldier casualty. Also key in negotiating peace (Bosnia Dayton Peace Accords). Wounded with 4 bullets in Vietnam, he earned a Purple Heart (2 Clusters) and a Silver Star for Valor. Badly injured, Clark taught himself how to walk and to shake hands again. Then stayed in the Army after Vietnam....and led in rebuilding it. Another Arkansan Rhode Scholar, 1st in his class at West Point, with Masters in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, the General is the most decorated soldier since Eisenhower. He also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the most coveted medal a civilian can be awarded (his knighthood from England and Medal awarded by the French Foreign legions are only two of 26 medals awarded from foreign nations). A straight talking non-pol intellectual southerner(until his run), he talks honestly and with such sincerity!

Jammed Packed house (according to those who were there and reviews of those who saw the airing earlier).

30 minutes Q&A afterward.

watch it and be in for 1 full hour of hard hitting political insight hard to locate these days.

[Lefta Dissenter]

1. Frenchie, you're the bomb!

I saw just a few minutes of that earlier, and, of course, it made me sad for what we have passed up... :(

I can't wait to see the whole talk! :bounce:

[FrenchieCat]

2. As an example of Clark's

insight BEFORE THE FACT....here's what he said back DECEMBER 9, 2003, On the Campus of the University of New Hampshire--During one of the Democratic Party's presidential debates:
Wesley Clark:
"But the time has passed in America when this
(Democratic) party can be the party of compassion and let
the (Republican) executive branch run foreign policy. IT
WON'T WORK. We have to be the party that can stand
toe-to-toe with George W. Bush on national security, as
well as (be) the party of compassion."

"This is an election that's going to be about national
security. Its going to be about facing down George Bush
and his failure to perform his duties satisfactorily as
commander in chief...."

"He's (George W. Bush) going to run on the idea that he's
the commander in chief, that it's about his
patriotism..."

[Leilani]

7. Thanks Frenchie!

We Clarkies knew that...too bad not enough people listened.

I heard Wes earlier this evening...he was terrific, & the crowd loved him.

[FrenchieCat]

12. Clarkistas are pretty smart.....

But more than that....Clakistas wanted to kick Bush's *ss out of America's main house without fail...and they knew what it would take. Michael Moore, Calpundit, DonkeyRising, Mediawhoresonline.com and so many, many more...hell, even McGovern knew what it would take! That's for damn Shor!

[xray s]

3. thanks for the heads up

go wes!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

4. Ah yes - what if

May I please also add his White House Fellowship that he received after his Master's from Oxford University, which is a highly competitive program where only a very small percentage of the applicants get accepted. There's also the fact he reads literature in the original Spanish, French, and Russian and he's a man conversant with poetry, prose, philosophy, history, economics, and many other subjects. The man is simply extraordinary.

[Mz Pip]

5. It was awesome

What a mistake the Dems made by questioning his credentials. "He's not pure enough, He's not really a Democrat. He's a stalking horse for Hilary. He's a PNAC plant." F*ck them all.

He is smarter than any politician out there today. No sound bites, no talking points. Damm, I miss him.

MzPip
:dem:

[FrenchieCat]

6. Hi there mzpip!....

Not only that....but he f*cking voted for Reagan....can you imagine how many "Swing" votes that would have brought in? I guess there was a reason that Michael Moore endorsed the general. Guess Michael Moore wanted to win REAL BADLY! Too bad the Dems got hoodwinked by the media during the primaries......Too bad John Kerry got hoodwinked by the media during his time of choice for a VP! Too bad we are all being hoodwinked by the media now! I think we've been had!

[Mz Pip]

8. Hey Frenchie!

:hi:

Glad to see you're still around.

Clark took questions from the audience and answered them with candor and intelligence and a firm grasp of the issues. Can't imagine Bunnypants coming anywhere close to understanding the geopolitical dynamics in play. A man without soundbites. How refreshing.

I'm glad Clark is still out there fighting the fight.

MzPip
:dem:

[Leilani]

9. A Really Important Thing Wes Said:

The Dem Party needs to be a FULL SERVICE party; he was talking about Dems wanting to concentrate on domestic issues, but they needed to be able to handle defense also.

Where are all those folks who told us that foreign policy, terrorism, & the war would not matter?

[faithfulcitizen]

26. I totally agree!!

Of course I agree with most everything Wes says. ;)

This election IS about security, terrorism & Iraq. This trumps domestic issues and this is Kerry's strongest argument, imo. He just needs to make it stick for crying out loud. Miller, & Bushco have "security moms" scared to death that Kerry won't wage war if necessary to protect ourselves.

I think he needs to say "George Bush has crippled us in the war on terror!" and keep repeating it like a friggin' broken record...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Rumsferatu is on now -- Blaaghh!

What a contrast it will be when Clark comes on.

[Lefta Dissenter]

18. lethality?

:wtf:

Rumsfeld is SUCH an ass

[AnnitaR]

11. Kickin' this thread!

Want everyone to witness Wes' brilliance!

Sigh... it's so hard sometimes to not wonder "what if?"....

I miss Wes and it's so damn wonderful to see him giving these kind of speeches!

We are very blessed that this man is on our side!

[BootinUp]

13. Waiting anxiously here :-)

[FrenchieCat]

15. The wait will be worth it....

by ALL accounts!

[Julien Sorel]

14. Please everyone,

it's an impressive performance, but let's remember what Wes himself never forgets: that we have a job to do, and it's in the here and now. Looking at the what-might-have-beens detracts from the beauty that will be the future, if I may wax philosophical for a moment :-)

[FrenchieCat]

17. I've held my tongue....

Long enough. I meant what I said, and said what I meant. I think that there are enough threads about John Kerry. Maybe Democrats won't make the mistake they made this time, next time. When we have a President as F*cked as Bush is....and he is ahead in most of the polls.......I'm sorry, but at some point, I have to say my piece.

Hell, I think that as hard as Wes Clark is working FOR Kerry.....he has earned a bit of "what ifs" from his damn supporters....Don't you?

[Lefta Dissenter]

21. Frenchie

You said it a helluva lot better than I was going to.

And yes, I'm busting my butt for Kerry, as most Clarkies are... it doesn't mean we don't miss our candidate who had so much to offer.

[Julien Sorel]

22. Not when those what-ifs

detract from the efforts and sacrifices that Clark has made on the behalf both of Kerry and the DP. And they do. So I don't indulge in them, partially out of respect for Clark.

[FrenchieCat]

34. Just like detest the idea of those

walking in lock step with Bush.....I don't think that this single DU thread is of any threat to ruining John Kerry's campaign. If it is....Lord help us, coz it means that we are in a world of trouble.

[Bundbuster]

16. Will it be aired again...if so, when?

[FrenchieCat]

19. He will be on in a few minutes....

On C-Span. If you can't get next to a TV...then I suggest you go on the C-span Website.

[FrenchieCat]

20. Gonna go watch it

on my Big Screen TV right now. A Friday night treat for America! Yeah!

[Crunchy Frog]

23. Thanks Frenchie.

I caught part of it earlier on, and got it on tape during the last go round.

Everytime I see him, I realize again why it was that I supported him. I really hope that the Dem establishment will come to appreciate how much of a gift he is to our party. I have my doubts.

It was great to see the response he got from that audience. Bad speaker my ass!

I think he may end up as sort of a one man think tank from whom the Democrats continue to take ideas and expertise, even if it's without attribution. Maybe that's the only way they can really find him acceptable.

[Bundbuster]

24. On now again! (12:43 est)

Gettin' out the tape.

[Sugarbleus]

25. 9:57 pm PST.. just turned to c-span..he's on.. Don't know how much

I've missed. Thanks for the heads up.

[Leilani]

27. Fractionation

The Wes word of the day..

I always learn something when Wes is talking.

[FrenchieCat]

30. Don't we all!!!!

Just finished watching....and may I say, I am a Wes Clark Democrat, thru and thru.....

Being born and raised in France....I think I know bullsh*t when I hear it...and know sincerity and truth when it speaks.

Well, just heard some sincerity and hard truths tonight. Hope many heard it, and will do something about it.

Wes Clark is a gift to Democrats.....One day, they will recognize it. Just hope it won't be too late.

....doh!

[Leilani]

28. Well, what did you all think?

Was he good, or was he good?

[FrenchieCat]

32. If he was any better....

I would have jumped into my big screen TV...like an episode of "Twilight Zone". The man is a bad General Dude, forceful, compassionate, honest, articulate, thoughtful, experienced, fair, funny, humble, full of stories, full of hope, .....should I go on???

My favorite part was when Wes said that we didn't have to have another terrorist attack in this country and later asked us to just think about the what ifs we would have used the 200 billion we spent in Iraq on Homeland Security.

Clark came off so confident, strong and protective.

That's what we need articulated in this campaign....that we shoudl have -confident national security vs. incompetent national stupidity!

[BootinUp]

35. Outstanding

Really enjoyed the question and answer part. Its up to us to set the strategy for the future. :)

[Kat45]

29. Wow! Wes was great! Thanks for the heads up.

That was such a wonderful, impassioned speech. Very informative. Man, I really miss Clark's intelligence in the campaign. I wish the folks who aren't political junkies could hear this speech, but of course they don't watch C-span.

I really wish he was our candidate, but I know he's working hard campaigning for Kerry so maybe his speeches will move some folks to voting Dem for president. And I hope he is part of the Kerry administration; I believe he is the person who can extricate us from the morass that dumbya got us into in the ME.

[Carla in Ca]

31. I thought he was absolutely wonderful!

n/t

[Auntie Bush]

33. Was just going to bed when I saw your post. Thanks Frenchie!

Was so nice to see him on TV...hear him...and drool! And CRY!

What a loss! How could Kerry have past him up?

If he was VP...he'd be kicking Bush and Cheney in the ass so hard they'd have to stand on their heads to take a pee...to put it politely...but you get the idea. Bush wouldn't be doing better in the polls on National Defense if Clark was on the ticket. Kerry would be free to discuss economic issues. The V.N. vets would all be voting Kerry. Rove is still smiling that Kerry didn't pick Clark.
I'm sorry to say these things but had to get them off my chest. Figured everyone else is in bed and wouldn't see this.

[abrock]

36. Watched the whole thing. Great speaker, this guy.

Not as good as Edwards in my opinion (the most charismatic of them all, practically a southern John Kennedy) but still very damned good. He was exceptional at the end when he fielded questions and answered honestly and very clearly. He never bashed Bush, and stayed on message: Get involved, get interested, pay attention, and vote!

Wes knows that if they follow his instructions they'll all vote for Kerry. My sig line tells it all.

[AnnitaR]

37. Rolling back out my "Wes Clark Democrat" avatar!

To show my unwavering appreciation of Wesley K. Clark! Keeping my other Kerry/Edwards stuff in my sig line... but I am a Wes Clark Dem through and through and it just feels better seeing that avatar there!

He's just so damn awesome!

[FrenchieCat]

38. Great decision....

I have the "America needs Wes Clark "--cut off the bottom part (very straight and neat) that said for President in '04. It looks real there....coz America does need Wes Clark.