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Did anyone see Gen. Clark on the 'Today' show this morning?

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Padraig18 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 07:51 AM
Original message
Did anyone see Gen. Clark on the 'Today' show this morning?
Edited on Tue Jun-29-04 07:57 AM by Padraig18
He was on with Sen. Lindsay Graham, and they were discussing the 'handover', and Iraq in general. He was fantastic, and made Sen. Graham look like the not-too-comfortable-but-shameless apologist for the * administration that he was.

:D
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LittleApple81 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 07:54 AM
Response to Original message
1. I missed it. Could you give a little more detail. Thanks. n/t
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Padraig18 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 07:59 AM
Response to Reply #1
2. Ermm, little busy atm...
He basically addressed the unstable security situation, pointed out that there was STILL no exit strategy for us, questioned the timing and rigid adherence to the 'arbitrary' date of 6/30, etc. .
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RT Atlanta Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:00 AM
Response to Original message
3. more
Clark was especially good about talking about the admin's "mis-direction play" by going into Iraq rather than finishing off the Taliban in Afghanistan and getting bin laden. He did agree with Lauer when asked whether removing Hussein was a good thing, but went back to the fact that the admin really botched things by not finishing off Taliban. Also said we're over committed in Iraq and cannot sustain that level of commitment. Started out by saying that if the admin. was really committed to handing things over and making Iraqis feel like they are part of the solution that the hand over would have been public with a lot of pomp and circumstance rather than in a bunker or whereever it actually occurred.
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LittleApple81 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:01 AM
Response to Reply #3
5. Thanks to the both of you. n/t
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chimpymustgo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:00 AM
Response to Original message
4. Clark did a very good job.
And Lindsey Graham, despite his impeachment disgrace, has turned out to have some integrity. He could not defend BushCo, and didn't put up much of a fight.

Clark was very calm and direct in criticizing the Iraqi situation. Matt Lauer even fed him a couple of softballs.

Bottom line: Bushco & Iraq are just plain indefensible. The surprise hand-over was a pathetic sham. And everybody - even the media - knows it.

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Padraig18 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:37 AM
Response to Reply #4
9. Sen. Graham was clearly unhappy in his role.
I actually felt somewhat sorry for him; he was like a defense lawyer doing his best for a client he knows is guilty as sin.
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chimpymustgo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:40 AM
Response to Reply #9
10. Exactly! I ALMOST felt sorry for him.
Lindsey Graham was also very outspoken on the prison abuse scandals.
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JI7 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 12:23 PM
Response to Reply #10
24. John Warner was about the same way
trying to defend bush,but not really. you could tell he was struggling and didn't really want to defend him. he was respectful towards michael moore's movie also and said he will watch it. he even asked clark a few questions on what should have been done in iraq and whether it could have made a difference.

this was on larry king yesterday.
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spooky3 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 09:46 AM
Response to Reply #4
14. sorry I missed this--sounds as if he did a great job!
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DakotaDemocrat Donating Member (330 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:04 AM
Response to Original message
6. Agreed...
Lauer even said something to the tune of, "This essentially highlights the problem. We had to do the transfer early because of the security issues."
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Richardo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:13 AM
Response to Reply #6
7. B...I...N-G-O...
Edited on Tue Jun-29-04 08:13 AM by Richardo
...and 'Bingo' was his name-o.

'Bout time, Matt. Who figured out that one for you? :eyes:

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graham67 Donating Member (732 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:20 AM
Response to Original message
8. Video just uploaded
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Kahuna Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 08:53 AM
Response to Reply #8
11. Thanks for the link. I'm watching it now!
:yourock:
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FrenchieCat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 09:22 AM
Response to Original message
12. Clark was superb.....
and looked really, really good. He made sure that the listeners understood that what Bush is doing in Iraq is US politically motivated. Love the way he continues to remind us that Sadam or no Sadam, it's Osama, stupid! Love that. He was calm, articulate, rational and totally handsome (kinda of a Gary Cooper with white hair). Go, Clark, Go.
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cosmokramer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 09:42 AM
Response to Reply #12
13. The man has been on circuit everyday for the last few weeks...
...he looks wonderful, sounds wonderful--Atticus Finch/Gregory Peck type--but that brain is certainly the first thing you notice.
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chimpymustgo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 09:59 AM
Response to Reply #13
15. But, but...I read there was a media blackout on Clark...
That he was the victim of a vast right wing media conspiracy. I know I read that.

THAT said, as I stated above, he was very good this morning.
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Tom Rinaldo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 10:08 AM
Response to Reply #15
16. When Kerry sends Clark as a surrogate, he gets air time
Those are accepted media ground rules for Presidential campaigns. What pundits are reluctant to do is talk about Clark as a VP contender. That being said, it doesn't matter much that they don't. Kerry knows enough about the pros and cons of all the possibilities to make an informed choice without media hype one way or another.

The other thing is the media has always been somewhat willing to ask Clark about foreign affairs because he is so good at giving clear meaningful answers to complex questions regarding it. What they were reluctant to do is let Clark talk about much of anything else, which did not help him when he was running for President.

Still, yeah we are partisan and sometimes (but only sometimes lol) see unfair media motives where mere stupidity is more at play. I think most Democrats agree that electronic media has swung significantly to the right vis a vis all Democrats over the last ten years.

Thanks for your comments about Clark's appearance.
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cosmokramer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 10:29 AM
Response to Reply #15
17. You claimed for two days ...
...Edwards people did not sully Clark celebration threads. What is this???? Hmmmmmm...do as I say and not as I do?
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Jai4WKC08 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 11:03 AM
Response to Reply #17
18. Bingo! n/t
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Tom Rinaldo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 11:17 AM
Response to Reply #17
19. I don't count that as a sully at all
We gotta be able to take gentle digs. chimpymustgo posted a separate message saying Clark did a good job on the program, no ifs ands or buts about it. And the second message signs off that way as well. Time to lighten up. I go on the offensive where there is a real slam involved, and that ain't it.
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senseandsensibility Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 11:31 AM
Response to Reply #19
20. I agree that
Clark seems to be getting a lot of air time lately, and there isn't a news blackout on him. But, as you pointed out, there DOES seem to be a blackout on discussion of him as VP. In fact, he's almost never mentioned as being on the short list. There must be a reason for this. What do think it is?
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Tom Rinaldo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 11:38 AM
Response to Reply #20
21. I honestly don't know
Logic would seem to indicate that either Clark isn't on the short list, or at least he isn't thought to be by enough reputable sources that the media has bought into and so they are going with that, or conversely, that elements of the media are trying to downplay Clark to avoid providing any further fuel to a movement for giving Clark the nod.

Again, I really don't know, just trying to apply common sense here. But like I said above, I don't think it matters.
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Tom Rinaldo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 11:59 AM
Response to Reply #21
22. P.S. it's this type stuff that makes me suspicious though
Thanks to Frenchie4Clark for writing this post on another thread:

"More evidence of the media bias against Clark right here....


Newsweek Poll on MSNBC website. Notice that Clark is not listed as a VP contender....although he has been winning the VP poll at MSNBC for the last 6 weeks in a row. I know that others are also left off....but they didn't come in first in the Sister website poll, either.

Since when is Dean in the running for VP? There is an "interesting" article in Newseek about how to run for VP and there is a poll about the choices Edwards, Geppy, Dean, & someone else are the 4 choice. Of course Edwards is winning by 60%. Needless to say there is no mention of Clark....as I guess he is "someone else".

It's a pitiful shame. Had Wes been given his dues......More people would want him on the ticket...as President during the primaries...and as the VP pick now. This is absurd and oh, so Obvious!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5305082/site/newsweek / "




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Darkamber Donating Member (507 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #21
25. this maybe a reason...
I really don't know who will be VP and I'd be happy with Clark, but maybe this is one reason why he isn't mentioned.

Most of the 'insiders' reports come from DC? Right? Well, we know that both Edwards and Gephardt and perhaps even Vilsack have Senators or Reps and their staffs who support one or the other. This has been in the news including the letter that the House members supporting Edwards sent to Kerry and that was followed by a letter from the House members supporting Gephardt.

So the rumors in DC would be supporting different candidates. I really don't know if Clark is in or out as VP, but I do know that he's excellent at this type of discussion and I've always been impressed with him when he speaks on the issues that he's really knowledgeable about.
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Tom Rinaldo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 12:52 PM
Response to Reply #25
26. That's an interesting thought
It could be part of it.
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cosmokramer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 01:04 PM
Response to Reply #19
27. I agree we should be able to handle gentle digs...
...however, that poster called a waaaaaaaaaabulance about Clark supporters 'sullying' Edwards threads the other day all the while digging himself. It is the hypocrisy of the situation I find offensive.
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Tom Rinaldo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 01:15 PM
Response to Reply #27
28. I know
I wasn't happy about some of the comments in that thread and I said so. I don't really mind these, plus they were preceded by an outright positive contribution, so I chose to focus on that. Without the praise for Clark I would be much closer to your reaction, but there were no slaps at Clark. Maybe a poke at us, but not at Clark, and that's what counts to me. chimpymustgo made positive comments about Clark on a Clark positive thread, and I choose to just leave it at that. I understand how you might feel differently.
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Donna Zen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 12:20 PM
Response to Original message
23. Why ask Clark?
Edited on Tue Jun-29-04 12:35 PM by Donna Zen
The media moves in mysterious ways but they also know:

• NATO is in the news right now

• As Tom said, Clark is articulate and lets face it...photogenic

• He is one of Kerry's surrogates

• Clark called the results of so-called war from day one...like a seer. They may be republicans in the corporate media offices, but they do want to hear what Clark is saying. They also know that Clark is wired into the Europeans. Solonas, one of Clark's closest friends, has recently been named EU foreign minister.

• If I ever worried about a upcoming Clark interview, those days are long gone. The man just continues to hit them out...everytime.

PS Someone______(fill in the blank) has suggested that if we are unhappy about having Clark's mic cut by CNN on Sunday night, we should feel free to contact CNN.
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dryan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 02:16 PM
Response to Reply #23
29. Clark was superb
He looked great and he was able to articulate the ideas that a lot of people have (including me) that we left the situation in Afghanistan to forge war in Iraq and let Osama bin Laden slip away. I felt sorry for Lindsay Graham in a way because he is in an indefensible situation.
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Eurobabe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 02:26 PM
Response to Original message
30. The Man is lookin' FINE!
He looks fit as a fiddle. World spirit, I don't ask for much, but please let this man be the VEEP!!!!

GO WES!! Thanks for the clip EG.
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cosmokramer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 03:11 PM
Response to Reply #30
32. He looks incredible...
...and is really hammering Bush on Kerry's behalf. Check out the new thread about the Inside Politics appearances just now...
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Tim_in_HK Donating Member (544 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Jun-29-04 02:30 PM
Response to Original message
31. Just watched it.
Love that man.
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