Wesley Clark Is Clearly Most Qualified For Secretary of State.

[KittyWampus]

He headed up NATO= Managerial skills
He brokered peace agreements= Diplomatic skills
He has worked directly with Heads of State= Executive skills
He has made world changing military decisions= Strategic skills
He worked on FOX= TV bullshit "debating" skills


I supported him for POTUS, but think he wasn't ultimately cut out for the circular firing squad that is a Primary.

He would shine as Secretary of State. And be ready on Day One for a monumental task in a way no other person ever mentioned would be able to.

[onehandle]

1. He would be good.

But I think he'll be coming on board in 2010.

[hlthe2b]

2. I could go for Clark.... absolutely or Secretary of Defense...

I still cringe at the way he was shouldered out after the MSM made a big deal of his telling the truth re: Mr. POW.

[KittyWampus]

5. McCain's POW verbal tick eventually did become feeble though. I like the way Clark stuck to his guns

and never apologized.

[guruoo]

26. This was just Clark's way of rightly advising Obama campaign to 'get back on message' IMO.

[Alameda]

9. Me too....he told the truth.

[Buck Laser]

20. I don't much care for retired military running DOD.

Head of DOD should be a civilian on principle. Past military service is OK, not military career.

[Mz Pip]

3. Definitely

He's my first choice as well.

I remember working on his election campaign in 2004. I've heard him speak several times and he really knows international affairs.

[Honeycombe8]

4. He is not in the running. nt

[KittyWampus]

7. Odd that someone so highly qualified and with a squeaky clean record wouldn't be in the running.

[JoFerret]

15. Must be a conspiracy

.

[leftofcool]

18. I think it has to due to military laws....must be retired 10 years or more?

to hold public office or something like that

[tammywammy]

28. Just ot become Sec. of Defense, he has to be out for 10 years

But he could be Sec. of State.


And possibly Clark has said that he's not interested. :shrug:

[KittyWampus]

29. far as S of D. goes, he could be confirmed in that position. Senate has that power

to make an exception to that rule.

[Posteritatis]

38. I find that very hard to believe. Got a cite for it?

Eisenhower left the military in '47 or '48 and stood in the '52 election. That's less than ten years and a considerably higher public office than a cabinet position.

[Ilsa]

6. It's a terrible shame he isn't in the running. He'd be brilliant as SoS. nt

[KittyWampus]

10. If Obama is picking people according to excellence and on merit, why isn't Clark in the running?

How do we know he isn't?

Because the Mediawhore haven't provided any rumor mongering bullshit?

[nomaco-10]

8. There could have been a time that I would have approved this...

endorsement, but the clarkies posted too many pics of him in a speedo to give him any credence at this point for me.

It's a shame really.

[cali]

11. how is he more qualified than Richardson?

Richardson is governor of a state- managerial skills
UN Ambassador- Diplomatic skills
Has worked directly with heads of state- Diplomatic skills

I don't really see that military experience factors in. Clearly Richardson has strategic skills.

But I want to point out that this isn't all about resume. It's alwo about who President Obama has the most trust in, who he feels he could work with best,etc.

[KittyWampus]

13. I like the way you compared Richardson to Clark. It's how I'd make the decision as POTUS-elect

And your point about factoring in who you trust and can work with is also well taken.

Sort of an "X" Factor :)

[Hawkowl]

23. Slight edge to Clark

Clark's military experience is directly relevant to negotiating peace agreements in Iraq and Afghanistan. The next SOS must understand the strategic and tactical implications of military power on negotiating peace settlements.

People underestimate the astounding job he did in the Balkans. The Balkans are so tribalized with internecine struggles that "Balkanization" is actually used to describe countries composed of hostile ethnicities at each other's throats such as....Iraq. He is the reason the Balkans don't look like Iraq right now.

That being said, I agree with you that who Obama is most comfortable with trumps "best qualified". I mean Clark, Richardson, Kerry are probably all well OVER-qualified if that is even possible.

[guruoo]

30. In Clark's particular case, military experience would indeed provide an advantage...

I see many advantages, but for the sake of argument I believe this one will do....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7877166&mesg_id=7877892

[Triana]

12. Oh yea. He would be good. Is he even under consideration? I'd love to see Wes Clark

somehwere in an Obama administration.

[xultar]

14. I like him better for it than Clinton, Kerry or Richardson.

[roguevalley]

34. he;s an incredible gentleman on top of us and already has about every decoration

that the world's countries have to give.

[acmavm]

16. True, and this is one of the things that's surprised me. That Clark's name

hasn't come up. But who knows? Maybe it has. Obama and his advisers are pretty good at keeping secret what they want to keep secret.

[Captain Hilts]

17. I LOVE Clark, but I think temperament gets in the way. He's too intense.

[FLAprogressive]

19. Secretary of Defense.

[kentuck]

21. Or...

Since Wesley is so damn intelligent, I think he might be a good pick for the CIA. He could figure out where the secrets and the bodies are buried and he is intelligent enough to figure out how to protect our rights from these bastards.

[Occam Bandage]

22. I like Clark, but I'm not sure I like the message that promoting a 4-star general

to our chief diplomatic position sends.

[guruoo]

27. Clark may prove to be the exception to your otherwise valid point...

See this...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7877166&mesg_id=7877892

[Hippo_Tron]

35. Clark wasn't active duty military during any of our post 9/11 activities

He's extremely popular for what he did in Kosov. When all is said and done I will be very interested to see why Obama isn't considering him more seriously.

[vanderBeth]

24. I like Clark, he's my number 2 choice. I won't be disappointed if he gets it.

[guruoo]

25. Clark: "War is the last, last, last resort." ...

'nuff said.

http://www.international.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=78053

[vssmith]

31. I was hoping he would be Secretary of Homeland Security

[FrenchieCat]

32. That would be a very appropriate office for Clark.

Hope he gets it; especially if Lieberman is allowed to keep his chairmanship.

[merci_me]

33. I say National Security Advisor

The more I think about it, the more I think that's the perfect place for Wes Clark.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Security_Advisor_(United_States)

[AtomicKitten]

36. He's definitely a contender.

[yodermon]

37. hmmm ... nat'l security advisor? n/t

[zuul9]

39. Great choice for SOS, but would probably be better suited for SOD

[Skwmom]

40. I think he would be a GREAT pick.