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Let's Put the Cult Back Together

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections
Posted on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:04:26 PM EST
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The only political cult I was ever in was the Wes Clark for President cult of 2003-2004. Via Spencer Ackerman, via Kagro, it may be time to put that cult back together:

There is chatter in Democratic circles about possible interest from Wesley Clark as a candidate for retiring Democrat Vic Snyder’s congressional seat. [. . .] A credible source says that an internal discussion is taking place, and that Clark is giving it serious consideration.

I'm in. Where's my kool-aid?

Speaking for me only

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    Let's Put the Cult Back Together | 41 comments (41 topical)

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    If he's going to run, I want him (5.00 / 5) (#2)
    by andgarden on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:13:27 PM EST
    to primary Blanche Lincoln.

    I doubt he would ever challenge (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:19:18 PM EST
    a sitting Dem incumbent.

    Parent
    There must be some way (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by andgarden on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:20:29 PM EST
    to make her want to spend more time with her family.

    Parent
    Bad polling (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:24:11 PM EST
    Halter probably steps in though.

    Parent
    That is some seriously Mafioso sounding (none / 0) (#9)
    by lilburro on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:32:19 PM EST
    language!!  

    Parent
    It fits... (none / 0) (#11)
    by kdog on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:39:38 PM EST
    it is an organized crime protection racket business after all:)

    Parent
    Classic (none / 0) (#32)
    by cal1942 on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 03:01:47 PM EST


    Parent
    Ooh, that is such a good idea! (none / 0) (#33)
    by MKS on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 03:09:39 PM EST


    Parent
    That itself is somewhat concerning to me (none / 0) (#20)
    by cawaltz on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:35:02 PM EST
    it doesn't bode well that he'd be willing to fight in Congress when push comes to shove. I want someone who isn't afraid to fight the machinery when its views don't match the needs of its constituency, not just someone who is going to rubber stamp a "democratic" agenda.

    I'll reserve judgement though because I like Clark for the most part.

    Parent

    I don't think Clark is a rubber stamper (none / 0) (#22)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:45:51 PM EST
    He isn't going to unseat someone who is on his side though even if he is the superior General.  That is a very bad move in war, should only be done when it absolutely must be done.

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    "his" side (none / 0) (#27)
    by cawaltz on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 02:10:57 PM EST
    Unfortunately, imo the problem with the Democratic infrastructure is there aren't enough people willing to buck conventional wisdom when it fails. Case in point is the health care debacle and the pass anything mentality.

    I don't want someone who says he isn't going to run simply because the other person has a D after their name, even if that person is wrong 80% of the time for their constituency on issues.

    I'm willing to wait to see what he actually says but when it starts out with I'm not going to run because the other guy has a D after their name it isn't starting well.

    Parent

    If Clark chooses to seek Snyder's seat (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Elporton on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:23:32 PM EST
    over Lincoln's, that may be confirmation that Lt. Gov. Bill Halter does plan to run against Sen. Lincoln and Clark wants to maximize the Democrat's chances to retain both seats.

    Parent
    BTW, the kind of race he'll have to run (none / 0) (#4)
    by andgarden on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:19:48 PM EST
    in Arkansas means that I'm hesitant to be "on board" in any serious way right now.

    Parent
    I loved Wes Clark (5.00 / 3) (#8)
    by hairspray on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:26:53 PM EST
    I worked tirelessly for him.  But the Kerry reincarnation and the Democratic infighting killed him.  It was another stop....Dean at any cost. I saw him in person a number of times and felt that he had all the cojones to take on GWB.  By that time people were getting tired of the war and were starting to bail out.  Kerry was way too wimpy, and even though I had liked him as a conservationist, something awful happened to him during the campaign.  I thought of Clark as another Bobby Kennedy and he had the way of answering questions by explaining a lot like Bill Clinton.  Dammm, the insiders just have to call the shots don't they?

    Where's my checkbook? (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by goldberry on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:37:04 PM EST
    Count me as one of the "broken-glass Clarkies".  

    I was a lukewarm Clarkie (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:46:48 PM EST
    It was the "Be All You Can Be" slogan that caused me to snap out of my trance and put down my Kool-aid and go do what I always do when guys start being all they can be.  Sit on the bleachers with a box of band-aids and watch the stupid.  I think Clark can deliver when it comes to crafting and enacting functional policy...but he needs campaign help...lots.

    speaking as an arkansan (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:32:00 PM EST
    Clark is a dem who could win.  

    now can we put my only cult (none / 0) (#19)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:32:47 PM EST
    experience back together?

    Dean for president

    Parent

    I guess I'm still "bitter" (5.00 / 4) (#21)
    by cawaltz on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:40:33 PM EST
    I wouldn't vote for Dean after what he enabled in 2008. It's a shame because he had me all the way up until he decided to allow some votes to count more than others.

    Parent
    Even tho I'm more liberal than he (none / 0) (#37)
    by sj on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 04:53:24 PM EST
    I was all in for Dean until that point.  It felt like a double betrayal.  The Party and "my man, Howard Dean".

    I wish he would issue a proper mea culpa so I could consider getting behind him again.  It will never happen, though.

    I always thought it was a mistake for HRC and her supporters (I'm looking at you, Carville) to not make peace with him as DNC chair.

    Parent

    I like hearing that (none / 0) (#23)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:46:39 PM EST


    Parent
    he is held (none / 0) (#28)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 02:25:02 PM EST
    in high regard there.

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    The most important question is (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by Manuel on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 02:33:42 PM EST
    Does Clark support a public option and if so, how will that play in Snyder's district?  Fortunately for Clark, that question may be moot by the fall.

    Do you really think that is "the" (none / 0) (#30)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 02:42:50 PM EST
    most important question?  I am more interested in Clark's current views on U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention situation in Pakistan and Yemen.

    Parent
    I forgot the :-) (5.00 / 2) (#31)
    by Manuel on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 02:47:20 PM EST


    Parent
    Ha, no wonder you remember (none / 0) (#1)
    by observed on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:06:29 PM EST
    that Taibbi piece.
    I've actually never read him since then.
    I suppose he may have improved.

    I was neither a Clark cultist, (none / 0) (#12)
    by brodie on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:39:55 PM EST
    a Deaniac, a Kerry crazy, nor a misty-eyed Edwardsian back in 2004.  The whole field in fact struck me as one of the weakest ones in recent memory.

    Clark's uniform with all the fruit salad didn't overly impress me, though his Rhodes Scholar background did.  The major problem I had was twofold:  he was only very recently a Bush-voting Repub and, second, he'd never before sought public office, so he seemed doubly risky.  I felt then that even if he'd only run once, and won, for just about anything in AR larger than mayor of Hot Springs, he would have probably won my confidence that year.

    Had he had just a little more experience in politics, he might have had the confidence to reject his 04 advisors stupid advice about skipping Iowa.

    Hope he goes after the open House seat.

    A Bush--voting Republican? (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:19:17 PM EST
    Got a cite for that?  I find it kinda hard to believe.

    Parent
    Fair enough. Might have (none / 0) (#24)
    by brodie on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:53:22 PM EST
    been better to say a Bush (GW)-praiser who, while registered as an Indy, voted for Nixon and Reagan (for nat'l security reasons said Clark in 2004).

    And there was this rather unfortunate bit of unwarranted slobbering about the GWBush admin delivered by Gen Clark in May 2001

    Clark:

    If you look around the world, there's a lot of work to be done. And I'm very glad we've got the great team in office, men like Colin Powell, Don Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Paul O'Neill - people I know very well - our president George W. Bush. We need them there, because we've got some tough challenges ahead in Europe.

       

    Parent

    I'm sure you understand (none / 0) (#34)
    by gyrfalcon on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 03:23:23 PM EST
    that a career military guy who works for various presidential administrations pretty much has to say nice on them?

    Honestly, I have no interest in political interpretations of what he said about the people he was working for.

    Parent

    I believe Clark (none / 0) (#38)
    by BackFromOhio on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 05:01:15 PM EST
    voted twice for Clinton, and for the Dems in 2000, 2004 and on....

    Parent
    Wesley Clark??? (none / 0) (#13)
    by Dadler on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:42:22 PM EST
    Oh lord, just what we need, another "cult" devoted to another guy who stands for nothing. If you think Obama is full of b.s. doublespeak, Clark can more than keep up with him. And with his military background we'll get lots of other psychologically inept, creatively and imaginatively incapable nonsense as a bonus. You want to make sure not an ounce of imagination or creativity or genuinely dissenting thought comes near your political representation, then Clark would be a good choice.

    I won't shout you down (none / 0) (#15)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 12:48:34 PM EST
     . . . too much.

    Parent
    I can't believe you went to the (none / 0) (#16)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:17:51 PM EST
    psychologically inept, creatively and imaginatively incapable nonsense nonsense.  After a lifetime of "Do More With Less" while your life is on the line, which is a military motto for the grunts only and has nothing to do with Boeing, I don't think you have nearly the creative or imaginative abilities that Wes Clark has :)  For crying out loud Dadler, you keep accusing the military of imagining dangerous people in the world all the time.

    Parent
    Some of the most dangerous people (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by jondee on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 01:53:48 PM EST
    in the world are the ones who cant ever publicly stretch their imaginative capability to address the fact that we've always been so much more obsessed with "dangerous people in the world" than most of nations because we insist on maintaining a network of "vital interest" protecting, endless-war-insuring  colonial outposts around the world, along with an amoral war-as-business-opportunity tradition operating through the revolving doors of the Pentagon.

    War has become another thing that's too big to fail, and Wes Clark knows it, but he'll never say it.

    Parent

    Check. And we have (none / 0) (#26)
    by brodie on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 02:00:20 PM EST
    appallingly become the world's policemen, while the number of US military bases worldwide is some astoundingly ridiculous figure.

    The Pentagon and the MIC which supports it have probably never been stronger, at least judged by the hundreds of billions spent (and wasted) each year.

    Of course, like Ike, Gen Clark as President might have been well-positioned to be the one Dem who could make certain fundamental changes to the MIC status quo.

    Otoh, he could have chickened out and done nothing about it, as Ike did ...

    Parent

    I gave your comment a 5 (none / 0) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 04:10:26 PM EST
    For a general accuracy but you can't say Clark is one of those people because he questioned this new afghan push and was saying stuff about having to have a way out first.  I still don't understand what heck is up with that talk, but I'm thinkin that I'm going to tie my husband up and drip hot candle wax on him when he gets home until he tells me from where this Clark fear could come from.  Maybe it's just common sense.

    Parent
    I'm in too (none / 0) (#36)
    by Dave B on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 04:11:36 PM EST
    That's when I first started reading the political opinion of Armando, back even before the CCN.

    I wonder what happened to all those folks.

    I still think we'd have been better of if we'd nominated Wes Clark, or at the very least, if Kerry had nominated him instead of sunshine boy.  Boy we were right about Edwards back then...

    "I wonder what happened. . ." (none / 0) (#40)
    by jen on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 05:24:35 PM EST
    We are everywhere. ;) A few still hanging at CCN, but a gaggle of us moved off to a private message board during the '08 primaries after getting sick of being called low-information voters, racists, etc. Since then most of the pro-O crowd moved on as well, but there's still a small hard core Clarkie group posting there. CCN/Securing America, being a PAC does focus on all the work Wes is doing in the private sector on renewable energy, but he's out there. He's everywhere, too. Google Wes Clark + renewable energy.

    Parent
    I can't imagine (none / 0) (#39)
    by jen on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 05:10:49 PM EST
    Wes Clark would have any desire to do this. He is amazingly active in the private sector in all kinds of renewable energy companies -- Chairman of Emergya Wind Technologies North America and Co-Chairman of Growth Energy, on the board of directors of Juhl Wind Inc., and gives talks all over the country on the urgency of getting our country off foreign oil.

    He knows from his presidential campaign what a freak show politics is and I highly doubt he'd thrown himself back in, into a position where his vision and intelligence would be wasted.

    The only draft I ever signed up for! (none / 0) (#41)
    by oldpro on Tue Jan 19, 2010 at 08:25:14 PM EST
    I can't imagine Wes would want to do this...not just the campaign but serve in the House!  If he says yes, I'll help him again.

    What is it about Arkansas in the 40s, 50s and 60s that could produce two Rhodes scholar white boys without a racist bone in their bodies, both of whom made it to the top of their professions?

    Just amazing.  Maybe it's the water.  Or their moms...

    Let's Put the Cult Back Together | 41 comments (41 topical)

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