Posted on 12/04/2003 2:23:16 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
Last August, Robert Kuttner, a paleoliberal columnist for the Boston Globe, wrote a piece declaring his political love for then-undeclared presidential candidate Wesley Clark. Saying the retired generals entry would "transform" the Democratic race for the 2004 nomination, Kuttner admitted he was "star-struck," not least because Clarks associates said hed repeal Bushs tax cuts and "revisit the so-called Patriot Act." He continued, while making absurd comparisons to Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Clark is the soldier as citizen. Even better, hes the soldier as tough liberal. Just imagine Clark, with his distinguished military record, up against our draft dodger president [Kuttner, by the way, was a rapturous Bill Clinton advocate during that draft-dodgers first term] who likes to play Top Gun dress-up. Imagine the Rhodes Scholar against the leader who cant ad lib without a speechwriting staff. Oh, and hes from Arkansas." I guess Kuttner assumed that Clark learned how to run a presidential campaign as a Rhodes Scholar, and wouldnt put on the amateur show thats been playing for several months now. Lets see: There was the generals confusion about whether hed have voted to authorize an Iraq invasion; his reliance on Beltway gossip and talk shows to charge that the Bush administration planned to topple not only Saddam Hussein, but the leaders of Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia simultaneously; his cool-cat black mock turtleneck at MTVs Boston debate; and numerous past speeches praising Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld. One of the weirder positions, especially for a Democrat (though newly baptized), the neophyte candidate has taken is his support of a constitutional amendment to make desecration of the American flag an illegal act. Kuttners a nominal journalist, so youd think this First Amendment atrocity, which hasnt been debated in Congress for several years, would be a deal-breaker. Or maybe thats the act of a "tough liberal" telling it straight, especially to a Veterans Day rally on Nov. 11 in Manchester, NH. Its possible the remaining "star-struck" Clark boosters admire his deft political touch. On Nov. 23, in Washington, Clark agreed that his fellow citizens generally think Bush is a pretty likeable guy. "Im not running to bash George Bush," he said. "A lot of Americans really love him. They love what he represents, a man whos overcome adversity in his life from alcoholism and pulled his marriage back together and moved forward." Thats the kind of statement certain to pull voters who supported Bush in 2000 over to Clarks side. Last Sunday, on CNNs Late Edition, Clark told Wolf Blitzer that a Democratic candidate cant run on a platform thats top-heavy with domestic issues. Now thats political wisdom, especially since it appears the economy wont hurt Bush. Gen. Wes said: "I can stand toe-to-toe with George W. Bush. Ive worn the uniform for real. I have been a commander in war. Nobody else has
I think the country has to understand: Were not winning the war on terror. This administration took us into Iraq. Its a world-class bait and switch." My current favorite bit of Clarks strategy is to woo Hollywood celebrities in hope of picking their pockets. As reported by the Daily Telegraphs Julian Coman last Sunday, the general appeared onstage, dressed all in black once again, with the Eagles during a fundraiser, telling the group that "Hotel California" has long been his favorite song. (Up yours, Fleetwood Mac!) After the concert, Clark and his wife then drove to Madonnas mansion and had a 90-minute discussion about tax cuts, Iraq and God knows what else. A friend of Madonnas told Coman: "Madonna was very impressed with Gen. Clarks intelligence and his vision for America." Another hanger-on added, "Dont underestimate this. Madonna is often ahead of the curve." Not that Clarkwho, despite the private audience with Madonna and the Eagles, isnt close to competing with Howard Dean and Dick Gephardtis the only goofball on the Democratic circuit these days. One of the problems the nine candidates face, as Daniel Henninger pointed out in last Fridays Wall Street Journal, is that they look very silly in the far too many "debates" that are televised. Its now December, and not too early to put odds on the Iowa caucus winner, and still the number of challengers remains at an attention-stifling nine. DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe, as usual, blew it in his orchestration of the primary campaign. Had he demanded an Iowa "beauty contest" last summer, as the GOP did in 2000, the field probably wouldve shed Joe Lieberman and John Edwards by now. Al Sharptons like a cockroach, and hell continue scamming his way through the campaign in search of a primetime address at the Democratic convention in Bostonone can only hope itll come true for the huckster man of clothbut youd think the lagging candidates would choose dignity over humiliation and call it a day. Its true that the debates dont get the ratings of The West Wing, but the media is obsessed with the contest and so every other week winners and losers are declared after a debate. Henninger wrote: "The effect over time has been corrosive. Messrs. Dean, Kerry, Gephardt, Lieberman and Clarkserious individuals in private, away from this burlesquehave come to look and sound ridiculous. They make the clownsMessrs. Kucinich and Sharptonsound endearing by comparison." Frankly, I think Henninger is far too generous to the "serious" candidates. Kucinich, former boy wonder of Cleveland, does hold nutty ideas (a Department of Peace is one knee-slapper) but at least he doesnt pander to audiences and try to fudge his views depending upon what state hes visiting on a given day. And the constant refrain, most recently repeated by Dean spokeswoman Tricia Enright, that "Each of the Democratic candidates would be better for the future of this country than the current commander in chief," is straight from a clowns linguistic repertoire. The Washington Posts Howard Kurtz, normally the papers lame excuse for a media critic, took on extra duty in Mondays edition with a dispatch from New Hampshire, where he attended a few Dean rallies. It was good stuff, suggesting that Kurtz ought to be relieved of his current task and replace the atrocious Dana Milbank as a political reporter. Dean "launched a full-throated attack on President Bushs foreign policy," at a high school in Merrimack, Kurtz wrote. Dr. Hojo told the crowd: "I think [Bush has] made us weaker. He doesnt understand what it takes to defend this country, that you have to have a higher moral purpose. He doesnt understand that you better keep troop morale high rather than just flying over for Thanksgiving." Dean could endorse pedophilia and his followers, so consumed with hatred for Bush, would nod in approval. In reality, Bushs trip to Baghdad was both a morale-booster and political masterstroke worthy of Bill Clinton. The audacious stopover in Iraq jabbed a knife into the Liberal Heart, reminded voters of the Democratic Partys weak challengers, and diverted attention, at least temporarily, from the medias fixation that the United States is bogged down in a Vietnam "quagmire." You know the T-Day surprise was a success by the mere fact that the New York Times, as of Monday, had yet to issue an editorial on the subject.
Clark was relieved of his last command (NATO) because of "leadership issues". Former intelligence officers have also accused Clark of forcing NATO field intelligence units of falsifying intelligence reports so that he could justify his (and Klinton's) agendas in the Balkans. They're stupid to push Clark's "distinguished military record".
Nutty.
Nuttier than Perot, but less nutty than Kucinich...a soupcon more dangerous, though.
How'd you get ahold of so many fruitcakes? There are only thirteen True Fruitcakes. These are not for eating, as they are immortal and if someone slices a piece off, they regenerate. If you bury them, they reform somewhere else. Only the deranged try to eat them.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.