Campaign 2004: Clark’s Charge (He would have been a Republican if Rove had returned his calls!)

Newsweek ^ | 9/29/03

[areafiftyone]

fter Al Qaeda attacked America, retired Gen. Wes Clark thought the Bush administration would invite him to join its team. After all, he’d been NATO commander, he knew how to build military coalitions and the investment firm he now worked for had strong Bush ties. But when GOP friends inquired, they were told: forget it.

WORD WAS THAT Karl Rove, the president’s political mastermind, had blocked the idea. Clark was furious. Last January, at a conference in Switzerland, he happened to chat with two prominent Republicans, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and Marc Holtzman, now president of the University of Denver. “I would have been a Republican,” Clark told them, “if Karl Rove had returned my phone calls.” Soon thereafter, in fact, Clark quit his day job and began seriously planning to enter the presidential race—as a Democrat. Messaging NEWSWEEK by BlackBerry, Clark late last week insisted the remark was a “humorous tweak.” The two others said it was anything but. “He went into detail about his grievances,” Holtzman said. “Clark wasn’t joking. We were really shocked.”

They shouldn’t have been: when Clark wades into the battle, he expects to be taken seriously. Howard Dean knew to be careful when he and Clark held what was supposed to be a secret conference three weeks ago in L.A. Dean’s advisers had warned their boss not to even hint that Clark would be the running mate should Dean win the Democratic nomination. “That would have been both presumptuous and condescending,” said a Dean aide. Somehow, word of the meeting leaked—as did the notion (hotly denied by Dean insiders) that the VP slot indeed had been offered.

[areafiftyone]

Sorry Clark but Rove doesn't want NutJobs on his team.

[finnman69]

This a really slimey article that simultaneously boosts Clark Rove and smears Bush/Rove.

[cricket]

"He would have been a Republican if Rove had returned his calls!)"

. . .nice to confirm that Clark's ego is his first concern; great quality to have in a world leader.

No doubt he has found a true home with the Demrats.

[LibertyAndJusticeForAll]

We can only expect more pro-Clark articles from the major media. I haven't heard any Republican attack Clark yet. They seem to be ignoring him altogether, and that may be a mistake.

[areafiftyone]

Oh there will be alot more smear articles about Bush and his administration in the future. It only just started. There will be more polling against Bush too. Check out the one I just posted about Iowa. Iowan's Support for Bush Tumbles. It is going to be up to Bush's team to start going on the defensive. Right now Bush has alot on his plate but he can't ignore them for long otherwise they will gain the upper hand and he is going to end up just like his father. His father did not fight enough against the Democreeps and thought his popularity would hold him. And I voted for his father and hated to see him defeated by a idiot from Arkansas.

[river rat]

Right, and Gore would be a genius if he only had a brain..
Hillary would be a saint, if she only had a heart.
Cliton would be a lover, if he only had a.....never mind.

Maybe they should all go to the Land of Oz, to get "fixed".

Semper Fi

[Consort]

I don't think that the Bill-Hillary relationship was ever consummated.

[Pylot]

I am sending a personal thank you note to Mr Rove.

[Cobra64]

“I would have been a Republican,” Clark told them, “if Karl Rove had returned my phone calls.”

This guy is definitely a nutcase. "I would have been a Republican..." What the hell does that mean? Doesn't he have any moral fibre and personal conviction? That statement is something I might expect from a four year old. /end rant

[sd-joe]

Wussy Clark a Republican. Now THATS scary.

[Cacophonous]

Damn. And to think that if Rove had returned his calls, Clark would have been a Republican and had the full support of Freepers.

[SCHROLL]

Just goes to show Clark is the perfect Dem. He's one petty bastard.

[chilepepper]

i wouldn't say it slimes bush/rove -- if karl rove wouldn't return weasely's calls, it just shows how savvy and competent rove really is... rove's gone up several notches in my esteem...

[isthisnickcool]

i wouldn't say it slimes bush/rove -- if karl rove wouldn't return weasely's calls, it just shows how savvy and competent rove really is... rove's gone up several notches in my esteem...

Clark is a petty little tit isn't he?

[Unicorn]

Sounds like this guy isn't right in the head.

[PISANO]

And so, if Rove returns his call, he runs OPPOSING GW in the next election?? I am beginning to believe the PASSED over Brigadier General in 1990 became a four star General ONLY because of X42.

[jwalsh07]

“I would have been a Republican,” Clark told them, “if Karl Rove had returned my phone calls.”

Way to go Karl!

[DeweyCA]

Yes, this shows that his choosing of a political party is only for if it serves his own personal career growth, not whether the party's policies are something that he believes in. He is just like Clinton. His main priority is his own pursuit of power. That takes priority over everything else. He doesn't knows where he stands on issues. That's because ultimately he doesn't care about them except for how he can get more personal power and acclaim.

He says that the US needs leadership. Yet he can't even tell people where he would lead them. Another "leader" who doesn't know where he is going.

[Cobra64]

i wouldn't say it slimes bush/rove -- if karl rove wouldn't return weasely's calls, it just shows how savvy and competent rove really is... rove's gone up several notches in my esteem...

I'll ditto that sentiment. Rove is a sharp cookie. Actually, I think all of W's cabinet and advisors are sharp. I'd say W is not a savant, but he's honest and a good listener, manager, decision-maker.

[michaelt]

I hope you're being sarcastic.