Posted on 02/12/2005 2:50:52 PM PST by Cableguy
Here's another reason why some Democrats are fretting over installing antiwar former presidential candidate Howard Dean as chair of the Democratic National Committee. He might cede national defense to the Republicans. That's the charge from associates of another former presidential candidate, former NATO boss Wes Clark. Seems the Clark and Dean teams have been warring over the future of the Democratic Party, and now that threatens to spill into the public if Dean, as expected, wins the chairmanship this Saturday. Here's the fight: Clark wants the Democrats deeply involved in foreign policy and the war, and Dean's team isn't as jazzed about that. They see domestic policy and issues like Social Security and the deficit as the keys to success. But this might be the real rub against Dean: Clark fans think the retired general will be marginalized by Dean. Chart the fight on their blogs.
Dean fans blog here: www.peopleforchange.net Clark supporters chat here: chat.forclark.com
......It's a pretty sad commentary on the state of the senior military these days......
He's been gone a while. What reason is there to believe he is representative of our senior military as it presently exists.
IMO that is what Hillary wants. It wasn't enough for Kerry to lose in 2004 - she needs the hard left to completely self-destruct in 2006 for her to emerge as the only savior of the party. The last thing Hillary wants is a viable challenge from the left as she tries to triangulate in 2008.
If he runs again and is doing well you will see Swift Boat Vets part Two, Rise of the retired Flag Officers. Those who know this buffoon hate him and if he becomes competitive they will torpedo his campaign.
Makes sense about the NATO stuff, but I'm talking about things that are a little deeper. But you make a good point about Hillary knowing his secrets--of course they would push him in 2004, since he would be in their pocket. Excellent observation.
Would Deaniacs be upset if their guy was "fired?" I don't think so. They aren't likely to hitch their wagon to him once they see him lose midterms. They'll blame it not on his organizing and fundraising abilities, but on the fact that he "toned down" his demeanor and "moderated" on the issues. The radical left will then have to either support Hillary (who they actually like anyway) OR run to their third party nutbags.
That was a mindboggler--the libs freaking over him--until you think about the whole person and not just his military career. The libs thought he was Republican-proof because he was a general--that was all they needed to know, because they just wanted someone who was innoculated on that issue. And the perons, as opposed to the general, wanted the job, so he would probably be maleable on many issues.
Sadly, our govt. system is one where people like Hillary Clinton, Wesley Clark, and Darlene Dryun prosper but a colonel in Iraq gets court-martialed for firing his gun over the head of an Iraqi terrorist who had foreknowledge of future terrorist attack during a battlefield interrogation. The system and its minions don't care that the colonel's actions saved the lives of dozens of American soldiers and the terrorist wasn't hurt.
Try Leninists vs Trotskyites!
CA....
There were posts with an artfully constructed depiction of Clark's face, posted on campaign threads here during the '04 campaign, that wondefully captured his essential demented nastiness. Clark could be a real benefit to the '08 Republican candidate...
Well .. I don't think a DNC chairmanship is open ended - and when a person gets elected - I would presume it has an end date - and Dean would need to be re-elected again. I believe Terrytoon served 3 terms (of 4 years each).
It wasn't the electorate who didn't want what Dean was selling .. it was the Clintons who didn't want him to run.
As for Dean "toning down his demeanor" - I don't see it happening. It might be moderated for a little while so he can appear to be centered, but it won't take long before something will tick him off and he will explode.
And .. no .. I don't think the Deaniacs like Hillary better. After Dean dropped out, and there was talk over on DU that Dean could run again, the Deaniacs were upset because they seemed sure Hillary would be running and Dean wouldn't have a chance. They did not appear to be saying they would just switch to Hillary .. in fact most of the conversations were that they would simply not vote. That's why I believe that if the Clintons try to force him out after 2006, the Deaniacs will sit out the election.
Well .. I generally agree with your assessments - and I truly believe Hillary is walking a tightrope and that is a very tough spot to be in when you're running for office.
Clark is done. He couldn't get elected dogcatcher outside of a deep blue state.
I'm more worried about Kucinich then I am about Clark.
"All Americans, even if they're from the South and 'stupid,' should be represented..."
I've worked for him.
Guess who is over sitting in on the NATO meetings? Hillary Clinton, along with her new best buddy Lindsey Graham, and Lieberman and McCain. She also has taken to wearing wire-rimmed reading glasses, perhaps because she needs them more likely to look "serious."
I didn't say the Deaniacs like Hillary better. I said they like her .... enough to vote for her. Most Dems will. If they stay home, or go 3rd party, that's fine with me.
I also didn't say the chair is open-ended - only that a long-term employment contracts aren't involved. Dean had to state to the DNC that he would serve the entire term (4 years) - which takes him out of the 2008 presidential run. However, there isn't anything I am aware of within their by-laws that requires the party to keep him for the full term, should they have something against him in the interim.
She is so transparent.
Do you know who decides which congress people will travel to these types of meetings ..??
I'm sure Hillary wants not only to be seen by America as paying attention to foreign affairs (and national security in particular), but she also wants to be seen by foreign countries as concerned about their issues.
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