clark Probably run as Democractic Canidate

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-09-11 06:56pm

Clark Article

An Internet-fueled draft-Clark movement has developed the seeds of a campaign and more than $1 million in pledges. Dean, who also has used the Internet as an organizational tool, has said Clark would have an immediate impact on the race.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has postponed its endorsement — once expected to go to Kerry — to give Clark a month to prove himself.

Senior party leaders say Clark or his advisers have contacted several prominent Democrats in the last few days about jobs in the campaign should he take the plunge. Among them are Mark Fabiani, who ran Al Gore (news - web sites)'s communications team in the 2000 campaign.

"He's asked me to give him some advice on a variety of campaign issues this week, which I am doing," said Fabiani, who indicated he would consider working for Clark should he run. "He's a very impressive man and I think he would be a powerful candidate."

Clark also asked John Weaver, a top strategist in the 2000 presidential campaign of Republican Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) of Arizona, to manage his campaign, Weaver said. He said he declined because of health problems.

Clark disputed Weaver's characterization. "I was very impressed with John Weaver," he said. "There was never a firm offer made."

If he enters the race, Clark would enjoy the support of at least two longtime associates of former President Clinton (news - web sites) — Skip Rutherford and Bruce Lindsey, both of Arkansas. Clinton has spoken glowingly of Clark, but he has not taken sides in the nomination fight.

Clark believes his four-star military service would counter Bush's political advantage as a wartime commander in chief, friends say. The retired general has been critical of the Iraq (news - web sites) war and Bush's postwar efforts, positions that would put him alongside Dean, Graham and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (news, bio, voting record) of Ohio as the most vocal anti-war candidates.

Dean has met four times with Clark. In the last several months, Clark talked to Kerry and Sen. Joe Lieberman (news - web sites) of Connecticut, among other contenders.

Clark is scheduled to deliver a speech at the University of Iowa on Sept. 19, but is expected to make his decision before that, with an announcement likely in Little Rock, Ark.

___

Associated Press Writer Will Lester contributed to this report.

Clark's Views

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-11 07:08pm

Too bad he's not running so far and it's even more of shame that he's not likely to get the nomination even if he did.

I'd rather vote for him than Dean or Bush.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-09-11 07:23pm

10 candidates? The Democrats are doomed.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-09-11 07:27pm

I wouldnt mind Clark either... looking over his viewson civil freedoms... not bad... not bad at all.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-11 07:41pm

I wouldn't vote for him (he has some nutty ideas on taxation). I think both Dean and Kerry would be more appealing candidates for the Dems.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-11 07:47pm

Durran Korr wrote:I wouldn't vote for him (he has some nutty ideas on taxation). I think both Dean and Kerry would be more appealing candidates for the Dems.

What sort of tax ideas? I'll admit this is the first time I've seen much on him but I didn't see anything too strange.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-11 08:01pm

Stormbringer wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:I wouldn't vote for him (he has some nutty ideas on taxation). I think both Dean and Kerry would be more appealing candidates for the Dems.
What sort of tax ideas? I'll admit this is the first time I've seen much on him but I didn't see anything too strange.

Believes the U.S. was founded on progressive taxation. It may seem like a nitpick but it's a big deal for us accountants when someone has such poor knowledge of American tax.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-11 08:49pm

Durran Korr wrote:
Stormbringer wrote:
Durran Korr wrote:I wouldn't vote for him (he has some nutty ideas on taxation). I think both Dean and Kerry would be more appealing candidates for the Dems.
What sort of tax ideas? I'll admit this is the first time I've seen much on him but I didn't see anything too strange.
Believes the U.S. was founded on progressive taxation. It may seem like a nitpick but it's a big deal for us accountants when someone has such poor knowledge of American tax.

So all his funny ideas boil down to a belief in progressive taxation? In other words what we have now? I just want to be clear.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2003-09-11 08:57pm

So all his funny ideas boil down to a belief in progressive taxation? In other words what we have now? I just want to be clear.

And he believes in the whole "tax cut for the rich" nonsense, believes the way to stimulate the economy is to forgo all tax cuts for high income earners...that's about it.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-11 10:18pm

Durran Korr wrote:
So all his funny ideas boil down to a belief in progressive taxation? In other words what we have now? I just want to be clear.
And he believes in the whole "tax cut for the rich" nonsense, believes the way to stimulate the economy is to forgo all tax cuts for high income earners...that's about it.

If that's the worst that can be said of him I'd much rather see him in office than Bush. Mind you I'm terribly familiar with him but what I read of his platforms seems reasonable enough.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-09-12 12:00am

I see he conviently leaves out how he nearly started WWIII by ordering
british troops to fire on Russian troops that seized an airport in Kosovo
ahead of NATO troops...the British general told Clark to fuck off.