Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Wes Clark’s stock just shot WAY up

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Wes Clark explains to skeptical pundits (including local boy Mike Barnicle) why, exactly, John McCain’s national security credentials aren’t really much better than Barack Obama’s.  Very impressive.  Watch it, and then think about an Obama/Clark ticket.

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  1. Richardson still is my top choice in a lot of categories, but I think James Carville and the Clinton campaign made that impossible.

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    p>At a meeting at work yesterday, discussing the recent AWEA Windpower Expo in Houston (http://www.windpowerexpo.org) there were two big names that came up in the discussion: Governor Kathleen Sebelius and General Wesley Clark. Sebelius was apparently impressive in what she’d managed to achieve harnessing Kansas’s wind resources, which had been mostly untapped before she came into office. (This seems to jive with all I’ve heard about her – she came to my radar first for her achievements on immigration issues including in-state tuition for undocumented residents – as someone who governs as a moderate in a conservative state to achieve progressive goals).

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    p>However, it seems Clark was even more impressive in that instead of just showing up the last day when his talk was scheduled for, he was actually there for the entire conference and was really engaged in learning from everyone else there. While I guess that’s a benefit of not having a day job, but the level of engagement in all the areas of the industry was appreciated. I think Wes Clark’s biggest strength as a running mate is that he reinforces Obama’s theme of a smart and open foreign policy and a wonkish, balance, and detailed approach to domestic policy.

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    p>Most of my other top ideas (Rep Patrick Murphy, Sen Claire McCaskill, Elizabeth Edwards, Caroline Kennedy) are all unrealistic in some or many ways, so my real short list is Richardson, Sebelius, and Clark, and since Richardson much more likely to become Secretary of State, I think Clark or Sebelius will be it.

    • I find it almost unthinkable Obama would pick a strong primary supporter as VP, let alone a woman.

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      p>Sebelius is out- she would cause civil war of the 1st degree.

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      p>Wes Clark, as a Clinton supporter, is an obvious choice.

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      p>Also, I would look at pols that were more or less neutral during the process-

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      p>One name that isn’t mentioned much but should be at the top of the short list is Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer. He is probably too much of an “outsider” for Obama’s vetters, though.  

      • Zero ratings don’t mean “I disagree.” They should be reserved for comments that are horribly offensive and contribute nothing to the conversation.    

        • Whether called for or uncalled for, fair or unfair, consistent with how others use the ratings or quixotic, ratings just aren’t an interesting topic of conversation.  I don’t see why it’s necessary to call people out on their ratings or to detour from the substance of a thread to remark them.  This seems to be a recent and growing trend on BMG, and I’m sorry to see it.  It changes the feel of the place.  

          • people creating a discussion about a discussion they don’t find interesting.

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            p>Behold and embrace the power of the scroll button.

      • anyone with more than half a brain or any political sense knows that Barry needs to tread carefully when picking a VP…I also think he and his selection team are well aware of this…

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        p>this doesn’t mean that Clinton or a Clinton supporter needs to be chosen but I think it would be safe to rule out Richardson or high-profile female Obama supporters.

        • And since you ask…

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          p>

          I find it almost unthinkable Obama would pick a strong primary supporter as VP, let alone a woman.

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          p>I read that statement three times, and came to three different understandings of what it meant.  Unclear.  Needs work.

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          Sebelius is out- she would cause civil war of the 1st degree.

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          p>Unsupported assertion with no backup of any kind, and an assertion that isn’t exactly making the rounds.  Some justification please.  Needs work.

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          p>

          One name that isn’t mentioned much but should be at the top of the short list is Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer. He is probably too much of an “outsider” for Obama’s vetters, though.

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          p>I don’t know what it means for him to be an outsider.  I knew Schweitzer was an Obama supporter on February 26th, when he gave an energy lecture at Boston University and I point blank asked him who he’d back as a super delegate.  I’m certain that the BHO campaign knew he was a supporter before then.  Can someone who has supported the campaign for four months in a quasi-public manner really be called an outsider?  For both inconsistent and unsupported statements, needs work.

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          p>There you have it.  Chock full of interesting nuggets that needed a little polish, that’s all.

          • My question was directed more at ChrisWagner.

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            p>Re Schweitzer: My understanding is that he didn’t endorse until June 3 after Obama won the Montana contest.

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            p>And by “Outsider” I am referring to his political appeal and his relationship to the D.C. power structure.  

            • I think he’s a great guy — but he doesn’t bring much to the ticket.  Modest national profile; Governor of a small state; doesn’t help with national security.  He should stay where he is, where he can do a whole lot of good.

            • but the implication was that he was an “outsider” to the BHO campaign, when in fact he had publicly stated support four months earlier — leading me to believe that the BHO campaign was well aware he’s been a supporter for some time now.

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              p>And P.S. isn’t just about any governor who’s never been a Congressman an outsider with respect to the DC power structure?  That’s, like, most of ’em methinks.

              • And P.S. isn’t just about any governor who’s never been a Congressman an outsider with respect to the DC power structure?  That’s, like, most of ’em methinks.

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                p>Generally speaking.

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                p>Here’s a fun fact though: there hasn’t been a sitting governor as a Democratic veep pick since 1924 (Charles W. Bryan

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                p>On the Republican side, the last was Spiro Agnew…

        • in error, and I apologize. I meant to give it a four because it was largely incoherent.  

      • I would think it doubly important, after all the charges of sexism and misogyny, that Obama pick a woman.

      • Could you please explain further what the potential problems are with choosing her?

  2. Clinton and Clark as the ticket, Wes did endorse Hillary after all.  Could be the best choice with an added plus of bringing Hillary supporters.  But Wes Clark as VP is great on it own merits.  I have always been a fan, he was active in ’06 campaigning for Democratic candidates and he’s definitely to the left of Webb.

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    p>

    his support was rhetorical, he wasn’t responsible

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    p>This video is great, a 4 star general making the case that national security is not a strength that McCain believes it is.

  3. Wes Clark not only will bring a level of experience and wise council to Barack concerning Iraq and Afghanistan. Which would hamper John McCain from making the case that his experience is critical in a ‘time of war’ scenario. Wes Clark also brings with him a Rhodes scholarship in Economics which many people overlook on his resume. This could prove to be his greatest asset to this administration, which will be facing a huge problem working through the current fiscal melt down. As a relative outsider in the Washington Political world he clearly fits in the broad agenda the Obama campaign has been echoing through out the primary season. I cannot think of a stronger candidate out there for this fight in November or a running mate who brings as many talents to the table  such a wide array of issues. Ad this to the fact that you would not be taking a US Senator out of that fragile balance which could make or break the first two years of a new Administration and I think you need to seriously consider an Obama/ Clark ticket.

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    p>As Usual just my Opinions  

    • I must say I have never had strong feelings about Wes Clark either way, but this clip is impressive.  Whomever is chosen needs to be able to make the case for the ticket articulately, be forceful in rebutting the other side and not be shy about engaiging in these type of situations.  Clark passed all those tests for me here, especially in going after the one given people were ready to concede to McCain.  He makes a great case and whether he is the VP choice or not I hope he will continue to be out there using his own credibility to hammer McCAin on this topic.  

  4. for months.  I still have my fingers crossed but am heartened by the buzz surrounding his potential these days.  In my view, Clark is THE perfect choice.  

  5. and his stock rose further in my opinion with this segment.  Finally, someone has had the courage to put McCain’s claims in context.  The truth may hurt, but it needs to be out there.  And the next facade to be broken down should be the claim that “the surge has worked!”.  And after that, the current negotiations for US presence in Iraq “for the next hundred years”.

  6. And well played, I’d say.

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    p>A pity to see Barnicle reduced to a bit role on an early morning cable news show. He is such a great writer. He wrote one of my all-time favorite Globe columns (I think it was his: the one about the traffic cop being arrested for writing a ticket on a car a cop had ordered into a No Parking area … anyone else remember that one?) If only he hadn’t, by all indications, plagiarized one column and made up another one for the Globe. He could have been a contender. I think he should spend his time writing a great book about Boston — redemption is always possible, assuming he acknowledges that he did something wrong and learns from his mistake.

  7. the management experience — military communities,  the brains, the dedication.  He kicked ass in support of the Dem ticket in 2004.  He could have just slinked off to lick his wounds but he worked like a dog to support Kerry in 2004 and Democratic candidates in 2006.   He also has a geographical advantage being from the mid south.  

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    p>

  8. Does anyone else think it’s odd to see Mike Barnicle parading around on MSNBC when he was fired from the Boston Globe for plaigerizing and making up stories about kids with cancer?  I mean – how does he have any credibility??

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    p>But yes – I think Clark would be a great VP!

  9. Clark would offer foreign policy and military experience, and he’s articulate, photogenic and likeable.  It sounds like he’d be acceptable to at least some Clinton supporters.  Does he offer any electoral strength, though?  Can he help deliver any of the key battleground states?

    • Well I think this is the key question for all of the individuals being considered for the VP slot. With few exceptions not many mentioned are a lock to deliver more then one state. The broader view is what demographic of the population can they deliver.

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      p>Here are my thoughts

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      p>Wes Clark;
      Gives your credibility with the present military establishment and the retirees a huge demographic when you look at it and a direct attack on the segment that John McCain claims a lock on. States like Virginia and Georgia and even Florida may now look like potential winners for a Democratic Ticket

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      p>Wes is from Arkansas and may present a clear prospect to helping to break the lock on Southern states that were the key to Bill Clintons defeat of George the father a state that in 2000 and 2004 went Republican

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      p>Another group in our country that some how always misses comment on  and was a key support group for Hillary Clinton is the Latino vote. Which has the Highest % of military and retired military of the minority demographics we measure here in the USA. I am sure the hope that Wes Clark can rally this demographic would be critical to California, Nevada, possibly Texas.

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      p>Wes Clark unlike a Senator or a Governor has an appeal that extends way beyond a single boundary his appeal potential is national and I think is only surpassed by Hillary Clinton.

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      p>So my opinion is if not Hillary then why not Wes Clark he has the experience (longest head of NATO from the US) the Education (Rhodes) and the appeal (looks good on camera speaks well) credibility (based on all of the above)

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      p>As Usual Just my Opinions

    • I’ve always thought he looked a bit impish, and I find his really flat hair distracting.  Methinks they’ll help make BHO look even more presidential.  But more to the point…

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      Does he offer any electoral strength, though?  Can he help deliver any of the key battleground states?

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      p>I’m not sure that any VP can, and I challenge BMG to make a case for a VP candidate who helped carry a state the POTUS candidate might not otherwise have carried.

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      p>Having said that, it’s possible that Wes Clark could help BHO carry Arkansas, since he grew up there and has close ties to the Clintons.  Wes Clark’s Jewish heritage and close ties to Clinton may also help BHO with Florida, although I’d speculate that it won’t make enough of a difference on it’s own.  Furthermore, Clark’s military prestige may be enough to undercut McCain’s military prestige in places with lots of military bases and military culture, including but not limited to Colorado, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and again, Florida [vets moreso than active duty].

      • Ticket balancing describes more than just “Kennedy is from New England, let’s get a guy from Texas” geographical calculations, or even just to get votes in State X.

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        p>VP selections usually balance out a ticket by filling in one or more weaknesses of the nominee.

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        p>Nominee: Southern, centrist Democrat. Weakness: Party identified with left wing special interest groups.  Solution: Choose an additional southern centrist to emphasize southernism, centrism.

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        p>Nominee: Scion of political family.  Has a lot of dough and is governor of a big state.  Weakness: Noted lack of experience at anything other than being a bad baseball team owner.  Solution: Choose a running mate who is older and has significant executive branch experience,

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        p>In this sense of ticket balancing, it sure seems like Clark would be a pretty good pick for Obama.

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