by von
General Clark had a strong appearance on Meet the Press yesterday. Russ asked the right questions, and Clark mostly answered them the right way. I’m increasingly likely to support Clark over Bush, should he make it past the primaries.
Unfortunately, my saying so may be the kiss of death for Clark, because my opinion is a pretty much a take-it-to-the-bank counterindicator of public opinion. (E.g., I liked McCain in ’00 and had been hangin’ with Joey from the CT, and neither of these two fine folks are, umm, lookin’ at all Presidential of late.) So, the smart money is on Clark folding by Thanksgiving. Ahh, well.
The transcript’s here.
I suspect that the good general started too late, and made a few too many crucial blunders when he did start to snag the nomination. Of course, my predictive powers are about as good as yours.
I still think, though, that Clark is the best vice-presidential candidate out there.
Dean/Clark 2004, anyone?
You’re probably right, JKC.
Dean/Clark 2004, anyone?
Umm, none for me, thanks. Dean flubbed the critical Russ test, doesn’t provide a coherent vision for U.S. foreign policy, and his plan to wholly eliminate the Bush tax cuts could well be a disaster. (I’m in favor of phasing-out the higher-bracket cuts — like Kerry, Joey from the CT, and Clark).
I hate to say it, but I’d probably stick with the devil-I-know rather than vote for Dean. (Apologies to Katherine, my esteemed co-blogger.)
On Clark, I’m just wondering how Kosovo was an imminent threat to the US or Europe?
On Clark, I’m just wondering how Kosovo was an imminent threat to the US or Europe?
It wasn’t, except to the extent that it had the potential to (further) destabalize the Balkans, some of which may have bled into NATO-member Greece.
By the way, (a) I’m not suggesting that Kosovo was a good idea, or that I endorse Clark’s approach w/r/t that war, and (b) I’m not (and, so far as I can recall, have never) argued that war is only justified in the case of an imminent threat. I may have noted, however, that the Bush Administration largely justified the Iraq war on the “immediacy” of the threat.
Geezz, it’s like an echo-chamber in here (/sarcasm). On Kosovo, Clark never said “imminent”, wankerdog. The general just took his marching orders from Slick. Get you’re facts straight, dammit. On getting your own blog, Moe, does this mean your gonna ease up on Kimmitt on MJT’s? That would suck.
Geezz, it’s like an echo-chamber in here (/sarcasm).
That’s it — you’re banned. I’ll not have anyone disputing the fact that this is not an echo chamber.
(I kid, I kid.)
Aw crap, thought I’d witnessed the first Obsid banning. Hey wait a minute. Where are the posting rules? Heh.
Where are the posting rules? Heh.
We’re still workin’ on ’em , Harley. Ya gotta understand that, Katherine and I bein’ law-talkin’ folks, we gotta make sure everying’s copasetic an’ all.
So, Moe, to whom do I sent the bill for my time? An’ why the heck-gosh-darnies am I channellin’, heh, Navy Davy today?
Um, I don’t even know what copasetic means.
I still hope to bring you around on Dean–or rather, I hope Dean will bring you around on Dean. There are rumors he’s about to announce a team of advisors and maybe they can help him with that. If I didn’t trust him on foreign policy I wouldn’t be supporting him. I don’t think any of them has a coherent version but Dean has shown a surprising (to me) depth of understanding for an ex-governor from a small state–much, much more than Clinton had coming in. This wouldn’t necessarily be apparent from the debates, though.
Basically it comes down to, do I trust Clark more on domestic policy or Dean more on foreign policy.
As for the tax cuts: it’s worth noting that the candidate’s plans are not what will be passed, but will be introduced to a Republican Congress. With Kerry and Clark’s current proposals, they’ll get nothing. (And they’re not saying anything about the estate tax repeal, which is a major problem for me. My property law reading on the estate tax last semester, oops sorry, “death tax” made me so mad I couldn’t fall asleep until 3 a.m.)
von-
Assuming I’m correct about Clark not getting the nomination in ’04, what Democratic candidate would you support?
Lieberman. Possibly Kerry. That’s it, at least for now.
to the drod, Clark said his problem with the Iraq battle was a dual issue of legality and no imminent threat. As Clark acknowledges Kosovo was also an illegal conflict, one has to infer that our failure to act in Kosovo would pose an imminent threat, in order to justify the conflict.
I was surprised that Tim did not ask Clark for his exit strategy for Kosovo. 🙂
Von
If Clark doesn’t get the nod then certainly Lieberman isn’t going to.
Let’s get the candidate pool down to a reasonable number (2 would be nice) – say four candidates. Who do you think’s an ideal foursome for the country to choose from and who do you think is the realistic foursome?
I was surprised that Tim did not ask Clark for his exit strategy for Kosovo. 🙂
Yeah, but that’d be too creative a question for Russ. Part of his beauty is that he sticks to formula.
Who do you think’s an ideal foursome for the country to choose from and who do you think is the realistic foursome?
Carsick, I’m in a dreamin’ mood, so I’m just gonna provide the idealistic twosome. (Plus, the realistic foursome depends too much on lesser-of-two-evils thinking, which requires that one contemplate matchups, which makes the whole exercise very complex.)
My ideal matchup would be between Dick Lugar (r) and Joe Biden (D). Either one is capable. Either one has foreign experience. And I’d probably have to flip a coin to choose.
You are in a dreamin’ mood. I assumed you would at least stick to the actual candidates who are running.
Good answer though.
Now, among the Democratic candidates…
Von:
Go with Lugar – Biden’s a little too slippery…
Somehow, I knew you’d say that, Ken White. Nice to have you around and, incidentally, glad we (or perhaps it was just I) got off that wrong foot we started on.
Now, among the Democratic candidates…
Well, like I said, I’d vote for Lieberman, Clark, and, perhaps, Kerry over Bush. Though it may seem hard to believe, Dean-Bush really is a toss-up for me.