TNR: Clark Is A Space-Saver

[DrFunkenstein]

SPACE-SAVER
by Michael Crowley

Candidate: Wesley Clark
Category: General Likeability
Grade: A

It's been said that Clark is insufferably arrogant, a man happiest in front of the mirror. So you might think that his lengthy new autobiography, Winning Modern Wars, would take the time to detail one of the most bravely heroic moments of his life.

The episode in question was detailed in a profile of Clark in today's Boston Globe. The Globe's Michael Kranish recounts how Clark responded in 1995 when a French armored personnel carrier, part of a convoy Clark was riding in to Sarajevo, plunged off a mountain road. "Suddenly, shooting broke out, followed by explosions," Kranish writes. "The noise may have been Serbian gunners, or the munitions in the French vehicle, or both." Clark, then a senior general, didn't flinch. "Clark found a rope, tied it around a tree, and rappelled to the burning vehicle," Kranish continues. "'Bring a fire extinguisher!' Clark yelled, according to Holbrooke's account, but none could be found."

Clark couldn't save any lives--he returned from the ravine to report that the casualties below were "the worst thing you've ever seen." But the point here is not so much Clark's bravery. It's how he treats the incident in his book. As Kranish puts it: "It was one of the most extraordinary, difficult, and dangerous days of Clark's life. Yet in his 479-page autobiography, Clark devotes less than one paragraph to it. In an interview ... Clark explained that Holbrooke had described the event already, and that he had some space constraints in his autobiography." What a self-important, arrogant jerk!

http://www.tnr.com/primary/index.mhtml?pid=974

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[La_Serpiente]

1. Sweet Jesus

The New Republic actually said something NICE about a Democrat other than Lieberman.

[DrFunkenstein]

2. Clark's Not My #1, But This Impressed Me

I thought the Clark people would like to hear it.

[JI7]

3. HAHAHHA, i was thinking the same thing

these grading things usually are very crticial. i didn't read the entire article, but the parts quoted were nice.

[Bombtrack]

10. If you read the mag, they clearly don't have a bias for or against any

candidates.

[La_Serpiente]

12. Wha?

Lieberman won their primary for the month of October. They continually bash Dean, Kerry, Edwards (sometimes) and Clark. I think they have an obvious hawkish foreign policy stance over there and should not call themselves the left counterpar to the National Review.

They have many Neo-Conservatives over there like Andrew Sullivan, Johnathan Chait, and the list goes on. They may be liberal on some domestic issues, but are really hawkish on foreign policy.

However, they do have a good arts and culture section.

[Gloria]

4. KICK.... "Likeability"

From the title, I thought it would be really negative....
But it's interesting that they hone in on "likeability" because over the last day or so, I"ve been using that term to describe Clark several times.

He can get angry but still maintain his "likeability"---we all know that Bush is described as "likeable"-----so, it's nice to see a Dem be given that description, too....esp. one who really DOES seem to have that trait.

[Bombtrack]

11. Right he is always civil

that's what we need.

[Tom Rinaldo]

5. If it had been Bush

Which of course is inconceivable right there, I have no doubt that Rowe would have spoon fed that story to every media outlet in the country, down to the local boy scout troup newsletter. Actually I think his actions telling about Clarks character also, but agree that his non trumpeting of them is the real window into who Clark really is as a person. Thanks for posting this, not enough know about it, because Clark certainly hasn't pushed the story.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

6. "insufferably arrogant, a man happiest in front of the mirror"?

Just who has said this? Just how good was the crack they were smoking? And just how much did the GOP pay them (to say such utter nonsense, not for the crack which I'm sure Ollie North has suh-weeeet connections on)?

Am I so infatuated with Clark that I just don't see his negative side, such as being "insufferably arrogant, a man happiest in front of the mirror"? Or am I correct in my initial assumption, that that statement is a smear of the looniest variety?

[SeveneightyWhoa]

7. Oh and I must say..

I didnt read the rest of the article. I'm feeling very intellectually lazy right now and my eyes hurt too much to read, so I just commented on the statement that caught my painful eyes.

[DrFunkenstein]

8. Not An Article - That's The Whole Thing

TNR puts out these little snippets every now and then. The majority of them are shite, but now and then there is one that bears repeating.

[JI7]

9. it's been talked about

though only in a lighthearted teasing kind of way. and it was said by those who like and admire him and think he could win. i can't remember who. i don't think it was anybody that famous, but it was some military guys who worked or know him that said it.

[VolcanoJen]

13. This account also appeared in the Esquire article.

http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2003/030801_mfe_clark_7.html

The account starts on page 7 (link above) and continues into page 8, although the entire article is well worth a read.