What do you think of Clark on Meet the Press

[seriptious]

Straight thoughts, no poll.

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. sounded okay

But it seems to me that there's just not a lot up there. Clark seems especially well-coached, but lacking in anything resembling true feelings.

I just don't feel him, yet.

[jeter]

3. Magic Rat, who are you supporting?

I'm supporting Dean.

[THUNDER HANDS]

6. right now

I'm honestly undecided. I've bounced back and forth between Kerry, Dean and Clark.

I think I'm gonna totally drop Clark because he just seems hollow to me.

Ultimately, I think I'll place my vote for either Dean, Kerry or Edwards - depending on whomever is still in the race by the time the primaries reach New York.

But as of now, I don't have a favorite.

[carpediem]

2. I thought he was great.

very believable - passionate without screaming - well prepared - didn't let russert trap him -

I remain impressed and hopeful about Clark.

[slinkerwink]

4. Honest Thoughts from a Dean supporter....

He did great on the MTP interview, but I really didn't get a "spark" about Clark. Everything he talked about had something to do with the Military, or his record with the military. The more this is being brought up, the more turned off I am to Clark. He's got to run on more than his military record but that seems to be all that he's doing lately.

[THUNDER HANDS]

7. you're a Deanie, right Slinkerwink?

edit - duh. Obviously.

:spank: - I'm such an idiot.

[slinkerwink]

9. right, look at my subject line :-)

:hi:

[Jackhammer Jesus]

17. You're entitled to that opinion,

but you have to realize most of the questions Russert asked were about Iraq, Afghanistan, foreign policy - and Clark's one of our strongest critics of all three, with the most experience and authority of all our candidates in those areas.

He does seem to like to talk about his work in the Balkans, but he has every right to bring it up, the way I see it, because it gave him experience that he'll be able to utilize as president to bring us out of the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I liked the interview, since it gave Wes a chance to set out in detail his plans for Iraq. He puts it plainly, understandably, and as I said before, he has the authority to back it up. He gives a sense that he knows the situation well, and knows exactly what it will take to get us out. That will count for a lot with the average voter.

On the other hand, how many questions did he get about the economic situation in the country? One. "Growth is at 7.2 percent. Headline in USA Today: the tax refunds are going go to up 27 percent. If the economy is strong, can George Bush be beaten?" He was never asked about his economic plan.

Clark has more to offer than just military credentials, but it's a given that when he looks to provide personal experiences to back up his positions on the issues, he'll think to his years in the military. For example, talking about welcoming gays in the military, working for better education on overseas bases, better healthcare, etc. It's to be expected as far as I'm concerned, and it's just as valid as Howard Dean talking about what he did as Governor of Vermont. Every candidate will use the "Well, when I was Governor/Senator/Ambassador/General, I..." bit to point out their experience, but if the military angle turns you off, then so be it... different strokes for different folks. :D

[slinkerwink]

19. yes, but I heard on the Clark blog that he was supposed to highlight some

of his policies on domestic issues, not foreign issues. I didn't hear any of that on the MTP interview.

[Jackhammer Jesus]

21. I hadn't seen that info on the blog...

but I was fairly disappointed that he didn't get a chance to talk about his domestic agenda.

I have to wonder whether it was edited out, or if he was even asked about it.

:shrug:

[Kahuna]

24. I also wondered if it was edited out. I wonder about ,,

everything that was edited out.

[Kahuna]

22. So you blame Clark for the questions Tim Russert asked?

Unbelievable!

[slinkerwink]

25. Clark could've diverted the question by talking about his domestic

policies.....but he squandered the chance to do so. All we know is that he's an excellent military man....

[Shakespeare]

27. I don't think ANYTHING was squandered...

He used the opportunity to his benefit to clear up a lot of the misstatements about his positions, and he did so quite well. That was as important (at this point in the campaign) as hearing the domestic policies, and I think there will be plenty of other opportunities to hear those policies outline in detail.

If he had tried to avoid Russert's questions, he would've been slammed for being evasive. Sometimes you just can't win with some folks. :eyes:

[KittyWampus]

29. Right! Tim Asks Clark About Testifying Against Milosevic

and Clark is supposed to ignore the question and just start talking about how he wants to deal with health care.

Clark would've looked bizarre.

[Kahuna]

30. Exactly! Clark was very composed and handled himself...

very well. Some people just can't give credit where credit is due.

[sendero]

26. well...

... could that have something to do with the endless stream of questions relating to things military?

I mean, Clark can hardly control the content of the interview, and if he tried to change the subject, he'd be "dodging the issues".

[xultar]

5. Clark was EXCELLENT...He cleared up a number of issues

Like Shelton...OK If he got fired then why was he awarded the congressional medal of freedom right afterwards...He also received many other awards and medals after he got Fired from NATO. Getting fired didn't come out until he decided to run for PResident...
Hummmm Sounds suspicious

Why was he releived...He wanted to send troops into Rawanda and Cohen, Shelton and Clinton didn't. Well he said that he was heartbroken cuz 800,000 people got killed. HACKED to death.

That is why he's my candidate. When it comes down to Cubans, Oil and Europeans the US will support their refugees

When it is Hatians or Afticans, the US GOV does nothing. What about all of the thousands killed in South Africa? We didn't bomb down there did we? We didn't bomb Rawanda!

[Kahuna]

8. He more than exceeded my expectations...

I'm going to ask Russert to have him back to discuss domestic issues. Clarkie, please email the show and request another Clark segment to discuss domestic issues. As all we got today was rumors and innuendos.

My email to MTP at [e-mail]

Dear Mr. Russert:

I really enjoyed your interview with General Clark. However, the show's
promo promised a discussion about his domestic policies and you spent so
much time on rumors and innuendos that we never got a word on where
General Clark stands on domestic issues.

I would really appreciate it if you can schedule another appearance with
General Clark.

Respectfully, (:puke:)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

[MariaS]

10. If there were any doubts before

there should be none now. He was magnificent. He rebuffed the crap that Timmy threw at him in spades. I thought it was his best interview yet. It only made me more sure that he is the best of the bunch.

Maria

[xultar]

14. Hey that's a nice pix of the General,,,How Handsome!

[Kahuna]

16. Please email MTP and ask them to have Clark on again...

to discuss his domestic agenda. I'm willing to bet that the viewership today was higher than usual. I think that if they get a lot of requests for a return appearance they may ask him back.

[e-mail]

[Shakespeare]

20. "Did you read the rest of the article, Tim?"

I'm still cracking up about that. I've never seen Russert rendered speechless before.

[VolcanoJen]

11. Welcome to DU, seriptious!

There's also a great, and lengthy, discussion about Gen. Clark's MTP appearance in the General Discussion Forum, here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=717488

[cpa]

12. Interview

I thought General Clark demolished Russert. He pointed out several inaccuracies in Russert's questions and even chided him for " not reading the entire article" he wrote. He showed that all of his statements were accurate and showed that Russert was asking questions provided by the RNC. I was delighted with the interview.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

13. He may have been somewhat weak in his presenation but...

he kicked Timmy's hind end and got all of his facts in!

[bridge]

15. Mass of contradictions...

Clark made the point that Iraq invasion was "legal"...Kosovo was not...Bush administration has done more good than harm in keeping America safe...did some Monday morning nit-picking on woulda-coulda-shoulda on Iraq...seemed unaware that more than 70 countries were involved in reconstruction...admitted mystery attempts to discredit him were based on rumors and third-person conversations...Why isn't Clark a repub? Is it true that Rove wouldn't return his calls?

[democracyindanger]

18. I think you're looking for

this site for your posts:

http://www.freerepublic.com

[bridge]

23. Not quite...

Don't be flip...just respond to the points...did we both see the same interview? The original poster was looking for "straight thoughts" not a cotten candy hagiography. Just respond to the points please...

[Dr Fate]

32. Scared as HELL of Clark- aint cha???

I'm laughing my tail off.

Sorry pal- youre at DU, not on the Pyschedelic Pill Popper radio show- WE frame the debate here, not Bush/media.

Clark a Republican?? On which issues may I ask? Not gays. Not defense, not abortion, not privacy,not forign policy, not the economy, not the tax cuts, not health care...which one???

[sendero]

28. I'm a Dean man...

... but every time I see Clark I'm more impressed.

Yes, the conversation focused on Iraq and matters military, I put that at Russert's feet, he just would not let go of the subject.

But - his entire game was to try to trip or trap Clark over something he said in the past. Some of it was pretty bad, but Clark gave credible answers to *most* of the charges.

And he was completely unflappable. He did not miss a beat one time.

I like the way Mr. Clark thinks, and thinks on his feet. He is a military man, but clearly a lot more than that. His ideas seem like practical problem-solving rather than the knee-jerk shoot-from-the-hip style we have in the white house now.

I hope for a Dean/Clark or Clark/Dean ticket!

[Dr Fate]

31. Bush/media forgets he is a scholar & strategist...

...not one to be fooled easily-

I'll bet anything Clark's a decent chess player too...Better than Timmy at least!!!

It appears that they cannot defeat him with subtle spin, so look soon for out-right lies and farications, as Bush/media gets more & more desperate...

[tishaLA]

33. I thought Clark was amazing

I think I'm supporting him.

I wish he were more liberal on some issues and I wish he hadn't done those speeches at republican fundraisers, but he clarified why he did them. I also thought he handled the Shelton attempt to smear him quite well.

I find him smart, nuanced (without seeming like he is parsing words), and effective in conveying his message. I think he might need to get a better campagn staff together--he should not have disengaged Iowa; he should be more active in N.H. than he had been; he should have been at the jefferson-Jackson event last night--but he's not a "professional" politician.

I was also happy that he blinked occassionally durig his answers today. When he talks and talks and talks without blinking, it makes me crazy. Yes, it is a shallow criticism. Those shallow things matter, however, to the broad swath of American voters.