I was wondering how Clark's announcement is going to help in 05 and 06?

[ProudToBeLiberal]

According to here http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1728252 clark announced he is running. Umm that's fine and good, but how is that going to help the democratic party in 05 and 06? Don't we have to concentrate on the Senate, governors, and etc election first?

[Sparkly]

1. It turns out he did NOT announce, not even informally

And your question was already asked here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1728764&mesg_id=1728764

[Crunchy Frog]

2. There was no announcement.

There was a misunderstanding. He certainly was giving a signal to his base of core supporters that he's strongly considering it, but there was definitely not an announcement.

From what I can tell, he is going to be very active in supporting Democrats in '05 and '06, and will be encouraging his supporters to be active as well. All good as nearly as I can tell.

[snowbear]

3. Although...

read what Lt. Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia says about it..

http://www.raisingkaine.com/blog/?p=154

If and when General Clark does announce, I'll be there to support him 100% !! :headbang:

[dogman]

5. Good link.

Another Dem I can support.

[Totally Committed]

4. Why the rehash?

This has already been discussed ad infinitum:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1729349&mesg_id=1729349

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1728361&mesg_id=1728361

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1728764&mesg_id=1728764

TC

[Auntie Bush]

6. Because some people like to criticize Clark anyway they can.

They think they are being discrete and beating around the bush...but others are better informed.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

8. hypocrisy?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=235&topic_id=3415&mesg_id=3441

[Clark2008]

10. Nope. Because she posted that to a group touting itself

as supporters of Clark.
She didn't drag dirty laundry out into the general threads.

That's not hypocracy. That's sanctuary.

[ProudToBeLiberal]

11. I know when I see a good point.

I was wrong. I didn't see it that way. Thanks

[tishaLA]

7. Although he didn't announce

I know how to walk and chew gum at the same time. Lots of us are already working to take down Gov. Schwarzenegger and his "reform" package in CA. Some of us Angelinos have been working hard for Antonio Villaragosa, who will be the most progressive mayor in any large American city. And even though we'd like someone more progressive than Diane Feinstein working for us in Washington, we are happy to have worked hard at getting Barbara Boxer re-elected by the largest margin of ANY Democrat in the US in the last election.

[sharonking21]

9. One, two, three . .

1. Clark did not announce; he merely gave his supporters some encouragement.

2. Having a preference for one potential presidential Democratic candidate does NOT mean you are not interested in 2006 races or even that you rule out other potential 2008 candidates. I fully support Wes Clark but that doesn't mean I think the others are chopped liver! (Nor do I act as if they were).

Here are things I posted, with additions I have thought of since, on many of the other threads today about this topic:

In response to call for Clark supporters to clearly get busy about 2006 races:

I agree, but so far there have not been many announcements about who is or is not running in 2006 in my area, Travis County Texas. Texas is so Republican dominated right now that on state slates there is not sufficient interest among Democratic candidates in running. We support our Travis County incumbent Democrats like Lloyd Doggett, for sure, and our Democratic incumbent state legislators, but the other races have not announced yet. I know one person saying he is going to run for county judge, but he hasn't announced it yet.

and:

What I am doing on a local level

I am a Democratic precinct chair in Travis County. Wes Clark is "responsible" for that. I am trying to build up my voter database in this "off" time.

I used what I had (about 2000 names and voting histories out of 4000 already entered) to good effect for Kerry and every other Democratic candidate in 2004--calling Democrats to get out the vote, organizing blockwalks, helping various local candidates including for Congress, for Texas Legislature, and for Travis County Sheriff.

In 2004, I started a NW Austin for Kerry grassroots club which did a lot of blockwalking for various Dem candidates, including Mark Strama (newly elected Demoratic representative), Kelly White (Democratic candidate who almost won) and Gregg Hamilton (new Democratic Travis County Sheriff). We still meet and communicate. It includes a lot of Dean supporters, some Clarkies and some Kerry people.

I was on the Statewide Kerry media rapid response team (an offshoot of the TX Clarkwriters after Clark dropped out)--we still maintain both of the email lists and we gave support to various 2004 local candidates too.

One of my local Clark groups from 2004 has kinda morphed into a book discussion club because other than the council races for Austin, there is not a lot going on here yet. But we want to keep in touch with one another so we can be active later.

Went to a Kerry town hall meeting yesterday--see discussion below.

I just do not see what prohibits us from working on multiple levels. Interest in the national candidates is what keeps many normally less active Democrats energized to work on local races. And here, the local races are not geared up yet.

I recently had the local county Democratic Party start taking a monthly amount as a draft out of my checking account.


3. "Did Clark announce 18 months too early?"--a poll on DU. See my comments about working together and coming out to support all Democratic candidates.

Please stop this petty sniping

I would like to contrast the behavior of some here on DU to something that just happened here in Austin.

I am first and foremost a Wes Clark supporter. That does not mean that I dislike, try to snipe at, or say bad things about some of my favorite other top Democrats.

John Kerry was here in Austin yesterday to hold a town hall meeting concerning his bill on children's health care "Kids Come First." I sent notices of it to everyone I could in grassroots Austin. Furthermore, they turned out for John Kerry--among those I could identify there were Clark people, Dean people, Kerry people, Edwards people and Kucinich people. We all realize that this is, in part, a campaign trip. WE DON'T CARE!

My suggestion to all the grassroots organizations here in Austin is that they try to book any and all top Democrats to come here and that we all turn out for each of them. This will help keep the grassroots alive and keep Democratic issues in the forefront.

Our local paper is Republican (endorsed Bush)and they gave short shrift to Kerry's appearance (after the fact--didn't ever even mention beforehand that he was coming). Here is link to their story:

http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/metro/stori...

Here is the response to that story that I sent to all the grassroots people I know here--of all stripes.

I can’t believe they said only 500 people were there yesterday. If you were there, how many would you have estimated? I know it was way more than 500.

Note also the use of negatives characterizing the event.

“Vanquished presidential candidate John Kerry”

“than one who recently suffered the biggest defeat of his political career.”

“he touched on topics ranging from immigration to the environment to his own failed bid for the presidency.”

“Some attendees were skeptical that the health care plan would work." The devil is in the details," said . . “

“Some Democrats simply seemed star-struck by the guest of honor.”

Clarkie that I am, John Kerry is not my number one :) favorite for the nomination in 2008, but I hold him in high esteem and he is right up there.

I think they need to show more respect for Democrats.

They need to show more respect for our standard-bearer.

They didn’t even mention that he carried Travis County handily.

And, having been there, this story is pretty much a travesty of what actually occurred.

Yes, he is campaigning. More power to him and to anyone else who wants to do so. We need to keep campaigning on a permanent basis.

I suggest that we try to lure any top Democrats here to Travis County in order to keep the grassroots nourished.

I will show up for each one of them and I urge that each of you do so too.

But they hardly touched upon the real substance of what went on there regarding Health Care for Kids. That infuriates me.

And the numbers are a real crock! My guess would have been 2000-2500.

..........................................................

See why we need to stop this kind of petty bullshit and pull together?