The "other" 4 star generals who do not support Clark

[SoCalDem]

I am so tired of hearing freeps call in to c-span with this "Rush/Sean-ism"..

Here's the deal folks.... An easy way to rebut this when you hear it..

What does a RETIRED 4 star general do when he retires??? He either gets a cushy job in the armament industry, becomes a lobbyist for same, or goes onto the board of directors for same.. The ones who run these places are REPUBLICANS..

Lots of military people are republicans too, so as the move up the ranks they are STILL republicans, even though they like to publically state that they are "independent".... Clark broke with the tradition by declaring himself to be a democrat..

There is also a LOT of rivalry at those levels too.. These are the ones that are in demand by the tv networks and think tanks.. They are all competing, and there are a lot of "sharp elbows"..

The troops who served under him are a better gauge of the man that he is..

The other 4stars are just digesting a lot of sour grapes, and are probably worried that if he would get elected, their "cushy jobs" might be in jeopardy..

Eisenhower was courted by Dems and Republicans when he was thinking about running for pres.. Kansas is a very republican state, so that's probably why he chose the "r" side of the issue..


edited to add.. I am not actively supporting him..or anyone.. I am just tired of hearing these yahoos with the phony indignant message.. It's always the same, so it's very obvious that it's orchestrated..

[arewethereyet]

1. and Clark was only courted by a few leftists

after Clinton put him on the map.

[Jack_Dawson]

2. So True

There ain't many liberal 4-Star Generals roaming around. That's why Clark is such a gift to our party.

[Ruti]

3. Exactly.

He has stated his case for becoming a democrat quite well. I believe him. I think the media and the more stereotypical upper echelon military are just in a tizzy.

[SheilaT]

4. I do know from relatives who themselves were in the military

that Clark was generally disliked by those who served with him. That says a lot to me.

[arewethereyet]

5. I can vouch for the same, not generally beloved

and that will come home to roose sooner or later

[BansheeBarbie]

11. There's An Entire Blogo Proving You Wrong

nice bs ancedotal evidence.

[SheilaT]

15. From what I was told,

he was an arrogant asshole.

[LZ1234]

17. He sure doesn't come off that way.

I've always thought I was a very good judge in character and this surprises me. I pegged Bush as being arrogant from way back when and he proved me right and then some. But Clark, if this true, shocks me. He seems so opposite of that. Can you provide any details on this so I can understand better?

[LZ1234]

7. Do you know why

they feel that way?

[SheilaT]

16. Because of how he treated

the people around him, that's why they feel the way they do about him.

[AP]

6. I'll tell you the problem this poses, symbolically and in a narrative....

...sense.

There is nothing wrong with low paid former members of the armed services taking their knowledge and experience into the private sector and realizing its value. That's how the government sells the armed services anyway, right? Clark is a poster boy for recruitment.

The problem is that, when you leave, you have to make a decision about what you're going to do with your life.

Look at Kerry's narrative. He didn't go work for a big corp after he left military service, like he was struggling over the questions, "should I make money?" or "should I do good?"

Kerry protested the government, went to law school, worked as a DA, in private practice briefly, but only as a segue to elected office, and then ran for office. This is a very sensible logical arc.

Compare to Clark: Clark left the military, worked for Stephens Inc (yuck) tried to get hands on mngt of some small company nobody ever heard of (at least Robert McNamara worked for companies we heard of), and then acted irresolute about running for president, and ultimately had to be recruited.

Kerry has looked and acted like he has always wanted to be president. Clark looks and acts like a guy who isn't sure of what he wants, and wrestled between money and public service.

Clark may want to be president more than Kerry and only acted that way becuase he thought it would be impossible for a guy with his background to become president. And Kerry might only have been able to focus on public service because, unlike Clark, he stood to inherit someday some very valuable islands off the cost of Rhode Island. However, appearances mean more than facts.

[BansheeBarbie]

13. Clark Sure Looks Like He Knows What He Wants In Town Hall Meetings

where he answers questions in details... not platitudes.

And by the way,

What IS Edwards answer to the Airline Safety Dilemma?

Clark got busy after 9/11 to help solve the problem.
Edwards and Kerry signed the Patriot Act.

Now lets see Edwards "Narrative":

Makes a lot of money as Trial Lawyer, then uses money to run for Senate. Not being able to get reelected, he spends most of his one term as Senator pavng the way for a Presidential Run after voting for the Bush Neo-Con Agenda. Sidenote: Edwards considers
Foreign Policy Experience as just "background".

[leetrisck]

8. "We will never forget" - that's the motto you

hear all the time about our military people. Well, believe me, the Republicans forget in one hell of a hurry. Don't you notice all the praise for our military and veteran's - unless they happen to be a Democrat and there are quite a few around. Republicans simply want you to go kill people and help protect them and to hell with the veteran when he's back. "We will never forget" - right -2 veterans in this race and someone wants them to stand up for a treasonous low-life in a belt buckle and explain his National Guard "lack of service." Bush is the one who should have to explain that - in great detail.

[ampster]

9. 4 Star Generals....I'll take Clark over any of them!!!

Gang, the military will not like any general or commander that served under Clinton.

Republicans will try and find negative aspects within their service to brand them unqualified for public office (ridiculous since the congress must promote them from col-to 1 star etc.).

Regardless of whether Clark became a Dem overnight, he is a positive for this campaign. He is as qualified as the current prez. ("duh" statement) and the other Dem's. he is a gift for Dems...and judging him based on a predominantly right wing military culture's opinion is silly.

[underpants]

10. Clark took the academic/policy route early in his career

he didn't go through the "good old boy" network so some of them are sniping back at him. As noted above some in his command didn't really like him that much but having been in the military I can tell you that that is common when you are outranked and you just have to shut up and do as you are told. They are sniping back at him now IMHO.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

12. Because they're all friggin Republicans!

Name me one of them who is a Democrat and is supporting a Dem canididate besides Shelton - who is lifelong friends with John Edwards and is working on his campaign.

[robbedvoter]

14. Shelton to Hague prosecutor: "It was just politics"

http://chat.forclark.com/story/2004/1/12/85347/4513
(my mistake there in saying "judge" - it's prosecutor)
As for Edwards flirting whith Shelton, this is the guy who loves the Iraq was (hence his opposition to Kosovo) and knocked O'Neal recently). Not a nice guy.