Reply #174: One of the most frequently levelled accusations against Clark [View All]

[Aristus]

is his lack of political experience. While I agree with that fact on the surface of it, one has to look at it from another point of view in order to judge just how lacking inpolitical experience Clark is. By the time a man has acheived the rank of four-star General, he has rubbed shoulders with ambassadors, diplomats, leaders of foreign nations, served the civil leadership of the US in many capacities, and has also attained, through the War College, the Command and General Staff College and other career schools offered by the Army, the military equivalent of a PhD.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a position held by Colin Powell, is as much a political office as a military assignment. Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, which Clark was for a while, is also a heavily political job. So I assert that Clark does have the necessarily political skills to be a great VP. Now, when it comes to policymaking, yeah, he's a little soft in that area, but I'm sure Dean can bring him up to speed in that regard. So, let's all stop bickering and just enjoy the misadministration's efforts to tear down the two likeliest candidates.

Bush: "Dean? He jes' a two-term state gubbner!"

Aide: (aside) "Sir......"

Bush: "Nev'rmahnd! Now, Clark ain't got no 'spirrience. He jes' a four-star Jin'ruhl."

Aide: (aside) "Sir, Eisenhower........"

Bush: "Nev'rmahnd!"

:-)