This I like

[selenite0]

Wesley Clark didn't make a good first impression on me--"The reincarnation of George McClellan" was my comment--but now he's speaking directly to one of my biggest complaints about Bush. I think the best way to defend ourselves against terror attacks and support democracies overseas is to use the militia, taking advantage of our ability to self-organize and react to emergencies and opportunities without needing central direction. Clark's "Civilian Reserve" seems to be a start toward that. It certainly asks for more effort from the citizens than Bush has. Dubya is placing far too much faith in the abilities of the existing bureaucracy for my comfort, and if I can find an acceptable candidate who'll trust the people instead I'll vote for him.

http://www.clark04.com/speeches/005/

Comments

[celticdragonfly.livejournal.com]

Hon, wasn't he the one you were reading about that others in the military said he had serious integrity problems?

And *can* a President set up a civilian reserve like that?

[patgund.livejournal.com]

Have to say I liked the idea as well.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

I know that a former military commentator called him a "Perfumed Prince", but later retracted that statement after meeting Clark and getting a chance to know him. I can't say I've heard any reliable sources comment about Clarks integrity, mostly what I've been seeing is people claiming ties with Waco because he was commander at a base in Texas that supplied some armored vehicles to the DoJ during that raid.

Oh, and I've also heard complaints from some major lefties about the fact he didn't register as a Democrat until recently, (Arkansas doesn't require party registration to vote in primaries), and that he's friends with some conservatives. I think the fact he's a retired general though, is what's getting on their nerves.

As for setting up a civilian reserve, can't see where it would be much different than when Kennedy set up the Peace Corp, or Clinton's "AmeriCorp" jobs and community service programme.

[selenite.livejournal.com]

Setting the reserve would require an act of congress, but that's much more likely to happen when the president's pushing it. What I really want to know about his idea is if he's going to include support for concealed carry permits for the CR's. That's something that would give terrorists a tough target.

I don't know about the integrity issues, some other generals have been pretty cutting about him. I worry more about his record in Kosovo and comments on Afghanistan and Iraq. He seems awfully willing to give France a veto on any American action.

As for him being a democrat-come-lately, he seems to be sticking closely to the party line. That may be a function of his staff (mostly Clintonites) rather than his own views. I'll be keeping an ear out for him, he may have some more interesting speeches coming.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

So far I've not heard a lot about Clark I've disliked. That being said, I've joked that one of the things I like about him is that he's managed to get both the far-right & the far-left frothing at the mouth and screaming rants against him. I figure that someone who's managing to piss off both sides must be doing something right... :-)

[patgund.livejournal.com]

As for him being a democrat-come-lately, he seems to be sticking closely to the party line. That may be a function of his staff (mostly Clintonites) rather than his own views.

That's not surprising. He's being looked at closely by a lot of the rank-and-file members of the DC, who are worried about him being some sort of right-wing plant, (some of the more rabid Deanies are really intent on this idea), and since he's not held office, there's no way for those people to get the "proof" they want, (besides which, I suspect a lot of them dislike the idea of him being a general). So there's a strain on him right now to be more "simon-pure" on the issues then with the other people running. I suspect that has the field winnows down somewhat, we may see more of his ideas showing though. I don't think he's quite as much in lock-step with the DNC as some may think - or wish.