General Wes Clark: "Eric Massa is the right Democrat at the right time..."

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Wes Clark on Eric Massa

One of the greatest rewards of my years in the military was getting to know brave and wonderful men and women who proudly serve our country in uniform. To help them grow and flourish so they could become all they can be as soldiers and citizens is one of my life's blessings.

One of these special soldiers is Eric Massa.

Eric graduated from the United States Naval Academy and made a career in the Navy, rising to the rank of Commander. In fact, Eric was my Military Aide both when I had the Southern Command in Latin America, and later when I had the European Command as NATO Supreme Allied Commander. He was with me during some very challenging times -- and now I am standing with him in his race for Congress in New York's 29th Congressional District.

Gert and I will never forget the day in 1998 when Eric was handed a terminal diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and given only four months more to live. That was almost seven years ago, and now he's been given a clean bill of health. Eric is not just a survivor, he's a fighter -- he showed it in his battle to beat cancer, and he'll show it every day in Congress.

Eric has returned home to New York where he wants to continue serving his country, now in elected office. His 24 years of service as a Naval Officer will give the Democratic Party one more much-needed voice on national security issues in Congress. Eric is also dedicated to preparing our country for the new global economy by improving education, reforming our healthcare system, and holding the line on the runaway spending on Capitol Hill.

Today our country faces many challenges at home and abroad. Threats to our national security and economic future abound, and we need America's best working for us on Capitol Hill. Eric Massa is the right Democrat at the right time, and we need him in Congress! Now more than ever, America needs new and better leadership in Washington, D.C. I know first-hand the kind of man Eric Massa is and the kind of leader he has been. That's why I am supporting his campaign. Please join me.

About Eric Massa

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About Eric Massa

Eric lives in Corning, New York with his wife Beverly and their children Justin and Alexandra. He is forty-five years old.

Eric's father was a career Naval officer whose service reached back to the World War II era. Due to his father's international Navy assignments, Eric grew up all over the world and is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian. He graduated from a High School in Louisiana, so he could follow in this father's footsteps and attend the US Naval Academy.

Eric's career as a Naval officer featured studies at the United States Naval War College and various leadership positions on U.S. warships. He served off the coast of Lebanon and in the Persian Gulf as the Executive Officer of the strike Destroyer, USS Elliott. Throughout his career he served on nine ships, leading over 5000 personnel, often under hostile conditions.

Massa´s capstone Navy assignment was as the military aide for NATO's Supreme Allied Command and four-star General, Wesley Clark. Massa worked closely for Clark during General Clark’s top-level assignments in Washington, Panama and Belgium.

Eric is very familiar with the inner workings of Congress having served as congressional liaison for General Clark and after his retirement as a Staff Member of the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. Eric was also a Senior Advisor to General Clark’s Presidential campaign in 2004.

"The kind of challenger who could pull off an upset."

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“The kind of challenger
  who could pull off an upset.”

~Roll Call on Eric Massa

Eric Massa is running for Congress in the 29th District of New York State. Part of the upstate region of New York, it includes the Southern Tier along the Pennsylvania border, the Fingerlakes, suburban Rochester and the city of Elmira.

The 29th has been an entrenched Republican district, but that is changing. The region has been suffering job losses and economic difficulties for years, with negative job growth in its metropolitan areas since 2004.

The Republicans, including incumbent representative Randy Kuhl, have offered little more than promises to their constituents and support for the Bush agenda.

“Randy Kuhl’s support for the Central American Free Trade Agreement, bankruptcy reform and the privatization of Social Security will erode what little security the people of this District have left.”

"My opponent, 98 percent of the time, votes as he is instructed to vote by Tom DeLay and Karl Rove. That is not in the best interest of the 29th District.”

-Eric Massa

This lack of leadership or responsiveness led to the victory of Frank Coccho for Mayor of Corning, the first Democrat to hold the office in 40 years, although he was out-spent by his opponent two to one. Eric Massa joined in his grassroots-fueled campaign and supported other local races.

“Frank’s victory is emblematic of the discontent that has been brewing in communities across the 29th District among hard working families that are tired of being left out in the cold by a Congress and Administration that don’t understand or care that their standard of living continues to decline, even as company profits soar.”

-Eric Massa

Despite an unsuccessful bid in her race against Randy Kuhl in 2004, Samara Barend garnered 36 percent of the votes in her run for Congress and Kuhl took office with only 51 percent of the vote. This congressional seat, with support, is ripe for the taking. And without primary competition, Eric Massa can be the Democrat who turns the tide in 2006.

“Throughout our nation and in every town in the 29th District, I see a continuing and relentless assault on the middle class. Every piece of legislation I see emanating from Washington today makes it harder for those of us who earned $35,000 a year to earn $45,000 a year. At the same time, these new laws guarantee an individual enjoying millions of dollars of wealth will double their portfolio's value.”

"Open-door free trade has destroyed the manufacturing base of this nation. You don't have to be a PhD. in economics to know that. Just walk a mile in any direction from this office and you'll see the shuttered family farms and the broken factories."

-Eric Massa

With a platform that stresses economic development and fairness, policies to curtail the outsourcing of jobs to other countries through NAFTA and opposition to CAFTA, increasing the minimum wage and protecting social security, Eric Massa offers the alternative to the republican economic agenda which rewards the fortunate while neglecting the very people who put them in office. It is an alternative many voters in the 29th District are ready to embrace.

“…Our Veterans are losing the benefits they were promised for risking their lives for this nation even while some of our bravest are being marginalized and demonized for disagreeing with an Administration that won’t admit it was wrong.”

-Eric Massa

As a retired Navy Commander with 24 years of service, Eric is deeply concerned about the welfare of veterans and active duty soldiers and is committed to supporting them and their families, especially under an administration that takes their service for granted while neglecting their most desperate needs.

His four point plan to address their unique concerns includes increasing military salaries by re-allocating existing federal funds, granting National Guard and Reserve troops reimbursement for travel expenses, assistance for troops returning home from combat and allowing those who served in the Guard and Reserve to buy into the Tricare military health care system.

“Many families are one medical crisis away from bankruptcy. With 40 million people uninsured, we are in a state of emergency in this nation. I believe that guaranteeing all Americans access to health care should be a national security priority.”

"I met people who had to make decisions between chemotherapy drugs and food. I looked around and said at the dawn of the 21st century, medical care in the United States of America should not be about the survival of the financially fittest."

-Eric Massa

As a cancer survivor of six years who witnessed the lack of adequate health care available to working families first-hand, it is an issue that Eric has made a priority in his platform.

One of the first bills he would introduce as a member of congress would be the COBRA Health Care Extension Act, which would extend this health benefit provision from 18 months to 5 years, giving vulnerable families access to coverage at group rates for a more reasonable length of time.

Although the crisis of healthcare cannot be addressed by this legislation alone, it is a first step toward insuring those families who would otherwise join the 40 million uninsured in this country due to the loss of a job.

“This is about community not cronyism. The voters have soundly rejected the politics of Rove, Delay and the Bush Administration. The working families here do not have any coattails to cling to. They want jobs, health care and a secure future for their children.”

"I am the underdog in this race, there's no doubt about that. Randy Kuhl has been able, over the last 20 years, to stop in and drop off checks to every institution in this district, at least in this county. I'm building a campaign that focuses on issues and his voting record."

-Eric Massa

Facing an incumbent with a war chest can be daunting, but with our help and support, a candidate with integrity and passion like Eric Massa can be the kind of challenger who could pull off an upset.

WesPAC supporters across the country and the world have helped build this campaign with each coming week. Over the past nine months, we have had incredible amounts of support as our campaign has progressed.

As we look back on what we have accomplished with your help this past year, we are very much looking forward to the New Year, and all that 2006 has to offer.

Thank you for your continued support, and we hope you will continue to send us your ideas, and your help.

Massa for Congress

Wes Clark and Eric Massa

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Concord Monitor
General made believer of wary aide

Thursday, November 27, 2003

By ANNMARIE TIMMINS

Monitor staff


As a junior Navy officer, Eric Massa had no choice the first time he went to work for Gen. Wesley Clark in 1996, as Clark's assistant in Panama. The Navy set up the interview, and Massa hoped to mangle it with blunt honesty.


"I didn't want the job, and I told him so," said Massa. "I was afraid of working for a pompous moron, of which there are several wearing stars. I had worked for senior officers who didn't care about people, and I didn't want to do that again."

It turned out Massa and Clark had something in common there, and Massa spent the next four years attached to Clark, first in Panama and then in Europe, during Clark's stint as supreme allied commander in Europe.

When Massa left Clark in 1999 it was under protest and only because Massa had been diagnosed with advanced cancer. Now, years later, Massa - recovered and retired from the Navy - is working for Clark's army again, this time as a campaign staffer trying to get Clark elected to the White House.

Massa wasn't looking for the job this time, either. Clark asked him to come on board after learning a month ago that Massa had "involuntarily resigned" from his government job at the urging of Republican bosses. They were upset that Massa had visited Clark at a Democratic campaign event.

"They said I was a political liability and that if I liked Wes Clark so much I should go work for him," Massa said. A lifelong Republican, Massa just re-registered as a Democrat. Massa is the son of a Navy man, and as such grew up outside America and with a respect for the military. The family came to the United States when Massa was 16, and after graduating from high school in Louisiana, Massa attended the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

In all, Massa spent 25 years in the Navy, 16 of them on sea duty. In the mid-1990s, Massa's commanding officer told him it was time to decide how he wanted to fulfill his joint duty, a requirement for officers to spend part of their service with another branch of the military.

When Massa said he wanted to do something out of the ordinary, he was told an Army general by the name of Wes Clark was looking for a Navy aide. All he knew about Clark was that he had stars on his Army uniform, and that didn't carry much weight with Massa.

Their 50-minute interview, however, convinced Massa to withhold judgment.

"He had questions I didn't expect from a military man," Massa said. "He asked me if I was familiar with Greek literature, if I read Homer, what I thought about the Illiad.

"And the last 20 minutes were devoted to people questions," Massa said. "He asked me what I would do if a young soldier came to me and told me his wife had died. Or a homosexual soldier told me he was being harassed. His whole thing was treating people with dignity and respect."

Three hours later, Massa was on a plane with Clark to Panama, where Clark was commander in chief of the U.S. Southern Command. Massa described his job as Clark's executive assistant and deputy chief of staff.

Once there, Massa asked Clark what the Homer question was about. Massa remembers the answer: "He said he was looking for someone who was well-rounded enough to talk about issues beyond military terms."

For about 13 months, Massa shadowed Clark, keeping notes of his meetings and drafting follow-up letters to the people Clark had met. Massa said Clark forbade his staff to begin any of his correspondence with "I" because Clark wanted the emphasis on the recipient, not himself.

A show of support

When Clark was promoted to supreme allied commander in Europe in 1997, he asked Massa to stay on and be his advance man. Massa agreed and moved his wife and kids, who had been waiting for him back in San Diego, to Brussels, Belgium. After Clark arrived, Massa was again a close assistant and became one of Clark's main liaisons to Washington, D.C.

Massa had every intention of staying in Europe as Clark's assistant until he got sick in late 1999. He hadn't recovered from running a half-marathon but chalked it up to the flu. He blew off a doctor's appointment his wife had made for him, thinking he'd work it off.

On Nov. 9, 1999, Massa looked up from his desk to find Clark standing there. Clark told Massa that his wife had called worried about his health.

Clark had arranged another doctor's appointment for Massa, and when Massa protested, Clark gave him the only direct order Massa recalls receiving in four years. "I think we have lost the fundamental relationship between a four-star general and a Navy commander," Clark told him. "You will go to the doctor."

The doctor diagnosed Massa, who had never smoked, with advanced lung cancer and gave him four months to live. Clark cut through red tape to get Massa and his family back to the United States for treatment.

Just before Massa left, Clark convened the staff and tearfully awarded Massa the Legion of Merit medal for his work. Clark had received the same medal in the 1970s when he was a speech writer for the then-supreme allied commander.

It's one of the few times Massa saw Clark cry.

"Everyone thought that was goodbye, that I was dying," Massa said.

Back home in San Diego, doctors were more optimistic and diagnosed Massa with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, not lung cancer, and began aggressive treatment.

Unknown to Massa, Clark had a soldier tracking Massa's surgery. As soon as Massa came to in recovery, staff told him he had a call. It was Clark. At the time, he was overseeing the bombing of Kosovo.

A different kind of service

Massa retired about three years ago; he waited so that the last thing he did in uniform was attend Clark's retirement. Now he's living in a hotel in Manchester, trying to avoid a fast-food diet and bringing his family in from New York when he can.

He talks wistfully about the job he lost to get here. Massa was in Washington overseeing part of the Navy budget as a member of the House Armed Services Committee. His departure was reported by the press and has since become fodder for online political sites.

But he doesn't regret where it got him. On the trail, Massa is helping get Clark the veteran vote - and whatever else needs doing.

"If Wes Clark asked me to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge, I'd ask him if he wanted it done in the summer or the winter", Massa said.

Eric In His Own Words

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Eric In His Own Words

I first came to Corning, New York in the early nineties, but the journey that brought me here began when my grandparents emigrated from southern and central Italy during the Great Depression.

My grandfather died at a very young age, and before the phrase, “single mother” was even invented, my grandmother, now 99 years old and still very much in charge of family reunions, raised the family on her own. My mother’s family saw two sons enlist and serve in both the pacific and European Theaters coming home to a new and hopeful America. My father joined the Navy as a World War II era non-commissioned officer and spent more than 30 years on active duty as a Navy pilot. He married his sweetheart, my mother, a nurse, who raised the family all over the world. We returned from overseas duty so I could graduate from High School in New Orleans, Louisiana. I was then privileged to attend, and honored to graduate from the US Naval Academy at Annapolis Maryland.

I was commissioned as a Naval Officer and spent a total of 24 years on active duty serving in every operational area that the Navy sailed in. Along this un-chartered journey, I fell in love with and married my wife, Beverly. We raised a family moving all over the world, much like my experiences growing up. One deployment saw us for many months off the coast of Beirut in direct support of our Marines ashore. During another cruise to the Middle East we were on station during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and throughout the opening of Desert Storm. My capstone military assignment was Special Assistant to General Wes Clark, both in Panama and then when he became Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces. I served with Wes in Washington DC, Panama, and in the European Theater of Operations.

My career was cut short when I was diagnosed with terminal Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The good news is the Doctors got the prognosis wrong and with Faith, family and friends I was able to find the strength to overcome the odds, and I beat cancer. I stand before you today healthier than I was six years ago. I spent the last part of my military career working as a cancer outreach advocate. I traveled across the country, talking with other cancer patients who were in the same position I had been. It was meeting these people, and talking with them and their families that made me realize, for the first time, how important Healthcare for all Americans really is.

When my Naval career officially ended I retired and returned to Corning New York. I went to work in the Photonics division of Corning Inc. and eventually the automotive environmental division. I joined Corning the day the stock reached its highest point and I rode it all the way down until the company was forced to lay off almost half of its work force. When the tech bubble burst I, and many thousands of other tech workers got wet. My wife and I made the decision to stay in Corning. I was offered a position as a Professional Staff Member to the House Armed Services Committee for the United States Congress, in Washington, DC. I found a way to commute to Washington, and keep my family in our home in Corning, New York.

As a Professional Staff Member I expressed grave concerns to the Republican Party and wrote several dissenting documents about the plans to invade Iraq. When I saw what was happening to our returning Veterans, I again documented my concerns to the Republicans. When my former Commanding Officer and friend, Wes Clark joined the Presidential race, I refused to allow partisan politics to come between myself and my loyalty for my old Boss. I left my position on the House Armed Services Committee over the plans and strategies dealing with the Iraq war and its aftermath and have not looked back since. While I was not on the House Floor when the vote to invade Iraq took place, I voted with my feet by joining the Wesley Clark for President Campaign in New Hampshire.

After the campaign, I returned home and watched the outcome of the 2004 elections. I grew even more concerned about the future as I saw a small group of right-wing partisan politicians, highjack the party I had left the year before. Vote after vote in both the House and the Senate results in legislation that continues an unending assault on the very backbone of our nation – the hard working families of America that form our Middle Class.

It is my responsibility to pass on to my children a nation as solid and as improved as the country I inherited from my parents. When I look at my kids, Justin and Alexandra, I see the burden of the mistakes being made today weighing on their futures. The security of our economic future is not clear and becomes more in question every day. Jobs are being shipped overseas, access to health care is more difficult and more expensive. The deficit fueled by tax cuts and unrelenting government spending has created a true toddler tax of over $27,000 dollars for every new child born in this nation. We are failing to secure the future for our children.

This is what brings me here today, and I want to turn that around.

I am working to earn your vote and lead the fight to protect those who built this region, this state, and this country; the working families and middle class. I look forward to meeting each of you, and talking about your concerns, and most importantly, hearing your thoughts and ideas about how I can help you recapture the true future of our region.

6/19/06: Eric Massa Reception

8/2/06 - First Person Account: Wes Clark in Monroe County--The Press Conference

General Wes Clark and Eric Massa on WCMF 96.5 - Radio Free Wease

Rochester, NY | August 2, 2006 WCMF Radio | Radio Free Wease We encourage you to listen to the clip

Wes Clark in Monroe County The Press Conference

By mariawells Crossposted with permission from Eric Massa for Congress August 3, 2006

I drove up to Rochester from NJ last night and met with most of Eric's staff at the Pittsford (outside of Rochester) office. We worked for a while, had dinner, worked for a while longer, then went to the bar in Pittsford (yes, apparently, there is only one--I was only there for one day, but this seems to be the only not-so-nice thing about Pittsford). Oh, and it seems the Buffalo Bills train in Pittsford. There were signs all over the place welcoming them, but I didn't see any football players. :( But, then, I don't suppose they'd be walking down State Street in their helmets and pads.

I talked a good game--like I was going to show up at the office at 7:30am this morning--NOT. I got there around 9. It wasn't my fault. The alarm clock in the Holiday Inn Express did not have a snooze button, so when it went off at 6:10, I turned it off and the next thing I knew, it was 7:30. And, no, that doesn't explain why I didn't get to the office til 9 either!

Anyway, when I got there, we learned that the biggest radio show in Rochester--oh I've forgotten the guy's name but it's "Brother Something or other" (Wease)--was going to have Eric on. We turned up the radio in the office and listened in. It was quite the good show. Really, I think it was the best show I've ever heard Eric on, not necessarily because of what he said, but more because of the atmosphere. It was just like a few guys talking around a coffee table about politics. And Brother ??? kept referring to Eric as "Brother Eric."

Well, then we heard the really neat news. General Clark was going to be on as well! Brother Wes??? Uh, well, he didn't actually ever refer to Wes that way, but it sure was funny to picture it. To tell you the truth, by the time Wes was on, I was completely stressed out about a tiff I was having with a service provider over a certain technical problem, so I didn't really hear much of what Wes said. But y'all will be glad to hear that he did, in fact, eat a donut. I know that everyone worries that Wes does not eat when he travels.

I'm not quite sure where Eric and Wes headed after that, but we were off to South & Comfort Streets in Rochester for a press conference outside the Veterans Center there and then a quick "tour" of the center itself. I drove over with two of Eric's very young staff--Sam and Goeff--well, I guess THEY don't think they're very young :). Anyway, it was HOT. It was about 11:00am. We were setting up signage, which was a story in itself. As a slight break to the absolute temperature, which I think was 452.7 deg F, there was a swift breeze. And that made displaying Eric's banners impossible. We tried, we really did. But when two people got smacked in the face and one of them nearly needed emergency medical care, the "safety-first" engineer in me kind of freaked out. Who needs banners when you have Wes Clark, anyway?

The press conference went well, but it was HOT. Had I mentioned that already? Everyone was soaked. Wes's hair was windblown and kind of falling down in his eyes. Wes talked about the lack of support this administration gives the troops and veterans. He told an incredibly sad story about a young man who'd returned from Iraq after having witnessed his best friend dying in battle. Wes said in Israel, they make sure combat troops are interviewed and then interviewed again by psychologists before they send them home. We don't do that. This young man committed suicide in front of his mother.

Wes was asked about Iraq. He said we needed to redeploy the troops. Reporters asked if that meant bring them home and he said something along the lines of "some of them." I wish I'd been taking notes for that part, because my memory is really failing me there. But, it really wasn't anything that I wouldn't have thought he'd say, except for the use of the word "redeployment." Apparently Rummy said last week that Iraqis would be able to hold their own by the end of this year. A reporter asked what Wes thought about that. He said, "I hope that's true. Every American should hope that's true." She then pushed him and said, "Do you think it's true?" And he said, "Hoping is not a strategy. The evidence doesn't indicate that it will happen that way."

Another reporter asked Wes about Israel. Wes's answer sounded very pro-Israel. A reporter said, "You sound like you're in agreement with the Bush administration." Wes said that the administration never should have let it get to this point. Just because you think Israel has a right to defend itself and Hezballah must disarm, doesn't mean that we have to be having all this innocent loss of life. There is another way. We should have been working the situation all along.

Sometimes I forget that and Wes always reminds me. There is always another way. You don't have to be for or against Israel. Believing that Hezballah is wrong doesn't mean that innocent people have to die. Americans don't believe that innocent people should be put in harms way -- no matter whose flag they live under.

Eric was his usual fiery self at the press conference. He echoed everything Wes said. It's amazing when they get together how in-tune they are with one another. Boy, I'm really blanking on what he said specifically. I think I may have been suffering from heat exhaustion by then! He gave specific examples of things that would get done if he had his way in Congress. And they were things about healthcare and vets. There was a VN Vet in the crowd, a real swiftboat veteran, who asked the last question. But it was more of a statement than a question. He said he'd come down to see if Eric was for real--and he was convinced that he was. That was a pretty touching moment.

Eric and Wes and some of the crowd then went over for a quick "tour" of the Vet Center. There wasn't time for that to last too long, but I think everyone was enjoying the A/C.

After that, we all headed over to Mario's for the fundraiser. I'll cover that in another entry.

8/2/06 - First Person Account: Meeting the General in Rochester

Meeting the General in Rochester

By mgm From the Clark Community Network August 2, 2006

General Clark and Eric Massa arrived at Mario's Via Abruzzi only a few minutes late, after having had a press conference at the Rochester Veteran's Outreach.

200 of us waiting for the stars, while we munched on $100 buffet salads and exchanged Bush insults. As soon as they came in, Wes started to work the room until Eric called him to stand "in a reception line" (of two).

For those of you who haven't met Eric in person, he has an extremely strong-- one might even say "commanding" personality. On their way to a corner to form the two-man reception line, Eric, passing by, spotted me and said "Miriam, get on over here." I was startled that he remembered my name after one meeting, but then recalled that I'd given him one of my books. And I wasn't so startled that I didn't "get on over" very fast, while everyone else was sort of milling around.

Thus, friends, I finally met the General.

While others were still clueing into what was happening we had a chat about books!

It's an odd thing, but I've seen so many clips and live TV appearances of Clark, that I felt rather as if I were meeting/talking with an old friend. He looked tired- -which no doubt he was--but the eyes were ultra-alert. And I suppose you all want to know that he was wearing a light gray suit (in 90+ degree outdoor heat.) I think he had on a blue tie but won't swear to it--to tell the truth, I wasn't very interested in his tie . I won't give you a word-for-word account of what he said (spoke over half an hour) because CarolNYC did that so well in her blogged NJ Paul Aronsohn account and Clark's talk today was very similar. And much of what he said we are all familiar with.

His audience was responsive and enthusiastic and I could see the moment his fatigue fell away and he went off on a roll. It was right after the cheering he got when he called the administration "strategic dunces!" (And keep in mind that Rochesterians aren't ordinarily very a "cheering" sort of people.)

Much more unsettling was when he used the word "danger" three times regarding America: i.e. "America is in danger." "It is a dangerous time for America."

He retold the Paul Wolfowitz 1991 plan for the Middle East horror story related in Carol's blog. I think most people there, or certainly the ones near me, were pretty well shocked. And angry.

Eric was his high-energy, passionate, straightforward self, his short talk delivered in that attractive baritone voice of his. Really had the audience enthused and...I guess the only word for it is "relieved" that they had a really good candidate there. Afterward, the majority of people flocked around him, asking what they could do to help his campaign, etc.

General Clark was standing at a window with a few around him requesting pictures. When he gestured for me to come over, I told him my Paul Wolfowitz story.

I went to school in Ithaca with Paul Wolfowitz and his older sister Laura, who is my age. Laura and I were little more than nodding acquaintances, but we were both fairly serious students (at that stage of life at least.) We were both honor speakers at our graduation and one day we were rehearsing our speeches together at her house when Paul, maybe three years younger as I recall, was being his relentlessly obnoxious, weird, nosy little self (I've often wondered if his personality is twisted against humanity because his ears were positively elephantine. He got teased about them, but he was too arrogant to respond gracefully and consequently he got teased more).

Finally Laura said to me in exasperation, "Let's take him into the bathroom, fill up the tub, and drown him." (Talk about missed opportunities!)

Clark threw back his head and laughed. Hard. And we talked a bit about what-might- have-been(s). And then they whisked him off to the airport. It's my impression that he will run in '08 if he thinks he can win. But that caveat covers a multitude of things. Let's all hope, because I believe he is our hope.

8/2/06 - First Person Account: Wes in Monroe: Part II

Wes in Monroe: Part II

By mariawells Crossposted with permission from Eric Massa for Congress August 3, 2006

The place was packed. It was wonderful. Truthfully, I don't think I've ever been to a "better" fundraiser. There was just something about it (hmm... maybe it was the air conditioning?) that made it perfect.

I got there a little late. Sam, Geoff, and I had a little trouble navigating our way back from downtown. There was a detour that I think was a vast right wing conspiracy to keep us from getting to Mario's. We were literally driving around in giant circles.

When we arrived, Eric and Wes were at the front of the room with a giant line snaking through the tables. They were doing a reception line where anyone and everyone got to have their picture taken standing between Wes and Eric. Yeah, I guess it cut down on face time for some people, but, wow, what a cool idea. With 120 people in attendance, this was definitely the way to go. Everyone seemed thrilled. I thought about getting in line myself. But, actually, watching was so much fun in and of itself that I couldn't bring myself to give up my prime viewing spot.

Joe Morelle, Chairman of the Monroe County Democratic Committee, introduced Wes. He gave a wonderful introduction. I learned something I didn't know about Wes. Benjamin Kanne, Wes's father, was a delegate to the 1932 Democratic Convention where FDR was nominated. I guess I should have known that, but I didn't. Joe had to leave early, so nobody got a chance to tell him what a great job he did.

Then Wes spoke. He said mostly the same things he'd said at the press conference. But, as mgm mentioned, there was the point where he called George Bush a "strategic dunce." That was classic. Perhaps we should order strategic dunce caps with Bush's picture on them? He talked about when Eric was diagnosed with cancer and how they'd all cried their eyes out when he left SHAPE to go back to the States for treatment that everyone thought was hopeless. And how Eric called him 6 months later and said, "I'm alive, boss."

I've said this before but it really amazes me every time--seeing Wes and Eric together is very special. They just plain work together well.

Wes talked again about how Americans value human life and that the Bush administration doesn't seem to realize that you can't just "restart" a life once you've bombed someone's house. Once they're dead, they're dead. There's no reboot button.

Someone yelled out that they wanted him to run in 08 and like at the press conference (which I forgot to mention), he said that he wasn't going to talk about it. He thought that was doing a disservice to the country. We need an independent Congress that's willing to live up to their duties to check and balance the executive branch. And in order to have that, we need a new Congress. We need to be focussed on 2006. We can't wait til 2008.

But, it was kind of funny cause then he went on to talk about how great it was running in 04.

After Wes finished talking, Eric got up there and started off talking about health care and how he'd been fortunate enough to have the best and so should everyone else. (As Wes left the podium, he came to the back of the room and -- oh my god -- stood next to ME! How cool is that?) Eric talked about how his wife was his biggest supporter and his first and most important endorsement. Wes's face lit up when Eric mentioned his wife and he started mumbling, "Where is she?" The crowd all sort of just directed him over to her one person at a time. That was really nice to see. I love to see people showing genuine caring for each other.

Eric also talked about the minimum wage and the Republican "poison pill" inheritance tax amendment to it. He said you could bet he wouldn't pull any garbage like that when he was in Congress. I had a very short side conversation with Wes about the original intent of the inheritance tax and he gave me homework to go do research on it.

When Eric was done talking, there was more picture taking. Wes stayed around for quite some time.

It was a real treat. The atmosphere was perfect. At the end, Wes and Eric were each off in different floor-spots carrying on conversations with people. And Wes seemed even more relaxed and friendly than usual. You can really feel how much Eric and Wes care about each other--and maybe even more importantly--how well they must have worked together. They just click.

June 21st: Fundraiser for Congressional Candidate Eric Massa

Wesley Clark stumps for Eric Massa, scolds Bush

Wesley Clark stumps here for Dem, scolds Bush Rochester Democrat and Chronicle August 2, 2006 By Joseph Spector | Staff writer
ROCHESTER, NY — Retired Gen. Wesley Clark campaigned for Democratic congressional candidate Eric Massa in Rochester this morning and blasted the Bush administration for neglecting veterans and for its failing foreign policies.
Clark, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, said the White House hadn't put in place the diplomatic and political strategies necessary to win the war in Iraq and establish peace in the Middle East.
"It has been over three years of fumbles and mistakes by the White House," Clark said during a news conference across the street from the Veterans Outreach Center on South Avenue.
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark campaigned for Democratic congressional candidate Eric Massa in Rochester this morning and blasted the Bush administration for neglecting veterans and for its failing foreign policies.
Clark, who sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, said the White House hadn’t put in place the diplomatic and political strategies necessary to win the war in Iraq and establish peace in the Middle East.
“It has been over three years of fumbles and mistakes by the White House,” Clark said during a news conference across the street from the Veterans Outreach Center on South Avenue.
The White House defended Bush’s policies and said that he has increased spending for veterans’ health care by 69 percent since 2001.
“The president is aware of the challenges in Iraq, but is also committed to achieving success,” said White House spokesman Peter Watkins.
Massa was a former Clark aide and is running against Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport, Steuben County.