Or maybe ArkySue! bwahaha!

That warms my heart....

"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark

MrZ had to take me for a short "time-out" in a small park outside of the conference center....I was truly blown away.

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley 

the waters here?

to see how the candidates fare at this conference. Does anyone know what reception they are receiving?

The presidential candidates show up tomorrow (Saturday). Since the first two media mentions of WKC note his magnificent reception, they will be looking to contrast his with the "announced" candidates. We'll see.

Never know how something like what happened this morning my catch fire.

This is why my last two Kos Diaries have pointed to the significance of clark delivering this Keynote. I never had a doubt that Clark would be well received at Kos. The question is how many people will add 2 plus two together and start thinking; Maybe this is the man who we should be backing for President.

A very hard core Edwards supporter from another site I blog on finally really got what we all see in the General. She is still loyal to Edwards but she walked out saying that Clark MUST be Secretary of State. What about those whose loyalty to another candidate doesn't run as deep as hers?

I went to the tail end of a session with people who ran Ned Lamont's campaign in CT. Interesting stuff, but one mentioned how many people in that state now regret voting for Lieberman instead of Lamont. Well this morning an image came to my mind:

I saw a possible YouTube parody commercial, that millions may watch in about 4 months, based on the V8 commercial: Visual: Palm smacks forehead. Audio: "I could have had a Wes Clark!" For me it is not a matter of if, only of when. There is still a chance, which an experience like this morning breathes nes life into, that instead of the smack on the head followed by "I could of had..." maybe, just maybe the message will get through through in time; SMACK "I can have a Wes Clark!".

listening to Wes answering your question! HOW FUN!

And hopefully Wes realizes that we can have a Wes Clark as well.

57% of the electorate says that they are looking for a national security candidate. That is a healthy majority. And we currently don't have one.

It's a huge opening for Wes to slip into.

And remember... Bill Clinton didn't enter the race until October 3, 1991. He entered an already crowded field. With well established campaigns. All of which had been up and running for some time. "All the best consultants had been snatched up." "All the money had already been claimed." And this Bubba guy had low single digit national name recognition. And he won it.

Wes is in far better standing going in than that guy was.

There is still time for Wes to take this nomination if he wants to give it a go. God knows, the nation needs him.

Its up to us to make the most of 'free' publicity Wes gets, from Kos and later from book opening; in the interim, we plan and work.

WE CAN DO IT; WE MUST DO IT; HE WILL DO IT.

....must have swept over you as you experienced the drama of WKC entering the forum to what sounds like thunderous applause. To hear him utter those first words which could have brought other responses than the one you witnessed.

I am reminded of our time together in New Hampshire in the autumn of 2006. WKC's wildly successful dinner speech on the Seacoast and the seven people in Goeffstown (I think). Seven of fifteen hundred. The man speaks the truth, knows what he is talking about, and pays attention to his audience.

You are a dreamer Tom. We see many things through different lenses, I'd choose your way if I could.

Congrats on the question. Wes had a smile inside when he realized who was asking the question.

It helps me articulate scenarios that may be difficult to see, but that is the extent of how it helps me in this case Gordon.

Rather it is discipline. I support Wes Clark's leadership for America. I blog on Wes Clark's web ite to further that leadership. Wes Clark continues to say that he has not ruled out entering the Presidential race. It really is that cut and dry for me. If he does not rule it out I am not going to take my time or this space to argue either that it will not happen or that he really is telling us something he has not really told us.

When I sketch out a way that it still can happen, I describe a scenario that is plausible to me. It matters not at all to me at this point how likely that scenario is or is not, it is still possible, that is enough for my purpose.

If Wes Clark says that it still is possible that he will run for President, and as of this weekend that is stil what he tells us, then I will continue to promote that possiblility as long as it remains plausible to me in good conscience, and Clark 08 continues to meet that criteria for me.

I've said this before. right now there is nowhere else I have to or want to be. So here I am, and while I am here I will not use my time or this space to promote a message at odds with the message Wes Clark still is giving. He did not say he is not running for President in 2008, the Wall Street Journal is flat out wrong; no ifs, ands, or buts.

I will continue to "dream" if that is how you describe it, because that dream remains possible. Once we accept the fact that it very may not come to be, that is enough reality based community world view for me. I'm on board with that reality, I am not deluded, that's reality enough. I will continue to work for our dream, I will continue to support Clark 08 until he says he will not run.

The odds, to be freank, are irrelevent to me. My task for now is to increase those odds, period. If that is from 20% to 30%, fine. If that is from 1% to 2%, Fine. It makes absolutely no difference to me at this point. We Clark is the President that America needs, and I will continue to fight t make Wes Clark the President America will have.

October comes soon enough one way or another. This isn't about what is or is not more likely to be reality come October, it is about doing whatever I still can do now to bring about the reality I hope to live in come October, which is; helping Wes Clark in his efforts to win the Democratic nomination for President.

I wasn't thrown for an instant by Wes Clark's joke, I have come to expect that dry humor from our General. Nor was I surprised by the overwhelming outpouring of warmth that was showered upon Wes Clark that morning either. I have come to expect the netroots community to regard Wes Clark with deep respect and admiration. I am glad he got to see that for himself in person. I wasn't surprised but it was deeply moving none the less.

When Wes Clark stands and explains to citizens what is happening in the world, people stop and listen closely, eager to be told the truth. In that way it was the same as that magic night in NH that we both had the deep pleasure of witnessing together, Gordon. It remainded me of that time also.

Tom: To the extent you may be offended by my use of the word "dreamer" to describe one of your positive qualities, please accept my apology.

You should know by now that even though we have seen things differently on occasion, my respect for your steadfast belief that WKC can or may become a presidential candidate 2008 is second only to your personality in terms of why I always look forward to your writing and our time together.

My immigrant father, who served in the Russian army during World War I under Czar Nicholas II, came to America in 1923. He instilled hope in his four sons, but being a poker player, he taught us the vaule of knowing when to fold. He always said somethink like, "It is possible to draw to an inside straight, but not so likely that you stay in the game based on hope alone. You need to know that the CARD you are looking for hasn't already been played."

So, I am so happy to have your points of view, as they often help me analyze my own -- but most of all, I am happy to call you "friend."

I cherish your respect and the friendship we have begun. I do not take personal affront from anything you say, even when I somehow misunderstand you.

Dreaming has a powerful role to play, and so does steely eyed analysis. As to knowing when to fold them, that too is an essential survival skill. In this case, I leave that decision where it belongs, with the General.

I don't have to make that tough call, it is simple for me to support someone who I believe in until he makes that call, however the chips may fall.

One thing you have never been in closed minded, you will always consider a different opinion. Hopefully we will continue to share opinions that make each other think for many years to come, long after this Presidential race has come and gone.

Eleven of my closest Clark 2004 cohorts in NYC remain friends and share political thoughts and otherwise -- even though nary a one of them is waiting for Wes.

So, once the deck of 2008 presidential cards has been put away, unless you deem otherwise, you'll be stuck with my thoughts for quite some time.

all the way on this.

I don't care about 'odds;' that's a game, and THIS is not a game.

And I was not thrown by his joke, in fact it encouraged me; after all, he brought the subject up, lightly, and kept smiling!

'commenting' wherever the option exists, confirming that there are lots of people supporting Wes and encouraging him to 'run.'

Folks, seize the option; wherever he's mentioned, grab it and go with it: 'There are thousands of people who are now encouraging Wes Clark to announce his candidacy.'

Bill (from RI)

People want leadership......and in the absence of leadership, they will listen to anyone who walks up to the microphone.
Lewis Rothschild, in "American President"

I so needed that.

Lets hope Wes takes it to heart and decides to take the plunge.

People want leadership......and in the absence of leadership, they will listen to anyone who walks up to the microphone.
Lewis Rothschild, in "American President"

Really.

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A Wes Clark Democrat
America Needs Wes Clark
Blogging Wes Clark for President 2008

Bill (from RI)

We don't have to forget what we learned in the sixties, just add to it!

So excited that you're at YKos, Donna. If I hadn't just bought myself an apartment I would've blown the money to be there myself.

But the Clark reporting team there is magnificent (yourself, shortie, bluemoon, tom, ms_in_la -- it's like the CCN dream team!) and I'm home with a sore throat, so I'm going to be hanging on every word this weekend.

_{You'd be taking them to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq. Wes Clark, CNN Aug 17 2003}