From the Diaries -- Brent

This absolutely marvelous firsthand account comes courtesy of Debby Burroughs on one of the yahoo groups...Enjoy, it's a good one:

 "Just to set the scene, the beautiful auditorium was packed--the chairs on stage were placed between two large screens with cameras pointed at the podium, located on the audience's far left.  The chairs were arranged with two side by
side, facing the audience, a small table at each end, and two more
chairs slightly angled toward each other.  The placement turned out to
be important, in my mind anyway.  Clark was introduced first and entered
to a rousing round of applause, taking a seat on the far right (in one
of the angled chairs on the end). Eagleburger came in next, and sat in
one of the chairs facing the audience, beside Clark.  Albright entered
next, introduced by Judy Muller, and she went to the podium to speak
first.  As much as I admire and like her, the introductory comments were
dry and slightly boring because it was a prepared speech and she
delivered it as such.  When she finished, she took her seat in the
middle section, directly beside Eagleburger.  The chair on the far left
was for the "moderator", Judy Muller.

 After Albright sat down, Clark delivered his remarks.  He spoke
masterfully on an extended number of subjects of world and US policy,
citing dates, figures, leaders' names, etc with nary a note.  This made
his remarks exceptionally interesting.  As he spoke, his image was on
both large screens. Some of the content of his remarks are found in the
article below (the Experts Debate Iraq article posted above).   However, to explain just a little more, he did not discount Albright's remarks that diplomacy and US Foreign Policy should be bipartisan, he simply said that is not the way our policy has been conducted for the last 5 years, and we are paying the price for this "my way or the highway" mindset. 

 Eagleburger rose next to take the opposite position of Clark, fully
defending all that Bush  has done, including going to war with Iraq.  At
some point shortly into his remarks, he blustered that someone should
bring him some water..."where's my water cause I'm getting all worked
up".  Wes jumped up, grabbed the water pitcher and a glass, poured as he
walked over to the podium to hand a glass to Eagleburger.

 Following the opening remarks, there were questions posed by the
audience, submitted earlier in writing, that were discussed and debated,
and I won't go into those except to say that the seating arrangement was
important here I thought.  Each time Albright answered, she was shown on
the big screen with Eagleburger in the picture.  I do not mean to
criticize him for any medical affliction he has, for I truly believe all
of his movements were not intentional (certainly, some were) but his
constant fidgeting, flailing, yawning, glancing at this watch, moving
his cane around, rolling his eyes, etc. were a MAJOR distraction to what
she was saying.  I found I had to listen rather than look at her when
she spoke, because his image was very consuming.  At least when the
camera was on Wes for an answer, he was on the screen alone.  I wish she
could have been as well.

 To wrap up this summary, I will say that I sat with Howard and Gloria to
my left, Jim and Sharon in front of me, but to my right (how
appropriate), there was an obvious Republican supporter.  He heartily
applauded after Eaglebuger's opening remarks and I could hear a few
comments under his breath about agreeing, etc.  However, as the evening
went along, he also applauded several of Wes' remarks on his strategy to
get out of Iraq with the least possible damage to the US and future
Middle East problems, and I heard him saying, he agreed with that. One
of the first questions was from a Marine Mom (this is a large military
community) about how we can get out of Iraq.  Throughout out the
discussion among the panelists, there was good natured banter.  Even while
being diametrically opposed on issues, Albright poked and patted
"Larry", and Wes smiled broadly at the blustery harrumphing that
Eagleburger did all night.  Perhaps it was telling that at the reception
with the guests following the discussion, only Albright and Clark were
there to mingle with the crowd...Eagleburger was not seen! 

 Great evening."

 "....to add one thing that was humorous...at the
end of the question session, the moderator, Judy Muller (who was great,
and it was special for her since she was an alumnus of Mary Washington
University where the event is held) asked General Clark if he had seen
the new television show "Commander in Chief", and if the VP character
was modeled after him.  It was pretty funny to end on this note.  He did
answer that he hadn't seen the show so couldn't comment on the
character.  Then Madeline Albright piped up and said "Well, I HAVE seen
the show and I do think the character is modeled on Wes.  But I don't
like the show and here's why.  I want to see a woman ELECTED president,
not get the job because some man who didn't want her in the first place,
died."  During Albright's comments, Eagleburger just really hammed it
up, arched back, arms extended, shaking his head like 'I don't believe
what this discussion has degenerated to'. 

 I will also add that from the very start after being introduced and
taking his seat, General Clark was very relaxed.  He sat a little
slouched in the chair, facing the lecturn at a slight angle since his
chair was angled, his legs crossed, smiling almost the entire time (when
appropriate) at the exchanges between the other two.  At one point, when
Judy asked Clark how he'd approach the diplomacy of getting the nations
surrounding Iraq to talk (since he talked about his three pronged
approach when answering the Marine Mom's question), he said, "you've got
two Secrataries of State sitting right here!  But, since you asked, this
is what I would do..." and he proceeded to answer the question."

 Many thanks to Debby for sharing the account