Wes Clark in San Francisco
Submitted by ClarkTones on February 4, 2006 - 1:14pm.
Firsthand Accounts
From the diaries -- Larry
I was at the event in San Francisco Thursday night, both for the reception and for the dinner.
The first thing to say is that Kelly Flinn pulled together a great show. I know that others contributed greatly (such as Ruth Benedict and Robin Galer), but Kelly was in the center. She worked long hours for weeks to make it happen, and managed it throughout the evening without a sign of stress. Congratulations, Kelly!
The reception was scheduled to begin at 5:30. I arrived at the Hotel Monaco in the Union Square area at about 5:20 and the place was already buzzing. Many were already signed in and slurping vino, lots of smiles, laughter, and reconnecting. I'm not going to start naming names, because there were so many I'll have to list 'em all and y'all will get bored...
The Paris Foyer area where the reception was held filled continuously for the next hour or so. Since I was so looking forward to seeing General Clark, I somehow did not anticipate how great it woud be to reconnect with all the people with whom I'd shared the trenches two and three years ago. So although General Clark did not arrive until I think around 6:15, everyone was in such a happy spirit that the time flew by.
Then, there he was. The whole focus of the crowd shifted to watching his progress as he entered and moved through the room, toward the far end where there was a large fireplace. He would eventually stand in front of the fireplace to speak, but not until he was able to individually greet the many faithful as he made his way to where he would speak.
Finally, he did. After the preliminary thank you's and intro comments, General Clark read us an official memo from Karl Rove to the President which was channeled directly to General Clark in his sleep, bypassing the routine lead sources used by lesser beings. General Clark had no choice but to wake up, type it, and read it to us at the reception. It was a very entertaining and chillingly realistic "strategy paper" for Bushian and Republican success in '06 and beyond. It had all the cynical trademarks of a Rove strategy, full of exploiting American fears and saber rattling to secure the perception of Republicans as our guardians and Democrats as weaklings.
After that entertainment (and it was entertaining), the General took questions from the crowd. We then did a couple of group photos (lots of people in the crowd ran as delegates for Clark in California, so we took a picture there, then a big one of Four Star Dems and East Bay for Clark).
Then the reception began to break up, and there was a lull of about twenty minutes or so before dinner.
Dinner was much more intimate. In a small room upstairs there were four tables seating eight each. After more cocktails and small talk, we were seated for dinner. Rather than each table conversing to itself, General Clark treated all of us to stories of Kosovo (the crisis of the Russian occupation at the airport at Pristina), and then took questions in a very conversational manner throughout the rest of the evening. It was an honor.
After dinner, more photos, and then we let the poor guy get some rest.
There's certainly more detail I could add, but I have to run. Perhaps others who were there can fill in the gaps.
Again, kudos to Kelly, Robin, Ruth, Stan Davis, and everyone else who made this happen.
S - I read your post after I submitted mine...I felt a bit dumb, had I read yours first I would have referenced it...Your account really captures the enthusiasm of the evening. I'll post more as I learn how all this works, as I'm new the "Community" in virtual terms, although not in real terms...Thanks, J
just new to this forum. I live in North Bay and aware you've been active for WKC.
Anyway I'm delighted you posted your account...never fear there is never too much Wes-talk here! I hope you'll drop in frequently.
How great must our failure be until we turn in panic and disgrace to a Man of Honor? - Quigley
Disregard my instructions on the other thread.
Thanks again for the account. We, here, live vicariously through other blogger's encounters. ;)
You cannot successfully run the world on comic book slogans and third rate biblical homilies.
Thanks Joe. It sounds like a wonderful event. Hope there are some pictures forthcoming.
"Some of them put on their cowboy boots and put their feet up on the desk." -Wes Clark
Would love to see pics from the Left Coast dindin! - Friend was there and I hear nothing but great great stuff about the whole evening!! - Need pics!!!!!
I echo Ruth in giving thanks for this fantastic report, Joe!!
IN WITH THE BLUE 2006
We may think because it is "high tech" that somehow it is different from the genre that held our cave-dwelling ancestors in thrall. But really, we love a good story whether beside a fire or diaried on a blog. That is a great story. Thank you Joe; it is so good to have you here.
You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.--J. V. Marley
you say it in a way that strikes right to the heart! I love it!
Thank you Joe!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right. - Hunter/Garcia
I couldn't have possibly have thanked joe for the wonderful post in a more lyrical way either, so I'll just join in seconding Donna Z's message.
love to see you here more often joe any friend of The General's a friend of ours.
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
Z, speaking of great storytelling, someone should suggest Wes use his incredible storytelling skills every opportunity he gets. Even on Fox News...he should just go off into a story. If they tried to shut him down before he finished the viewers would be on the phones, writing emails, demanding they allow him to finish. He's that good! It's one of his many strenghts and oh so enjoyable.
"Some of them put on their cowboy boots and put their feet up on the desk." -Wes Clark
I can testify personally from being there that our General is a GREAT, GREAT story teller. He ought to lead each of his (campaign) speeches with two or three of them that convey a message he wants to convey.
Stan Davis
Lakewood, CO
BE THE CHANGE you wish to see in the world.
If not us, WHO? If not now, WHEN?
Loved your story, too.
You should blog more often!! Great Account!! It does feels great, when you reconnect with everyone from the Clark campaign; and it'll be even greater, when we all do so again in the near future.
[Excerpt From today's Baton Rouge Advocate article: ("2theAdvocate.com")
] SBA approvals at record clip Storm-related disbursements, however, at 5% ---By NED RANDOLPH Advocate staff writer Published: Feb 4, 2006
Loans for hurricane-stricken homes and businesses in the Gulf Coast are being approved by the federal Small Business Administration at a record pace of $54 million a day, the agency said, but the process of actually seeing the funds is arduous.
Since Katrina blew ashore on Aug. 29, the SBA has “approved” more than $3.1 billion in disaster loans — mostly home loans.
Its director, Hector V. Barreto, is using this mark to tout the effectiveness of the agency, while critics are calling for its total reorganization, including the removal of Barreto
:) Clearsky
to the Securing America Community! I very much enjoyed reading through your account. It added an additional layer to the details we've already received from Sybil, about that night.
You obviously had a wonderful evening! Thanks for sharing it with all of us. And please.....don't be a stranger! 
Culture of Corruption, Culture of Corruption, Culture of Corruption.....
This is a wonderful report. Thank you!
Unitary Executive Theory is NOT a theory anymore!
Thanks so much...and welcome to this cyber community. Please come back often.
As all have commented, you tell a great story. It's been fun to weave together the accounts of motherTricia, Sybil Liberty, Stan and now, you. I wonder if Wes has a sense of the comraderie he's helped create among all of us? Certainly, two great things come of an event like this one--a chance to reconnect or meet for the first time other wonderful people, and an opportunity to be in the presence of a man we admire and love so much.
Debby in Va
Thanks for sharing this with us, Joe. It is always so inspiring to hear first hand accounts like this. And thanks for your work on the General's behalf.
Leadership means lifting people up. --Wes Clark
This was a terrific account of a wonderful event.
The General gets it right. Competence--What a concept!
Thanks for the report, I would have gone to the SF event if I had the $$. I did see General Clark at the rally in LA, that was a great event too. Expect a gushing post from me soon about that experience.
Just wanted to add my thx for this fantastic report, Joe! My friend (the one who flew many miles to have dinner with the General!) was there in San Fran, and had so many great things to say about the good folks he met.
ALMOST felt like I attended! 
IN WITH THE BLUE 2006
Thanks so much for posting this Joe. I've been dying to hear about the dinner! My FHA of the reception only is here if you have the time and inclination: http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/4277
Hope to see you post here more often!