I'm grateful for all you've done to change the course of our country and send countless progressives to Congress these past four years. But the 2008 elections are coming up soon, and we need to take the White House and increase our majorities in Congress. Contribute to WesPAC in celebration of our Fourth Anniversary today!

Click to Contribute >>

The Clark Community and WesPAC didn't start with me. It was born out of a group of people who wanted to restore our nation's security and prosperity, address the threats facing America without sacrificing our civil liberties, and fight the unwise policies of the Bush Administration.

It's with the help of people like you that I founded WesPAC and that we have come to change the course of this country. As we celebrate WesPAC's fourth anniversary this month, I'd like to take a moment and look back on what we have accomplished together, and thank your for standing by me these past four years:

The Draft Clark movement started in 2003 with just a handful of activists -- only five years later, our organization includes over 300,000 activists working to increase our Democratic majorities in Congress and bring new leadership to Washington.

Your energy and commitment to our country has helped change the course of our nation both internationally and domestically. Americans across the country are frustrated with our strategic blunders in the Middle East, a weak economy and an administration that has failed to represent the interests of the people. That's why we started a campaign to stop war with Iran, sent over 25,000 emails to Congress urging our Representatives to get Ed Shultz's show on Armed Forces Radio, and have sent more than 260,000 emails to our nation's leaders demanding change in Washington.

Time and again, the WesPAC community has fought for a shared purpose to strengthen our national security, stand by our veterans, and make sure that the government is representing the interests of all Americans. But I alone could not have had the impact that we as a community have had on our nation -- instead it has taken the work of thousands of people like you to make our voice heard.

Of course, what I'm most proud of is our success in sending countless Democrats to Congress. Since 2004, I've asked you to help progressive candidates across the country, and together we have raised over 1.5 million dollars for over 100 candidates. Raising 1.5 million dollars takes more than just one person -- it takes the support of a community, and you are part of a community that has propelled countless Democratic candidates to victory at election time.

With your help, we've done great work so far for the 2008 elections, but we can't take it for granted that we'll come out on top in November. We're facing a Republican Party that is willing to do anything to cling to their seats in Congress, and our opponents are already throwing mud at progressive candidates. It's critical that we win the White House and increase our margins in Congress to move our sound economic and foreign policies forward.

Help us continue to support progressive candidates for the 2008 elections -- click here to donate today!

We've come a long way since WesPAC was founded four years ago. I'm grateful that you've joined me in our mission to bring new leadership to Washington and repair our nation's image in the world. And with your help, we'll succeed by leaps and bounds in 2008.

Sincerely,

Wes Clark

RECAP from UCLA Rogue States Conference PART I:

Just in case anyone forgot, here is Part 1:
http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/15014

And seeing as I was so late getting to Part 2 (insert very guilty faced emoticon) I thought you could use a recap. You can hopefully understand when you scroll down, and down, and down… why this took so long to pull together. Transcribing is a painstaking exercise in patience and rewind…

This intro is snipped from Part 1 to refresh your memory.

France's Le Monde published an interview with Gen. Clark last Thursday. Here's my translation:

Wes returns yet again, March 11, to UCLA Burkle Center for a Conference on Rogue States and how best to address them via our foreign policy.

___________________________________________________________________

ROGUE STATES CONFERENCE PART I-

I arrived on campus around 2:30, just as the ABC and CBS trucks were packing up their gear to pull out (I have this effect on the media….) After Bill Richardson’s address – which I could not attend. I snuck into the large conference hall just as Panel 3 had gotten underway and grabbed the nearest seat in the back of the room – trusty recorder in hand. Dr. Suphamnonghkhuo (hereafter known as “Dr. S”) was discussing the famous six party talks with N. Korea while a man two rows in front of me was busily scrolling through his Blackberry…. Waitaminute! I know the back of that head--It’s Wes! And of course- I somehow always find myself lurking just behind him, over his shoulder, making it all the more difficult to dispel that notion of me being a Zelig-ian Wes-stalker. He turned around at one point -- smiled and waved. “Hi Wes!”. I mouthed. He must be used to looking behind him in L.A. by now to find the obligatory blond with tape recorder and notebook….

Picking up where we left off-- in the jam packed 2nd story classroom at UCLA Public Affairs Bldg- Wes had just finished telling his slipping on the icy runway story from his own Presidential campaign of 2004. He recounted how the photographer had caught him, sure enough, at just the worst moment. The whole room cracked up with his physical reenactment of the slide, then settled down for the next sobering question from a young man who asks;

Q: What’s your opinion of John McCain’s foreign policy?

It wasn’t until right before Wes was scheduled to speak that I learned I would be able to attend. The event had been booked full already for days, and I had meetings to move around even if I could go. After a series of frantic last minute calls to UCLA media relations dept and then to the public affairs offices-- I finally got my clearance at the very last minute. I dropped everything to dash off to UCLA-- in record time.

Great Day for a Hike

Calling all Clarkies - especially all those living in a Feb. 5 state:

If you are willing to write letters to other Clarkies in Feb 5 states, or make phone calls to them, or write letters-to-the-editors of papers in these states, then we need your help as soon as possible!

For letter writing: please contact Trisha Spiegel at pkspiegel@comcast.net

For phone calls: please contact Stan Davis at sdavis8585@msn.com

Just talked with John Oeffinger, live from Toledo, Iowa. ( Betcha didn’t know there was a Toledo in Iowa, huh?!)  Well, he and the inimitable Bob Gammage, drove back up to Iowa, from Southern Texas, at the crack of dawn New Year’s Day.  That’s about a 16 hr. drive, mind you – and I don’t think I’ve ever heard John so wired up and enjoying himself!  He and Bob  are having a blast it seems (and I’m missing it, damnit!). 

Hello Everyone:

Gen. Clark spoke at a World Affairs Council luncheon in Dallas, Texas today.  He also signed copies of his new book "A Time to Lead: For Duty, Honor and Country" after his speech so I was able to get both of my books signed. 

It is always a thrill to see Gen. Clark when he comes to Dallas and it was great that a lot of people showed up there to see him speak!

DUer Cornfield posted this nice blog about the Marion event where she spoke to some of those in attendance:

Wesley Clark Event Cuts Across Supporter Lines
A mid-day event Wednesday in Marion was billed as a stop for the campaign of New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and, without a doubt, the vast majority of the 40-some people in attendance were Clinton supporters, but there were also those Iowans who came just for the privilege of seeing her surrogate, Gen. Wesley Clark.