« BIll and Hillary -- Doing It Again | coonsey's Blog | Obama: National Security Team -- Story is about Hillary »
Where is Wesley Clark?
What's happened to General Wesley Clark? Where is he? He may have been a Hillary Clinton supporter in the beginning but he came out swinging for Barack Obama soon after the primary. Why isn't he being offered a position in the Obama administration? He would have been great as Sec of State or Sec of Homeland Security.
Anybody know where he is and why he's been shunned or ignored?
Anybody know where he is and why he's been shunned or ignored?
Advertisement
I cannot help and answer this question but it has been on my mind since the most recent recommendation for appointment came to the fore. The new nominee announced formally tomorrow was the head of NATO at one time and his resume sounds a lot like Clark. Clark is too big a talent to be forgotten. My bet is that he will be with this White House formally or informally.
December 1, 2008 12:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I see a pattern... He was not invited to speak at the convention either... Who did he piss off?
December 1, 2008 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why do you assume that he is being shunned or ignored? It's just like Joe Biden - because the press is not up their asses doesn't mean they've been put to the side. Let's not speculate about who was and was not offered a position. Not every potential appointment was leaked and not everyone wants to work in Washington D.C.
December 1, 2008 5:07 AM | Reply | Permalink
Too boring for cabinet work?
December 1, 2008 8:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
The man has war, education, commander, television commentator, economics, negotiation and even ran for president experience --- yet he's not being mentioned even ONCE????
He worked very hard for the Democratic Party yet they give him nothing in return?
December 1, 2008 8:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
How about Secretary of Veterans Affairs? We all know how much he loves the military folks.
December 1, 2008 9:01 AM | Reply | Permalink
What about a position as an Ambassador - somewhere high profile and strategically important??? I've lost track, but who would be selected for Assistant Secretary of State (the former Richard Holbrooke position)?
December 1, 2008 9:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
James Stienberg.
December 1, 2008 10:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
The day I hear his name mentioned for something I am making a blog with all caps, the excitment won't be something I hold in.
December 1, 2008 10:25 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think he deserves MORE than an ambassador position.
December 1, 2008 10:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
My thought is that he's been benched until Gate's eventual retirement (in a year or two) After Clark has been retired from the military long enough to be SecDef
December 1, 2008 10:44 AM | Reply | Permalink
I like this idea...
December 1, 2008 11:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Federal law prohibits military officers from serving as SecDef (and possibly other posts) fewer than 10 years after they leave the service.
The purpose of this, of course, is to preserve civilian leadership of the military.
Clark retired in 2000 - he can't become SecDef until 2010.
December 1, 2008 3:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Interesting thought about his availability after a year or two. The fact that his name isn't being mentioned, as someone said above, doesn't mean that he's not being discussed by those who matter -- only that the media keeps forgetting to ask about him. My guess is that Sen. Clinton will want to make use of him in the State Dept. and may well have asked that he not be designated elsewhere. I'd always gotten the feeling that for Clinton, Gen. Clark and Sen. Biden were people with whom she was particularly, personally comfortable and able to trust. From what I've heard, Biden was 100% behind the idea of Clinton as SOS.
Impressive team - very.
December 1, 2008 11:34 AM | Reply | Permalink
Elizabeth, I think you've have the answer. I bet he ends up at State until President Obama nominates him for SecDef. He will be a real asset to SoS Clinton.
December 1, 2008 3:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Can't fit everybody in the Administration.
Plus, does the guy ever blink?
December 1, 2008 11:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
The last I remember seeing or hearing about him was after he rightly called out the Bob Shaeffers of the world about John McCains commander and chief credientials, or lack thereof. Seems like Obama caught alot of flack about "character assassination" by his surrogates and Clark didn't exactly back down. I thought he was just laying low during the election but apparently he hasn't yet been released from timeout :(
December 1, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not so. He was onstage, albeit briefly, during the final night of the DNC (I think he had an overseas commitment the first day or two of the convention, per his son) and was a surrogate/guest on Morning Joe at least twice thereafter, and I think on one other show as well. Nothing big, like MTP or Face the Nation, however. So yes, very quite -- but not invisible.
December 1, 2008 8:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
He campaigned with Obama in Colorado 3 days before the election. I think there will be some place for him in the Administration.
December 1, 2008 9:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Despite some fans amongst Democrats, Wes Clark has never been very respected in military circles. His planning and execution of the Bosnia campaign was not very good. I know he was SACEUR and also commanded an infantry company in the jungles of Vietnam, but resume does not necessarily equate with greatness. The Draft Clark movement fell apart when the general proved to be politically incompetent.
Maybe he will eventually join the administration. I don't know and won't hazard to guess.
December 1, 2008 10:28 PM | Reply | Permalink