CNN.com - Wesley Clark may announce for presidency next week - Sep. 11, 2003


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Wesley Clark has begun building a campaign organization and several people close to the retired general told CNN Thursday they expect him to announce next week that he is running for president.

Clark has discussed his potential campaign with presidential candidate Howard Dean, the liberal antiwar former Vermont governor who, according to Dean campaign officials, asked Clark for his support.

According to one source familiar with the conversations, the two men discussed the vice presidency. But Dean campaign officials said such talk is premature and those close to Clark expect him to run for president, not vice president.

"I think he's going to run," said Skip Rutherford, a Clark friend and the executive director of the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock. "Impressive people are coming forward offering to work on his campaign, run his campaign and consult his campaign."

Several Democratic sources said Clark -- Supreme NATO commander during the war in Kosovo -- has begun the process of putting together a campaign team, including talking to potential campaign managers.

"There is a lot of momentum here," said one former high-level Clinton administration official who has talked to Clark about a campaign. "It's 90-10 that he runs, but he has not pulled the trigger in his own mind."

Gore campaign veteran Mark Fabiani, who is advising Clark on the possible presidential campaign, cautions that Clark has not yet made a final decision.

"He's doing the kind of things you'd do if you are going to run. He's doing what he needs to do to put himself in a position to run," Fabiani said. "He'd be a great candidate, but at this point it's theoretical."

Clark is returning home to Arkansas Friday to talk to his family. Clark has said that his wife, Gertrude, has reservations about a presidential campaign but will support him in whatever decision he makes.

Destroying the Village?

Rumsfeld: Criticism Harms War on Terror reminds me of that old saw about "it was necessary to destroy the village in order to save it." We're supposedly fighting this war on terror - in the "centerpiece" of Iraq - at least in some fashion to lift our Arab brethren out of oppression. But in order to do so, we have to suspend our right to point out that we think Donald Rumsfeld is full of crap.

Link Via Suburban Blight

My inner child is sixteen years old!

Life's not fair! It's never been fair, but while
adults might just accept that, I know
something's gotta change. And it's gonna
change, just as soon as I become an adult and
get some power of my own.


How Old is Your Inner Child?
brought to you by Quizilla

Bush Bumper Stickers

I'd credit the original creators if I knew who it was, but this just came to my email box from my friend Zach. Choose your favorite re-election theme from those below:

Bush/Cheney '04: Apocalypse Now!
Bush/Cheney '04: Because the truth just isn't good enough.
Bush/Cheney '04: Compassionate Colonialism
Bush/Cheney '04: Deja-voodoo all over again!
Bush/Cheney '04: Four More Wars!
Bush/Cheney '04: Leave no billionaire behind
Bush/Cheney '04: Lies and videotape but no sex!
Bush/Cheney '04: Or else.
Bush/Cheney '04: Over a billion Whoppers served.
Bush/Cheney '04: Putting the "con" in conservatism
Bush/Cheney '04: Thanks for not paying attention.
Bush/Cheney '04: The economy's stupid!
Bush/Cheney '04: The last vote you'll ever have to cast.
Bush/Cheney '04: This time, elect us!
Bush/Cheney '04: We're Gooder!
Bush/Cheney: 1984 Now
George W. Bush: A brainwave away from the presidency
George W. Bush: It takes a village idiot
George W. Bush: The buck stops Over There
George W. Bush: Let them eat yellowcake! Vote Bush!
George W. Bush: Peace & Prosperity Suck -- Big-Time
Vote Bush in '04: "I Has Incumbentory Advantitude"
Vote Bush in '04: "Because every vote counts -- for me!"
Vote Bush in '04: "Because I'm the President, that's why!"
Vote Bush in '04: Because dictatorship is easier.
Vote Bush in '04: Who would Jesus Bomb?

A Little Football News

Couldn't resist a break from politics for a little football. Good news for Clemson fans. Auburn has replaced the Tiger Cubs in the (un)coveted No. 5 spot on ESPN.com's Bottom 10. Just goes to show you what a strong win over Furman can do for you (insert evil grin here).

From Palmetto Journal: Fox guarding the hen house

Palmetto Journal reports: "The toothless ethics laws and the political fiefdom known as the State Ethics Commission are about to be exposed in the coming weeks and months.

We understand that a legal action is in the works against the Ethics Commission. The suit will be based upon federal civil rights law and relate to freedom of speech and due process, among other things. "

This should interesting!

Welcome Back To Common Voice

Common Voice is one of the best South Carolina blogs around, for the simple reason that Jonathan Pait provides a forum for a wide diversity of opinion on the issues. I'm glad to see that he's put the site back up, and I look forward to the return of some of the lively discussion that has been a hallmark of the site.

On Tommy Windsor's second chance

The news that Tommy Windsor is back at the AG's office rankles some people (The State | 09/07/2003 | Writer of offensive e-mails rehired), and while his politics rankle me, I say he deserves a second chance. I've known Tommy for quite a while, I can tell you that his past transgressions really were a rather lame attempt at humor. Yeah, yeah, he shouldn't have used his state computer to send those messages to anyone, but you can bet he won't make that mistake again. Besides that, I continue to maintain that the Constitution of the United States does not include a right not to be offended. Offensive speech is the very speech that needs to be protected by 1st Amendment, and I'd be sorry if I didn't piss off a few of you every time I put pen to paper.