frankie's Journal: What Wes Clark Should Have Said

General Clark was assailed by reporters for failing to denounce Michael Moore, who called Dubya a "deserter". Clark's reply was a tepid but serviceable starting point: "That's his form of dissent, and I support freedom of speech in this country, and I would not have characterized the issues in that way."

Unfortunately, that's where Clark lets the issue drop. He could have done MUCH better. Here's a speech for his perusal, to be spoken in calm but brutal tone:

I would not call George Bush Jr a deserter. To my mind he is a draft dodger, just as much as Bill Clinton if not more so.

Let me start by saying that Bill Clinton is a long-time friend from Arkansas and from Oxford. Bill opposed the war in Vietnam, and he used his scholarship to avoid military service. I feel he was wrong to do that, and I have told him so.

George Bush Jr, on the other hand, used his family connections to dodge the draft. He scored 25th percentile on his Air National Guard exam, the equivalent of a D minus. He vaulted past a waiting list of 100,000 other more qualified men and was given a special commission without training.

George Bush Jr was given a cushy assignment to a postal unit without airplanes, and an even cushier all-expenses-paid date with President Nixon's daughter. He lost his pilot certification by failing to show up for medical exams and drug tests.

So yes, I call him a draft dodger of the worst kind. He's perfectly willing to send other people's children to die in wars, but not himself. He did it then, and he's doing it now.

So ... I wish that's what Clark would say. Kerry might be able to get away with a similar speech, but Clark has stronger credentials for it.

Well...

[Mike Hawk]

Your distinction between W and Clinton is arbitrary at best. One of them has an honorary discharge. That says to me, "Thanks for your service American". Do you have an honorary discharge from the armed services? If you don't, I wouldn't be so quick to judge.

You also didn't address WHY Clark must distance himself from MM. MM is a easily provable liar and Americans (well moderate Americans, the kind that sway elections) don't trust him. MM was a torpedo to Clark's campaign. Also, getting MM's backin

Re:Well...

[frankie]

One of them has an honorary discharge. That says to me, "Thanks for your service American".

YMMV. That says to me, "What's a little dereliction between friends? Your family is thoroughly protected by our Good Ole Boys network". It was pretty clear from the very first day [google.com]:

Bush was sworn in as an airman the same day he applied. His commander, Col. Walter B. "Buck" Staudt, was apparently so pleased to have a VIP's son in his unit that he later staged a special ceremony so he could have his picture taken a

Re:Well...

[frankie]

Mike, wondering if you had a followup reply.

Do you honestly believe Bush deserved any of the following:

• admission to Yale, with his mediocre grades?
• admission to ANG, with his far-below-average qualification and absolutely zero waiting?
• immediate promotion in the ANG, without any officer training?
• never going to jail for multiple drug offenses?
• helpful disappearance of his Texas driving records?
• bailout of his first failed company?
• bailout of his second failed company?
• sweetheart deals for the Texas Rang

Alternative 2#

[Elwood P Dowd]

I do not support the draft. Bill Clinton and George W Bush used whatever means they had at their disposal to avoid dying in a war that they did not believe in.

The only immoral component to their actions is that they left others to die in their stead, whose only fault was that they did not have such a position of priviledge in society. The responsibility for their lives ultimately lies with the US government.

Re:Alternative 2#

[frankie]

left others to die in their stead, whose only fault was that they did not have such a position of privilege

The differences as I see them:

1. Clinton's stepfather was abusive alcoholic trailer trash. Clinton paid his own way through college, opposed the war [pbs.org], and weaseled out of it via scholarship to Oxford (not a position of privilege)
2. Bush Sr was a pro-war congressman during Vietnam. Bush Jr drank his way through college, claimed to support the war, but weaseled out of it via family connections (aka a posi

Well.....

[GQuon]

There are two candidates that, to date, I fear mecomming president.

Dennis Kucinich - for statements showing a horrible attitude about foreign policy. Let the world be at war, as long as our boys are safe?

Wes Clark - for endorsing, and being endorsed by, Michael Moore, master of propaganda. 1984 in 2004?

Re:Well.....

[frankie]

two candidates that, to date, I fear

1. No need to "fear" Kucinich. What's his best result so far? 5% maybe? ...checks Google News... well, 15% in Maine, but he's still irrelevant. Worried he'll switch parties and challenge Nader for the Green nomination?
2. I don't think Clark has what it takes to be President. Not enough public speaking or policy experience. But he has absolutely excellent credentials for hounding Bush's military record
3. Michael Moore has definitely become annoying. I enjoyed some of his anti-