Tommy Franks Turns Thumbs Down on 'President Clark'

NewsMax ^ | 11/10/03 | Limbacher

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Retired Iraq War commander Gen. Tommy Franks has added his name to the growing list of military men who don't think Gen. Wesley Clark has the right stuff to be president.

Asked whether he thought Clark would make a good Commander-in-Chief, Franks tells the New Yorker this week, "Absolutely not."

Franks' damning assessment comes on the heels of comments from former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Henry Shelton, who told a California college audience in September that Clark has "character and integrity issues."

"I will tell you that the reason he came out of Europe early had to do with integrity and character issues, things that are very near and dear to my heart," Shelton complained, adding, "Wes won't get my vote."

Then there's British Gen. Michael Jackson, who served under Clark during the President Clinton's Kosovo incursion.

It was left to Jackson to face down Clark after the presidential candidate decided he wanted to confront the Russian army then occupying the Pristina airport. "I'm not going to start the Third World War for you," Jackson reportedly told his loose-cannon superior.

Pentagon officials apparently agreed with Jackson's assessment, and later pulled the plug on Clark's stint as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander.

[davidosborne]

one more on the list...

[davidosborne]

Passing it on...

[doug from upland]

Clark helps stop Dean. Clark is in the lead. Info finally destroys him at the last minute. In steps Hillary to save the party.

[sauropod]

That's the roadmap.

[Semper Paratus]

Clark made a lot of enemies in his military career.

[archy]

Then there's British Gen. Michael Jackson, who served under Clark during the President Clinton's Kosovo incursion.

Actually, we haven't yet heard what General Jackson might have had to say to the idea of his old war buddy General Clark achieving the American presidency. Sounds like a great idea for an interview question....

-archy-/-

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, David. How's it going?

[floriduh voter]

Tommy Franks has that right.

[LiteKeeper]

INTREP - LEst we forget on November 4th, 2004

[hflynn]

Clark helps stop Dean. Clark is in the lead. Info finally destroys him at the last minute. In steps Hillary to save the party.

It isn't anyone in the Democratic Party that has prevented Hillary from saving the party. It has always been whether she can beat the Republican she has to face. Right now, and as long as George W Bush is breathing, Hillary won't get into the business of saving the party. In fact quite the opposite, she is in the business of destroying every potential candidate the Democrats have to offer for the next decade. The only Democrat candidates who will come out of the coming primary season unscaved will be Al Sharpton and Barbara Boxer. Of course there really isn't any reason to damage them any further.

We will know soon enough. Hillary has to go the primary route to get the nomination and filing deadline is getting close.

[Incorrigible]

We will know soon enough. Hillary has to go the primary route to get the nomination and filing deadline is getting close.

Filing deadline???

You think Democrats play by the rules?  Ugh, I wouldn't have Senator Lautenberg representing NJ if Democrats played by the filing deadline rules! :-)

[Norse]

I feel sorry for General Michael Jackson, 1) for putting up with Clark and 2) for having his good name forever tainted by Jacko

[Matchett-PI]

"...Clark has 'character and integrity issues.'"

As we have seen, that's a huge plus in the minds of the majority of the voters in the blue states who would stampede to cast their vote for either Hillary or her sock puppet, Clark.

[hflynn]

With all due respect, Hillary can't go to the New Jersey Surpreme Court to get on the ballot.

[Cicero]

I agree that was the roadmap, but Clark has flopped. He was born with his foot in his mouth. Now Hillary's best hope is split primaries. Gephardt wins Iowa, Dean wins New Hampshire, somebody else wins South Carolina, and Hillary steps in at the convention to save the day. I don't think Clark is about to win anywhere.

[Salvation]

**Retired Iraq War commander Gen. Tommy Franks has added his name to the growing list of military men who don't think Gen. Wesley Clark has the right stuff to be president.**

Good to see this!

[ItsOurTimeNow]

I'm not sure...

Do you think Dean, Kerry, Edwards, Clark, or Geppy would allow their egos to be squashed like that? To allow themselves to be trod underneath the most despised woman in the USA?

[Eva]

Clark is not in the lead, though. Clark is actually helping Dean by giving Dean the cover of a former military man for his anti-commander-in-chief speeches. If Clark can criticize Bush, so can the rest of the Democrats.

But Hillary will try to step into the frey if the timing seems right. A President Dean would be a disaster for Hillary. If Dean gets a commitment from Soros and Ickes, Hillary is doomed.

[Grampa Dave]

Clark's biggest supporter is shown below: