I don't recognize this Wesley Clark

[karynnj]

7. Over the years since 2004, I realize that he was almost a stealth candidate

Last edited Tue Apr 7, 2026, 05:00 PM - Edit history (1)

He had spent almost his entire adult life in the military and, as was the norm, did not take political positions. So, when he ran two things were true. He had no public positions or, for the most part, comments from past decades to defend. He also had no political experience.

The latter doomed his campaign. He did not run in Iowa, spending his time in New Hampshire, where his inexperience caused his initial support to implode even before Iowa. Those voters, some of whom originally Dean moved to undecided and most moved to Kerry after Iowa.

As a former top military person, he was welcomed by us when he attacked Bush. I think it is interesting that Obama made former Republican Senator Hagel the Secretary of Defense, but there was never any public discussion of Clark.