ABC News
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/20...al_discont.html
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General Discontent
By Jake Tapper
ABC News
Wednesday 09 May 2007

In an act of defiance perhaps not seen since President Truman fired Gen. Douglas MacArthur, today the anti-war veterans group VoteVets.org, which has been influential with Capitol Hill Democrats, is launching a half-million-dollar TV ad campaign featuring Maj Gen John Batiste (Ret.), former commanding general of the first infantry division in Iraq.

The ad begins with a clip President George W. Bush saying "I have always said that I will listen to the requests of our commanders on the ground."

Batiste then appears, saying, "Mr. President, you did not listen. You continue to pursue a failed strategy that is breaking our great Army and Marine Corps. I left the Army in protest in order to speak out. Mr. President, you have placed our nation in peril. Our only hope is that Congress will act now to protect our fighting men and women."

The ads are targeted at Republican members of Congress seen to be wavering in their support for the war. Those targeted include GOP Senators Susan Collins (Maine), John Sununu (NH), John Warner (Virginia), and Norm Coleman (Minnesota), and GOP Representatives Mary Bono (Calif.), Phil English (Penn.), Randy Kuhl (NY), Jim Walsh (NY), Jo Ann Emerson (Missouri), Tim Johnson (Illinois), Mike Rogers (Michigan), Fred Upton (Michigan), and Mike Castle (Del.)

The ads conclude with Batiste saying, depending on the congressperson targeted, "Senator Collins, protect America, not George Bush."

Major General Paul Eaton (Ret.) and Gen. Wesley Clark (Ret.) will also appear in ads.

Meanwhile, at the VFW headquarters in DC later today, according to the ARMY TIMES, an "Appeal for Courage" petition signed by 2,700 current and former service members supporting continued U.S. combat operations in Iraq will be given to House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-SC.

"The petition was organized by two U.S. service members serving in Iraq, Navy Lt. Jason Nichols, serving in Baghdad, and Minnesota National Guard Staff Sgt. David Thul, who is conducting convoy operations in Iraq with the 34th Infantry Division," the newspaper reports.

I read this stuff and just shake my head. Much of what is said just gets drowned out by the clatter and screaming of one side or the other. And the public....they tune out.

Does anyone know is Wesley Clark is running again?

According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Clark#...ential_campaign

I guess that means yes (the facts that he's making the talk-show circuit and that he isn't denying running). Going against fellow Democratic moderates Clinton and Obama will be an uphill battle. He may pull out before he formally announces.

Yep. Sure is. With not one single word of encouragement from the brasshats.

I listened to this interview and he was not necessarily making the "talk show circuit", and his reason for being on the show was discussing Iran, not his political ambitions.

I do believe that Wes Clark is not going to run as he knows he will be part of any new Democratic administration in some capacity, perhaps evens as a VP candidate.

I love hearing these retired Generals speak out.

We need this to happen, and the more that speak out the better. In 1967 McNamara told LBJ that "the war is lost" but for years more and more Americans died with this knowledge of those in Washington.

And its being repeated in Iraq.

Gore/Obama ticket + Wesley Clark as Sec. of Defense = good.

That would be the best case scenario, and one that would likely be an overwhelming favorite to win.

And Wes Clark as Sec. of Defense would be outstanding.

(Compare that to Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld)

I like it. And think of the of the broad based support such a group could gather.
Both during the election and after.

What about a Gore/Kunich (sp?) Clark Sec. of Defense and Obama as Sec. of State?

I'd vote for that, although IMHO Obama is a much-needed voice in the Senate.

Funny that candidates never pre-announce their cabinet appointees (before the election, I mean). I guess they think it would open them up to unnecessary criticism.

If I was running for such a position I wouldn't tell people who I would appoint. Mainly because I would appoint at least two people who disagreed with me on a lot of things just to keep the over all decisions we would make more central. Plus I make some dumb choices sometimes and its good to have some one go WTF! when I do. Yes men don't do that. With that in mind, if people who supported me knew I would let in some of the "enemies" into the camp I would probably lose their support.

I think with Obama as Veep, it's a perfect set up for his presidential election in 16.
He's good enough, and having 8 years of WH experience would make him a certainty,
plus being the first black president would do great things for this country and the big picture shift to the left.

Let us hope that Wes Clark swims off into the sunset in his speedo, and leaves the presidency alone.

And now CBS has asked General Batiste to leave because of this ad? So much for the MSM having a shred of credibility