April 18^th, 2008  

Dear Super Delegates,

In a few months, you will be asked to make a final and immensely difficult choice that will likely decide the Democratic nominee for president.  Unfortunately, that choice is not between Senator Obama or Senator Clinton – for everyone’s sake, I wish it were that simple.   The choice you must make is really much more personal – it’s the type of choice all of us must make at some point in our lives, and it’s never easy.   It’s the choice between what we personally want and hope will work vs. what we know is probably the greater good and best for others.  OK, that’s the kindest way I can put it.   The more blunt way is this: it’s the choice between doing what is best for yourself vs. doing what is best for everyone else, even and especially when it isn’t  what you personally want.

Over the last several months, and right up until the day of the national convention, you will continue to be wooed from all sides; the candidates want you to do what’s best for them, the party wants you to do what’s best for it, and the voters of your area want your vote to reflect their preference.  The pressure will only get worse, and no matter which way you go, you’re probably going to make someone unhappy.  That’s OK.   I’m guessing no where in the “Super Delegate Handbook” does it say one of your responsibilities is to make people happy. Hang on to that thought.  It’s one of two you’re going to need to remember most when you make your final decision on the convention floor. 

So – how are you to make this decision?   Let’s be honest – many of you will never have so much power to shape history, nor your own personal future, as you will have with this vote.  And it’s that last bit – the personal future part – where this starts to get complicated.   At some point in this process, don’t be surprised if someone suggests to you something along the lines of “if you play your cards right and vote for so-and-so, you can write your own ticket,” or “stick with me and I’ll make sure you have a seat at the table”’ or “so-and-so is who we want, and you don’t want to be on the wrong side of this when the day’s over”’ or, my personal favorite, the short and sweet, “you owe me”’ or some other version of a carrot or stick arm twist.   The less power you currently enjoy, the greater the pressure you’re likely to feel to do what someone with more power wants you to do.   This isn’t meant to be an indictment or condemnation of anyone.   It’s just what happens, so there’s no point in telling ourselves it doesn’t.

I’m not sending this out in order to tell you who I think you should vote for.   My state had its say on Super Tuesday.  I’m here to give you slightly different advice – presumptuous of me, I know – but it’s advice I don’t hear anyone else out there giving you.   So here goes…

Because you will cast the last votes in this contest, you have an incredible advantage over the general public voters; the advantage of time.  You will have had at least two months’ more time to examine each candidate than every other voter – for the nearly half of the country who voted by Super Tuesday, that’s six and a half months’ more information you’ve gained than we had when we voted.  That’s huge!  Consider how much more we’ve learned about the candidates in the last few months than in the previous year.  What more will we learn in the coming months?  I don’t know, but the longer the battle goes on, the better the odds we’ll get a clearer picture of the true mettle of these two people and the more informed your vote can be. 

A second advantage you have is that you’re party insiders.  You are privy to information, gossip, rumor, history and facts most of us will never know.  Those of you who are sitting politicians especially – you know how the game is played – you know the difference between sponsoring bills, co-sponsoring bills, and writing bills and what kind of leadership and talent is evidenced by each.  You know the difference between sitting on committees and working on them.  You know why these candidates have cast their senate votes as they have in detail we  will never hear, which of the hundreds of votes were critical, which weren’t and who showed up for each.  You know the kind of stress and pressure you and your colleagues face every day – and how much more intense it is for a president – and you’ve likely witnessed how each of these two candidates bears up under those stresses and pressures.  You know, better than any of the rest of us, the full breadth and depth of the problems the next president will have to face.   Rip through this information without mercy, but with every ounce of objectivity you can muster.   Close your ears to the charismatic cadence of campaign speeches and promises.  Ignore the polls – you know most of them are bullshit.  Forget who you like or hate.   Remember who gets the jobs done and who gets problems solved.  Those of us general public voters have the luxury of ‘falling in love’ with a candidate – you don’t.  You have to be smarter than us.  And don’t seek the counsel of others in the party – you’re on your own this time and you’ve got to suck it up and trust your own instincts and brains.   Let me repeat that: trust only your own instinct and brains.  This time our future really does depend on your ability to do just that.

It is because of these two advantages, your votes carry the power to essentially save us from ourselves.   In all likelihood, that’s precisely what you may have to do.   You must not falter.  Earlier, I told you it wasn’t your responsibility to make people happy, and to hold on to that thought as it was one of two you would most need to remember.   Here’s the second one: in this vote, your responsibility isn’t to choose the best person for the party – but to choose the best, strongest, most capable person to lead the country.  They may not be one and the same, and this is why Party must never come before Country.  Forgetting this dooms us all.

I know what I’m asking of each of you is far from easy, and I’m sorry for that.   I do understand the political risks you face should your choice go against the wishes of allies and friends. 

Good luck, God speed, and thank you,

K.A. Flinn

From ArmyMom08’s Diary on Dailykos today…(thanks for doing this ArmyMom08!!) 

MariaWells has also posted multiple polls on this subject here.  Please vote in them.  Then order buttons from her and Ice, to give out while you gather signatures.  Um remember…signature first, then they get the button ;-)  No trick, no cookie.

Last week, deadmessengers posted a diary called “Do Petitions Work? Wes Clark Thinks They Can” (linked - for those who missed it), and in the course of the conversation, a great question was asked:  

Why have so few Kossacks signed the stopIranWar petition (a joint effort of Wes Clark and VoteVets), given the number of posts about the subject, and the warm welcome General Clark and Jon Soltz always receive when they’re here?

• ArmyMom08’s diary :: ::

Some possible answers to this question were identified in the Do Petitions Work? diary  ( including the “Watch list” comment).  So, we thought we’d follow up on that and ask Kossacks all over, why they haven’t signed it.

Sorry for the short diary but we really do appreciate your answers to this.

Note:  at a commenter’s request, I added one additional question…it’s the first one.

Earlier today, General Clark took some time to chat with bloggers on DailyKos regarding his newest diary there "Is War With Iran Inevitable?" 

Whether or not you are a Clark supporter, as I obviously am, or even if a detractor of his - this article is well worth your time to read.  Currently there are over 600 comments, with around 40 + being questions relevant to General Clark’s article.  If you’ve a mind to search those out, many are well stated by Kos bloggers and answered by General Clark.

Now for a related Poll:

One of the best things about having a blog - for me, anyway - is the opportunity to publicize other blogs, especially when the writing is good to great!  Today I get to do just that.  That they are all Wes Clark - related, and written by people I know and respect, is a particularly nice added bonus. (listed alphabetically)

A Left Turn For Clark is Tom Rinaldo’s new blog.  Tom’s been writing for quite awhile, and many of you will recognize his name from his diaries at DailyKos.  He is, without a doubt, one of the best writers on Kos, in no small measure because he displays a rare degree of fairness in his writing, and in his comments with others. 

A Wes Clark Democrat has actually been online for some time, and is one of the consistently best places to go for straight info on Wes Clark, meaning his position on issues, and what it means to be a "Wes Clark Democrat".   She lays this out beautifully, on the About page, as follows:

“A Wes Clark Democrat” backs General Clark’s vision for America:

Long-term fiscal discipline, a balanced federal budget and reduced public debt

Government regulation where necessary to meet public needs

Transparent and accountable government

Protection of civil liberties and constitutional freedoms

Preservation of institutional checks and balances reflecting the will of the majority while safeguarding the rights of the minority

Maximized opportunities for private gain, consistent with concern for the public good

The best business environment in the world - using a variety of positive incentives to keep American jobs and businesses here, attract business from abroad, and to encourage the creation of new jobs, principally through the efforts of small business

Recapture money from tax cuts for the wealthy, families making over $200,000 annually, and use it to create jobs

American technology and market-based approaches to meet air pollution challenges with innovative, job-creating solutions; crack down on corporate polluters

Restore America’s position as a good and respected member in the community of nations, with productive international alliances and trading partners

Fundamental educational skills and access to further educational development throughout their lives for every American; Universal College Grant covering first two years of college; State and Local Tax Rebate Fund dedicated to education and training

Transition to a single-payer health care system. Promotion of physical vigor and good health through public health measures and improved diagnostics; and preventive and continuing health care to extend longevity and productivity to our natural limits

Strengthened retirement security, simply because it is right

Revival of a national spirit of service and patriotism

Strong security and defense capabilities backing a foreign policy of committed diplomatic engagement; military force only, only, only as a last resort

Cooperative, global approach to meeting environmental challenges, including global warming, energy depletion and human rights abuse

 I may not be a registered Democrat, but I am damn sure a Wes Clark Democrat!

RAPID FIRE - Silver Bullets is a new blog by a longtime Clark supporter, writer and myth-debunker.  Catherine McClendon is a fine writer and her research is exceptional.  What’s her blog about?  She puts it a lot better than I:

"We watch the media. We watch what they print or broadcast about Wesley Clark. Some journalists don’t do their research and we have to do it for them. If they don’t get it right, we send them a silver bullet. We’re good shots."

Let me just add a few words of caution to those in the media who may write about Wes Clark:  research, research, research, and verify your facts before you print anything! If you fail to do this, I can guarantee her shots won’t miss. Neither will anyone else’s.

Soldiering On For Wesley Clark is another great blog written by a long time Clark supporter and veteran - Lt. Colonel Jai Johnson - Pickett (retired), and written for veterans.  But again, she explains it best!

"This blog is for those of us who were Veterans for Clark in 2004, although of course anyone interested in General Clark, national security issues, or the spirited debate envisioned by this nation’s Founders is welcome.

We couldn’t ask for a more inspirational, more dedicated, more capable leader than Wes Clark. We are proud to serve along side him once again."

As the 2008 elections heat up, there will no doubt be many more great Clark blogs online.  I’m looking forward to it! Some of the best writers (including those listed above), also have a great home on CCN - the Clark Community Network Blog.  I’m not going to list anyone in particular.  There are too many, and I risk leaving someone out unintentionally.  Obviously the best is Wes Clark, himself.  It goes without saying - read him first!

Now for that poll…