Clark's Army

If you have a minute, take the Clark's Army Volunteer Survey.

Analysis of the Campaign

Josh Marshall, an admirer of Clark's, thinks the Clark campaign is losing its focus and doing well in spite of itself. Although he acknowledges that they've done yeoman's work in creating a campaign from whole cloth in just 6 weeks, he's concerned that "the operation is being run by an interlocking directorate of folks who can't be bothered to be more than absentee proprietors of the general's campaign." Later (scroll up from the linked article), Marshall adds a clarification, explaining that the flaws he sees in the campaign staff & structure are by no means fatal to the campaign, "But that doesn't change the fact that the campaign is not organized with a clear message or an evident strategy for winning the nomination. At least that's what I see from where I'm sitting. And this is coming from a real admirer of the candidate." We report, you decide, to coin a phrase.

Clark Calls on Bush to Help Unemployed Before Giving Big Tax Breaks to Business

General Wesley Clark for President - Official Campaign Web Site: "Clark Calls on Bush to Help Unemployed Before Giving Big Tax Breaks to Business 'Leadership is about doing what's right for American families, not giving corporate tax breaks to big businesses that ship jobs overseas. I am deeply disturbed the Bush administration would favor an irresponsible $60 billion corporate tax giveaway while more than 3 million Americans have lost their jobs. Millions more are without health care and the budget deficit continues to spiral out of control. As President, I would direct our resources towards our most urgent priorities - the economy, health care and our national defense - instead of rewarding corporations for sending American jobs overseas. America is suffering from a leadership deficit under George W. Bush. To get our country back on track, we need a leader that makes the right choices for America.' "

Meeting last night

A meeting was held last night at the Brounshidle American Legion hall on Delaware Avenue in Kenmore. It really is a much better venue than Spot or Kahunaville. We discussed delegate selection and petitioning issues, and, more significantly, it appears that the campaign will be opening a New York office and naming a New York Statewide coordinator this week. Better yet, there will be top-down selection of delegate slates and assistance with petitioning issues. Also, we're gaining support from farther afield, like Chautauqua, Niagara and Genesee Counties. For the November 3rd meetup, Jeremy Toth has suggested that everyone try to bring a new face to the meetup, to grow our ranks. New Clarkophile Camille suggested handing out Clark bars on Halloween. The Brounshidle is about two blocks south of Premier Liquors and directly adjacent to Jim Doyle Ford.

New American Patriotism: Health Care

General Clark is set to unveil his Health Care initiative in Portsmouth, NH today. this article outlines the plan. Clark intends to spend $695 billion over 10 years on a health plan that would cover all children, as well as uncovered adults. He would do this through grants and tax credits, and would pass a law requiring parents to cover their kids.

Organizational Meeting tomorrow

Tomorrow: Tuesday October 28th at 7pm we will hold an organizational meeting at the Brounshidle Am. Legion hall at 3354 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore. All are welcome.

Debate last night

The best line from last night's debate was spoken bythe Rev. Al Sharpton: "It's an insult to tell working American people it's an honor to serve and die for their country but it is a burden for the rich to pay their fair share of taxes."

Soldiers for Clark

Woo hoo. Here's a poll from Army Times, a poll that is admittedly unscientific. Nevertheless, Soldiers chose Wesley Clark over their commander in chief by a wide margin.

Don't forget these events!

Please RSVP via the Buffalo for Clark Yahoo! Group. Upcoming Events: 1. Delegate Selection Seminar: Saturday, October 25 from 12-2 Pratt Willard Community Center 422 Pratt Street, Buffalo 2. Organizational Meeting: Tuesday, October 28 at 7pm. Brounschidle Legion Post 205 / DiTomasso VFW 66 3354 Delaware Ave. Kenmore Please attend even if (especially if) you attended the October meetup at Spot. 3. November Meetup: November 3, 2003: Please vote for the Brounschidle Hall. 4. Election Night Rally: Tuesday, November 4, 2003 Ellicott Square Building 295 Main St. Buffalo 9:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. We'd like to have a presence there, holding signs, passing out info. materials, collecting volunteer info.

Republicans "Supporting" our Troops.

Patriots indeed. The following quotes are real. They are from real people, all of whom support the war in, and occupation of, Iraq. To the best of my knowledge, none of these people ever served in the military. At least one of them is among the most prominent of the neoconservative movement that got us into this mess in the first place. "I'm about to say something nearly impermissible in the present-day discourse on the war in Iraq. Here it is: The death toll among American soldiers remains startlingly and hearteningly low, not horribly and frighteningly high. John Podhoretz New York Post October 17, 2003 I think the level of casualties is secondary. I mean, it may sound like an odd thing to say, but all the great scholars who have studied American character have come to the conclusion that we are a warlike people and that we love war. . . . What we hate is not casualties but losing. And if the war goes well and if the American public has the conviction that we're being well-led and that our people are fighting well and that we're winning, I don't think casualties are going to be the issue. Michael Ledeen AEI Breakfast March 27, 2003 I think the American people are going to have great tolerance for the war taking longer, and they are going to have great tolerance for more casualties. William Kristol AEI Breakfast March 27, 2003 Why should we hear about body bags and deaths and how many, what day it's gonna happen? It's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that? Barbara Bush ABC Interview March 18, 2003

Salon.com: Front Page

Click over to Salon.com to read a good, front-page article about the General and his campaign so far. Go for the Salon Premium "Free Day Pass" by watching a short promo for Law & Order SVU.

Petitioning in New York State

Susan Renzo from Hudson Valley for Clark has circulated two very relevant and important documents that any dedicated New York Clark supporter/volunteer should read and absorb. Much of this information was touched upon at the Syracuse meeting on October 18th. New York needs to organize very quickly in order not only to select Clark in the Primary's beauty contest, but also to select a slate of Clark delegates in every Federal Congressional District in New York State. Follow the links (you'll probably need MS Word) to see the information on petitioning, and a further link for an organizational calendar that would be helpful to campaign & petitioning efforts throughout NYS. Detailed Petition information for New York State Calendar for Organizing New York State

Latest New Hampshire Poll Numbers

According to the Concord (NH) Monitor, Dean is at 31%, Kerry 19%, Clark 12%.

Upcoming events

1. Delegate Selection Seminar: Saturday, October 25 from 12-2 Pratt Willard Community Center 422 Pratt Street, Buffalo 2. Organizational Meeting: Tuesday, October 28 at 7pm. Brounschidle Legion Post 205 / DiTomasso VFW 66 3354 Delaware Ave. Kenmore

Please attend even if (especially if) you attended the October meetup at Spot. 3. November Meetup: Please vote for the Brounschidle Hall. It is very important that we begin organizing for the upcoming petition period.

Meetings and Meetups

Watch this space and don't forget to join the BuffaloforClark Yahoo! Group to obtain updates regarding the next series of organizing meetings.

The period to obtain petitions to get General Clark on the Ballot in all of New York's Congressional Districts begins on November 26th and runs through January 2, 2004. We only have about 6 weeks to get the signatures we need. This will be the most important task we face between now and the March primary. If we can't get Clark on the ballot, getting out the March vote will be somewhat moot.

Although meetup.com is a good tool, we cannot rely solely on that tool for organizing. We must meet more frequently in more conducive settings than Spot Coffee (good as their capp is).

I still plan on attending future meetups, as should everyon. I urge everyone please to vote for the Brounshidle hall at http://clark2004.meetup.com

Photos from Syracuse now uploaded

Thanks to everyone for a great rally in Syracuse on Saturday. I have posted some photos to ofoto.com. please follow or cut & paste this link into your browser: http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=6jiibud.16pkbgmt&x=1&y=qb3uh2 It looks like ofoto makes you join, but it doesn't cost anything to join, it's a great service, and it's locally owned (Rochester-based Kodak owns ofoto). Enjoy!

Syracuse Saturday

The Syracuse Meeting and Rally on Saturday was fantastic. It was a blast to meet dedicated Clark supporters from around the State. Great speakers, great info, and in keeping with Gen. Clark's "Day of Service", we raised almost $500 for Korean War Veterans.

Busy at work, so I'll post more later about this event, including pictures.

Get directions to Syracuse rally from your address

Directions to 301 Hiawatha Blvd E
Syracuse, NY 13208-1146

COME TO SYRACUSE OCT. 18 & MAKE WESLEY CLARK FIRST IN NEW YORK STATE

On Saturday, October 18, you are invited to attend (and enjoy) the WESLEY CLARK FOR PRESIDENT NYS LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AND RALLY. It will be held in Syracuse, and will be extremely beneficial for local campaign coordinators and volunteers, as well as for everyone who is interested in Wesley Clark. BRING EVERYONE YOU KNOW Send your reservations as soon as possible to and let us know: 1. how many will be attending the midday seminar 2. how many will be at the afternoon rally. A GREAT DAY FOR CLARK IN NEW YORK For local campaign leaders and volunteers, we are starting the day with a seminar, "How to Run a Local Clark Campaign in New York State" from 11 am to 1 pm. It will include experts speaking for 20-30 minutes each on issues such as delegate selection, petition drives, campaign finance do's-and-don'ts, and what to expect and when from Little Rock. AUCTION FOR KOREAN VETS At 2 pm, we are opening the halls to everyone and hoping that EVERYONE is just who will come -- for a rousing, rollicking, roof-raising rally for Wesley Clark, the man who can and will be the next president. To start the afternoon in the spirit of General Clark's commitment to community service, we are holding an auction to benefit disabled Korean War Veterans. The items in the auction have been donated by nationally famous celebrities, from Denzel Washington to Elizabeth Taylor. One of the items is a book to be inscribed personally to the winning bidder by President Bill Clinton! THE BIG RALLY At 2:30, we celebrate the candidacy of Wesley Clark by coming together to speak, listen and cheer. Expect some fantastic and famous speakers. Expect to shout and stomp. This is New York's and especially upstate New York's chance to shine. It will also launch a one-year-and-two-week effort to bring in this state for Clark! The rally will end at about 4 pm. Before, in between and after these events, there will be structured and some un-structured caucus time. In other words, it will be a day full of serious talk and lots of fun, too. We are planning the day carefully, so that most New Yorkers can travel to and from the Conference & Rally in one day. The location of the NYS CLARK LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AND RALLY is the Birchmeyer Auction House, 301 Hiawatha Blvd. East, at the corner of Park Street. It is just around the corner from the Carousel Mall, and within walking distance of the Regional Transportation Center bus and train station.
Map of 301 Hiawatha Blvd E
Syracuse, NY 13208-1146
For more information, see:www.geocities.com/NYSClarkLeadership For reservations - SusieQ2371@aol.com Questions - JFenster@dreamscape.com

Saturday: National Day of Service

General Clark announces that October 18th to be a National Day of Service. Many people are planning on, for instance, giving blood on Saturday.

For those of us in New York State, please attend the Saturday Clark rally and the auction benefitting Korean War Vets.

Here is the website for the New York State Clark Leadership Conference, which is organizing Saturday's rally.

Here is the Central New York for Clark website, which has all the information about the rally.