Wes Clark has been speaking out about Iran being the real threat in the middle east and not Iraq since at least 2002.  People are finally taking notice and listening to him.  He will be on Cavuto today talking about Iran.  It's always worth tuning in to hear what he has to say if you can.  If not, usually someone posts the video on CCN. There is a thread up now that will include discussion about what he has to say today.  

   General Clark has written an Op-Ed now up at the New York Times Website.  He wrote it from Qatar, where he's attended a conference with others from the middle east.  From his most recent contacts he has written a very interesting position on what we now need to do in Iraq.  I hope General Pace reads it and pays very close attention.  Rummy and Cheney won't even read it, I suspect.  If everyone in the Senate and Congress looks it over, it will give them food for thought along with the rest of us.  Hint... it's about Iran. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/06/opinion/06clark.html?hp

   It seems to me that we need to keep our focus on Treasongate.  As Krugman has said very well, "illegal or not, outing a CIA operative is unpatriotic." (paraphrasing) We know she was outed, as well as her husband having told us the truth about the reasons for going to war in Iraq.  Nominating Alito is from the Rove playbook to appease the radical religious right and rally them around Dubya.  Meanwhile, activity was happening with some of the same Treasongate players in the Vice's office today. Why don't we focus on our own important issues that should be on the front page of every paper in the country.

  I read a really heart wrenching story on Drudge about the people going to the AstroDome not being able to take their pets.  One of the Clarkies living in Baton Rouge posted that the shelter there has lots of these pets and they are looking for foster homes for them until they can be reunited with their owners.  Perhaps contacting the Humane Society where you live could get you in touch with that shelter if you live within 300 miles of the area to house a pet.  If someone lives in Houston, I hope they will take in a dog named Snowball for the little boy who went to the AstroDome and "cried until he vomited" when they took his dog.  At least he could visit him until they get a new place.  I don't have any phone numbers, but a Kossack living closer than I do (Kansas) could perhaps research this and let people know what they can do to house pets or people with pets.

The Clark Community Network has moved to http:www.securingamerica.com/ccn with a new format and new log in required.  For those who are waiting to comment there and still can't, please use my diary here as an open thread.  Recommend so we can keep it going tonight.  Anyone who wants to sign on there as a newbie, please do so and sign up for WesPAC.  Be patient, it's similar to here, but still working out the kinks.

   I can't tell you how much I wish we'd run the election in Ohio.  Those of us at the Clark Community Network pulled together like the rest of the netroots with donations, calling, boots on the ground and Wes Clark's endorsement for Hackett.  Heck the DCCC did a robocall of Wes for Hackett in Ohio.  Read why I support the DCCC as do many many of us who support Wes Clark on the flip.

  Those of us who support Wes Clark and asked him to run for president in 04 appreciate his succinct and plain spoken manner.  He told a crowd of people in a speech that Democrats need to "get some starch!"  We agree and gladly supported Paul Hackett who obviously has a lot of "starch."
   We've learned some valuable lessons from the OH-02 race and I hope we can learn more with a win in CA-48's special election on Nov. 8th.  In the meantime, for those Kossacks who have come to appreciate Wes Clark as we have, please visit

www.securingamerica.com and sign up with WesPAC

click on community and get a user account to blog with us on the Clark Community Network

BTW, General Clark will be on FOX, Friday, Aug. 5th at 10:30 AM ET.

   According to Bradblog in an interview today with Joe Wilson, he will be on The Today Show tomorrow.  He will be fighting back with guns blazing in a manner of speaking.  He has a letter from Bush, Sr. written to him regarding the lead up to the war in Iraq and also something from Scowcroft saying they agreed with much he had to say in another editorial months after his Niger trip.  Does anybody besides me wonder if Fitzgerald and his team watch TV and wonder, "is that it?  That's their defense?"  The public smear of Wilson and his wife are classic Rove.  Actually, classic government management, what a shame.

   Frank Rich has an excellent op-ed up now at The New York Times about the Plame case.  Sorry I don't have the link, but you know where to find it.  Rich totally gets it! Now all we need is for Fitz to put all the pieces of the puzzle together.  I understand that's his area of expertise.  Please go to the New York TImes site and read this editorial.

   Drudge has his own story that then seems to come from a Newsweek story about Putin nailing Bush over the firing of the reporters at CBS.  Bush apparently was open mouthed at the suggestion and the BushCo line is that Putin doesn't understand that he doesn't have the power to fire anyone in the American free press, but I suspect Vladimir looked into his soul and saw the truth.  Strike a blow for liberty, Putipoot!

   This is my first diary here, so here goes...
We are in an off year, 2005, but I am already deluged with requests for donations to various candidate PACs and party organizations.  My question is this, is there a logical way for us to give to benefit the many?  I live in Kansas, which is not a densely populated state and a red one to boot, so aren't my dollars needed more in my state for the state Democratic party and candidates running here in 2006?  Do people living in blue states with larger populations have a better chance to give to the national organizations in bigger numbers than they need to give their state party?  I'm just curious, because it seems like there could be a way to do this so we all get the most bang for our collective bucks in this off year.  Ideas?