Wesley Clark Enters Race for Democratic Nomination

Re “Clark Declaring Bid for President,” Sept. 17: With all the hot air coming from the other Democratic candidates, retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark is a breath of fresh air.

If the Democrats have any sense, he will be their nominee come next year. True, he has no record of political office, but then neither did Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. If he runs, Clark has my vote.

Augusto Ferrera

Long Beach

*

I want to thank all of those partisans of President Bush who began criticizing Clark for not being a viable candidate since he has no political experience.

Judging by the royal mess the experienced career politicians have made of our nation, I see Clark’s nonpolitical background as one of his major assets.

Stan Bass

Montrose

*

As a committed supporter of Howard Dean for president, I welcome Clark’s entry into the race. For one thing, this gets the media attention that has been lacking during the preliminary campaign activities of the nine candidates who have committed thus far.

Clark is going to make a great candidate. He does happen to agree with Dean on almost every issue, and that is a definite plus. This includes his opposition to the war in Iraq, his views on gun control and affirmative action and his favorable stance on the issue of gay rights. It’s great that we have such a great choice for a nominee to run against that man in the White House.

Welcome, Gen. Clark, and may the best man win.

Joann DeSantis

Northridge

*

As a Democrat and a member of the armed forces, I am delighted that Clark has thrown his hat into the ring. A member of an endangered species, Democrats with extensive military experience, Clark is the only candidate with the knowledge and background to effectively challenge the administration on its foreign policy and the war in Iraq.

While it is highly unlikely that Clark will win the Democratic nomination -- late start, lack of funding, weak on domestic issues, political inexperience, limited financial backing and organization (pick your reason) -- his candidacy will go a long way in slowing down the runaway train of Democratic liberalism that’s destined for a big crash in 2004. Clark’s candidacy should reconfigure the debate among the candidates. This is not to say that the liberal wing of the Democratic Party is unimportant, only that winning the White House should be the top priority.

Thaddeus A. Hoffmeister

Washington