General Election

Gen. Wesley Clark has a very good, rational analysis in the Washinton Monthly.

Although Clark is my early choice for president in 2008, it occurs to me that there is one of the strongest Democratic benches in decades out there.

Al Gore, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry and Clark may all wind up battling it out in the primaries.

Gore is so much stronger a speaker these days he might be able to pull off a Nixon by claiming the title that alluded him eight years earlier.

Clinton continues to have some fairly good poll numbers but I'm not really sure why. She seems like a very average pol to me.

Kerry may try again, he's got the recognition thing going for him, but I can't see him getting nominated again so soon. Not with this field of candidates. I say he sits this one out.

And then there's Clark. He's got the national defense chops. That was the issue that made the difference in the last election. This could be critical since his Republican opponent likely will be untested (unless Cheney or Powell run -and they won't).

The Democratic back bench also includes both Illinois Senators, Dick Durbin and Barack Obama. Look for them in 2012 or later.