Clinton Says She's Willing To Take Fight To Convention

The AP reports on Clinton's latest proclamations about how long she plans to contest the Democratic nomination:

In an interview Wednesday with The Associated Press, Clinton said she is willing to take her fight to seat Florida's and Michigan's delegates to the convention if the two states want to go that far.

Asked whether she would support the states if they appeal an unfavorable rules committee decision to the convention floor, the former first lady replied:

"Yes I will. I will, because I feel very strongly about this."

"I will consult with Floridians and the voters in Michigan because it's really their voices that are being ignored and their votes that are being discounted, and I'll support whatever the elected officials and the voters in those two states want to do."

Taking her battle to the convention would fly in the face of an increasing number of party leaders who say the contest needs to be wrapped up shortly after the last primary on June 3 to prepare adequately for the fall election.

Asked if she now envisioned the race extending beyond June 3, Clinton replied: "It could, I hope it doesn't. I hope it's resolved to everyone's satisfaction by that date, because that's what people are expecting, but we'll have to see what happens."

In other remarks made Wednesday Clinton continued to press her case for the nomination, intensifying her language by comparing the Florida and Michigan recount to the Civil Rights movement. As the Politico first reported:

Hillary Clinton compared her effort to seat Florida and Michigan delegates to epic American struggles, including those to free the slaves and win the right to vote for blacks and women.[...]

"This work to extend the franchise to all of our citizens is a core mission of the modern Democratic party," she said. "From signing the Voting Rights Act and fighting racial discrimination at the ballot box to lowering the voting age so those old enough to fight and die in war would have the right to choose their commander in chief, to fighting for multi-lingual ballots so you can make your voice heard no matter what language you speak."

Comments

[CocteausTwin]

Profile of the Sociopath (Remind you of anyone?)

This website summarizes some of the common features of descriptions of the behavior of sociopaths.

* Glibness and Superficial Charm

* Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

* Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

* Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

* Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at their core. Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

* Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.

[CocteausTwin]

* Need for Stimulation
Living on the edge. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal. Promiscuity and gambling are common.

* Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

* Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

* Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency
Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

* Irresponsi­bility/Unr­eliability
Not concerned about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blames others, even for acts they obviously committed.

* Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
Promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts.

* Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle
Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future, poor work ethic but exploits others effectively.

* Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility
Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily.

[CocteausTwin]

Other Related Qualities:

1. Contemptuous of those who seek to understand them
2. Does not perceive that anything is wrong with them
3. Authoritarian
4. Secretive
5. Paranoid
6. Only rarely in difficulty with the law, but seeks out situations where their tyrannical behavior will be tolerated, condoned, or admired
7. Conventional appearance
8. Goal of enslavement of their victim(s)
9. Exercises despotic control over every aspect of the victim's life
10. Has an emotional need to justify their crimes and therefore needs their victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)
11. Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim
12. Incapable of real human attachment to another
13. Unable to feel remorse or guilt
14. Extreme narcissism and grandiose
15. May state readily that their goal is to rule the world

[DWP]

What are some of the qualitites we look for in any leader? I believe it is ability to either recognize the rules are wrong and if you think they are then fight against them. Or once you sign on to follow the rules. We also like leaders who first know how to be team players -- not people who would say McCain and I are qualified, but Obama only knows how to give a speech. Let's see follow the rules, be a team player -- and be realistic when it comes to approaching problems. Fighting does no good without those qualities -- sorry Hillary

[partyofone]

Hillary is showing reckless disregard for Obama's campaign for the presidency, for the Democratic pary and for the nation. Her divisive rhetoric on race, gender and the rules of democracy serve to divide the nation. This is the Bush-Clinton way. Set groups and war and hope to win the slime majority. Confuse the issues with distortions and lies, and accuse your opponent of distortions and lies to obscure your own intentions and tactics. And,say and do aything, anything you think may help you win, with no concern for the colateral damage.

The Bushes and the Clintons are the same. We need to move past their dishonest, divisive, corporate serving brand of politics. Obama is our only hope to do that in 2008.

[truthyguy]

She knows the election is over for her. Now it is just about setting up her run in 2012 by undermining Obama's chances this year. But note how she is doing this. She speaks of how wonderful Obama is and how she will support him if he is the nominee. But at the same time HRC says this Billy is out there saying Obama's campaign is “cold-blooded, calculated, manipulated, and a revolting strategy” - the purpose being that his words are designed to encourage Hillary supporters to say that the Clintons do not really support Obama and Hillary is just saying what she has to for the party.

I was a big Clinton supporter UNTIL this year when I saw what they are really about and just how unscrupulous both of them are.

[Biracial1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULxxBz-PAjg

[Ohioliberal]

Incredible! First in the beginning her campaign AGREED with the party's position as it related to Florida and Michigan and now when that position doesn't suit her purposes she changes! This person has no honor! Is not principled and politically "whorish" in her pursuit of power. Good riddance to bad news!!!!

[sharonh]

What do you call a man in pursuit of power.

[paganmist]

Bill Clinton.

[VOTER]

HILLARY'S NEW ROUND OF SNIPER FIRE! LOL

Bill, take her home. She is embarrassing herself, ruining the Clinton name ( Did

that get your attention!) and losing friends.

She is your problem and should not be ours. Take her home! Please! She has

no idea how to leave with grace and stature. IT IS OVER!

[McPander]

ruining the Clinton name.....

Oh yah, "Hard Working AMericans, White AMericans"

Sista Soldier...­.race baiting

I hear Satan has a new room just for the Clinton's he's calling it the Lincoln Bedroom

[VOTER]

If you give her all of her political speeches without taking points for

slurs and lies, you are still left with Clinton the Hypocrite.

NOT PAYING HER VENDORS!

Remember, those hardworking Americans, she is "fighting for?"

Small business owners made to wait for their payments from her while

they still have to pay salaries, insurance, and their own home mortgages, etc..

CLINTON, THE DEAD BEAT!

[JAB20]

This whole thing is in the hands of the super delegates now. They can end it one way or the other.

[ccrnjr]

How many more of our troops have to die in Iraq before Hillary does the right thing by them?

[peacekitten]

quoi?

[missjabez]

Why do the Democratic Leaders let her run around like this, causing trouble and raising hell 24-7? She is ruining Obama's chances for election--oh I forgot, that's her ultimate goal. Obama isn't getting much of a chance to campaign. This woman hogs the limelight with her obnoxious behavior. Howard Dean and whoever else is charge, stop this woman! I hate to use the Repubs as an example, but do you think their leaders would have tolerated it if Mike Huckabee had acted like this? It's time for Hillary to get the smackdown!

[southernsepia]

McCains picking a VP and we are still stuck with the Hillary show.

Why is she supposed to be more important that the whole Democratic party?
Why will the super dels not put a stop to this?

[abby4ever]

Fear. As some have said, Bill and Hillary are scary when you move against them. The other reason is misplaced, misguided sympathy for Hillary---which she has worked her little butt off to get.

[McPander]

Irony:

HRC fights to have voters counted and argues voter disenfranchisement

Then is going to ask the Super Delegates to override the entire primary season

Two headed snake

[Liberoservative]

Plus she cries out sexism and that is why she hasn't won the Primary... well, does she think that after she steals that after she steals the Primary that America has a sudden seachange and sexism isn't an issue? Good lord.. you can't have it both ways.... Two headed snake indeed...

[AlphaDoc]

Yes, if Hillary gets the nomination, the skies will open, the choirs will sing, and sexism will magically disappear off the American political landscape. LOL! Just how her current complaint will make her "more electable" is beyond me. And comparing Florida's current situation to the 2000 election is even more idiotic. Al Gore didn't sign a pledge agreeing that the voting results in Florida wouldn't count.

[SayonaraSnot]

Double Irony: It was the Clinton faction of the DNC that voted overwhelmingly to strip Michigan and Florida of its delegates. In Florida, the lone dissenter was an Obama supporter.

[Indoboy7]

Hillary needs to be reminded of one fact:...Be­fore Primary season started, ALL DEMOCRATIC contenders agreed to abide by the Rules set by the National Democratic Party.....­Now, in the middle of the game, Hillary does not like the results of abiding that decision..­...Hillary wants to change what she agreed to.....How come she doesn't want to publicly change her vote on going to war on Iraq, too...???
One FINAL:....­The Democratic LEADERS in FLORIDA and MICHIGAN decided to ignore the national democratic party's rules, and go ahead and changed the date of their Primaries.­..........­.Why is everybody laying blame anywhere else...?

[ZeusBoots]

Good point!

[mergina]

The Democratic Party has done it to themselves. They've joined the biased press in attacking the better possibility for victory in November. She has the most votes, and she has won all the key states needed to win. Let just one of those states Obama cannot carry fall into the Republican column, and McCain is the next president.

[SayonaraSnot]

No, she does not have the most votes.

[paganmist]

I agree - half of the Democratic Party has done it to themselves.

This half has fallen into the great "electability" myth.

"Remember McGovern! Kerry! Dukakis! This is just the same! Have we not LEARNED anything!?"

Yes. We've learned that when Democrats do not vote for the nominee put forward, the nominee will not win.

"But he is less electable! The Republicans will win for sure!"

Democrats could run Jesus as the nominee. But Jesus would not win, if Democrats decide that he isn't "electable" and vote for the other guy.

"Yes, but he is not the better possibility!"

And in an ideal world, we'd all agree on that point. In an ideal world, everyone would agree on one candidate and no one's feelings would ever get hurt because the candidate they wanted "lost".

Since this isn't an ideal world, people disagree. So we have democratic nominee elections to decide who should present the party. The rules are convoluted, but since everyone agrees to them ahead of time, they are fair. The winner of the election will probably not be the person that *everyone* wants, but this is not an ideal world. Some people are going to disagree.

If a party falls apart every time someone did not get their preferred choice of candidate, that party will never win.

Especially if the people who do not vote for their party conveniently forget their part in history and instead blame it on how the candidate wasn't "electable".

[McPander]

"The democrats could get a refrigerator elected this year" - Bill Clinton

[sharonh]

The dems trying to get the best candidate to the convention means nothing in terms of a republican victory. As I said before, Britney Spears could beat McCain. There will be a dem in office without doubt. Which one is the question.

[Dap]

When the punditry of a Mental Midget is needed we'll call on you.

[SayonaraSnot]

Not really. Also, are you unaware of how the primart process works? PROTIP: "delegates"

[debrouillard]

Are you suggesting that 33 states and contests of USA which is the number of states Barack has carried thus far dont matter? Or may be you are suggesting that in America politics,it is the loser who wins?

My Argument beside the rules is that 33 states and contests which will be 35 states and contest in Baracks favour by the end of this primary is a more representative cross section of America than is 18 states and contests which is the number of contests won by Hillary thus far

[spicegal]

For God's sake, would someone please save us from this woman, and please save her from herself. Can't the DNC pleeeasse do something?

[abby4ever]

It's too late, she has outwitted us. Or at least there is a good chance she has. She is using the oldest trick in the book: a direct appeal to the people, white, black, rich, poor. So when they come to get her, i.e. tell her it's over and to get out, guess what will happen? Marches, protests, unrest, all those things some peoiple threatened to do if she stole the nomination from Obama. Provided she has enough time, that is, to get it organized. How long does she have? Until August. Because not even the party leaders can literally MAKE her get out---can they? How?
This absolutely screams of Rove.

[sharonh]

The oldest trick in the book. Yes, let's not let the people speak. This election should be decided the good old-fashioned way, with money and delegates who have no connection to their voters. Comparing her to Rove is idiotic.

[BadChristian]

The DNC and every Democrat in the party can stop donating to the DLC, and make sure that they know their time is up.

People are tired of the corporate shills of the DLC, and should starve everyone of their candidates of whatever resources they can.

[McPander]

The point in the DLC is that they are corporate shills....­they don't get their money from us to start with