Sunday Roundup

According to Bill, Hill not going negative on Obama would be political suicide. Slamming the media for favoring Obama over his wife, the former president told a crowd in New Hampshire: "You can't ask somebody who is at a breathtaking disadvantage in the information coming to the voters to ignore that disadvantage and basically agree to put bullets in their brains." Breathtakingly disadvantaged?? As the Clinton campaign is internally debating how to best use Bill Clinton, my advice would be to follow Al Gore's 2000 strategy of not using him at all. With every passing news cycle, and every head-scratching quote from Bill, this oft-ridiculed decision seems more and more like a stroke of genius.

Comments

[tonybar]

I was just in Buenos Aires, the people there are so looking forward to Hillary being the president of the USA. The didn't even know who Obama was. He is just in her Class of Statesman.

[naschkatze]

How true, Arianna, and IMHO, it is Clinton who has had all the media advantages up to this point. Take the coverage of the candidates' spouses for just one example since your post is about Bill Clinton. Even in the past couple of days and although she came in third technically in Iowa, most of the pictures on the cover stories are of Clinton. I am flexible about Obama or Edwards getting the nomination, but I have to say, as many others have been doing, that Edwards has most certainly gotten the short end of the stick when it comes to media coverage. He is a first tier candidate who has been treated like a second tier one all along.

[Bocababs]

I said this on MSNBC that this has been one of the most interesting political weeks in my lifetime. No matter what happens I will savor the day I switched my allegiance to the politics of HOPE from the politics of FEAR.

[kiojn]

Oh come on Arianna, Bill's quote makes perfect sense. Negative press has followed the Clinton's for years. Whenever the bias against the Clinton's is brought up the media shrugs it off as being of their own making. Simply not true. The media has been unfair to Hillary from the start! If she leaves out Bill then the stories are "why is she running away from her husband's legacy"; she brings him in "why is she trying to riding her husbands coattails!"; she trys to show her human side and she's too soft; she toughens a bit and she's a bitch. Hillary Clinton is the media's favorite punching bag - as evidenced in the story that she brought breakfast to the elementary school kids, oh I mean press crew that was with in her Iowa and was met by bratty immature silence. This BS has followed Clinton from the day she started. She's been hit by the conservatives and the "liberals" alike. She's been covered negatively universally in ways that Obama and Edwards have not. She is disadvantaged in the press coverage she has received and Bill is right to point it out. It's obvious that you are not a supporter, but you should still at least be willing to recognize and acknowledge the truth.

[traveler501]

yeah, right...Bill is all wrong. Your bias is showing...not just in this nonsense article but in your headline regarding Obama versus Clinton in the polls. Reread ALL your polls...and tell me Clinton is trailing Obama. Why don't you just endorse Obama...and stop faking the news of his success. Meanwhile, clever how you are ignoring John Edwards...hard to tell he is even running. Thanks...this is how we got GW. Wonder how Obama is to drink beer with?

[SmellTheHorse]

One has to stifle a guffaw at the Clinton's new tack, attacking Obama for "giving a good speech but speeches dont make anything happen".
So Bill and Hillary must think the Gettysburg Address, MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech, JFK's "ask not what your country can do for you..." were all just a bunch of hot air that didnt move history and inspire Americans to make good choices for the country?
On top of that, Obama has more legislative experience than Hillary. She's never sponsored a piece of legislation. And, if she didnt know her husband was cuckolding her with a 21 year old White House intern just down the hall from her office, how is she going to keep tabs on Al Queda?
And Hillary as a "change agent?" As McCain accurately pointed out on Meet the Press today, HRC has taken more money from the defense industry, the insurance industry and the pharmaceutical industry than ANY OTHER 2008 CANDIDATE in EITHER PARTY.
She was a drag in the 90s and she's still a drag.

[GeorgeKaplan]

The fact is we have a two party system. Even if you are an independent you will most likely end up having to vote for a Republican or a Democrat or NOT vote at all.

As a Democrat I don't to want weaken ANY Democrat for the fall election. Edward's, Kucinich, Obama and even Hillary would make an outstanding President when you compared them to their Republican counterparts. This all or nothing approach may make you feel better now, but a Democrat MUST win in the fall. If it's Obama he's got my vote. And yes I would gladly vote for Hillary over ANY Republican.

We are only 6 days into 2008. Let's listen a little more - we are electing a president not a Pope. If you are looking for a candidate who is infallible just give up now. I will not be spoon fed a candidate from ANYBODY.

My mind is NOT shut. I'm still listening... please join me.

I guess Democrats like Republicans eat their own.

[raptor]

When watching Bill's nomination speech for Dukakis, I thought 'Where did they find ths windbag?'.

[brooklyncitizen]

re:bettersaid and rwhiteside
Obama did not stumble; his weakness was in not being forceful or specific but he is quick with thequips:"(re:the AP story) I bleieve those were your folks Hillary".

He is no shrinking violet.

Hillary did not come off as a shrew; she was actually pretty godd with her comebacks and the repartee was amusing. I don't think she "lost" it, maybe only men perceive that because they are always uncomfortable with women who speak their minds.

Having said that,obnam is still the strongest candidate; she really needs to stop that 35 years of experince business; how OLD ish she???
She was the President's wife; I don't expect the pilot's wife to fly the plane I'm boarding why is this any different?

[SouthpawSass]

Have you noticed how little attention the corporate media and Huffington Post focuses on Edwards? Why do you think?

I ask that Huffington Post not take part in the corporate blackout of John Edwards. It's un-American.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/1/5/12286/27650/142/431084

[AgathaX]

Bill was arrogant enough to think he could buy Hillary the presidency with his own popularity. I think she thought so too. This was going to be his payback for having screwed her over time, after time, after time, after . . .. And its not working. Actually, if Hillary had really turned the process over to Bill and let him do all her hiring, I suspect she would have been in much better shape. (Though frankly, I doubt much of anything could stop the hurricane that is Obama). I suspect Bill knows its over. Thus the outlandish, angry remarks. I suspect Hillary isn't there yet. Which makes it all even harder.

[MartinEdwinAndersen]

Senator Clinton denigrated the importance of speech in a democracy in last night's debate in New Hampshire. But she should remember this ...

When Cicero finished speaking, the people said, "My, how well he spoke." When Demosthenes finished speaking the people said, "Let us march!"

Candidates should strive to emulate Demosthenes. (It gets us fired up and ready to go ;)

[Hugo de Balsac]

i just hope we get a Presidential candidate who makes sense in real time and not just keep postponing Reality until it suits their private objectives. and this Republican idea of a mandate requiring all Americans buy health insurance like car insurance should make anyone ready to put an end to this madness. the GOP have serious, self-serving control issues! let's face it, they're unconvincing officials of anything useful to most people, unless you want to buy a used vehicle.

i feel like we have had to settle for some rather poor theatrics with this last group of actors in the White House. let's get it over with already. i'm all for Obama.

[drlenamarie]

To all the people who criticize Obama for not having foreign policy experience: He is not a one man island. He will choose people with vast experience to surround himself with. He also has plenty of advisors and people he constantly consults with, which he has done this whole campaign.

As someone who works with the poor and the sick, and having met Obama personally, he is a genuine person who wants good for the world and I believe he will do that, with the help of OTHERS.

[happycat]

John Edwards was absolutely fabulous last night! He was very passionate and forthright about his positions. People need to wake up and pay attention to him. If the Democrats really want to not just take back the White House and have real change come about, then they must start paying attention to Edwards. Unfortunately the media has been corrupting the process with their slanted polls and spin. I for one have had enough of the status quo. A vote for John Edwards is a vote for change. He is brilliant, articulate, absolutely tireless,a wonderful family man, and extremely handsome (which is irrelevant but a nice perk!).