Minions like Beth have been tearing down powerful women since we emerged from the slime ... this idea that she - or anyone for that matter would cover up for BO - the slimiest politician since his mentor Daly is unbelievable. Black Power, Rev Wright, felon friends .... McCain is going to have a ball - not because of Clinton's critique but because the fantasy that the Obamaniacs have written only stands up to scrutiny if your blinded by the glitz.
BO is a manipulator of the first order - his minions - like Beth have to attack Clinton because her guy has no creds and they still can't point to any accomplishments that distinguish the man....
'young' - no 47 is middle-aged - and his only real achievement was beating the lunatic carpet-bagger Alan Keyes for the senate.
How Oprah's latest Dr Phil has learned how to self-promote ... this is a candidate who got money from teen-agers on MySpace... one wonders how the European Union will welcome a guy who's popularity is based on millions of text messages and not on his experience.
I expect McCain will make the primary race a cake walk by comparison - who knows what Harold Ford is doing these days.
Beyond Herself, Who Does Hillary Clinton Really Want to See Win?
Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to ABC's Pennsylvania Democratic debate
The much-talked-about divisiveness in the Democratic Party is a hot topic to all Democrats and most Republicans, as the never-ending campaign of Hillary vs. Obama continues to take its toll. Wednesday night's debate was yet another example of Democratic bloodletting and again pointed out the part the press has played in perpetuating meaningless spin -- of which the point is to take down Barack Obama.
But the way to look at this is through the prism of Hillary's strategy, which is something most people don't keep their eye on because they've been distracted by yet another of her mines in the political field. The goal of this attack-and-destroy mission is to remove her competition one way or another. More about that later. And let's look at this in a wider perspective.
If Americans are revolted by Wednesday night's debate, think about how the rest of world sees it -- and us. Haggling over whether Barack Obama wears an American flag pen in his lapel -- and if not, what that means, as if sticking on some painted piece of metal demonstrates anyone's patriotism: Isn't this below our collective national intelligence and level of consciousness? Doesn't this continue the lowering of our national stature internationally?
I have never gotten this absurd flag pin nonsense despite the media's unrelenting quest to keep the non-issue on life support. You'd think Charlie Gibson and former Clintonian George Stephanopoulos had bigger ideas on which to spend their time. You'd think they had better questions than that. Isn't that why these media stars get paid the big bucks? An eight-year-old's curiosities would have been more interesting.
Over the last seven years, since George W. Bush has been in office and initiated the heinous Iraq War as well as begun spying on his own citizens; since he has approved and carried out torture as U.S. policy -- let's just say basically flushing the rule of law and the Constitution he was supposed to protect and uphold down the toilet -- the United States has gone from being a beacon of democracy to one flimsy flicker of a candle running out of wax in the gaze of the global community.
We have blown it on a scale that I'm not sure Americans actually realize unless they travel beyond their own country. Living in Paris, I know firsthand how the euro is eating the dollar alive, but take a walk into the world beyond the border of the United States to a continent of which you're not a home boy or girl. Open your ears and your mind and listen to what others are saying about us -- what people (black, white, or tan, blonde, brown or red-headed) think of us now.
In Croatia, I was told we have no democracy anymore. I stumbled in my response to the Croatian lawyer who laid this on the table between us, but I basically replied that our system was actually intact. That once George Bush was out of office our democracy would work again. But the sad truth is I'm not so sure how long it will take to repair the damage -- for our leaders to actually lead again, for our Congress to show courage and vote as they should, or for our traditional media to actually report the news instead of repeating the spin of a corrupt president or a candidate who has learned how to press the press's buttons. I see Obama as our great hope to lead us in the right direction.
All the pundits talking about the continuing Obama/Clinton struggle who point out that there's not that much difference in their plans and policies are leaving out one crucial element: Character matters. We've just spent seven years with an administration lacking in integrity. To restore our national unity as well as our global reputation, we must have leaders who will stand up for the right things -- no matter how politically unpopular they are. Besides our heroic men and women who risked their lives or died in Iraq to serve their nation in President Bush's war, it's the 23 Senators who had the courage to vote against it that are the kind of public servants we should be electing and applauding. Hillary Clinton had the "courage" to vote like a Republican in this and many other major contests that have determined the direction our country has gone.
Back to restoring our democracy: What will it take for journalists to do their jobs again? Should they be reeducated? Should they be reminded that what they do and say actually makes a difference? That what they report determines a national conversation that ought to be worthy of us citizens. Shouldn't they be sent to other countries and continents and to small dying American towns to gain a better perspective?
Barack Obama's usage of the word "bitter" has been the subject of another useless debate. Some solid pieces have been written about this, and you can find them here and here. For my purposes, let's start with the definition in Dictionary.app:
bitter |ˈbitər| 2 (of people or their feelings or behavior) angry, hurt, or resentful because of one's bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment : I don't feel jealous or bitter.
Which of us are bitter? Take me, for example. As I've watched George W. pied-piper our nation into an international sewer, I've felt angry and, yes, bitter that he is our idiot of a president. That he has caused such tremendous global damage and has wrecked our country. And there are millions of people like me. In fact, we're now a majority.
Who else is bitter? Well, hmm, let's see. Hillary has crafted every single movement and breath she's taken for the last seven years into positioning herself for her run for the presidency -- she thinks she's entitled -- and she and Bill are angry and flabbergasted that they're getting beat. "Desperate" might be another good word to use about them now.
Which brings us back to my beginning. Everyone knows that Hillary is playing to win. The Clintons have been touting McCain while trashing their fellow Democrat, Obama. What would they like the outcome of this race to be? If Hillary is not the nominee, they'd prefer McCain to win, of course. This gives the Hill another shot at becoming President four years from now, which she wouldn't have if Obama were elected.
You may say I'm cynical, and I'd be the first to agree. But if you've forgotten the brutality of politics on this level, give Primary Colors, which was more or less based on the Clintons, another look. If Hillary is going down, dividing the Democrats would be the point. What would a wallow in the muck and another four years of Republican rule be if Hillary had another shot at the presidency after that?
Read more reactions from Huffington Post bloggers to ABC's Pennsylvania Democratic debate
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Beth,
are you completely out of your mind....? Your analogies and logical make NO SENSE and do not strike at the true issues of our American fascist economic system and how it developed! Your emotive political polemics leave out the basic foundational issue:
$$$$$ drives power politics and Sen. Barack Obama is as guilty and stained as any of them- and, what's more sad, he's been in there shorter time than most and is still influenced greatly by $$$$ and power!
Follow the dots....:
"Back to restoring our democracy: what will it take for journalists to do their jobs again?"
It will people with ethical behavior and personal integrity to NOT sell out to the MONEY MEDIA that is run by our fascist corporations who engender themselves to lawmakers by pandering, lying, corrupting and deceiving the American people for prestige, power and $$. That's what it will take- and is not determined by POLITICAL PARTY but by journalists with integrity who are 'whoring' for political power!
I'm sitting here watching "Primary Colors" . Had not seen it in years. Amazingly apropos and frightening. I don't want to see her in the White House ever again. For, that matter I don't want to see Bill in again either. No more blue dresses. Not this time.
What we are currently seeing is a political game being played out here by Senator Hillary Clinton.
There is what we can describe as "banishment in the political graveyard " for Nominated candidates who lose in the general election. Hillary is a very smart, calculating and extremely deceptive individual. She knows this! She also knows that Barak will eventually become the nominated candidate but by "throwing the kitchen sink" at him, she speculates that she will give the Republicans enough amunition for him to lose in the general election while she comes out looking good and prepare for her re-run in 2012 ...without accepting defeat but claim "victim status'' with what happened in Michigan and Florida. She is fantastic at pulling the wool over voters eyes. Why then do you think she is in essence, acting as a Republican against Barak?
In her defense, she needs to be credited for "vetting" President Barak Obama. Her husband also taught her a key political dirty tactic called "political triangulation" introduced to Bill Clinton by Dick Morris, a strategy the Republicans stole and used on Gore and Kerry, and which McCain is definitely planning to use on Barak. Stay tuned! Barak has studied this strategy....perfected it....Political STRANGULATION----which will destroy both Hillary and McCain!
Do you notice now that he has tied a Republican tag "Gotcha politics" and wrapped it around Clinton's throat and move into a position of "choking" her?
How about you BO maniacs telling us out here what your baby has to offer us! ...NO ONE can do it - Beth has bashed Clinton before - so this is a rehash.
What about the dirty tricks Oprah and her money taught BO? ... president by MySpace .... we are not impressed.
I think you're right on. I never considered this, but the way she's buddying up with McCain, it makes sense. Some of the other commentors think she isn't capable of such deviousness, but I think she is.
I am as bitter as anyone about Hillary's campaign, but i do not believe that she is setting herself up for 2012 because I don't think she's dumb. She knows that if Obama loses that many will blame her. She knows that she has offended the activist base of the party and she knows no one can win without them. she knows that "told you so" is not an effective campaign strategy. I think the reason she is still in this and that is why she is fighting so dirty is that she knows that this is her one and only shot.
you don't get it: as far as Hillary is concerned, it is perfectly okay for her to launch this kind of "scorch- earth, kitchen sink" strategy at Obama, even if her negatives continue to go up because she really believes that people will forget the tactics she is pulling now when she is ready to run again in 2012. In just the same way, people seem to be forgetting all the "baggage" of the nineties (travelgate, vince foster, kenneth starr, lewinsky, and on and on....)
She really believes we are that stupid. Bottom line: we have to remind ourselves that Hillary has deep republican roots, and that says a lot about her behavior.
neenj,
'The baggage of the nineties' that you mentioned was, absolutely and categorically, Republican smear and spew attacks- everything you mentioned about the Clintons and the nineties have NO BASIS IN FACT EXCEPT 'Lewinsky'......
'travelgate, vince foster, kenneth starr' were ALL manufactured by Republican slime machine that spent over $60 million dollars of tax-payer money to find NOTHING of substance or legal malfeasance to warrant their slime and spew accusations.
When making accusations Americans require FACTS and TRUTH rather than innuendo and guilt by association, neenj! In fact, your comments reflect more of the Republican smear tactics than what you accuse Sen. Clinton of!
I could care less about what the folks in Croatia or France think about our democracy. France collaborated with the Nazis and has collaborated with the Arab nations in an unofficial embargo against Israel, which I realize is in line with the thinking of the American left. So, their thoughts on the state of American politics is of no importance.
The MSM is no longer the entity that will keep politicians honest and report on stories in an objective and fair manner. In 2000 and 2004 the MSM did more to hurt the Democrats while giving W a pass. This election has seen the pass given to Obama while fact checkers at WaPo hunt for any mistake Ms. Clinton has made. Any mistake Clinton makes is a big story. Obama mistakes are relegated to the trash bin asap. MSNBC is the official TV network of Obama and is as fair as Fox News, which is to say neither has integrity or ethics.
Obama doesn't need to feel forced to wear a flag pin, but what argument can he offer to not wear one? I am proud of this nation and it seems such a little thing to do to show that pride. If Obama is so unwilling to do such a small thing to show his pride in our nation how can we believe he will be willing to stand up on the big issues? I believe Obama is a patriotic American, I just wish he'd do this one thing.
Why doesn't Hillary wear a flag pin? I guess it's not fashionable. Does Bill wear one? How about Chelsea, how about her mother? There all on the campaign trail with Hillary.
Everybody in this race is patriotic, you don't need to wear a pin. Patriotism isn't worn on your collar or sleve, it's in your heart and soul. I bet you or anyone you know doesn't wear one. Does that make you or them less patrotic? I don't think so.
What's really important is that a Democrat win in November.
WHERE was the flag lapel pin on Stephanopoulos?? On Gibson?? On Clinton?? And where was it on McCain in the clip that was played during the debate. America NEEDS TO KNOW.
If you have to advertise that you're "patriotic" - or compassionate, or honorable - you've missed the point entirely.
Hillary cannot "win" the nomination without making so many of us bitter--yes, bitter-- that interest in politics will go down. If Hillary "wins" (which would have to be by the destruction of Obama or by conniving with super-delegates), the Democratic Party will collapse. Hillary now thinks she represents white, lower middle class voters who live in rural areas; this is her new demographic (the people she said "Screw 'em" about in 1995), and apparently the only one that matters -- for the moment. She dislikes the "liberal activists" (well we dislike her too), she couldn't care less (apparently) that she and her husband have alienated African Americans, and very few young people are going to bother to vote for her if she takes down Barack Obama (which she and the media seem determined to do).
She stupidly thinks the media won't turn on her if she takes this nomination. She may have already caused the Democrats to lose the election, but if she continues she will most certainly cause them to. The truth is, Clinton cannot win the election and she just won't recognize it. Clinton winning this election is about as likely as US "winning" in Iraq.
Unless we all commit to campaigns being run above board, we will never see people who would serve honorably on our behalf because it just wouldn't be worth the insults, degradation placed upon, and energy lost to them. You can say what you will about BO, but he has never slung mud or out and out lied. He is the only presidential nominee I am aware of (I am in my 60's) that has had to answer to questions about everyone he knows, knew or passed on the street. Countless people do not wear an American flag pin, yet he is required to in order to "prove" his patriotism. For those of you who will not vote for him, no matter what, we all know he could wrap himself with the flag and you would only call it a desecration of the flag. If you don't want to vote for him because he is black, just say so. For those of you who aren't comfortable admitting that, just say he is not your candidate of choice. His pastor, his neighbors, his fundraisers, his wife, etc. are not running for president. HE IS.
Something is terribly wrong here. Does anyone care that all this bickering will cost us the election.
Hillary, Obama back and forth we go every blogg every web site. Are primary goal is to win the general election. We cannot continue with the status quo we just can"t. It no longer matters to me who wins as long as it not Mccain.
We"re $9 Trillion dollars in debt and growing every day. Every day, I mean every day a soldier is killed or wounded in Iraq. Gas prices are skyrocketing, soon to reach $4 a gallon. People are losing their homes in record numbers, we are displacing thousand and thousands of families, maybe even yours. But we go on with this senseless bickering.
I"m right your right Obama is this and Hillary is that. What"s wrong with you people? I really don"t care who wins and neither should you, but by all the numbers Hillary"s chances are dwindling every day. She needs PA. big, but even if she wins every State remaining by double digits the best she can hope for is a virtual tie in delegates.
Obama needs to stop shooting him self in the foot with some of his comments and disassociate himself from those people who insist on trying to destroy his candidacy.
So what now? It"s your choice a Democrat or a Republican. Keep this one thought in mind; there has been a Bush or Clinton in the Whitehouse since 1980. Are we better off?
"So what now? It"s your choice a Democrat or a Republican. Keep this one thought in mind; there has been a Bush or Clinton in the Whitehouse since 1980. Are we better off?"
Yes, under Clinton we were. Has your BO trance made you forget the '90's?? You people need to get some actual information to support your guy or many of us will stay home rather than elect another drinking buddy (or in BO's case camp song buddy) like George Bush.
OF COURSE SHE WANTS TO SE MCCAIN WIN SO SHE CAN BURDEN US AGAIN WITH ANOTHER VICIOUS CAMPAIGN. I can't wait to not have to look at her pants suits, hear her cackle and see her fat as........!!! She is a disgrace to our political system!!!!!!
You gauge who to vote for by their clothes? Are you brain-dead? How about convincing the group of why we should even consider a guy with no real experience (but TWO autobiographies by the age of 45) as president....
Link to http://www.freedomsenemies.com/_Obama/ObamaLies.htm and see if you can defend your guy's track record - and by the way he really does need to have his suits altered - it's possible to be thin and still look like your clothes are not hand-me-downs from your big brother... and THOSE EARS ... what can I say...
And you are a disgrace to public discourse.
and you are a disgrace to the human race.
> Character matters
A. Men.
------------
"Because power corrupts, society's demands for moral authority and character increase as the importance of the position increases."
~John Adams
PEOPLE NEVER CHANGE..including The Clintons. Americans have a 2nd look at the strum and drang they carry.
If anyone thinks Hillary will be any different as President..nope!
TAKE HER UNTRUSTWORTHY/ UNLIKEABLE RATINGS..
--- the HIGHEST NEGATIVES OF ANY CANDIDATE ON EITHER SIDE. Double those numbers IF this country is naive enough to put the Bobsey twins back in the White House.
BILL AND HILLARY STAYED MARRIED FOR ONE REASON: HER PRESIDENTIAL RUN.
THEY FEEL ENTITLED TO NATIONAL AMNESIA OF WHO THEY REALLY WERE/ARE... AS MUCH AS THEY FELT ENTITLED TO TAKE WHITE HOUSE WARES TO CHAPPAQUA.
CHARACTER MATTERS
OBAMA & McCain score highly VS Hillary.
LET'S NOT FORGET THE THOUSANDS OF LIVES HILLARY EXPENDED BY HER POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT VOTE FOR THE IRAQ WAR.
ONLY OBAMA is clear of this saber rattling.
THE LAST THING THIS COUNTRY NEEDS IS A HUBRIS LADEN CLINTON JUSTIFYING HER IRAQ VOTE.
THE SECOND LAST THING THIS COUNTRY NEEDS IS 100 YEAR WAR MONGER..McCain.
KEEP WATCHING HILLARY.
She continues to prove Obama's case:
HE IS THE NEW POLITICS.
HILLARY IS THE KIND OF POLITICS THAT GOT THIS NATION WHERE IT IS TODAY..
Want more of that? Then vote Clinton. The 4,000 deaths in Iraq will seem like nothing 5 years hence.
'HE IS THE NEW POLITICS' - this has no meaning - what do you mean by that? Using MySpace as a means of getting money from teen-agers? (and Oprah, of course).
Even BO has stopped beating that bs about Clinton and the war .... yup, he was against the war - just like the 1mm New Yorkers who marched against it before he saw it as a smart political gambit.
Wake up - BO is NOT new - he's a Chicago politician who's playing the race card like a drum. None of his supporters on this or any other blog can say why he should be president - including you.
BTW: it's 'sturm und drang' - not "strum and drang"
Inwonderland you really must be in wonderland.......Have you considered the responsibility and the weight of that vote that you criticize HIllary for????? I don't agree with the war either BUT YOUR LIGHTWEIGHT CANDIDATE OBAMA WAS NOT EVEN THERE IN THE SENATE TO VOTE FOR OR AGAINST IT YET!!! HE WAS TOO BUSY VOTING "PRESENT" IN ILLINOIS.....Your haughty attitude and others like you are why I am leaving the Democratic party and becoming an Independent and will be voting for McCain against Obama if I must. And tell me again why Obama didn't want FL and MI to count????? Is it because he got his ass handed to him on a plate in FL, that's why....My what character he has LOL
Hillary didn't want FL and MI to count, either, way back when it seemed like she was going to be the nominee in a cakewalk. Once Obama came out of nowhere and started beating her, then she suddenly changed her mind and cried foul.
I wonder if Obama would have done better had he done what Hillary did and campaigned in FL, despite swearing not to. Obama had enough integrity to keep his word, even though he knew there would be uninformed people like you out there who would try to claim that the disenfranchised states actually mean something.
That's why I refer to the Clintons as "the anti-party group."
You are completely right, and I think this needs to be stated as frequently and broadly as possible. Hillary Clinton is trying to sabotage Obama either now so she gets the nomination or for November so the can run in 2012. That's all there is to it. When she says the democrats have to win this year, she's just lying, which is something she's rather good at.
CYNICAL MISS ARNOLD??
Miss Arnold ..you said yourself. You are cynical and beyond. Apparently it is fashionable to pile on the criticism of Hillary Clinton. It surely will get you readers. Miss Arnold has not made valid coherent point but to say....Hillary is a Beeeecth and I don't like her. That is fine with me but your argument has to be sound. I Iike the beeecth in Hillary......she carries it well to get the job done.
The effort someone makes to get the job of President of the USA...is not the same as an ambitious person seeking class president in some ivy league university, where spoil rich and well to do children can make fun at other peoples expense.
Hillary Clinton is as human as any Miss Arnolds, but she has also shown the capacity to be coherent and is a talented thinker and processor of information with great leadership qualities,... second to none on stage.
With all her shortcomings and as she calls it, baggage, she is head and shoulders above Barack Obama....although Barack has an amazing appeal, it is not an appeal that Hillary has to have or possess to be a great President. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
All hail to President Hillary.
Hillary can be a leader. Leader of a circus. She would be the lion tamer with the whip.
Posted April 17, 2008 | 03:04 PM (EST)