Am I a Hillary Cheerleader?

Several have asked who I am backing to be the next president. I have not decided on a final choice because, to be candid, I have little say in the matter. I live and vote in Maryland. By the time primary season rolls around in my neck of the woods and bay inlets, the die will be cast.

Of the current field of democratic candidates I like three in particular -- Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and John Edwards. If I were participating in an Iowa caucus or voting in New Hampshire, I'd go for Joe. But he is not getting any traction. So that leaves me with Hillary and Edwards.

I favor giving Hillary more coverage at No Quarter for a very simple reason -- no other candidate for president in my memory has been subjected to as many vile, baseless attacks as this good woman. You don't have to be a rightwing nut to know or believe some of this garbage. According to these critics Hillary is a murderer, a practicing lesbian who is getting it on with her Saudi chief of staff, a swindler, a cheat, and a cover-up artist. Oh yeah, her and Bill employ, so we are told, their own hit squad who run around silencing critics.

What I find amazing is how inept that Clinton "hit" squad is? If they were worth a damn (or REAL) then critics like this bozo in Texas, Robert Morrow, would be a worm buffet by now (I will not link to anything written by Morrow). Ain't it amazing that Bill and Hill are known to kill their opponents and yet so many opponents and critics are still walking around unscathed?

The evil witch, bitch caricature of Hillary is a lie readily embraced by many in America. But it is not the Hillary I have met. I am not a good friend nor a close advisor. And I am not lobbying for a slot in a Clinton administration. I'm not ready for a pay cut and I like to sleep until 9 a.m. But I have been in her office twice and briefed her on issues concerning terrorism and Iraq. If you had asked me before my first visit in 2005 if she could be president I would have said, "There are two ways -- no way and no way in hell." Sadly, much of my initial opinion about Senator Clinton was based on the filth I had heard about her lack of character and private behavior.

The briefing occurred shortly after I had testified on the Hill about the harm done to Valerie Plame. Senator Clinton was aware of my testimony and congratulated me on standing up for Val. The senator was very gracious, engaging, and charismatic. And she does not have fat legs (the number of guys who have dissed her for not having great gams is obscene). She is an attractive 60-year-old woman. But that was not what stood out for me. She is scary smart.

I was not alone at the briefing-there were two other participants who are well-known experts on the Middle East and Iraq. We had not submitted our briefings in advance. We made our respective presentations and had a genuine, in-depth discussion about viable options. She asked us tough questions and could think on her feet without having to look at notes. She focused on what could be done to achieve U.S. interests in Iraq without bleeding our country's treasury and military.

As we talked about the limits and efficacy of using military assets to go after terrorist targets, the senator brought up the book, Not a Good Day to Die by Sean Naylor. She did more than bring it up. She described in detail the challenges that special operations military forces actually face on the ground. I was stunned. This is not an easy book to read. It is an excellent work and provides enormous detail on special operations and CIA military activities in Afghanistan during Operation Anaconda. But it is tough sledding for folks not familiar with military terminology. She had it nailed, and it was not a mere pre-planned politician's trick. She knew what she was talking about.

I came out of that meeting and realized I could be seeing the next president. If people could always see the real Hillary she would win in a cake walk. I admit her main failing is to over-think the politics of every situation and, as a result, she has at times appeared rigid, robotic, and programmed. But that is not the real her. She's funny, quick, and can think and talk on her feet without choking on a pretzel.

So if No Quarter appears to be a pro-Hillary site, it is simply me trying to balance out the mountain of shit tossed her way.

I also like John Edwards. But he has not tasted even a hint of the personal and political attacks that have been launched against Hillary. Therefore I do not feel as much of a need to "defend" him. However, I have given my friends -- Wayne Williams and Brad Parker -- full permission to publish any John Edwards piece they want. They are rabid Edwards promoters.

Who would be the strongest national candidate for the Democrats? I think it is Edwards. That's my analytical conclusion. I worry that the hatred and prejudice against Senator Clinton is so deep that it will be a tough obstacle to overcome. But then I think back to a time when I had accepted the anti-Hillary propaganda and what subsequently happened to my thinking after meeting her. The Hillary I saw behind the closed doors of her office is a genuine, smart, very likable person. If America is permitted to see that woman then she has a chance.

I also believe that Americans, not just Democrats, can afford the risk of Obama. If you think that Obama has the seasoning and the smarts to be president, please watch Obama turn in a Bush-esque performance, brought to us originally courtesy of Taylor Marsh. We are talking moron territory here, people. I have not seen a performance this lame since George Bush struggled to name a foreign leader. Obama cannot provide a clear, cogent answer to why he declined to vote in favor of allowing sexual abuse victims to have their court records sealed and their privacy protected. My god, folks. Can we afford another dummy in the White House?

Comments

[vernonbc]

You know, I read your post and was prepared to say hmmm, this is a really good testimonial for Hillary. I don't particularly like her for any number of reasons but I'm open to having my mind changed by reasoned intelligent people who have some insight into the person behind the spotlight.

But lordie, you sure lost me with your last paragraph. Totally negated any positive feeling that might have been engendered by your defense of Hillary. If someone is prepared to give Taylor Marsh any credibility, you lose me right there. And to call Obama a moron and a dummy says volumes about your lack of insight. You may disagree with his platform but you are truly uninformed and spiteful to defame Obama in such a fashion. I absolutely cannot put any value in any of your comments about Clinton when you are obviously so clueless about Obama.

[RealOpinion08]

Without Bill Clinton there is no "Senator" Clinton. Conflict of interest you think? Bill's gonna tell us how his WIFE would be best for the job. Dont hate Hill and will vote for her if she wins the primary. I just dont buy the fact that her biggest asset is her husband. Of course he'd vote for her. She has her mom in TV ads? Obama is truly not dumb and you have the tone of a little racism to me. Obama is self made, unlike Hillary. If you dont read the NIE reports when you vote on something is worse than not voting.

[Politihal]

I once had a discussion with E.J. Dionne that centered on the reason Democrats have such a tough time winning elections. We were at a dinner together and duck was on the menu, but more about DUCK later.

“Mr. Dionne,” I said, having sipped a little too much Cold DUCK and therefore was not sounding as brilliant as I sometimes do, “Republicans think with their heads, while democrats vote with their hearts.”

Mr. Dionne, looked at me as if I were a DUCK.

So, here we are again, and the Democratic Party is about to get cooked by the opposition Brilliantly the right DUCK-wing party is working its genius. Voting democrats don’t have a clue how skillfully they are being roasted.

The opening shot of this political season was Karl Rove’s piece offering Obama advice on how to beat Hillary.

Never have Republicans offered their DUCK soup bowl of advice on how to get elected so freely to the opposition party. Get the picture?

The Republicans have chosen their Democratic, Mr. Obama. There are many reasons why Senator Obama is the right-left man for the Republicans Democratic nominee for the job. Surely, nothing would give the right DUCK-wing more pleasure than seeing Hillary and Bill brought to their knees.

And the conservatives understand, what democrats don't. Obama would be an easy target for the Republican’s come the National election.

The neophyte Senator, unlike Hillary, would be the conservative’s sitting DUCK. Wouldn’t Mr. Cheney and his party have a gun-filled time with the freshman Senator! It would be open season against the un-vetted and inexperienced Obama.

The Dems should nominate a candidate who has weathered the Republican hunt. If it is Obama, here's my advice to him.

Buy yourself a flak vest, Senator. That lame DUCK Dick Cheney and his conservative boys are coming after you, bigtime. And we all know what kind of shot the vice president is. So, unless you want to become a dead DUCK in the political water, you’d better DUCK!

Halli Casser-Jayne
The CJ Report
www.ablahblahblog.com

[jrizal]

It's interesting to watch armchair, progressive bloggers who haven't been in the front lines personally battling the Bush administration such as Joe Wilson and Larry Johnson eviscerate them because Wilson and Johnson have decided that Hillary Clinton is the better candidate than Obama. History is full of examples where a political movement turns against its own, wiser members because they were not radical enough and ends up destroying itself. Just like the GOP!

[ChristopherLib]

The more I see Obama the more I'm convinced the right wing would eat him for lunch should he be the nominee. I think Edwards is the most electable candidate, he's won in a red state and I think comes off as the most authentic of the three Democratic frontrunners. The public funding thing is a bit of a concern, but the DNC and interest groups could pick up the slack until he is the official nominee at the convention.

However on running this country I have come to the conclusion that Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden are in the best position to do that. They would have immediat impact upon entering office, and with a conciderable Democratic Senate and House could get right to work on repairing the damage of this country by Bush. Experience isn't everything, but I believe strongly it's one thing we need right now after all the foreign policy and domestic failures of the last seven years. Hillary and Joe could definetly win in the general, and while they may not landslide it to the extent Edwards might they're much less of gamble that putting Obama's lightweight political experience on stage.

[musselmanm]

All of the Presidentialo Candidates need to vote both in the House and the Senate.
Either you are with us or against us Democrats.
Let you votes show which candidate we support.
It will not be any Republican getting my vote, they have been very clear, MORE OF THE SAME!

[liveandlearn]

that attack that she is robotic and a liar has made her many opponents. frankly, i think most of the democratic contenders would be a huge improvement over this president. i like kucinich, richardson, and edwards in that order. but if hillary wins the nomination, i can happily support her.

[outnow]

Larry,

The country has gone too far to the right. In part, the reason is the abandonment of traditional Democratic politics where labor is on the left.

Nixon brought Hoffa over to the Republicans with the 2 million teamsters. The Christians were also delivered over to the right.

What is needed is not a centrist candidate like Obama or Hillary. Nothing personal about it.

If these candidates hug the centrist position, it causes the right to go over to Attila the Hun to distinguish themselves.

As the conservative economic policies have failed by undermining the middle class, let them go. Get rid of the WTO and NAFTA. bring manufacturing jobs back home and get off of oil.

Neoliberal economics do not work for the middle class, only the Wall Street CEOs and investment bankers. Obama says that they are lazy, Hillary says that give NAFTA a chance.

Who needs Republicans when these two candidates are in the pocket of the Wall Street crew and the MIC.

Give me an Edwards or a Kucinich, maybe a Richardson. Nothing personal but why Republican-lite?

[Vixen0932]

Good piece...th­ough Obama is not dummy. Not at all. He is a very smart, capable man. He's just not ready yet (in my opinion)

For the reasons you stated, and because as an intern I have met her and liked her I am in camp Hillay too.

I love Biden, Edwards and Dodd as well. I think any one the Dems put up are going to be to great

[Producer1]

I don't get the Hillary bashing on the Democratic side. She is everything her supporters say she is and I would be proud to have her as my president if she is nominated and elected. I surely will both support her with cash and vote for her if she is the nominee. That being said, she is not my first second or third choice for the nomination. Her voting record shows a decidedly center to right position on issues that are important to me, which means that her priorities are not entirely in line with mine. Kucinich, Edwards and Dodd (in that order) are much closer to my position. It doesn't matter to me whether or not they are "electable­." The primary elections are the opportunity to let the candidates know how you feel. Dennis Kucinich is the candidate closest to my point of view and until he is no longer in the race I will support only him.

[YankeeCanuck]

Biden has more traction in Iowa than you may think. Folks here may not be quite so impressed with lavish campaign spending as it appears. This is the time to choose the most qualified after we do our own due diligence and not the candidate we are told can win.It remains to be seen if Biden will be viable, but at this point, anything is possible.
THey are all better than Bush, but why not go for the most qualified in foreign and domestic issues. Biden has written complete policy papers.
As for me, I want leadership and specifics, not sound bites and vague answers. I will caucus for Biden.

[drblack]

She voted for the so called Patriot Act twice and didn't support Senator Dodd in his attempt at saving the Constitution from the new FISA law.
These and other Freedom killing acts guarantee I won't give H. Clinton my vote.
Gender, looks etc should have no bearing on a person's vote. At least an intelligent person.

[Nutcase]

I am in agreement on putting Biden at the top of favorites but, as you acknowledge, that he will not make it. I agree that Obama just doesn't have the kind of smarts needed for the job. I agree that Edwards is the surest bet to beat the Republican candidate. With the exception of his healthcare proposal, I find myself in substantial agreement with his policy stances and approach.

Where I disagree is on Clinton. First, being the target of the Right is worth a progressive's appreciation and admiration. It is not, however, a criterion for the presidency. Being a nice, pleasant person in person and being smart are, likewise, not first-tier considerations for the job; at least if there are other candidates with similar attributes.

The Clinton connections with the DLC, NAFTA and the support of Murdock, the health insurance industry, the pharmaceutical companies, the defense industries, et alia are significant barriers to any enthusiasm for her candidacy. If she is the nominee, I will hold my nose and vote for her with a great deal of reservation.

Your defense of her, as you know, can easily be confused with support. I consider it a better use of the short time remaining before the decision is made to work on behalf of a more acceptable candidate.

[sadiedid]

I hope these macho press people will get over their hate for women and realize Hillary is the very best, really prepared for the office of the president. When will the democrats wake up to the fact how evil the republicans right wing can be and start to play dirtier. Don't the democrats know they have groups around the country who sit around thinking up ideas to distroy democrats. Hillary knows what they can dish out. Fight against the neocons.

[RationalDem]

I still don't understand how Larry Johnson, a friend of Valerie Plame, and Joe Wilson himself, support Hillary who says she was snookered into voting us into war. (I personally think she knew exactly what she was doing.) Joe certainly knew the Bush people were full of hooey, why is he letting Hillary off the hook?

Barack Obama is the only candidate who showed good judgment in 2002. Period, end of story.