|
||
Hillary Clinton's Texas Primary Efforts Continue To Be Marked By Poor Planning
At a Houston rally, Hillary Clinton is talking about health care. She is massaging her core supporters in Texas, who for her are working class white and Hispanic women. This is a rally, the "big event later in the week" she had promised a roomful of Houston fans last Saturday night. Clinton is late to the Delmar Field House, but at first her supporters don't mind. Many have brought their husbands; many have brought their daughters, even though it is a school night. They are enjoying the mariachi band, singing along with "La Bamba." They are applauding the extraordinary talent of the young drummer--he might be eight years old--in the Umani School jazz band. Barack Obama would like being here and hearing the musicians, who are poster children for the grade school music programs he talks about. Indeed Hillary Clinton, who deep inside has an earthy sense of humor, would've appreciated the town hall and the old school ladies of Beaumont. Hillary has been enjoying herself in Texas. She's happy and buoyant with her supporters in a way she never showed in Iowa, Nevada or California. Somewhere along the Rio Grande Hillary Clinton has found her inner Ann Richards, or at least her inner Annie Oakley.
"I'm going to get up every day and ask, what am I going to do to help you?" she begins. "It's all about the future. It's all about the American dream." It's about the "millions of clean energy jobs right here in Texas" that, from the vibrancy in her voice, she can almost taste.
A few minutes later, she moves on to the space program. "And let's continue to look toward the stars. Houston is the center of space exploration. We need a president who wants to keep sending Americans into space. . . . That's one difference between me and my opponent. I want Houston to remain the capital of the space program. I don't want to be sending Americans into space on a Chinese or a Russian manned vehicle." If her supporters think this is an odd remark, they clap and ululate nevertheless.
Already, however, people are beginning to leave. In the way of this campaign, Clinton and her staff seem never to have thought all the way through the lives of key supporters. These working class women have children to put to bed and jobs to get up early for in the morning. The campaign didn't think about this reality, apparently, when it scheduled the rally so late for a Thursday night. Clinton didn't begin speaking until ten o'clock. The crowd at its peak filled the stands of the arena (holding maybe eight to ten thousand) only three-quarters full. Where are the subscribers to Emily's List? Houston must have some. Where are the Texas women lawyers, doctors, university professors and executives who supposedly support her here? Where are the female movers and shakers--and some of them are Democrats--in this town? Obama had his share last week at the Toyota Center. But like the Hollywood luminaries and the party leaders, these erstwhile Clintonites are not putting themselves out for her now.
Want to reply to a comment? Hint: Click "Reply" at the bottom of the comment; after being approved your comment will appear directly underneath the comment you replied to
Texas... Tarrant County early primary voting... GO DEMS!!!
Rep 2000 4-29 early primary voting to date 17395
Rep 2004 4-29 early primary voting to date 1687
** Rep 2008 4-29 early primary voting to date 37,357 **
Dems 2000 4-29 early primary voting to date 3878
Dems 2004 4-29 early primary voting to date 1634
** Dems 2008 4-29 early primary voting to date 87,591 **
http://www.tarrantcounty.com/evote/lib/evote/2008/03042008/ev/2008PRI_DailyTotals.pdf
Texas Top 15 counties early voting 2008
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/earlyvoting/index.shtml
What disturbed me was "I'm going to get up every day and say, "What am I going to do for you?" As if any normal human being would say such a thing. And she criticizes the use of words?
It's always "I" with Hillary and that has always bothered me about her. We're like clients to her. She does not seem to grasp what motivates us as a nation. I'm tired of "what's in it for me" atitude of Bush, and yet that's what Hillary appeals to, even if it is things we want, like healthcare. But it's hers to deliver, and once we elect her we should have no responsibility. How in the world is she ever going to get anything passed if she can't rally the people to the purpose of America, involve them positively in the trajectory of their lives, and the things that are bigger than their lives -- their country and its moral place in the world.
She doesn't get it. She never will. And she will be a disaster if we elect her president. I am sick to death of defending the CLintons, because it's never their fault, never their mess, never their problem who gets thrown under the bus. I shudder to think what she'll do if her poll numbers are weak and she wants to show us how tough she is.
I have always been disturbed at Bush's use of "I", "mine", "my". It's never "us". America is not some ancient land with 1,000 years of history. It's been built solely on the ideals of its citizens. Hillary will just do it for us, she says. She'll fight. But have we ever seen her fight for a progressive cause, against political will, and get it done? I can't think of a single case. It couldn't have been, "you get welfare reform, we get healthcare." She only fights to protect herself. She has never fought for us.
That is the sad, unrecognized fallacy of her campaign.
She's thrown mud that would make Karl Rove blush (or be proud. Either way, it stinks). Against another democrat who is, no question, a decent man. To further her personal ambition, to get what's due her. The Clintons have dragged the American people through their personal psyches for way too long.
I'm not naive. I know that mud sticks. A tracking poll out today showed that it's working, and that only keeps it going. I'm hoping and praying the American people finally put a stop to this destructiveness. Because we can't afford another four years of deep selfish, divisive lies, sugarcoated as patriotism or "fighting for the little guy." Both are empty rhetoric.
Hillary may have hoodwinked us into this nomination and it is frighteningly similar to the way we got tricked by Bush. I hope we're better than that.
oh, poor 57andfemale, I bet you are single too!
Flagged as ad hominem and unnecessary.
57andfemale, very well put...Hillary likes to pretend that she's running an honorable compaign but who is it that she thinks she's kidding? She thinks nothing of misrepresenting and distorting Obama's positions and her meteoric shifts from conciliatory Hillary, to angry Hillary, to scolding Hillary, doesn't in any way leave me feeling safe and secure with her hand on the red phone...
We've heard so very little about what in the heck happened with New Hampshire but a bit of information has become available that sheds some light on it. Of course it isn't something that has just taken place in New Hampshire, but more importantly, it is something that Hillary does not hesitate doing. Lorna Brett Howard, former president of Chicago NOW, was a Hillary supporter until 3 weeks ago. She has jumped from Hillary's ship and is now supporting Barack Obama because of what she witnessed in Iowa and New Hampshire. Check this out "57andfemale"--I think you'll appreciate it...It's about Barack Obama's integrity vs. Hillary's...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVuMYKs8iJs
Maybe she's just tired - staying up, talking on the phone until 3 A.M. and all.
; )
Don't you know?
Only the poor and uneducated demographic is supporting Hillary!
LOL!
I am for Obama but I would say to the Clinton supporters, keep your chin up. Yesterday was our last day for early voting here in Texas, and her supporters were out in full force in my precinct. They were lined up with their signs all around the perimeter of our polling station and showing a lot of enthusiasm for their candidate. Didn't look disorganized to me, in fact I was lamenting the fact that I didn't see any Obama folks out doing the same thing. They're getting some things right! Frankly, I'm hoping Obama wins here but those HRC folks seemed pretty fired up and organized to me. Just trying to keep some parity here, I try to call 'em like I see 'em.
Very well written article... And it lacks all the silly venim that most posts have. I think this whole campaign has gotten silly though... silly ads, silly debates, silly accusations... Why isn't America smart enough to figure out who they want and don't want without unquailified newsreaders trying to mold our thoughts -- using bits and pieces of everyone else's comments and having nothing new or original for us to use as a barometer of who's who and what's what. D
Yes, it has the quality of real thought and insight. I also share your view on the general absence of such critical thinking in media reportage of real policy and real concerns that can unequivocally delineate where candidates stand on critical issues.
I found, at the URL below, just such information that may be of interest since it reflects the views of a woman who attended Wellesley with Hillary and by all standards should be an ardent supporter. Ms. Cohen-Coles' letter so moved me and at the same time left me outraged that I am compelled to distribute her letter to as many as I can.
http://robbrian.squarespace.com/hillarys-duplicity/
Good piece. And it illustrates what's REALLY wrong with the whole Clinton campaign -- it's badly out of touch with reality.
Almost everything I read, or see or hear, about the Clintons' rallies, points out that either Hillary or Bill shows up late. Are they just trying to be "fashionable" or are they that disorganized that they can't be on time, at least once in a while? Maybe it's the "drama thing" they're always into.
The Clintons are two tired old scam artists who don't know when to get off the stage. Hopefully, after Tuesday, the voters in TX, OH, VT, and RI will put the final nails in the coffin for their act.
Wait, are you suggesting that clinton's campaign is falling apart because of poor planning? Sheesh, I could have sworn it was the media... though, the media wasn't a problem when she was winning...
rom: Cafe, Election Central
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/2008/03/clinton-camp-tells-its-campaig.php
Clinton camp tells its campaign - disrupt the vote in TX!
By Rich - March 1, 2008, 11:24PM
I suppose if you think that you might lose, you can try to take control of the whole thing and subtly affect the vote. The Burnt Orange Report is reporting that the Dallas Morning News has uncovered campaign training materials which tell its supporters to basically take control of the vote if they feel outnumbered.
It smacks of Clinton's "do anything to win" attitude and an omen to the direction her campaign will head if Obama doesn't win both Ohio and Texas outright.
From the Burnt Orange Report
The Dallas Morning News is reporting that Clinton campaign training
materials regarding Tuesday night's caucuses ominously advises
supporters to take control of caucus sign-in sheets and vote tallies
especially "if our supporters are outnumbered."
This has certainly been a lame campaign run by HRC and her people from start to hopefully finish. But this story seems more like piling on than any real news. So she was late. She's got bigger problems than that - like her Iraq vote, her triangulating, her flat, robotic voice, etc.
As her husband showed over and over again, if you get the people on your side, you can be as late as you want.
How can she have poor planning? She has 35 YEARS of experience - She is ready on Day One!
Perhaps it should be changed to "ready one day".
bit --
Good one! LMFAO!
This deserves to be highlighted in every Sunday morning talk show tomorrow: "ready one day." My gosh, BitJam, you are brilliant! Definitely, please take a bow.
Hillary has never worked in the real world. How can she understand it?
Those people are not worried about the space program. They are worried about refilling the
gas tank after the trek to see Hillary. They are worried about the price of milk they
will need in the morning for their children.
These are worried she will never have in her life.
That brings an Obama story to mind, that I don't think he articulates enough. The story is; he was discussing the prospect of running for president with Michelle, whether he should do it now or wait. Michelle said, "Do it now. We still remember trying to pay off student loans and trying to put enough money together to buy a house. We still remember living normal lives. If you wait 4 or 8 years and your in the Senate and your books make a lot of money - in 4 years or 8 years, we won't remember how normal people live. We won't have that connection." That's actually not an exact quote, I remember it from a speech he did in Austin last November. But that's the point - Obama and his family still remember what it was like to try to figure out how to make it through life. Hillary (and McCain) haven't had to figure that kind of thing out for many, many years. I'm kind of with Kinky Friedman on the experience deal: "Politics is the only profession where, the longer you do it, the less qualified you get."
Mayhill, I've loved your posts, but this one feels like the headline overstates what you deliver on in the post itself. If Hillary is late for this event, presumably she was at an earlier event that was scheduled at a more convenient time for the last crowd she spoke to. Just like all candidates, including Obama, Hillary's trying to squeeze as many events into a day as possible, and I suspect the folks who got even a glimpse of her saw exactly what they needed to see, even if they left early. The more interesting story in your observation is that she's found her voice (again?) -- I'd love to hear more about what she's doing differently now, and how the crowd is responding. Any chance of interviewing folks, maybe as they're leaving early?
we've seen the effects of using people whose chief quality is their loyalty to Hill, even if they're behind the grade as campaign organizers. That is reminiscent of how people were chosen to work in the Bush White House. "You're doing a heck of a job, Brownie".
This just shows you she isn't connected to the common people. Hillary has no clue how to run a campaign, much less, the White House.
Isn't poor planning the underlying theme through her entire campaign?
Will this not be her trademark if she goes to the White House?
For me, Hillary blew it by the way she has run her rather unsuccessful and blundering campaign.
This campaign was your "probationary" period....well, guess what? YOU'RE FIRED!
Not to mention the way she blew through all that money! Any candidate running for President who has to give themselves a loan (McCain, Clinton, Romney) AND has to have staffers working for free at one point or another should not be given the American Budget to balance.
Loading comments…
Related Blog Posts
|
||
Posted February 29, 2008 | 11:28 AM (EST)