What's Wrong With The Clintons: The Emperor Has No Clothes

There are so many things that have disappointed me about the human condition in the last 7 years. But, I have not lost my faith in the noble destiny of mankind. It is true that the reptilian part of the brain has dominated most of human history. The Clintons have exposed themselves to that reptilian brain which seems to have dominated them. And it now includes Hillary's anything to win strategy.

According to the triune brain theory, people upshift and downshift to use different parts of their brain depending upon their situation. When you upshift, you use your neocortex. A safe environment is necessary for upshifting. Consequently, creativity, learning, and thinking happen when you feel safe, secure, and protected. Praise and security promote upshifting. It represents what is called our better angels. It is the theme of Obama's strategy of hope.

Conversely, you downshift when your reptilian brain takes over. People become reptilian when they are afraid and concerned with survival. Criticism and fear promote downshifting. A person or an organization can't evolve if it is primarily concerned with survival. That is why the Clintons have forever shed any pretense of having better angels with their anything to win strategy. It has also shattered their legacy. It is truly a Shakespearean tragedy.

Comments

[Republicnotademocracy]

If we stand back from the fray for a moment, it is plain that the Dems have two excellent candidates to choose from, neither one worse (or better) than the other. And this is from a Republican.

[desmirl]

The Clintons: Bill lied about Monica and then tried to defend and triangulate his lie. Hillary voted to authorize Bush's war in Iraq and refuses to admit she was wrong and apologize for it. Bush, when asked by a reporter to discuss his worst mistake couln't remember ever making a mistake. Hilary knows she was wrong on Iraq--several times--AND WON'T ADMIT IT! Is there ANY REAL DIFFERENCE between the Bushes and the Clintons?

[urbanrevolt]

Quote from Sheldon's last post;
"I supported Hillary."

I think Hillary supporters have started from the concept that everyone who doesn't vote for Hillary is a "Hillary Hater." That is the LEAST dismissive they get. From there, they accuse Obama supporters of being "Cultish," of being brainwashed, of being mean-spirited, sexist, and Hero worshippers.
From where my father and I sit, this group of Obama supporers are squaring off against Baby boomers, who are regressing to the behavior of their own days as the young upstarts, because it was the last time that generation didn't get to steam-roller everyone. Calling everyone brainwashed and nazis... It really brought my dad back to 68, when he was precinct chair, and had to give a ride home to the kid who kept calling him and everyone who disagreed, a Nazi... Until he had to ask for a ride home.
I like the way Obama and his supporters have confronted the elder generation a lot more than the way the baby-boomers did. They do less drugs, the don't scream sexist nazi at everyone who disagrees and, although it's not across the board, I think they show that we are making some progress. Urban residents got left cleaning up after the boomers decided that "Greed was Good" and moved back out to the suburbs. I don't think we'll have the same problem with Obama supporters.

I wonder, coming from someone who did support Hillary what do you think?

[bauersox]

No. You've got it wrong. It is Obama who is the emperor who has no clothes -- a metaphor I have been posting here for weeks. Notice, please, that he has no program. Note also, that he has no experience. He admits to lacking administrative skills. And his backers are latter day flower children who have been taken in by sentimental tripe.

"Dreams" and "inspiration" "Hope" and "Change". All empty sloganeering, all of it bait for fools.

[JimR]

" Notice, please, that he has no program."

Notice, please, that you seem to have done no research:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

"Note also, that he has no experience­."

Note that you are lying. 11 years experience in elected office compared to Clinton's 7, for starters.

"He admits to lacking administrative skills."

The remaining viable candidates are McCain, Clinton and Obama. Not one has been governor or has run a business. The next president is going to be weak on administrative skills no matter which one is elected.

" And his backers are latter day flower children who have been taken in by sentimental tripe."

Well, I'm not a flower child, don't really care for the whole hippie thing and don't vote based on sentimental tripe.

""Dreams" and "inspiration" "Hope" and "Change". All empty sloganeering, all of it bait for fools."

Spiteful posts devoid of facts. All of it exactly the type of crap many people are tired of.

[Ides]

To quote Morpheus: "The problem...­is not your technique.­"

Rule 1 of debate: If you don't know what you're talking about, you can't argue against someone who does. You need to do your research, we have.

[eddiestardust]

Why the "Rush to Judgement"?

Is Obama a Saint?

Nope....

But some folks seem to think he is.

I don't like it when a character pops up and says "I'm the saviour" when he smoked pot & did Cocaine.

And he REFUSES to place his hand over his heart
when our National Anthem is played.

This really scares me.

This is exactly what Bush did to the Republicans in 2000 and 2004!

And look what we got!

[locanicole]

Im sorry, I forgot that the placing of a hand over the heart guarantees a trustworthy character. This is what is wrong with quite a bit of this country, people focusing on externals and not bothering to look deeper at what is really going on. As for pot and cocaine use, please! When have young people not made poor choices? This is of course, part of the learning process. It's what helps to make us better people. Please try to find a substantive argument against any of the candidates, but not something stupid about what they wore or some such other nonsense.

[KaAp]

Dear Eddiestardust

I was born in 1955 I would trust someone less in my generation or subsequent generations if they had never smoked pot. As far as other drugs well you know lots of people I know snorted coke and took qualuudes, dropped acid and on and on ... I would trust someone less who said he tried pot but did not inhale (President Clinton) --- at least during the 2004 debate when asked about if they had ever smoked pot most of the candidates with the exception of Lieberman raised their hands in the affirmative ... Obama has always been upfront about this much more so than many other people about what they did in their youth

Nobody says Obama is a saint ... many of us are saying we choose him to be the nominee of the democratic party and you can do whatever you want and feel whatever you want but please do not lie
The truth of the incident you cite is this
the event where the picture was taken which spurned all this attempted swiftboating wasn't a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance--rather, Obama Clinton and Richardson were standing for the national anthem. Obama stated: "My grandfather taught me how to say the Pledge of Allegiance when I was two. During the Pledge of Allegiance you put your hand over your heart. During the national anthem you sing." (from his website) ... According to Anne Garside director of communication (home of the original manuscript for the Star Spangled banner) states "modern custom does not require a hand over the heart." Besides the flag was in back of them ...
How dare you or anyone else question anybody else's patriotism? And, why are you questioning his patriotism are you one of the trolls that believes he is a Manchurian candidate?
What did Obama do that Bush did?
And finally why don't you look up facts instead of giving in to idle rumor speculation, and urban legends

[trevor01]

"Strategy of hope", says it all. Obama would do everyone a favor if he got out of the race saying I don't need to be president, I just need all the people who love me to pray for a better world. With Hillary as president Obamites will have a realistic hope of getting what they're praying (hoping) for.

[JimR]

With Hillary as president, the nation faces years of gridlock. There was a Democratic-led Congress when she introduced her health care plan the last time. What makes you think the results will be any different this time?

[Ides]

No we wouldn't. We had Clinton in office and all we got were Republican programs passed. Screw him.

[realistxxx]

Yep, the "Solutions Lady" with so much experience can't even run a decent campaign. She can't solve her campaign problems and even with huge advantages can't beat the dreamer, Obama.

Meanwhile, "The Hope-monger Dude" is cleaning her clock and running the most efficient and dynamic campaign of our generation­... against all odds.

The improbability of Barrack Obama being ahead in this race renders the Clinton talking points about her being able to get things done hollow and insulting to anyone with half a brain.

How about running a more organized, efficient and effective campaign first?

Burning through > $140 MM and being behind an "empty suit" with no name recognition, no experience, no connections and no organization etc. etc. is a sign of what she (would have) accomplish as president. Ummmmmmm..­. Nothing!

[gayleg]

He didn't look so inspirational when he snubbed HRC and he didn't look so inspirational when he told her she was "likable enough."

He's petulant and arrogant. Not uplifting at all.

[lynnn]

Compared to the rest of the field right now (Dem side and Republican side) he's the least petulant and arrogant.

Someone out there is snubbing states, how arrogant is that?

[Countess]

The Clintons have concluded they cannot beat Obama with ideas so they must destroy him no matter how ugly their campaign looks. They are showing their true colors now and even those supporting her must be sick just watching it.

[anywho]

I agree and may I add, they are angry and need to lay blame somewhere. To them the media and the OBAMA supporters are to blame..the­y are sexists. They do not see it as Hillarys credability problem, her campaigns implosion, her voting record, her high negatives (that she has carried with her since she left the White House). Her vote to allow the war, and EVERY vote thereafter to support it. Her vote to support an invasion of IRAN for God's sake. We know her, we know whaq she will do and we don't like it.

[guru75]

Mr. Drobny, you have posted an insult rather than an analysis, a smug, childish effort to degrade a candidate you don't approve of. The fact that you disguise your insult in a lot of pseudo scientific gobbledy-goop doesn't make it any more true, coherent or mature. As a potential be Obama supporter I hate this nasty attack stuff, and it gives me pause about the followers of Obama such as yourself. The only lizard brain I see in this piece is yours.

[Sheldon Drobny - Huffpost Blogger]

Read the post again and let me know if you realize what you are saying. Your reptilian brain seems to dominate you. Too bad.

[lynnn]

I blame the public schools! ; ) No seriously Dronby I love how you try to reason w/brick walls.-

Forget about reptilian brains some of these people are brick walls. (Perhaps they are in a personality Cult)?

[nancytheragingliberal]

You are correct. The Clintons always appear in the plural form. The dems have a gift wrapped in the form of Obama. Millions of new voters are stampeding into the dem. party. The Clintons have no problem turning off millions of voters, just as long as she gets the nod. This will mean no dem in the WH for generations to come. The repubs are dancing in the street!

[lynnn]

Makes me wonder if God really is on the Republican side -no I snark.

Hillary and others forget if Kerry would have won Iowa...oh how things would have been different.

[Adrienne4Dean]

Of course Hillary Clinton has no brain of her own. Instead, she shares her husband's brain. Together, they are "The Clintons" (pronounced like "The Nazis" or "The Terrorists").

Or "The Drobnys."

*****A

[gayleg]

Heh, good one!

[Singha]

What is sad is all this mud slinging within the dems party, while bush and the repubs are getting ready to bomb Iran. AND the pathetic thing about it is that bush can do whatever he wants to do BECAUSE no one will stop him!

[Hollyse]

No one will stop Bush? People are bought period! To think our government officials are "fantoms to real people" (We the People) create in my awareness levels that I exist only in my dimensional world and not that of those living their reality and not mine. The worth of the dollar is the only known transferthat dimensional worlds understand. It amazing me how anything can be accomplished when people exist in past and present time zones of their own. Our present is someone else's past and our past is someone else's present. This is why people easily accept distortions. Recognized intelligence isn't wanted, at least not by the elite who process redesigning any or all masses of people. Mud slinking is necessary as people tend to stand still long enough to lick their wounds. What they don't know this is deliberately intended so the enemy knows the victim even more. Standing still long enough is just what the government wants. The phrase: Hold your friend close, but your enemies closer, well isn't this what our government is doing? We the People aren't friends to our government­... just the opposite.

[Loeb]

To Singha:

End mud-slinging. PLEASE.

Remove all nuclear bases etc. in the
middle-east according to the plan of the IAEA at
the last meeting in Geneva. The resolution passed
overwhelmingly with two nays: the US and
Israel.

I recommend THE FATEFUL TRIANGLE by Noam
Chomsky, re this point about the so-called
"special relationship". The work is pivotal for
an understanding of foreign affairs.

Of course, no candidate wants to discuss Iran
and/or Israel's military power (NOW).We are not
talking about the "capacity" of Iran in x years
but current power . TODAY. It's seldom discussed
pubklicly in the US.

(Thanks to the US, primarily, Israel is now the
fourth largest military power in world.)

[newgal]

Totally agree with the analysis. The Clintons increasingly got ugly after Iowa - they devolved into the Billary's.

I liked Bill in the 1990's and I never understood why the right hated Bill and Hillary so much but watching them over this campaign season, especially in South Carolina, I finally understood why so many people find them so divisive and hateful.

The Billary's really will do and say anything to win and frankly, most Americans are tired of their crap.

[Adrienne4Dean]

While posing as angels, the Obama Campaign spawns reptiles. I've never read so much vicious, mean-spirited triumphalism as lately clouds the blogosphere, inspired by Mr. Hope/Hype artist. Oh, if you tow the Obama-is-messiah line, you’re safe enough. But dare even question the hero worship and his minions swarm.
Is that what you call unity?

What a shame. What a sham.

*****A

[jfor]

and to back up your claim lets look at the swarming minions over this post?

[locanicole]

If you think the obamamites are mean-spirited, you should check out Hillaryis44. It was just like going to Redstate..­.talk about a bunch of rethugs...­oops! just disgusting.

[lynnn]

Then you have never read Taylor Marsh or the Hillary is 44 gang.

[Lis]

Sad, that Hillary and Bill Clinton did not understand this in time.

[anywho]

No Brain surgury necessary here.It is not just Hillary and Bill that do not understand what's happened, it is their frantic supporters as well. They are beginning to see it all slip-sliding a-w-a-y. They've got three weeks to somehow resurrect this nightmare they're in and they are pulling out all the stops. The Clintons are teeter-tottering on the edge of becomming laughable. As I said they have three weeks. If they don't win on March 4, they will have lost a lot more that just the nomination. The stakes a VERY high.

[Ides]

Truth will out. I'm glad they went dirty, it helped people see them for what they are.