"Winability," affability, experience,( i.e. a Clintonian Cabinet ready to hit the ground running) were the key catch-phrases the 250 guests left with along with their 'Hillary for President' badges from the Chicago Dinner with Hillary co-hosted by the husband and wife duo of JB and MK Pritzker last week in the small dining room of a family owned Hyatt Hotel.
Early on in this extended-stay Presidential Primary, the Harvard scholar and Illinois state senator who adopted Illinois as his state, and became U.S. Senator Barack Obama was awarded official Favorite Son Status. Even though Hillary Rodham was the one born and reared here.
However with two back to back fundraisers held here late last week, Hillary attracted big money Republicans, a smattering of African -Americans, and a host of bona-fide democrats who have also been seen at Barack fundraisers. Hillary was looking very comfortable slipping into a Favorite Daughter mode -- many of her high school chums were in attendance -- along with Former DNC Head and current Chairman of Hillary for President Terry McAuliffe. Reminding us all that the Clintonian "Cabinet" is still in session, if it ever disbanded.
And Hillary affably beamed as 40 year Chicago politico Burt Natarus addressed her as "Madame President". A gentleman newly proselytized into the Hillary Family at my table spoke about his allegiance to the "First Clinton Presidency" and how he was certain Robert Rubin would leave his executive post at CITI to return to The Second Clinton Presidency, perhaps as treasury secretary.
And how good it was during a time of war and crisis to have a Familiar Band of Brothers returned to government, armed with experience. And know-how.
How appropriate, chimed in I, normally Daley Democrat but rather recognized national Republican, to have a team in place, familiar to us, all ready to assume leadership in the Hillary Clinton Presidency. The times are too perilous, I heard myself say, to have anyone learn as they led from the White House. EXPERIENCE, we all parroted.
Illinois Politics is as incestuous as the Ozarks of yore. Penny Pritzker, sister of National Hillary-for-President Operative JB, and this evening's host, is Barack's National Finance Chair. This particular blogger was a co-host at the big Women for Obama Lunch early in the campaign and soon after the favorite Son endorsement.
And many of the City's Favorite Son Annointees were at the table next to me, signaling "soft" commitment and/or multiple Hillary/Barack dual support.
At this point , I approached Hillary with a photograph of her as First Lady and me as a member of the State Department Fine Arts Committee standing in the White House from 10 years ago when we were both blonder."Which one of these blondes will be the first women president?" I asked the table.
Hillary threw back her head and laughed. Something she would never have done with that remark 10 years ago. She borrowed a pen and signed the photo. Very affable. Very Bill Clinton. Very Familiar. All in the family. Very Favorite Daughter/Son.
Though some people spew accusations that sound more like typical female-bashing and self-hate, 2 Clinton "expose" books turned up nothing but yawns and a life underscored by her work for women, kids, minorities and social justice. All the Democratic candidates are great. I'm more impressed with the way Clinton's run her camapaign and risen to the top without dissing other Dem candidates the way they dis her. She handles it with complete calm, class and responds by knowing the facts. She's a leader and she deserves to win.
Big money Republicans?
That's a positive?
I read this as as nice a swipe as can be made.
No sense in getting insulting when the same tired bunch of has beens reclaiming their seats of power is a selling point.
I'm from Chicago, Sugar, and unless you are mistaking Hillary for a candidate who ought to be running on some invisible, obtuse ticket called the "Aristocrats Cocktail Party", metro Chicago and State Democrats have OBAMA written all over their votes.
As for Edwards, a sex scandal is underway, stay tuned
Hillary WILL win the primaries AND the General Elections and WILL BE our 44th President! Democrats will rejoice, the right wing will commit mass harakiri and as for the left-wing-fringe-socialists, their lives will go on ... protesting ...
Apparently cynical is the new sensible. Anyone who disapproves of Hillary's support for DOMA, for her support for an endless war in Iraq, and her support for a new war in Iran is now a "left-wing fringe socialist" . . . all according to so called "sensible" shills for Hillary.
Oh, and Sugar... Hillary abdicated her Illinois roots when she donned a Yankee hat. I claim her about as willingly as I claim Reagan.
And SensibleAmerican, Hillary can't fool everyone. In order to fool someone, she'd have to actually stick with a position.
Of course, this is why the dems will lose in '08. They just keep going after each other.
Talk to me about Hillary in '12 or '16. I think the country has had enough Clintons and Bushes. Are you telling me that in the last 20 years, the only two people qualified to run the country are married to each other?
Yeah, the neo-liberal economic theory has worked out really well hasn't it? Especially so for the poor and middle class.
I think you would do better to get some information about the outcomes of this economic model in the many places it has been given full rein. Start with Argentina, then maybe Venezuela...
Look at what Hillary proposes. Her platform is straight ticket Republican. Don't vote for her unless you want Bush II (or should it be III?).
She will continue the war in Iraq, attack Iran, attack Lebanon and Syria (recently announcing she will keep troops in the middle east to fight Hamas and Hezbollah). She will leave the tax system as-is with corporations and rich people paying nothing. She will support vouchers and the destruction of public education. She will preach/pray/faith us to death with the best of them. (Anyone else notice how conveniently she suddenly became a big-time preacherlady when that became popular).
She will privatize social security: she just said so. She will end funding for SS and set up private 401ks to be managed by her good friends on Wall Street all to their enormous profit.
Her idea of health care "reform" is absolutely nothing: order all americans to buy health insurance. Thanks a lot for nothing.
This lady is a Republican. Don't vote for her.
Ah lady NABNYC, you have hit the nail on the head.
Try something different - like having an articulate point of view. Oh - one other tip - the point of view should have some meaningful content - something more than childish name calling.
Some of us don't like her because we know she will continue the policies that have been in place for over 15 years. She is not a real Democrat and we real Democrats know this. It is the reason we won't vote for her.
The pollsters make me laugh. I am a democrat. I would rather walk through a minefield than vote for her. She has zero chance of winning. Zero!
God, I hope you're right.
I have devoted my life to the cause of women moving forward. I have sacrificed as many, many many women have to help the next generation.
I have mentored many younger men and women all in an effort to prove that a woman can be independent, successful and not be a lying cretin such as Senator Clinton.
No, my opinion of her rests on her own endeavors to become president since on or before her husband became President. I, unlike you, am judging her upon HER actions, Her deeds, her words. I am not a Nadar Nerd! Instead, I am an accomplished woman who wants the next president to look at all Americans, those rich and those poor, those who the current administration has left behind and can make the tough decisions to bring us all to a level playing field. I want a President who will restore some semblance of our national identity, who will restore our international ties, who will push for peace and not equivocate and mumble about why the stupid war in Iraq must continue or worse, expand to Iran. What part of this is feminine jealousy?
Rather, I think its just good plain midwestern common sense. I refuse to believe the nonsense the media spews about her and her lead in any nonsense poll.
(sarcasm)Strong, independent women these days lean on their husbands to get them the positions they want. Doing it on your own is so feminist. Hillary is beyond that. (end sarcasm)
Some of us Democrats want a woman to get to the White House on her own. Running on her principles. Not relying on her husband. Period.
She has the experience of selling out to big business and special interests.
Anybody else think we are being suckered when we have Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton?
She will never get my vote. Kucinich is experienced and hasn't got the big money ties.
Bill and Hillary would have been moderate Republicans in the 70s and before.
She is experienced at selling out and double dealing.
It is time for some new blood.
While Hillary's campaign is all out her and a continuation of Bush\Clinton nepotism that is destroying the country. The 90s wasn't very good after the bubble of fraud burst.
"Edwards and Obama become more and more attractive every day"
OK, we get it! You hate Hillary! Try not to garb that senitment with puerile justifications ...
Do you know what puerile really means, or is that you new "word for the day?" LOL
"Illinois Politics is as incestuous as the Ozarks of yore," and I'm in total agreement. When it's not, that's when you have problems in Illinois.
For Hillary to do as well as she is, is a testament of her determination and fortitude.
reading about all the political inbreeding just makes me more certain that the entire system needs to be changed in some way. the current relationship between money and politics is just unacceptable.
I too am disturbed by this post, mainly by not really understanding its reason for being...?
Then I read Sugar's bio--and you are really on to something, Poet. She works in "high society," a phrase I thought had died with the Marx Brothers and and Depression era sense of self-entitlement.
But you are right; the crowd that Sugar and Hillary run with are the "usual suspects" of anointed movers and shakers and power brokers, where two former blondes can joke about who will get to be President.
Well, sooner or later SenslessAmeriscam the notorious GOP troll and Hillary booster will post here, as she does on any thing remotely Hillary related and tell us that, Oh yes, it is a foregone conclusion she will win, and gush about her skills and experience--
But this little article, like a little mink stole, shows us where Hillary and her high society's protege's loyalties lay. They aren't with the working people of this country, but rather the idle rich of the Town & Country, Connoisseur, and Chicago Magazine set to which Sugar contributes(god you have to love that name) and Hillary belongs.
I suddenly feel the need for some insulin...
Even Maoist China is embracing Capitalism and as the "Global Economy" becomes more relevant, market forces WILL determine elites and middle class. Have you heard the term "neo elites"? I bet not ... look it up ... even traditional elites are crumbling ...
Now, you can blame it all on Hillary OR, TRY to understand how modern day economies and societies function
B-b-b-b-boring!
Peaceandfreedom, you nailed that one.