As more details come out concerning the former First Lady's trip to Bosnia the entire affair reads more and more like an SNL skit. Evidenced by the fact that accompanying Mrs. Clinton on her trip through the heart of darkness were her stalwart companions Cheryl Crow and Sinbad! No, not Sinbad the Sailor, who could kick some legendary ass, but Sinbad the Comedian. You know, Sinbad, the guy that was on the Cosby spin-off, did a terrible Christmas movie with the Governator. Yea, that guy!
When questioned about the incident, Sinbad was quoted in the Washington Post as saying, "What kind of president would say, 'Hey, man, I can't go 'cause I might get shot so I'm going to send my wife...oh, and take a guitar player and a comedian with you."
That might be the funniest line Sinbad has had for quite some time. (Coincidentally, the photo in the Post showed Sinbad kicking off the 2007 Wal-Mart shareholder's meeting, which might give you a clue as to his comedic talents.) It also demonstrates how ridiculous this entire episode has become. Seriously, is it possible to take anything the Clintons say at face value without a little voice in the back of your head going, "Is that really true?" All politicians tend to stretch the truth now and then, regardless of their party affiliations. But c'mon, this candidate is running on her experience and gravitas, insinuating that Obama is a light-weight compared to her. Does she actually have any experience or does Hillary count accepting bouquets from 12 year old Bosnia girls as a foreign policy engagement?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I Misspoke or How I Lied and Covered My Ass
Hillary Clinton admitted her Bosnian story was somewhat of an exaggeration when she said, "I misspoke." We've all done it, said something that wasn't quite true or remembered an incident that didn't quite happen the way we stated that it did. But is this a larger issue for Hillary? Is she continually exaggerating her "experience"? Take the Bosnian incident for example, There is not a chance, not one, that the Secret Service would expose Hillary or Chelsea Clinton to even the possibility of sniper fire. She actually deplaned and had an 8 year old girl hand her flowers on the tarmac. Now maybe she had forgotten the incident and didn't remember the little girl, that's possible.
What isn't possible is her forgetting that men and women in the Secret Service pledge their lives to the office of the President and to the First Family. For her to claim otherwise or misspeak is not only disingenuous but reveals a truly ugly character flaw in Hillary Clinton. Is she willing to say or do anything to get elected? Is her "experience" actually that she is a more experienced story teller than Obama? She certainly isn't a more experienced truth teller.
The Clinton campaign likes to whine and complain that the media treats her unfairly and isn't hard enough on Obama. In this case she's the one that got a free pass from the media. Maybe its because most of members of the media has the same "experience" as Hillary, an upper-class background with an Ivy League education and the most dangerous thing they've ever faced is harsh language.
What isn't possible is her forgetting that men and women in the Secret Service pledge their lives to the office of the President and to the First Family. For her to claim otherwise or misspeak is not only disingenuous but reveals a truly ugly character flaw in Hillary Clinton. Is she willing to say or do anything to get elected? Is her "experience" actually that she is a more experienced story teller than Obama? She certainly isn't a more experienced truth teller.
The Clinton campaign likes to whine and complain that the media treats her unfairly and isn't hard enough on Obama. In this case she's the one that got a free pass from the media. Maybe its because most of members of the media has the same "experience" as Hillary, an upper-class background with an Ivy League education and the most dangerous thing they've ever faced is harsh language.
Monday, March 24, 2008
The Roller Coaster
What happened to Obama's message of change? Lately it seems that other than changing preachers and real estate partners the "Change" message has gotten lost. Has the Obama campaign lost its way or is it that the media did a 180 after being justifiably lampooned on SNL? The man gave a very eloquent speech on race in America. He received the endorsement of one of the most influential Hispanics in America. Has it made any difference?
Hillary Clinton is now positioned to win Pennsylvania, possibly by double digits. What happens then? Can you nominate a candidate who doesn't have the necessary votes to capture the nomination outright and trails his GOP opponent in the national polls? A candidate who hasn't won a single Midwestern state other than his own yet still does lead in the delegate count? Tough choices ahead Howard Dean!
Has it only been a matter of weeks since the Iowa caucuses? I can't imagine what will happen between now and the end of the summer. This political season has already seen so many ups and downs that nothing would surprise me at this point. What happens if the Super Delegates can't come to a compromise? After all, they are going to decide who gets the nomination. Is it possible for the DNC to anoint a candidate without alienating a huge portion of its' own constituency? Is it possible that there could be a white knight waiting in the wings? Hmm...
Hillary Clinton is now positioned to win Pennsylvania, possibly by double digits. What happens then? Can you nominate a candidate who doesn't have the necessary votes to capture the nomination outright and trails his GOP opponent in the national polls? A candidate who hasn't won a single Midwestern state other than his own yet still does lead in the delegate count? Tough choices ahead Howard Dean!
Has it only been a matter of weeks since the Iowa caucuses? I can't imagine what will happen between now and the end of the summer. This political season has already seen so many ups and downs that nothing would surprise me at this point. What happens if the Super Delegates can't come to a compromise? After all, they are going to decide who gets the nomination. Is it possible for the DNC to anoint a candidate without alienating a huge portion of its' own constituency? Is it possible that there could be a white knight waiting in the wings? Hmm...
And in this Corner....
I've started to think about the Democratic presidential race as a 50 round boxing match. (Okay, 48 if you don't count Michigan and Florida.) However, I think that notion might be too old school. This is turning into more of a winner take all steel cage death match. Only I think the Dems have forgotten they have to get right back into the cage with arguably the toughest SOB on the planet. John McCain may be old but you just can't question his tenacity. He survived 5 years in the Hanoi Hilton, you think Barack or Hillary's rhetoric is scaring him? You're right Hillary. it's 3AM and the phone's ringing; who do I want answering the phone - John McCain. Thanks for the free ad. I'm sure it will get plenty of air time come September and October.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Democrats Start to Worry
If your Howard Dean are you worried yet? I would be, especially if I looked at an Electoral College map and recent voter results. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in New York (expected), Ohio, Texas, and California. What if that continues into Pennsylvania and Indiana? Does that mean if Obama gets the nomination he can't carry those states in November? Not necessarily, but it's causing concern at the DNC. Howard can try and spin it anyway he wants but believe me, he's concerned.
Now look at Mississippi, Barack Obama won more than 90% of the African-American vote and Hillary won more than 70% of the white vote. Is that scaring the DNC? You bet it is. In November, the Democrats need all of their party members to turn out, both black and white. If Hillary gets the nod does that lead African-American voters to believe they have somehow been disenfranchised? If Obama receives the nomination do middle class white voters stay home?
And what's with the Hispanic voters? They don't seem to be too keen on Obama. What does that mean in Texas, New Mexico and California in November? Do they warm to the junior Senator from Illinois or do they put their support behind a fellow border state Senator? Don't think McCain can't win California. He can. The Governator might be able to help deliver it into the GOP fold.
Then there is New York. If Hillary is sitting on the sidelines, how popular are the Democrats going to be? George Pataki was just recently the two-term GOP Governor. When you factor in his replacement is (soon to be was) Elliot Spitzer you have to wonder if the GOP might even carry the Empire State. How can the "party of the people" spin the fact that their Governor might have spent as much as $80K on hookers? Tough sell to people struggling in a down economy. The GOP having a shot at New York - that was unthinkable just a short time ago.
The Democrats have a long and storied history of shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to capturing the White House - LBJ not telling his staff he wasn't going to run for re-election, Ed Muskie crying on the campaign trail, Thomas Eagleton forgetting to mention that he'd undergone electro-shock therapy, Gary Hart and "friend" aboard the yacht called "Monkey Business", Mike Dukakis wearing the helmet in the armored vehicle, Al Gore not carrying his home state. Howard Dean and the "Yee-Haw" scene. Need I go on?
If I'm Howard and the DNC I'm starting to worry and not just a little. Seriously, shouldn't it be simple to get the GOP out of office after eight years of George Bush?
Now look at Mississippi, Barack Obama won more than 90% of the African-American vote and Hillary won more than 70% of the white vote. Is that scaring the DNC? You bet it is. In November, the Democrats need all of their party members to turn out, both black and white. If Hillary gets the nod does that lead African-American voters to believe they have somehow been disenfranchised? If Obama receives the nomination do middle class white voters stay home?
And what's with the Hispanic voters? They don't seem to be too keen on Obama. What does that mean in Texas, New Mexico and California in November? Do they warm to the junior Senator from Illinois or do they put their support behind a fellow border state Senator? Don't think McCain can't win California. He can. The Governator might be able to help deliver it into the GOP fold.
Then there is New York. If Hillary is sitting on the sidelines, how popular are the Democrats going to be? George Pataki was just recently the two-term GOP Governor. When you factor in his replacement is (soon to be was) Elliot Spitzer you have to wonder if the GOP might even carry the Empire State. How can the "party of the people" spin the fact that their Governor might have spent as much as $80K on hookers? Tough sell to people struggling in a down economy. The GOP having a shot at New York - that was unthinkable just a short time ago.
The Democrats have a long and storied history of shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to capturing the White House - LBJ not telling his staff he wasn't going to run for re-election, Ed Muskie crying on the campaign trail, Thomas Eagleton forgetting to mention that he'd undergone electro-shock therapy, Gary Hart and "friend" aboard the yacht called "Monkey Business", Mike Dukakis wearing the helmet in the armored vehicle, Al Gore not carrying his home state. Howard Dean and the "Yee-Haw" scene. Need I go on?
If I'm Howard and the DNC I'm starting to worry and not just a little. Seriously, shouldn't it be simple to get the GOP out of office after eight years of George Bush?
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
And Then There Was One
John McCain. How did it happen that he became the GOP presidential nominee? Personally I like the choice. He's in the middle, he's not divisive like the Bush neo-cons and he will reach across the aisle as evidenced by the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Bill. So why are all of the "right-wing" pundits so up in arms? Is it because their right-wing is somewhere to the right of Mussolini?
Is it possible that the Rush Limbaughs of the world think that they represent the Republican party? When I hear any of them talk about Ronald Reagan it makes me laugh. Reagan beat the most unpopular incumbent President in the second half of the 20th century by a very slim margin in 1980. He was re-elected four years later in a massive landslide. Why? Because he made the GOP the "big tent" party.
Reagan didn't alienate half the country. He didn't treat the Democrats as though they were idiots. He met regularly with the Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill, who was the quintessential New England liberal. On more than one occasion I watched the Speaker walk down the White House driveway like an ordinary citizen. He didn't act like he should be chauffeured in a chariot down Constitution Avenue towards the Capitol. And neither did the President. They were men of the people.
I think that's a lesson that John McCain has already learned. He's a decent man who represents and lives the ideals of this country. I think that's what Middle America recognizes. And isn't capturing the middle ground the key to every Presidential election?
Is it possible that the Rush Limbaughs of the world think that they represent the Republican party? When I hear any of them talk about Ronald Reagan it makes me laugh. Reagan beat the most unpopular incumbent President in the second half of the 20th century by a very slim margin in 1980. He was re-elected four years later in a massive landslide. Why? Because he made the GOP the "big tent" party.
Reagan didn't alienate half the country. He didn't treat the Democrats as though they were idiots. He met regularly with the Speaker of the House, Tip O'Neill, who was the quintessential New England liberal. On more than one occasion I watched the Speaker walk down the White House driveway like an ordinary citizen. He didn't act like he should be chauffeured in a chariot down Constitution Avenue towards the Capitol. And neither did the President. They were men of the people.
I think that's a lesson that John McCain has already learned. He's a decent man who represents and lives the ideals of this country. I think that's what Middle America recognizes. And isn't capturing the middle ground the key to every Presidential election?
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Your Vote Counts
You always hear that every vote counts. You want to believe it but the little voice in the back of your head tells you that in the grand scheme of things your vote doesn't really matter. Your vote does matter and I can prove it. I witnessed the power of one vote and the influence that one person can have.
I used to live in a growing suburb of Columbus, Ohio called Pickerington. One year while standing in line to vote I overheard a group of girls behind me who had come out to vote for what I believed was the first time. They weren't there because of presidential politics or some issue gripping the nation. They were there to vote for the local school levy, to support the system that they had recently graduated from.
Behind them in line was a former classmate, a guy. They traded teenage banter back and forth about high school. The half dozen girls were all there to vote for the levy, the guy was voting against it. One of the girls was outraged that this guy was not going to support their school, her school, so she decided to do something about it. She got out her cell phone and in the 30 to 45 minutes that we all stood in line she called everyone she knew. She implored them to get out and vote for the levy. The guy laughed and said something to the effect that she wasn't going to make any difference.
The next day when I looked for the levy results in the local paper I saw that it had indeed passed. The final margin, in a district where the total number of votes cast was five or six thousand, was 14. My guess is 14 teenage girls. This 18 or 19 year old girl had not only made her vote count but she changed the election results because she got involved.
It's Primary day - go out and vote. You can make a difference.
I used to live in a growing suburb of Columbus, Ohio called Pickerington. One year while standing in line to vote I overheard a group of girls behind me who had come out to vote for what I believed was the first time. They weren't there because of presidential politics or some issue gripping the nation. They were there to vote for the local school levy, to support the system that they had recently graduated from.
Behind them in line was a former classmate, a guy. They traded teenage banter back and forth about high school. The half dozen girls were all there to vote for the levy, the guy was voting against it. One of the girls was outraged that this guy was not going to support their school, her school, so she decided to do something about it. She got out her cell phone and in the 30 to 45 minutes that we all stood in line she called everyone she knew. She implored them to get out and vote for the levy. The guy laughed and said something to the effect that she wasn't going to make any difference.
The next day when I looked for the levy results in the local paper I saw that it had indeed passed. The final margin, in a district where the total number of votes cast was five or six thousand, was 14. My guess is 14 teenage girls. This 18 or 19 year old girl had not only made her vote count but she changed the election results because she got involved.
It's Primary day - go out and vote. You can make a difference.
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