Listen to the reception Secretary of State Clinton receives as she arrives at Foggy Bottom for her first day of work!
H/T to AmericaBlog....
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Monday, October 13, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
So they met tonight...
According to both sides, and I believe this is great news, as it will lead to unity in the fall and victory over John "Keating Five" McCain.
As the loyal readers of this blog know, after Edwards dropped out, I waited a little bit, and then went with Obama because he was a break from the past. While I have been involved here since 1978, most Democrats around here believed in the Clinton model, which is the only way we had won Presidential elections since Jimmy Carter. That, and the relationships formed when Bill Clinton was first Governor and then President, is what led most local elected Democrats to get on the Hillary train; well, that, and they thought she was a lock to win.
I confess that, twelve months ago, while I was not getting on that train myself, I too thought she was a shoo-in, because I thought she had a lock on women (she did) and African-Americans (which she did until Iowa). Iowa, however, changed everything, most notably in that African-Americans looked at the astonishing victory of Barack Obama and said, Holy Smokes, HE CAN WIN. Despite Senator Clinton's best moment in the campaign, IMO, when she broke down the day before the New Hampshire Primary that she would win, she never really regained her stature after that point. With Senator Obama handling everything that came his way, he held steady over the long haul, and won the nomination.
Did Senator Clinton suffer from misogynistic attacks? Yes, but by the media, not the Obama camp; Chris Matthews still needs his ass kicked for what he said about her. To be blunt, the racist attacks against Senator Obama, which were done on the sly by a Clinton campaign that damn well knew better, were more damaging to him for the fall election. Fortunately, there's time to overcome that.
While the Clintons are doing the right thing and I applaud and salute them for it, I am reminded of what my Godfather has told me. The version I remember is that in victory, there is credit to go around; however, when a campaign loses, it is ultimately the candidate who is responsible for the defeat. Jonathan Alter of Newsweek talks about some of the reasons for Obama's victory and Clinton's loss here; thanks to Wintermute for the tip!
Obama out-organized her and planned this almost like a NASCAR team for the long season. You know there are some tracks (states) more suited to your driving (campaigning) style, and some that aren't. You know that your opponent is going to skip the races you will win, so you are able to amass points (delegates) there, but you also know that if you show up and contest at the tracks (states) you are likely to lose, you can still gain points (delegates) so that by the end of the season, though you may not have won as many races, you're still the driving champion on points. Not only that, he had more sponsors (donors) than his opponent, so he was able to hit them up every time he needed to replace an engine!
It appears to me that the Clinton camp was committed to the Clinton model, which was run more like a prizefighter who was going for a quick knockout. She too had backers, but not nearly as many, so that when she needed more money, she had nowhere to go.
That's why Obama is in the Chase for the Cup and Clinton is in the corner wondering how she lost a 15-round unanimous decision. Make no mistake about it, this was historic, just unsuccessful in its ultimate goal.
The saddest thing of all is that if she had come out before this started and said that the president of the United States lied to her and Congress about the war, and had been forceful enough about it, she could have pre-empted all the DFHs like myself from going to Obama. Her decisions, from the people with whom she surrounded herself, backfired on her, and her own judgment did her in.
Those of us who have seen what the Clinton loss has done to feminists of longstanding like the folks at TGW need to step back and let them grieve, as for them this is like a death. Imagine if you had worked against sexism (and you're damn right it exists, don't pretend otherwise) for thirty or forty years and KNEW a year ago that you would finally see a female elected President in your lifetime, one who believed in YOUR issues, only to see it snatched away from them. You'd be mighty damned upset, too.
Let them yell, let them howl, let them grieve, and LEAVE THEM ALONE FOR NOW. When the time comes, and it will, some time in late October, they will come to realize that the PLANET might not survive a John McCain presidency, and they will vote for Obama. They will be PISSED about it, but they will do it because they are soldiers, and they have too much heart to work against everything they have fought for all those years to put in place.
For the rest of us, the work will continue, as we have a nominee to elect to the Presidency. He is a man who believes in the 50-State Strategy, as evidenced by his retention of Howard Dean as DNC Chair for the fall campaign. He is a man who believes that we CAN change this country for the better, because the alternative is not acceptable.
He is Barack Obama, and YES WE WILL.
As the loyal readers of this blog know, after Edwards dropped out, I waited a little bit, and then went with Obama because he was a break from the past. While I have been involved here since 1978, most Democrats around here believed in the Clinton model, which is the only way we had won Presidential elections since Jimmy Carter. That, and the relationships formed when Bill Clinton was first Governor and then President, is what led most local elected Democrats to get on the Hillary train; well, that, and they thought she was a lock to win.
I confess that, twelve months ago, while I was not getting on that train myself, I too thought she was a shoo-in, because I thought she had a lock on women (she did) and African-Americans (which she did until Iowa). Iowa, however, changed everything, most notably in that African-Americans looked at the astonishing victory of Barack Obama and said, Holy Smokes, HE CAN WIN. Despite Senator Clinton's best moment in the campaign, IMO, when she broke down the day before the New Hampshire Primary that she would win, she never really regained her stature after that point. With Senator Obama handling everything that came his way, he held steady over the long haul, and won the nomination.
Did Senator Clinton suffer from misogynistic attacks? Yes, but by the media, not the Obama camp; Chris Matthews still needs his ass kicked for what he said about her. To be blunt, the racist attacks against Senator Obama, which were done on the sly by a Clinton campaign that damn well knew better, were more damaging to him for the fall election. Fortunately, there's time to overcome that.
While the Clintons are doing the right thing and I applaud and salute them for it, I am reminded of what my Godfather has told me. The version I remember is that in victory, there is credit to go around; however, when a campaign loses, it is ultimately the candidate who is responsible for the defeat. Jonathan Alter of Newsweek talks about some of the reasons for Obama's victory and Clinton's loss here; thanks to Wintermute for the tip!
Obama out-organized her and planned this almost like a NASCAR team for the long season. You know there are some tracks (states) more suited to your driving (campaigning) style, and some that aren't. You know that your opponent is going to skip the races you will win, so you are able to amass points (delegates) there, but you also know that if you show up and contest at the tracks (states) you are likely to lose, you can still gain points (delegates) so that by the end of the season, though you may not have won as many races, you're still the driving champion on points. Not only that, he had more sponsors (donors) than his opponent, so he was able to hit them up every time he needed to replace an engine!
It appears to me that the Clinton camp was committed to the Clinton model, which was run more like a prizefighter who was going for a quick knockout. She too had backers, but not nearly as many, so that when she needed more money, she had nowhere to go.
That's why Obama is in the Chase for the Cup and Clinton is in the corner wondering how she lost a 15-round unanimous decision. Make no mistake about it, this was historic, just unsuccessful in its ultimate goal.
The saddest thing of all is that if she had come out before this started and said that the president of the United States lied to her and Congress about the war, and had been forceful enough about it, she could have pre-empted all the DFHs like myself from going to Obama. Her decisions, from the people with whom she surrounded herself, backfired on her, and her own judgment did her in.
Those of us who have seen what the Clinton loss has done to feminists of longstanding like the folks at TGW need to step back and let them grieve, as for them this is like a death. Imagine if you had worked against sexism (and you're damn right it exists, don't pretend otherwise) for thirty or forty years and KNEW a year ago that you would finally see a female elected President in your lifetime, one who believed in YOUR issues, only to see it snatched away from them. You'd be mighty damned upset, too.
Let them yell, let them howl, let them grieve, and LEAVE THEM ALONE FOR NOW. When the time comes, and it will, some time in late October, they will come to realize that the PLANET might not survive a John McCain presidency, and they will vote for Obama. They will be PISSED about it, but they will do it because they are soldiers, and they have too much heart to work against everything they have fought for all those years to put in place.
For the rest of us, the work will continue, as we have a nominee to elect to the Presidency. He is a man who believes in the 50-State Strategy, as evidenced by his retention of Howard Dean as DNC Chair for the fall campaign. He is a man who believes that we CAN change this country for the better, because the alternative is not acceptable.
He is Barack Obama, and YES WE WILL.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
After swallowing my foot, I learn something...
I had called out Sean Braisted for running a Drudge item suggesting that Hillary Clinton had resorted to self-funding her campaign.
Ahem. He then produced a link to Marc Ambinder's blog at The Atlantic which CONFIRMED that HRC in fact, loaned her campaign $5 million late last month. he also noted this fundraising letter to her supporters:
Ahem. He then produced a link to Marc Ambinder's blog at The Atlantic which CONFIRMED that HRC in fact, loaned her campaign $5 million late last month. he also noted this fundraising letter to her supporters:
From an e-mail to supporters entitled "Huge":
We had a huge night last night -- we won the biggest states and the most votes, and we are ahead in the overall race for delegates. But this race is far from over.
Voters came out in record numbers, not just to make history but to remake America. Thanks to your support and your votes, the momentum is solidly on our side.We don't have time to catch our breath -- the next races are just three days away, and there are 10 more contests in February alone.
Let's meet this moment with bold action worthy of those who have put their faith in us. We are setting a big goal for the next three days: raise $3 million to fund our history-making campaign.
Contribute today to help us reach $3 million in three days.
After seven years of a president who listens only to the special interests,
America is ready for a president who brings your voice, your values, and your dreams to the White House.
We had a great day yesterday. Now we must keep that momentum going. You have sustained me throughout this journey, and I am calling on you again to give our campaign the resources we need to win critical
upcoming races.
I've never asked so much of you as I am now: $3 million in three days. But the need has never been so great.
Its the Narrative, stupid
I was flipping between local coverage of the weather last night and national election coverage. The Republican narrative was typical, except they keep praising Huckabee for taking five states yesterday, ignoring the fact that he won Bible Belt states where the voters look like him. Huckabee has a couple more wins left in him in the South, Mississippi, Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisiana, and probably a caucus or two, but thats it. Romney is dead in the water unless a miracle happens. YEAH, we get to face...McCain.
More important was the coverage of Hillary. I am now pulling for Hillary mostly to be a contrarian, although I think she would be a stronger leader. Its funny that she is being criticized for being steadfast and refusing to change when the same commentators have being praising Bush for the last eight years for doing the same.
But now to the point, Russert, who apparently can't stay up late to cover anything, pointed out this morning that 2/3 of Hillary's donors are maxed out. More importantly, the next seven races heading into March 4 are going to go for Obama probably 7-0, maybe 6-1. They are caucuses and primaries in states with high African-American populations that decidedly favor Obama. Hillary is going to have to win Ohio and Texas on the fourth of March. No matter what the coverage for the next few weeks is going to be pro-Obama. Get ready, we are going for a brokered convention.
More important was the coverage of Hillary. I am now pulling for Hillary mostly to be a contrarian, although I think she would be a stronger leader. Its funny that she is being criticized for being steadfast and refusing to change when the same commentators have being praising Bush for the last eight years for doing the same.
But now to the point, Russert, who apparently can't stay up late to cover anything, pointed out this morning that 2/3 of Hillary's donors are maxed out. More importantly, the next seven races heading into March 4 are going to go for Obama probably 7-0, maybe 6-1. They are caucuses and primaries in states with high African-American populations that decidedly favor Obama. Hillary is going to have to win Ohio and Texas on the fourth of March. No matter what the coverage for the next few weeks is going to be pro-Obama. Get ready, we are going for a brokered convention.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
The Obamanites are coming!
As reported by Ms. Gold and Mr. Braisted, the junior Senator from Illinois is opening a Memphis Headquarters this Friday in Eastgate Shopping Center. Good for them; with all that money, they know where to show up for Democratic votes. Too bad for them, Edwards is already working behind the scenes, BWAHAHAHAHA!
UPDATE: The opening is TONIGHT at 7 PM, per the Daily News!
You know, I would have thought this town to be an HRC hotbed, but I would be wrong. Of all the people listed on the Clinton steering committee for Tennessee, only THREE are from the largest Democratic city not only in the state, but the WHOLE SOUTH: County Commissioner and former SCDP chair Sidney Chism, my buddy (and herself a former SCDP chair) Gale Jones Carson, and my own state Senator, Beverly Marrero.
This town was a Clinton hotbed in the 90s, WTH? Is it due to the natural hatred of the Bluff City by those who live east of the Tennessee River? Is it because of that goofy picture of HRC the Flyer put up with that article? Who knows? I DO find it odd, though.
UPDATE: The opening is TONIGHT at 7 PM, per the Daily News!
You know, I would have thought this town to be an HRC hotbed, but I would be wrong. Of all the people listed on the Clinton steering committee for Tennessee, only THREE are from the largest Democratic city not only in the state, but the WHOLE SOUTH: County Commissioner and former SCDP chair Sidney Chism, my buddy (and herself a former SCDP chair) Gale Jones Carson, and my own state Senator, Beverly Marrero.
This town was a Clinton hotbed in the 90s, WTH? Is it due to the natural hatred of the Bluff City by those who live east of the Tennessee River? Is it because of that goofy picture of HRC the Flyer put up with that article? Who knows? I DO find it odd, though.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
OK, now what?
It's not over yet, boys and girls; Hillary Clinton won a close victory in a small state over Barack Obama on Tuesday night. It probably had nothing to do with Obama, or Edwards, but with the media's vicious assaults on the Senator from New York after she had a truly human moment on Monday where her voice cracked while talking about her personal this race was for her. It was great human theater, while being pure and sincere at the same time.
She's still my third choice in the primary, after John Edwards and Obama, but she brought the race back to even after two weeks, which is a good thing. The longer this stretches out, the better I like it. We need to see more from everyone, and I am hoping for a win from Edwards (and he NEEDS one).
I'm not a fan of HRC by a long shot, but the vitriol that media people like Chris Matthews show toward her is out and out misogyny, people; Matthews is a punk and not to be trusted.
There are men who absolutely fear her because she is a strong woman; I think she makes their balls shrink up because she does not take bullshit from anyone. Well, except for one Big Dog, maybe.
Frankly, they are looking for ANY excuse not to vote for her if she is the Democratic nominee. She is not who I want as our nominee, because I don't like a lot of the people around her except for those directly related to her. I think she puts us in the most vulnerable position in November, no doubt about it.
However, if she is our nominee, I will support her. I won't be thrilled, I think she's too corporate, but I will support her. America will not survive four more years of a Republican presidency, period.
However, at this time, I have a choice, and his name is John Edwards.
She's still my third choice in the primary, after John Edwards and Obama, but she brought the race back to even after two weeks, which is a good thing. The longer this stretches out, the better I like it. We need to see more from everyone, and I am hoping for a win from Edwards (and he NEEDS one).
I'm not a fan of HRC by a long shot, but the vitriol that media people like Chris Matthews show toward her is out and out misogyny, people; Matthews is a punk and not to be trusted.
There are men who absolutely fear her because she is a strong woman; I think she makes their balls shrink up because she does not take bullshit from anyone. Well, except for one Big Dog, maybe.
Frankly, they are looking for ANY excuse not to vote for her if she is the Democratic nominee. She is not who I want as our nominee, because I don't like a lot of the people around her except for those directly related to her. I think she puts us in the most vulnerable position in November, no doubt about it.
However, if she is our nominee, I will support her. I won't be thrilled, I think she's too corporate, but I will support her. America will not survive four more years of a Republican presidency, period.
However, at this time, I have a choice, and his name is John Edwards.
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