I found this article that is an interesting take on the elections here from Pakistan, called the Washington Diary...

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C02%5C13%5Cstory_13-2-2008_pg3_3

The symbolic impact of this election is going to be incredible, whether the candidate is Clinton or Obama. I can't imagine who McCain will choose as a running mate, but I don't think it will be Powell given Powell's shame around the world for lying about WMD's in Iraq...but also I've heard an interview with Powell where he seems to like Obama. I don't think he will run with McCain. So who wouldn't scare voters from the Republican lineup? Huckabee?

I'm normally a worrier--big time, but I think we might do okay this year. This is an amazing, historical contest, and the fact that anyone who gets it from this point will need to work hard enough to earn it--makes it sweeter.

Have a good day, all.

p.s. Joan, I did catch your extra posts about "fluffer" and I thought it was hilarious. Thank-you for your never a dull moment coverage of this campaign.

A cheery reporter commented the Clinton Campaign is looking forward to the competitions in Texas and Ohio, where if she can win, she's sure to tie up the nomination. Back to you Bob.

* * *

Every one of the news stations has their favorite and they aren't even trying to hide it anymore.

I don't argue that she's playing the victim in this situation, since frankly I like to see a parent who defends their child--regardless of the "child's" age. Another poster saying that they were disgusted when McCain once embraced Bush after Bush had maligned his child during the 2000 campaign has my sympathy. The ability to defend your offspring may not be so different from the instinct it takes to defend your nation.

That said, I think Clinton should be careful about over-reacting to perceived attacks and making them overly personal. MSNBC has been sexist, but this is against all women, not only Hillary or Chelsea.

Today I read this from her campaign's website Hillary's Hub:

www.attacktimeline.com

She documents every single instance of Obama criticising her since the campaign began. There's no explanation of when she had criticised him first. Just situation after situation--the title says it all : attack timeline.

It's this kind of black-and-white thinking (pardon the pun) that makes me think worry about her. We live in a nuanced world. If you take every criticism as an "attack" and respond defensively, you will waste precious time and energy fighting perceived enemies, rather than accomplishing what you wish to accomplish.

If I had been Clinton's campaign manager (ha ha, right?) I would have pushed her to be all about health care. Instead she seems to have spent too much energy trying to push Obama into the Rick Lazio roll. Or to dangle the skeletons in Obama's closet in front of him until the public gets frightened and runs into her camp. Neither strategy draws attention to her strengths.

MSNBC shouldn't be sexist--but that's true for all women they belittle, not only Clinton and her daughter. I hope that she is holding them into account not merely for herself and her campaign, but for the sake of all the American people, including the women she hopes to one day govern.

thank-you for the link:

http://mediamatters.org/action_center/capus/

auntie cairo, you make many valid points that I agree with. However, I have disliked the tone that MSNBC has taken toward women--not only Clinton but women in general, and maybe its a good time to make our criticism heard.

I don't think this has to be exclusively about Hillary. Just about a fair playing field for a serious candidate. They use this quote as an example of the treatment we're talking about:

"MSNBC host Tucker Carlson said of Sen. Clinton: "[T]here's just something about her that feels castrating, overbearing, and scary." Further, Carlson has said of Clinton: "I have often said, when she comes on television, I involuntarily cross my legs."

While there is definitely a place for editorializing and joking around, the frat boy atmosphere selling itself as serious journalism is offensive to me.

Anyway, I signed on to it, and I feel good about it. I'm still not supporting Clinton unless she wins the primaries fairly and squarely--and this doesn't sway me toward her or against her as a candidate.

I hope that the rest of you will consider signing it too. It takes about two seconds and never mentions any names, just states that we are against mysogynistic atmosphere.

For whatever it's worth.

pulitzer prize winning journalist and specialist in genocide who Obama hired in 2005 and currently serves as a foreign policy advisor. In 2006, she helped him to shape legislation to the Congress for Humanitarian aid for the Darfur region and he was able to convince congress and Bush to sign off on it...

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-2125

Thanks, cecilbeanie for the story about Samantha Power. I've been impressed with her place in his group of advisors for a while. I like to think that the US can resume a place of offering humanitarian aid to countries instead of the hawkish thinking that you have to wage war to prevent war. blech.

I didn't hear Edwards throwing a fit over it.