I noticed the inevitable snide tone present even when liberals quote Hillary about the "vast right-wing conspiracy." But there clearly was and is a right-wing conspiracy ready to attack any Democrat, including whoever wins the nomination. Read the 3 part account in Raw Story about the conspiracy against Don Siegleman, D-ALA, waged by the Republican establishment, including Karl Rove. Read also the book by Gene Lyons and Joe Conason, The Hunting of the President.

Both detail clearly and convincingly the effort by parts of the right-wing conspiracy to get Democrats. Look at their efforts in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004. There is no reasonable doubt that in the effort to get "a permanent Republican majority" a shifting group of right-wing conspirators have and are trying to get both major Democratic and minor Democratic figures (read about the woman in Wisconsin released after the appellate court read the riot act to the US Attorney--one of those not fired, a recently acquitted state senator in Iowa, and the rest of the US attorney scandal figures). Too many liberals seem unwilling or unable to appreciate just how vicious these right-wing conservatives are. They also seem unwilling to hold MSM figures accountable for their aid, figures like Chris Matthews, Tim Russert, Maureen Dowd, often Frank Rich (read his 2000 comments about Al Gore), and many at both the Washington Post and NY Times. Only our own Glenn Greenwald in his effort to hold Joe Klein accountable and Bob Somerby at The Daily Howler have made a serious efforts. The Daily Howler has been doing yeoman work for going on 10 years and was often the lonely voice in the wilderness. Bush/Cheney/Rove et.al. will, with the help of the witting or witless help MSM, take us on a downward path to fascism. Novelist Sinclair Lewis, and, oddly, candidate Ron Paul, were right. Paul, quoting Lewis, said fascism will come cloaked in a flag and carrying a cross. It Can Happen Here, and Bush/Rove have been trying very hard, while media elite accuses those raising the alarm of paranoia or rationalization, and the political elite just can't believe it--as they rush to pass Bush's FISA bill and the FCC allows ever greater media concentration.

Linda

It clear too many Americans have rusty language skills. Clinton (and Bidden, Dodd, Edwards, et.al.)did not vote for war with Iraq. They voted to give Bush the power to go to the UN to get the Inspectors back in. The Inspectors went back to Iraq, looked for WMDs, found none, were kicked out by BUSH, not Saddam, who then proceeded to go to war. Meanwhile both Bill and Hillary Clinton were demanding that Bush NOT go to war and that the Inspectors be allowed to finish their work. See David Fiderer's Huffington post on 3 Dec. 11:39 pm ET for a brief list of the times and places the Clintons called on Bush not to invade but rather to let the Inspectors do their job. Below are 2 example:

"Deadline for war - Give the inspectors more time, urges Clinton" The Daily Telegraph March 13, 2003 "Bill Clinton yesterday urged the Bush administration to give Hans Blix as much time as he wants to complete weapons inspections in Iraq. The former president broke ranks with his successor...Mr Clinton said war might yet be avoided if Saddam Hussein were given more time to disarm. "

"Hillary Clinton tells Irish TV she is against war with Iraq," Irish Times, February 8, 2003

"Hillary Clinton prefers 'peaceful solution' in Iraq," Associated Press March 3, 2003

"[Clinton said the US] should continue its attempts to build an international alliance rather than going to war quickly with Iraq...[I]nspection is preferable to war, if it works, the New York Democrat said."

Linda

He is vague because he is a Republican and is trying to hide it. Paul Krugman is right when he says Edwards is the most liberal, then Hillary, and Obama the most conservative. Yesterday in Iowa (see Raw Story), Obama criticized Gore and Kerry for being divisive--not Bush, not the Republicans, but Gore and Kerry were divisive. A breakdown of poll of Iowa voters (see NBC news analysis by the evil Tim Russert) shows Obama winning in Iowa because of Republican voters. If only Democrats caucus Hillary wins big. If Independents are added to the mix, she still wins but by a slightly smaller margin. When Republicans join the Democratic caucus Obama wins--and not because he is a good guy. They like him either because he is the most conservative or the easiest to beat or both. I'll still vote for him if he wins the nomination because he is better than the other Republicans, but he won't win the election, and if by a miracle he does, he will be a one-term president I fear.

Linda