Letters to the Editor
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Not impressed
I volunteered for Obama here in New Hampshire, because I was unemployed and had free time. After witnessing a series of ridiculous fuck ups by paid campaign staffers that were shipped in from other states, I wondered why Obama hadn't bothered to hire locally. In fact, on October 3rd, I asked him personally, "Why didn't you hire any NH residents to work on your campaign?" I was shaking his hand at the time, and looking into his eyes. He looked away, grimaced, and muttered something about his advisors as he brushed past me. Fuck that, I voted for John Edwards. He hired at least one NH resident, as did Hillary.
Blown away by Obama's message? His presence? Forget about that, and wait until somebody asks him a question he hasn't prepped for. Ever notice the news doesn't show him answering questions from actual voters? It's not an accident. The obviously can't stand actual discourse. God forbid a lowly voting citizen ask his royal highness a serious question.
John Edwards for president.
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BILLARY SPEAKS! ACHTUNG, EVERYBODY!
I strongly urge everyone here to read the letter "Past versus Future" posted by xeroid 47, a Clinton supporter. It is the first letter posted among the "Editors Choices," letters, and, I think, nicely represents both the Clintons' approach to the campaign since it began in earnest in Iowa, and the mindset of Hillary supporters themselves.
For example:
"I dislike HRC's vote on Iraq, but she make herself clear in the debates that her position on Iraq will be the same as other democratic candidates. Why is HRC so hated by the Republicans and some of the progressive and most of the media? Everyone belittles her resume, counting her 8 years as first lady as a sinecure position, her healthcare fight in 93 as a grand failure. Yet I consider that 93 failure as her glorious moment."
See what I mean? Even ignoring the shitty grammar, the flailing, floundering-from-hither-to-yon-to-yonder logic of "yeah, we shit the bed on Iraq and won't take it back, then did it again on Iran, but won't take that back either, eff-you-very-much, but just trust us, her judgment is sound" lament of xeroid is the very reflection of not only Hillary's stupidiotic Iraq and Iran votes, but also the Billary campaign's simultaneous claim to supremacy in BOTH insider experience and readiness and ability to bring the change.
Likewise, the clueless, scream in the dark question "why do they hate her?" echoes not only Billary's "Leave Brttany alone!" victimhood of NH and beyond, but also the Clintons' surprisingly tin political ear manifest in the Nevada lawsuit, midnight escape from SC/Bill-delivered concession and the Florida flip-flop.
Finally, my personal favorite: the flat-out bass-ackward logic of "'93 failure = most glorious achievment'" reminds us all that if Billary didn't invent the Bush-Rovian black-is-white, up-is-down lie to my face, they've certainly learnt it well.
Please, please, please go away Billary.
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In 2002, Hillary in Senate, Obama Not in Senate
James Webb, elected to the Senate from Virginia in 2006 and a former Secretary of the Navy, came to the same conclusion as Barak Obama on not invading Iraq. They reached this conclusion in 2002 and said so. Senator Hillary Clinton failed to read the pertinent 2002 NIE and green-lights President Bush to invade sometime after October 2002. What is unclear?
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I'm not a child and I don't give Clinton ZERO credit
ljwalker,
I agree with you that she has accomplishments--but it seems like you're doing the thing you don't agree with. Name calling (I'm not a child), giving Obama zero credit for his accomplishments...
I disagree with those who say we need a "fresh face" or anything shallow like that. And you're right that I haven't worked in D.C. politics--but that doesn't mean that I don't understand the complexities of beyond black and white politics. I'm a social workers and I understand that Welfare Reform hurt a lot of people by not providing adequate supports for working mothers, particularly. And without raises in the minimum wage families are still living in poverty--some in worse poverty than before.
I don't say this is 100% Clinton's fault and I don't mean to imply that she is all to blame for what has happened under Bush or under her husband. But I have listened to obama speak to power and introduce counter-Washington D.C. intuitive bills like ethics reform, and I admire the "outsider"'s perspective too. You and I will go back and forth for another year--I don't think he's perfect. I disagree with his stance on the border wall (which Clinton also agrees with). And I agree that he is for better or worse more malleable at this stage of his career-even though I believe he has good experience and judgement, I would expect him to disappointment if he is elected--just as Clinton and her husband have disappointed me.
But I don't think you're helping the party or this election by calling people who don't agree with you "children." Many Obama supporters tend to be educated and from all different demographics in society--I'm in my mid thirties. Being called a child by someone who supports Clinton just feels disappointing on many levels.
I don't give Clinton far more than zero credit for her accomplishments as well as her mistakes or areas of blindness. I feel that you have mischaracterized and simplified and judged those who you disagree with (you aren't the only one on these boards--but it's disappointing because in many ways you seem like a thoughtful person) and that's sad.
I will support Clinton in a general election--so believe it or not, I'm not the enemy. I'm sorry that you continue to think that I am.
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confidential to "flagless pirate" (one of the 7" editors choices)
I'm sorry for whatever experience has made you so cynical, inside-out or upside-down that you cannot believe it when someone walks up to you, gives you a hug and tells you that they love you. I really, truly am.
I have a suggestion for you. Youtube "Michelle Obama" and watch one of her speeches. My personal favorite is her introduction of her husband at the Iowa state fair ("be not afraid"), but it doesn't really matter which one you watch, as long as you watch one. Be prepared for the possibility that Barack Obama is the SECOND best speaker in the Obama family. I suspect that, by the time she's finished talking, at least a little bit of your cynicism will have melted away.
We all have become so used to politicians talking blah, blah, froth and blah blah slag that when we actually see someone on the national stage speak the truth, and in English, it actually comes as something of a shock. As long as you do not mistake your jubilation for some kind of drug induced euphoria, you are well on the way to understanding the possibility of Obama, the same feeling that inspired Caroline Kennedy to take up pen and paper and proclaim, in the NY Times of all placesk, that Obama is, according to her own teenage kids, the only incarnation of political inspiration akin to their grandfather that they have ever seen.
Believe it. It really can happen in your time. And to you.