Letters to the Editor
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Hillary Mis-spoke About One Event In Bosnia
Obama forgot about 20 years on Wright.
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Let's Be Clear
Obama's initial statements on Wright were the most incredulous, ridiculous words ever uttered by an American politcian. It mortally wounded his candidacy, now we just have to decide if we are going to go ahead and let him lose the general.
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My spin on the Salon-Clinton alliance...
Finally! Salon is finally breaking its long-standing editorial tradition of slanting its coverage 80%-20% toward Clinton.
By running this article, Salon is obviously trying to expose the weaknesses in the general that Clinton has already shown. By doing so, they can disabuse them of the notion that "if we could just get past Obama, no matter how bloodied we'd be...we'd coast in the general." But now, they'll see it won't be that easy and graciously bow out of the race.
So on behalf of those who support Obama, I'd like to thank Salon for finally bringing this about.
What's that? They did one for Obama just like this last week? And by publishing this one now, they're giving her campaign a level of legitimacy that is completely undeserved?
Never mind.
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BRING HER DOWN
"This is, after all, a candidate whose billing records as a private lawyer in Arkansas in the 1980s, the infamous lost-and-then-found Rose records, were subpoenaed, examined and even dusted for fingerprints by Republican investigators in Congress over a decade ago. When Clinton ran for reelection to her Senate seat two years ago, even the sleaziest GOP operatives basically left her alone, allowing her to cruise to victory without coming under heavy fire. But there isn't much out there voters haven't already heard about Clinton, or her husband; why bother trying to fight the battles over the White House travel office again?"
THERE IS EVERY REASON TO BRING THESE ISSUES UP AGAIN BECAUSE THEY SHOW WHAT A DISHONEST PERSON SHE IS. SHE HAS NO MORAL COMPASS AND IS A SCOURGE TO AMERICAN POLITICS........
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@WES She "Is simply teaching the democratic party how to fight."
Yeah, like the sign said, "mission accomplished."
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Re: Ana Had Wolves
I've decided it's about time someone hit on Obama's negatives head on. Let's see just how significant these will be in the general.
1)OBAMA IS UN-PATRIOTIC: He refuses to wear an American flag lapel pin. He won't put his hand over his heart when the national anthem/pledge of allegience is delivered. He didn't serve in the military, but, thinks he knows whats best for the military. He wants to overturn "don't ask/don't tell." He wants to pull our brave men and women out of Iraq precipitously without regard for what will happen next. He's soft on terrorism. He wants to talk with our enemies with no preconditions. He would cede GitMo to the Cubans. He would open the floodgates to Cuban emigrees and would end the boycott of traveling to and from there. He would open the borders completely to any and all from Mexico with no regard for our safety. He supports his pastor, the Rev Wright, who proclaimed "God Damn America", and refused to renounce him completely. His middle name is Hussein >>wink, wink<< and we all know where his loyalties are. He attended a madrassa in Indonesia...where terrorists who hate America are trained. His sympathies lie in Africa...because he is an African first and an American second.
Lots of stuff here. Well for starters, that flag pin thing? They tried it. It failed. The most that'll do is be fodder for the committed. That military one is going to be hard to pull for a party that elected Bush twice to say nothing of the fact that at this point the majority of citizens want us out of Iraq in a reasonable fashion, something that McCain is not going to provide. The Muslim thing also didn't work so well for the Republicans (or, for that matter, for Clinton), and if there's one thing that the Wright controversy did, it pretty much put that to bed. Speaking of which, the Wright controversy is going to be pretty hard to keep burning for the next eight months. Obama addressed it in his speech last week. The people liked it. If he sticks to that message, he'll be fine.
(He can also turn the spotlight on some of the fine folks McCain has been trying to court, Mr. Haghee included.)
The Cuba thing? We'll see, but I can't see that being a huge issue in this campaign. (This also may be a non-issue if McCain sticks to his principles, and continues to reject a policy of torture. If he doesn't, I hope Obama trots out more lines such as "The Straight Talk Express has run off the rails.")
2)OBAMA PLAYS THE RACE CARD: He appeals to black "folks" as one of them and disparages whites by saying "typical white people". He attends a church whose pastor, by his videotaped sermon-rants, is violently and vehemently anti-white and racist. He demeaned his own grandmother...who is white...for her white "ignorance". He gives secret winks and nods to black radicals who hate America's whites.
Fortunately, Obama has tackled this issue in a very reasonable manner. You see, the plus side of Clinton's cornered cat routine is Obama is facing attacks and handling them very honorably. There's not a whole lot McCain can do that Clinton and her supporters haven't done so far. He'll come off as a bad sequel trying to bring this stuff up again. Can you imagine McCain trying to talk up Farrakhan in a debate? I'd love to see a Reaganesque "There you go again..." or something to that effect.
But again, Obama made his speech. He knows how to handle this issue. He did so to great praise. Fox News is the one outlet that will hit these issues again, and Fox News has lost their edge over CNN and MSNBC, who like Obama and won't be as inclined to give these issues heavy duty airplay.
3) OBAMA HAS TIES TO LAWBREAKERS: His ties to Tony Rezko are well-known. he received sweetheart loans and land deals from Mr. Rezko; what did Obama give Mr. Rezko in return? Mr. Rezko gave thousands to Obama's campaign; how much of that money was dirty? What else is there that we don't yet know about Mr. Obama's sleazy friends?
Eh... this is basically a wash going if we're comparing him against a Clinton. Fortunately Obama also tackled this issue very well in an extensive piece in the Chicago Tribune. There's smoke, but where's the fire? Besides McCain's record ain't exactly clean here, what with the Savings and Loan Scandal and this dalliance with a female lobbyist.
Don't know that anyone will agree with me, but I actually think Obama has further proven his electability over the past few weeks. He dealt with a major blow to his campaign with dignity and integrity, and managed to twist it into 35 minutes of free air time in which he tackled race in a powerful and unique way while staying on message and pushing a little Democratic populism as well.
Clinton claimed to misspeak on the Bosnia issue, and wobbled on the Ferrarro controversy. She appeared weak, dishonest, and calculating. That says a lot.
4)OBAMA IS A DRUGGIE: He freely admitted to smoking an illegal drug...marijuana...and snorting an illegal drug... cocaine! What more will we learn about him should he win the Presidency? Will we find that he shoots heroin, drops acid or eats magic 'shrooms? WE CAN'T TAKE THAT CHANCE!
In a perfect world, Obama would use this as an opportunity to advocate for the legalization of these drugs. But alas, I'm in the minority on that issue.
Two more points, though. This didn't work against Bill Clinton, and I doubt that it'll work against Obama. But in the event that it does become an issue (maybe tied with some race-baiting ads or something) Obama can frame it as a youthful mistake. I doubt anyone can claim to have not made mistakes.
(Worse come worse, use it to attack the Republicans. McCain has happily endorsed and is willing to follow the policies of the only president with a DUI.
5) JOHN MCCAIN IS A WAR HERO; OBAMA NEVER WORE THE UNIFORM! 'Nuff said about that one; get ready to see a sea of flags with every campaign ad or appearance by McCain.
Damn. Better close up shop, people. The Republicans have this election sewed up. They have... a WAR veteran! All we have... a black guy and a woman.
But wait... anyone notice a trend the last 16 years? Bush I- stunning war record. Lost to Clinton who didn't serve. Dole- stunning war record and Senate record. Lost to Clinton. Gore- average war record, but running against AWOL Bush Jr. Umm... kinda lost. Kerry- stunning war record. Lost to Bush Jr.
War service ain't a silver bullet, people. It doesn't cancel out continued unrelenting support of a highly unpopular war, or the hope that it continues into the next century. It doesn't cancel out "Bomb, Bomb Iran." It definitely doesn't cancel out a clear lack of knowledge about the economy during a recession.
I think Obama is going to be just fine.
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Jack
It's not ending it's just the beginning....Even if Obama wins the nomination and miraculously wins the general and then his hope and change thingy falls flat on it's face, Hillary will come after him, the sitting president, again in the 2012 primary.
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@ WES
Your point is well-taken, and it gets to the heart of a serious philosophical difference between Clinton and Obama.
Obama has put it eloquently. Clinton believes that change comes from playing the game better. That is, conceding that Rove's game and Atwater's game is the right one and then playing it better.
Clinton has been victimized by what she rightly termed a VRWC. Her lesson? Out Rove Rove.
Obama's argument is that, while this may help win elections, it does nothing to help bring change once the election is won because the cost is deep and profound alienation.
There's simply no serious consensus for doing bold, visionary things because the only mandate is: "Well, he'll save us from Willie Horton!"
Obama has spoken about the lesson learned of trying to implement change without a clear popular mandate and he has determined that the way to secure that mandate is not through the win-at-all-costs, kitchen sink, Tonya Harding style of politics, but rather through talking up to people, not down. Keeping the focus on the serious, not pandering to the bullshit.
Now, we can argue about the wisdom of either approach, but my opinion is that Obama's way is the only way to accomplish what we say we want.
Sure, it might still fail, but as I see it, it's the only approach that even stands a chance.
Do you see that side of the argument?
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The Dark Horse Option
Wouldn't it be interesting to see this thing go to the convention, both frontrunners more or less tied, and neither with the delegate votes to win on the first ballot. On the second ballot, the delegates decide Obama or Clinton are too heavily damaged to win, cut a deal, and a completely different candidate emerges as the nominee. Maybe a former governor, or a certain former Vice President.
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in short
If the election really turns on all this nonsense about patriotism and fear and resentment, etc., we all lose!
Isn't that clear?
That way madness lies, as has been manifestly demonstrated over the years.
The Democrats' problem hasn't been that they're not Rovian enough, but that they haven't stood up and argued passionately for a liberal agenda.
The Clintons sold out that agenda, conceding that "liberal" is a dirty word, and behold the result.
A party that has no compelling center around which to rally.
Win-at-all costs got us the Clinton 1990s, which, in my view, should be seen as part of the problem, not held up as some kind of gold standard to go back to.
But I freely admit, I'm an unabashed leftist.
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@ WES
Sorry, I'm trying to articulate this well because I think it's critically important to be clear on this, it's a big issue.
It's not that Clinton is teaching Democrats to fight. The real question is how to fight.
The real question is whether Hillary's brand of fighting is as productive (long-term, especially) as it appears on the surface.
Is Clinton wise?
Does her campaign display wisdom?
Does the fight need to be dirty in order to succeed?
And if so, is the victory of any real value?
These are really serious questions with no clear answers.
But Obama is offering an alternative, one that, if successful, suggests to me the sky will be the limit with his presidency because his style of politics is designed to minimize resentments and keep the focus on our common humanity and the real problems we face.
He understands that in order to accomplish things you have to win people over, not bulldoze them out of the way.