Letters to the Editor
-
Brunhilde
You might be more believable on the whole "not trying to bait you" line if you had the courtesy to at least tell it as she misspoke it. But if you have her quote on "shower of bullets", I'd be happy to see it. As far as even given sniper fire, I don't think it shows anything. I think, as I said, it's a combination of truth, unconscious exaggeration, and conscious exaggeration on the more general point that she's been "other places". I think there's no doubt that Hillary has more experience in meeting with foreign dignitaries in both formal and informal settings, in both ceremonial (mostly) and substantive (far less often), than Obama. The bar is prett low on that. I think she has a better starting point than he does. Do I think it matters much? On the big scale, no. I think it's slight advantage to Hillary on that one. Not a completely unimportant facet, but not a major one, not a major advantage, and certainly not one that I believe Obama incapable of catching quickly up on (unlike Bush--who had no foreign experience but also lacked the sense of curiosity, empathy, or intellectualism to do anything about it). And also not one that will work in a general against McCain (though it does diminish his argument slightly more than Obama would).
Do I fault her for making it a point in the primary? Of course not, it's a campaign and in competition you pull out all your advantages. Just like I don't think Obama not being in Washington "as long" is a big advantage or actually any advantage, but I don't fault him for touting this non-factor. You make your distinctions where you can. Personally, I tip toward Hillary but find the two of them roughly 95 percent alike. Which is why, I'd argue, the party is pretty much split between them and why, as I've long said, I'd love to see the two run together with Hillary as Pres, if only due to age (because as mentioned, there's very little difference in my mind). I agree with you on ignoring the nonsense; unfortunately when two candidates have very little daylight, the nonsense tends to be what lights up the arguments. I have no problem with legitimate criticism of Hillary--I make it myself. I just can't stand the stupid. And ranting and raving about her "lying" on this as if it makes her the Evil Queen of the North qualifies as stupid.