Letters to the Editor
-
@doc5467 -- vis-a-vis Stella O'Leary
Now if you really wanted to hear an interesting story, well ask Stella about Spitzer's situation. She owned a house north of Chevy Chase circle that she found out one day was being used by its tenant to run a high-end prostitution (male) ring, catering to the Republican party, including some very prominent elected figures, including one who ran for a very high office. The story blew open because of credit card fraud by the ring -- and Stella was made aware when the cops took down the door. Stella was somewhat upset and vocal about the situation and I believed was leaned on to shut up. By the way, I would stunned if Stella was not a Hillary backer. Stella is a lot of fun - a colourful lady.
I think there is exaggeration in Clinton's claims, I do not suggest they are false. Indeed that is the problem for the Obama campaign, there is some substance, but there is also a lot of exaggeration. By the way there is an element to the comments quoted of people expanding their own role and importance in the process - and most of those quoted were women on the moderate nationalist side, or members of the Alliance Party who could be said to have already been on board for what was being negotiated - Trimble's problems were with people that neither Clinton, but especially Hillary had any influence with. At the end of the day Trimble was a key figure along with his deputy McGuiness (a different McGuiness to the current deputy first Minister), Mallon probably the most important negotiator for the SDLP especially in endgame, with Hume a close second, Michel and Soderberg key US players, and various Irish and British politicians and diplomats major figures.
There has recently been a very good documentary put together on the whole process.
-
@MacK and Canada
"The idea that the campaigns, both campaigns would not have sought to reassure the Canadians is also vanishingly unlikely. The idea that the Canadians would give an answer in response to a question concerning a confidential discussion that would land their contact in the shit is so absurd as to be beyond possibility.."
"Vanishingly unlikely"?? "so absurd as to be beyond possibility"?? I find your argument astonishing. I cannot imagine why one as erudite as you seem to be could allow his personal political preferences to so color the reality of this little contretemps.
The fact is, the Canadians DID ADMIT that this kind of consultation took place between their Chicago consulate and Mr. Obama's economic adviser Austan Goolsbee. "so absurd as to be beyond possibility"? Yes, except they did. They did.
They specifically and carefully said in a clear and direct statement that the Clinton campaign DID NOT do what they admit the Obama campaign DID. Further, there is no evidence of any kind--no leaked memos, no confession by a surrogate, no report from any consulate or embassy discovered, no hedging of any kind by the campaign itself, to justify these charges. Yet you blithely dismiss all this, announcing rather grandly that the idea Clinton did not contact the Canadians is "vanishingly unlikely."
How wonderful it must be to be so reflexively certain of one's own beliefs even if they are contrary to all available evidence. I cannot imagine why you are so.
I assume, by your logic, both campaigns have already contacted the Mexican government as well? We can count on that, since to assume they haven't is vanishingly unlikely? Have the campaigns contacted the Pakistani government to assure them we won't really bomb their territories? By your lights, perhaps the campaigns have contacted every government about which one of their campaign speeches or claims might relate?
I expected more from you. How disappointing that you are a willing participant in the continuing slander against Mrs. Clinton in the NAFTA matter.
-
piece of cake,
Even if I were a raving maniac, I'd never support nor vote for Clinton. I maybe mad, but I'm not stupid, nor insane. The sparring here is so soft centered that I'm sure it smarts some a bit when somebody has the temerity to forcibly squeeze the hot air out of Hillary's humongous, lying, lily white ass, but belive me it'll take a lot more than a score of atomic suppositories to unblock the big Billary and her "inevitable" bullshit machine. Anyway, I will bow out of this friendly melee between Clintonistas and all others concerned. May this most excellant discourse rise above the dissentary of its drivel, and bring us a new benighted age with Hillary at its head. I bow before her boudless beautific bowels of flatulent "facts" and wind baggy "wisdom." God save the queen!
-
@MacK and Ireland
What a great story about Ms. O'Leary. As I understand, she is indded quite a colorful character. Of course I suspect we both know a good number of Irish "colorful" personalities.
I wish I could think more highly of Mr. Trimble; you know him and respect him, but as an interested outsider I always found him infuriating and hostile to the legitimate Nationalist demands. Too quick by half to excuse or overlook the outrages by the paras on his side of the aisle. But I'll take your word for it, and try to think better of him.
BTW, Trimble actually made a brief complimentary statement about Mrs. Clinton's help at an event in, I think, 2000. Wish I could find it.
And could you sometime elaborate on Vital Voices? I know what Mrs. Clinton meant when she said she was at the first women's meeting etc. etc.; she meant the first meeting of that group. She was in fact there. This is the kind of exaggeration or misspeak you rightly refer to. And you know as well as anyone that all candidates since the Garden have done the same. Your preferred one is of course no exception.
-
From the Clinton memo:
Clinton memo: "The Obama campaign diminishes Hillary's historic speech in Bejing as meaningless. But her speech at the conference -- where she famously declared "women's rights are human rights" spurred real action."
I'm not putting down Clinton's speech, but isn't it interesting to hear Clinton touting a speech as an example of her foreign-policy experience, when she is constantly mocking Obama for giving good speeches?