Hillary Clinton's revealing purchase: A website called HRC2012

Sometimes a website name is just a website name.

Maybe the move by a company that's worked closely with the former first lady is just what it seems: yet another step by Hillary Rodham Clinton to prepare for another run for the Senate from New York in four years. Or another run for the White House. We won't know, of course, for some time.

But that comes with the news, as reported in The Ticket early the other morning, that Clinton has urgently requested her 2008 general election supporters to approve transfer of their unusable donations for this year's presidential race over to her 2012 Senate campaign.

(And then, potentially, into a new presidential campaign fund, as she did with $10 million of her surplus 2006 Senate campaign funds).

If this year's donors don't approve that transfer soon, Clinton must return the '08 money by Aug. 28.

The respected blogger Marc Ambinder of TheAtlantic.com is reporting tonight that a company associated with Clinton's top advance team leaders, the Markham Group, purchased that domain name on June 8.

June 8th? Why does that ring a bell? Why, that's the very next day after her "I-give-up-and-heartily-support Obama" speech where her family was dressed for a funeral.

Clinton sources told Ambinder the New York senator was committed to helping elect Obama on Nov. 4, but she wanted to keep her options open for later. Imagine that in a seasoned politician.

Come 2012 Clinton would have to choose which race she'd enter. Two years ago in her first Senate reelection bid, her main website was HillaryClinton.com, which she still has. Plus HillPac.com for her political action committee and another one for her '08 campaign debt donations.

So why would she need another website with 2012 in it, unless.... Her disappointed presidential campaign supporters may take heart. But will they still help elect another Democrat this November? Or sit it out and let '12 fall to her?

We are just six weeks out from Clinton's '08 surrender to Barack Obama. And, surely, everyone knows exactly what that means: only 223 weeks left until the 2012 election.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: AP

Comments

[Nate Hilts]

Oh, that evil ambitious Hillary. Imagine the audacity of someone who ran for president and came close to getting the nomination wanting to run again. Imagine her not wanting a key blog address in the hands of her opponents or someone else. Imagine!

If Hillary had been the one who got the nomination, I would fully expect Obama2012 to be bought up by the good senator from Illinois. Anything else would be stupidity! But that would probably make few headlines, since it is Hillary who has been caricatured as -- gasp! -- an ambitious woman, while Barack is simply driven.

For the record, I voted for Richardson, but either Clinton or Obama would make a fine president.

[markus]

Why Barack Hussein Obama Cannot Be Trusted!

Racist Radical Pastors

Refusing to Wear American Flag

Friends with Domestic Bomber Ayres

Disowns his Church

Racist Wife

In 1991 Pledged Allegiance to the Black Value System (bet he placed his hand on his heart for this one)

Choosing not to Place Hand on Heart during National Anthem

Muslim Upbringing

Homosexual Sex Scandal

Friendship with 16 Count Convicted Felon Rezko

Citizenship and Family ties to Kenya

Endorsement from Hamas

Not Enough Political Experience

Votes Present more than Votes

Supports Killing the Unborn

Ranked #1 Tax and Spend Liberal

Campaign Promises that will Bankrupt the USA

Lies and Broken Campaign Promises

[zeke]

Is there news in this? I voted for Hillary and I wish she was running against McCain. I can't believe someone paid attention to this. At least the media is electronic and no one wasted a tree.

[Gaias Child]

Not sure how NY voters feel but I myself sense that as far as Oval Office, the Clintons are done. I might be surprised and if so, I'll be very surprised. It was the primary campaign from hell as far as I could see. Polarizing, neurotic, combative, competitive, reactive, virtually without spontaneous enthusiasm or natural presence, pretty studied, strategic, neurotic, same old, Karl Rove playbook, knee cap stuff, and then polarize. The Clinton campaign ran around looking for any constituency they could arouse against any other. They wound up focusing on places like rural Oregon where people have historically voted conservative and Republican and they kept on strutting their stuff against diminshing venues. This website is more of the same. It is a study in the ambition for power wearing the mask of public service and "I will take care of you," at least til you cross me or I lose and then I'll treat you as though you never were. So for the splintered and polarized constiuents that the Clintons still own, just try and bring her back. It's over.

[Casey]

President Obama will have to work with these people, but must never, ever trust them.

[Patricia]

Once again, the main stream media just can't help but find a way, in your case a silly photograph, to 'demean' and 'discount' Senator Clinton's viability as a candidate for President. Why don't you run a picture of Obama in a compromised pose? I think not! Senator Clinton has every right to choose her destiny -- if that includes another run for the Presidency, good for her! I'll vote for Hillary anyday over the two yahoos we've got running for office now!

[Jack]

If McCain wins, Hillary will run against him in 2012. Why is this such a surprise? Obama winning in November is not a sure thing, you should know that.

[pacificGatePost]

WHILE OBAMA IS TRAVELING, .....

HILLARY MAY BE ANTICIPATING A DIFFERENT OUTCOME AT THE CONVENTION

The Democratic convention is not over and done with.

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/07/is-clintons-presidential-campaign.html

[Human]

Um, how did blogger Mark Ambinder gather that the domain was purchase by the Markham Group when they are not listed in WHOIS info his blog links to? Did the Markham Group use Domains By Proxy to hide their purchase back on the 10th? Did Ambinder track the history of the domain? Did Ambinder receive a big tip off or other information source he isn't disclosing?

[Harry]

Even if Obama wins in 2008, she will run in 2012, simply because she is a megalomaniac and feels the WH is owed to her for the years she put up with Bill's hanky panky.

[Joseph]

The Los Angeles Times is one of the most biased "objective" newspapers I've read in my life. Throughout the primary, they continually framed their articles and even the debate they sponsored to help annoint Barack Obama the Democratic nominee and even now, they won't stop.

Look at the freaking picture they use - even if you think that Hillary is planning a run for president in 2012, what's the point of a humiliating, blown up, low quality picture? How is that expression remotely relevant to what the blogger is trying to say?

[victor knopp]

a vote for obama/osama is nothing more than a collective helsinki vote,never surrender

[MG]

Nate: I live in 2 states: CA and NM. New Mexico, where Richardson is Governor, is like a third-world country. Due to Libertarians who generally live in Santa Fe, the lack of governance is most pronounced in the following areas:
1. Threat of flooding from the Rio Grande river due to levee collapse which is the result of vetos from Richardson to provide funding.
2. Interstate 10 lacks road safety reflectors which in CA alerts sleepy /distracted drivers to prevent roll-overs.
3. A very high level of DUIs, alcoholism and teen pregnancy reflects the hopelessness of many in this State.
Clinton Yes, Richardson and Obama, No.

[Sara]

If Hillary even considers sabotaging Obama's presidential campaign, Hillary will NEVER, EVER become president!
The millions, and millions of people who voted for Obama WILL NEVER vote for Hillary. Hillary will NEVER without Obama voters, so Hillary needs to realize that this is NOT about her ego, that this election in November is about making sure that the citizens of this country get a democratic president who wants to bring the Iraq war to an end, and focus our attention on fighting against AlQueada, and the Taliban in Afghnaistan (the people who are responsible for 9/11).
Hillary need to realize that this is about electing a democratic president who will make sure that the millions of Americans who do not have health coverage will be able to afford it. Hillary needs to realize that this election is about getting a democartic president elected who wants to give the MIDDLE CLASS, and the POOR in this country the tax cuts, because those are the people who are suffering the most, who have having a hard time paying their rent or mortgage, and buying food, and gas. Hillary needs to realize that this election is about getting a democratic president elected in November who will put the USA on track toward energy independence, a president who will encourage the oil companies to start drilling on the land THEY HAVE RIGHT NOW SITTING IDLE! Hillary needs to realize that we need to elect a democartic president who will ALSO invest in alternative sources of energy like biofuel, geothermal, wind, solar, as well as who wants to invest in SAFE nuclear energy, as well as clean coal energy, so that the USA can finally stop being dependent on foreign countries for oil, and at the same time create jobs right here in the USA for American citizens.
Hillary needs to realize that this is not about ego, that this election in November is about electing a democartic president elected who will secure our borders with border agents, with infrastructure, as well as with technology, to cut down on illegal immigartion. Hillary needs to realizes that we need to elect a democratic president in November who will improve our elementary schools, and highschools, so that our children are properly educated, a democratic president who will offer college students tax credits so that they will be able to afford to pay for college. Hillary needs to realize that we need democartic president elected in November, who will fight for the rights of women to get paid the same as a man for the work they do. A democartic president who will protect Social Security and to make sure that it will be there in the future for all of us. Hillary needs to realize that we need to elect in November a democratic president who will give the tax cuts to the MIDDLE CLASS, and the POOR in this country so they can afford to pay their rent or mortgage, and buy food, and gas.
That democrat who will do all these things, and who needs to be elected in November is Barack Obama.
Any effort Hillary Clinton makes to try to sabotage the this presidential election in November will only result in millions, and millions of people suffering for 4 more years. And I am sure that Hillary does not want that. NO ONE with a heart would want her own democratic supporters to suffer for 4 years! And Hillary knows that 4 more years of republicans is going to result in things getting WORST, and WORST in this country!

[anna]

Given the negativity from Susie Buell, who seems to have taken on the role of Bill Clinton this summer, skepticism is justified. Somehow Hillary Clinton is supporting the presumptive nominee, but cannot deliver even those closest to her, yet she wanted to lead the country.
I didn't start out with Obama so don't give me that. I'm also a feminist embarrassed by the way women's issues were used, and will never ever give to Emily's List again after I got the mailings they paid for.
The mindset seems to be that winning justifies everything, and it's all about them. Rules are for little people.
She performed well at one forum but by their works you know them. Somehow the 'people around her' are constantly carping at Obama, sticking him up for money. They have nothing to lose apparently.
The country has a lot to lose.

[Martha.haga]

This just proves to me that I will never trust/contribute/vote for Hillary Clinton. Please have the Clintons mosy out to the old pastures of the 1990's and set up a musuem in their own honor - they would be the only ones who could really appreciate the site!

[In Defense of Reason]

I feel a need to front load the comment section with the following, as I grow weary of negative comments about Obama from Hillary supporters:

Dear Hillary Supporters Now Voting For McCain:

The fight for the nomination is long over. Hillary lost. Don't vote out of spite. Don't be sore losers. If you vote for McCain, you vote for an ideology far removed from the one you claimed to find dear by virtue of supporting Mrs. Clinton. Why would you do that? Do you only support personas, or do you actually support positions and solutions this country will need to move forward? Do you really want eight more years of Neo-con war mongering and profiteering? Really? You do?

Vote for Barack H. Obama.

[Julie]

Both Hillary and Bill have worked for good causes; however, the citizens of the US take a very uncomfortable back seat to their win at any cost motives. Those of us that paid attention to Bill's presidency saw their many unethical and illegal actions.

Hillary has faked a few "campaigning for Obama." Motive? Getting her campaign debt reduced?

Despite all his rhetoric, Bill has not done any campaigning for Obama.

I do not want McCain and "Foreclosure Phil" Gramm further destroying our economy while making the wealthy richer. Despite his stated resignation, Gramm will be in the background advising McCain.

McCain knew Gramm's background because McCain has supported him through the years. McCain knew Gramm and his wife took money from Enron to deregulate the futures trading.

McCain had to have known that Gramm's employer, UBS, has been under investigation for a long time for helping US citizens avoid tax.

McCain and Gramm were instrumental in derailing Clinton's health care initiative in the 1990s.

If Hillary and Bill were serious about supporting Obama, they would be out there actively campaigning.

Blackmail for the VP slot?

[WarriorLemming]

The thought of going through another political season of kitchen-sink tactics and snipper-fire lies turns my stomach. It's my hope that Hillary loses her Senate seat after the kind of campaign I saw her run these past months for President as a New Yorker I can assure you that I won't be giving her my vote.

I wish Hillary would just go away becuase quite honestly I can't even stand to hear her voice anymore and this is from someone who voted for her twice plus twice for President Clinton. They have lost my respect and I say this with sadness.

[ohmercy]

Dear God...
How could the woman be so evil.
And you know what else?

How dare she stay in till the end.
Who does she think she is Ted Kennedy? Jesse Jackson?
a man?
She voted AGAINST Fisa!
You know she only did it to make Barack look bad. If she was the nominee she would have supported it. Everybody says so, so it must be true! Yeah, I heard the rumor that she had her FISA statement on her website in the Senate since January biut doesn't that just prove how Machiavellian she is?
And the nerve to co-sponsor. Ohhh she really is a manipulative deviant.
And now this!
What if McCain wins (its her fault of course and this just proves how she has been working behind the scenes for that. EVERYBODY at Huffington Post says it so you know its true.
==============================

When, oh when are you going to get over Hillary Clinton?

Your snarkyness is based on what? That she had the gall to do what she said she would do and make every vote count? Let every American in every state vote?
The obsession with demonizing Hillary Clinton is beyond belief? What the hell? What is the point?
Not agreeing with her policies is one thing but to portray her as something so vile is quite another. Those who used neocon slime machine lies of the 90's should be ashamed.

Do you know what people disapprove of and like least about Obama?
His supporters.

[Latreen Johnson]

Seriously hope she doesn't run. I think the time is right for a woman president, but they should come up with ANYBODY besides her. She is a career politician who only cares about herself. She will move entire states in order to slip into someone else's Senate. She will hold healthcare as her own personal endeavor, up until she gets money from an HMO lobbyist. Another sign- If any other woman was faced with national-emberassment over a cheating-husband getting oral action, they would probably leave him in half a second. For Hillary's long-term agenda as a "career politician," she didn't leave Bill because she would have lost her "political stepping stone". She will vote for the war in Iraq with all of her "military expertise", and then wash her hands of it in the name of riding Democratic stances/fads during campaign time. She has a closet agenda she has not quite come out with. She wants you to vote for her, but she doesn't want you to know what she plans to do in office.

If she gets elected, perhaps it is time for revolution to take our Democracy back from electoral corruption. In a nation of 300,000,000 people with a constitution that says YOU can become president- don't you find it a bit "strange" that we have had a father/son and possibly a husband/wife combo all within 4 or 5 presidents of each other? Who will it be in 2016, Chelsea Clinton vs. Jenna Bush? What are the odds of that being a coincidence? That is not Democracy. Statistically speaking, that is a Monarchy disguised as a Democracy... I hope when Hillary is finished playing "Mrs. Popular" in New York, she crawls back under her rock in Arkansas and leaves us all alone.

[John Bard]

Hardly a surprise. Hillary's lukewarm endorsement of Obama points to a strategy which would embrace a McCain victory in November - and set her fair to run in 2012. She IS Chucky, the devil-doll will just not die... unless her legs are revealed!

[John Gleason]

Finally, I agree with Hillary Clinton. We both hope that Obama loses.

[Bill]

Doesn't really bother me. If Obama loses in November, Hillary would easily be the nominee in 2012.

[Ross]

HRC is ghastly, and four more years on her tired tires won't do anything to improve her. In any case, anyone who wants it as bad as she does should be spurned as a matter of principle. By my runes, the last one who was this hell bent was Nixon. How'd that turn out?