The Clinton-Obama turmoil continues in Denver; now it's Bill

Ah, Democrats. There's something about the circular firing squad that just seems to hold endless fascination for them. Why do they even need a Republican opposition when they can just battle themselves?

At this convention, the well-reported rift is between the Obamaphiles and the Clintonphiles and it's the continuing narrative. Tonight, Sen. Hillary Clinton herself will speak.

From the bad feelings that sprung up during the nasty primary season, to the ire in the Clinton camp over how they believe she was allegedly mistreated in Sen. Barack Obama's vice presidential selection process, to the dissension from her supporters over the role she and they would be given at the convention, to the resentment in the Obama camp over the Clintons' inability to act like it's Obama's party now, there's been bad blood at every turn.

Former President Bill Clinton reportedly is miffed that he's been given the assignment Wednesday night of selling Americans on Obama as a better commander-in-chief than Sen. John McCain, the all-but-official Republican presidential nominee.

Evidently, the former president would've preferred to talk about domestic policy and the economy in order to trash-talk the Republicans who he sees as destroying the prosperity and trend towards growing economic equality that characterized his presidency nearly a decade ago.

Also, since Obama doesn't have much of a national-security or foreign policy track record, to speak of, what is Clinton supposed to speak of? That's a fairly challenging assignment, even for a renowned campaigner as ex-president Clinton.

Our colleague Frank James has more on this unfolding soap opera over at the Swamp.

--Andrew Malcolm

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Comments

[joe]

Obama is not legally qualified to run for president.Why is everyone ignoring this fact?Reporters,do your job!Bring the proof to the public before it is too late.

[Willy]

Of course, if Democrats are good at the "circular firing squad" as you put it, pro-Republican writers like yourself are good at silly articles like this.

[Randy]

You have got to be kidding...

President Clinton is being asked to do what?

How can Bill justify Obama's national security prowess when he doesn't have any experience to justify such a recommendation?

Is Barack trying to make a "fool" out of Bill or what...

President Clinton should be "crushing the GOP" over their policies concerning the economy... After all, it was Bill that captained the ship during the prosperous 1990's. right?

You know, after Axelrod invoked race into the primary campaign and "slimed" Bill without justification ... Mr. President, say whatever you believe is "fair".

[braggingrights]

Why is LA times creating a wedge between Hillary and Obama? If you are for Mcain come in the open! otherwise you have no difference with Zimbabwe's state-run press

[Thomas Jackson]

Mr. Malcolm obviously missed the memo that Senator Obama had told Bill Clinton in an extended and very friendly phone call that he could talk about anything he wanted in his speech at the convention. Mr. Malcolm must be one of those pundits who likes to "stir the pot" in an effort to "create" news instead of reporting it. Good luck with that. The Dems will finish their convention more united than ever and roll on to victory in November, regardless of what folks like Mr. Malcolm may say.

[Jp]

So Billy is miffed that he can't talk about muff, I mean enough. Yes economy has tanked, and Iraq war a certain fiasco. I don't hear anybody saying throw everyone at Fannie Mae into prison. As far as Iraq we shoul d make them our 51st state and nationalize the Oil Fields like Hugo Chavez... It's ALL about oil and everyday democrats and republicans alike all drive cars. Lots and lots of driving everyday.... We like to mix blood with our oil. Oh yes one other thing, I'm sick of being tolerant. Islam is the worst religion in the entire history of the world.

[AK]

A -nice- first sentence!

[Ash]

I get the nagging feeling that the LA times is totally 'against' Obama...

[ericmiami]

It's great to hear from the Rush side, without having to go to his website. Shame on you, Malcolm.

[toto]

a great title for an article, but devoid of substance or serious content. Amazing how the lines blur tabloid trash and what passes for news "blogging" these days. Quite frankly the National enquirer and People's at least are delivering their sauce and racour with data and facts. This attempt to stoke the fires of what might make for delicious gossip news is just that....idle mischief not fit to be taken seriously...

Tweets from The Ticket's...sent to your cellphone. Soon we'll be having a fake text in vote a-la- american idol for this kind of garbage.

[Ricardo C. Amaral]

It seems to me that the stage is being set to blame on the Clintons’ the Barack Obama’s presidential election defeat in November of 2008.

They are going to use the Clintons’ as the scapegoat for the Democratic Party fiasco in November 2008.

You can read the entire piece at the following forum:
http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=74835&perpage=6&pagenumber=124

.

[JAB]

There's also the possibility that you needed something to write. In a twenty-four hour news cycle, when there is no news the media makes up news. To me, all this seems to be that kind of thing.

[NPAFL]

If Billary really wants to preserve their legacy they should wake up to the fact that as hard as they fought in the primary they still lost. If they are willing to sacrifice the future of America on their own pettiness and the American people let them, we will get exactly what we all deserve; 4 more years of Bush. Hillary voters really need look at what was important to Hillary and compare that to what is important to John McCain and see if they can still look at their own children with hope for the future and not just fodder for the war machine. Noun…Verb….POW

[ann]

For some one who claims to be about UNITY, Obama sure does everything he can to create dissention among the ranks.

How can he pick a VP that only received 9 thousand votes....over the candidate who received 18 million?

What a moron.

His continued childish behavior is what is going to cost him the election in November.

Someone needs to tell him to grow up suck it in and pick the VP that guarantees a win....Sen. Clinton.

His actions are anything but professional or Presidential.

God Help Us

[don - westview, KY]

Prosperous years of the 90's? Often repeated with no real knowledge. Just as Slick WIllie was handed a growing economy, he handed a dying economy to "W" - the ecomony was going into the tank at the end of Willie's term and began that great slide in June, 1999.

How do I remember? I retired in May, 1999, and I watched my stocks begin to drop in June. The properous 90's? That they were, but Willie didn't start it and Willie didn't end it that way.

[Jack]

I am Republican supporting Obama...but when I see Dems behaving so foolishly makes me almost think twice. McCain was not the initial choice for the Republican however once he had the nomination the discussion was over. The Dems (particularly Hillarry, Bill and her Crew) chose to fight it out until they damaged their nominee. Yes, the Media and McCain or exploiting the situation but who gave them the ammunition?? If Hillary does not come out strong for Obama tonight I may go back to McCain not because of Obama but because for the Dems, to allow this or have this in their party makes me question their ability to unite the country.

[Abe]

LOL - "I get the nagging feeling that the LA times is totally 'against' Obama..."
Nagging feeling - the LA Times is so anti-Obama they're down right racist

[George]

Omama= Hope and Change, right?
Clinton , it was claimed during the primaries, had too much baggage (i.e. Bill and Monica which embarrasses democrats.
Last night they propped up Ted Kennedy as the shining example of all that They (The One's campaign) hold as sacred. Ted Kennedy. OMG, doesn't anyone remember Mary Jo Kophene? That is Okay and Monica's little seduction is, so wrong? Ted Kennedy left her to die while he triued to cover up what he did. That she was alive for at least 2 hours is assumed to be true, but that does it mean it is. But it is at least a possibility and that means there is a posiibility he is guilty of at least man slaughter, oh, but Hillary Clinton is the one with baggage. Are the Obama/Dean/Pelosi people on crack? I felt like Alice in the Wonderland last night watching Democrats celebrate Kennedys as symbols of Hope and Change. Then Michelle, all cleaned up and posing as the poster woman for motherhood, sisterhood, wifedom and daughter extraordinarre. Hitting all the right notes the MSM pundits said she needed to. Righting the wrong Hillary created by forging an identity on her own accomplishments, Michelle set the feminist movement back several steps by defining herself in terms of others (her children, brother, husband and parents).Then the icing on the cake the 2 adorable little girls trotted out to create that oh so perfect Kodak moment, ignoring the history their supporters have had of harassing Chelsea with questions about her father and Monica, forgetting Michelle's angry accusation that Hillary couldn't control Bill (Monica) so how could she possibly control the White House? The Audacity just never ends.

[Steve Williams]

I agree with Thomas Jackson post above. These purported jounalist on both the internet and the network seem to think that it is necessary to write of say something stupid to generate a response from their listeners of readers. These folks are empty suits looking for attention. The write stories and hope that it is picked up by a network so that they may be asked to be a guest. Journalism in America is awfull, no substance, no thought and no critical analysis. Ignore the headlines you see on the internet sites.

[Jim - Pa]

Hey Joe, maybe you need to adjust the coat hanger on your TV. The "he's not legal" lie died months ago. You must have missed it the first 2000 times its been refuted.

As for the article, its typical right wing nonsense and one more reason why bloggers should never be taken seriously, unless their facts can be verified.

[Sam Overton]

Former presidents are better seen than heard.

[AsBee]

Vote for McCain - the true American Hero. Not this fraud NOBambi, who is a terrorist hugger.

McCain in November.

P.U.M.A.
Registered Democrat for McCain

[Ron]

Why would you believe that? He was born in Hawaii. John McCain is the one not qualified to be president! He was NOT born in the United States, but in Panama.

>>

[Amado Castaneda]

GO JOHNY GO! GO!

[js]

it's not true that the Clinton presidency was a time of growing economic equality. Inequality grew at a historic rate.