Hillary Clinton on Sarah Palin? She's keeping her cards close to the vest
Perhaps Amy Poehler, in the much-anticipated opening skit on the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live," truly channeled Hillary Clinton's innermost feelings toward Sarah Palin.
But as for the actual senator from New York, if she shares the angst and anguish so comically expressed by Poehler, she's steadfastly keeping it to herself.
The media entourage that once breathed down Clinton's neck has long since moved on. But Elizabeth Moore, our colleague at Newsday, was on the scene this past weekend as Clinton campaigned in Ohio on behalf of Barack Obama, that fellow who bested her in the Democratic presidential race.
As the Palin phenomenon has taken much of America by storm -- and clouded Obama's presidential prospects -- some Democrats have spotlighted Clinton as the party figure best able to stem that tide. They envision her vigorously taking Palin to task in a way that a male politician dare not.
So far, Clinton has carefully avoided going that route. She took a pass at a large partisan gathering earlier this month in New York. And in her two Sunday stops, Moore relates, she "continued to play it cool," delivering "what is becoming her standard vote-for-Obama rally speech."
And what does that mean, in terms of Palin?
Barely a mention.
-- Don Frederick
Photo credit: Associated Press
Johanna Neuman is a veteran Washington correspondent for both The Los Angeles Times and USA Today, having covered presidents and politics as far back as Ronald Reagan. A former president of the White House Correspondents Assn., she authored a book on media and foreign policy, “Lights, Camera, Wars.” Most recently she was co-author of the
Hillary is not going to fall into that trap. It would serve her no purpose to take on Palin. Her strongest speech for Obama was at the convention. SO, if that still did not make a difference with her supporters, why should she put herself in the line of fire for Obama?
He surely does not deserve it. He obviously did not think we were important enough for him to make a special effort to win over, after he won the nomination. He took it for granted that we would "fall in line for him".
It is only now, when his star is fading that he calls upon Hillary's supporters to come to his aid.
NO WAY NO HOW NOBAMA!!!
Posted by: BJ | September 15, 2008 at 05:12 PM
BJ is a Republican male that most likely works directly for (or is closely affiliated with) the McCain campaign. Do not believe the hype. BJ is not a woman and never was a Hillary supporter. BJ, last time I checked, PUMA no longer stood for party unity my $#@. Nice try.
Posted by: Iris Bittencourt | September 15, 2008 at 05:50 PM
I agree with BJ. Why should Hilary become a tool for Obama? To do the dirty work of muddying another female, just so the self-anointed messiah can win? A better plan would be for Obama to resign and for Hilary to take over. Let someone who is competent take the lead. Maybe Hilary would then allow Obama to be her VP.
Posted by: Tim T | September 15, 2008 at 05:51 PM
As a conservative republican I watched Hillary in the primaries. Unlike Obama she never waivered on her positions. I admired her for that.
Then when she hit the trail for Obama she has never resorted to gutter politics, against Palin. Even though Hillary has not earned my vote...she has certainly earned my respect.
Unlike Obama that hasn't earned anything from me but a deragatory term.
Posted by: dan | September 15, 2008 at 05:52 PM
Palin is not worth the words to address her. I mean, she is the VP candidate and not even a very qualified one. Hillary will stick to the issues and McCain. Palin is just an appendage to McCain.
Posted by: Paul Stewart | September 15, 2008 at 06:04 PM
DATE: Monday Sept 15,2008
Time:7:13Pm
Re: Hillary's PUMA
"Thank you Sentator Hillary Rodham Clinton'"
P.S.
" Keep work'in"
" PUMA's for ..McCain/Paulin 08"
Siincerely,
Posted by: Emmery Jones Jr Medical Record's Admin.CCS-P | September 15, 2008 at 06:07 PM
Look - Hillary ran a strong campaign but it's time for her and her hold-out supporters to commit to Obama. If he looses in Novemeber:
-A lot of blame will go to Hillary and her supporters
-The Supream Court will move even further to the right
-We might be looking at 12 years of Bush/McCain/Palin control of the White House
Does anybody really want that... no matter how angry they are that Hillary lost?
Posted by: Ken Tucker | September 15, 2008 at 06:09 PM
Keep it simple. Obama gets the vote. Hillary gets the love. The task before us is to influence our men not to vote for McCain just because Sarah Palin is hot. Besides the social conservative base, wasn't that the whole idea? I mean, it worked on John McCain when he was 45 going on 25 or whatever. Between the war hero image and the hot babe, there's a lot of male bonding going on.
John McCain is no hero. He's a cynical opportunist. He craves glory. There are many who have suffered as much or more than John McCain. John McCain does not support these people and their families when its time to vote for pro-veteran legislation. Instead he capitalizes on the sacifices of our military as if they were his to barter in the fulfillment of his personal ambition. I supposed he thinks they are whiners just because they didn't hook up with an heiress. Let's not even get into his ex-wife's health care plan. C'mon, the guy's a gigolo.
Seriously, I just saw an issue of Newsweek that had a photo of Sarah Palin wrapped in an American Flag. When I ask you have you ever seen a male candidate pose for a photograph like that? Is this what it's come to? I've heard McCain say more than once that he didn't win "Miss Congeniality." No surprise there. So he did the next best thing. Disgraceful.
Posted by: 1of18Million | September 15, 2008 at 06:28 PM
>>Look - ....but it's time for her and her hold-out supporters to commit to Obama.
==> Why so? A lot of our problems are caused by party politics. Look at the deadlock in our congress. Have they got anything done for the last two years? A great president should put the country and the people above his party. The policies of both left and right are not all good for the country. We need go a middle road, and to do that, we need a leader who is independent and can break from his/her own party, and is pragmatic in getting things done. Obama has shown none of these qualities. Both Clintons are a lot more centrist than Obama and his supporters like Reid or Pelosi or Dean. That's why I supported Hillary Clinton, but will switch to McCain.
Posted by: ycgmae | September 15, 2008 at 06:39 PM
BJ said: "...why should she (Hillary) put herself in the line of fire for Obama?"
How about because Palin stands for everything anathema to Hillary?
Posted by: Ski | September 15, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Someone has got to defend the goodness of this woman. She is following the direction of the Obama campaign and her own conscience. Why would she want to diminish her legacy to woman by attacking the first republican woman candidate for high office? She is behaving honorably. Again and again, I am impressed by her since the primaries ended. I deeply support and hope for an Obama presidency. To insinuate that she is coyly sticking it to Obama by her refusal to get into a mudfight with Palin is insulting to this fine fine woman and to woman everywhere. The world is watching you USA.
Posted by: colleen akin | September 15, 2008 at 06:52 PM
Now comes the recognition from Obama that maybe he shouldn't have been so hateful, derisive and dismissive of Hillary and her supporters. He is truely a pathetic character.
Cheaters never prosper, Barack. Don't expect Hillary to do your misogynistic dirty work against Palin for you either. Fight you own self-inflicted battles. If ever there was a battle that was custom made for you Barack, this is it.
To think, you could have had the most experienced, tough and gracious female running mate by your side; but, alas, your big fat arrogant ego just couldn't take it.
I'm really gonna dig it when that younger, more attractive hocky mom sends you and your pompous DNC (which, by the way, stands for Does Not Connect) to political H-E-double hocky sticks!!!!
What a crock you are Obama. For all your pretty words about unity and healing, you couldn't do the right thing for your country and your party when it really mattered. For you, unity and healing are "just words".
Barack Obama, you're one arrogant piece of work.
Posted by: ShouldaWouldaCoulda | September 15, 2008 at 06:54 PM
Wow, apparently tons of republicans are really dissapointed about Obama not picking HIllary...Seriously, Bush didn't pick McCain as VP in 2000 and republicans still voted for him.
To be fair, some democrats are disappointed by Barack not picking Hillary, just not nearly as disappointed as they are from McCain picking Palin.
Posted by: HI | September 15, 2008 at 06:58 PM
Apparently tons of republicans are really dissapointed about Obama not picking HIllary...Seriously, Bush didn't pick McCain as VP in 2000 and republicans still voted for him.
To be fair, some democrats are disappointed by Barack not picking Hillary, just not nearly as disappointed as they are from McCain picking Palin.
Posted by: HelloAgain | September 15, 2008 at 07:02 PM
Is it just me or does anyone else find that Sarah Palin reminds them of the long forgotten Katherine Harris of the Florida 2000 presidential election? She too appeared to be a rising Republican star for a while.
Posted by: Jon Sandler | September 15, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Hillary is an extraordinary, classy woman and likely sees no value in responding to Sarah. Sarah is not in Hillary's league and needs to go back to her home to nowhere! I am a Hillary supporter and will back Obama!
Posted by: Anne | September 15, 2008 at 07:12 PM
STOP IT!
Hillary should not be used after she was abused by the Obama campaign. She is trying to be a good Democratic soldier, as she has always been, but come on!
If Obama can not win when ALL the issues are going for him, then he does not deserve to be President.
Posted by: FJStratford | September 15, 2008 at 07:22 PM
Well Ken Tucker, why voting for Obama who cannot rally people from his own party. If he cannot close the deal with his own party, how can you expect him to close it with the Americans. It's pretty sad that he has to ask for Hillary's help after totaling ignoring her. Palin is right he should have picked Hillary as his VP to at least secure his base. He failed to do that. In the other hand McCain did just that by choosing Palin...a brilliant move. As much as I dislike it, it shows who has better judgment.
Posted by: Mike | September 15, 2008 at 07:31 PM
I am a former Hillary supporter, and an avid one at that.
But I think she is doing what everyone else should be doing and that is IGNORING Palin and focus on McCain.
I'm shocked that the press has been unable to put the Palin choice in context and carry on. But, it's clearly all about ratings now and not about the sorry state of our country.
We had the worst day on Wall Street since 2001, bankruptcies, the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and or Fourth Estate is missing in action.
Dems themselves have become reactionary screaming me me's. Go out and find undecideds and Independents. Ask them what really matters to them. I think you will not find Sarah Palin on that list.
And why is it such a story that one person, in this case Hillary is not following the crowd? Maybe, the crowd needs to wake up and get their heads in the game.
Posted by: Shell | September 15, 2008 at 07:44 PM
Ken, I beg to differ...
You cannot hold Hillary responsible for Obama's failure and lack of judgement. He only has himself to blame. HE'S the one running for president, last I heard.
Is it too difficult to comprehend why Obama in so unpalatable to some voters? You don't just vote on policies, you also vote for the person that will be holding that office! Obama will NOT fulfill his campaign promises.
And IRIS, sorry to disappoint you, but I am NOT a republican. Altho I'm sure you wish I were. You sound just like your messiah... IF someone disagrees with you, then that other person is wrong. It must be tough to accept that a democrat would be voting for a republican... BUT I trust McCain more than I do Obama with our country, especially with the confluence of disastrous issues facing the US.
Obama has proven his judgement is flawed. How else could he have miscalculated so badly, when he passed Hillary over for the VP position? He really thought he had the election won, thus picked someone who could bolster his foreign policy position. You may call this arrogance too, and that would also be true.
NO HOW NO WAY NOBAMA
Posted by: BJ | September 15, 2008 at 08:04 PM
I can tell ya, at this rate, if Obama looses, Hillary is gonna unjustly end up taking most of the blame. One thing that history has shown is that the supporters of loosing side (not the candidate themselves) always tries to find someone to blame for their loss other than their candidate and the media will eat up and let such blame fly. Just as Third party candidates get blamed for stealing votes, Hillary will get blamed for not doing enough to unify the party... i can see it, the pundits who will say that Hillary damaged the party by staying in the primaries too long, and that when it was time to fight the GOP and the Palin phenomenon, she gave a half hearted effort and didn't do enough... They may even claim she hated Obama and the democrats and was only looking out for herself and her run in 2012; her great speech at the DNC was nothing more than a lying cover to keep herself in the good graces with the democrats... I ain't saying its right cause it certainly is not right for them to say such things, but they won't care about how hard she campaigns for obama and they won't care about how Obama could have picked hillary as his VP... they will likely blame her for his loss... That's just the way the media works; they just eat up those kinds of stories... if McCain looses, i'm not sure who the conservative supporters/pundits will blame...
ycgmae: "Why so? A lot of our problems are caused by party politics."
Very true, however McCain does not represent a bipartisan middle road approach; he is not the maverick he once was back in 2000. He has promised a very conservative government vs Obama's promise for a liberal one. The switch McCain is not a vote for party cooperation but for a simple switch in partisanship. Instead of working with the democratic congress, i expect he will be vetoing their efforts left and right just like bush has been doing
Obama stances and policies far most match that of Hillary, if you supported hillary for her policies then the democrats are the way to go. Obama and Hillary may have their differences but when all is said and done they share similar beliefs and are both liberal democrats.
Frankly, i lost my last hope for the McCain that ran in 2000 when he chose the Palin instead of the more moderate republican or the former democrat lieberman... i also held hope that Obama might be daring enough to pick Chuck Hagel if he was not gonna pick Hillary Bipartisanship is the way to go and neither candidate was willing to go that way...
Posted by: Monte | September 15, 2008 at 08:55 PM
I agree 100% with Ken Tucker. Excellent post!
The american people are much smarter than the charade and circus that McCain has made of this election.
Look at the past 8 years... a failed and disastrous economic ideology. Unbelievable!
Not only that, but Sarah Palin is refusing to co-operate with the bi-partisan investigation into Troopergate. If she has nothing to hide, why won't she just speak with them and release all of her emails? How about her secret emails in her yahoo account. Who has ever heard of an elected official doing government business with their yahoo account?
Criminals don' co-operate with investigations. People that are innocent do.
Posted by: Lisa | September 15, 2008 at 09:17 PM
I am in an Independent from Berkeley, Ca.. I am glad to read here that other people are feeling the same way that I do about Obama. He should have at least offered Hillary the vice presidency. His pride would not allow him too - and so Sarah Palin has bitten him in the butt. I've have always thought that he was too inexperienced .. He needs another 8 years or so of being kicked around before he has sufficient bruises and scars to gain my respect.
Posted by: Richard Keppler | September 15, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Take a moment to clear your head. What does you gut instinct say. Mine says we need to get our country in order. Vote for the person you think will help turn stabilize our country. Take individual responsibility in this also, step up, do something. Commenting on blogs does not count, although it is entertaining. I have my opinions about each candidate, but that is not what is going to help our country. Whatever party wins this is still the USA and we need to pull ourselves together. Think critically, act passionately, and take part in the democratic process in a productive way. Please. The world is listening.
Posted by: Think and then act | September 15, 2008 at 10:50 PM
I was an undecided voter in Florida who has always sided with the liberals till a few days ago, meaning I have pretty much made up my mind at this point. I am a big fan of HIllary Clinton (like many of my friends and family members) I supported her whole-heartedly during the primaries, and was devasted when she lost to Obama.
I don't think Hillary should let Obama or her party force her to become their attack dog. She is WAY too smart and sophisticated to allow herself to be used and abused that way. And that's EXACTLY why I love her.
If Obama loses this election, only the die-hard Obama supporters will TRY to point the blame on Hillary. The rest of us will blame Obama for not selecting Hillary as his running mate, and thus losing the White House.
Like many commentaries out there from BOTH sides of the fence, there would be NO PALIN if Obama would've selected Hillary. So in a way, Sarah Palin is Obama's own creation...and his biggest mistake so far.
It's surprising that Obama is lagging in the polls, considering this election is coming at the end of 8 years of the worst admistration in American history. SO, Obama has (had) every advantage that any presidential candidate can ever hope for...so if he screw this up, he has NO ONE to blame except himself. Remember, he was elected to run for office, and HE CHOSE Biden to be his attack dog, not Hillary.
Obama, you can't have your cake and eat it too.
Posted by: IndependentVoterFL | September 15, 2008 at 11:08 PM
Wow,
I'm a life-long registered Republican white woman in Ohio who is voting for Obama. I live in a small town, too. I'm sorry, but it IS about the issues. NOT about personality. We are in a HUGE mess right now in this country, and the Republicans, including Republican John Mccain, caused it. Who else can we blame? Who else was in control of the White House the past 8 years and Congress most of that time?
It blows my mind that there are other women out there who apparently don't care that the Republicans caused this mess and are willing to give them a 3RD shot when they have already let us down the past 2 times. How much worse do things have to be? This is the worst economic crisis since the Depression and we're voting for the same guys who caused it all over again because we're mad about Hillary? Our children are dying in Iraq and Mccain wants to DRAFT them to Iran, and we still want to vote for Mccain??? That is rediculous and foolish and selfish. Kids dying in IRAN (Mccain will draft them there) and people not getting health care are just a little bit more important.
Seriously, the Republicans have been in control for 8 years. Is your life better or worse now? LADIES, DO NOT CUT OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE.
IT'S NOT WORTH IT. GIVE OBAMA A CHANCE.
Posted by: Mary | September 15, 2008 at 11:51 PM
As I recall it was the vituperative nature of Ms. Clinton's campaign, what with the "shame on you" and the "heavenly choirs" and the "as far as I know" that most likely led to her not sharing a ticket with Obama. She's an alpha dog all the way, and she deserves her own dish. Good for her. The Sarah Palin thing is just beginning to unfold. Why blow your response now on something that'll just be labeled a catfight. Remember how Obama saved his endorsements from Richardson, Gore, and Edwards for just the right time - when it would most benefit him in the campaign, the same thing will happen here. And I'm sure Ms. Clinton is looking forward to it: shame on you Sarah Palin! Shame on you!
Posted by: webb31 | September 16, 2008 at 12:14 AM
As usual, Hillary continues to show her intelligence. She knows that for every swat she takes at Palin, both Obama and she will get diminished.
Obama will look even smaller because any criticism against Palin can be turned around against Obama given his resume is even thinner than Palin, especially the executive experience. Hillary will be diminished because she will appear as petty and jealous of another woman. Obama took on Palin and he made people question his experience all over again. What a strategic blunder, on top of the failed first important decision,his choice of VP.
Stick to issues, Hillary. Way to go!
Posted by: vote4thebest | September 16, 2008 at 12:52 AM
Palin is riding a wave of support because she is new and exciting to many. Once they get to know her better the glamor will wear off and people will hopefully realize how unqualified she is to be VP. We should hold Republicans accountable for the past 7.5 years and vote them out of office and not let in fighting ruin our chances.
Posted by: Este | September 16, 2008 at 03:45 AM
If he looses in Novemeber:
-A lot of blame will go to Hillary and her supporters
Typical Obama hogwash. When is he going to stand up and acknowledge that he will win or lose this election based on his own merits, based on his own decisions. In essense, when is Obama going to develop a fortitude incumbent in a successful politician?
Posted by: Howard in Virginia | September 16, 2008 at 05:53 AM
Palin is the anti-Hillary. If the Hillary voters are that dumb to vote for McCain because Palin is a woman (and that would be the only reason, because the differences far outweigh the similarities), then I guess there really is no hope for this country.
Posted by: Dave | September 16, 2008 at 06:05 AM
for the sake of the world and the future of your country please don't vote the republicans in. Anybody else please, they have destroyed America in 8 years, your economy is in shambles and afflicting the rest of the world, your military is falling apart, your spending is out of control. Your leaders, care very little about the average american and more about the lobbyist groups and corporate country clubs.
Barack Obama is widely accepted around the world as a very positive step forward in correcting Americas place in the world spotlight. I live abroad and travel all over the world, if you choose to vote for your republicans then your country will become a broken republic. The lies and deception they put out every election campaign are obvious, remember just 4 years ago, the claims the bush party was making, remember 4 years before that?
No candidate is perfect, but this election stems on something much greater then just a war, an economy, and a few popular candidates.
Your country is learning at the rate of a 3rd world country, there are people in your country that live and get as much health care as some 3rd world countries. The biggest, baddest, wealthiest country in the world, does not take care of it's own and spends more money abroad helping other countries then it does for your own people. If your rich in America it's great, if your not, we'll deal with it. Your leaders have failed, you. Don't reward them with another term in office.
Posted by: tad | September 16, 2008 at 06:11 AM
BJ said: "...why should she (Hillary) put herself in the line of fire for Obama?"
How about because Palin stands for everything anathema to Hillary?
Posted by: Ski | September 15, 2008 at 06:46 PM
There are two things that needs to be remembered.
1) By not trashing Palin Hillary is promote int women at the highest position.
2) If she campaign for Obama and he wins he will most likely have two terms. If she runs against Obama she would tare the democratic party apart, and if she won the nomination she would loose the black vote. Where as if McCain wins she can then run against McCain or Palin. In this case it could be Palin and she would insure that a woman would be president!!!!!
Posted by: Curly | September 16, 2008 at 06:16 AM
Do any of you that suggest that Barack should have selected Hilary as his running mate remember the primaries? The 3:00 am wake up call question? The he is not prepared to be the Commander and Chief, only John McCain and I are comment. The Bill Clinton’s comments in South Carolina? There were very few political scholars, experts, pundits that did not agree about the divisiveness in the primaries, mostly spurred by the Clinton campaign. Do you remember when it was mathematically impossible for Hilary to win the nomination as early as April, but yet she continued to push. Do you remember the comment about Bill not getting the nomination until August and her saying that anything could happen and then referencing the Kennedy assassination? Do you understand that the premise of Barack’s campaign is about Change? How can change be represented by the continuation of the Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Clinton cycle? Do you remember how the right was frothing at the mouth and geared up to drag this campaign down into the muck with all of the years and years of filth that they believe they have on the Clintons? DO YOU REMEMBER???
Democrats get over your personal feelings. Hilary lost. She has a place in this campaign and possibly in the Obama administration, but she is not going to be the Vice President of the United States come January.
You all know that John McCain does not represent the policies and agenda that we stand for across the board including: The Economy, Health Care, Taxes, Education, The Wars, Immigration. Do you need more? You certainly know that Sarah Palin is not prepared to lead this Country.
So please tell me how in the world can you honestly be willing to throw everything that you stand for, everything you hope for the future of this Country, by voting for John McCain or worse yet standing on the sideline. Think ahead. Where do you think this Country will be with a McCain / Palin administration. What about the possibility of a Palin Presidency 8 years from now?
DID YOU FORGET OR DO YOU CHOOSE NOT TO REMEMBER?
Posted by: BeReal | September 16, 2008 at 06:17 AM
...huummm lets see Obama sends 30 plus lawyers to Alaska to "rig" a witch hunt for purely political reasons and the messiah clowns wonder why Sarah will not participate in this kangaroo court ...the American people are to smart to pay ant attention to this drivel ...except of coarse the freak fringe of the Obama at any cost crowd...
Posted by: Affirmative Action | September 16, 2008 at 06:20 AM
Obviously people love Hillary and don't remember much from the Clinton years. Maybe these people collect old Coke bottles too. Reading these comments makes me wonder if they really love Hillary that much, or hate Obama even more. Maybe these people should waste their vote on McCain, and get more misery than they bargained for.
Posted by: Frank | September 16, 2008 at 06:21 AM
I was a Hillary supporter until now. I can't accept the fact that she was really vocal and ugly in the primaries against Obama, and now she has nothing to say against PALIN who goes against everything women stand for. This woman even charges women for rape kits. She's just one of the guys. If Hillary really stood for uplifting women, she would speak against Palin. Seems to me she's out for herself. If Palin/Mc cain win this election, I'm going for PALIN for president in 2012... And I think all the religious African Americans and religious women will be backing PALIN 2012 for president.
OBAMA 08
Posted by: HILL OBAMA | September 16, 2008 at 06:29 AM
People are giving Hillary so much credit. All of a sudden, Hillary Clinton is this honorable person much like Reagan was canonized after his death. Now really!!?!! The only democrats who are atleast as dirty as the Republicans are the Clintons. In fact, Hillary Clinton lost because of Bill Clinton. Nobody can argue that Hillary Clinton is not a brilliant woman, however, just like the Clinton name helped it is also the biggest negative she had. Had Obama chosen Hillary, do you really think the Republicans would now be so admiring of her strength and grace--attributes I do not remember seeing throughout the primaries anyway. Listen, Hillary Clinton learned her politics from an early age campaigning with her dad for the Republican party--she's good. What I refuse to accept is that she is being 'decent'--calculating and hoping to make a comeback in a few years? Absolutely! But don't tell me that the Clintons are decent, above the fray, honorable people. We all know better than that.
Posted by: Clara @ Bristol | September 16, 2008 at 06:34 AM
Hillary should do whats right for her. 4 years of McCain, and you know Hillary will have a shot at becoming Prez again. With Nobama, she'd have to wait 8 years.. We'll all have to learn new handshakes - is it bump fists like Obama's wife was teaching the gals at The View..
Also ask yourselves, why is Oprah so wholeheartedly supporting Obama? Definately not because he's the first African american (he's half white and half Africa african). Otherwise she would have put Condi Rice on a pedestal. Somewhere in their dealings he's promised higher taxes on everyone (no secret - plenty of proof on various sites) and I bet a lot of that money will be shipped to Africa, perhaps with Oprah at the helm building more schools there. I say what about America and its children? Why do we have to put up with crappy public schools? Why couldnt Oprah build a model school like she did in Africa in downtown Chicago? There are plenty of poor innercity kids that could turn their lives around and become world leaders.. with the right education.
Posted by: Ralph | September 16, 2008 at 06:49 AM
"Very true, however McCain does not represent a bipartisan middle road approach; he is not the maverick he once was back in 2000. He has promised a very conservative government vs Obama's promise for a liberal one. The switch McCain is not a vote for party cooperation but for a simple switch in partisanship. Instead of working with the democratic congress, i expect he will be vetoing their efforts left and right just like bush has been doing."
Pretty true statement and if you turn it around a bit you can see why conservative and even middle of the roaders have some fear of Obama. Liberal Dem president hooked up with Nancy Pelosi? Checks and balances out the window. There would not be any bi-partisan work going on, it would be only a far left agenda. Scares the crap out of the far right, but also has to be worrysome to many centrists. And some of the HIllary supports were probably centrists.
McCain is a conservative, but he is closer to center. He picked Palin in part to placate the far right. But as VP, who really cares, her influence will be minor in those areas if at all. With a dem congress, you think he'll be able to get a pure conservative onto the supreme court? No. More likely a moderate.
McCain is a lot more centrist than Bush. I see him concentrating on the economy, Iraq and the world - which are all tied together and not worrying much about the far right stuff. He has Palin to lip-service that. He himself does not have a lot of fans in the far right.
Far left president with a far left Pelosi and Dem congress is gonna equal bigger government and higher taxes over time. No doubt.
Posted by: Mark | September 16, 2008 at 06:56 AM
Is it really Mary, or Marcus from San francisco, a flaming liberal? If you were such a strong Republican as you so fervently profusely assert, then in the very next sentence, begin to bash McCain, I dont believe you one iota. You think that with nothing achieved the past 2 years by democrat control, it will all of a sudden change? By a extremely liberal candidate? If you are thinking about the Clinton glory years, do keep in mind, Clinton was more middle of the road,and even looked republican when he cast a lot of his votes. With a Republican congress, a lot got done. We had that with Bush' initial 6 years.. economy was doing great.. then the democrats took office (using the war platform), and look what has happened now. Atleast McCain has promised to use both democrats and Republicans in his cabinet.. I dont see Nobama committing to that.. I would bet he uses all extremely liberal candidates. Everyone knows national healthcare doesnt work.. unless you raise the money by charging 20 percent sales tax as in Canada.. do we want the VAT tax like they have in Europe and everwhere they have social health insurance? I say we charge healthcare by the pound.. If you are 300 pounds, then you pay $300 per month per healthcare policy.. Bet we'd have a lot of lean healthy people quickly, wouldnt we? Also, tax the fast foods and junk foods very highly.. Get them off their fried twinkies real soon..
Posted by: Ralph | September 16, 2008 at 07:00 AM
"Our children are dying in Iraq and Mccain wants to DRAFT them to Iran"
McCain has repeated said he is against a draft, Republicans are typcially against a draft. The only recent support for a military draft recently was an attempt by a Democratic congress member.
Posted by: Mark | September 16, 2008 at 07:03 AM
Hillary Selfish Ambitious... Just killed the DEMOCRATIC PARTY forever.
Think about it: Why would Obama pick Hillary when the republicans had tons of footage of everything bad she said about him? The two they used in the ads were only the beginning. Obama begged and pleaded with her to slow down on some of her remarks, saying they will use this later. She refused, so she didn't get picked. So he picked Biden. Now they selected the first woman, who nows just took half of the democrats most loyal voters. If they go with Palin this time, the will probably stay Palin and maybe even republican for a while. So instead of her disputing with Palin, to keep our loyal women on this side, she gives her a free pass. She attacked Obama more than she's doing now, and he's on her side. She should atleast rally her women supporters to stay democrat if nothing else. Democrats used to have a lock on women, not anymore. IF Mc Cain wins, blacks will not forget the racial undertones Clinton sparked during the primaries, "Whites won't vote for him." If Blacks try to forget that, believe me, there's plenty of republicans who will remind them. And Bill Clintons South Carolina remarks... So there goes the other loyal voters.... Thanks to Hillary, we just lost half our women voters (for not pushing back against Palin) and our black voters (for allowing Mc Cain to win, by not pushing back against Palin).
Obama word of advice: Hillary does not want to speak to women on your behalf, do not, I repeat, DO NOT speak to the black voters in 2012 on behalf of the Clintons. Do like her, just roll the county giving half @$$ stump speeches that your hearts not really in. Let's see how PUMA likes that.
Thank you Hillary...
Democrats 08
Posted by: jerry seinfield | September 16, 2008 at 07:06 AM
If Hillary want's to run in 2012, it's in her interest for Obama to loose. Simple as that.
Nobody can blame her for Obama lose, he and Democratic party did it to themselves.
Posted by: Phillip | September 16, 2008 at 09:28 AM
This is absurd. Hillary was only able to become a Senator in New York because she bought a house there. What experience did she have before that? House wife to the president.
Maybe she performed well hiding, sorry misplacing, documents from congressional investigators. In reality before she was Senator she had no experience of her own in politics other than being First Lady.
And lets examine what the Vice-President actually does, they break ties in the Senate. Wait doesn't doesn't Hillary work there? What exactly has Hillary done? Please list specifics... Accompanying her husband in his duties does not count.
Actually that is a good question other than sponsoring legislation to increase America’s commitment against Global AIDS and co-sponsoring legislation enacted in 2004 to extend tax credits to communities in regions designated as Renewal Communities. I don't believe she has created any laws.
How does that make her qualified? If someone wants to argue this point please point out specifics. You may change my mind of her. Personally, I am for Obama right now because I want a new face in Government that is not as tainted with owing personal favors. There are two people right now who fit that bill, Obama and Palin. The president makes decisions based on experience AND advisement from his team of advisors. They don't make decisions without consultation, there are just too many to make. If your an expert in economics it's unlikely your an expert in foreign policy.
If we were going on experience alone and consider nothing else Condoleezza Rice is the best candidate, having been both National Security Advisor, and Secretary of State, and previously serving on the National Security Council. Credentials no current candidate can compete with. But we don't choose on experience alone do we. So lets be done with that part of the argument.
Posted by: addision | September 16, 2008 at 09:35 AM
For me, it's a simple formula. No theatrics involved.
I was for Hillary Clinton.
If I see an Obama/Clinton ticket, I'll vote for it.
If not, I'm voting for McCain/Palin.
That's my right and I'm sticking to it.
Posted by: Duh! | September 16, 2008 at 10:16 AM
All of the "wounded" Hillary supporters really depress me. I'm sorry that Hillary lost, and you percieve that it was not fair, but the truth is Obama won fair and square. He pulled no more dirty punches than Hillary did (anybody remember the "kitchen sink" strategy?). You may disagree with him on some of his policies, but I can't for the life of me imagine what, since there were only very nuanced differences between Obama and Hillary's policies anyway.
But I ask you to take a very close look at McCain/Palin's policies and see what the represent. Palin believes creationism should be taught in schools. She doesn't believe in a woman's right to choose, even in the case of incest or rape. She even went so far as to make sure that women in her town had to pay for their own rape kits (this is a FACT, go look it up).
And this far right republican mouthpiece would only be a 70+ year old man's heartbeat away from the President's seat! Is this really someone you want to support, purely out of spite!?!
Posted by: Geekmoid | September 16, 2008 at 10:48 AM
What is it about Obama supporters that they do not believe what they have been told over and over? Obama is not fit to be president. That is why democrats and independents are voting for McCain.
You would have to do some research and believe what you refuse to even acknowledge, before you could ever understand, so you just make stuff up.
Posted by: Libby | September 16, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Both Hillary & Bill Clinton should stop campaigning for Barack Hussein Obama. After the way he played the race card on them, He doesn't deserve their support. I am a Hillary supporter but I will never vote for unqualified Obama. Where is Obama & Michelle's current family and friends ? All the other candidates have in-laws or extended family and friends interviewed on TV. No one comes forward and say good things about Obama. Most of his close friends were, ( are ), Rev.Wright, Michael Pfleger, Rezko, Farrakhan and others like this who are now in hiding because of their unamerican practice. Does america really want this type of person as your president ?
Posted by: Reality | September 16, 2008 at 01:26 PM
I think Hillary asked the question best:
Is it about Hillary or is it about the platform of the Democratic Party?
I was a Hillary supporter until South Carolina. Things went down hill after that for me. Hillary stepped away from her own values and listened to advisors who in the end snow balled her candidacy. It's sad.
I'm not impressed with Palin or the idea that the Republican party has done something historical. Now had they offered Hillary Clinton the Republican VP nomination I was be impressed. Alas, I am not
Posted by: SIMONE | September 16, 2008 at 02:50 PM