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Election 2008

Hillary Clinton's Ruthless Campaign

By Steven Rosenfeld, AlterNet. Posted January 31, 2008.


Democrats have long wanted a candidate that can win, but is Hillary's campaign style the only way to take back the White House?
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Democrats have long complained that they need a presidential candidate who knows how to fight and win.

On Tuesday night, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., flew to Florida for a "victory rally" in a state that was awarding no delegates, because it was penalized by national party officials for holding an unauthorized early primary. Last summer, she and the other candidates pledged not to campaign in the Sunshine State. Still, Clinton held the rally, declaring victory on national television. Millions of people in the 22 states who will vote next Tuesday probably saw her, not knowing the Florida vote was moot. And in Florida, Clinton pledged to seat its delegates at the Democratic National Convention.

"Hillary won the highest turnout Democratic primary in Florida history," her website gushed on a page giving daily talking points to supporters. "Hillary received more votes in Florida than Sen. (John) McCain, the winner of the Republican primary. Hillary also received more votes in Florida alone than Sen. (Barack) Obama received in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina."

If Clinton's boast makes you grimace -- she also charged that Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was first to break the DNC's no-campaigning pledge by running a national cable ad that was seen in Florida and by getting good press after winning big in South Carolina -- then these brazen moves give a very clear view of Clinton's leadership style. Regardless of her center-left positions on issues, Hillary Clinton is fighting to win.

In fact, there may be no better illustration of the divide-and-conquer style of politics that Obama seeks to overcome than the tactics of his most aggressive rival, Clinton.

"The (Florida) vote turned out to be more than symbolic," Mark Penn, Clinton's chief strategist said in an email Tuesday night, spinning the result. "Well over 1.5 million Democrats cast their ballots, more than twice the number of voters who came out to vote in the 2004 primary. Most of the voters in Florida fully expect that their votes will not be wasted again -- they (expect) to have a voice at the convention, and Hillary has asked her delegates to support their being seated."

Penn omitted any mention of labor union organizing for Clinton in Florida, which could be construed as a violation of the no-campaigning pledge. In contrast, Obama did not use major surrogates in the state. While no campaign can control all of its supporters, candidate Obama stayed away.

Such finessing of the nominating process was not Clinton's first attempt to win delegates with the help of state party officials. In New Hampshire, Democratic officials helped to block Obama volunteers from observing who signed in to vote at precincts -- thwarting their get-out-the-vote efforts. In Nevada, party officials turned away blue-collar voters at precincts in Las Vegas casinos that were thought to be Obama strongholds, informing clearly upset voters they had to work an afternoon shift that day to participate. Clinton's campaign also gave out a manual telling precinct captains to lock caucus doors a half-hour early. Obama's campaign formally complained to party officials.


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See more stories tagged with: barack obama, election 2008, hillary clinton

Steven Rosenfeld is a senior fellow at Alternet.org and co-author of What Happened in Ohio: A Documentary Record of Theft and Fraud in the 2004 Election, with Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman (The New Press, 2006).

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Hillary will reduce America to a pile o rubble.
Posted by: magus65 on Jan 31, 2008 12:37 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Under Hitlery men and women wil be equal in suffering under a fascist dictatorship. Yeah, or something.

Vote Hitlery if you hate America.

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» Inadmissible! Posted by: pierrot
Clinton, bab bad bad
Posted by: samurai on Jan 31, 2008 1:27 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I don't mind a few dirty tricks or aggressive posturing (it's quite needed against Repugs). But the Clintonian race baiting was just too much to stomach. If they win, they will have lost all moral standing in the Democratic Party.

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» Help Posted by: joseph_b26
Urgh Hillary
Posted by: The Debator on Jan 31, 2008 2:32 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I have been watching Hillary and Bills antics closely and must say that just when I think I cannot be more disgusted they manage to find an entirely new level of disgust in me. I hope enough people catch on to these two soon enough to prevent putting her up for the nomination, particularly when we have such a great candidate being pulled down by their behavior.

I mean really - if they lie and cheat to win the nomination - what makes you think they won't do the same to the American people? They already disenfranchised voters from the democratic process with their lies and tactics.

Anyway, they are playing 'positive' now (no doubt doing all kinds of negative behind the scenes) and if Obama counter-punches for too long they will try and turn it around like he is the negative one (well, they already are trying to do that). So for now, Obama needs to get back on message.

Wouldn't it be dismally disappointing if the first female President was this lady as a role model? Give me a woman who worked her way up, no ex-President husband, with strong values and integrity and the ability to inspire. Now that is a female president worth hanging out for.

PS. did you include in their sins the mailer that went out the day prior to the New Hampshire vote that made false allegations about Obama's pro-choice position? Polls wrong? Hidden racism? Hillary's tears? Nah - lies that people fell for and it was too late to clear it up.

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I was always a fan of Hillary
Posted by: g50 on Jan 31, 2008 2:36 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I liked her, I liked her husband - even despite disenchantment in the 2000 election with Clintonian neoliberalism.

But it is clear to me now that Hillary's relationship to the public is that of an abuser to the abused, where we have to put up with her BS, she never admits to the clear concerns we have, she is deliberately dishonest about her actions, and she constantly disrespects our intelligence and integrity with a condescending and uncharitable attitude.

At this point, her campaign is basically assaulting the electorate with every available weapon in the modern political arsenal. Which is exactly what the Bush team did.

Not to mention her divisiveness has probably paralyzed Democrats so much so that we will succeed in grabbing defeat from the jaws of victory.

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Lady Macbeth
Posted by: Wessex on Jan 31, 2008 4:30 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
LADY MACBETH: Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o' the milk of human kindness
To catch the nearest way.

Now that the last vestige of real Democrats is gone...

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Vote Hillary...
Posted by: rwmk12 on Jan 31, 2008 4:37 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There is a reason the major media is voraciously promoting hillary, and I sincerely doubt it is because she is an agent of change, and an advocate for the middle class. So many dirty tricks, like playing the race card, which leave me wondering how so many can constantly be dupped. The Bill Clinton years saw the rise of service/minimum wage jobs, and the exportation of higher paying manufacturing jobs, but you aren't going to hear that on abc, fox, or cnn. Turn off your tvs. Unfortunately, you can't be an agent of change if you are a voyeur of the great spectacle of the political monologue. Democracy can't be a reality TV show, nor is it a rant on alternet.

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Ya want to hear a sermon, find a church.
Posted by: davescott on Jan 31, 2008 5:24 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The author wrote "Seasoned and cynical political observers will say presidential politics is not for anyone who is naïve enough to run purely on principle. They say it is not about being honest; it is about winning. And they say the Democratic nominating contest will be a cakewalk compared to the contest with Republicans in the fall, necessitating a strong and seasoned candidate to retake the presidency." Pretty much sums up my view. Ya wanna hear a sermon, pull out the Yellow Pages and look under "Churches, Mosques and Synagogues." And please stop pretending that Barack Obama is above all these things. His goddamn front yard is owned by a sleazebag contributor.

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Clarity Appreciated
Posted by: Urstrly on Jan 31, 2008 5:36 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Thanks, Steve Rosenfeld, for your synopsis of the Nevada and Florida Democratic results. I was away during these votes and have searched without success for an account of what really happened.

Like many, I fear that the election of Hillary Clinton to the presidency will result in the same morning-after sickness I felt with the Democrats "won" Congress in 2006. What's the point of power if you don't use it to repair the transgressions committed by your opponents?

The Clintons have the Democratic game down, and Obama promises to change it. Whether he can succeed will depend on how many new voters enter the process; the rank and file seems to have signed on for Hillary. Progressives had better get serious about registering new voters and making sure that registration sticks at the polls. I don't want to wake up in November 2008 and feel the election was stolen--by anyone.

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Vote Hillary...
Posted by: cboldon on Jan 31, 2008 6:04 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I think HIllary gets a lot of bad press b/c so much of the media doesn't like her husband Bill..and I think there are still some people in the country that just dont want to vote for a woman...some people aren't ready to put a woman into the presidential office that has a brain...Hillary is a strong woman and a smart woman...when her husband was in office, she helped run the country then and our economy was the best it had ever been in my generation. There were better paying jobs, and better insurance @ the workplace....the unemployment was at an all-time low....I feel in my opinion, Barack O'Bama is just telling the public what they want to hear...I don't trust him....I trust Hillary...I think the media needs to keep their noses out of stuff...they'll report everything negative that they can about Hillary, but O'Bama or John McCain can do whatever they wanted that was bad and it wouldn't get reported...I'll vote Hillary, at least I'll be able to afford medicine for my children and put food on their plates for them to be fed...and with her in office, the economy will be a lot better...my children will be able to enjoy a better lifestyle just as I will...

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» RE: Vote Hillary... Posted by: BCcovers
» RE: Hillary is Bill, Bill is Hillary Posted by: laurababy0105
» RE: Vote Hillary... Posted by: desidid
irked
Posted by: embennett65 on Jan 31, 2008 6:08 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
You've just gotta love the writer's remark about New York NOW. How dare they express that they disagree with Kennedy?

And what "spoils" would NOW be sharing in if Clinton took the White House? I know, us catty women should just be quiet and stop "clawing" our way toward safeguards for reproductive rights and equal pay for equal work.

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» RE: irked Posted by: El Hombre Malo
» RE: irked Posted by: Raina Dale
» RE: irked Posted by:
» RE: irked Posted by: jmooney
CARPE JUGULUM
Posted by: quinndiesel on Jan 31, 2008 6:21 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I for one, am sick of watching democrats cower, and play mr nice guy. We have watched our power base erode because our representation has played Mr. Niceguy. We have always been the party of the concientious, caring, intellectual, and we stand by and smile as we watch ourselves get Willie Hortoned, Gored, and Swift Boated. Most of the pieces people have written about Hillary, including Alternet, is sensationalized, intellectually dishonest, or dead wrong. Its finally time that we have somebody willing to fight, because the Republicans will pull no punches in this fight. They are backed into a corner. Its time to win, and win decisively. Its time for Hillary. Carpe Jugulum!

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KAEL
Posted by: KAEL on Jan 31, 2008 6:25 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Those of us watching for HC to stay the course were appalled at BO's calling her correct statement of the relationship between grass roots movements and legislative outcomes, MLK and Johnson, race baiting. With this I saw race baiting coming first from BO and the cowering in the face of celebrity main stream press. BO is a man with a promising future as a Great American Leader. HC is a Great American Leader. BO would not get the time of day from us if he were not black or if he were a black woman - and his supporters cannot abide that fact - so they pander to the left in the country with this trollope. Witness the Sat night debate a couple of weeks back - she won it hands down on the issues. When will those of us who will vote in Nov get back to issues? BO's supporters have turned this election into a long episode of American Idol.

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» RE: KAEL Posted by: BCcovers
Quan
Posted by: QCao009 on Jan 31, 2008 6:37 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
There are always two sides to any story, and in this election campaign, which started seemingly eons ago, and is just concluding its first stage, several observations deserve your thoughtful eye:

1. The two parties are indeed quite different on the trail. As disastrous and as immoral as this Administration has been for our country and for the world, it is sacrilegious for any Republican to dare say so, including Ron Paul. And so, the once abused and dissed has now become the annointed and we have lemmings tripping all over each other on the podium and falling in line for another mission accomplished, play up the fear act. On the other hand, the other party allows room for discussion and for differences and so the media plays up the chaos factor since there's no hierarchy, no scripted mantra, no one savior and the mainstream press calls it disorganization and dissension.

2. It's interesting to see Alternet and the blogosphere now become THE VOICE and so instead of the corporate-owned mainstream media now setting the standard, a new line of thought is coopted and spun into oblivion. After a while there is little difference left once a "news" item appears on dailykos, because the line is spun the next day on CNN and MSNBC. It just leaves real spinners like FOX all confused and sputtered because once again, their niche has been taken over. How do we tell the difference with Kristol next to Dowd in the Times and Bennett next to Brazile on CNN ? Black and white have become intermingled and after a while, the average American is led to the shopping mall while his job is being outsourced and his car and house repossessed. And yet candidates continue to sell hope as if ice cream will not melt in the heat of these mean streets.

3. We are a hopeful people but we also are a nation of amnesiacs and slow learners. Our "non-activist" Court gave 43 one term and then we the people gave him another without remembering the disastrous term for 41 and sainthood for 40. We are all ready now to buy into another love potion number 9 just because it will dull our pain. Pull the lever and go back to sleep, we have been promised by our candidates and our free press.

In the final outcome, we pride ourselves so much for knowing this democracy business. Are we any better than the fingerpainted Iraquis, whose country we have managed to turn to shambles to assuage our fear of "not fighting the terrorists here"? In the final outcome, if it is all about courage, our own personal courage, will we allow Dick Cheney and George Bush who never served a day to convince us of their courage? Are we that naive?

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» RE: Quan Posted by: Knot_Rich
Now that Edwards is out. . .
Posted by: left-leaning-libertarian on Jan 31, 2008 7:14 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I am throwing my support to Obama in spite of some reservations about his experience and lack of willingness to take clear stands on many issues. I doubt there could be a more striking contrast in the general election than that of Obama versus McCain; this will give us a very clear referendum on the war in Iraq if nothing else. Clinton has finessed, triangulated and compromised her position on just about everything (especially the war) to a point where one can't trust her at all; one wishes she could learn to be as "positively vague" (or is it "vaguely positive?") as Obama; at least you have a sense that Obama cares about the country and not just himself.

As for Bill and Hillary; I have lost all respect for them in the space of six weeks. The racially-tinged put-downs, the denegrating remarks and outright race baiting are inexcusable! Add to this their very real efforts to suppress voter turnout (I thought the GOP had a monopoly on that filthy, un-American game!) and the picture becomes alarmingly clear.

For all the good things she has done or tried to do, Hillary has shown us a pettiness and a lack of moral courage that feeds the stereotypes of the "vast rightwing conspiracy" she once derided. She comes off as little more than a spoiled princess with a pornographically-over-developed sense of entitlement and I will have none of her.

At least with Obama there's a slim chance that things might change for the better.

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Thank you Ralph Nader for Obama
Posted by: cognitorex on Jan 31, 2008 7:19 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Thank you Ralph Nader for Obama
.
When we awake in early November, McCain having lost to Obama and both the Senate and House firmly Democratic we need give thanks to the prime mover of these events.
Ralph Nader declared that there was no discernible choice between the parties and personally engineered eight venal years of 'win at all cost' Republican rule.
That right versus wrong and ethics and honor are being aired as themes of action today rather than lip service parodies is the direct result of Mr. Nader's bringing us the myriad Gonzales, Rove, DeLay cross wearing blood suckers.
Ralph changed the discourse whether Bill/Hill noticed or not.
It's about hope now although my fingers are crossed in a death lock hoping that sufficient courage will materialize to make the rhetoric real.

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» Get off Ralph! Posted by: jmooney
Back off of Hillary
Posted by: SackofWoe0 on Jan 31, 2008 7:19 AM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
All of you so called Women, need to get a grip and support the smart woman Hillary who is running for the highest office in the US. Now we all know the Men in this country have a hard time with this prospect, but so what. And Alternet, you don't speak for me either. Your getting as bad as Fox and all the other so called free media/press. SUPPORT HILLARY NOW!

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» RE: Back off of Hillary Posted by: laurababy0105
» RE: Back off of Hillary Posted by: thealltheone
» No Posted by: Sil
» RE: Back off of Hillary Posted by: VZEQICVA
Hillary a leftist?
Posted by: bobzcohen on Jan 31, 2008 7:42 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What "center-left positions on issues"? Support for permanent forces in Iraq, opposition to single-payer health insurance, opposition to public funding of elections? Where is Hillary "center-left" except the author's imagination?

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» Where was all this before? Posted by: nherkowitz
» RE: Hillary a leftist? Posted by: desidid
» RE: Hillary a leftist? Posted by: jmp3954
Voters count
Posted by: lowdowndog on Jan 31, 2008 7:43 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Regardless of whether you like Clinton or Obama, does anyone think it's a good idea to discount or be dismissive of more than a million and a half Democratic voters in Florida? Isn't there a little unpleasant history of votes not counting down there? If the DNC is so stupid as to ignore an enthusiastic voter turn-out in Michigan and Florida, the Republicans will be in the white house again. The DNC will seat the delegates. They can't afford not to.

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» RE: Voters count Posted by: Magginkat
» RE: Voters count Posted by:
» RE: Voters count (correct) Posted by: jmooney
By the way
Posted by: lowdowndog on Jan 31, 2008 7:51 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
By the way, Obama ran a national ad that played on CNN and MSNBC and played in Florida prior to the primary. I call this campaigning. Clinton did not campaign in Florida as agreed but went there after the polls closed to thank the voters. I see nothing wrong with this.

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» RE: By the way Posted by: Magginkat
a doubleheader
Posted by: tirebiter on Jan 31, 2008 7:53 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
hey hillary people... the florida shame will fade away, the endorsement by the ny post means murdoch will be the next vice-president. what's the big deal? you ho girl!

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Honesty is the best way
Posted by: jeffrey7 on Jan 31, 2008 8:15 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
We need to be Honset with the country to win an election. That's something we've never been.
So I'll get this ball rolling. Here's some truth;
Saddam,the Taliban,Bin Ladin were all puppets of this government back in the 1980's.
Iran was our 'friend' in the 1970's.
Our rights under the Constitution and the Bill of Rights was secretly watered down to almost nothing while America was glued to the O.J. trial.
Bush 1 stole money from Social Security to end 18% interest rates. There was never a cost of living increase for SSD and SSI recipients during all of the Bush 1 administration.
This government is the biggest importer and distributer of 'hard drugs' and has been since before the Vietnam War.
9/11 was a collusion of many forces including our own government dating back to the first WTC 'attack' during Bush 1.
The Iraq War is and always has been a Bush Family vendetta, an act of revenge for Saddam using the Chem weapons we sold him on targets Saddam chose and not just the ones we chose for him,the Iranians.
By it's poor emmissions policies the government is allowing big business to poison all of us for generations to come. Why? Big business OWNS our government.
If we want a true nation back we need someone who will stand before the world,admit the mistakes made and insure the perps get prison terms and not elected terms.
Draft Jeffrey7 for Prez '08
www.youtube.com/RevJeffrey7

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» Get your Facts Straight Posted by: BCcovers
» RE: Get your Eyes Opened Posted by: jeffrey7
» RE: Get your Eyes Opened Posted by: BCcovers
» RE: Get your Eyes Opened Posted by: jeffrey7
Thanks but no thanks
Posted by: SunDog on Jan 31, 2008 8:20 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Rather than refer to NOW's whining about Kennedy, the press release that should be included in the piece from NOW's New York State Chapter is from 1/11/08: Psychological Gang Bang of Hillary is Proof We Need a Woman President." WHAT THE?? I'm a woman, I'm supposed to support HRC *just because* she's a woman??? Yeah right. Real women choose a candidate based on a variety of issues--it's laughable to think of all the women who support HRC just because she has a vagina too.

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» I agree with Jane... Posted by: jmooney
Isn't Ruthless a Bit Extreme?
Posted by: BayAreaVoter on Jan 31, 2008 8:43 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Whether one agrees with the opinion above (and I don't) isn't RUTHLESS just another slap at Hillary that doesn't even reflect the gist of the article?

The Democrats are in the minority in the Florida state govt and the Republican governor and state legislature pushed thru the early primary date. So why did the DNC punish the voters of Florida? Florida looks more like the rest of the country than Iowa or N Hampshire.

And you can bet that if BO had won the primary and with those huge numbers no one would have said he shouldn't have gone down there AFTER the polls closed. And he did run national tv and cable ads like other people have stated.

Hillary was joined on stage at the winning rally by some great democrats: Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, Alcee Hastings, a Florida mayor and Sen Ben Nelson. THEY obviously thought it was a meaningful win. More democrats voted in Florida than in N Hampshire, Nevada, Iowa and S Carolina combined. So, yes, it was a big win.

And why shouldn't she be there to thank the people on the ground who helped make it happen?

Obama, as usual, acts like a baby when things don't go his way.

And Alternet, like the rest of the media, bashes Hillary as ruthless over nothing.

Keep writing negative headlines like this one and you will see a huge backlash from Hillary voters who are sick of the unfair treatment by the msm and left media. I'm doing all I can to help get Hillary elected.

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» RE: Isn't Ruthless a Bit Extreme? Posted by: nochicagoboys
» RE: Isn't Ruthless a Bit Extreme? Posted by: nomomorons
The ends do NOT justify the means.
Posted by: monkeywrench on Jan 31, 2008 9:18 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
If you have to act like the enemy to beat the enemy, then you have become the enemy.

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intangibles you can't see them but they are there
Posted by: solrev on Jan 31, 2008 9:18 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I see virtually no difference between Obama and Clinton. In fact I would even throw McCain into the same group. All the real change candidates on either side are gone. I am a gambler and in gambling we have a term “intangibles”. Anyone can play the stats but winners play the intangibles well. I do not see any ruthless behavior in any of the politician’s campaigns. Politicians go after voter blocks and try to appear different from their opponent. However when I look at the intangibles it appears that the demons are doing every thing they can do to lose. However, there is a really good trick that Clinton and Obama could have up their sleeve. I think that McCain and Huckabee are playing a really good game. If they win on Tuesday and knock out Romney, there is only one way the demons can win. Is Clinton and Obama laying in the weeds and playing a really good game also, too early to tell. It could be real easy for the demons to self-destruct.

The intangibles for Romney are few; in a poor economy, you need a good businessman like me. As for everything else “if I knew then what I know now, I would not have been for it before I was against it”. The repuks are trying to redefine themselves after the Bush delusion, and there is a core there someplace but Romney will just not fit the bill. He appeals to the white male manager types, personally I would prefer Richardson as manager. I do not think even with all his money he can survive. If he is such a good businessman maybe he should not waste his money.

The intangibles for McCain are great. He already solidified the hero dogs of war Giulis, which was easily predictable in the beginning. The best is that McCain and Huckabee are running a tag team match. The whole southeast is Baptist land. Huckabee will win some and thump Romney in the rest. Eventually he will throw his support to McCain, and it is better than even money he will get to be the running mate. An old dog and a Baptist dog of war have to be better than that evangelical dog of war.

The intangibles for Clinton at first glance with such high negs, seems like an oxymoron. However the kid is the greatest politician I have ever seen, he can only be a plus. If you want to secure the gender vote make the vote about race, slickwilly at it again. Change goes with the turf in this election and benefits both demons; money is also about equal. Name recognition and a repuk movement to make her the match up is on her side. The old white power structure of the party is backing her no matter what Kennedy says.

The intangibles for Obama out side the media circus are really slim. The I have a dream machine is generating a lot of support from the young and that can’t be all bad, kind of reminds me of the dreams of the sixties. The black vote seems to be aligning with him, but the gender trade off minimizes this.

The demons self-destruct in the national velvet race. Clinton wins but the black vote backlashes and stays home. The disillusionment of youth and they go party. The mamas and the papas are not enough. The repuk tag team wins by a narrow margin.

The trickster, slickwilly rides again, make it a tag team match. The black south against the Baptist south, the mamas and the papas and the babes against the dogs of war, and most important of all “the times they are a changin”. Demons win by a landslide.

Issues who cares there is nothing going to change, but ain’t it fun. Place your bet.

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» what about the tangibles? Posted by: thealltheone
"Claws her way to victory"?
Posted by: agathena on Jan 31, 2008 9:59 AM   
Current rating: 2    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
"candidate claws her way to victory"

I do not believe Mr. Rosenfeld would use the word "claws" if writing about a man.

How would that sound?

"Romney claws his way to victory."

Terms like that are very revealing and they destroy any idea that the writer is being objective.

I'm a Canadian which allows me a little perspective and I'm beginning to notice more than a little misogyny creeping into the punditry.

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» RE: "Claws her way to victory"? Posted by: thealltheone
Borrowed from Kos
Posted by: jarbyus on Jan 31, 2008 10:16 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I had to sit through this same thread on Kos, where all of the factual errors about Clinton were overturned. I cannot believe that Alternet would repeat the same hit-piece with an error-laden spin on the Florida vote.

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Love your mother; vote Obama
Posted by: nomomorons on Jan 31, 2008 10:26 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Will you puh-lease get off the mantra that if you don't like Hillary you don't like women? I am a liberal feminist with a long record of working for the cause. I have never liked Hillary because she is the epitome of the non-feminist who uses men (and women) to manipulate to her advantage. She cares for only one woman and that is herself! Plus, her record is horrid; NAFTA, 'don't ask, don't tell," welfare to work debacle, de-reg of utilities and telecoms and financial giants--all her buddies.

Kindly stop this nonsense that she is the one to represent womanhood; that would have been Ann Richards, and Hillary is no Ann Richards! We'll have to wait for another one like Ann. In the meantime, Obama is the best candidate to work for the issues that matter to women.

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» RE: Love your mother; vote Obama Posted by: thealltheone
Faking love for Hillary
Posted by: sleepingdog on Jan 31, 2008 10:35 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Obama has garnered much support from very key figures while he was trailing miserably on a NATIONAL scale (Ted was just looking for that for sure win in SC). It's obvious that Hillary had lost support from the party even before the election began. Sure Hillary's got her base, but this is indicative that a good part of the Dem party in DC is not happy with her and the way she runs her campaign (its ok vs the repubs, but not vs your own)

I have a good feeling that Edwards dropped out to allow the two to have a race, instead of going for a brokerage at the convention and maybe scoring the Veep slot, just to see if Obama can do better with the Dem voting base and bring the party together. He must be sick of the ugly politics. If im right, he will refrain from endorsing anyone and stick to the sidelines for now.

if im wrong he will endorse Hillary and it will all be over soon.

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Are you kidding me?!
Posted by: Markson on Jan 31, 2008 11:11 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Axelrod is running Obama's campaign for crying out loud and you honestly think it's Hillary that's running the ruthless campaign or that somehow her tactics stand out?! My God! Obama uses homophobic bigots as campaign supporters, exploiting hate to gain votes, and yet Clinton is targeted for bullshit while Obama gets away with everything.

I'm a (now former) Edwards supporter, but it's astounding how ridiculously transparent it is to deny voters the chance to choose their candidate.

Obama has the least progressive domestic policies and yet he's the one pushed by every corporate press hack possible and now Alternet is in on it. Where the hell were you when Edwards was being ignored and smeared?

Fuck, we're screwed.

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» RE: Are you kidding me?! Posted by: agathena
Hillary's tactics
Posted by: mooseman01 on Jan 31, 2008 11:16 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I certainly hope so! You "play ball" acting the wuss with the Republicans and they will shove the bat in your face.

Get off it! Wuss campaign on "principles only" is a sure step of falling into a Republican.

If Hillary shouldn't bare knuckle it herself I sure hope she hires some tough bare knuckle pals.

These current thugs do not play by the rules, witness the Florida 2004 elections as well as Ohio and elsewhere.

In "the old days" when the bosses hired mafia type thugs to beat up organizers, the ILGWU bought their own muscle.

Whimpering after-the-fact fills newspapers tv and academia briefs while the other guys laugh.

I want Hillary to have every possible weapon at her disposal and the wits and wherewithal to use them.

Remember what Bush did to McCain in 2004, the Swift Boaters and more?

We are not heading for a tea party.

I am certain that most of the electorate will know understand feel and react correctly if they think Hillary or anyone else crosses that invisible line of legal and or moral boundaries to their own taste, not those of pundits and hangers-on.

Why do I think that the Democrats of Boston and Chicago know exactly what is needed and how to get it?

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If Hillary upsets you one little bit, then vote for the
Posted by: NotNeoCon on Jan 31, 2008 11:27 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
fascists bastards that she's tring to replace. Some of you spineless turds make me sick!

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» RE: for g50 Posted by: thealltheone
Hillary's Ruthless Campaign???
Posted by: JacklynD on Jan 31, 2008 11:44 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
As a 59-year-old career woman who has raised a family, I find this headline extremely offensive and totally indicative of the struggle women continue to have for equality. There is no question that Hillary is being judged differently than the other candidates. She has had a microscope up her behind for years and despite the numerous allegations of wrong doing nothing has ever been proven true. She has spent her life in public service and I trust her to do right by this country. She has good instincts, a steel backbone and will select well-qualified creative individuals for prominent positions. There is a lot of damage to be repaired in our country and elbow grease and common sense are exactly what we need.

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Also a former Clinton enthusiast
Posted by: commonsensepoliticstoday on Jan 31, 2008 12:23 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Of course I heard a lot of character attacks on the Clintons during Bill's presidency, but I defended them vigorously and agreed wholeheartedly that the much ado about Bill's womanizing ways was a right-wing conspiracy. I also thought nostalgically of the 90s and Bill's presidency, and was eagerly looking forward to supporting Hillary's run for president to have Bill and Hill restore the country as we used to know it.

When Obama came along, though, I was torn. I ultimately decided to support him because I thought he was a superior candidate for the issues we face today, but was delighted that I'd have Hillary as an alternative. No biggie on who really won the nomination.

But I saw what happened during this presidential campaign, and I'm truly sorry to say, I've become a Hillary hater. I feel betrayed and manipulated. I witnessed what happened in Nevada -- I was there. The doors closing at 11:30, the instructions by the Hillary campaign to go negative on the other candidates, to do everything short of illegal. The lies on Obama's record, and the rhetoric that changed as polls brought up different issues. And, scariest of all for me, her ruthless campaign to shove race and gender as the choices to be made in this election. Hillary used race and gender, historically the most pernicious, shameful parts of our history, the most divisive of issues, and brought them to the painful forefront of our consciousness -- so she could win.

This is cannibalistic.

As a woman myself, I'm all for a female president, sometime very soon, I hope. But not any woman, and definitely not Hillary.

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» RE: Also a former Clinton enthusiast Posted by: thealltheone
» NEVER a former Clinton enthusiast Posted by: nochicagoboys
Women Don't Have to Support Hilary
Posted by: Kym525 on Jan 31, 2008 2:18 PM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Just because she's a woman. I'm a woman, a feminist and I'm voting for Barack Obama.

And not because he's black.

I like Hilary and respect her as a strong and passionate leader. I liked her as a first lady because she stood up and tried to enact change, such as universal health care--and as I recall was dragged through the mud for it. However, I have been disillusioned by her support for Bush's warmongering. I truly thought she would have done the right thing and taken him to the mat for it.

I don't know how many times so-called feminists try to bully other feminists into going along with their agenda by playing "who's more feminist than thou". I am disgusted by NOW's idiotic op-ed piece castigating Ted Kennedy because he lacks a uterus. Hmm, Ann Coulter once said that she didn't think women should have ever had the right to vote. Phyllis Schafly of the Eagle Forum helped to defeat the Equal Rights Amendment (in case you don't remember). We have "surrendered wives" who think giving all control to their husbands isn't a bad thing. Having a pair of breasts and a vagina doesn't automatically mean all women have each other's best interests at heart.

What really bothers me is when these so-called "feminists" always try to make gender more important than race. They always harp on the fact that black men had the right to vote before women. Well ladies, just in case you were too busy putting on your lipstick or ogling the star quarterback to pay attention in history class, black men only had the right to vote IN THEORY. In practice there were poll taxes, literacy tests and serious voter intimidation courtesy of the Knights of the Klu Klux Klan which included getting beaten or killed for even attempting to cast a ballot. So actually, black PEOPLE didn't get the right to vote until the late 1960's with the Voting Rights Act--several decades AFTER the 19th Amendment. And the Voting Rights Act is still not firmly encoded into law, as all the voter fraud in 2000 and 2004 proved.

Obama doesn't have all the experience that Hilary has, true. But he does have hope and he does have as much passion and drive. It's time we turned the page on so-called "experience" and go with someone who will bring a new dialogue to the political process.

Obama '08. 'Nuff said.

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Obama's Principles?
Posted by: pagebike on Jan 31, 2008 3:08 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
What a fabrication. Obama's campaign has no more principles than my dog does. He is as crooked a politician as anyone there ever was from Chicago. Just look at his Rezko real estate deal for the lot next to his house. Rezko buys the vacant lot as a favor to Obama, then six months later he sells a portion of the lot to Obama. That is fraud. Obama uses his position to enrich himself. His best friend is an indicted mobster.

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» RE: Obama's Principles? Posted by: agathena
Now that Edwards is out...
Posted by: Landbaron on Jan 31, 2008 3:50 PM   
Current rating: 1    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
I'm turning republican, It looks like most of you dems don't know what's good for you. Wait and see, the republican candidate will win. lololol

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