In the next three weeks, we're going to see a whole lot of ugly

[cali]

from the Clinton Campaign.

It's not that Hillary can't win the primary if she loses one or both of the first 2 contests. It's that her campaign fears how doing so seriously weakens her as a general election candidate. She's willing to take the heat from a segment of the base in order to put away Bernie. And that means she'll say anything to avoid losing Iowa, in particular.

The Clintons have always been willing to go scorched earth. So expect swarms of high profile surrogates as well as the candidate to 'stoop to conquer'.

Expect to hear Socialist over and over. Expect SuperPac ads with ominous music. Expect a rebirth of the charges of racist and sexist. And just when you think they can't go any lower, they will.

[daleanime]

1. Unfortunately.....

it will be no surprise.

[cali]

2. It's a gamble.

[Nay]

16. What's terrible is that it was the sort of gamble she took in 2008, and it

helped her lose the nomination. I'm flabbergasted that she thinks it will work this time. She really doesn't seem to learn from her mistakes.

[cali]

17. She thinks it will work because Bernie doesn't have establishment backing

[Le Taz Hot]

3. And each and every one will backfire.

None of it, NONE OF IT has stuck to Bernie. Just the opposite. This shit is blowing back on her HARD. They've way underestimated how pissed off voters are and the DNC tipping the scale in her favor poured fuel on the fire.

[daleanime]

7. +1

[winter is coming]

19. +1. The debate schedule was an incredibly stupid opening move.

I'm sure she and DWS convinced themselves that it wouldn't matter because Bernie was just a "fringe" candidate, but they were so very wrong. Here's the thing about a "fringe" candidate who's managed to get elected to the Senate: he got there the hard way, by doing a metric shit-ton of retail politics. They should have realized he'd be capable of winning over voters as he has done.

[Betty Karlson]

4. Yes, I'm bracing myself all right...

[thereismore]

5. Attacking Bernie on guns from the left and single payer from the right is no winning formula. nt

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. There's a good chance of a backlash from the voters who are sick of politics-as-usual.

I expect that she, or her lapdogs, will go too far and she'll be playing a lot of CYA as a result.

[safeinOhio]

8. As bad as it may seem

just look at the Republican party and what's going on over there. We are doing just fine.

[MineralMan]

9. We're gonna see a whole lot of ugly

from all sides, I'm sure. And not just for the next three weeks, either. Nothing will change about that.

[cali]

11. Nope. Bernie won't go there. His history backs that up.

[MineralMan]

13. I'm not necessarily talking about the candidates, cali.

[cali]

14. My op is about campaigns and candidates. Not supporters on the internet

[MineralMan]

15. And my reply was about more than that.

I'm not restricted to replying only to what you said, I think. Perhaps I missed a memo or something.

[CoffeeCat]

10. Bring it!

I'll tell you where this nonsensical, attack politicking does not work. Iowa.

We are repelled and insulted by attacks, because we know they are baloney. And right now, we know that attacks are even more ridiculous because Clinton is engaging in these tactics to recoup her loss of support in Iowa.

When she attacks now, we get what she's doing. So these attacks look hollow and desperate. So, Hillary can go ahead and attack Bernie in Iowa, because it will definitely help Bernie.

This is exactly what she did to Obama toward the end of the 2008 caucus season. She panicked because he started to overtake her in the polls. Suddenly, the Hillary camp went nuclear, thinking that they were oh-so smart. Clinton sent in surrogates. She went on the warpath against Obama. Vile things were said about him. Mailers were distributed.

It all backfired. Obama's small lead (3 points) turned into a caucus win by 8 points. And Hillary came in third, even behind Edwards.

I can't overstate how much Iowans hate this kind of attack politics. We take our first-in-the-nation status seriously. We are humbled and proud that we are the first to vote. We want to do a good job. We look at attacks as a waste of our time. We want solid information. Honest contrast. We don't need a candidate and their flunky surrogates sauntering around our state with their hair on fire acting like bullies and crazy people.

[Robbins]

12. I predicted this

I knew it would get ugly and it's only starting.

expect her to be in full attack mode in sunday's debate.

I didn't think she would send her daughter to do her dirty work for her though.

this is all about trying to turn bernie's postive numbers into negatives.she is using the bush playbook from 2004 that he used
against Kerry.

[winter is coming]

20. Maybe she hoped he'd respond to Chelsea in a way that could be spun as an unfair personal attack.

To us, it seems dead stupid, but maybe it looked like a cunning plan inside the Hillary bubble.

[Dretownblues]

26. Yep

And Clair Mcsicall attacked Bernie for not have more Senate endorments today.

[in_cog_ni_to]

23. Bernie has the INTERNET WARRIORS! They will respond within minutes of her lies.

That's not going to work in this campaign. The internet is a game changer.
Everyone now has Smartphones, tablets or laptops and have instantaneous access to news. She can't lie about Bernie and have it go unanswered.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[Ferd Berfel]

21. What? Hilary and Bernie are going to Debate naked?!

[randome]

27. Nothing but the naked truth.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. The more she attacks Bernie with lies and he responds as the gentleman he is, with facts to counter

her lies, the worse she's going to look and the better he looks. I don't think the Clinton slash and burn politics is going to work on Bernie.

His supporters know him. They know, without a shadow of a doubt, he's a good decent man. And being the most trusted, honest and ethical politician in DC doesn't hurt him either, but will hurt HRH because people will never believe her lies.

She better be very, very careful with her attacks and they better be based on FACTS.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[senz]

24. I know. I watched it in 2008.

How did we ever let this person advance one inch after that? What was done to coerce Obama into giving them a position they could then use to drag this country down once more into the gutter for another display of mad, scorched earth ambition?

It's like the repeat of a bad movie. Although now the stakes are even higher.

I'm glad you're tough, cali. I want you to be very careful to preserve yourself on this board -- and this goes for all the DU heroes who fight the good fight. We need you.

Me, I think I better go off and gird my scaredy-cat loins.

[stranger81]

25. That's exactly what HRC meant when she said it was time

for a "vigorous debate." Has nothing to do with actual debate, and everything to do with negative campaigning based on falsehoods.

[cali]

28. Exactly.

[Kalidurga]

29. Actually it is she can't win the primary if she loses New Hampshire and Iowa

Iowa is about as Midwestern culturally as you can get. Sometimes they go their own way, but mostly if you talk to someone in Iowa that is liberal or conservative they are going to be able to give you a clue how the people on the political spectrum think in the Midwest. Minnesota has more liberals, but I doubt they are more liberal as individuals than Iowans. So, if Iowa goes for Bernie so will Minnesota. If Minnesota goes then it's almost a lock on Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, possibly Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, well most Midwestern States and most Northern States. Hillary can't win the nomination without the Midwest and North states. Because she will not get California or Hawaii.

[Douglas Carpenter]

30. establishment power always goes fucking bonkers when they feel their power might be threatened

This has to be expected. It is rooted in an assumption of entitlement and blind arrogance.

[PFunk1]

31. IF (and I do mean IF) she does that then the repugs have all but won the '16 presidency

No matter who gets the nod (and yes I'm including Trump). As this would cause many Bernie supporters, millennials, and independents to not vote and stay home. Especially if she gets the nod because of this. And this would not only effect the top office but down ticket as well (Kentucky anyone?).

Talk about snatching defeat from victory's jaws (sign).

Now I'm starting to understand Reagan's thing about not saying anything bad personally about other repugs during election season.

[cali]

32. You ain't seen nothing yet