How far are the Clintons willing to go?

[gmudem]

http://www.alternet.org/election08/77287/

Hillary Clinton, who has built her case for the presidency on her superior "ready on Day One" management skills, burned through almost $130 million of campaign money, had to kick in $5 million from her own murky family funds, and is now pressing her chief financial backers to find creative ways to raise more money.

Some of those financial schemes appear to skirt the law -- as some backers consider putting money into "independent" entities that can spend unlimited sums but aren't supposed to coordinate with the campaign -- while other ideas are more traditional, like appealing to wealthy donors involved with the pro-Israel AIPAC lobby.

Sen. Clinton's new scramble for money -- as well as her campaign's declaration that it is prepared to override the will of the elected Democratic delegates if necessary to secure the nomination -- raise the question of just how far Bill and Hillary Clinton are willing to go to achieve their presidential restoration.

Some Democrats, who have e-mailed me, praise the ruthlessness of the Clinton political machine, arguing that only a readiness to throw sharp elbows can defeat the Republicans this fall. These Democrats hate what they call Barack Obama's "Kumbayah" message of national reconciliation, a reference to the campfire song based on an old African spiritual.



If the Clintons really try to win this with superdelegates...it's hard to put into words how infuriating that would be. I just hope that even they aren't arrogant enough to do that.

[BeyondGeography]

1. "I just HOPE that even they aren't arrogant enough to do that."

Wrong verb.

[gmudem]

5. What is the right verb?

[BeyondGeography]

7. Hey, it's a joke

Some work better than others. (The Clintons are running the anti-hope campaign.)

[gmudem]

9. Oh ok I wasn't sure.

Sometimes it's hard to read sarcasm through the internet.

Good point though. I should know better than to hope lol.

[Bitwit1234]

14. They';ll have to go a hell of a lot lower to catch the other candidate

the hate and vile from HIS campaign is so overwhelming the stench is heard round the world.

[bvar22]

20. WOW.

Hillary supporters can now hear "stench".
Must be some new superpower.
I wouldn't know; I don't read the comics.
Hillary is toast except in HillaryWorld.

[SoFlaJet]

2. sheesh

I mean can you blame her for trying to "skirt the law" with fundraising I mean Bill himself even said it she's been running on a 130 million dollar "shoestring" LEAVE HILLARY ALONE!

[IndianaGreen]

3. People without a moral compass or scruples will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Our jails are full of people like that!

[backscatter712]

4. After eight years of Bush,

I can safely say I'm damned fucking sick of people like that.

[keep_it_real]

6. Ask Bob Novak

[caligirl]

8. read today she may make another self loan. Sorry no link.

[babylonsister]

10. I wonder if she has to pay them back.

;)

[psychopomp]

11. Going down, tooth and claw

I knew there was a good reason that my gut was telling me that a Clinton run was a bad thing for the United States. I do not like the way they use their power--anything goes as long as their ends are met, even if it makes Democrats look as nasty as Republicans. The whole thing stinks!

[aquarius dawning]

17. Is there any other way to go down?

I personally admire tenacity.

[psychopomp]

19. Grace...dignity...

these are other ways of handling the situation and are much preferred to the self-destructive thrashing about that we see from Sen. Clinton's campaign.

This is just "cutting off the nose to spite the face."

[Medusa]

12. As far as they can

if it means they "win". And they don't care if they destroy this party in the process or if we lose the election as a result.

[libertee]

13. All the way to the WH...Thanks

[earthlover]

15. Yup...to the McCain White House....hillary will go to the inauguration on day one

...and she will be ready on day one

[ElsewheresDaughter]

16. all the way.....they will be bringing all those missing "w;s" back to the WH keyboards too

[aquarius dawning]

18. Ya know, it seems rather presumptuous to suggest she drop out when it's still basically tied

and there are still plenty of delegates available to her in regions that seem to favor her. When it's over it's over but why the hell should she quit before then?
:shrug:

[gmudem]

23. I wasn't suggesting that she drop out (yet)

Her actions have left many of us wondering if she is going try to steal the nomination with superD's instead of letting the people decide.

Honestly I don't think she would do it. She would think about it, but the criticism of that decision would be constant and loud. There is just no way she could get away with it.

[Johnny__Motown]

21. They expected this all to end on Feb. 5th, Ready on day one, no clue about day two and beyond

[monomach]

22. I'm voting for McLame

...if Obama isn't the nominee. I've had enough of Clinton's Republicanesque campaign tactics. While I disagree with a lot of his ideas, I trust McCain. He readily admits to being a jerk, and he isn't nearly as Right-Wing as a lot of the other Republicans.

That's the nice thing about being an independent. I can laugh at people who whine at me for not voing along party lines.

[CorpGovActivist]

24. Hey GMUDEM...

... when you get a chance, I'd like to hear about your experience on Potomac Primary Day.

- Dave

P.S. My partner, GMU alum, would like to speak with you, too.