Anyone else feeling a little Hillary momentum?

[Greenwood]

In the last couple of days I have sensed a bit of momentum towards Hillary and even some national pudits seem to agree.

I think more and more folks are coming off the Obama bandwagon and looking into substance instead of emotional feel-good rah rah.

Also, I think more people realize that Hillary would be tougher for McCain to beat.

[JimGinPA]

1. The ONLY Place it's Coming From Is The Pundits

They like cameras. Wake up! She is done.

[rodeodance]

41. ha ha---I see your crystal ball is not fixed yet.

[skipos]

2. Hil had 20-30% leads in TX & OH a couple weeks ago, and is about tied now. Yes, there is momentum

DOWNWARD momentum.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

47. Still So Stuck In The Past Man. Keep Up With The Times.

I mean, how much longer are you going to keep saying the same stupid line? The entire landscape of the primary has changed since then due to so many factors. Do you not realize how silly you look by continuing to parrot that stale talking point? Here and now skipos. Try and stay in the here and now.

[skipos]

49. You are right, I'm sorry. That 100+ pledged delegate deficit is in the past! Look to the future!

MEET ME IN PUERTO RICO!!!

[democrattotheend]

3. Sadly, yes

I don't agree about Hillary being tougher to beat, but I do think there has been a little bit of a shift toward Hillary in the polls, especially in Ohio. I am nervous.

[leftofcool]

4. Yes

[Teaser]

5. nah, it's all just polling fluctuations.

it's moved into a tie and the jitters move each candidate up or down. Ground game will win tomorrow.

[Arugula Latte]

6. Not sure, but I do think it's ridiculous to think Hillary's tougher to beat.

She is a far bigger target for them. Millions of people are already strongly anti-Hillary, and that strong feeling would only get more pronounced as we head toward November.

[Lucinda]

7. Yup.

We'll see if we're right tomorrow!

[monmouth]

8. Hmmm, no...not at all....n/t

[Colobo]

9. It's her last stand. She's doing enough to be competitive.

[MoonRiver]

10. Oh, yeah!

:)

[Zachstar]

11. Yes I have noticed momentum.. away from her.

She lost major leads and supers..

Her fear based ads COMPLETELY failed..

Her supporters are losing respect..

Some going towards swiftboat tactics now..

The only momentum I am feeling is one away from that of good. Hopefully the supers will finish this very soon.

[whatchamacallit]

12. "Irrational Exuberance"

Hate to quote that puke Greenspan, but it fits.

[NightWatcher]

13. 837 Rezko posts does not equal Hillary momentum.

Momentum is 11 straight victories in the primaries, 50+ million in donations in February, Over one million individual donors, turning a 20 point Hillary Ohio lead to a statistical dead heat, turning a 12 point deficit into a lead in Texas.....

[indimuse]

22. 838 posts!!! Today's post

Obama and Chicago Mores
By JOHN FUND
March 3, 2008; Page A17

On Tuesday, Barack Obama may well wrap up the Democratic nomination. Yet how he rose so quickly in Chicago's famously suspect politics -- and who his

associates were there -- has received little scrutiny.

That may change today as the trial of Antoin "Tony" Rezko, Mr. Obama's friend of two decades and his campaign fund-raiser, gets under way in federal court in

Chicago. Mr. Rezko, a master fixer in Illinois politics, is charged with money laundering, attempted extortion, fraud and aiding bribery in an alleged multimillion dollar

scheme shaking down companies seeking state contracts.

John McCain's dealings with lobbyists have properly come under a microscope; why not Mr. Obama's? Partly, says Chicago Tribune columnist John Kass, because

the national media establishment has decided that Chicago's grubby politics interferes with the story line of hope they've set out for Mr. Obama. Former Washington

Post reporter Tom Edsall, who now teaches journalism at Columbia University, told Canada's Globe & Mail that "reporters have sometimes allowed themselves to get

too much caught up in excitement." Then there are Chicago Republicans, loath to encourage the national party to pounce because some of their own leaders

are caught in the Rezko mess.

For its part, the Democratic Party may once again nominate a first-time candidate they haven't fully vetted politically. Democrats flocked to Michael Dukakis in 1988,

ignoring Al Gore's warnings about Willie Horton; later they were blindsided by revelations about Bill Clinton after he was elected president.

This year, Hillary Clinton made a clumsy attack on Mr. Rezko as a "slum landlord" during one debate. But her campaign has otherwise steered clear -- at least until

last Friday, when Howard Wolfson, a top Clinton aide, suggested to reporters on a conference call that "the number of questions that we don't know the answers to

about the relationship between Mr. Rezko and Mr. Obama is staggering." Mr. Obama's campaign told me they have answered all questions about Mr. Rezko and have

no plans to release any further records.


Mr. Obama has admitted that the 2005 land deal that he and Mr. Rezko were involved in was a "boneheaded" mistake, in part because his friend was already rumored

to be under federal investigation. The newly elected Mr. Obama bought his $1.65 million home on the same day, June 15, that Mr. Rezko's wife bought the plot of land

next to it from the same seller for $625,000. Seven months later she sold a slice of the land to the trust that Mr. Obama had put the house into, so the senator could

expand his garden.

Mr. Obama has strenuously denied suggestions that the same-day sale enabled him to pay $300,000 under the house's asking price because Mrs. Rezko paid full

price for the adjoining lot, or that he asked the Rezkos for help in the matter. Both actions would be clear violations of Senate ethics rules barring the granting or

asking of favors.

Still, there are anomalies. Mr. Obama admits that he and Mr. Rezko took a tour of the house before it and the adjoining plot were sold. Financial records given to

federal prosecutors a year later show Mrs. Rezko had a salary of only $37,000 and assets of $35,000. In court proceedings at that time, to explain how much his bail

should be, Mr. Rezko declared that he had "no income, negative cash flow, no liquid assets."

So where did the money for Mrs. Rezko's $125,000 down payment -- and the collateral for her $500,000 loan from a local bank controlled by Amrish Mahajan, like Mr.

Rezko a Chicago political fixer -- come from?

The London Times reports that, three weeks before the land transactions, Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire living in London, loaned $3.5 million to Mr. Rezko, who was

his Chicago business partner. Mr. Auchi's office says he had "no involvement in or knowledge of" the property purchase. Mr. Auchi is a press-shy property developer

(estimated worth: $4 billion) who was convicted of corruption in France in 2003 for his involvement in the Elf affair, the biggest political and corporate fraud inquiry in

Europe since World War II. He was fined $3 million and given a 15-month prison term that was suspended provided he committed no further crimes.

Mr. Auchi was also a top official in the Iraqi oil ministry in the 1970s. He has for years vigorously denied charges he had dealings with Saddam Hussein after the first

Gulf War. However, an official report to the Pentagon inspector general in 2004 obtained by the Washington Times cited "significant and credible evidence" of

involvement by Mr. Auchi's companies in the Oil for Food scandal and illicit smuggling of weapons to the Hussein regime.

In 2003, Mr. Auchi began investing in Chicago real estate with Mr. Rezko. In April 2007, after his indictment, Mr. Auchi loaned another $3.5 million to Mr. Rezko, a

loan that Mr. Rezko hid from U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's office. When Mr. Fitzgerald learned that the money was being parceled out to Mr. Rezko's lawyers,

family and friends, he got Mr. Rezko's bond revoked in January and had him put in jail as a potential flight risk.

In court papers, the prosecutor noted that Mr. Rezko had traveled 26 times to the Middle East between 2002 and 2006, mostly to his native Syria and other countries

that lack extradition treaties with the U.S. Curiously, Mr. Auchi has also lent an unknown sum of money to Chris Kelly, who, like Mr. Rezko, was a significant fund-

raiser for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (himself under investigation by a federal grand jury as an alleged beneficiary of the Rezko shakedowns). Mr. Kelly is himself

under indictment for obstructing an IRS probe into his activities.

Mr. Obama says he has "no recollection" of meeting Mr. Auchi during a 2004 trip the billionaire made to Chicago, and no one believes he knew of his background.

While his name will come up in the trial as a beneficiary of Rezko donations (since donated to charity), Mr. Obama will not be called to testify.

There may be nothing more in Mr. Obama's dealings with Mr. Rezko beyond an "appearance of impropriety." Still, Mr. Obama does have an obligation to explain how

he fits into Chicago politics. David Axelrod, Mr. Obama's Karl Rove, is a longtime spoke in the Daley machine that's dominated Chicago for a half century. Gov.

Blagojevich, also part of the machine, shared key fund raisers with Mr. Obama.

"We have a sick political culture, and that's the environment Barack Obama came from," Jay Stewart, the executive director of the Chicago Better Government

Association, told ABC News. He notes that, while Mr. Obama supported ethics reforms as a state senator, he has "been noticeably silent on the issue of corruption

here in his home state, including at this point, mostly Democratic politicians."

Mr. Obama will eventually have to talk about Illinois, if only to clear the air. After John McCain last month was attacked for cozy ties to lobbyists, he held a news

conference and answered every question. Hillary Clinton held a White House news conference on Whitewater and her cattle futures. Mr. Obama must do the same for

questions about Mr. Rezko and "the Chicago way" of politics. If he doesn't, they may increasingly haunt his candidacy.

Mr. Fund is a columnist for WSJ.com.

[Kittycat]

37. Alerted for continued spamming

You really need to get a grip.

[Binka]

52. Posting A Piece By John Fucking Fund?

Do you know what slime that MotherFucker is? You are truly delusional and twisted. Get help.

[rodeodance]

33. ha HA--THEY sure get some Obamafolk in a TIZZY

[MethuenProgressive]

14. Thirty three million dollars in February!

And the DUbama just hate it! :rofl:

[rodeodance]

34. YES they are having a TIZZY

[Arugula Latte]

48. That'll be chump change when Obama announced his Feb. take.

[MethuenProgressive]

56. Of Rezko payola? Those John Lobb by Hermes loafers Obama wears ain't cheap.

Small time State reps with expensive tastes - just what people like Rezko Hope for.

[Arugula Latte]

57. Oh, you meant this man? (pictured here with friends)

[MethuenProgressive]

58. How much Rezko payola has BO returned so far? $350,000.00ish, right?

That'll buy a lot of state senators.

[Raffi Ella]

15. yes,I have.

I think Hillary shouldn't have been so arrogant as to think she had this thing wrapped up when she threw her hat in the ring;I think if she had fought like this in the very beginning people would've realized long ago how full of hot air Obama is.

I'm glad she is doing it now.I'm glad the message is getting through and I just pray to the sun and the moon and the stars that it's not too late.

[high density]

16. I felt a bowel movement today

It was substantive indeed.

[redqueen]

17. That's a joke, right?

Cause no... no I haven't. Not at all. Far from it. QUITE the opposite, in fact.

[indimuse]

18. yes.

go Hillary!

[crawfish]

19. It's probably just gas.

[papau]

20. I agree - Ohio after becoming a tie is again moving toward Hillary - Texas AA/GOP joint forces will

make that state a harder get - and $15 to $20 million in one state can buy you transport for the 7:15 after election SECOND ELECTION VIA CAUCUS participants. Hard to see enough of a turn around in time for tomorrow.

I wonder if the AA/GOP alliance will continue after this election if Obama loses in November given the screw the past, what have you done for me lately attitude of many folks. Things change - as they said in Rome - and still say in the mid-east and orient.

[Colobo]

28. AA/GOP alliance?

[rodeodance]

38. ha ha--you folks are into too many conspiracy theories-not good for your health.

AA/GOP alliance?
Posted by Katzenkavalier

[kennetha]

21. You can tell the tide is turning

By how sensitive the Obama supporters have become. They overreact to EVERYTHING. Anything with even the slightest whiff of mere non-adoration they take as a call to arms. They don't give off the slightest air of confidence. I doubt the campaign is as thin-skinned and as on edge as the followers are, though.

[ProSense]

23. Hillary's lead narrows in Ohio, Obama up in Texas

[Exilednight]

24. Momentum is when you take a 20 point lead an increase it to 30 points, not when you lose points.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

36. There's that "fuzzy" math again. You're being much too logical. . .

But hey, when you're falling further and further behind in the polls, I guess you look for any positive sign you can latch onto.

There's only one "big mo" and his name is MObama!

[The Stranger]

25. No, just many, many Hillary supporters thinking this is a political race against them personally.

[meow mix]

26. No

your not... or anyone else

[TexasObserver]

27. If by momentum, you mean her trip to the bottom is accelerating, YES.

She's got momentum in her fall to the bottom.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

29. Yes, but in a downward spiral direction.

[jlake]

30. Yes! I feel it.........

[rodeodance]

31. ~ALL FIRED-UP FOR LADY~~ YES SHE WILL~YES WE WILL~

[Indenturedebtor]

32. I screamed at a few of my fellow commuters this morning

And when I came in and my Boss bitched about me being a few minutes late I called him a facist under my breath. Does that count?

[Little Star]

35. After three tries, if Obama does not land the deciding blow on

Tuesday, watch out! Her momentum will really start to move. Why has he been unable to land that blow and will he land it on Tuesday. I don't think so.

[rodeodance]

39. It IS Obama's race to lose now!! yes it is!!

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

50. That was pretty funny.

:)

[JackORoses]

46. He has landed 11 punches directly to Hillary's face. She will fall on the floor tomorrow.

Enjoy!!!

[Apollo11]

54. Just what we need. More violence against women.

NOT!!! :eyes:

[JackORoses]

59. just what we need, more faux-feminism

You shouldn't get into a boxing ring, if you're just going to cry sexism every time you get punched.

[CyberPieHole]

40. Yes, I hope it's true. I am also seeing more skepticism about the ObamaCult...

I spoke with my sister yesterday and she's an Independent and she told me she just doesn't trust Obama. Oddly, she didn't even know his middle name was Hussein, so she's obviously not spending all of her time watching the political talking heads. She just finds him arrogant. I made sure and educated her on all things Obama.:evilgrin:

Needless to say, this is just my own experience.

:kick: and rec

[Binka]

55. You Educating? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Grab a mop Hole you are gonna need it tomoroow.

[oasis]

42. Yup. It'll be a tidal wave by tommorow. (eom)

[JackORoses]

43. Just because a crowd of Hillarites starts to shout Momentum does not make it so.

But you are free to keep shouting until Wednesday. Then we will have a nominee.

[DemGa]

44. Yes ----NT

[theboss]

45. The networks always want competitive races

This is no different than the two weeks before Super Bowl Sunday. In most years, the two-week period starts off with a heavy favorite. And then by Saturday, every writer is giving you a scenario in which the underdog can win. People get bored with the same story.

[Beacool]

51. From your lips to God's ears!!!!

I'm praying that people will come to their senses, but fear that when they do it might be too late and we may have buyer's remorse.

[Milo_Bloom]

53. Not really... she gave up 20 point + leads in 2 states

Winning 1 by less than 10 and losing another is not momentum.

[rodeodance]

60. GO HILLAREY