Seattle Post-Intellegencer: Clintons -- a last stand that lacks class

[loveangelc]

AS HER ham-handed handlers insult entire states, and her self-absorbed husband indulges in red-faced, finger-wagging outbursts, Sen. Hillary Clinton soldiers on.

It is a joyless campaign, with stump speeches that carry tales of woe and get delivered in a booming voice that could open a wall safe.

A full three months after the Iowa caucuses, nearly two months after Washington's caucuses, the Clintons seem bent on turning the Democrats' fertile ground into scorched earth.

The campaign has come back to the Northwest.

Clinton's candidacy is hardly the same one touted by national pundits as "inevitable" when she held three $2,300-a- head fundraisers here in October.

And we've witnessed a former front-runner's ability to step in it -- and stay there.

Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico, holder of two Cabinet-level posts in the Clinton administration, bounded into a Portland rally two weeks ago to endorse Sen. Barack Obama.

The retaliation was swift, furious and self-defeating.

Clinton backer James Carville, noting that Richardson made up his mind during Holy Week, opined: "Mr. Richardson's endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic."

If Richardson is Judas, which Clinton is Jesus?

Act 2 came last weekend in California, when Bill Clinton met privately with California's convention superdelegates.

~snip~

The campaign stumbled on, trying to explain the candidate's false statement that she landed under fire while on a visit to Bosnia as first lady. The TV footage of the event showed a standard-issue welcoming ceremony.

Come Wednesday, Richardson's endorsement was back on ABC News. Hillary Clinton was quoted as disparaging Obama to Richardson, saying: "He cannot win, Bill. He cannot win."

She was denying the statement Thursday.

The defections must stick in the craw of the Clintons. Bill Clinton watched the Super Bowl with Richardson in New Mexico, seeking the very endorsement that is now dismissed.

Senior party nabobs are sending a message: It's time for you to go. They've cleared the table, put the cat out, and are yawning at the power couple that gave them the first Democratic presidential re-election since FDR.

~snip~

The miscalculations and misjudgments -- which likely have cost Hillary Clinton the nomination, and Bill Clinton much of his reputation -- are the campaign's own doing.

In years past, the Clintons showed an amazing knack for getting themselves into binds, then escaping tight corners. It has deserted them.

Obama and Hillary Clinton will appear Saturday night when Montana Democrats hold their annual Mansfield-Metcalf Dinner in Butte. It won't be hard to tell which candidacy carries the most baggage.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/357708_joel04.html?source=mypi <~~~~~more

[AtomicKitten]

1. It seems the Clintons are attempting to suck all the joy out of this election.

FREE RANDI RHODES

[FlyingSquirrel]

2. Joel Connelly's awesome. nt

[krkaufman]

20. Joel Connelly's ....

... DEAD TO ME!

Pretty level-headed, reasonable article, really.

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. Ouch! That's gonna leave a mark.....k&r

I'm all for Hillary staying in at this point, because her stubborn insistence that she's the only one who can win, seems to be helping Obama. It's not pleasant watching a sitting senator, and former First Lady go out this way, but her campaign has been a miserable & utter failure. And now this Mark Penn/Colombia mess just adds more fuel to a five alarm fire.

[krkaufman]

19. Yeah, I'm starting to wonder if the ridiculous contortions that the Clinton campaign is ...

... putting itself through to smear Obama won't translate to McCain and the Right Wing when they take up the Clinton themes.

[IndyHatedByBothSides]

29. Another reason she should stay in longer...

She's probably trying to push it to McCain, so that she can ran again in 2112. If this is the case, better she stay in, bankrupt her campaign, and make a future run unfeasible.

[ekwhite]

38. Running in 2112?

Wow, those Rodhams must be REALLY long-lived.

[The Doctor.]

49. No... they're going for the 'Rush/Clinton' ticket I think.

He was just being super-clever.

[krkaufman]

44. I know she seems like a zombie candidate, but that's a looong way off...!!

"so that she can ran again in 2112"

We are the Priests.... of the Temples... of Syrinx...!

:hi:

[stevedeshazer]

4. Wow, that's harsh

And completely accurate.

:hi:

[Catherina]

5. K&R n/t

[Window]

6. Boy, this author sure has the Clintons down pat. K/R

This is one of the best summations of the Clintons and Hillary's campaign I have read.


:kick:

[ima_sinnic]

7. k & r

it's embarrassing to see people act so undignified.

:kick:

[ClayZ]

8. K and R

[quantass]

45. .

[ORDem]

9. kick

:kick:

[rainbow4321]

10. K&R!

[JBoy]

11. I love this image -

"Senior party nabobs are sending a message: It's time for you to go. They've cleared the table, put the cat out, and are yawning..."

[pokerfan]

31. The man's a poet

[FrenchieCat]

12. Lack of class is what I see in this campaign on Hillary's part........

[blm]

25. The part that pisses me off is that THIS GROUP OF ASSHATS was leading the DNC and

Dem party from 1993-2005 and managed to blame all the failures of the Dems throughout that time on EVERY OTHER DEM who stuck their neck out for us to oppose BushInc and the GOP, while the Clinton loyalists were the ones who were screwing Dem candidates and Dem voters over left and right.



Fortunately it WAS noticed and recorded by some.
http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=13354

TeamClinton makes
http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/06/19/clinton.iraq/

me sick.
http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/oct/07/did_carville_tip_bush_off_to_kerry_strategy_woodward


Truly sick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk1k0nUWEQg

[Raine]

51. I'll never forget how they

tried with all their might to stop Dean from getting to be head of the DNC. Then after the election victories of 2006 they tried to get rid of him claiming he had failed. :wow: :grr:

[blm]

52. That's their whole schtick - they are FINALLY being seen for their deceits, and look how

Gore, Kerry and Dean were chopped up over THE FAILURES of this crowd to HAVE a strong party infrastructure that can GET votes counted in every state. Blaiming others was their plan as their loyalists (Carville, Begala, Davis) controlled mainstream news mics in the media that Gore, Kerry and Dean could never tap on a daily basis.

But you can bet that more Dems now know the extent of TeamClinton's betrayals and HAVE BEEN working behind the scenes to loosen the grip they have had on the party. Dean can't weigh in until after the nominee is certain, but you can bet he's sticking to the rules BECAUSE the deceit has worn out its welcome.

We're not gonna take it. We will not be like the Republicans who can't shake the grip of the Bushes.

[K Gardner]

13. Can't wait to read the followup, after HRC asked pledged delegates to switch.

[Scurrilous]

14. K & R

:thumbsup:

[L0oniX]

15. Kicked

[Vinca]

16. Ouch - a "booming voice that could open a wall safe??"

That's way better than my "nails on a chalkboard." :rofl:

[BumRushDaShow]

17. K&R

The columnist didn't mince any words! :wow:

[quantass]

18. This was a very good read!

[Bigleaf]

21. Couldn't have said it any better.

[Erin Elizabeth]

22. Accurate description.

This made me laugh out loud: "...with stump speeches that carry tales of woe and get delivered in a booming voice that could open a wall safe."

Great description of her voice. My husband can't even stand to hear her speak.

[quantass]

23. yup

[Mags]

24. God, what a bunch of wimps, the BO folks just can't stand to

finish the game, they want her to drop out , say, I give up , to just give the nomination to him. They are the younger generation of , no back bone, please help me, I tried but can't just make it own my own, Please surrender and give me the chance, cause I am the future. What a bunch of bull.

[Mooney]

28. Why so bitter?

Hillary's going to win, won't she?

[Mags]

32. bitterness, no way, just wondering why you folks don't want to finish the game.

I just think Barry and his folks are scared to death to see a full country count. Remember, Mich. and Fla. I think Barry is wasting two states and will never get these voters to go for him is he should get the to the primary. Why would you sell out two powerfully states just to win the primary? But he doesn't have to worry about that, cause Hill will win .

[Zhade]

39. Scared? HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Keep dreaming, buddy.

[ekwhite]

40. Nice attempt at spin, but I'm not buying it.

First, we aren't all spoiled college students. I graduated from college in 1975.

Second, we don't all want Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race. Obama himself has said he is OK with her staying in until June. At that point, we need to come behind the front runner and prepare for the fall election.

Third, the Obama campaign did not exclude Michigan and Florida - the DNC did. Obama has stated throughout the controversy that he would follow the DNC's decision. He is still willing to work with the Clinton campaign to develop an equitable compromise.

Fourth, it is possible that you are right and Hillary will win. It is VERY unlikely, however. She needs to realize that continuing to use negative campaigning at this point is counterproductive and harmful to the party.

[Ken Burch]

42. We just want to make sure our ticket wins this fall.

And we've HAD a "full-country contest" already. It goes without saying that keeping the race open hurts the party and weakens our chances.

It's not cowardice, and you know it. It's wanting to save the country.

[Tarheel_Dem]

48. yep...scared

:rofl:
Is that why he's outraising her 2 to 1.....Fear? Is that why SD's are flocking to Obama's camp...Fear?

:scared:
I know it's the meme the Clinton camp's trying to push these days, but your issue isn't with Obama re: FL & MI, your argument is with those state's legislatures. And that you would even countenance a revote funded by Hillary's big money backers just shows that you are bereft of intellectual honesty. You guys can indulge in revisionist history all you want, but we all know it's just desparation on the part of the Clintons at this point. I have no doubt that FL & MI will be counted, but certainly not the way you hope.

[Zhade]

37. There's no giving it to him, he's earned it.

She's done.

[bagimin]

26. So sad

but all so true.

[Major Hogwash]

27. So true.

Hillary is wasting her time and money in Montana.
And in Oregon.
And in Pennsylvania.

LoL

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[BeyondGeography]

33. Their campaign is broke and everyone's talking about how rich they are

that's called FUCKED.

[quantass]

34. .

[Cha]

35. Joel Connelly is priceless! He listens to the stump speeches so I don't have to.

"Which clinton is Jesus"?

"It is a joyless campaign, with stump speeches that carry tales of woe and get delivered in a booming voice that could open a wall safe.

A full three months after the Iowa caucuses, nearly two months after Washington's caucuses, the Clintons seem bent on turning the Democrats' fertile ground into scorched earth".

[ekwhite]

36. Wow - what a harsh editorial

It doesn't sugar coat anything. How influential is the P-I and Joel Connelly?

[Fyddlestyx]

41. K & R

:kick:

[BlueIdaho]

43. Its over.

She's finished. Lets all move on - nothing to see here.

[Az_lefty]

46. if Hillary can't have what she wants, she'll break all the toys...

just like Bill...I am totally done with both those phonies.

[judasdisney]

47. Can Someone Explain To Me: What Happened?

It doesn't add up.

I have many theories. But I can't buy the usual explanations for the Clintons' rapid degeneration: "lust for power" or "tone-deafness" or "stupidity."

There is no previous track record for these sudden mutations in character. Yes, they bend the rules or even act reprehensibly -- but always within the bounds of practicality and narcissism: They have previously refused to burn bridges like this, and they would never let themselves look this bad.

I'm thinking of Robert Altman's "Secret Honor" about Richard Nixon. Does Bill Clinton have inside information (think: Mena and the CIA, 9/11, etc.) that would lead him (and her, by proxy) to such a horrorific whatever-it-takes scorched earth strategy?

What's really going on?

P.S.: The Hillary lies are a separate matter: Imagine Hillary Clinton trying to warn the nation that 9/11 was an inside job, that the NSA is infiltrated with Neocon treasonist moles who have plans for a Chile-style military coup. She can never be believed. EVER. Even if she's not crying wolf.

[Raine]

50. On point...

TOTALLY. :thumbsup:

[Tarheel_Dem]

53. kick

:kick:

[LiberalAndProud]

54. This line ...

When left to her own devices, Hillary Clinton can be a highly impressive human being.

So true. Did Mark Penn do this on purpose? One has to wonder. I say this realizing that Hillary chose him and stuck with him, and that does reflect on her judgment. But she is so much better than her campaign.