I am still not sure why anyone’s so excited about Sen. Barack Obama–perhaps it is a reflection of the discomfort with Edwards and Hillary.
But I have to disagree with the thesis of this Dick Morris and Eileen McGann op/ed (via VolunteerVoters.com via straighttalkalabama.com). For the record, I think Morris is a master marketer but he is often too cute by half in his assertions that politics is a solvable puzzle or anything near a science.
Morris asserts that Hillary ought to be thankful for Obama’s presence in the Dem primary because Obama clears the playing field of other candidates even though he’ll never be able to beat Hillary. As evidence, Morris points to Colin Powell’s potential candidacy in 1996. While I agree that Powell and Obama were similar inasmuch as they were attractive, projectionable figures, but Barack Obama has nowhere near the creds of Colin Powell.
Morris states, “Having the right opponent is one of the essentials to electoral success.” Of course “the right opponent” (a loser) is the key in any campaign, but I don’t see the legitimacy of any substantive comparisons between Powell and Obama, nor Dole and Hillary; and Powell’s purportedly long shadow didn’t keep Phil Gramm from raising $20m prior to Jan 1, 1995.
I do think Hillary can be thankful that Obama is keeping her from being under the magnifying glass at least for now.
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December 30, 2006 at 12:39 am
That last sentence doesn’t ring true at all. Hillary has been under a magnifying glass for two decades. She’s written her autobigraphy. Her husband wrote his. The is NOTHING left for them to hide. All the skeletons have been dug out of the closet. So in some ways, that clears the way for her to run.
I assume you all will start bringing out reruns of Monica and Paula, and perhaps chime in about conspiracy theories about Vince Foster.
It’s old. If you all do that, it will just show how desperate the Republicans are.
Debate her on her issues, not her husband’s penis.
December 30, 2006 at 12:55 am
Well, that’s not what I had in mind with my last sentence. I meant more along the lines of “peaking too early” or “voter fatigue” or “parsing of her every comment” or running her daily schedule through the ringer, but thanks for the gratuitously graphic post, Sharon. We don’t put our feet on the furniture in Religous Conservative blogs.
December 30, 2006 at 4:34 am
Ned,
I wouldn’t come over to someone’s place and be rude. (The only time I have posted anything impolite on someone elses blog is when they personally attacked me) I don’t think using the proper term for a part of the anatomy is rude.
My manners are almost impecable, and you sound like you’re somehow morally superior with “We don’t put our feet on the furniture in religious conservative blogs.” I don’t put my feet on the furniture anywhere.
The word I used is not a dirty word and it is why you all impeached him–for lying about what he did with it.
I was trying to make a point as to one of the reasons she is constantly under a magnifying glass.
It’s somewhat ironic that you quote Dick Morris, who was caught in a hotel room cheating on his wife with a hooker while he let the hooker listen in on phone calls to the President.
I guess that’s okay since he has turned on the Clintons.
Anyhow, your comment threw me. I’ve never written “language” on someone elses blog, and as far as I’m concerned, I still haven’t/didn’t.
What I said was to make a point and was not gratuitous. My intent certainly wasn’t to be rude. I really don’t know any adult offended by using that word.
What is offensive, however, is how you clearly feel you are morally superior to me.
“We don’t put our feet on the furniture in Religous Conservative blogs.”
No. You use your feet to step on someone with a different viewpoint toes.
December 30, 2006 at 5:53 pm
I’m surprised the ‘church boy’ didn’t censor your anatomical comment the way he has censored mine. It goes along with the Republican’s war on science, and war on sex. Funny, the Reoublicans can spend $6 million dollars on Ken Starr’s investigation of Clinton’s penis but then get their feathers rufffled when you use the word.
You got to reaize Sharon, Ned’s relatives are from Alabama. The state whose legislature voted in 2003 to keep vibrators and sex toys illegal. Can you imagine? Not all that hard to believed from a state that prohibited interracial marriage throughout the entire 20th century. Ned’s heritage.
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/ALLPOLITICS/stories/11/07/alabama.interracial/
http://www.talkleft.com/story/2003/04/29/759/14783
December 30, 2006 at 8:29 pm
I’m from Florida, idiot. (and looking over my shoulder, my daughter says, “Daddy, who are you calling an idiot?”) You don’t have to be a “church boy” to prefer that people who visit your site not be assaulted with gratuitously graphic language. Elliemay, you are officially banned from commenting on my blog.
Sharon, I apologize because I obviously hit a nerve; I probably should have said “I” instead of “Religious Conservatives,” and you brought up Bubba, not me. All I did was urge you to stay on subject.
But I won’t lie and say that I’m not disappointed at the sometimes crass, course and/or juvenile language I read on some sites; I’d just rather that it not be common on my blog.
January 2, 2007 at 11:07 pm
Because your use of ‘idiot’ really elevated the political discourse, Ned. I’m sure Jesus is amused at your crass put-downs.
January 2, 2007 at 11:30 pm
Oh, don’t be judgmental, Joey.
January 3, 2007 at 5:55 pm
I’m not being judgmental. I honestly don’t see how insulting people is Christian behavior.
January 3, 2007 at 6:13 pm
Sure it’s judgmental, Joey, but I was just kidding you; it is often very appropriate to “pass judgment” on someone’s actions, though it isn’t good to be “judgmental.”
That being said, I work hard to focus on issues and arguments and not the arguers, but elliemay just went too far in her accusations and–as a friend termed it, hectoring. And as I argue to my wife from time to time, “idiot” is a word that has a meaning–it isn’t just a mean name. So, buh-bye elliemay.
I do my best to reflect Christian character, and I don’t always succeed, but that’s why I need a savior, right?