Political Punch

totally agree with a previous comment if she gets the nom the young and black voters will not support her. I am disgusted with this kitchen sink theory. As a 31 year old black woman I was willing to hold my nose and vote for her if she got the nom. After the 3am ad and all the things she did last week I am ashamed to say I will sit this one out if she's chosen.

geevill: you didn't answer my question. it was a simple one.

Is it just me, or does it seem like every week Hillary's calling for someone or another to be fired?

Her new campaign motto:
"Bring me the head of...whomever"

Michelle Obama isnt running for president her husband is, and she gave a honest answer to the question.

Plus Obama cant police everything that comes out her mouth, just like Hillary cant make Bill keep it in his pants or stop him from calling Obama a boy and a joke.

Samantha Power is a hero.

Power was rightfully awarded the Pulitzer for her finely written and downright horrifying book "A Problem From Hell" which, in macabre detail, describes the calculated indifference of the Clinton administration when 800,000 Rwandans were being systematically butchered. The red phone rang and rang and rang again. I don't know where Hillary was then. But her husband and his entire experienced foreign policy team - from the brass in the Pentagon to the congenitally feckless Secretary of State Warren Christopher - just let it ring.

It was Michelle Obama said it on the interview when Katie Couric asked if Hillary won the nomination would you support her, her answer was " she has to think about it"

I was not "whining" about Ohio or Texas. Truth be told, considering the massive Clinton machine in those states and the Obama polling numbers just two weeks before the vote, I thought we did just what I expected. I would have liked a win, sure, but to come from down by 25 points to down by only 3 was darn good in my opinion.
My problem, as stated, is the very conscious decision by Hillary Clinton and her band of warriors to either take the nomination or destroy Senator Obama. They intend to make it so toxic for him that he can't win and then say to the world, "see, if you had nominated ME, I would have won."
It has always been with the Clintons, you are either for us or against us. If you are against us, we will destroy you. Then today she again suggests that she should lead the ticket and let Obama be on as vice president. How gracious of her since she is LOSING the nomination. She is a real piece of work and in my 30 years of following politics I can never remember having such a visceral reaction to a democratic candidate...and not in that good way. I have notified both MoveOn and the DNC that I will not be contributing to any other entity other than the Obama campaign until they put a stop to this toxic, vicious, ill-advised campaign that Clinton is running.

THANK YOU CHIP. I thought I was the only one that saw that,and it just wasn't yesterday she's been saying She and McCain are the only people qualified to run the country for the last month.

If she doesn't win, she would rather destroy the democratic party and give it to McCain than support Obama. but her followers don't see that.

They don't see that it was Clinton from day one that showed her arrogance when she didn't take Obama seriously,It was president Clinton that brought race into this campaign. It was the Clintons who turned a fairly peaceful campaign negative. did she offer congrats to obama after his win in Iowa, or after his 11 wins last month. No but he's the one that's arrogant and cocky.

All they see is woe Hillary, the world has been to hard on her. What a load of horsecrap.

All Clinton cares about is becoming this Nations 1st woman president,and these followers of her's wont see that until its to late.

Again your either with her or you're the enemy.

Well, Chip, Pamela, I'm a Clinton supporter. I get emails from the Clinton camp and have never, ever, received one single email denigrating Obama or anyone in his camp. If you'd like to know what my Clinton camp emails consist of it's usually for a donation to the cause. The fact is, you guys are still winning so I don't understand your rage for us winning three states. We lost eleven in a row and none of us blamed Obama or the voters. We lost. Case closed. We moved on to the next state hoping for better results. Just as we're doing right now. Chances are you folks will win the next few states. So what's the problem?

Cause everything they call your wonderful president Bush is the truth.

How can anyone support him,with the state our nation is in. Now thats what I call Blind.

Listen we should be concentrating on Clinton's back-handed endorsement yesterday of Senator McCain over Senator Obama. Her actions and those of the campaign make it very clear that her current tactic is the "if I can't have it, no one will" scenario.
I would urge any and all Dems including Howard Dean and the Super delegates to put a stop to this now before she does more damage to the party then she already has.
Up until this contest, my passionate extreme dislike has been reserved for the republican candidates. Now, however, I find Senator Clinton far more heinous. So much for those Obama will destroy from within e-mails that her cronies send out en masse. It is she that intends to destroy the democrat party from within.

Hey Libs you guys voted for fame not integrity and that is why you got Obama and Clinton, Your best bet would of been Richardson!

But again you libs care less about America and just want socialism here.

Look at California now wanting to ban Barbecues!! in SF.

I would like Senator Obama to challenge Senator Clinton to delineate her 35 years of foreign policy experience she claims she has. Is she counting her husband's years as Governor and President? Is she counting her PR trips overseas? What actually gives her 35 years of experience.

Also, I truly want a President, not a Commander-in-Chief because it suggests the person who is running to be Commander-in-Chief as the sole criteria is going to continue the war with Iraq.

Please ask Senator Clinton to be Specific about her experience.

I love how Obama and Clinton can not stand behind their employees who are out fighting for them, who cares what she called Hilary, How come Obama and Clinton do not fire themselves for what they call President Bush, which is a lot worse!

So follow your lead Obama and Clinton and resign now because you and the rest of the libs are insulting our President!

When The great Hillary Clinton steals the nomination from Obama. The enthusiasm and energy in the democratic party will be gone. The black and the young voters will be gone.

and nothing energizes the republicans like a long dirty fight with the Clintons.

and for you people who dream of a Clinton\Obama ticket. Answer this. if she wins how is she going to select him as her VP, when she's spent the last month telling the nation that the only people qualified to be president are her and John McCain.

The VP is suppose to be able to takeover if something were to happen to the president. She's told the world he's not qualified, and that he is nothing but a speech he gave in 2004.

See democratics this is what being an experienced dirty politician that will do anything to win gets you.
This is what injecting race, and gender into a campaign gets you. This is what telling Florida and Michigan voters there vote doesn't count gets you.

4 to 8 more years under the control of the Republicans. Were giving the republicans everything they need to defeat us in November. No matter who the candidate is.

Honest it's your vote to give and no one, including me, have no right to say otherwise. Perhaps that you're going to vote at all is wonderful what ever your choice. If we, by some miracle, should win this thing I do hope you would give us a second look. In the meantime, have a great day.

Hey Dog people can vote the way they would like>>>> get all the facts before you blow off steam,,,I am registered Ind...And if her name is in the ballot for any reason I will vote Rep Clear for you....Now?I would rather do 4 more years of crap then live under her ,she is for Hillary and Hillary only,

What a shame that this has had to happen to the best two candidates the Democrats have ever mustered up.
Each one desperately wants to win. They have such similar positions that they are forced to point out the negative flaws of each other.
I would love to see them on one ticket, prefering Clinton/Obama. I just don't buy into "The fierce urgency of now" that Obama keeps spouting. He's basically a young, idealistic guy, that is pretty cocky. He could learn a few things from Hillary, and what would be better than being VP for 8 years. He still comes out as a fairly young man. I have no doubt that the country will be on better footing than today. We need never see another Republican in the White HOuse God Willing. They've given us Bush/Bush/Reagan/Nixon/Hoover...by God just look at the records. Doesnt' this give us enough reason to try to set the country up in the best way for the sake of we the people?

I don't mind the "monster" remark because I know Hillary's a big girl and she can take it on the chin and keep going. It's the slight to the Ohio voters which the McCain camp are over there quietly adding to their play list against Obama should he win. I'm a Clinton supporter but I'm going to advise the Obama camp to quickly start apologizing to the Ohio folks and apologize often starting from Obama on down.

Power and High priced are not the same.

Name calling is not nice. She is an Adult and knows that.

Some Called Obama a name and he would be whinning away, wanting pity and Screaming woe is me. He does that for everything right now. what a wimp.

I am an Ohio person, Obama Talked down to Ohio people, told us to take medial, lower paying jobs Pfft, he re-opened polls only where the polling place was in the highest black areas, just certain polling stations, ALL of Northern ohio was under ice, Many of the whites did not get to vote, did you care Mr Obama? Only for the cause huh?

Obama does not care for America - or Americans, he only cares about making history and his own cause.

These advisers are defining who Obama really is and giving us a preview of his decision making and fitness to be president. He is failing big time. His campaign cannot define who Clinton is, what the young people trying to make hay of Hillary's tax return may not understand is that she has been through the ringer. This tax return ploy will end up backfiring on Obama.

Well Obama didn't insult those idiots in Ohio, one of his advisors did, and he cant police everything that comes out his people mouth, neither can Clinton.

When Ohio votes the nation follows, well I suggest the nation grow a pair, cause they have got it wrong twice within the last 8 years.

Keep in mind it was Clinton that insulted the good poor backwards people of Mississippi. and it has been Both Clintons that have basically told all Obama supporters that there a bunch of blind, ignorant sheep.

So which one is worse.

Those elitists look down to our working mass?

Apparently Power, described as Obama's leading foreign policy guru, has been doing interviews in conjunction with a new book release. Besides her "monster" comment she has said many unsettling things. When another magazine asked whether Obama would talk with Hamas, and what his stand on the Middle East was, she replies with frustration:
"So much of it is about: 'Is he going to be good for the Jews?'"

Dogsoldier, I completely agree that her comments pose a serious issue for the voters of Ohio. Again, this is where I'd like to see some actual leadership from Senator Obama to address the damage that has been done. If this doesn't get resolved and he burns the bridge with Ohio, the state could probably easily swing to McCain come general election.

I also just read that she tendered her resignation and the Obama campaign accepted it, so I guess it wasn't at the insistence of Obama. Hopefully, there is still time for him to make nice with the Ohio voters.

No, that's Susan Rice-another one of his inner circle of advisers and potential cabinet members.

Look, LOM, the power thing is serious because she more or less called the voter of Ohio stupid for voting Hillary. Now, the democrats have given both Fl and MI to the republicans, so we're already down two to nothing. The McCain camp will be playing Power's remarks over and over in Ohio in the general which would make them lean McCain. There are no caucuses in the general to run up the score and McCain in very strong with Latinos so this puts California into play for the republicans. I'd be interested in someone's winning strategy with this in mind.

Mara,
Here is the problem.

Sen. Obama has repeatedly criticized Hillary for not having a "firm" and "clear" withdrawal deadline:

Sen. Obama: 'Why we would try [Hillary’s] approach as opposed to simply setting a timetable for withdrawal strikes me as a convoluted approach to the problem.' "Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to introduce an amendment repealing the congressional authorization for the war. It would require the president to seek new authority from Congress if he wanted to continue operations past Oct. 11, 2007, five years after initial authorization was given. ‘If you simply repeal the language, then presumably you'd have to reauthorize something. You've got 150,000 troops over there and support personnel,’ Obama told The Associated Press in an interview after a campaign stop in Las Vegas. ‘Why we would try that approach as opposed to simply setting a timetable for withdrawal strikes me as a convoluted approach to the problem,’ he said." [AP, 7/13/07]
Sen. Obama: Sen. Clinton 'hasn't given a firm timetable in terms of executing the withdrawal, and I think that's a problem.' "And in--there is a difference, though, between myself and Senator Clinton on a couple of these issues. Number one, she hasn't given a firm timetable in terms of executing the withdrawal, and I think that's a problem. I think we have to provide certainty to the Iraqi leadership, so that they know that we are serious about changing course." [NBC Meet the Press, 11/11/07]
Sen. Obama: 'Senator Clinton continues to not provide a clear timetable for how she would pull our troops out' of Iraq. "Where Senator Clinton continues to not provide a clear timetable for how she would pull our troops out, so those are all differences we will continue to talk about." [Obama Press Conference Transcript, 11/9/07]
Sen. Obama: ‘I do think it’s important for us to set a date.’ When asked if he could make a commitment for a withdrawal date, Obama said, "I do think it is important for us to set a date. And the reason I think it is important is because if we are going to send a signal to the Iraqis that we are serious, and prompt the Shia, the Sunni and the Kurds to actually come together and negotiate, they have to have clarity about how serious we are. It can't be muddy, it can't be fuzzy. They've got to know that we are serious about this process." [CNN debate, 1/31/08]

Dogsoldier, that is too bad if that is the case. Like I said, I am a Hillary supporter, but I really wanted to see Senator Obama really show his leadership on this issue. No one knows how this Clinton/Obama thing is going to work out, so in the event that Obama does win the nomination, I really would like to see him practice what he preaches.

geevill: does anyone? in the past weeks, john mccain has said a) it's okay with him if we're there 100 years b) it's okay with him if we're there 50 years, c) no, that's humanitarian aid i'm talking about and d) we'll be out soon.

do you have a plan?

Honest is this your way of encouraging Hillary supporter to move into the Obama camp should she lose or is this your intent on driving the Hillary folks AWAY from the Obama camp should she lose?

"In her role as a top foreign policy advisor Samantha Power described Sen. Obama's plan to withdraw combat troops from Iraq within 16 months as a "best case scenario". Power added, "He will, of course, not rely on some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or a U.S. Senator."

Here is the bigger story. He conitues to attack Clinton and McCain yet Obama has no idea what he would do about Iraq.

Actually, LOM, it was the congress folks who exerted pressure over the Power issue that led to Ms Powers stepping down and not the Obama campaign itself.

I hate to see anyone's career take a hit, but this aide had to go. Obama made the right move in shuffling her out. This is not the language of peace and unification. Hillary is their opponent. Monster is strong language that you save for Stalin, Hitler and their ilk. However, even though she's gone, it does give insight into the inner thinking of those close to Obama.

I am a Hillary supporter, however, if her resignation came at the request of Obama, I would find his actions admirable and honorable. If his campaign is about hope and change with a new kind of politics for Washington, then asking her to resign is upholding his ideologies. That is indeed leadership and hopefully his campaign can demonstrate this was the case.

Trapper had this story yesterday before any other news organization. The guy's on a roll. Now, regards to the Power issue. I'm a Clinton supporter but I'll say our camp had our loose lips episodes as well. It happens when someone somewhere blacks out and goes over the deep end. However, what is more troubling about the Power episode especially if Obama wins is Powers calling the people of Ohio out over voting for Hillary and suggesting Ohio voters were stupid. The McCain camp is going to play this stuff back in the general in Ohio over and over and over. Furthermore, the folks in Ohio take this sort of thing seriously and will be leaning toward McCain in the general. Not smart thinking there.

Maybe she was comparing Senator Clinton to Charlize Theron -- a compliment? LOL!

Now that she has resigned Obama supporters are calling for the Clinton camp to apologize for saying that Obama was engaging in Ken Starr like tactics. There is however a couple of differences:

1. Obama has been the one saying all along that he will run a different type of campaign, would not engage in name-calling, and would avoid personal attacks.

2. The comparison to Ken Starr was based on Obama talking about "land deals" and "personal finances" which were part of what Ken Starr was hounding the Clintons about.

3. The comment about Clinton was made about Hillary overall and was personal and was also an insult to the voters of Ohio while the Ken Starr reference was about a set of behaviors and actions and not about Obama as a whole.

The other problem I have with Powers is she STILL could be a foreign policy advisor IF Obama wins. Do we really want someone like that advising the President?

Well Hillary Clinton Bush is a power hungry monster. One that is willing to do anything, even destroy the democratic party, and go back on her commitments to become the 1st women president.

The press conference yesterday with her in the middle surrounded by the generals, hurling attacks at Obama is such a page out of Bush's book. I wonder if Saturday night live will show her as the snake she is.

Obama has put himself in an awkward situation. He's still trying to be tame and civil against a woman who is out for blood.
If he uses negative attacks it goes against his message of a new kind of politician, but if he does nothing she will make him look like a weak little black man. Hillary is one cold hearted woman.

I'm kind of starting to respect her you're either with me or your the enemy campaign she's started to run. Politics is a dirty game. I'm goanna take the high road. Since she wont be able to catch up with him in Delegates, maybe she's just trying to prepare him for the Republican assault he'll face if she doesn't steal the candidacy from him.

FIGHT BACK OBAMA, OR YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE TO THE CLINTON MONSTERS.

I do not understand whether it was acceptable for Hillary to be watched by the whole World, shouting to her rival: "Shame on You, Barack Obama". That to the eyes of many was seen as someone downgrading the other person to ground zero. She never apologised for that. But for someone like Samantha putting herself on Hillarys shoes, thats a bad thing eh!!

Kaj, Thanks so much for posting that link to Mark Halperin!!!! HOLY MOLY! Mr. Hope's campaign is IMPLODING!

Susan, It's actually worse. Why isn't Hillary's astonishing statement regarding a potential presidential rival being covered? This is a direct quote from the Chicago Tribune from Senator Clinton:

“... I think it’s imperative that each of us be able to demonstrate we can cross the commander-in-chief threshold,” the New York senator told reporters crowded into an infant’s bedroom-sized hotel conference room in Washington.

“I believe that I’ve done that. Certainly, Sen. McCain has done that and you’ll have to ask Sen. Obama with respect to his candidacy,” she said.

Calling McCain, the presumptive GOP nominee a good friend and a “distinguished man with a great history of service to our country,” Clinton said, “Both of us will be on that stage having crossed that threshold. That is a critical criterion for the next Democratic nominee to deal with.”

Is this a Democrat, or a pol seeking a VP position with John McCain?

I think her comments about Clinton, as well as her comments about the voters in Ohio being duped, were pretty accurate. Hopefully more people realize this before it's too late.

I've been saying this all along, Obama and his cult, advisors and followers act as if they are more knowledgeable, more educated, wealthier, and entitled to belittle everyone else, especially if they support Senator Hillary Clinton, so I'm glad to see the sewage seeping out and soiling the St. Obama, and the REZKO trial will certainly further tarnish the immaculate O.

I can honestly say, I've called her worse!!

"the executive director and founder of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard"
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What does "resigned" even MEAN, for these people? Not much, probably. Hurrah for The Scotsman for outing this person (wonder how the rest of his/her life will go for the person who reported Power's "off the record" remarks).

Boy Samantha Powers sure did insult Ohio. I have never heard such drivel from someone so well educated. I hope my cousins in Ohio heard her loud and clear since they are part of the population there. Ohio scream it from the where ever you live and let Pennsylvania know the truth about Obama.

ROTFLMAO!!!!! BEST-HEADLINE-EVER, JAKE!

Funny, funny, funny!

I'm glad she resigned. Who wants to bet she'll still be working behind the scenes?

When someone changes her character the way she changes her underwear, something is wrong. That kind of person can nuke another country and claim insanity. Truth be told.

What is worse than that is her comments regarding voters in Ohio. THAT is unacceptable and quite telling of the Obama camp's feelings of superiority.