HRC speaks on funding: "When I have something to say, I will say it, gentlemen,"

[draft_mario_cuomo]

==Senate Democrats running for president face a dilemma this week in how to vote on the troop spending bill which no longer ties the $95.5 billion in funds for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to a binding timetable for U.S. troop withdrawal.

Either route chosen will bring with it huge potential political pitfalls, as Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., tacitly acknowledged Wednesday afternoon in her dismissive comments to reporters asking her how she will vote.

"When I have something to say, I will say it, gentlemen," Clinton told journalists.==

==The former first lady has spent much of her six years in the Senate cultivating a hawkish persona, impressing generals from her perch on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and, last June, telling an audience of liberal activists that making "a date certain" was a bad idea.

She has since abandoned that position, but clearly she and her advisers have been working hard to make her seem acceptable on matters of national security and defense. ==

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3204624&page=1

[Zenlitened]

1. Maybe she's waiting until there's an actual bill on the table?

:shrug:

Has anything been drafted, let alone introduced, yet?

[draft_mario_cuomo]

3. Senator Feingold has spoken against capitulation

Of course, Feingold supports ending financing of Bush's failed war...

[wyldwolf]

2. thanks for the post! She really told them!

[Missy M]

4. I like her reply.....

more people should tell reporters that. Why say something just to say it.

[IndianaGreen]

20. The media will eat her alive if she had given such answer as the Democratic nominee

She will be attacked from both the Left and the Right, as an enabler of the war by the Left, and as a flip-flopper by the Right.

[BeyondGeography]

5. "When I figure out which way the wind is blowing, I will make a decision, gentlemen."

Which, to be fair, is what most politicians do. HRC moreso than others.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

6. Exactly. Has she shown leadership on anything other than video games?

She is a creature of the polls, not a leader.

[SaveElmer]

7. Of course she has...

As has been pointed out here numerous times...but it does ruin your predetermined route of attack...so like a good "progressive" you just ignore it

[draft_mario_cuomo]

8. On what? Where is her "leadership" on defunding the war?

She is such a "leader" she does not even have a public position on the Dems caving (where was she during the caving anyway? Why didn't she stand with Feingold, Edwards, Kucinich, et al. and advocate standing up to George Bush and sending the vetoed bill back?)...

[SaveElmer]

11. Several issues

Health Care, Civil Rights, Choice...etc, etc, etc!!!

I could provide links etc...but somehow I don't think you are truly interested...would take all the fun out of your being here I think...


btw: I've been dying to ask, why do you suppose Mario just couldn't bring himself to board that plane in 2000...too bad we don't have him in the trenches huh?

[Missy M]

10. That is a ridiculous remark and you know it.....

all politicians are creatures of polls. She is very capable of leadership and will be a great leader when she wins.

[rinsd]

13. As opposed to Edwards?

Who cosponsored the IWR and wrote an oped in support of it?

Who in 2005 said he made a mistake when the war had become unpopular?

Who according to Bob Shrum was against the war but was talked into by Shrum and other advisors?

That windsock?

[SaveElmer]

14. He can't decide whether there is a war on terror or not...

At the debate he said yes, now that he finds that term is unpopular with the so-called "base," all of a sudden there isn't...

Can't even seem to decide whether he is really apologizing for his IWR vote or not...says he takes responsibility, but then blames Bush and Clinton aides...

Perhaps he is sincere about what he says, but the way he presents it makes him look like a flip-flopper

[rinsd]

19. Its the same thing with the DLC

He's a cofounder of the New Democrats, gave a key address at the DLC convention in 2002.

But now he claims he was never joined.

I was an Edwards supporter in 2004. And I still think he is a good candidate but I am so sick of people slamming Hillary while pretending their candidate's shit doesn't stink.

I want this to be a positive place where we kill rw memes and promote our candidates.

I have tried my best to exercise patience but that is becoming a futile effort.

[SaveElmer]

15. Dennis Kucinich..."King of the Windsocks"

No one I can think of has made such gear stripping shifts in fundamental beliefs as DK. Anti-choice, anti-stem cell, pro flag burning amendment...until right before he decides to run for PRez...then all of a sudden, what do ya know...180 degree switch!!!

[Missy M]

9. I agree with you except for the part of Hillary doing more so...

than others. She doesn't do it anymore than others, even less than some. Isn't it what a politician is all about, knowing what the people who vote for them want, or would you rather have a George Bush who doesn't give a damn what the people want.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

12. To be fair, Obama's saying the same thing.

He said he'll read the thing before commenting.

Not that I don't think HC's full of shit.

[draft_mario_cuomo]

22. Obama has been as weak on this as HRC

I am still holding out hope that he will at least vote against financing the war tomorrow, even though I am disappointed that he has been silent throughout the capitulation.

Edwards, Dodd, and Kucinich (as well as other great Dems who are not running for president like John Kerry and Russ Feingold) have led on this. Let's hope HRC, Obama, and co. at least follow their leads on this.

[blm]

16. Hillary was adamant about NOT setting a timetable last June - then began her primary appearances

and the questions of why she stayed close to Bush on this became too tough for her to handle and she opted to support some sort of wothdrawal timetable she really doesn't believe in.

And therein lies her problem.

[primative1]

21. That was my thought too ..

The poll results must be coming back really slow ....

[IndianaGreen]

17. Hillary's leadership consists of "Keep the Powder Dry."

Why are some people so enamored of her?

[EFerrari]

18. Please don't nominate her. n/t

[illinoisprogressive]

23. I second that plea