She's my Girl and I'm back on DU

[NewHampster]

NewHampster's latest letter to the NH papers.

It is about winning.

I am proud to admit that I am a lifelong member of the Democratic Party, and it has never been more critical to return a Democrat to the presidency.

I believe in the Democratic principles of fairness and equal opportunity. I believe in government by and for the governed. I fully believe in your right to disagree with me, and I will defend that right.

Seven years ago, the presidency was stolen by people who do not believe as I do. They did not steal it from Al Gore. They stole it from us, the American people. They do not defend the Constitution. In fact, they mock the built-in safeguards of separation of church and state and separation of powers. They invent enemies in order to start wars so they can fill their bank accounts with more billions. They are crooked, cheating, lying schemers entirely focused on winning at all costs, retaining power at our cost. They govern by fear and campaign by stirring up more fears.

We all know that the Republicans' 2008 campaign will feature more e-mail jokes than last time, more disrespectful cartoon videos of our leaders, and more totally false attack ads than ever. We can be sure that they won't actually engage in open discussions of the issues that effect us and our world.

I will support the Democratic candidate, but I do not believe that most of them can handle the coming general election campaign. This time around is too important to take chances. This time we can't be wishy-washy. We have to fight and we have to win. We need a candidate with the experience and thick skin to take on the Republican machine. We need someone who won't quiver when the mud starts flying.

We need Hillary Clinton leading our campaign to return the White House to its rightful owners, the people of the United States of America.

[Buzz Clik]

1. Can we look forward to 16 months of this?

i have a headache.

[NewHampster]

22. Yes

Take 4 advil

[Buzz Clik]

38. I'm looking for a liquid Advil iv.

[IndyOp]

35. I'd trade my nausea & heartbreak for your headache...

:puke:

:cry:

[Buzz Clik]

40. Sure. Let's mix it. Up. We've got more than a year to sort it out.

[NewHampster]

42. dang it is fun

and I know we're all on the same side.

[ronnykmarshall]

2. Watch out New Hamster ..

You're going to be accused of working for the Clinton campaign.

Welcome back!

[NewHampster]

5. I am a proud volunteer

I'm a Hillary volunteer in the state that matters and damn I'm proud to support this woman. Is DU a place where no one can stand up and say "I support Hillary for President of the United States of Amnerica".?

Is anyone with me?

[ronnykmarshall]

6. I'm with ya!

[itsrobert]

7. Why does New Hampshire matter more than any other state?

Which "state" does not "matter" to you?

[NewHampster]

14. All states matter

but here we actually get to meet the candidates and ask tough questions. That is important in the primary. Iowa, NH and sC are small enough to force the candidates to go local rather than relying on TV. That is why we count.

Sorry if I offended I did not mean to.

[MADem]

50. You're joking, right? It's one of the high-profile primaries is why, it's

the opening salvo...

It's not the only state, certainly, but people have gotten "Big Momentum" coming out of NH, and that's why it is such a centerpiece. Others have expected a good showing and failed there, crushing their campaigns.

It's psychologically important, New Hampshire. Not the least because it attracts an enormous amount of media.

[itsrobert]

56. Something is just sad of people thinking they are better than everyone else

There are 50 states. Each one is just as important as the rest.

[MADem]

61. It's not a matter of that at all. It's simple HISTORY. If you don't win two

primaries out of the first three, or place SO high in a scattered showing that you are clearly Mister (Or Miz) CONSISTENT, you're going home as a candidate. You don't have the opportunity to shine in another venue, because that's it. Buh-bye. It's how we whittle it down from ten or twelve to two or three, and then one.

It has NOTHING to do with "people thinking they are better." It has to do with the media attention, the fact that the heartland issues are laid down in bright, sharp relief for the people to see, that the early primaries are seen as microcosms, and the fact that the nation FOCUSES on these races, which they've done for eons.

It's like asking why people put a tree in their house at Christmas--it's a traditional aspect of Presidential politics, not an act of snobbery. It's a culling mechanism that foretells the appeal of the candidates to a larger, national audience.

[itsrobert]

65. How is New Hampshire a "microcosm" of the rest of the US?

What percentage of New Hampshire is Hispanic and Asian? How is an all white state a microcosm of the rest?

[MADem]

66. It's the FIRST THREE you need to look at

The whole opening salvo is a package. NH represents one slice of the microcosm.

Go look at the South Carolina population stats and get back to me.

[NewHampster]

72. Microcosm is missing the point

No state is a microcosm of the U.S.

Thinking all Hispanics, all Asians, all Blacks or even all Polish Americans have a single minded agenda is very close to racism. We all are affected by where we live, grow up and the local community. Do New Yorkers speak for Californians? Does industrialized, unionized Michigan speak for Arizona? No. There is no microcosm of the U.S.

But that still is not the point.

New Hampshire, Iowa and So. Carolina give even the poorest of candidates the opportunity to meet face to face with an incredible variety of people. They can choose to listen if they want. They can test new speeches away from the national cameras. They can send out an email and have a dozen non-committed voters together within a day.

Without this process we never would have had Jimmy Carter who literally came to our states and went house to house knocking on doors.

So far this cycle, I've seen exactly one TV ad in NH and it was for Romney. This primary is run with people on the streets, on the phones and in each other's living rooms. We really can meet 100% of future presidents if we want, and have the opportunity to question them.

If we go away the process has to become one of National TV ads and debates. Resources can only be spread so far. Do you think any second tier candidate would have a chance against the Obama and Clinton war chests in an all out TV battle?

People in our 3 states take our role seriously and understand that we are the Consumer Reports of Presidential politics. We listen, ask hard questions, kick the tires and report back to the country via our polls. I met Hillary and have heard her twice. I've heard Edwards speak in a local orchard and answer some pretty tough questions. I've seen Bill Richardson up close and met Dennis at our State convention. Joe, Dodd and Barach are on my schedule over the next few weeks and I look forward to giving each the time he's earned.

I haven't heard a better process suggested.

[puebloknot]

60. Your assessment is certainly correct in terms of how politics has always...

...played out. It's just that I feel as others here do that this is just part of the circus atmosphere that surrounds everything concerning how we pick a leader -- or try to.

When I think of the money spent on *all* the campaigns (and this one has started obscenely early), and what could be done with it to actually help the country, I get depressed.

I know how "it's done." I just wish the whole scenario was more mature, that truth trumped spin! (I'm not on drugs! :) )

[MADem]

62. I think it will always be a little bit of a circus. And the money will only get bigger.

Hey, on the bright side, it was actually WORSE in the old days. The difference was, we never knew. It was all under the table, or across the table, or in an envelope in the inbox.

There were staffers all over Cap Hill, mostly older guys, kinda tough, often of Irish extraction, who looked nice in a suit, kept their mouths shut, whose main job was to get on an old prop plane (well, there were no jets back then), fly hither and yon, and come home with a "bag" stuffed with bundles of cash for their principal.

Those misty old days were actually uglier--it's just that they weren't at all transparent.

Once upon a time, a loaf of bread was a dime. Stuff costs more nowadays.

[puebloknot]

76. And remember the three-cent stamp? Blowing my cover here. nt

[Fredda Weinberg]

12. I campaigned for Hillary

and she's made me proud.

[Tellurian]

21. Yep, me too, I'm here...

been pretty busy at work.. I post when I can. I sorely miss the schuffleups, though! :hi:

my boss is an evil slave driver, one of those lawn gnome types.. <just kidding>.

Yes, I'm here for Hillary, as much as I can be that is!...

Hi rkm! :hi:

[NewHampster]

24. WooHoo

Howdy

[Tellurian]

37. WooHoo to you too!

and happy to see another Hillary supporter joining hands with us..

[calimary]

25. I'm still on the fence about everybody (except Al Gore), but if it's Hillary, I'll be there!

And with bells on!

If she's The One, then I'm with her. What am I gonna do, sit this one out in protest? Vote republi-CON??? Vote Green or None-of-the-Above (which is tantamount to another vote for the republi-CON)???

I will say I'm impressed with the way she handles the debates, fast on her feet, a very gutsy and nimble mind. After the absolute idiot dolt we've had to suffer through, it would be awfully nice to have a quick-thinking, rapid-reacting, powerful mind in command. The problems that jackass will have left us with DEMAND such an intellect and such guts. Of course, just about ANY of our people are blessed with those things even now. And she was certainly correct about one very significant point: for 15 years they've hit her with everything they've got, and she's still standing. Thriving, even.

I was a Deanie, died-in-the-wool, but when Kerry became our designated hitter, I went all out for him, eagerly. If Hillary is "IT," this time, I'll be there with her.

[NewHampster]

28. You are a true Democrat

and I love You!

[calimary]

32. Love you, back!

And good to have you back, for that matter!

:hi:

[emilyg]

51. I'm so with you!!!!!

[calimary]

58. Thanks. I really want to support Hillary Clinton. I'm hesitant about

her on the war issue and cuddling up to rupert murdoch (UNLESS... it's because she believes in that saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer), but she's also a powerful example of a really strong, gutsy, brilliant, shrewd, resourceful, creative, and charming woman. She IS a woman of power. She IS a great role model for other women. If ANYONE is positioned to break through the ultimate glass ceiling, it should be her or someone like her - with that powerful intellect and the courage to reach REALLY high, to challenge herself to the limit. This is as big-league as it gets. I think it's about damned time a woman stood in that inner circle. I would really like to support her. Obviously, if she gets the nomination, I absolutely will, without hesitation.

Hopefully by that time, she'll have given a strong majority of Americans reason to do that, too.

I think it's about time somebody ELSE got a shot at being president. The old and middle-aged white guys have had their chance, again and again and again and again. And after this last one, OY, do we need to try something different! It's the same rationale that makes me hold great hopes for someone like Barack Obama (and, for that matter, a Bill Richardson also). It's just HIGH TIME the usual suspects moved aside and let SOMEBODY ELSE take the helm for a change. We are NOT a nation of only old and middle-aged white men. I certainly am not one, last I looked. And I would like to be a little bit better represented for a change.

[MADem]

63. That's how I feel. If it is that Senator, I will go with her. If it's one of the others, present

or former, same deal.

Unless Gore jumps in--then all bets are off.

I'm enjoying sitting here on the fence, though. The view's great. Every candidate has strengths, I like the exchange of ideas. I don't feel extreme pressure to commit to one yet, though--I like most of them. What I don't like is the bullshit carping and shopping of lies by advocates AGAINST their fellow Democrats--ithat sort of "He did this/she did that" horseshit really is offensive to me, especially when the lies are so outrageous and easily disproved.

But, like you, I am 'with' the nominee. Heart and soul!!

[William769]

46. I'm with you!

[Mend]

48. We are with you.

[NewHampster]

49. WooHoo

[avrdream]

73. Happily with you on this opinion of yours!

And have put my money where my mouth is. Go Hillary!

[NewHampster]

74. Thanks and a big

WooHoo

[Yael]

78. Sorry, not with you

:scared:

[juajen]

89. Yep, I'm with you and have been a long time.

She was my candidate from the first. GO, HILLARY.

[Capn Sunshine]

71. sssst. Agent Ronny, IxNay

New Hampster wrote a very articulate letter. That's what I'd like to see more of here. Lees of that other stuff.

I don't have a lot of time, what with my immersion in the world of MBOs CMOS and the Real Estate market.

But don't stir it up, girlfriend. :)

bye

[itsrobert]

3. You mean return it to Big Pharma and Big HMOs

Hillary, own and operated by Big Pharma!

[saracat]

4. I respectfully disagree.We need a candidate who can get elected

a candidate who will not polarize the electorate and whom the Independent and GOP voter will support.Hillary Clinton is NOT that candidate in my opinion.And by the way I find the use of the term "girl" by anyone , including Clinton ,to describe a mature woman offensive.Just saying'!

[NewHampster]

10. She is the only one

The only one who can fight the swifters, liers, con artist Rovians and the rest of the repugs. The others will wilt like Kerry in the face of nasty politics.

[itsrobert]

13. Didn't she back down and wilt on Health Care?

What opposition to the war in Iraq did she provide?

[NewHampster]

17. She got snookered like I did.

I actually trusted the bushies and believed the war was good. I regret that but like Hillary I would do the same thing knowing the same.

[JTFrog]

64. You believed the war was

good?

I guess that really shouldn't surprise me by now.

[Colobo]

18. She is the only one because she says so. Right.

[NewHampster]

20. Try

Try to imagine the general campaign and the scum calling Barach Osama. It sucks but it is reality. They win by speaking to the 12 year old American voter and Hillary knows how to turn the other cheek and win.

[Colobo]

23. Why wouldn't Obama be ready to deal with that?

[NewHampster]

26. Can you?

Could Kerry? Could Dean?

Rove and the other scum are really really really bad. They will find any candidate's strength and then campaign against it.

Kerry. A war hero?
Dean. A passionate preogressive?
Edwards. It may be silly but I can think up a 100 good jokes about $400 haircuts. What he stands for is meaningless against the machine.

[Colobo]

31. I'm not a politician. Obama is. He has the talent, vision and intelligence

to be our next president. I don't doubt Hillary is ready to dish it out with the evil GOP machine, but I have faith in Obama's ability to sell himself as the alternative for change and win the 08 election. I have also noticed that Obama is excellent at firing back when attacked, so I don't see why he wouldn't be ready to respond during the 08 campaign.

I was a Republican until 2 years ago. I know how despicable they can be. I also know Obama is a candidate that brings something to the table even the worst kind of attack can't destroy or tarnish: HOPE.

I believe, NewHampster, I believe...

[NewHampster]

39. Welcome former Repug

I don't care who you support in the primarys, if you are a converted Repug and able to admit it I like you.

[Colobo]

41. Thanks! I'm behind whoever wins the primary as well.

If Hillary wins it, I'll be on the streets campaigning for her. I only hope she picks Barack as her running mate.

[Colobo]

8. We need Barack Obama leading our campaign to return the White House

to its rightful owners, the people of the United States of America.

And don't worry, New Hamptser, he will do it.

[NewHampster]

30. Not New Hampster

That's my State.

I'm NewHampster

[Colobo]

34. Ok, NewHampster.

[NoPasaran]

9. Welcome back, NewHampster

It's been a long time, hasn't it.

I too am proud to support Hillary Clinton as our candidate who can win in 2008.

[NewHampster]

11. Cool

Thanks NoPasaran. It's good to be back but I'm not sure if I'm gonna feel so good tomorrow. I forgot how consuming this place is.

[Colobo]

16. I too am proud to support Barack Obama as our candidate who can win in 2008.

What a great president he will be.

[NewHampster]

19. You should be proud

Support. Active support of any Democratic candidate is incredible and I'm proud of you too.

I just hope you will support Hillary in the general as I would support Kucinich if he somehow won the nomination.

[Cameron27]

15. Good, I'm glad to see Hillary getting more support on DU.

:thumbsup:

[Tellurian]

27. Anyone notice the Hillary Teddy Bear at the top of the page? hmmm...

The softer side of Hillary is becoming evident to all who meet her F2F as she campaigns the nation!

[sandnsea]

29. Who said not to fight the thefts?

The Clintons, that's who. They didn't fight any of the voting fights. They didn't fight Bush's war lies. They didn't fight to change direction in 2004. What in the hell are they going to fight for that you believe in???

[NewHampster]

36. They'll fight for you

But Hillary will be President and she'll fight like hell for Health Care rights for all.

Please try to think about what they were up against back then. The repug steam roller that through great and false marketing managed to convince the American electorate to give up their rights. I can't tell you how many friends are embarrassed to admit they voted for Bush and will vote dem this time.

[sandnsea]

43. In her second term

We're going to put up with 8 more years of Clinton smears for triangulation and side-stepping and nibbling at the edges?? Why would we do that to ourselves??

And no, your Bush voting friends will NEVER vote for Hillary. They might stay home with another Dem, but they will come out in droves to keep those 'Klintoons' out of office again.

[NewHampster]

44. Actually

They and my Indi friends like her.

I'm in the heat of it up here in NH and most voters are Independent. They are coming round to Hill in droves. the current and former Repugs I know almost all say they like Hillary in the general.

[sandnsea]

53. Excuse me if I just don't believe it n/t

[NewHampster]

54. You're excused

[DU GrovelBot]

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[William769]

45. What a great letter. Thanks for sharing.

K&R!

[NewHampster]

47. Thanks

[NewHampster]

52. Another letter to the editor I wrote this 4th of July

Independence Day is a time to think about the word "America."

To me, "America" means hope. Hope for the ultimate victory of good over evil. Hope that we all will live our lives in peace. We humans have been fighting against our own evil since one large caveman used his strength to get his way with his tribe. Our entire thousands of years of history have been about one person or group getting their way over another.

Then along comes America to say "No." Not just in the great wars, but in many smaller battles we said "No" to the bad guys of our time. We said "No" and gave hope to all the little guys trying to just enjoy a good life. Our hope ended the Cold War. Our hope caused the French to trust us with Lady Liberty.

I remember that feeling sometime in the mid-1990s among all of the bickering and power plays in D.C., that somehow the world had changed. The feeling that we had finally earned the world's trust and Americans could go anywhere with their heads held high. The feeling much like the hobbits felt when the darkness was lifted from Middle Earth. What a great feeling. No, we hadn't solved all the world's problems, but the world was moving forward together for the first time in history.

I'd really like that feeling back, and I believe that most of the world would love for us to once again be the trusted leader rather than the bullying neighbor. Restoring trust in America; restoring trust in the hope that is America. That is the single overriding issue of the 2008 campaign. Global warming, health care, outsourcing and the other issues of this campaign are critically important, but none matter one iota if we cannot restore trust in America.

Hillary Clinton knows this. She understands the power of hope and the priority of restoring then maintaining trust. She knows that with the world trusting us we can accomplish amazing things together.

Let's give the world hope once more.

[Arugula Latte]

69. I feel hope thinking of Edwards or Obama as our nominee.

I feel nothing but dread thinking about Clinton as our nominee.

[Colobo]

80. Obama will be our nominee. Clinton will be a good VP.

[NewHampster]

81. Believe what you want

My expert Ouija board predicts a Hillary - Richardson ticket.

[Colobo]

82. Richardson? C'mon... Even Biden is a better choice.

The guy is awful getting his message across. Clumsy.

[Colobo]

83. By the way, Clinton/Obama works.

[NewHampster]

84. I happen to agree but

My gut says the old North/South East/West Northeast/Southwest will take priority. Plus they may not want two senators when an experienced governor is available.

Plus. 2 Senators gone means goodbye majority.

Winning the general is the goal. Period.

[Colobo]

86. With Obama we will win.

[zulchzulu]

55. What are you going to do to spread support for your candidate of choice?

Have you contacted people in your area or found out if other supporters are in your area?

Good luck.

[killbotfactory]

57. I just don't see it

The republicans are damn near hopeless right now. People are sick of them, and they are so bad that they are taking democrats in congress with them, in terms of public support. The only way we can lose is by nominating a fringe candidate or if Clinton energizes the republican base, and then plays it safe in the election, which she will inevitably do.

She's offering the democrats the least, in terms of policy, and she is apparently just fine with the massive corruption in Washington, so she won't even tackle that problem if she gets elected.

[Alamom]

59. Hello, good to see you and love your OP. eom

[Totally Committed]

67. This is getting to be like having a root canal without novacaine.

Gawdsaveus. :eyes:

TC

[William769]

70. As much as you try your vitriol just doesn't work on all people.

:rofl:

P.S. But I will give you a E for effort anyway.

[obnoxiousdrunk]

68. Nice letter

I think Hillary can win the GE.

[NewHampster]

75. Thanks

[Uncle Joe]

77. I disagree with one point, they did steal it from Al Gore as well as from the American People,

with the corporate media's complicity motivated in large part because Al Gore empowered the American People by being the primary champion of the Internet. The corporate media wanted to maintain their monopoly on information, power, money and influence and as the Internet grew in power, the corporate media's leaders grew to fear this loss, and so Al Gore had to be punished and kept from power. I call it the Prometheus effect and without the continuous slander against Al Gore while they simultaneously camouflaged Bush's obvious short comings, the American People would have their intended leader.

[NewHampster]

79. Whatever

Hey, I like Al too but I honestly think he's more valuable to us fighting on the outside.

[penguin7]

85. It is not about winning. In fact you make it about winning you lose.

It is pretty clear to me anyway that the last two presidential elections were lost because the candidates were more worried about winning than standing for something.

[NewHampster]

87. NO!

We lost because our enemies only care about winning and if we can't keep our eyes on the prize it will happen again.

[ElizabethDC]

88. Great letter, NewHampster!

I can tell that you've got enthusiasm and a positive attitude - I can tell you'll be a great voice for Hillary here on DU (there aren't too many of us, but our numbers are growing!)

Thanks for sharing your letter with us!