Bush says Clinton will be Dem nominee

[CGowen]

By TERENCE HUNT
AP WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT

WASHINGTON -- President Bush, breaking his rule not to talk about presidential politics, says he believes Hillary Rodham Clinton will defeat Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primaries. Bush also predicts that Clinton will be defeated in the general election by the Republican nominee.

"I believe our candidate can beat her but it's going to be a tough race," the president said.

It has been difficult for Bush to remain silent about the 2008 president race, despite his promises not to be the "prognosticator in chief." He has been talking about the race and handicapping candidates during off-the-record chats with visitors to the White House.

He finally went public with his Clinton prediction in an interview for a book by Bill Sammon, a reporter for The Washington Examiner.

"She's got a great national presence and this is becoming a national primary," Bush told Sammon. "And therefore the person with the national presence, who has got the ability to raise enough money to sustain an effort in a multiplicity of sites, has got a good chance to be nominated."

The White House did not challenge Sammon's account.

...

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1131AP_Bush_Politics.html

[rinsd]

1. More Sammon nonsense.

Of course the WH didn't dispute it. They probably wrote his book for him for crissakes.

[Cameron27]

6. Interesting.

If this story has any truth at all, Bush knows his opinion and advice are the kiss of death for candidates in his own party, so when he supposedly publicly offers it for Clinton, I'd say it's possible he doing it to flatten her support.

[rinsd]

8. I think its just a bald attempt to portray the Dem candidates as not ready for the job

[Cameron27]

9. You're right, that sounds more like bush.

[bpeale]

2. all the more reason to shun her

first rupert murdock, now bush? we need to torpedo her candidacy.

[Dinger]

3. No We Don't

We just need to vote, our OWN conscience, not anyone else's. Who gives a flying shit what * says anyway?

[CGowen]

4. Examiner Exclusive: Bush quietly advising Hillary Clinton, top Democrats

Washington, D.C. (Map, News) - President Bush is quietly providing back-channel advice to Hillary Rodham Clinton, urging her to modulate her rhetoric so she can effectively prosecute the war in Iraq if elected president.

In an interview for the new book “The Evangelical President,” White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten said Bush has “been urging candidates: ‘Don’t get yourself too locked in where you stand right now. If you end up sitting where I sit, things could change dramatically.’ ”

Bolten said Bush wants enough continuity in his Iraq policy that “even a Democratic president would be in a position to sustain a legitimate presence there.”

“Especially if it’s a Democrat,” the chief of staff told The Examiner in his West Wing office. “He wants to create the conditions where a Democrat not only will have the leeway, but the obligation to see it out.”

http://www.examiner.com/a-953145~Bush_quietly_advising_Hillary_Clinton__top_Democrats.html

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. July 2003: Rove Spends the Fourth Rousing Support for Dean

By Juliet Eilperin
Saturday, July 5, 2003; Page A05

Talk about lining up the competition. President Bush's chief political adviser has seen the possible presidential candidates among the Democrats and has found one he apparently thinks his man can beat: former Vermont governor Howard Dean.

Karl Rove tried to stir up enthusiasm for Dean marchers yesterday at the 37th annual Palisades Citizens' Association Fourth of July parade along the District's MacArthur Boulevard, which always attracts plenty of politicians.

As a dozen people marched toward Dana Place wearing Dean for President T-shirts and carrying Dean for America signs, Rove told a companion, " 'Heh, heh, heh. Yeah, that's the one we want,' " according to Daniel J. Weiss, an environmental consultant, who was standing nearby. " 'How come no one is cheering for Dean?' "

Then, Weiss said, Rove exhorted the marchers and the parade audience: " 'Come on, everybody! Go, Howard Dean!' "

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A10541-2003Jul4¬Found=true

[vanboggie]

5. There he goes again

Blabbing Rover's ideas. My guess is that the fix is already in the Fascist Master Plan. Excuse for a Republican winning (which is pretty darned unlikely in an honestly conducted election): "America wasn't ready for a woman."

OMG, I've studied the neo-cons for so long that I'm starting to think like them.

[Carrieyazel]

10. And Shrub also said that Repukes would keep both houses and that we would be winning in Iraq

If Shrub thinks she will be our nominee, then all the more reason to hope that she will be derailed. Thanks, Shrub for giving us hope.

[truebrit71]

11. Add that to a looooooong list of things Lt AWOL has been wrong about...

...if that moran told me it was raining I'd check first...