Seven strikes against Hillary and the campaign killer strike: "Ickes' Law"

[ProSense]

1. Show Us the Money:

As the presidential campaign narrows and its costs skyrocket, detailed disclosure of financial resources becomes ever more important. Of the leading contenders, so far, only Senator Barack Obama has released his full income-tax returns — a level of disclosure once routine for candidates after the political corruption of Watergate

<...>

The reluctance of Mrs. Clinton and Mr. McCain to reveal more about their finances ill-serves voters and the nominating process of both parties. It also sets a terrible precedent for future campaigns for important posts at the national and state level.

2. Hillary's use of ties to Exelon to disingenuously attack Obama's nuclear plant bill (which she even claims to have helped him pass through committee; although she didn't sign on as a co-sponsor until 12 days later):

September 13, 2006

Clinton Announces Committee Approval of Legislation to Require Disclosure of Leaks from Nuclear Plants

Bill Would Require Indian Point and Other Nuclear Plants to Notify Local Governments in the Event of Future Leaks to Groundwater

Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) applauded the approval today by a key Senate committee of legislation to require nuclear plant operators to quickly notify the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the state and county in which the plant is located, of any leak of radioactive substances, such as the releases from the spent fuel pools at Indian Point that occurred last August. Senator Clinton joined Senator Obama in bringing the legislation to the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, where it was unanimously approved today.

“Local officials need to know when radioactive materials are leaked from any of New York's nuclear power plants, including Indian Point,” said Senator Clinton. “This important legislation will ensure prompt notification of any future leaks, and I will be working hard to move it through the full Senate.”

Last fall, the NRC and Entergy discovered leaks of radiation-contaminated water from the spent fuel pools at the Indian Point power plant. However, local officials were not notified of the leaks until weeks after they were discovered. The legislation approved by the EPW Committee today would ensure that local governments would receive much faster notice of any such leaks in the future. The bill will next go to the full Senate for consideration.

The legislation directs the NRC to develop regulations to require plant owners to notify the NRC, state and county officials of radiation leaks. For leaks that threaten drinking water, the bill recommends reporting to the NRC, the state and the county within 24 hours, unless they are already subject to more stringent reporting requirements.

3. Hillary's mismanagement of her campaign.

4. The ongoing effort to portray Hillary as the victim and trying to create the impression that this has anything to do with Obama.

5. Hillary's campaign grossly underestimated the Obama campaign.

6. Mark Penn.

7. Hillary's nasty campaign.

Campaign killer strike, Ickes' Law:

Swing States by the Numbers (with Update on “Ickes’ Law”)

The latest “electability” argument out of the Clinton campaign came in a conference call this morning with Clinton’s superdelegate whip Harold Ickes:

I’m on a conference call with Clinton operative Harold Ickes, in which he’s floating a new-ish argument about why Hillary would be the stronger Democratic nominee (this was in the context of the decision facing superdelegates): Hillary has won key general-election swing states like Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and Arkansas, while Obama’s won a lot of states Democrats will have zero chance of carrying in November, like Nebraska, Kansas, and Idaho.

Okay. Let’s do the math on the states Ickes cites:

Arkansas (6 electoral votes): Home State November Advantage Clinton

Arizona (10 electoral votes): Home State November Advantage McCain

New Mexico (5 electoral votes): Virtual tie/9-day recount in Democratic primary, no clear November advantage to Clinton, Obama or McCain.

Nevada (5 electoral votes): Rasmussen Poll says Major November Advantage for Obama over Clinton and McCain.

Subtotal of swing states cited by Ickes:

McCain 10 points, Clinton 6 points, Obama 5 points.

Other Swing States:

New Hampshire (4 electoral votes): Rasmussen poll says Major Advantage for Obama.

Colorado (9 electoral votes): Rasmussen poll says Major November Advantage for Obama.

Iowa (7 electoral votes): Obama won caucuses by 8 points, drew more Independents and Republicans, November Advantage Obama.

Missouri (11 electoral votes): Virtual tie in Democratic primary, no clear November advantage for Clinton or Obama.

Virginia (13 electoral votes): Obama won Democratic primary by 29 points, drew more Independents and Republicans, won more votes than all Republican primary candidates combined. November Advantage Obama.

Subtotal of swing states not mentioned by Ickes:

Obama 31 electoral votes, Clinton 0, McCain 0.

<...>

Update: Ickes also argued for seating “delegates” from Florida and Michigan’s fabricated “primaries.” But NBC’s First Read reports that, as a member of the Democratic National Committee’s rules committee, Ickes voted for the rule that he now seeks to help break:

On Florida and Michigan, the campaign again said voters in those states should not be “disenfranchised” and that the states were important to the Democratic Party’s fortunes. Ickes also said Clinton didn’t vote on the DNC rules.

But Ickes did. And he voted in August to strip Florida and Michigan of their delegates as a sitting member of the Rules and Bylaws Commission.

“There’s been no change,” Ickes said, adding that he was then acting as a member of the Rules and Bylaws Committee “not acting as an agent of Sen. Clinton. We had promulgated rules — if Florida and Michigan violated those rules” they’d be stripped of their delegates. “We stripped them of all their delegates in order to prevent campaigns to campaign in those states.”

In fact, however, that was not why Florida and Michigan were stripped of their delegates. They were stripped of their delegates because they violated party rules by moving up their contest dates before Feb. 5.

“Ickes’ Law”: Vote for a rule and then, when it is enforced, try to break it.

Despite Hillary's total disregard for the rules and the other seven strikes, Obama is ahead no matter how you slice it (even hypothetically):

[ProSense]

1. Add this to strike number 6

Latest From Mark Penn:

Mark Penn: "Winning Democratic primaries is not a qualification or a sign of who can win the general election. If it were, every nominee would win because every nominee wins Democratic primaries.”

[blm]

2. Add this to Greatest Page.

You are as sharp as they come, Pro.

[ProSense]

7. Someone has to "restore our hope and optimism."

Barack Obama:

The politics of hope does not mean hoping things come easy.

Because nothing worthwhile in this country has ever happened

unless somebody, somewhere stood up when it was hard; stood up

when they were told – no you can’t, and said yes we can."

Hillary agrees:

I'm in. And I'm in to win.

Today I am announcing that I will form an exploratory committee to run for president.

And I want you to join me not just for the campaign but for a conversation about the future of our country -- about the bold but practical changes we need to overcome six years of Bush administration failures.

I am going to take this conversation directly to the people of America, and I'm starting by inviting all of you to join me in a series of web chats over the next few days.

The stakes will be high when America chooses a new president in 2008.

As a senator, I will spend two years doing everything in my power to limit the damage George W. Bush can do. But only a new president will be able to undo Bush's mistakes and restore our hope and optimism.

Only a new president can renew the promise of America -- the idea that if you work hard you can count on the health care, education, and retirement security that you need to raise your family. These are the basic values of America that are under attack from this administration every day.

And only a new president can regain America's position as a respected leader in the world.

I believe that change is coming November 4, 2008. And I am forming my exploratory committee because I believe that together we can bring the leadership that this country needs. I'm going to start this campaign with a national conversation about how we can work to get our country back on track.

This is a big election with some very big questions. How do we bring the war in Iraq to the right end? How can we make sure every American has access to adequate health care? How will we ensure our children inherit a clean environment and energy independence? How can we reduce the deficits that threaten Social Security and Medicare?

No matter where you live, no matter what your political views, I want you to be a part of this important conversation right at the start. So to begin, I'm going to spend the next several days answering your questions in a series of live video web discussions. Starting Monday, January 22, at 7 p.m. EST for three nights in a row, I'll sit down to answer your questions about how we can work together for a better future. And you can participate live at my website. Sign up to join the conversation here.

I grew up in a middle-class family in the middle of America, where I learned that we could overcome every obstacle we face if we work together and stay true to our values.

I have worked on issues critical to our country almost all my life. I've fought for children for more than 30 years. In Arkansas, I pushed for education reform. As First Lady, I helped to expand health care coverage to millions of children and to pass legislation that dramatically increased adoptions. I also traveled to China to affirm that women's rights are human rights.

And in the Senate, I have worked across party lines to get billions more for children's health care, to stop the president's plan to privatize Social Security, and to make sure the victims and heroes of 9/11 and our men and women in uniform receive the fair treatment they deserve. In 2006, I led the successful fight to make Plan B contraception available to women without a prescription.

I have spent a lifetime opening opportunities for tens of millions who are working hard to raise a family: new immigrants, families living in poverty, people who have no health care or face an uncertain retirement.

The promise of America is that all of us will have access to opportunity, and I want to run a 2008 campaign that renews that promise, a campaign built on a lifetime record of results.

I have never been afraid to stand up for what I believe in or to face down the Republican machine. After nearly $70 million spent against my campaigns in New York and two landslide wins, I can say I know how Washington Republicans think, how they operate, and how to beat them.

I need you to be a part of this campaign, and I hope you'll start by joining me in this national conversation.

As we campaign to win the White House, we will make history and remake our future. We can only break barriers if we dare to confront them, and if we have the determined and committed support of others.

This campaign is our moment, our chance to stand up for the principles and values that we cherish; to bring new ideas, energy, and leadership to a uniquely challenging time. It's our chance to say "we can" and "we will."

Let's go to work. America's future is calling us.

link

Hillary courted the wingnut media and they set her up good

[Liberal Gramma]

9. Too much I

One reason for the crowds Obama inspires is that he talks of what WE can do. With Clinton, it's all about her and what she will do. Notice how many times she uses "I" in the above speech, and in all her speeches. It may not be her intention, but it sounds like she's got a plan to implement and we are peripheral to it.

[psychopomp]

10. That is right

While Sen. Obama is charismatic, it is the people supporting his campaign that are making the change they want to see by rejecting the "inevitable" candidate and getting aboard the Obama campaign.

[ProSense]

11. Hillary should never

use the word "hope" ever again.

[K Gardner]

3. Another case beautifully made ! K^R

[Scurrilous]

4. Good work!

K & R :thumbsup:

[psychopomp]

5. Well done; this should get more attention

:kick:

[ProSense]

6. Thanks. n/t

[Cha]

8. Nice work, Pro Sense..bookmarking

for when I have time to focus better.

Chockablock full of clinton facts one needs to arm themselves with to go up against the machine.

[Major Hogwash]

12. Excellent post. Really startling data here.

This is the type of thing that has made this race so close and so hard to watch.
If the Clintons would have stayed out of the gutter, I would be more objective, but mentioning MLK the way they did, really got under my skin.

I have fought against racism all my life, and to hear a Democrat make comments about Obama the way they did, just pushed me clear off of my chair.

[ProSense]

14. Four

****ing recs for racist BS! Why are people pretending this disgusting behavior is normal?

[Major Hogwash]

17. People are afraid of change unless they are involved in the process, they resist change.

They will come around eventually.

[ProSense]

18. Hillary has been spending political capital, she just hasn't figured out how to

make change work for her.

Hint for Hillary: Reminding people daily about the old-style of dirty politics by engaging in does not create the perception that you want change.

[tammywammy]

13. recommended

[FrenchieCat]

15. Highly!

Rec'ed!

[ProSense]

16. Ickes and Penn contradict each other

So, for top Clinton aide Harold Ickes, primary and caucus victories are a key indicator of general-election performance. For top Clinton aide Mark Penn, primary and caucus victories have absolutely nothing to do with general-election performance.

This isn’t helpful. Do you ever get the sense that Penn sometimes does more harm than good?

And speaking of Ickes, he’ll need to work on this spin, too.

link

[guruoo]

19. Neither Hillary nor Ickes can change the rules, as that is the DNC's responsibility.. n/t

However, I still have to allow you kudos for the amount of time and energy you have put into
trying to convince people otherwise.

[ProSense]

27. Oh, she's

definitely going to try.

[AtomicKitten]

20. Greatest Page and a half.

Well done!!! ;)

K&R

[NJmaverick]

21. Hillary's campaign and her supporters here have totally turned me off

I can never vote for a Clinton again. These people are guilty of all the sort of immoral and unethical behavior I fought so long against (when the Republicans did it). Sorry right and wrong, don't have exceptions for political party.

[FrenchieCat]

22. Add PlagerizeGate to their growing lists of reasons why

NOT to vote for them (Hillary & Bill)!

[ProSense]

23. What a

ridiculous attempt to create a scandal!

[ProSense]

29. Rangel called her Xerox comment during the debate a

dud

[ProSense]

24. Strikes 8, 9, 10 and 11

The Texas tangle

The plagiarism lie

This quote:

Clinton surrogate and Machinists union President Tom Buffenbarger: "Give me a break! I've got news for all the latte-drinking, Prius- driving, Birkenstock-wearing, trust fund babies crowding in to hear him speak! This guy won't last a round against the Republican attack machine. He's a poet, not a fighter."

This no-class move:

"My good friend Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones from Ohio represented me on one of the TV programs in the last day or two— some of you may have seen her," Clinton said during a speech at Hunter College in New York City Wednesday. "And she was on against someone representing my opponent and for the first time, actually, the host, asked the representative of my opponent to name one accomplishment."

<...>

The Clinton campaign called the interview "Must See TV," and e-mailed a clip of it to reporters Wednesday morning — shortly before the New York Democrat mentioned it in her speech.

[grantcart]

25. it will soon be over

[ProSense]

26. Great chart! n/t

[ProSense]

28. Strike 12: Clinton Camp Pushes O-Bomber Links

Clinton Camp Pushes O-Bomber Links: Ignores Her Own Radical Ties

Clinton, Obama Spar on Ties to Radicals

By JUSTIN ROOD
Feb. 22, 2008

The Hillary Clinton campaign pushed to reporters today stories about Barack Obama and his ties to former members of a radical domestic terrorist group -- but did not note that as president, Clinton's husband pardoned more than a dozen convicted violent radicals, including a member of the same group mentioned in the Obama stories.

"Wonder what the Republicans will do with this issue," mused Clinton spokesman Phil Singer in one e-mail to the media, containing a New York Sun article reporting a $200 contribution from William Ayers, a founding member of the 1970s group Weather Underground, to Obama in 2001.

In a separate e-mail, Singer forwarded an article from the Politico newspaper reporting on a 1995 event at a private home that brought Obama together with Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, another member of the radical group.

<...>

And in 1999, President Clinton also pardoned 16 violent Puerto Rican nationalists responsible for more than 100 bombings of U.S. political and military installations, after they promised to renounce violence. The attacks reportedly killed six people and wounded dozens more. In justifying the pardons, President Clinton noted none of the men had been convicted of crimes that resulted in death or injuries.

At the time, the First Lady said she opposed her husband's decision to free the men, who had by then each served more than 19 years in prison for crimes, including armed robbery and illegal weapons possession. The reason, a spokesman said then, was that the men had taken too long -- more than three weeks -- to agree to renounce any future violent activity.

Contacted by phone Friday morning, spokesman Singer declined to comment for the record for this article.

"If the Clinton campaign is truly concerned about the exploitation of the Weather Underground issue by the Republican attack machine, perhaps they should focus on the pardon of some of its members in the waning days of the Clinton administration," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

more

[ProSense]

30. Strike 13

“Shame On You, Barack Obama”