Nice post at TPM Cafe

[MH1]

I went over to TPM to check Josh Marshall's update, and saw this listed in the right column. (I'm not a TPM regular so I guess that is "recommended list" there)

http://www.tpmcafe.com/blog/coffeehouse/2006/oct/17/hard_work

Hard Work
By Reed Hundt | bio
Hard work pays off. No one should underestimate John Kerry's plausibility as the comeback kid. He has the money; he has learned from experience; he has paid the dues of candidates in this election; he even stood against Senator Joe, while others supported that ersatz Democrat at least implicitly by way of being all too quiet; he will have loyalists on his side because of whom he has helped; and he's been far bolder and clearer than others on the crucial issues. John may have taken his time to get where he is, but his current location on the political map is not so bad.

Meanwhile, Iraq is plainly deteriorating. The Administration's 30,000 number is disreputable. If the Congress flips, it is not the investigations -- that is exaggerated -- but the platform that will exist for challenges to the Administration that matters. Those in power command more attention from the MSM than those without. If Congress flips, John Kerry's position is strengthened. He and Senator Clinton will become the opinion leaders of the Democratic Party

....

The comments are, well, kos-like. (who has their hip-waders handy?) But the post is pretty good - and one of the few that recognize Kerry's stance against Lieberman before it was popular.

As for Clinton, I am remaining open-minded on her. My personal opinion is that her ratio of politico-to-principle is about the opposite of Kerry's, but I could be misjudging her, and in any case, if she can lead, it will be in a better direction than any republican, and unfortunately many Democrats as well. I don't like when I can't help but suspect internecine dirty tricks coming from that camp, but most politicos do as much of it as they can get away with, and we could do worse.

[wisteria]

1. It is admirable that you remain opened minded in regards to Clinton

unfortunately, mine is closed. I don't put anything past any one with the name of Clinton- except maybe Chelsea.

[sandnsea]

2. Mine too

This money thing has permanently closed it. They're vipers. Everything that's wrong with DC, both politically and systemically.

[whometense]

3. mine too.

I remain in awe at your openmindedness, MH!

[ProSense]

4. Agree!

Kerry is not responsible for single-handedly funding party organizations. Other Democrats need to step up! Where was Hillary Clinton prior to the recent DSCC contribution?! Reports from 2005:

Campaign Committee Transfers to the
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC $3,000,000
MA FRIENDS OF JOHN KERRY $1,000,000

NY FRIENDS OF HILLARY $170,000

http://www.fec.gov/press/press2005/20050302party/cantodscc.pdf


Campaign Committee Transfers to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT, INC. $3,000,000
http://www.fec.gov/press/press2005/20050302party/cantodccc.pdf


Campaign Committee Transfers to the Democratic National Committee
JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT INC $23,595,000
MA KERRY FOR U S SENATE $50,000
http://www.fec.gov/press/press2005/20050302party/cantonationals.pdf


Now Kerry's KAP PAC (nearly all contributions):

Keeping America's Promise: Expenditures
Total records: 54607

Total Spent (view expenditures)
$4,217,706
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expend.asp?strID=C00409508&Cycle=2006

Now look at Hillary Clinton's:

Clinton's PAC (nearly all wages and administrative expenses):

HILLPAC: Expenditures
Total records: 2045

Total Spent (view expenditures)
$2,401,758
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/expend.asp?strID=C00363994&Cycle=2006


Hotline promoted a bogus website claiming the party organizations are out of money, yet

DCCC Outraised Everyone; NRCC Had $40M In Bank
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/10/dccc_outraises.html

DNC Reports $5.6M Quarter
The DNC reported $5.6 million in September and ended the month with about $8.2 million CoH. (The party reports raising $1 million in the past two days alone.)
http://hotlineblog.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/10/dnc_reports_56m.html

Democrats close money gap with GOP
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061019/ap_on_el_ge/party_money_1



If you ask me between Hillary Clinton challenging Howard Dean to raise more money, articles trying to frame the DNC as broke, despite the incredible infrastructure Dean put in place, and the hit peice on Kerry, who has given over five times as much as Clinton, I'd say some cowardly entity is trying to knock Kerry and the DNC in an attempt to make Clinton look good.

[sandnsea]

7. Factor the sudden reappearance of McAuliffe too

Especially after it was reported he was going to head up her presidential campaign. What bothers me most about this is that they're doing it during this very critical election. That proves to me they care more about their own power than they do the country.

[whometense]

8. You make an excellent point.

This, if it had to happen, couldn't have waited a few more weeks??

[MH1]

5. It's pragmatism and pre-emptive mental self-defense

I don't want Hillary to be the nominee. To me, Kerry outshines her in every way, and I trust him far, far more.

But the uncomfortable fact is that she has the money and the connections. My view of politics has become so cynical that I believe that just may be enough to buy her the nomination.

And if it does, she will be 1000 times better than whichever hypocritical piece of slime the Republicans nominate. And I will need to work my ass off to get her elected. I'm not going to poison my own mind about her while that possibility looms.

That said, if I become totally convinced the Clintonistas are behind this current smearboat attack, I will never, ever, ever forgive any of them. (But I would still rather Hillary in the WH than McCain. Nothing the Clintonistas could do would make them worse - or more dangerous for the country - than making that lowlife president.)

[ProSense]

6. Well said!

I certainly don't hate Hillary Clinton, but as her supporters, even cowardly ones, try to knock down Kerry, they can expect a forceful response. As we've seen, these type of attacks instill doubt and raise false questions, and the high road is a road to more attacks. Fuck 'em!