Arianna Huffington blows JK a kiss

[whometense]

No, really!! Did anyone else post this today? It 's been hard to keep up. Haven't dared dip into the potentially buzzkill comments yet, though...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/it-takes-a-family-to-t_b_27404.html

It Takes A Family To... Triangulate (68 comments )


The Clinton Doctrine I wrote about yesterday clearly runs in the family. In fact, you might say it's becoming the Clinton family business.

Take this quote from today's Times story about the Lieberman campaign "retooling" for an independent run:

According to guests at a fund-raiser for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Hamptons on Saturday, Mrs.
Clinton -- who is supporting Mr. Lamont -- said that Mr. Lieberman had more than a 50-50 chance of winning re-election.

Since when is it Hillary's job to go around giving odds on Senate races? Sure, she said she'd abide by the results of the primary and endorse the nominee. But what else could she say? It's great to have her endorsement, but what about also refusing to give quotes that not-so-subtly undermine the candidacy of the guy she supposedly supports? If there's one thing the Lamont race showed, it's that it's no longer good enough with Democratic voters to do the minimal amount possible in supporting the party.

The only appropriate response to the Lieberman/Lamont race for a Democratic leader is to work to help create the conditions necessary for Lamont to win. It's not to offer up meaningless odds, which -- coming from an elected official of her standing -- have a not-so-odd way of becoming self-fulfilling.

Things to put on her to-do list could be: doing everything she can to encourage Lieberman to drop out, and using her list to fundraise for Lamont as John Kerry is doing. Does anyone want to take odds on that?

[whometense]

1. Firedoglake too.

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/08/17/this-is-how-we-do-it/#more-4038

[ProSense]

3. You beat me to it!

Just posted the link below!

[ProSense]

2. That's cool! There is also a post at

FDL mentioning Arianna's piece:

http://www.firedoglake.com/2006/08/17/this-is-how-we-do-it

[whometense]

4. I'm almost semi-ashamed to admit it,

but it doesn't get much better than this: JK love and a slam at HRC in the same piece.

It's been a good week for the JK Love. :loveya:

Here are some celebration pics:

[ProSense]

5. Oooh! Thanks!

:loveya:

[Luftmensch067]

6. I think you just killed me, Whome!

Too much for my heart! :-)

[whometense]

8. My two personal all-time favorites.

But these are ok too. ;-)

[Democrafty]

7. I love that RS cover.

I put in in a frame and I keep it by my sewing machine.

[whometense]

10. I treasure my copy of that issue.

That Hunter Thompson piece slays me every time I read it.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/6562575/fear_and_loathing_campaign_2004

BULLETIN
KERRY WINS GONZO ENDORSMENT; DR. THOMPSON JOINS DEMOCRAT IN CALLING BUSH "THE SYPHILLIS PRESIDENT"

"Four more years of George Bush will be like four more years of syphilis," the famed author said yesterday at a hastily called press conference near his home in Woody Creek, Colorado. "Only a fool or a sucker would vote for a dangerous loser like Bush," Dr. Thompson warned. "He hates everything we stand for, and he knows we will vote against him in November."

Thompson, long known for the eerie accuracy of his political instincts, went on to denounce Ralph Nader as "a worthless Judas Goat with no moral compass."

"I endorsed John Kerry a long time ago," he said, "and I will do everything in my power, short of roaming the streets with a meat hammer, to help him be the next President of the United States."

*****

Which is true. I said all those things, and I will say them again. Of course I will vote for John Kerry. I have known him for thirty years as a good man with a brave heart -- which is more than even the president's friends will tell you about George W. Bush, who is also an old acquaintance from the white-knuckle days of yesteryear. He is hated all over the world, including large parts of Texas, and he is taking us all down with him.

[Democrafty]

21. Me, too.

But to be honest, I can't look at it too often - it's a very emotional read.

[paulk]

9. I know this won't be a popular opinion here

but the last thing Kerry needs is accolades from the likes of Arriana Huffington and Jane Hamsher.

imo

[beachmom]

11. But it wasn't fawning praise, just crediting him for doing the right

thing with supporting Lamont. Don't worry -- I'm sure they'll invent a reason to hate him again, probably in 2007, when he starts running for president (hopefully). They're all going to support Feingold. Feingold will be our "out of the mainstream" candidate. In fact, we need Feingold, so Kerry can look progressive, but more sensible.

Your point taken, though.

[wisteria]

12. I don't necessarily disagree.

Although, a very small mention might be harmless,frequent ones may do a lot more harm than good,IMO. (And I know most will disagree with me also)

[whometense]

13. That may well be true,

and I never claimed for a second to be any kind of political strategist - I'm certainly not.

However, I do beg you to let me have my one day of joy at seeing him get some recognition for who he really is. It's been 5 years coming, and I intend to enjoy it, even though someone is sure to be after him with a meathook in about 15 seconds...

[whometense]

14. and in honor of that thought,

More pics!!!

[beachmom]

15. Thank you, Whometense

JK really does light up the screen doesn't he? Whether it's with his words or the character in his face, he's something else.

[whometense]

16. He does -

and you know, he does in person in exactly the same way.

an oldie (isn't he cute???):




and who wouldn't love this one???

[beachmom]

18. Say what you want about Time magazine, they sure do have the pics

The one of him sitting alone in the shadows and this pool one -- both originally printed in Time (I'm getting it free at the moment).

[wisteria]

20. Oh,I don't mean to be a spoiler. I love to see him get attention and

the respect he deserves. I would just prefer to see more George Will recognition than Huffington. I think he carries more weight and his opinion is much more respected than Ariana's.

And, you are right about the meat hook. I give it a day or two.

[Mass]

23. I will take credit from where it comes, and, in the idea of 08 primaries,

Huffington will help more than Will.

So, while I am sure that she will attack him very soon, I am happy she is giving him credit now. (as for respected, it depends by whom. I think most people do not know either of them).

[ProSense]

19. If he can get accolades from George Will,

this shouldn't be a problem. He spent the campaign trashing Kerry. Praise from any quarter is an acknowledgment that Kerry was right. Whether it comes from lefty freepers or right wingnuts, it simply plays to their base. They certainly don't do it often enough, and it may not change any minds, but it could. The fact is they have followers and they hype other Senators' efforts. (It burned me to see Kerry's name left off the withdrawal amendment on some blogs.) I don't particularly care for a Kos endorsement of anything Kerry does, but the same goes with him. In fact, there is such crossover readership between many of those blogs that I can't see this as anything but good news. Also, Kerry's comments are posted at Huffington on occasion, so it is good to see her giving him credit.

JMO

[Mass]

22. I would prefer hear them from mainstream democrats. Unfortunately, I dont

expect any coming from them or from the MSM. So, I am indeed happy some recognize that Kerry was right.

[whometense]

17. Here's something fun

for those of you who don't already own the cd :blush:

http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/9966399/john_kerry_and_the_electras