To Heilemann, Halperin and Politico: I'll Proudly Defend Hillary Clinton, On The Record

[Beacool]

Posted: January 12, 2010

Ben Smith writes a cover story for Politico titled Game over: The Clintons stand alone. The piece is based on John Heilemann and Mark Halperin's 'Game Change', the latest in an ever-expanding series of 2008 campaign books -- none of which, in my view, capture the entire story of what happened in that historic Democratic primary. (I include in that assessment David Plouffe's The Audacity to Win, which is undeniably a definitive version of what transpired inside the Obama campaign from the perspective of an exceptional campaign manager, but overlooks key reasons for Hillary Clinton's defeat and doesn't articulate the full scope of the online commentariat's impact.)

---------

Here's my response: as a former adviser and a senior staffer/department head at her presidential campaign, I'll proudly defend Hillary Clinton and I'll do whatever I can to counter lies, smears and mischaracterizations.

---------

Was I on every call and at every strategy session? No. Can I vouch for every single thing said and done at the campaign. Of course not. But having participated in countless senior strategy meetings, crisis management and rapid response drills and emergencies, "war rooms within war rooms" (a term used by Heilemann/Halperin), debate prep, calls, emails and private conversations with the candidate, and having slept with my BlackBerry under my pillow and been stationed at the center of her communications operation for the duration of the campaign, I can confidently state that Hillary Clinton did not push for 'vicious' or dirty tactics against any of her opponents, nor did she encourage or 'cheer on' that behavior from her staff. The ethos of the campaign, which she conveyed in word and deed, was that she would win because she was best prepared, worked the hardest and had the most compelling ideas.

She was centered, dignified and focused throughout, although her frustration and pain did show through at some moments. She knew the media environment was stacked against her, against any woman. She knew what she was up against and drove forward into the furious headwinds of sexism and rightwing-fueled Clinton-hatred.

For Hillary Clinton, it wasn't about being a woman, it was about being the best.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-daou/to-heilemann-halperin-and_b_420081.html

Thank you, Peter!!! This is the woman I got to know too, albeit in a much reduced capacity than Peter, since she became a NY senator.

;-)

[emilyg]

1. Thanks for posting.

[Beacool]

2. You're welcome.

I observe that the unrec'ing crew is at it again. This place has become just as disappointing as the people who wrote such tripe in their trashy and gossipy book.

;(

[LisaM]

6. Who would unrecommend this?

During the primaries, in Seattle, Hillary came in the night before, spoke for a long time in an unheated warehouse (I was there), stayed till the last person was done asking her questions or wanting to shake her hand - till well after 11:00 a.m. She was up the next morning by 7:00 to do a TV interview - the ONLY one of the three candidates who acceted the invitation, then went and did a little publicized town hall with Tacoma nurses. Three events in under 12 hours. McCain went briefly to a fundraising breakfast at a luxury hotel, and Obama blew into town for a few hours and delivered his usual speech to a huge crowd at Key Arena.

What did the media cover? I'm pretty sure you can guess what was the lead story on TV and in the papers.

I was very proud to be supporting Hillary that weekend.

[Beacool]

13. That's how she campaigned.

She had more stamina and energy than people in her staff who were half her age.

I too was very proud of having supported Hillary.

;-)

[QC]

16. The people who spend all their time here refighting the primary war. n/t

[grantcart]

8. thanks for posting and rec'd back to zero

The comments about Senator Clinton seem spot on to me.

[Beacool]

14. Thank you and you're welcome!!

:hi:

[emilyg]

33. The unrec crew has their

head up their arse. Sometimes I come here and wonder if I'm in the right place.

[Beacool]

34. Reminds you of the Freepers, doesn't it?

:scared:

[jenmito]

3. "She knew the media environment was stacked against her, against any woman."

Please. :eyes:

[Beacool]

4. And it wasn't????

Please, yourself.........

:eyes:

[jenmito]

7. No, it wasn't. And the evidence of that is she was the front-runner and presumed nominee for months

:eyes:

[LisaM]

9. That presumed nominee thing was a false meme

who ever truly believe that she would be the nominee? I never believed it would happen and I was surprised she got as close as she did.

[jenmito]

10. So you think all of the polls were false??? Even HILLARY said she planned on locking up the nomina

-tion on Super Tuesday.

[karynnj]

11. Judging from the fact that the campaign had no "plan B" after superTuesdays

when they assumed that she would become a prohibitive front runner, I would suggest that the Clintons and their entire team thought that. I suspect that the media was mixed - there were many papers and tv hosts completely behind Clinton - some that were Republican and a very few that wanted a Democrat other than Hillary.

[BeyondGeography]

15. I was surprised her campaign manager didn't know how primary delegates were awarded

My way of saying there were many legitimate reasons why she was favored and why she fell short in the end.

[LisaM]

26. The caucuses were very stacked against her

At least here in Washington state. Moreover, two primary states where she probably would have won didn't get to vote - Michigan and Florida. My family were all Hillary supporters and they did not have the opportunity to vote for her.

I never believed she would be the nominee, and I still think the "she was supposed to win" was a false meme. Of course, all candidates talk positively - remember Joementum? - but I'm pretty sure in her heart Hillary knew she was a long shot.

[jenmito]

28. Then it was poor planning on her part. And SHE obviously DID believe she was supposed to win

since she hadn't planned after Super Tuesday when she planned on clinching the nomination.

[Lord Helmet]

30. In her own words: "It'll be over by February 5th."

LINK

[jenmito]

31. Exactly. That's what I was referring to. Thanks for the link. n/t

[LisaM]

32. We just see it differently

I don't think she behaved much differently from any candidate - and she had more trouble fundraising than Obama.

Although I personally liked the longer primary season - since more states could participate and it drew more people into the process, which was a big win for November, all those new voters - I really never thought she would win. I was very surprised she came very close. I do not think they planned properly for the caucuses in places like Washington state, but of course, there are so many factors - the time they are held, the fact that the vote isn't secret, any number of factors that favor a more glamorous candidate, or one with the most vocal supporters.

Well it's water under the bridge now but I was pleased to read the OP and will enjoy and forward the entire article. And boo on the unrecommenders. How petty.

[jenmito]

37. "We" being you and Hillary...

since she herself said she'd lock up the nomination on Super Tuesday. I'm just glad that she and Obama are getting along so well with her as Sec. of State (and that he was confident enough to offer her the job).

[karynnj]

40. How do you stack caucuses against anyone?

[mkultra]

46. how, exactly, can a caucus be stacked?

[MadBadger]

89. Its like you think the caucus system was created to Fuck Hillary over

How bout, Hillary's Campaign strategy stacked the caucueses against her.

[Skittles]

79. CORRECT

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

12. "Since Obama won then racism doesn't exist." (Similar argument to yours)

Perhaps Hillary was the front-runner despite the innate handicaps of being a woman seeking the presidency.

Some might say that we can deduce obstacles facing a female candidate FROM THE FACT THAT NO WOMAN HAS EVER WON THE FUCKING OFFICE.

Racism exists. Sexism exists.

Your Clinton hatred has now gotten you claiming that a female candidate doesn't face big obstacles DESPITE THE FACT THAT NO WOMAN HAS EVER WON THE FUCKING OFFICE.

Hate will do that to you.

[jenmito]

23. That's NOT what I argued. The quote I had a problem with was

"She knew the media environment was stacked against her, against any woman." As a matter of fact, there were many women in the media openly rooting for her.

[grantcart]

25. actually becoming the clear front-runner in any campaign means that you are

going to be the main target for the media.

This has been true in all races for a long time and accounts for why candidates and campaigns demur on announcing a candidacy and then continue to undersell their standing for as long as they can.

[jenmito]

27. Then you'd think Hillary would KNOW that and plan for a longer campaign than planning

on wrapping up the nomination on Super Tuesday. :shrug:

[grantcart]

29. well history was on her side

While being the clear front runner has the disadvantage of becoming the number one media target it has the advantage of becoming the number one in getting contributions.

Usually what has happened in the past is that after Super Tuesday the other candidates are unable to raise any money and end up dropping out of the race for strictly money reasons.

As everyone knows now Obama's campaign was able to perfect Dean's internet sourcing of donations so that after Super Tuesday he was just getting started on donations, not peaking.

[jenmito]

35. So again-she didn'tplan well...

Maybe she thought her powerful connections and name recognition would be enough to sail to the nomination. She was wrong.

[PBS Poll-435]

110. Just let it go.

Really.

[karynnj]

38. In her case though, the media did not target her heavily in 2005, 2006 and

the beginning of 2007 (after the official announcement). They spoke of her actions and positioning as "flawless", when they weren't.

Many of the print media were already building up the Metastory of her histroy. (Ie the NYT had huge articles of how she humbly took her place as a backbencher in the Senate and rose to become one of the most influential members of the body - when neither was really true. From the beginning, she was HILLARY CLINTON and she never really led on anything in the 8 years she was in the Senate. But, accurate or not, it was extremely positive and there were story lines that showed how she learned to correct deficiencies - ie she was faulted on health care because she didn't pull in others, now having been in the Senate she was exceptional in building coalitions.)

For much of the media, I suspect that just as they did not want to incur Bush's rejection of access in 2004, the media treated her like the very likely potential President and they knew the Clintons were known for keeping track of who were friends and who weren't.

[BeyondGeography]

42. All very true; "inevitability" was her theme to Democrats and the MSM went right along with it

and it lasted all the way toward the end of 2007, where her every debate performance was reviewed as a master class in depth and articulation of the issues.

Of course, she is a good debater when she doesn't try to be funny using a Mark Penn line, but the coverage was mostly fawning nonetheless for most of the run-up to Iowa.

[blm]

112. I'd like to see any of her devotees post about Hillary's great senate battles led against Bush.

But, they never have been able to do that - all they have is insults towards anyone who points out the truth about her INACTION during her senate years when it came to opposing Bush.

[blm]

85. Media pushed claim that Hillary was a leader/fighter, though she NEVER LED any opposition to Bush

and NEVER FOUGHT against Bush on any issue serious to Dems while she was in the senate. In fact, she and Bill SIDED with Bush's decisions on terrorism and Iraq, and Bill even used his 2004 summer book tour to very PUBLICLY defend Bush's military decisions at the very time the Dem nominee was attacking those decisions.

[PBS Poll-435]

111. Crazy +2 nt.

[Skittles]

51. OMG

WHAT FUCKING WORLD DO YOU LIVE IN

[jenmito]

52. REALITY.

[Skittles]

55. no, that is MY world

yours is somewhere WAY OUT THERE

[jenmito]

56. Right-because you've made such a persuasive case for "your" world.

:rofl:

[grasswire]

68. jeez, chill

the negative energy is really annoying

[CBR]

41. The media environment was also stacked against Obama. They

both experienced ridiculous double standards from the media.

[hlthe2b]

5. Ed Schultz (never a Hillary fan) just reemed her through the coals

I appreciate someone bringing balance to this crap... Why Hillary should have HAD to divorce Bill (Ed's take) to run, if she knew he'd been unfaithful, just slays me. It is no one's business if he is not the candidate. I know Hillary made mistakes, but her professionalism since withdrawing from the race and as SOS is an example for all.

[Beacool]

18. Like he never bashed her before?

I don't listen to anything he has to say, nor do I watch MSNBC. They lost me as a viewer a long time ago.

;(

[PBS Poll-435]

17. K&R

Sadly still at <0.


(I got to meet Hillary and Dr. Elba Garcia at a March rally at Fair Park in Dallas) :-)

[Beacool]

20. Hi, PBS!!

:hug:

[Arkansas Granny]

19. Thanks for posting this, Bea. K & R.

[Beacool]

21. Thank you for the rec.

:hi:

[shopgreen]

22. k and r. and thanks for posting

[Beacool]

24. Much obliged!!!

;)

[shopgreen]

43. The gal is wonderful. day in and day out. She just keeps doing her job.

[NoPasaran]

36. k & r

Thanks for this.

[Beacool]

61. You're welcome.

;-)

[liberalpragmatist]

39. K&R

I didn't support Hillary during the primaries, but the Halperin/Heilemann book is just unsourced gossip. Yes, there may be an ounce of truth in some of their stories, but it's devoid of context and written in the most sensationlist way possible to sell books.

Hillary's actions since the campaign speak to her character far more than what Halperin and Heilemann say based on hearsay from disgruntled former staffers.

[Beacool]

62. Yes, the book is mostly unsourced.

Anyone can say anything about anybody while hiding behind the protection of remaining anonymous, like the cowards that they are. If they had so much to dish, then they should have had the guts to say it on the record. The excerpt about the Edwards collapsing marriage is particularly cringe worthy. There was no need to expose Elizabeth's pain in such cruel detail.

The book will sell like hot cakes in this era where everything has become a reality show, but that doesn't make it any less trashy and base.

;(

[Hekate]

44. KnR. And -- once again, Recc'd back to zero to counter sheer pettiness.

I didn't campaign for Hillary, I did not vote for her, because I thought Bill and the VRWC combined was just too much baggage to overcome.

But Hillary Clinton always was and always will be a highly qualified, exceedingly hard working and intelligent woman. I applaud wholeheartedly Barack Obama's wooing of her to be his first Secretary of State.

Hekate

[jesus_of_suburbia]

45. I never doubted Hillary. She's a class act all the way.

Thanks for posting, Bea!



:hi:

[Beacool]

60. Yes, she is!!

Hi, Jesus!! How's life?

:pals:

[mkultra]

47. Interesting read but the negativity is what turned me off

The reason i soured on here was that i felt she was going too negative against a democrat in a primary. This guy says he didn't see any of that but it came right out of her mouth. She really didn't even seem comfortable doing it.

I have always made the assumption that one of her advisers was pushing her to attack hard. I would like to know more about that frankly.

[Lord Helmet]

48. From "Game Change"

http://politics.theatlantic.com/2010/01/game_change_even_more_juicy_stuff.php">LINK

edited for link

Clinton senior strategist Mark Penn boasted to his staff how many times he managed to say "cocaine" on that famous Hardball segment (page 163).

Hillary Clinton was initially pleased when her New Hampshire campaign chairman, Billy Shaheen, mentioned Obama's previous use of drugs (page 161):

"Hillary's reaction to Shaheen's remarks was, 'Good for him!' Followed by 'Let's push it out.' Her aides violently disagreed, seeing what Shaheen had said as a PR disaster. Grudgingly, Clinton acquiesced to disowning Shaheen's comments. But she wasn't going to cut him loose. Why should Billy have to fall on his sword for invoking something that had been fair game in every recent election?"

[Beacool]

63. Yeah, figures you would quote from this unsourced book.

:eyes:

[blm]

101. well, since Halperin claims that Clintons control their images while Gore and Kerry failed, then

Hillary already issued a statement that denies emphatically that this ever happened....right?

Halperin is close to Clintons and to their circle. If ANYTHING he is softening the impact of any of these stories - for chrissakes, just read the first chapter - it's all about how the wonderful Clintons did everything they could to help Kerry but Kerry was so hopeless.....completely omitting the FACT that Clinton used his ebtire 2004 booktour to DEFEND BUSH on the very attacks Kerry was making against his military decisions - the BIGGEST ISSUES of the 2004 campaign.

Clintons and Clintonites are no doubt the biggest contributors to Halperin's book. Just as they were to his LAST book that attacked both Gore and Kerry unfairly while praising Clintons , Bush and Rove.

Gee - maybe Morton Halperin being a Kissinger-Clinton foreign policy mouthpiece has something to do with Mark's viciousness towards Gore and Kerry (especially Kerry who uncovered IranContra, BCCI and Iraqgate) and his favored view of Clintons and Bushes.

[mkultra]

115. so where do you think the negativity came from?

Clinton herself, Penn, or some other adviser.

[zulchzulu]

49. As one who was not a Senator Clinton supporter during the primaries, I fully support her now

The unfortunate choice of having sleazedroid Mark Penn as campaign manager was perhaps a bad move on many levels. Reliving the primary season does none of us any good in the process though.

I fully salute Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State. She is doing a fantastic job and it all turned out well.

[alcibiades_mystery]

54. Mark Penn was a disaster

It was also to the Obama Team's advantage to pound Mark Penn mercilessly, and in this way attack the Clinton campaign without seeming to attack Hillary herself. It was all quite brilliantly pulled off. They must have been pulling their hair out in the Clinton campaign. But Gawd, Mark Penn was just as awful as can be as a strategist. Truly the most epic fail in contemporary American politics.

[Metric System]

57. The whole point of this trashy book seems to be to get Dems at each other's throats again. Do you

think Halperin has an agenda?

[alcibiades_mystery]

65. Of course he does

Doesn't change the fact that Mark Penn was a galactic fuck up exploited quite deftly by the Obama campaign.

[zulchzulu]

81. Mark Penn would write a book called "How to Drive A Campaign Into The Ditch"

Penn's campaign style and antics are a historical compendium of just exactly what one must not do or assume when running a campaign. The Introductory section could be written by Joe Trippi, with his clusterfuck running Dean's campaign in 2004. Bob Shrum sure could provide some tips on how to fail at running presidential campaigns.

[girl_interrupted]

69. Metric System you're right, and it's sad to see so many dummies buying into it

including some people in our own party. For some, the primaries will never end. In the meantime Hillary serves as Obama's SoS. Yet she stands "alone". What bullcrap these 2 guys are pushing.

[blm]

102. Halperins are close with Clintons - have been for years. Read the first chapter - Halperin has

nothing but disdain for Kerry and the 2004 primary candidates - a disdain he shares with HILLARY CLINTON. None of them had gravitas to take on Bush and she supposedly was considering running but when she didn't she and Bill supposedly did everything they could to help Kerry. TOTAL HORSESHIT that only Clintons could push - they were the ones undermining Kerry every step of the way. And there is no way anyone could believe Hillary would face Bush in 2004 especially knowing Bill's book would be dropping in June. Halperin was Clinton's stenographer to get THEIR version of what went down in 2004.

Besides, what on earth would Hillary debate with Bush, anyway? She and Bill were in complete support of Bush's leadership on terrorism and Iraq war. Bill even used his summer 2004 book tour to vigorously defend Bush's positions against the very criticisms Kerry was making against him.

[shireen]

50. i'm listening to Tweety interview them right now ...

and my gut tells me these guys are full of it. Anonymous sources will say anything, and we have to take their word for it?

Meanwhile, Tweety is practically wallowing in glee over that book. He's ridiculous.


I like Hillary, nothing those clowns say will change my mind.

[Beacool]

58. Well, why bother listening to Tweety?

He's the biggest a-hole in a network that is full of them. I bet both of his legs were tingling at all the juicy gossip in this book. The slobbering, sexist, creep makes me sick!!

:puke:

[shireen]

71. entertainment ....

:evilgrin:

[blm]

86. Clintons and Halperins have been friendly for decades. Mark tread MORE carefully than he should

have. He had no problem attacking Gore and Kerry viciously and with provable LIES in his 2006 book that also heavily praised Clintons and Bush up the wazoo. Bill sure loved THAT book.

[Beacool]

91. My response was about Tweety.

As for Halperin and the other guy, as most members of the press, they are vultures.

[blm]

94. Point is that Halperin Family has close ties to Clintons and Mark would be more prone to softening

any tale about Clintons. Plus, Bill Clinton was full of praise for Halperin's hatchet piece on Gore and Kerry that he wrote with Harris in 2006. That book couldn't praise Clintons, Bush and Rove enough.

You don't hear either Clinton whining about this coverage from Halperin....they know it would be worse from an UNFRIENDLY writer.

When Tweety repeated Halperin's attacks on Gore and Kerry in 2006, they became accepted wisdom, even by many here at DU, and Clinton, himself, was advancing Halperin's analysis against Gore and Kerry. Halperin helped shape the Clintons are the only Dems who can win fantasy that too many in our party and the media accepted without scrutiny or even questions.

[Beacool]

97. The Clintons are not going to complain, regardless who wrote it.

They had far worse things thrown at them over the years and they are still standing tall. Bill right now has more important things to do. He was up all night coordinating aid to Haiti. Hillary is traveling and also overseeing the situation in Haiti.

So, why bother responding to two guys trying to make a buck from a trashy unsourced book they wrote? It would give this pap too much importance. There are dozens of books written about them, they hardly ever took notice of those either.

As for Halperin's book that bashed Gore and Kerry, I'm not familiar with it.

[blm]

99. The Way to Win in 2008. Pro Clinton and Bush. Very ANTI-Gore and Kerry. Bill Clinton LOVED it and

used Halperin's analysis to advise Dems to get on board.

Morton Halperin is a Clintonite who also had close ties to Kissinger (more reason Iraqgate and BCCI matters were deepsixed by Clinton throughout the 90s) and Mark is his son.

Gee - surprised you didn't know that, since you're such a devoted follower of the Clintons.

[Control-Z]

53. Thanks for posting. :o) n/t

Edit: to add "rec"

[Beacool]

59. Thank you!!!

:hi:

[burning rain]

64. I suspect that Halperin's & Heilemann's cred may tank with this book.

The sourcing in Game Change must really be dubious, for Chris Matthews to have expressed reservations about it (while relishing the dog-and-pony show generally--this is after all Tweety). And Joan Walsh trashed the book as gossip not worth discussing, also asserting that the "getting us coffee" remarks attributed to Bill Clinton in the book aren't even in quotes, so that they're frankly a third-hand paraphrase. My bet is, Halperin and Heilemann will soon be suffering enough heartburn over criticism that it will overcome their glee over having put together a real potboiler.

[Beacool]

66. Oh, I think that the book will sell very well.

People love to read gossip about others, particularly if they don't like them. It's human nature. I just don't think that it's a serious or reliable look at the 2008 campaign if most of it is unsourced.

This book appears to be just a few rungs above the National Enquirer.

:-(

[burning rain]

78. I'm not so sure it will rise that high on bestseller lists.

Let me outline a scenario in which it doesn't, because I think it's possible. The people who really get trashed in the book--the Clintons and Edwards, evidently--didn't make it to the White House, so their detractors have less psychological need to see them get kicked (how many Clintonistas clamored for anti-Jerry Brown books after Bubba made it to the White House? They had a sufficiently bitter primary). The market for anti- books is largest for those written against the current administration, but the book apparently doesn't have an anti-Obama character. But, fair play to the loathsome Michelle Malkin for bringing out Culture of Corruption (I fully expect a monster anti-Obama tome from Ann Coulter). Meanwhile, Plouffe's Audacity to Win may have saturated the market for Obama enthusiasts who want a look inside the campaign. So a niche market confined to hardcore political gossip hounds and those still driven by hatred of the defeated Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, may not generate so much sales after all.

[Beacool]

83. I like your analysis, but I saw a blurb somewhere that the book is already out of stock.

They are printing more. Sex may sell, as they say, but juicy gossip sells just as much. People love to see the high and mighty suffer, it makes them feel better about their own lives. Anything on the Clintons has always found a market, the more salacious the better. Add to the mix the Edwards, McCain and Palin; and these kind of people are in heaven. Personally, I'm not giving these two guys a penny of my money. I'll skim through it sooner or later, but I'll be damned if I go out and buy it.

x(

[burning rain]

100. We shall see what we shall Bea!

But I wouldn't count on the ability of our gossip-loving, substance-hating media to gin up sales. The anti-Palin book Going Rouge ranks a sorry #5,231 in sales at Amazon, despite guffawing media enthusiasm for it. For my own part, I have no use for Palin, but I have no need for a book about her, either. If she and Walnuts! had won, though, I bet Going Rouge would be a best-seller.

[Beacool]

103. Really?

I thought that Palin's book sold very well. The right wingers kept bragging how it outsold in the first week Hillary's biography.

:D

[burning rain]

104. Alas, no.

I was referencing Richard Kim and Betsy Reed's anti-Palin book Going Rouge: An American Nightmare, not Palin's own Going Rogue: An American Life, which ranks #19 in sales of all books at Amazon, and #1 in three categories. :crazy: As an aside, An American Life is also the title of Ronald Reagan's memoir, written after he left the White House, so in originality, once again, Palin rates a :dunce:

;-)

[Beacool]

114. My mistake, I misunderstood.

That's what happens when one reads too fast. LOL!! I thought that you were talking about Palin's book.

:D

[Vattel]

67. People never seem to tire of anti-Clinton smears,

and I hate to see unfairness to Obama becoming so popular (which is not to say that there isn't a lot of valid criticism as well). I guess if people want badly enough to believe that you are evil, they will interpret your words and actions in the worst possible light, and believe almost any negative thing that's said about you even if there is no evidence that it is true. With the Clintons, the unfairness is often so ridiculous that you almost have to laugh. I remember during the primaries hearing Keith Olberman suggest that Clinton's innocent remark about RFK still campaigning in June implied that she was waiting around hoping for someone to assassinate Obama. That stupid and irresponsible accusation, delivered with KO's usual self-righteous and pompous bombast, gave me a new appreciation of just how stupid much of our public discourse has become.

[girl_interrupted]

73. Vattel Yes, I remember the 'Passport" scandal & how Hillary was "responsible" for that too!

She breached Obama's passport! Until we found out, she hadn't and all of the candidates had the same thing happen to them. There is no question this woman has been the target of some of the most viscious accusations & sexist remarks you can think of.

And still, she keeps keeping on. Good for her.

You have to wonder what the purpose is, of keeping the primary wars going. And it's too bad some people can't let it go. If it's either to cause more trouble or for these guys...just to make a buck, I don't know. As a woman, there will always be a special place in my heart for Hillary. I loved the way she refused to quit despite what the "boys" were telling her to do. I loved the way she held off conceeding until she gave her supporters their due: "Although we weren't able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it's got about 18 million cracks in it." She gave us hope one day, a woman will do just that. And I thought her convention speech quoting Harriet Tubman's "keep going" was electrifying: "If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If they're shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going." And thats precisely what Hillary has always done.

She is now Obama's SoS. Her approvals are soaring. She campaigned for Obama & has been very loyal to him. I think she and Obama make a great team. So much for standing "alone". And as far as Bill Clinton's standing "alone" and his "baggage"....the only Democrat to be elected to 2 terms since FDR, the greatest economic expansion in the 20th century, peace, prosperity and surpluses...well if thats "baggage" I hope Obama gets the same kind of "luggage".


When I compare what she has done as a lawyer, a womans advocate, a health care advocate, a 1st Lady, a NY Senator, and now SoS to a dimwit like Palin, I am so happy and proud she is on our side. She is definitely not a quitter, Palin sure is.


Hope Hillary does what she always has done.. ignore the crap.....screw the critics.. & keep keeping on. She is one hellava a woman.

[Beacool]

76. Lovely post, thank you.

I read recently that Hillary is the most popular politician in the nation. Nice going considering that she was supposed to be soooo polarizing.

Ahhhh, the irony of it all.......

:D

[girl_interrupted]

77. YW and TY for posting Pete's article.

Yeah I know, She's so "polarizing" she has higher approvals than any other politician.....that says it all, doesn't it?

[Beacool]

84. Yes, it does....................

;)

[Beacool]

74. He's the same guy who suggested that Hillary should be taken into a room

by a super-super delegate and that only he should come out. Sexism is not only consigned to the right. The left is just as bad when it suits its purposes.

:-(

[goclark]

70. MY R makes 12 and a K too ~

[Beacool]

75. Thank you!!!

;)

[Beacool]

72. Joe Scarborough defends his "girlfriend".

The True Character of Hillary Clinton

There is much ground covered in Game Change and much that readers can take away from Mark Halperin and John Heilemann's history of the 2008 election. But as Bob Woodward suggested today on the set of Morning Joe, a reader's guide to the headline-grabbing book may also be in order.

-----
......what I saw throughout Hillary's 2008 campaign was a candidate who kept fighting back even after being badly wounded in Iowa, negligently served by her staff, and treated miserably by a biased press corps.

------
For the next few months, the Clinton campaign took one body blow after another. The media coverage was deplorable. In fact, it was so biased in some quarters that more than a few living legends of broadcast news privately shared with me the embarrassment they felt toward their own profession.

------
Character is rarely revealed in its sharpest contrast after a glorious victory. Instead, you find out what a person is made of after they sustain a soul crushing defeat. In her long, tortured march toward Denver, Hillary Clinton showed more character, more resilience, and more true grit than any presidential candidate I can recall.

And in that losing cause, Secretary Clinton served as a great example of character not only for my young daughter, but for us all. It is that type of strength that we need in our leaders now more than ever.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-scarborough/the-true-character-of-hil_b_420599.html

Thanks to you too, Joe!!!

:-)

[ErinBerin84]

80. Joe's not on your side

Joe said horrible things about Hillary Clinton (including talking about how she played "victim" to the press) for the first half of the primary, and then she became "his girlfriend" when it became less likely she would be the nominee. It was all part of his stupid Republican "strategery".

[Beacool]

82. Oh, I know Joe's history.

But he wrote a nice blog and it's the right thing to thank him for it. Battle stances will resume at a later date.

:D

[ErinBerin84]

87. I have seen

the authors of this book gradually (a little...) get more questioning on their sourcing, but it bothers me how all of the media friends to the authors are saying "I have no reason to doubt the reporting, they worked hard on it and they're good reporters.." So how come it is that WE can pick out so many things that Mark Halperin has gotten wrong in the past , but the media acts like he's immediately truthworthy because he is a media croney? Sketchy...to me, some things are probably true, but Halperin sounds like a freaking romance novelist when he starts to "paint the picture" of convos he was never a part of, with his eyes sparkling.

[Beacool]

90. They are protecting one of their own.

I have no problem with tell all books, as long as people go on the record. I find it very distasteful for the former sycophants to trash behind the scenes their former employers. I also find it highly suspect when these two guys go after every campaign but one. Hmmmm, what's their real agenda? Aside from making piles of money, that is.

:eyes:

[ErinBerin84]

93. I think the only reason

why there was less stuff on the Obama campaign is, they were the one that won. Staffers have less to get out of their system, blame each other for. How many of these interviews took place DURING vs after? Also, the "If Mark Halperin says we're winning, we're not" quote from Ploufe.

[Beacool]

95. Personally, I have grown to dislike the media almost as much as most politicians.

Bunch of weasels, one and all.

;(

[Tippy]

88. Last night I sorta broke a promise I made to myself

Mark Halperin and John Heilemann were being interviewed by Twetty...I found it most interesting they refused to give not one single source...Hearsay, is not a real source...These two are going to make a lot of money but I would not have their book even if they tried to give me one...they are a couple of scammers in bed with Matt Drudge....And they will be laughing all the way to the bank. No doubt those who buy this book, to just see for themselves, will make it a best seller. No one in his/her right mind should participate in this fraud.. Then again look how many believe in Palin,,

[Beacool]

92. It's fun to read about the powerful,

but this book appears to be not much better than an expensive issue of a supermarket rag. I particularly find very distasteful the excerpts I read about the Edwards collapsing marriage. There was no need to write in such detail what Elizabeth went through at the time. It's just plain cruel.

But, in these times where the fabric of society has become so coarse, people have become desensitized to this kind of trash. Mores the pity......

:(

[ErinBerin84]

96. I've never been a huge fan of John Edwards, though I liked his message

But I agree that the whole "Elizabeth Edwards tore open her blouse in public to John!" stuff highly suspect and uncomfortable. Even Pat Buchanan said that he read that portion of the book, and thought "Why am I reading this?"

[Beacool]

98. I bought NY Magazine, what a mistake.

They even have comic strip type graphics and included a drawing of Elizabeth tearing open her blouse. How low have people become????

I never cared for Edwards, he seemed phony to me. Elizabeth also ticked me off with some things she said about Hillary early on in the primaries, but the treatment that they received in this book is beyond crass and nasty.

Shame on both authors!!!

:thumbsdown:

[Autumn]

105. Error: you can only recommend threads which

were started in the past 24 hours. So I guess I will just say thank you for posting this. I'm sorry I missed it but I tend to not come in as often as I used to. Good to see you Beacool.

[Beacool]

107. Thanks for trying to rec.

I don't blame you for not coming as often, neither do I.

Nice seeing you!!!

:pals:

[burning rain]

109. Hey, don't sweat it.

A kick is always good even if you can't get the rec in.

In the end Bea's OP came out +15 despite a volley of unrecs, doubtlessly from those bitterly clinging to their misfiring guns and Hillary-hating religion. Not a bad showing at all!

:D

[Beacool]

113. I call them the "fan club"

If I start a thread, they flock over like bees to honey to unrec it. It's funny if you think about it, particularly since I haven't used even once the unrec feature. I don't approve of it.

:D

[joshcryer]

106. I'm sorry, but for Obama and Hillary it was always about making history.

And yes I defended Hillary throughout the primaries but I knew what they were both trying to do. Make history.

I expect after Obama a female will run again, and this time she'll probably win if she's not a complete cluster fuck.

[Beacool]

108. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Unless Hillary runs again. There's no other Dem woman right now that remotely comes close to her in popularity and following. The only other woman I can think of is not a Dem and would be a total disaster. You betcha'

:(