[ Posted Monday, January 21st, 2008 – 18:00 UTC ]
I was watching the Chris Matthews Show yesterday, and amidst the usual blather about Hillary Clinton was an interesting question: what's Bill going to do if she gets elected? Now, this wasn't the first time I'd heard the question asked, but it was the first time I've heard people actually take it seriously. Several facets of the question were explored, including whether Bill will have a West Wing office or not (the First Lady has traditionally had a less-prestigious East Wing office), whether he'd be "in" on briefings and decisions, and (most interestingly) whether Hillary is going to have a problem getting a Vice President (since anyone considering the job would have to ask whether Bill would be more important in the administration than the VP). But none of them even mentioned what may be the perfect solution to the problem. How about Bill Clinton, White House Chief of Staff to President Hillary Clinton?
Continue Reading »
[ Posted Friday, January 18th, 2008 – 17:00 UTC ]
I apologize in advance for the disjointed nature of this week's column. There are a lot of odds and ends to cover, including tomorrow's primary picks, a cartoon, and the usual awards and talking points.
But the first of these ends is definitely odd: is it just my imagination, or did Charles Krauthammer (of all people) read my earlier column before writing his own? You be the judge.
Continue Reading »
[ Posted Thursday, January 17th, 2008 – 16:21 UTC ]
The media is about to wake up to a basic fact about the Democratic campaign -- that the two frontrunners are actually sitting senators. Meaning that (unlike the retired politicians in the race) they can actually still get something done during their campaign. But the issue that will bring this to the fore, while important, may overshadow an even better chance to show some real leadership.
Maybe there is a reason why sitting senators almost never go on to become president. Senator Clinton and Senator Obama certainly haven't made an enormous name for themselves in the Senate so far. Can anyone name a piece of legislation that carried their name on it, or that they championed? John McCain has one (McCain/Feingold) that he's actually been trying to live down ever since in the GOP; but where is the corresponding "Clinton/Specter" law, or the "Obama/Snowe" act? I should also point out, to be fair, that former Senator Edwards is in the same boat, even though he's not in the Senate any more.
Continue Reading »
[ Posted Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 – 15:57 UTC ]
"Dr. King's dream began to be realized when President Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he was able to get through Congress something that President Kennedy was hopeful to do; presidents before had not even tried. But it took a president to get it done. That dream became a reality, the power of that dream became real in people's lives because we had a president who said 'We're going to do it' and actually got it accomplished."
-- Hillary Clinton
I come neither to praise Hillary nor to bury her. I just want to make that clear from the onset. And while I normally don't like to comment in what I call the "scandal du jour" buzzing around the blogosphere, I feel that many people are missing a key point in this whole debate. And missing that point could be disastrous for the Clinton campaign, and could sweep Obama into the nomination. So I feel it's worth commenting on.
Continue Reading »
[ Posted Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 – 08:05 UTC ]
Photograph copyright © 2008 Rebecca Wilson | Reprint Policy
President Bush's first short journey as president was an uncomfortable one for him, and it appears he and those around him have done everything in their power -- and also a few things not within their constitutional power -- to ensure he never has to experience such humiliation again.
Immediately after being sworn in for his first term as president, Bush got into his limousine for the inaugural parade from the Capitol to the White House. This is traditionally a triumphant event, complete with cheering crowds. Some presidents even walk the route, since it is not that great a distance. But in January of 2001, the sidewalks of Pennsylvania Avenue were lined with 20,000 protesters who were angry with the outcome of the election. Even from within his speeding limo, Bush doubtlessly heard people screaming at him and saw the obscene gestures made... and he could not have failed to notice that at least one person hit his vehicle with a well-thrown egg.
Continue Reading »
[ Posted Monday, January 14th, 2008 – 16:13 UTC ]
After last week's fiasco, some political pundits are shying away from predicting primary races. But not me!
I began this series of publishing my "picks" knowing there was a chance it would just showcase my foolishness, and now that that's happened once I see no reason not to provide you, the reader, with further amusement at my expense.
I wrote a mea culpa article after last week's upset in New Hampshire (which is worth a read if you want to see me call myself an idiot), so I'm not going to dwell on it here, other than to update the running totals. I got Edwards right on the Democratic side of New Hampshire, and McCain and Romney right on the Republican side.
Total correct Democratic picks so far: 2 for 6 (got both third place names right).
Total correct Republican picks so far: 4 for 6.
Total overall correct picks: 6 for 12 -- 50%.
OK, on to Michigan....
Continue Reading »
[ Posted Friday, January 11th, 2008 – 16:01 UTC ]
Time for another fun round of Democratic talking points for the weekend ahead! After a hiatus for the year-end awards, and then a special "all election" edition last week, we return to our regular format to kick off 2008. But before we get to the talking points (including, for the first time ever, a talking point for both Democrats and Republicans to use), I have to address something which happened last week.
Now, you may think me delusional for suggesting this, but perhaps Hillary Clinton's advisers are fans of this column. Maybe she herself was browsing Huffington Post last Friday. You be the judge. The following is the advice I offered Hillary in last week's column:
Continue Reading »
[ Posted Thursday, January 10th, 2008 – 17:33 UTC ]
In the wake of the New Hampshire primary opinion polling fiasco, everyone is focusing on various reasons the pollsters "got it wrong." In the midst of all this media breastbeating, one fact seems to be escaping a lot of people -- it was the undecided voters who carried the day for Hillary Clinton.
If you compare the polling done just before the primary with the actual results of the primary, you'll find that (except for Hillary Clinton's total) the numbers were well within the margin of error for these polls. A little over one percent of Obama, Edwards, and Richardson voters changed their minds on election day, but the real story is that the roughly five percent of undecided voters all broke for Hillary at the last minute.
Continue Reading »
[ Posted Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 – 15:47 UTC ]
[ Posted Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 – 00:44 UTC ]
On the morning after the New Hampshire primary, one strong conclusion can be drawn: the media collectively blew it. This should be seen as downright liberating to the 48 states which have not voted yet. Because it means that everyone who hasn't yet voted should now rightfully conclude: "Those guys don't know what they're talking about. I'm voting for who I really want to win. Who knows, maybe they will!" To paraphrase (no relation to Hillary, of course) the immortal words of George Clinton: Free your mind, and your vote will follow.
Continue Reading »
