July 3, 2007

Meanwhile... Obama versus Clinton.

Obama's getting all the money.

But Hillary's got a former President to help her. How will that go?
Over the next three days, the political world will be watching as Bill Clinton makes his first campaign swing with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, starting this evening at the State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. The questions are interesting: How long will Mr. Clinton talk in introducing Mrs. Clinton? Will he outshine her, as happened at the funeral of Coretta Scott King? Will Mr. Clinton talk about President Bush, or the other Democratic presidential candidates, or stick to talking about his wife? And will the Clintons agree to an extended Mr.-and-Mrs. press conference? (That one is easy: Fat chance).
It's the touchiest subject in the 2008 campaign: How can Hillary use Bill effectively?

22 comments:

steve simels said...

It's the touchiest subject in the 2008 campaign: How can Hillary use Bill effectively?

Right. Touchier than the war or the Bushies repeatedly shredding the Constitution. No question.

Sloanasaurus said...

I can't believe that in the end Obama has any chance to win. I understand why he is running, but why would any mainstream democrat vote for Obama. Obama has zero experience. He has nothing but rhetoric - imagine him debating Giuliani.

The only bright side of Obama is if he decides to adopt practical centrist solutions. This is possible because people on the left do not like Obama for his politics, they like him because he is black. For example, the Left is too partisan to adopt any change to the social security program to include private accounts that is proposed by a republican. It could be possible for Obama, on the otherhand, to enact such a change because the Left will blindly support him.

This country is operating under a bunch of failed liberal programs that need to be discarded. Maybe only someone from the left will be able to do it.

Unfortunately, I don't expect Obama to be a centrist. He doesn't vote like a centrist in the Senate. But there is always hoping.....

Bissage said...

Well, well, well.

It looks like Mr. Simels is educable, after all.

He left off the "literally."

As in "literally repeatedly shredding the Constitution."

Perhaps I ought not give him too much credit.

Maybe he just forgot.

Bissage said...

And don't feel too bad, Mr. Simels.

Maybe Althouse will do a post on pop music one of these days.

(That's your area of expertise, remember?)

Then you can comment to your heart's content.

KICK IT LIKE YOU OWN IT!!!

You'll dazzle us all, no doubt.

Peter Hoh said...

Sloanasaurus, Giuliani's experience is what, exactly? Strip away the bombast, and there's very little of substance there. I'm not sure if Obama could do that in a debate, but I think he has the best chance among the current crop of Democrats.

I tend to agree with you that someone with established liberal cred could do what needs to be done with regard to the failed institutions of 30s-60s liberalism. Again, I'd trust Obama more than Hillary to pull off a Nixon-goes-to-China.

Somebody from the right needs to pull a Nixon-goes-to-China, too. I just don't see that on the horizon.

steve simels said...

You got to be kidding, Bissage.

Comment on one of Ann's pop threads?

Unless it involves a video of her getting sloshed while watching American Idol I'm not interested. Sorry.

Ann Althouse said...

Is Bush running in '08?

steve simels said...

Ann Althouse said...
Is Bush running in '08?


Wow. Didn't see that one coming.

Bissage said...

No! No! No!

Don’t be a gloomy Gus, Mr. Simels.

After all, you’re a pop music critic.

You have the skills.

You can turn the world on with your smile.

I just know you can!

Please, do it for me.

It’ll make my day.

(Yours too!)

Think Positive!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Democrats for the most part will be just fine with whatever Bill says or does. Nothing new there. What I find humorous is the picture of a socialist radical-lib female leveraging her near-estranged philandering husband as a stage prop and compensation for her personal limitations. Will anyone left of center appreciate the irony? Will NOW et al?

Not a chance.

Sloanasaurus said...

Giuliani's experience is what, exactly? Strip away the bombast, and there's very little of substance there

Hmm.. except that Giuliani has a distinguished record as a US Attorney and as Mayor of NYC. Everyone knows that Giuliani is largely responsible for the dramatic change that NYC underwent, especially in regards to crime. Giuliani has a proven track record of success at solving problems as an executive. Obama has no such record. When Obama says "I will succeed at doing X..." It's harder to believe because he can't point to anything meaningful he has done in the past.

Somebody from the right needs to pull a Nixon-goes-to-China, too. I just don't see that on the horizon.

For what issue? The Right is much more tuned into the policy positions of their candidates. Candidates like McCain and Giuliani are upopular with the base solely because of policy.

Peter Hoh said...

on what issue: how about farm subsidies?

TMink said...

Peter, you are moving the standard after you got smacked in the forehead with the 2x4 of truth.

Here is how to post it and look like you acknowledge the facts.

"OK Sloan, I guess I overstated my position. My concern is that Giuliani is almost totally inexperienced with national and regional concerns. He has no experience in dealing with the problems of the farming communities, or trade, or national defense to name a few. I could go on. But your point on his experience as Governor is well made. I guess I walked into that one."

See, you look as if you are interested in debating the facts rather than mindlessly insulting the Republican frontrunner. Give it a try.

Trey

Laura Reynolds said...

Simels, please take your considerable influence and use it to get Congress to proceed on impeachment. Because after all, spouting "repeatedly shredding the Constitution" as the lone left of John Bircher here at Althouse, is not going to make any progress.

These crimes are so obvious to you (and therefore to any sane person such as John Conyers) that let's get started. Please, let's get started. Talk is cheap Simels, if you really believe, let's get going.

TMink said...

The lone left of John Bircher?? Come one now. You stinkin commie.

(It was a joke. Honest.)

Trey

Ruth Anne Adams said...

Are those onion rings I smell?

Anonymous said...

Bissage:

APPLAUSE

Your continuing series has been one of the most entertaining, and (dare I say, educational? Yes, I do!) educational sustained efforts that we have had here in quite some time. Much appreciated.

Anonymous said...

My guesses in answer to Nagourney's questions:

How long will Mr. Clinton talk in introducing Mrs. Clinton?

Less than he usually does. It's "her day" and he's at the beginning so he will probably be on his best behavior.

Will he outshine her, as happened at the funeral of Coretta Scott King?

Yes, of course he will. At first. Everyone will be straining to see what he does, striving to interpret any facial expressions. She has an opportunity to make it "her show," however, once it ceases to be "unusual." Whether she is successful or not determines the course of her candidacy and she knows it.

Will Mr. Clinton talk about President Bush, or the other Democratic presidential candidates, or stick to talking about his wife?

I doubt he can avoid talking about Bush, and he ought to avoid talking about the other Democrats and stick to talking about his wife. (It will be interesting to see how that plays out, too.)

And will the Clintons agree to an extended Mr.-and-Mrs. press conference? (That one is easy: Fat chance).

Nagourney's probably right, because most of the questions would be directed at him not her and she's supposed to be the one "on show." Still, it would be a compelling view if they did.

ricpic said...

Another go round with these two. The country (except for dyed in the wool Dems) won't be able to stomach it.

Peter Hoh said...

TMink, yes, Sloan reminded me that Rudy has executive experience as mayor. I've been pwnd or however that's spelled.

On my way out the door this morning, I chose to respond to one of Sloan's questions, not the whole of his response. I was not trying to suggest that Giuliani needs to have a farm policy in place right now.

Giuliani wraps himself in 9-11 as if somehow he did something significant that day, and I don't buy it. That's where I see little substance to his claim to have experience. He sounded a good note in the immediate aftermath. But this seems thin stuff to support the idea that he has foreign policy cred.

Look, I could like a Republican hawk who is socially liberal and fiscally conservative, but I'm not jumping on the Rudy bandwagon.

My big point -- and this goes to folks running on both sides -- is that our president needs to be able to lead the American public to accept things that they have been reluctant to accept. Most notably, entitlement reform.

JackDRipper said...

It's all just money down a hole.

Hillary is going to lose to Mitt in the finals.

Brent said...

Well Ann, we have a direct answer to your question:

And will the Clintons agree to an extended Mr.-and-Mrs. press conference? (That one is easy: Fat chance)

The Times (to their credit) reported this morning in their article about Hill-Bill in Iowa:

"Still, the Clintons have not scheduled a news conference during their visit, where they might face tough questioning, nor have they permitted reporters to attend private events, some including as many as 300 people, where people ask Mrs. Clinton questions."

As someone constantly using the "secretive, unaccountable" Bush administration as a centerpiece in her campaign, that's a pretty hypocritical position for Hillary to take, don't you think? Which leaves only one conclusion politically:

Hillary = Coward.

And that is one more reason I can never vote for her.