No "Do-Over" For Hillary On Iraq
Senator Clinton Campaigns For The White House In Iowa
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Clinton On Top Of Her Game
Sen. Hillary Clinton made her first trip in three years to Iowa, where the first caucus will be held 12 months from now. Cynthia Bowers reports.
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Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., greets supporters before speaking at a town hall meeting, Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at East High School in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP)
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Clinton, Obama and Edwards lead the chase for the Democratic nomination.
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In her first campaign swing through this early nominating state, the New York senator told party activists that Democrats in 2008 will face "someone on the other side who will be very tough and strong, even bellicose perhaps."
That likely was a reference to Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has taken a hard line in supporting more U.S. troops to Iraq, as President Bush has announced.
The former first lady also said has learned the lessons of the last two presidential campaigns, both lost by Democrats who responded slowly to criticism.
"When you are attacked, you have to deck your opponent," Clinton said. "I have been through the political wars longer than some of you have been alive. We've got to be prepared to hold our ground and fight back."
Clinton, who announced her candidacy last weekend, said Democrats cannot concede the security issue.
"We have to nominate someone who can have the trust and confidence of the American people to make the tough decisions as commander in chief," the former first lady said. "That is the threshold issue."
Her initial foray in Iowa was far different from the traditional caucus campaigning, with a few people in a living room. More than 1,500 people jammed a high school gymnasium for a town hall-style meeting. Some 150 reporters and photographers chronicled the event.
Clinton knows she could be counted out if she doesn't win in Iowa, reports CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers. Candidates who stumble in either Iowa or New Hampshire find it hard to regain the momentum they need to win their party's nomination.
“If somebody's able to become the clear winner in Iowa and New Hampshire, frankly, no matter when those states’ primaries are, no matter how big they are, I don't think they'll be able to buck the trend that is set in Des Moines and in Manchester,” Peter Greenberger, a Democratic political consultant, told CBS.
Earlier, Clinton met with state Democrats at the party's headquarters.
Attention focused on Iraq and her vote to authorize the use of force ahead of the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Presidential rivals such as former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards now say the vote in support was a mistake.
"There are no do-overs in life," Clinton said. She says Congress received bad information going into the vote and that she would have voted differently given what she knows now.
"As a senator from New York, I lived through 9/11 and I am still dealing with the aftereffects," Clinton said. "I may have a slightly different take on this from some of the other people who will be coming through here."
Clinton said her view was that the nation was engaged in a deadly fight against terrorism, a battle that she contends President Bush has botched.
"I do think we are engaged in a war against heartless, ruthless enemies," she said. "If they could come after us again tomorrow they would do so."
Clinton has urged a cap to the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, but has refused to go along with suggestions that Congress use its power of the purse to bring the war to a halt.
"This will be a problem that will be left to the next president," the senator said. "We've got to figure out now, given where we are, how we go forward."
Seeking a "phased redeployment" of troops from Iraq, she said, "We've got to bring the Iraq war to the right end." The Democratic-controlled Congress, she said, must start to "build the political will" to stop the president.
Clinton joked about the emotions she stirs in both those who like her and those who do not. "I know what I'm getting into. I do inspire strong feelings," she said.
She later planned to visit eastern Iowa for house parties in Cedar Rapids and Davenport.
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.



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See all 54 CommentsIf Americans are stupid enough to elect her, we can expect more of the same old *** about "I'm the decider, regardless what anyone else thinks."
She showed her true colors when she attempted to illegally convene a secret community to impose, by law, "universal health care" (buy insurance or be jailed) on everyone.
Hillary is less qualified to be president than anyone in the field.
"community" should have been "committee"
AS opposed to the President's plan to bring it to the wrong end. She has no ideas, no plan, no real knowledge or expertise on the subject. SHe just wants to be PRESIDENT, no matter what. She's kind of like John Kerry to a degree. She thinks she deserves it.
Besides, when is she going to admit she's Gay so she can get their vote too?
Never liked her, never will! Ever since she insulted us women she has been nothing more than bad rubbish to me. Excuse me, my cookies in the oven are done!
Hillary says, "We have to nominate someone who can have the trust and confidence of the American people to make the tough decisions as commander in chief."
Well, there is only one 2008 candidate on either side of the aisle who satisfies those criterion. And that's WES CLARK. The guy has laid out the single most comprehensive plan on Iraq. He is one of the premier geopolitical minds on the globe. And he has been 100% right about the Iraq War since 2002.
WES CLARK opposed the war since Day 1, while Hillary was one of the war's most giddy cheerleaders.
Hillary says, "There are no do-overs in life." And I couldn't agree more. With WES CLARK, we get someone who doesn't need a do-over. He was right in 2002. He was right in March of 2003. And he's right now. And all the while, Bush and Cheney and McCain and Lieberman and Hillary have been very, very wrong.
Hillary was wrong on what will be THE defining issue of the 2008 camaign. She demonstrated a disastrous incompetence on matters of national security.
She failed the test of courage. She failed the test of leadership. She failed the test of history.
Hillary says, "We have to nominate someone who can have the trust and confidence of the American people to make the tough decisions as commander in chief."
Well, there is only one 2008 candidate on either side of the aisle who satisfies those criterion. And that's WES CLARK. The guy has laid out the single most comprehensive plan on Iraq. He is one of the premier geopolitical minds on the globe. And he has been 100% right about the Iraq War since 2002.
WES CLARK opposed the war since Day 1, while Hillary was one of the war's most giddy cheerleaders.
Hillary says, "There are no do-overs in life." And I couldn't agree more. With WES CLARK, we get someone who doesn't need a do-over. He was right in 2002. He was right in March of 2003. And he's right now. And all the while, Bush and Cheney and McCain and Lieberman and Hillary have been very, very wrong.
Hillary was wrong on what will be THE defining issue of the 2008 camaign. She demonstrated a disastrous incompetence on matters of national security.
She failed the test of courage. She failed the test of leadership. She failed the test of history.
How about "President and Mr. Clinton"? What a great day in history when President and Mr. Clinton sweep the Bush filth out of the Whitehouse and begin the job of re-establishing America's posture with the nations of the world.
START OVER.
SHE BRINGS NOTHING NEW TO THE TABLE.
IT'LL BE ANOTHER 8 YEARS OF FASCISM.
Re: "I don't think there is anything wrong with her initial war support."
I do. And it wasn't just initial support. She maintained her bloodthirsty support of the Bush crusade until just a couple of short months ago. She has failed and disgraced the American people with her inept decisions, & she should apologize for that and step down.
Re: "We are supposed to be able to believe that at least some of what the president tells us is true."
Millions upon millions of people around the globe knew that the case for invading Iraq was false, and publicly said so very loudly. Hillary wasn't listening. If she was not able to make this determination on her own, then she undoubtedly lacks competence to perform her duties.
Re: "Obviously, we can't trust very much he says anymore
Anymore? The only true statements ever offered by the illegitimate Bush regime, are the relative few that they use to prop up their unending campaign of lies and deception.
Re: "but I think that at the time, a + war vote was reasonable."
Voting to give an un-elected puppet a blank check for a never-ending illegal war of aggression is never reasonable, and it makes Ms. Clinton actively complicit in the most serious of war crimes.
"By the way..who is this BELINDA, Bill is reported to be very fond of in Canada??"
Thats all you and Foley and Hagard and other repulinazi's pedophiles are interested in. Oh ya, drugs too like Limbaugh. And reckless gun handling (Cheney). Good govt. you had going there buddy,
My view is that Hillary is one of that crowd. Her story is that she was fooled. I don't buy it. But lots of other folks are holding to the same sorry story - and some of them even believe they are telling the truth this time.
When she was first lady, this broad tried to steal half the White House furnishings on the way out.
She hardly deserves the "trust and confidence" of the American people considering that she is a common thief.
"The Washington Post revealed that against the advice of the White House%u2019s chief usher, more than a year ago the Clintons shipped government-owned furniture to Chappaqua."
http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2001/cyb20010212.asp
"Under greed, we can put down Hillary's book deal, the grand theft of the White House furniture, and the ornate His and Hers office spaces in New York."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/562599/posts
Hillary fought the repo, but the government took their stuff back anyway.
Anyone who believes this broad is presidential material is flat out of thier mind.
Hooray, the ugly war goddess speaks. All ready to fight, to "deck" her fellow Americans.
No, that was Rush Limbarf or Sean O'Hannity or Bushie who said that. That's Hillary, but it is exact Republican talking points copy. Yet, so many Democrats say they love Hillary but hate Bush. That is digusting hypocrisy. She voted for Bush's war, and still spews his rhetoric even today, even now with 7 more dead.
Hillary spews Bush's words, how is it that Democrats love her so much? It makes Democrats look bad. Sad for our country, this is our real problem here, is mindless followers.
Posted by SharnCedar at 10:01 PM : Jan 27, 2007
Agreed. Like people who support a man who lied to take us to war.
Not trying to answer for sharncedar here, but the issue, I believe, is not dropping our guard, but rather, a change in our policies.
We need to insist that Israel follow the road map and stop treating the Palestinians as prisoners in their own land.
We also need to allow Iraq to disentegrate into secular states - something we'll never stop anyway, and show the Arab world that we consider them to be human beings like the rest of us.
Exxxxxxxceleeeeeeeennnnnt.
Now you will witness the full power of the dark side of the force!
Not that I'm one to defend Hillary, but to what do you refer with "both sides of the isle"?
Do you refer to the fact that she and many other Senators voted to give Bush the go ahead based on doctored intelligence designed to produce just such a result?
And now that the truth is out, that she and several other Senators hold a different view?
Personally I'm hoping Al Gore runs.
Is there a site on the web that represents or sets out your views?
You disgust me.
Everywhere the minimum wage has been raised, the economy has improved. That is because money is going into the hands of people who will improve their lives and become more productive.
Of course the republicans see everything polarized: themselves vs. the wage slaves.
Whoa, an "I should have had a V8 moment". I forgot about Wesley Clark. Is he running?
Wasn't Hillary president once before?
Not in name, and no insult intended to the former First Lady, but I always thought that SHE was the driving force behind Bill Clinton!
She did not say she would deck americans you moron you get confused real easy must be related to bush huh?
Agreed - having trust and confidence means also making the decisions of the majority of Americans and acting in a way which represents the will of all Americans.
Americans are not bloodthirsty imperialists but if look at our world record since Reagan it would seem we rely first on military force. Most Americans know our primary force is our heritage; our Revolution for Freedom, our national foundations written in our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. These values are protected by our military. Every President declares our will to "spread democracy and freedom in the world" and we agree but not by sending our military unless we face a real threat.
Our leaders must stop using our beliefs to impose a Pax Americana by force and say "we are protecting American strategic interests". America is greater then her military force.
Carl Rove and Dan Bartlett have been subpoenaed in the Libby trial.
Special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald has said he continues to explore for wrongdoing, including whether Valerie Wilson's cover was blown in retaliation for her husband's public criticism of the president.
The corporate wh0re can ****************!
(Maybe is she sucked on Bill's balls a little more he wouldn't have run off to Monica!)
The corporate wh0re can ****************!
(Maybe is she sucked on Bill's balls a little more he wouldn't have run off to Monica!)
Posted by GunOwnerDan at 08:07 AM : Jan 28, 2007
Kindly step out of the gene pool please.
Obviously, being a common thief is an acceptable chararacter flaw in candidates for both positions in some people's minds.
Heaven help us......
The Bush family and the Clintons are best friends.
They are playing you sheep and you don't even realize it!
I think Hillary is on the right track with the right frame of mind.
Democrat can and will protect our country, and they won't let us be exposed by foolish endeavors such as the IRAQ WAR.
Hillary is good...she's got my vote!
Bill can tell you where she is not good, that's why he would love to get back to the old days in the oval office with a young intern.
"We need to insist that Israel follow the road map and stop treating the Palestinians as prisoners in their own land.
We also need to allow Iraq to disentegrate into secular states - something we'll never stop anyway, and show the Arab world that we consider them to be human beings like the rest of us. "
We don%u2019t need to do anything other than get the hell out of their business and come back home. We are not and should not be the world%u2019s police force.
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