May 16, 2008
So Again, Why Is Hillary Staying In?
National Review Online: Finishing The Race May Be Candidate’s Best Route To Long-Term Victory
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Play CBS Video
Video
Hillary Vows To Continue Race
Katie Couric speaks to Hillary Clinton about her pledge to remain in the primary race and why she thinks her insistence to carry on is not damaging to Democratic Party unity.
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Video
Clinton Gets 'Difficult' Win
Sen. Hillary Clinton is still determined to remain in the presidential race, but it's a headache for Democrats calling for party unity. Dean Reynolds reports.
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Video
Does Clinton's Win Matter?
Hillary Clinton may have won big in West Virginia, but she's still trailing Barack Obama in the popular vote, delegate count, and superdelegate count. Susan Roberts reports.
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Photo
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., acknowledges supporters at her West Virginia Primary night rally Tuesday, May 13, 2008, at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, W.Va. (AP)
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Photo Essay
Hillary Clinton
A look at a life and career full of firsts.
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Photo Essay
Barack Obama
A look at the life and meteoric rise of the president-elect.
She can’t win. The pundits say it. The polls say it. The math says it. It’s even the word on the street. If Huggy Bear from “Starsky & Hutch” were around, he’d say it’s time to stick a fork in her.
So why does she keep going?
One theory is psychological, almost Aesopian. Hillary Clinton - like her husband - is a creature who follows her nature. Scorpions must sting. Ants must save food for winter. Clintons must fight.
Bill Clinton illustrated Clinton grit when he confronted Newt Gingrich during the government shutdown of the mid-’90s. “Do you know who I am?” Clinton said to Gingrich. “I’m the big rubber clown doll you had as a kid, and every time you hit it, it bounces back. That’s me - the harder you hit me, the faster I come back up.”
“That was not bravado,” writes Commentary’s John Podhoretz, author of a book about Hillary Clinton titled “Can She Be Stopped?” “It was a warning, and an accurate one. The Clintons are without shame, and therefore we all believe they are without honor and cannot possibly imagine themselves as heroes. But Bill very much believed, and believes, that he is a hero because he would not allow himself to be defeated, no matter what - and that part of his eventual victory would be that he could use the virulence of his foes to his advantage.”
Hillary sees herself the same way. The Clintons have campaigned as a unit. They see themselves as a team. They are fighters.
But they aren’t fools. The Clintons know how to mount a tactical retreat. Indeed, Bill’s career has been one long jujitsu match in which he’s used his enemies’ weight against them, falling backward to get the advantage.
So again, why is Hillary staying in?
Perhaps it’s the best route to long-term victory. Washington has long swirled with rumors that the Clintons are holding some “nuclear option” in reserve against Barack Obama. The latest theory is that they’ve decided not to use it, as it would destroy them, too. Who knows what it might be, if it exists at all. But it’s worth noting that if Hillary were the take-no-prisoners brawler everyone says she is, she would almost surely have pushed that button by now.
That she hasn’t used the doomsday device buried under Clinton HQ might mean it doesn’t exist. Or it might mean she’s looking beyond 2008.
In her West Virginia victory speech, Hillary emphasized her electability. Obviously, that’s now her best argument for persuading the superdelegates. But it’s an even better argument for positioning herself as the “I told you so” candidate after an Obama defeat.
Just because the Clintons say something doesn’t mean it’s untrue. Hillary’s claim that she would do better against John McCain in swing states such as West Virginia - no Democrat has captured the White House without winning there since 1916 - is quite plausible. Obama is in danger of being cast as the Michael Dukakis of the 21st century (fairly or not). Polls show that in West Virginia, Obama wins only 53 percent of Democratic primary voters in a matchup against McCain. When only half of the party base is willing to vote for the nominee against a Republican, that nominee and that party have real problems.
If Obama does implode, Hillary’s bitter-end fight would position her to say to Democrats, “You were warned.”
Obviously, she wants to win this year. But the conventional wisdom that she’s hurting herself within the party by not bowing out gracefully might be flawed. Polls show that Democratic voters want the race to continue. And so long as she can avoid blame for Obama’s loss, she’ll be in great shape for 2012. She will be able to argue that Democrats must think with their heads, not their hearts, if they want to win the presidency and change the country. Her centrism would no longer seem calculated. And, of course, the identity-politics bean counters will argue that, this time, it really is a woman’s turn.
Hillary will do all she can to appear supportive of Obama should he get the nomination. But appearances can be deceiving. Clinton biographer Carl Bernstein recently reported on the Huffington Post that Sidney Blumenthal, the Clintons’ preferred smear artist and rumor spreader, has been pushing the press to cover Obama’s ties to Bill Ayers, an alum of the left-wing terrorist group the Weather Underground, as well as “many other questionable allegations about Obama.”
The real test of my theory will be whether the Blumenthal operation shuts down after the Clinton campaign does.
By Jonah Goldberg
Reprinted with permission from National Review Online.
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See all 54 CommentsWhy didn''t you ask this question of GEORGE W BUSH?!?
With our economy in shambles, gas prices out of this world, medical, education, living expenses outpacing our incomes...
And "how can she be stopped"?
BS!!!
"I attended that church for 20 years...but I never inhaled!"
This is a very cunning politician. The Clintons have more tricks then an army of magicians.
Did not someone say that it aint over until the lady in the pants says so? Now, there may other motives as well such as fund raising, bail raising, that kind of stuff???
This is a very cunning politician. The Clintons have more tricks then an army of magicians.
Did not someone say that it aint over until the lady in the pants says so? Now, there may other motives as well such as fund raising, bail raising, that kind of stuff???
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Posted by roach9703 at 07:34 PM : May 16, 2008
yes and....you point this is bad huh, still pissed that Bill cut those welfare checks hmmmm
When I was 5 years old, I knocked it down, then I held up a sharp pencil and I caught it square in the face and popped a hole in it. Then I used the pencil point to knock it down again and catch it again. I did it over and over again until it looked like it had freckles.
We didn''t have enough patch tape to patch up all the holes I made. So we had to throw it away.
Even then, it''s as if I KNEW BILL CLINTON...
They don''t just leave the campsite with the fire burning, they DOUSE THE FOREST WITH GASOLINE AND TORCH THE WHOLE FOREST so no one else can ever go camping there again.
That''s what Hillary is doing to this election. If she can''t have it, SHE JUST WANTS TO TRASH THE WHOLE PLACE so no one else can have it either.
It''s not like she has anything else to do, or anywhere else to go. She and Bill are pathetic, empty people who have no friends and are hated by their colleagues and anyone they have contact with. These people have nothing but their greed and their love of media attention. She is a middle-aged Brittany Spears or Paris Hilton - a complete nothing with no life, no beliefs, no firends, no place to go except to claw her desperate way into the media spotlight and stay there as long as she can, no matter how bad she reeks.
Hillary ''08 ... all the way for the USA!!
That said, my opinion of Sen. Clinton is that she is dishonest and conniving.
All you hear from Clinton is that she''s not Bush but better than Obama, and I for one am not so sure of either.
There are A LOT of very big issues facing the next President, and all any of the candidates seem to have to say is how much the others stink. We need to ask our candidates to begin addressing these - irrespective of what the idiot reporters want to know. The people want to know how this country is going to get better. Unless we as a nation want four more years of manufactured news, manufactured war, a deficit thats out-of-control, and our diminishing respect on the world stage then all of the three candidates had better start distinguishing themselves by declaring how they can do it better than the others instead of simply declaring that the others can''t.
and they''re doing a pretty good job of it.
and they''re doing a pretty good job of it.
BUT NOBAMA
BUT NOBAMA
BUT NOBAMA
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books are being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books are being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''''''''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
The stuff that Obama admitted to in the two books he
wrote is enough to lose him the election. But has
anyone heard anything about either of these writings
by a major National Television Station????
NO! Because they are setting on it until Hillary is
out of the picture and Obama will lose the Presidency
by the largest margine yet. And anyone who can''t
see that and continues to believe otherwise after
reading those two books is being FOOLISH!!!!
Action speaks louder than words. I was on another
web site last night and the Hillary supporters were
talking about REGISTERING AS REPUBLICANS AND NOT
COMING BACK TO THE PARTY UNTIL HILLARY GETS THE
NOMINATION.
This way it would be harder for the DNC to just
brush us off by saying we''ll eventually all rally
around Obama......No Way, Nobama!!
I''m going tomorrow and register as a Republican. If
you''re not already registered as a Democrat, you can
first register as a Democrat and a day or two later,
register as a Republican. It will show up as a lost
member on the Democratic Membership Roll by the
end of the week.
Sounds like a plan to me!!
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