Hillary: A President with "Backbone"

Yesterday, Hillary recieved the endorsement of U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California’s sixth Congressional District. The Congresswoman, a staunch opponent of the Iraq war, "cited Senator Clinton’s commitment to ending the war in Iraq as the top reason for her backing." Hillary also recieved another NH newspaper endorsement. This one from the Cabinet Press, "which includes four weekly newspapers with a circulation of 31,000 in nine towns across southern New Hampshire." Cabinet Press(the Milford Cabinet, Bedford Journal, Hollis Brookline Journal, and Merrimack Journal) said of Hillary, "[she] is a tough, smart, courageous, compassionate and sometimes blunt senator who will be a good president in a time that requires the kind of backbone she possesses."
The Hill said of the Woolsey endorsement:

"Presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) got a potential boost to her anti-war credentials this week when she won the endorsement of Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), a co-founder of the Out-of-Iraq caucus and one of the vehement anti-war voices in Congress."

Woolsey, who San Jose Mercury News recently called "the unofficial matriarch of the [anti-war] movement in Congress," believes Hillary is best prepared to enact change, saying of Hillary:

"[she] is the one who can take what she says and turn it into reality once she's elected president." "I trust Hillary to end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home quickly and safely, and regain our nation’s standing around the world."

According to The Hill, "Woolsey and her fellow Out-of-Iraq caucus leaders have campaigned in the key early presidential states to raise awareness of the anti-war position." Woolsey, Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, cited Hillary's ability to enact change for Californian families in her endorsement.

Cabinet Press believes Hillary will lead us out of Iraq "safely and sanely." While they believe it a mistake that Hillary voted to support AUMF, they are skeptical of those who use this as a primary argument against her judgement, saying of Senator Obama "it is impossible to know how he would have stood had he been, at the time, a U.S. senator rather than a state senator. Perspectives changes as one rises in the power structure."

They address concerns that Hillary is too polarizing:

"There are those who believe that Sen. Clinton is polarizing but if she is, it is only because a strong person engenders strong emotions. That is not a bad thing."

Cabinet Press calls Hillary strong on four important issues; "health care, national defense, the Iraq war, and a woman's right to choose to have an abortion." They find her strong personality, and her set of experiences, assets in facing these issues:

"While it is true that Sen. Obama and former Sen. John Edwards have, in general, views that are similar to those of Sen. Clinton, particularly on what we believe should be the right of Americans to health care, we are convinced that because of her experience, her trials by fire, and her toughness, she will deliver."

They also take note of her plans to address the concerns of college students and their families as part of her greater concern for the middle class:

On a lesser known, but important point, the senator plans to have colleges pledge not to hike tuition over a students term and to increase Pell grants. For middle class families, that's important and it shows the senator's commitment to those who, while certainly not poor, surely arent rich.

Two great endorsements just days before the first in the country Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

Open Thread

So tell us how the campaign's going in your neck of the woods.

Have you tried the campaign's online calling tool yet? It's fun - it's easy - and you can help put Hillary over the top in Iowa from the comfort of your own home (psst... in your jammies)!

Check it out and do whatever you can between now and next week's caucuses in Iowa.

January 3rd will be here before you know it!

Hillary's Holiday Message to the Troops

By NewHampster, cross-posted from dailykos



That's all. Enjoy and please pass it on.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all!

Hillary Scores 3 More Paper Endorsements

Hillary has earned the endorsement of Iowa's, Quad City Times. The Times is a "daily morning newspaper based in Davenport, Iowa, and circulated throughout the Quad Cities metropolitan area (Davenport, Bettendorf and Scott County in Iowa; and Moline, East Moline, Rock Island and Rock Island County in Illinois)." It has a circulation of around 61k. The Burlington Hawk Eye, another Iowa paper, also endorsed her. They have a circulation of about 20k. Hillary also recieved a NH newspaper endorsement, New Hampshire's, Keene Sentinal. Keene Sentinal reaches readers in south western NH, and has a total circulation of about 31k.

The Quad Times says of Hillary's experience and abilities as a problem solver:

Hillary Clinton passes test after test after test. This Clinton arrived for the caucus campaign with much, much more experience than the first Clinton to stump across Iowa. In campaign speeches and in an interview with the Times Editorial Board, she spoke passionately of people — specific, real people — whose stories drive her desire to solve problems. “I was brought up to believe we were the problem solvers,” she told the editorial board. “If it was hard, that meant America would do it." This Clinton hasn’t shied away from problems.

They also offer some interesting commentary on her personal decisions:

She passed perhaps the toughest personal test. Many Americans stand up for the sanctity of marriage. Hillary Clinton did something much harder. She very publicly stood up for her own marriage.

In the end, she stands out from the crowd:

We tested her, too, in our editorial board interview, looking for evidence of the partisan rancor that is destroying our country. We found none. Instead, we found a proven, passionate, intelligent leader with a breadth of legislative and executive experience that is the best of a good bunch. For Iowa’s Democratic caucuses, we support Hillary Clinton.

The Burlington Hawk Eye finds Hillary best prepared to face our country's growing problems:

The plate will be full for the next occupant of the Oval Office, and it's a job that will have to start even before the inaugural balls are over. Of the impressive group of Democratic candidates, the one who rises above the others at this moment in the nation's history is New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

They also consider her a "vetted" candidate, and an "independent thinker":

Vetted perhaps more than any woman in history, Clinton demonstrates the resiliency and tenacity needed in a president, especially one who will inherit the challenges the current administration will leave behind. In person, she's calculated yet personable. On issues, she's not a clone of her husband. She's an independent thinker with progressive ideas.

The Keene Sentinal also considers who is best to lead us in these troubling times, and decides it's Hillary:

She has the best health-insurance proposal of all the candidates, and there are several good proposals to choose from. She has significant international experience, considerably more than some of her rivals. Face-to-face, she is as personable, passionate and persuasive as any American political figure in recent memory, qualities that should come in handy in both domestic and international forums.

They also address the doubters:

Many of today’s Hillary doubters, regardless of party, would surely be impressed during the coming national campaign, just as many New Hampshire voters have been won over during the arduous primary campaign now coming to an end. Choosing a candidate on the Democratic ballot is a tough call this year. In the end, we are confident in our recommendation of Hillary Clinton.

All in all, three great endorsements for Hillary.

Holiday Greetings From Hillary

Hillary came out with a new holiday ad today. The ad doesn't go all religious, although an instrumental version of Carol of the Bells plays softly in the background. It's a fun ad that any holiday wrapper can relate to (oh, there it is.). But, typical of Hillary, it's also substantive. Hillary lays out her agenda....on present tags! Adorable.

So, here's the ad:


Now Hillary is a "person of faith". Here's her Arkansas Pastor talking about Hillary's faith from the website, The Hillary I Know:


Evidently, she was a guest preacher at various methodist churches in Arkansas, which I didn't know. But, I like that she doesn't wear her faith on her sleeve.

Happy Holidays!

Switchers and Committeds for Hillary

Recently, an Iowan woman who had a Hillary sign in her yard, switched her primary candidate preference and now supports Obama. She expressed her transformation in a video in which she litterally "switched" out her Hillary yard sign for an Obama yard sign. The video endorsement has made the rounds all over the internet. It's a popular video.

However, it should be noted that Hillary has lots of support. Some of that support has been with her for all or most of the primary. We represent the committeds. But just like every other primary candidate, some of Hillary's support represents candidate switchers. In response to the video highlighting the Hillary-to-Obama supporter, the Hillary campaign has composed a video of voters who started out in other camps and now support Hillary. The video is upbeat and respectful of the other candidates:



Then there are the committeds. Many of you know, Hillary has a new site, The Hillary I Know. The site highlights testimonials from some of Hillary's most ardent supporters. The site is beautifully composed, and I suggest anyone interested in Hillary check it out and flip through some of these amazing stories of support. This one, Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, I found particularly effective. This women is an exceptional, inspiring speaker and a wonderful advocate for Hillary:

As voters get to know the candidates they will select their preferred candidate, and eventually cast their vote. Some voters started out in one camp and ended up in another. Some were and are undecided. And, some knew from the moment the candidate announced who they will cast their vote for.

You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!

I've said it before and I'll say it again... The more you know about Hillary, the more impressed you’re going to be. To that end, Hillary's working 24/7 to meet as many voters as possible in her historic bid for the white house. Last night I told you about some of the people she met when she went door to door in Manchester New Hampshire, and today she's back in Iowa on her Every County Counts Tour.

Before we get to that though, she’s come out with a new ad regarding her HUGE endorsement by the Des Moines Register. Take a look – I think you’ll be impressed...




Earlier today she fired up a union in Des Moines...

DES MOINES — On the second day of a statewide blitz Monday, Hillary Clinton fired up a union audience and said she is tough enough to weather a general election campaign.

"I think you know, whatever they throw at me, I'll give it right back," she said, speaking to hundreds of members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

"We are on an adventure together," she said. "This is about changing our country and taking it back and making it all it can be again."

"When it comes to caucusing on Thursday, Jan. 3, just remember three things," said Danny Homan, president of the AFSCME council that covers Iowa, "one, show up for Hillary; two, stand up for Hillary; and three, be counted for Hillary."

snip

During her speech, Clinton told about a 102-year-old man who wants to caucus for her.

"He's asked his 81-year-old son to take him," she said.

This is all part of Hillary's new "Every County Counts Tour", in which she and her surrogates will travel to every one of Iowa's 99 counties over the next few days. Lissa Muscatine, a former speech writer (she wrote Hillary's amzaing speech in Beijing in 1995) and friend of Hillary's, posted
wonderful write-up about this tour on the campaign's web blog.

I especially love the bit about Hillary's boots ;o) Check it out...

Every County Counts! Hitting the Campaign Trail in Iowa With Hillary Clinton

Okay, let's be honest. Hillary's yard signs look much better in the snow than anyone else's. Come to Iowa. You'll know what I mean.

"I've got my duck boots on!"

That's our candidate speaking. And there, peaking beneath the hem of her slacks, are Hillary's heavy duty snow boots, favored footwear for a five-day blitz across the frozen heartland of Iowa. (Fashion writers
of America, where are you?)

First stop of the campaign's 99-county tour: Council Bluffs. A packed crowd at Thomas Jefferson High School. Teachers. Nurses. Retirees. Machinists in orange t-shirts. Kids. They want to know about
education, trade, health care - and toys from China.

Hillary: "The question you have to ask is: 'Who is ready, and able, to make the change we need? Who is ready to be President?"

"You are!" yells a woman in the audience.

Background music: You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet!

It's been a great day and a great day of endorsements. First, the Des Moines Register (Hillary "inspires our confidence. . . . We believe as president she'll do what she's always done in her life: Throw herself
into the job and work hard.") Then former Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey, who told the Council Bluffs crowd that Hillary is the Democrat most able to win a rough-and-tumble campaign and the best prepared to govern on Day One.

And another endorsement: a 102-year-old man from Grinnell who plans to caucus for Hillary on January 3rd. (You ain't seen nothing yet!).

Hillary: "Some people think change happens because you demand it. Some think you can hope for it. I think change happens because you work hard for it. And that's what I've done all my life."

It also turns out to be a great day for flying around Iowa in a helicopter, er . . . Hil-o-copter. To cover more terrain, Hillary handed off the cozy duck boots to her frozen-footed press staffer, Jamie Smith, and boarded a blue chopper to go to Dunlap and the cattle barn belonging to Jim and Ruth Schaben. Usually they sell cattle in the barn, as the beef charts on the wall attest. "I've been to a lot of cattle barns and a lot of cattle sales in Arkansas," Hillary told the standing-room only crowd. "But I've never been the one who was being bid on."

Background music: "Takin' Care of Business."

I saw a lot of cowboy hats, baseball caps, VFW hats, and also Keith Duncan, the former mayor of Denison, and his wife, Sharon, who I had met for coffee on an earlier trip to Iowa. They're organizing
precincts for Hillary.

I also met Lavon, a Korean War vet who was wearing his VFW hat and a big Hillary for President pin. He told Hillary: "Our troops need help when they come home from the war. Including mental health. Can you
help us with that?"

Hillary talked about her efforts over the past several years to get health care for soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, including those suffering from brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. And she mentioned her work in Congress to extend family and medical leave to families of troops wounded or killed in action, as well as her Wounded Warriors initiative.

Takin' Care of Business...

Several generations of Schabens presented Hillary with a souvenir from their barn - a Dunlap Livestock Auction sweatshirt. (It will look great with the duck boots). Then, as the sun set over the plains, Hillary waved goodbye and got back on the blue Hil-o-copter to head to her third county of the day. The logo on the flying bird: "Working for change. Working for you. Hillary Clinton."

You ain't seen nothin' yet.

I'm going to have Bachman Turner Overdrive songs running through my head for the rest of the evening now (ok ok - so I'm dating myself a bit here!). ;o)

As some of you saw in Peter Daou's diary this morning, the campaign's just launched a new website called, The Hillary I Know. I thought I'd go into a little more detail and offer up one or two of the videos here for you guys to check out. Some of them are pretty damn powerful, and as the mother of a child who's benefited greatly from Hillary's dedicated and dogged work on behalf of children with special needs, I can tell you these stories come from the heart. I've never gotten the chance to really get to know Hillary, but there are millions like me who've been helped beyond measure from her amazing work over the past 35 years. I'd make one of these videos for her in a heartbeat. From the campaign today...

Kicking off Day 2 of its "Every County Counts Tour", the CLinton campaign today unveiled a first-of-its-kind website called "The Hillary I Know" which features video testimonials from regular Americans, longtime friends, and well-known leaders, whose lives have all be changed by Hillary.

Hillary Clinton has delivered change in the lives of the people she has met and known for 35 years. From the friends she grew up with, to the people she has knosn, to the Americans she has helped. www.thehillaryiknow.com will show voters a glimpse of the kind of change that Hillary has worked for and achieved.

The videos include testimonials from prominent Americans like General Wesley Clark and Governor Tom Vilsack. But they also include moving stories from people who have known Hillary personally for years, like close childhood friend Betsy Ebeling, Ann Henry, who hosted the Clintons wedding reception; close friend Jim Blair; and Ed Matthews, Hillary's pastor in Arkansas.

And it presents the stories of Hillary’s constituents, like Shannon Mallozzi, a New Yorker whose daughter received care for a brain disease with Hillary’s help; Marvin Bethea, a first responder at Ground Zero whom Hillary helped after 0/11; and Catherine McVay Hughes, a resident of lower Manhattan impaced by the air quality issues that developed at Ground Zero after 9/11.

The videos are powerful and serve as a stark reminder that the issues discussed in campaigns impact real people. They also provide insight into the kid of person Hillary is, and put Hillary’s lifetime of working for change into a context that policy papers simple do not convey. For example, Shannon, the mother whose daughter Hillary helped, recounts in her video that she wasn't just talking to a senator but a fellow mother when she turned to Hillary. She talks about how Hillary worked outside the view of the media, calling her repeatedly, and putting her in touch with people who could help her daughter get the medical treatment she needed.

To promote the website, the campaign will be launching a major blog-ad campaign on a diverse range of blogs today, including several in the early primary and caucus states. The ads will also be accompanied by a comprehensive web push on the campaign's official website and blog, social networking sites and YouTube.

In addition, many of the people featured on www.thehillaryiknow.com will hit the campaign trail for Hillary, some of them even joining Hillary at her stops today, to tell Iowa caucus-goers about the Hillary they know.

The "Hillary I Know" surrogates are part of the five-day "Every County Counts Tour" that will reach all 99 of Iowas counties in an effort to energize the campaigns supporters, strengthen its organization, and make its case to people who have not yet made up their minds about who to support on January 3rd.

So I went and checked out this amazing new website and the first video I looked at was by a young mother – Sharon Mallozzi - with a little girl who was diagnosed with a brain disease with no cure. Imagine first that you’re in her shoes – that your baby is sick.

Now imagine that nobody is doing research to try to find a cure for this disease.

That’s where Hillary comes in to this picture – take a look...



She told Hillary that she’s just one mother – what could she do to help her little girl.

(This is the part that made this mom choke up a bit...)

"She took my hand and she said, 'You are not one mother; I'm a mother too and I want to help you.'"

You guys – this is without the cameras running. No press around. Hillary helped her because she needed help and because Hillary was in a position to give her that help. I’ve heard others here in the DC area who’ve known Hillary for years share stories just like this one. The phone calls to see how they’re doing. The offers of help and the reassurance that someone’s there if they’re needed.

Hillary gets the job done, and people respect her for that. I respect her for that. And I hope you will to.

Four Reasons I Support Hillary

Hillary supporters are sometimes criticizes for focusing too much on the polls or the horserace, and not enough on why they support their candidate. Well, here are the four main reasons I support Hillary, and they are as heartfelt as any you'll ever hear.

1. Our first son

Our first son was born in 2002, after several years of infertility. It was the happiest time of our life. But everything came crashing down in August 2003 when, at the age of 10 months, he died in my car in circumstances I can't even bear to recount. I swore to myself that I would do whatever I could to prevent other families from facing this kind of tragedy.

I got involved in a group called Kids and Cars, which works to prevent children dying from non-traffic automobile incidents, such as kids being backed over by vehicles, trapped in power windows, or inadvertently left in cars. Hundreds of children a year die from these incidents, and most of them could be prevented by simple, inexpensive safety technologies. However, like many safety devices used today, such as seat belts or air bags, the car manufacturers are resisting them. And the National Transportation Safety Association (NTSA) doesn't even monitor these types of non-traffic incidents, let alone work to prevent them. Kids and Cars has been working for years to get national legislation past mandating that the NTSA monitor these incidents and investigate safety devices that could prevent them.

It's been tough going, but there has been one Senator (out of 100) who has sponsored this legislation year after year, and worked tirelessly with her staff to try to get it through. Yes, that's Hillary Clinton. We came close last year, and we are in excellent position this year. There are now 36 co-sponsors (including 7 Republicans, and including presidential candidates Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, and John McCain, for the Senate Bill Hillary has sponsored, S. 694, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids and Cars Safety Act of 2007, and its companion bill, H.R. 1216 is also making progress. (The Consumers Union has set up a site where you can easily send a message to your House and Senate members asking them to support this legislation.)

So, in memory of our first son, I am proud to support the Senate who quietly and without fanfare has worked so that other children like him will not needlessly die.

2. Our second son

Our second son was born less than a year after our first son died. Our joy turned to concern when we learned he had a congenital heart defect and down syndrome. After heart surgery at three months of age and a number of other medical emergencies his first year of life, he became a healthy, happy, loving little boy. Though he was later diagnosed with autism as well, he is highly sociable, interactive, loving, and intelligent. We just need to find the right ways to reach him, to communicate with him, and to help him learn.

Hillary Clinton has been fighting for the rights of children for special needs for decades. In her first job out of law school working for the Children's Defense Fund, she conducted research that led to Congress passing the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, the landmark bill mandating that all children with disabilities be educated in the public school system. later, she helped improve the education of children with special needs by working to reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. In 2005, she sponsored an amendment to increase funding for the act by $4 billion dollars. She also cosponsored the Personal Excellence for Children with Disabilities Act, a bill that promised to help schools recruit and retain new special education teachers, and better prepare general education teachers and staff to work with children with special needs.

Most recently, she has called for greatly expanded funding to the National Institute for Health to investigate treatments for children with disabilities. And she has put forth a comprehensive and detailed plan to help children and families affected by autism, with numerous elements that correspond very closely to what families in the autism community have been demanding for years.

So, in honor of my second son, and that he might have rights to the most appropriate education so as to help him meet his full potential, I am proud to support the presidential candidate who has worked tirelessly toward that end for decades.

3. Our daughter

Our daughter was born in 2006. Precocious, highly communicate, and with a great personality, she has the entire world before her. At least I hope so. Like any parent, I would give anything to ensure that my daughter has every opportunity in the world, and never has to feel that certain avenues are closed off to her.

But I am also cognizant of the fact that there are many glass ceilings that prevent women from reaching their full potential in our society. For more than half our nation's history, women could not vote. And, even today, women make up only 11% of the Supreme Court members and 16% of the Senate. And there has never, in the 231-year history of our country, been a woman president.

I would never support a candidate for president simply because she were a woman, but I am filled with pride and pleasure to know that the best candidate in the race this year is a woman. In honor of our daughter, I am pleased to support the candidate that will become the first female president of the U.S. and thus the ultimate shatterer of glass ceilings.

4. Our youngest son

Our youngest son was born in 2006, a twin of our daughter described above. He loves to read, knows three languages, and makes me laugh every day. As he is the youngest of our children (albeit by a few minutes), I think often of his future. What kind of world will he live in? Will he be able to fulfill his dreams?

And when I think of these things, I think of the Bill Clinton administration, and the eight years of peace and prosperity we had. For the first time in my life, there was a president that understood the transition from an industrial to a post-industrial world, and could carry out the responsible domestic and international policies to thrive in that world. The U.S. was respected throughout the world, and we had the strongest economy in our nation's history, with record gains in economic growth (116 straight months of economic growth at an average rate of 4.0 percent per year), job creation (22.5 million new jobs), income (median family income up nearly 15%), home ownership, and a historic drop in poverty (down 15%), all while overcoming the budget deficit and putting our country in the black.



Hillary Clinton was highly involved in the Clinton presidency, and she and Bill are the closest of political partners. She is the only Democratic candidate that I have heard speaking about the kind of fiscal responsibility that Bill Clinton exhibited and that we need once again. So, in honor of my youngest son, and so that he and his generation will not be saddled with trillions of dollars of debt and will instead have a bright and sound future, I am proud to support the next president of the United States, Hillary Clinton.

There you have it--my top four reasons for supporting Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. I have other reasons, but these are the most heartfelt.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to your comments. What are your reasons for supporting your presidential candidate?

Open Thread

Big news out of Iowa tonight.

Every time I turn around someone's telling me they're heading out to help Hillary in Iowa or New Hampshire.

What about you? If you're interested in jumping on board the Hillary Express, please contact the campaign - I'm sure someone can tell you how you can help.

Just call them at Phone: 703-469-2008.

Or leave them a note via their webform at this link

In the meantime, tell us what's happening with the campaign in your neck of the woods.

DES MOINES REGISTER: Hillary Will Do Great Things

Wow – just wow. This is a whole new ballgame you guys. The Des Moines Register has just announced that they’re backing Hillary Clinton in the state’s Democratic Caucuses on January 3rd and I couldn’t be happier. Here’s what what they had to say...

The choice, then, comes down to preparedness: Who is best prepared to confront the enormous challenges the nation faces — from ending the Iraq war to shoring up America’s middle class to confronting global climate change?

The job requires a president who not only understands the changes needed to move the country forward but also possesses the discipline and skill to navigate the reality of the resistant Washington power structure to get things done.

That candidate is New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

From working for children’s rights as a young lawyer, to meeting with leaders around the world as first lady, to emerging as an effective legislator in her service as a senator, every stage of her life has prepared her for the presidency.

That readiness to lead sets her apart from a constellation of possible stars in her party, particularly Barack Obama, who also demonstrates the potential to be a fine president. When Obama speaks before a crowd, he can be more inspirational than Clinton. Yet, with his relative inexperience, it’s hard to feel as confident he could accomplish the daunting agenda that lies ahead.

You guys, Hillary’s been running the gauntlet for over 15 years. She’s been attacked 24/7 by the right wing haters, been vetted nine ways to Sunday and has endured more than the vast majority of us will ever have to endure, and she’s still standing strong, getting results, and has become someone I can be proud to call my candidate.

And by getting results I don’t just mean a speech here and there or the odd vote. She’s spearheaded efforts on behalf of our troops, children, women, our environment, working families... the list goes on and on and on. Don’t believe me? Check out some of my many diaries on her accomplishments and plans for moving our nation forward from day one if we’re smart enough to send her to the White House.

This lady’s tested, vetted and ready to lead like nobody else.

I mean sure, her rivals are smart and can deliver a great speech. They’re all accomplished in their own right. But let’s face it – Sen. Obama’s never been tested as a leader or for that matter, as a candidate prior to this election. Sure he went to Harvard (but then didn’t George W. Bush?) and he’s inspiring when alone up on a stage and delivering a speech.

But does this make him more qualified to lead our nation in these troubled times?

The Register’s endorsement talks of the attacks on Hillary over the years, and of how perceptions of many Americans remain stuck in the 90s...

Her record in the Senate belies those images. Today, she’s widely praised for working across the aisle with Sam Brownback, Lindsey Graham and other Republicans.

Determination to succeed and learning from her mistakes have been hallmarks of Clinton’s life. She grew up in Park Ridge, Ill., graduated from Wellesley College and earned a law degree from Yale. As first lady in Arkansas, she was both strategist and idealist, borne out by her commitment to children and families. As the nation’s first lady, she in essence spent eight years as a diplomat, traveling to more than 80 countries and advocating for human rights.

In the Senate, she has earned a reputation as a workhorse who does not seek the limelight. She honed knowledge of defense on the Senate Armed Services Committee. She has proactively served rural and urban New York and worked in the national interest, strengthening the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Clinton is tough. Tested by rough politics and personal trials, she’s demonstrated strength, resolve and resilience.

Can she inspire the nation? Clinton is still criticized in some quarters as being too guarded and calculating. (As president, when she makes a mistake, she should just say so.)

Indeed, Obama, her chief rival, inspired our imaginations. But it was Clinton who inspired our confidence. Each time we met, she impressed us with her knowledge and her competence.

The times demand results. We believe as president she’ll do what she’s always done in her life: Throw herself into the job and work hard. We believe Hillary Rodham Clinton can do great things for our country.

For a video of this endorsement (and it’s a good one!) you can check this out.

Why Hillary Will Win

With the race virtually tied in Iowa and New Hampshire, and Obama having some momentum, should he now be favored to win?

Well, not so fast. Hillary has some huge advantages in this race that allow her multiple paths to victory. Taking all these possible paths into account means that the betting lines are right: Hillary is still the strong favorite for the nomination.

I will discuss Hillary's multiple paths to victory below. But first I will review three main factors that shape this analysis.

1. Advantages of Semi-Incumbency

In the past, many people who have lost early races have then crumbled (think Dean). Other people who have lost early on, such as Mondale, have recovered. I believe that those who think that Hillary's support is totally based on the idea of "inevitability," and will thus crumble if she starts to lose, are mistaken. Rather, because she is viewed almost as an incumbent (due to her active role in the Clinton administration of 1992-2000), she enjoys several great advantages that will help her fight over the long haul. First, she has more money on hand than any Democrat has ever had at this stage (Obama is similarly well placed in this regard.) Second, she has universal name recognition. Third she has great loyalty of Democratic support; she is viewed favorably by huge numbers of Democrats and most polls indicate that her supporters are least likely to jump to other candidates. Fourth, she has strong institutional support from Democratic politicians and officials. Fifth, following from this last point, she has about a 2-1 lead over Obama in declared Super Delegates, which make up some 15% of the entire delegate pool. All of these advantages will help her stay strong over the long haul.

2. The Media

Hillary has taken some hits from the media recently, but the bottom line is that the media loves a horse race. And they have a great horse race right now in the Obama-Clinton contest. The media is going to milk that contest to the very end. That means they won't fully give up on Clinton (or Obama for that matter) until it's absolutely over.

3. The Calendar

Early parts of the calendar are unfavorable to Hillary, with the emphasis on caucus states (that tend to hold down turn out, especially among fewer low-income voters) and states that allow independent voters (who are tending toward Obama, while Hillary wins majority of Democratic voters). Some of the early states also lack constituent groups that are strong for Hillary, such as Latinos, Asian-Americans, and Jews. However, the calendar starts to get friendlier as the campaign goes on, as more states kick in that are based on primaries or that only include Democratic voters. She will certainly win Michigan and has a huge lead Florida, where Jews, Latinos, retirees, and transplanted New Yorkers all play a disproportionate role. That means even if she loses the first two states, she is almost certain to win at least 2 of the next 4 (and the two largest of the next six). They may or may not count for delegates, but remember what I said about the media earlier. If Hillary wins Michigan and then Florida -- the last state before Super Tuesday and a very important one in U.S. politics -- there is no way that the media will give her a death sentence, no matter what happens elsewhere.

(Some of you may think this is "unfair" or "spin", because the DNC has removed delegates from these states and several candidates have dropped off the Michigan ballot. But remember--what is "fair" is winning the most delegates overall. The rest of this analysis assumes that Hillary will do very well in the following states, which have large populations. Winning those states is what it's all about.)

OK, now let's go to the rest of the calendar. On Super Tuesday, 22 states vote to select 2064 delegates, more than 10 times the delegates that will have been chosen in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Michigan combined -- and some 55% of all the delegates chosen through primaries and caucuses in this election. Hillary has electoral leads in almost those states, and huge leads in the largest (California), the second largest (New York), and the fourth largest (New Jersey). Those three states alone have five times the delegates of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and Michigan combined. All three are primaries. California allows independents to vote, but Hillary is hugely popular there, widely endorsed, and the state is great for her demographically (large numbers of Latinos, Jews, Asian Americans, and gays). California will start early voting on January 7, and a high percentage of the population votes by mail. Hillary also should be considered a virtual lock in New York and New Jersey. Thus if she goes into Super Tuesday with any viability -- which is virtually assured due to the factors mentioned above, she is highly likely to win the day and thus the nomination.

OK, now let's review her multiple paths to victory. Remember, the order of early votes is:

Iowa (caucus), Jan. 3 caucus
New Hampshire (primary), Jan. 8
Michigan (primary), Jan. 15
Nevada (caucus), Jan. 19
South carolina (primary), Jan. 26
Florida (primary), Jan. 29
Super Tuesday (22 states), Feb. 5

Path 1: Win Iowa

Hillary has a number of strengths in Iowa, including strong support among elder voters and more spread out support throughout the state than Obama has. She has a good chance to win Iowa and then run the table. If Edwards comes in first and she comes in second, that's also not a bad result for Hillary.

Path 2: New Hampshire fallback

It looks now that if Obama wins Iowa, he'll likely win New Hampshire too. But that is far from guaranteed. His support in New Hampshire depends on strong independent turnout, and that is hard to predict given that they can also vote Republican if they wish. The Clintons also have a strong statewide network in New Hampshire. If Hillary does pull a comeback win in New Hampshire, she's likely to run the table and win the election.

Path 3: Lose the first two and win the rest

Clinton will win Michigan which won't mean much, but will change the media narrative a bit. She has a big lead in Nevada and could win then win that state, win South Carolina, and continue on from there.

Path 4: Michigan, Nevada, Florida, and Super Tuesday

Let's say she wins loses the first two and South Carolina. Still, after winning Michigan and Nevada (which proceed South Carolina) and Florida (which follows it), it will be 3-3 with Hillary having won the two largest states. She is favored on Super Tuesday and wins easily.

Path 5: Michigan, Florida, and Super Tuesday

Even if she wins nothing else but Michigan and Florida, she still has won the two largest and most competitive states. She also has won the third largest and one of the politically most important states for presidential elections, Florida, which is the last state to vote before Super Tuesday. She goes into Super Tuesday with a bit of momentum and wins big there.

Now, you might consider any one of these paths unlikely. But, when you add up lots of different possibilities, your odds multiply. These multiple paths to victory give her a big overall advantage.

Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your comments.

Hillary: A Change Agent Who Delivers

I listened in as Hillary gave another stellar performance in today’s debate in Iowa this afternoon. She was solid, grounded and she sounded like a leader – a leader who’s ready to hit the ground running and lead us out of these messed up times Bush has created over the past 7 years.

She set out substantive, detailed and clear solutions to the challenges we face and outlined a positive vision for America. And she pledged to reverse President Bush’s irresponsible vetoes that have prevented the advancement of stem cell research and the expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program. I was impressed with this first clip, where she discusses what she’ll do in her first year in office.



When asked about how she’ll work to bring about change, she said she believes you get change by working hard for it...



Hillary touched on a lot of the issues we all care about in this election. On health care, Hillary highlighted her plan to offer quality, affordable coverage to every American and make sure that 47 million uninsured no longer fall through the cracks of our system.

On foreign policy, she made clear that we need to put an end to the cowboy diplomacy of the Bush Administration and reengage in aggressive diplomacy with friends and enemies alike. In her first year, Hillary would end the war in Iraq and begin bringing our troops home safely.

She pledged to reform education and modernize our schools, so that every child has an opportunity to learn and pursue their dreams. As the mother of two small children (preschool & 1st grade) this is an especially important issue for me.

On global warming, Hillary detailed her plan to create a cap and trade system on carbon emissions and move America toward energy independence by creating a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund. I was at a local democratic club mock debate tonight and my friend Mary (who stood in as Hillary's surrogate for this event) talked about this point a great deal. It's an issue that deserves immediate action and Hillary's just the person to get it done.

Here’s what Sheila Jackson Lee had to say about Hillary at today’s debate...

At today’s debate, Hillary Clinton proved once again that she is the candidate with the strength and experience to bring about the change that America needs. Hillary has a winning agenda – to pull our troops out of Iraq, provide health care to all Americans and to put our economy back on track

The campaign pulled together some of the reviews that came out right after the debate. Here's a few of them - check it out...

The Reviews Are In: 'Presidential,' 'Major Home Runs,' 'Back In Her Groove'
CNN’S CANDY CROWLEY – 'THIS WAS A VERY PLEASANT, POSITIVE, PRESIDENTIAL-LOOKING HILLARY CLINTON' (CNN, 12/13/07)

UNDECIDED VOTER: ‘I DECIDED TO GO TO FOR SEN. CLINTON... I THOUGHT SHE HIT SOME MAJOR HOME RUNS... SHE REALLY SHOWED SHE COULD BE A GREAT LEADER': “Absolutely, I decided to go to for Sen. Clinton. I thought she was terrific in the debate, I thought she hit some major home runs. She was so specific in all of her answers and I think she really showed she could be a great leader.” (CNN, Focus group of undecided voters (12/13/07)

DES MOINES REGISTER’S CAROL HUNTER – ' CLINTON ’S HUMOR COMES THROUGH': “ Clinton offered a humorous moment: Do you want us to raise our hands on global warming? she offered to Washburn. After yesterday, when some Republicans flat out refused to raise hands, everyone laughed. Clinton 's humor comes through.” (Des Moines Register (12/13/07)

ABC NEW’S RICK KLEIN – HILLARY WAS 'BACK IN HER GROOVE': “ Clinton seemed to get back into her groove for much of the afternoon -- good, strong close for her.” (ABC News, Political Radar (12/13/07)

THE ATLANTIC’S MARC AMBINDER – HILLARY WAS 'VERY STRONG': “ Clinton ’s opening statement was very strong.” (The Atlantic, 12/13/07)

NBC NEWS’ CHUCK TODD – HILLARY DELIVERS 'PLENTY OF GOOD MOMENTS': (First Read, MSNBC, 12/13/07)

DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST STEPHANIE CUTTER – HILLARY ‘DID VERY WELL TODAY... HER CLOSING ARGUMENT WAS FANTASTIC.’ “I think that to the extent that you thought Hillary Clinton had lost her footing, she got it back today... I think that anytime you talk on substance, Hillary does very well and she did very well today, she had some good moments about energy independence, about the type of change she will achieve. And her closing argument was fantastic.” (CNN, 12/13/07)

Voters looking for a change agent found it in Hillary Clinton today. She made clear that she will do more than hope for change, she will work hard for it, and stand up for America’s families every day she’s in the White House. CNN talked with a man before the debate and he was wavering between Sen.’s Obama & Clinton. He came out of the debate having picked a candidate. Here’s what he had to say about why he was convinced to caucus for Hillary...



When asked if he’d made up his mind he said (to paraphrase)...

Absolutely, I decided to go for Senator Clinton.

I thought she was terrific in the debate – I thought that she hit some major homeruns – and I think she was so specific in all of her answers and I think that she really showed that she could be a really great leader. As a dem she talked about some of the core things that we really care about. Education. The economy... About what they’re going to do about it because it’s a disaster.

I LOVE this guy!

Now some of you may have heard that Hillary’s started to run a new ad in Iowa starring her mother, Dorothy Rodham. I’d heard it was really good and they were right – it is. Thought you might enjoy seeing what Mrs. Rodham has to say about her girl. She tells us about Hillary’s values, and about her childhood and her lifelong commitment to helping others....



In a another new campaign ad, Hillary talks about how America needs a new beginning -- on health care, education, and Iraq. Check it out...



Right – I’ve saved (what I think is) the best for last. Some of you may have heard that Hillary was joined by her mom and her terrific daughter Chelsea on the campaign trail in Iowa last weekend. Well they caught some of it on tape and have put together one terrific video. Hillary's two favorite women in the world, her mother and daughter, join her in Iowa for their first trip out on the campaign trail together...



Three generations out on the campaign trail together. I can’t even begin to imagine how proud Mrs. Rodham and Chelsea are of Hillary right now.

I just keep going back to the message Hillary’s run for the white house is sending to my own little girl. Who knows... that could be me up on stage – standing behind my daughter some day as she runs for President.

By then, I hope a lot of other women will come before her. Women have so much to offer this world. It’s time we gave one of us the chance to prove it!

Hillary's Three Generations Campaign

As many of you know, Hillary campaigned with both mother and daughter this past weekend. Hillary plans to be a president for all americans, every generation. This video touches on her plan to be this kind of president.



I was thinking about what kind of President Hillary would make the other day. Hillary has been around for a while. She's not the new face. But she is an extremely competent policy wonk with experience from both sides of Pennsylvania ave. She knows how to get things done. She's going to work hard for every american. That's her schtick. Anyway, this is a wonderful, fun video. Enjoy.

Hillary Launches New Site For Moms

Hillary Clinton launched a new site this week with mothers in mind. The site, Moms for Hillary, offers information about Hillary most relevant to mothers. The site is themed around the concept that it takes a village, including this quote from Hillary's book by the same name:

Hillary wrote in "It Takes A Village": "The African proverb 'it takes a village to raise a child' summed up for me the commonsense conclusion that, like it or not, we are living in an interdependent world where what our children hear, see, feel, and learn will affect how they grow up and who they turn out to be." In her career and in this campaign, Hillary has seen the power of the village to shape lives. Let’s help her take the village to the White House.

As part of the site kick-off, mothers are invited to sign up with the opportunity to win a special mom's night out! Details are as follows:

The holidays are in full swing - what would you want most? A night when you can put up your feet with your favorite pals and have someone throw a party for YOU! You can be that one lucky person who is randomly selected from the first moms who sign-up on the Moms for Hillary website to receive a fabulous - and very unique - prize.

Not one - but two - former White House Social Secretaries, Ann Stock and Capricia Marshall, will plan and execute a lovely gathering for you and your favorite moms. They will come with a bundle of campaign goodies, including t-shirts, bumper stickers, a signed book and lots of stories about Hillary.

Holidays are Hillary's favorite time of the year! Let Ann and Capricia tell you all about Hillary's family's special traditions and favorite things! The event will be at a venue and date selected at the discretion of the Committee in consultation with the winner.

I encourage moms to check out this site. Not only does it offer a fun way to participate in Hillary's bid for the White House, but the site is beautifully designed.

The Most Famous Person Nobody Knows

I’ve seen a lot of things written and heard way too much said about Hillary by people who couldn’t possibly know her personally, but write or speak as if they hang out with her on a daily basis. I don’t know her either, but I’ve kept an open mind, read what she’s written and have listened to those who actually DO know her – worked with her here in DC. When I compare that to the person in the posts here or described in commentary on the Sunday talk shows... well dammit - they just don’t sound like they could possibly be the same woman.

The New York Times published an article yesterday that sheds a little light on Hillary in a way the others rarely do.



The article begins by telling us about Diane Blair,– a very dear friend of Hillary’s who had died, and she was giving the eulogy. Something that clearly wasn’t easy for her to do – say goodbye to a friend who was more like a sister to her...

Her eyes stayed dry, another triumph of her self-possession. Still, her face was puffy and her jaw slightly clenched, as if any breach of emotion could start a deluge.

That was a glimpse of a “softer” Hillary Clinton, billed as the “real Hillary” by legions of loyalists, the person so often encased in armor.

Mrs. Clinton’s surrogates lament that the engaging, generous and vulnerable woman on the stage would seem alien to many Americans.

Snip

Indeed, Mrs. Clinton is guarded by nature, friends say, a fundamentally “private person” despite her hyper-public profile.

snip.

People who have known her well acknowledge her protective shell. “Hillary is a person who feels herself very vulnerable, and her response is to make herself bulletproof,” said Nancy Pietrafesa, a classmate of Mrs. Clinton’s at Wellesley College.

The article goes on to list all of the various “-gates” that have been aimed at Hillary over the years.

“She’s been attacked every day for the last 15 years,” said Jim Blair, Diane Blair’s husband. “What else are they going to say or find about her?”

Like I’ve said for a long time now... Hillary’s probably the most vetted public figures in recent history.

Another friend tells of a time Hillary was in a tough fight to overhaul the education system in Arkansas. She’s no stranger to tough fights...

“At the end of every day, Hillary said she liked to give Chelsea a bath and wash off all of that day’s dirt and let it flow down the drain,” Mrs. Henry said. “That’s essentially her approach. Get dirty, then wash it all off and move on.”

I can relate – I feel like I need to get the grime off after a particularly snarky evening on dKos ;o) (kidding!)

Mrs. Clinton said it is a constant challenge to protect herself emotionally and still connect with the people she yearns to serve. “It’s not easy, and I don’t think it’s ever been easy,” she said. “You go out into public, and no one, whether you’re running for office, or going to work for a newspaper, or running a subway car, you never are open with every nerve ending.”

The Rev. Ed Matthews, a Methodist pastor in Little Rock, who ministered to Mrs. Clinton in Arkansas and in the White House and attended Mrs. Blair’s memorial service, has seen Mrs. Clinton at vulnerable moments. But Mr. Matthews acknowledges that her public bearing can at times “cause people to wonder how open she would be to my needs and feelings.”

“I think there has been a natural steeling process that has gone on,” he said. “I don’t think she has intended to be a harder person. ‘Cautious’ might be a better word.”

The article goes on to talk about Hillary’s childhood in a Chicago suburb – and it briefly touches on her mother’s harsh childhood, and I was reminded of something a friend & I were talking about last week. This friend was very involved in setting up the Infants & Toddlers program that my own son benefited from a few years back, and she reminded me that Hillary comes by her passion for helping children in a very personal way. She’d grown up knowing of her own mother’s troubles as a child, and that led her to study early childhood development while she was in school. Something no other presidential candidate has ever done before.

After describing some of the more rocky times in the White House, the article goes on to talk about how she used what she’d been through in her run for the Senate – something that helped her put things behind her...

“My policy for the last eight years has largely been to absorb whatever insult, whatever charge, whatever accusation anybody said and not respond because they are so outrageous and so unfair,” she said in a news conference. “I’ve been accused of everything from complicity in murder to, you know, you name it.”

I’ve met quite a few people here in the DC area who know Hillary personally – folks who’ve worked for her in the White House and some who even go back to Bill’s first run for the White House. It bugs them to no end to hear others attack her as controlling and cold, and say “if only they knew her the way I know do”

I just hope that in the coming months, the people of this good community will at least keep an open mind, and consider that maybe there’s more to Hillary than the awful things that have been said about her by the MSM, the extremists, and (sadly) some of the people here for far too long now.

I just received an email from Ann Lewis of Hillary's campaign. They've set up a new website called Moms For Hillary Watch for a write-up on this in the coming days.

I Met Our Next President Last Night!

I went to an amazing event last night in DC - a fundraiser for Hillary that helped raise a million bucks in just one night. And nooooo.... it wasn't a room full of politicians - this was a family event where folks brought their kids, and we listened to some terrific music and speeches.

But the coolest bit about the whole evening was that I actually MET HER after her speech. Hillary must have spent half an hour or more shaking hands, chatting and thanking us for our support. I shook her hand - told her who I was and that my kids were her two biggest fans.



Now I've only heard Hillary speak once before (at the Planned Parenthood conference in DC over the summer – here’s the diary I wrote about it Clinton at Planned Parenthood Conference). I can't begin to say how thrilled I am at having finally gotten to shake Hillary's hand and let her know what her candidacy means to me. What her work with the CDF has meant to our family.

Her speech was amazing. I love hearing her talk about the parents who come to her events with their children, and what this campaign means to our daughters. It was almost as if she were channeling some of what I wrote in one of my very first pro-Hillary diaries back in June ( Would a Clinton Presidency Help Women? ABSOLUTELY!). Her run for the White House is SHATTERING that highest and last glass ceiling and my daughter will grow up believing us when we tell her she can be anything she wants to be – even President.

She also talked about all of the women in their mid-90s who turn out for her events. Women who were born before we women could vote and who’re watching Hillary make history by (hopefully) making it to the White House. She told us she talked with a 94 year old women who told her this will probably be her last election, and she’d like to see a woman (Hillary) make it to the White House. Hillary told her she was going to need her help when she runs for reelection and the lady said “well… they did just put in a new pacemaker.”

She seemed to be really moved by what this all means to young girls and to our great/grand/mothers - even after being on the campaign trail for the last 11 months. Those things must be pretty incredible to see from her place on the stage – all those folks turning up to hear her speak and support her historic run for the White House.

She also talked about restoring our reputation around the world. About appointing capable people to gov't posts and not ignoring science. She talked about fully funding NIH and getting real healthcare reform through. And she talked about beating back global warming – and she was honest enough with us to say we'll all have a role to play in that effort.

This lady is the real deal you guys. She’s warm. She’s friendly. She takes the time to THANK us for our hard work, dedication and support, and reminds us that we’re all in this together. My instinct was right – I’ve said all along that she’s sincere and her dedicated work on behalf of children and women and working families for the past 35 years was coming from her heart.

Now that I’ve actually met the lady I’ve had that confirmed. I can tell she’s going to make one hell of a president!

If you thought I was fired up about this campaign before - well you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! Seriously - if we had the $$ I'd be on a plane to Iowa right now! Since that’s not on the cards, I'm going to try to help with the phone banking at campaign's headquarters, make calls to local volunteers from home this weekend, and help cover some more ground locally here in MD. And never, ever, EVER let a day go by without posting SOMEthing to the blogs.

So much to do - so little time!

Right - I want two things from you guys…

If you live in the DC area (and I’m talking as much as an hour out) and you want to see Hillary elected as the next President, I want you to send me an email now at hillarysbloggers@yahoo.com and I’ll put you in touch with the folks at HQ – they need us to go in to help with the phone banking effort there.

Second (and this you can do from ANYWHERE) – I want you to go to THIS LINK and send whatever you can to help Hillary make this dream a reality.

DONATE HERE!

If you thought I was bugging you about these things before well you ain’t seen NOTHIN’ yet my friends ;o)

Now let’s get busy – we’ve got a president to elect!

Ok a bit of an update before I post this (some of it was written last night - some during lunch today at work and some just now). It’s been a good day though – I gave a friend of mine one of my Hillary buttons at my Al-Anon meeting tonight(on the promise that he wear it every time he leaves the house!) and found out a couple other friends are regular volunteers one night a week down at campaign headquarters. There’s a LOT of support for Hillary in our county and I find other supporters of hers every time I turn around lately, so it’s all good!

Lastly - here's a video of Hillary in an interview with Charlie Gibson...



I thought folks might enjoy seeing this. It gives us an idea as to who she is and where she came from. She's warm and open in this interview. It's about four & a half minutes long - take a look ;o)

Hillary: Congress Must Approve Security Agreements w/Iraq

Following on her strong statement against permanent bases in Iraq, Hillary introduced legislation today that would require Congressional approval for all security agreements with Iraq. Hillary introduced the legislation expressing "grave concerns" with President Bush’s recently signed Declaration of Principles for a Long-term Relationship of Cooperation and Friendship with Iraq. Her legislation would deny funding for any such security agreements.
The legislation requires:

• No funds may be authorized or appropriated to carry out any bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq involving “commitments or risks affecting the nation as a whole,” including a status of forces agreement (SOFA), that is not a treaty approved by two-thirds of the Senate under Article II of the Constitution or authorized by legislation passed by both Houses of Congress. • The State Department Legal Advisor must provide to the Congress a memorandum evaluating the President’s decision to deny Congress its constitutionally protected role by concluding an agreement on the future of the U.S.-Iraqi security relationship as an executive agreement without the assent of the Congress. • The memorandum must include an analysis of the Constitutional powers relied on by the President in reaching the conclusion that such an agreement does not require approval by the Congress. • It is the sense of Congress that any bilateral agreement between the United States and Iraq involving “commitments or risks affecting the nation as a whole”, including a status of forces agreement (SOFA), that is not a treaty approved by two-thirds of the Senate under Article II of the Constitution or authorized by legislation, does not have the force of law.

Hillary also signed a letter with a number of other Senator's "warning the President against rushing the United States into long-term security commitments to the Iraqi government and urging him to seek Congressional consent." The letter was also signed by Bob Casey (D-PA), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI), and Jim Webb (D-VA).

Open Thread

So what's on your mind these days?
Tell us about the campaign in your neck of the woods.
When's your primary / caucus?
Are there many Hillary yard signs or bumper stickers in your community?
What are your friends & family saying about this campaign?

Hillary and the International Day of Disabled Persons

This morning I found out that I'll be attending a campaign event where Hillary will be speaking, and I suddenly found myself daydreaming about what I'd say if I actually got the chance to meet her at this event. (I know I know – I said I was day dreaming!)

I started to think of how I might thank her for her early work with the CDF, and what it means to my son. Thanks to her dedicated work on behalf of millions of disabled children over the past 35 years, he's getting the early intervention that's helping him overcome his delays. He's in his third year of special ed pre-school & will start kindergarten next year with his peers. He's overcome some of his delays & I have no doubt he’ll eventually overcome all of them. He's on his way to leading a wonderful life thanks to Hillary and thousands of people like her.

You guys - I actually started to cry when I thought of what her early work in this field has meant to millions of families like mine. Not just a tear or two - but tears streaming down my cheeks. The water works were going full out.



In mid-October, I posted a diary called What's Your Story? in which I talked a bit about what drew me to Hillary’s historic run for the White House. I talked about what it means to my amazing and bright 6 (nearly 7) year old daughter – of how empowering this whole thing is for girls of her generation. I also talked about my father, and how he lost his health insurance over a 2 cent discrepancy in his COBRA premium payment and would most likely be alive today if Hillary’s health care plan had been in place 6 years ago.

I talked about my son, who was born with some sort of developmental delays...

My son was born nearly 5 years ago and by the time he was 8 weeks old, our pediatrician realized he wasn’t developing at the "normal" rate. She referred us to the genetics clinic at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where they tested him for every syndrome under the sun over the next few years. His low muscle tone, delays in hitting the regular milestones such as sitting up, walking, talking, and all that other stuff prompted us to sign him up with the Infants & Toddlers program in our county. We were lucky – our son was able to get home-visits from physical therapists, speech therapists and a special ed teacher by the time he was 18 months old, and they worked with him until he turned three. After his third birthday, we signed him up with the PEP program at a local school, where he continued to work with dedicated teachers & therapists. My sweet boy is in his third year of preschool and is making REMARKAABLE progress – we have no doubt that this early intervention will make all the difference in his young life to the point where he’ll catch up to his peers in school.

Snip

There was a time when children like my sweet boy would have been written off – he never would have gotten an education or any sort of help. But thanks in part to Hillary’s work in the mid-70s in getting the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and her continued support for the ADA, and the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, he’s been able to attend the Infants & Toddlers, and later the PEP program in our county.

Hillary released a statement yesterday on the International Day of Disabled Persons, and I thought it was worth sharing... mainly to point out that the rest of the world acknowledges people like my wee son, and that more needs to be done to make this world a fairer place for them...

Hillary Clinton Statement on the International Day of Disabled Persons

"For 15 years, the International Day of Disabled Persons has provided a great occasion for citizens of all nations to unite behind our shared vision of a kind and just world that treats all people as equals. It is an occasion to celebrate the progress we have made toward securing equal rights for six hundred million people around the world, including fifty-four million Americans, who live and work with some form of disability. It is also a t