We've Got A New Home on the Net!

I'm very excited about this new project. New Hampster set us up with an whole new format. Soapblox - just like MyDD and a lot of the other blogs out there.

Low User Id's are going fast so come on by, sign up for an account and join our conversation today!

http://HillarysBloggers.soapblox.net

The new home of Hillary's Bloggers!

Hostage Crisis? Bataan Death March? You’re Kidding, Right?

Right – I’ve heard some over the top BS in this campaign over the past year, but this stuff really does top the list. We’ve all seen and heard the garbage (yeah garbage) listed in this latest Fact Hub write-up trickling out over the past few weeks about our Democratic process, but putting it all together in one place shows us just how badly BO and his minions want this process brought up short before millions of people are heard in the remaining 10 primaries and caucus.

And please – don’t discount this because Hillary’s camp had the smarts to pull it all together and post it – this is all sourced and you know it’s true. People have uttered these words repeatedly in the past few weeks in some lame-ass attempt to drive a good and decent DEMOCRAT from this race before we’ve run it out. I’m sick to death of the calls for her to step aside for the good of the Party. I mean come on – who’re we kidding here guys… BO and his followers aren’t so concerned about the good of the party as much as they’re worried that he’s going to lose his lead in the upcoming contests. This – as usual – is – all – about – Obama.

They’re clearly getting scared if they’re comparing our democratic process to a hostage crisis or a Bataan death march. Talk about over-the-top hyperbole.

I mean seriously – to compare the democratic process to a HOSTAGE CRISIS? We are talking about Democrats here - aren’t we?

Obama Campaign Calling For End Of Primary Election
4/1/2008 10:19:43 AM

Yesterday, the Obama campaign said it was "completely laughable" to suggest that their campaign was trying to shut down the primary process before many states have had a chance to vote. This belies a series of comments by Sen. Obama, his campaign and his surrogates:

Sen. Patrick Leahy: Hillary `ought to withdraw and she ought to be backing Senator Obama.' "There is no way that Senator Clinton is going to win enough delegates to get the nomination. She ought to withdraw and she ought to be backing Senator Obama. Now, obviously that's a decision that only she can make. Frankly, I feel that she would have a tremendous career in the Senate." [NYT Caucus blog, 3/28/08]

Obama said the primary is like a `very good movie that lasted about half-an-hour too long.' [Wall Street Journal's Washington Wire, 3/28/08]

Obama: `I think there are some people who felt like 'God, when will this be over?' [ABC News Political Radar, 3/28/08]

Obama compares campaign to 'Bataan death march.' [Pool Report 3/27/08]

Obama adviser said the race was `beginning to feel like a hostage crisis.' "Obama adviser moaned that the race was `beginning to feel like a hostage crisis' and would probably go on for another month to six weeks." [Maureen Dowd, New York Times, 3/30/08]

Sen. Chris Dodd: the Democratic race is `going on forever… I don't think it's really helping the candidates.' "The fact that this thing is going on forever, back and forth every day, all night -- I don't think it's really helping the candidates or the political institutions. " [National Journal, 3/27/08]

Gov. Bill Richardson: "It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and prepare for the tough fight we will have against John McCain in the fall." [Speech, 3/21/08]

Today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette had a few words to say on this subject – take a look…

Not so fast: The Clinton-Obama race still has a way to run

Mrs. Clinton says she will fight on -- and she's right to do so. We say that not because of Pennsylvania's interest in holding a relevant primary on April 22. Simply put, this fight isn't over.

It's premature for Mrs. Clinton to quit while the race remains competitive. These calls to step down by Obama supporters are no more realistic than the earlier ones floated by the Clinton camp that Mr. Obama would make a great vice presidential nominee on a "dream ticket."

While Pennsylvania has a late primary, it is not the latest. Among others, the voters in Indiana and North Carolina (May 6), West Virginia (May 13) and Kentucky and Oregon (May 20) will still have to be heard from after Pennsylvanians go to the polls three weeks from today.

As Major League Baseball starts another season, a bit of hardball wisdom from Yogi Berra applies to the Clinton-Obama race: "It ain't over till it's over."

The Washington Post agrees…

Don't Stop Campaigning…
Why the rush to push Hillary Clinton out of the race for the nomination?

THE GROWING chorus among some Democrats and other interested observers for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) to get out of the race for the Democratic Party's nomination for president is troubling. We're not promoting Ms. Clinton over Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), or either of them over Republican Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), for that matter. A time may come when someone should gracefully bow out. But their extended contest informs the electorate and serves to battle-test them both. We don't see why the process should be short-circuited when millions of votes are yet to be cast and two qualified candidates believe themselves to be the best potential Democratic nominee.

One proffered justification for ending the campaign now, in fact, is the assumption that we know pretty much how everything will turn out. Ms. Clinton will win Pennsylvania, Mr. Obama will carry North Carolina and so on. But throughout this campaign, just about everything we've "known" has been wrong: Mr. McCain was finished, Ms. Clinton was inevitable, Mr. Obama had New Hampshire locked up. No doubt the Democrats have gotten themselves into a fix with rules that may leave the final decision to unelected superdelegates -- but why is the answer to that less democracy? Why not give as many voters as possible a chance?

So yes or no… We’re Democrats right?

Democrats fight like hell to make sure all of our votes are counted right?

These are easy questions guys – questions that can and should be answered with a YES, or a no.

I’m sorry but I’m old enough and have been around campaigns long enough to know that DEMOCRATS don’t try to disenfranchise millions of other DEMOCRATS (or anyone for that matter) before this thing’s over.

I’m wise enough to know that DEMOCRATS don’t pursue a 48 state strategy, dig in their heels and refuse to allow 2 million voters in Michigan and Florida to have their voices heard – states that we’re going to need if we’re going to win the general election in November.

This bullshit has got to end – let the people vote and stop acting like REPUBLICANS.

HRC: The Next FDR?

Back in December, I wrote this after Hillary Clinton got a surprise endorsement in Iowa. One of their reasons for endorsing her just blew me away, and I decided to examine this some more. And I figured that considering our current economic crisis and the need for real action to help working families, you all may appreciate this.

Here goes... :-)

In case you missed it, The Des Moines Register endorsed Hillary Clinton for President. I know there's been a whole lot of media buzz since this, and there's now speculation over what this will do to help Hillary's campaign. However, I'd rather not focus on that. I want to focus on an indirect comparison to Franklin D. Roosevelt that the editorialists made as they were choosing between Hillary and Obama. What I want to ask you today is: Is the comparison of Hillary Clinton to FDR accurate?

Let's talk about it some more. Let's chat. {...}

Another veteran editorial writer described the choice as similar to picking Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a calculating but masterful politician at maneuvering needed legislation through Congress, versus John F. Kennedy, whose youthful vigor inspired the nation to take on new challenges. That's not a bad choice.

That's from the Des Moines Register article explaining why they picked Hillary over the other candidates. They described FDR as a "calculating but masterful politician" who was able to deliver on policy. Is that true? Well, all we have to do is examine

FDR's Wikipedia page to see all that he accomplished.

And oh my, look at all of FDR's accomplishments! The Works Progress Administration give jobs to the unemployed. The Social Security Act to ensure that our seniors don't live in poverty. The Civilian Conservation Corps to give jobs to those willing to work on rural projects. Isn't it amazing how FDR hasn't been smeared as some kind of Communist? Oh wait... He was.

So obviously, FDR did a whole lot to bring Keynesian economics to America, bring us out of the depression, and leave a strong legacy of a social safety net and robust regulatory system that made sure that capitalism worked for everyone. But was FDR a perfect "pure progressive" that did no wrong? Obviously not.

He made peace with the corrupt Tammany Hall machine early in his political career, and later on tried (and failed) to undermine the independence of our federal courts. Oh yes, and who could forget the heinous crime of interning all the Japanese-Americans during World War II? So obviously, FDR was far from perfect.

But still, we remember FDR for his accomplishments. We remember FDR for saving this nation when it looked like America may not survive the Great Depression. We remember FDR for reassuring us, and for letting us know that "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". We remember the good of FDR, and we are still grateful to him for all his good work.

So where does that take me next? Well, I'll let Dorothy and Hillary lead me in...

Hillary Clinton may not be perfect, but she does seem to have a firm grounding in her values. She cares about her fellow humankind, and is willing to give a helping hand up to those that can't help themselves. Basically, Hillary is doing her part to continue building upon the good legacy that FDR left us.

As I have said before, Hillary is strongly committed to changing course and putting an end to the disastrous legacy that Bush & Cheney are leaving us. Hillary is committing to a true universal health care plan that will cover everyone, lower costs systemwide, and enact enact tough regulations on the insurance industry. Hillary is committing to a truly bold and revolutionary climate action and energy indpendence plan that will take on our addiction to fossil fuels and go far and beyond even our own state plan in California in tackling the climate crisis. Hillary has put forth a comprehensive plan to end Bush's disastrous Iraq Occupation, and she has matched her words with action when it comes to ending Bush's era of neocon-style "cowboy diplomacy". When it comes to fighting for a bold agenda of progressive change and building upon all of FDR's good work, Hillary truly is "our girl".

And you know what makes all of this even better? Like FDR, Hillary now has the strength, the courage, and the experience to deliver on her agenda of progressive change. Hillary obviously has the domestic and foreign policy experience to hit the ground running as soon as she's sworn in as our next President. And of course, she also has the know-how to make proposed policy into enacted law. Mind if I point you back to that Des moines Register endorsement?

[...] 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.

Yep, no matter what others say about Hillary, we know that Ret. Gen. Wesley Clark when he says that Hillary has what it takes to be a good leader:

So are you convinced now? Do you see how Hillary has what it takes to build upon everything good that FDR left us, and bring America "back to the future"? Do you now see just how committed Hillary is to the progressive values that we have cherished since the times of FDR?

If you'd stil like more information, I urge you to check out

what the people that know Hillary have to say about her. These are the people that know Hillary best, and they want us to know the Hillary they've come to know and love. Oh yes, and check out this new video from Hillary.

It explains so well why so many of us are impressed by HRC, someone who'd make Franklin and Eleanor awfully proud. :-)