This is getting wild . ..
The Iowa caucuses might be a few weeks off, but MSNBC pundits have already cast a resounding "no" vote in a referendum on Hillary's credibility. A bi-partisan consensus of blatherers today rejected the Clinton campaign's denial of involvement in NH co-chair Bill Shaheen's raising of Barack Obama's past involvement with drugs.
Meanwhile, things are getting downright nasty among top consultants to the frontrunners' campaigns . . . and Barack made Hillary regret her latest cackle.
View video here.
In the punditocratic equivalent of Dixville Notch, Howard Fineman on Hardball was first to "vote" on the believability of Hillary's hands-off claim.
HOWARD FINEMAN: The notion that Billy Shaheen was acting completely on his own without any knowledge or interest of the Clinton campaign I think is going to be hard to defend. He's in on those conference calls, he's in close-in.
Fineman later branded as "completely phony" the Clinton campaign's claim that Shaheen's statement wasn't "authorized." Said Howard: "that's a big rabbit-hole you can jump down."
Matthews himself saw an elaborate kabuki dance.
CHRIS MATTHEWS: This is a Washington ritual. Someone makes a comment. It's challenged as unfair, evil, dirty tricks. Hours pass, in this case 24 hours, during which the dirty work gets done and reporters begin to ask the questions and the solution is already there in terms of the purpose of the person that made the comment. He got the dirty word out there -- let's start talking about drug use, possible drug sales, the whole thing. And then after he's done the job he resigns from the field, only to be rehired of course several months later in another capacity. I am predicting the last part because it is predictable.
With Norah O'Donnell guest-hosting Tucker, Pat Buchanan and the liberal Bill Press were similarly skeptical.
BILL PRESS: They're panicking in the Clinton camp. I can't believe that Bill Shaheen goes out and says -- plants -- and tries to get a reporter to run with this story, without somebody knowing that he's doing it.NORAH O'DONNELL: The Clinton campaign has said in no way was this sanctioned or planned, that Bill Shaheen would be able to say this. Pat, you've been involved in presidential campaigns.
PAT BUCHANAN: I don't believe it.
O'DONNELL: Why not? Look, this is an experienced man, his wife has been governor of New Hampshire, he's an able fellow. And to go to the Washington Post and say "ask about selling drugs," nobody thinks that up. Somebody fed that to him.
If there was harmony in the chattering class, there was bad blood to burn among senior advisors to the Clinton, Obama and Edwards campaigns. Check out this epic footage from Hardball of the foodfight involving Mark Penn, David Axelrod and Joe Trippi. A highlight is Edwards advisor Trippi calling a statement by Hillary strategist Penn "garbage."
Bonus Coverage: If you haven't already seen it, treat yourself to this clip of Barack's devastating put-down of Hillary. During today's debate, Hillary cackles when the moderator mentions that Obama has a number of Clinton administration advisors on his campaign staff. Big mistake.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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Wow I feel really bad that
December 13, 2007 - 21:46 ET by well99Wow I feel really bad that the Dems are fighting amongst themselves.I will try to hold back the tear.Oh well.
well99, I really hate to
December 13, 2007 - 23:13 ET by motherbeltwell99, I really hate to add to your sorrow, but shielding you is no good; you'll find out sooner or later. So be very brave and look here.
Sob
December 13, 2007 - 23:29 ET by well99Oh how terrible...That would be great if the DUs were right for once.It would be great MB we dont need any more Clintons.
Sorry
December 14, 2007 - 01:06 ET by kgSorry, but anyone who thinks Hillary did not approve this also thinks she remembers nothing about lost records, FBI files, etc. I wouldn't be surprised to find out he was planning to leave soon anyway. What better way to get her message out and then claim innocence. And hey, even though you "didn't approve it" the damage is already done. I am not saying the Clinton machine has a habit of operating like this (OK Alan?). This works equally well on lies too.
The Clinton campaign has
December 13, 2007 - 22:04 ET by Jack BauerOh please. Yeah, just like the Mob bosses would distance thmselves from sanctioning a hit. But funnily enough some guy always ended up sleeping with the fishes.
The phrase is "plausible deniability." And it seems that for once, CharacterMurder Inc. is actually being scrutinized. This must be driving the happy couple totally bonkers.
They really should never have made that Sopranos spoof video.
And she hasn't even lost yet
December 14, 2007 - 01:16 ET by KC MulvilleThe theory of invincibility evaporates when you lose. If she's this vicious now, before she's actually lost anything, just imagine how mean-spirited she'll be once she actually loses!
I get the feeling that the moment some network calls the primary for Obama, Hillary will turn (seething) to Mandy Grunwald, and between clenched teeth, she'll growl, "release the hounds." The next day, childhood friends will come forward with lurid stories of Obama selling heroin, but they never mentioned it before because they never dreamed Obama would actually win. Or the hooker mistress. Or the boy scout he molested. Or whatever sounds dirtiest to the focus groups.
Obama, that knife in your back won't be from the GOP. It'll be courtesy of the Gal from Hope.
Chris Matthews also said about Shaheen
December 13, 2007 - 22:10 ET by RJ...that he's too connected in NH and too valuable to the Clintons to really let him go. He said they'll find a way to use him.
It's nice to see how little trust there is in the word of the Clintons.
Of course they will. He'll
December 13, 2007 - 22:16 ET by motherbeltOf course they will. He'll be "officially off the campaign." Kind of like Bill Clinton "dumped" Dick Morris way back when. Then it was discovered that the two "old friends" had frequent phone conversations.....just shooting the breeze, you know.
This is really bad if Bill
December 13, 2007 - 22:13 ET by motherbeltThis is really bad if Bill Press can't defend it!!
And I'll repeat: I believe HRC knows everything that goes on in that campaign! She's too controlling not to, unless she's looking for "plausible deniability."
Redundant, I know, but I think it fits.....
"Will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest?" -Henry II
he he he
December 13, 2007 - 22:35 ET by candanceCan you imagine this working as Pres. "Oh I'm sorry my AG knew about torture. I did not authorize that."
I don't know why she'd bring this up...
December 13, 2007 - 22:41 ET by sarcasmoI can't imagine anyone with Hillary's background going through life without "inhaling" even once. Dave Barry, during the Ginzburg mess, even joked that claiming not to have tried it once should disqualify candidates, but nobody listened 'till Thomas.
JMR
Rally online with fans of Dr. Ron Paul. (All purpose anti-slander-link, sadly-needed these days...)
Hillary stretch and break?
December 13, 2007 - 22:49 ET by Parker1227The gap between the Daily Kos Left and the the sweet spot in the middle necessary to win in the main election is wider than its ever been. Only Hillary has tried to make the stretch, but the gulf is so large that it has ripped her credibility. Obama has survived by sticking to looking presidential and saying lots of warm and fuzzy non-specific stuff. Edwards is in the Howard Dean populist/socialist mode - full-out CousCous.
The far-Left hates Hillary for not doing the cut and run thing on Iraq soon enough. They are capitalizing on Hillary's recent mistakes by piling on and going for the kill.
Obama cannot remain an enigma forever. His inexperience and Lefty leanings will eventually come out if he survives the early primaries (certainly during the main election if he makes it there).
Hillary is collecting damage on top of already high negatives. The country as a whole is starting to feel uneasy about a Bill/Hill co-presidency.
Edwards is stuck in a far-Left whirlpool which will suck him down like McGovern if by some fluke Hillary and Obama destroy each other.
All this adds up to good news for the Republicans.
The funny thing is,
December 13, 2007 - 22:50 ET by dervishthis sort of trick used to work for the Clintons, but now without the media screen Hillary's like a sleight-of-hand magician trying to do her act in a T-shirt.
Expect some serious finger-wagging from Mr. Bill over the weekend.
Time Warp
December 13, 2007 - 23:23 ET by Jerry MackI agree! I think that the Clintons are stuck in the 90s when it comes to the media. They evidently do not realize that their every word and action is going to be examined. Maybe Al Gore did not tell them about the internet.
Clinton Implosion
December 13, 2007 - 23:13 ET by celatorThe Clintons are imploding. We need volunteers to clean up the drooly yuck on the floor when it's all over. Please wear your environmental hazard suit when you report in.
Thank you
And now he's gone...
December 13, 2007 - 23:27 ET by SpockAnother headline on Drudge is now reporting that not only has Hillary apologized, but that Shaheen has resigned (fired?).
Wow..... obama really put
December 14, 2007 - 01:00 ET by MidAmericaWow..... obama really put hillary in her place in that clip. And good for him. She was trying to humilitate him when it was her turn to be quiet. Instead of being afraid he let the 'Queen' have it. Besides, hasn't anyone told her highness that her cackle has become a joke? It makes people think she will be sending winged monkeys against her opponants.
Not to worry
December 14, 2007 - 01:06 ET by Scout FinchShaheen will turn up in some Democrat capacity before the end of 2008.
There's only six degress of separation between Democrats. Probably even less.
Interesting linkage per a
December 14, 2007 - 02:28 ET by Right2thePointInteresting linkage per a Bob Novak article about the old Obama slush fund use of his PAC
http://www.humaneven...
With more time, Axelrod might have noted that Obama's PAC contributed
to Clinton's 2006 New York re-election and in the current cycle to
Jeanne Shaheen's Senate campaign in New Hampshire though her husband,
Bill Shaheen, heads that state's Clinton campaign. The slush fund just
did not measure up to claims of dark improprieties by Obama, and the
Clinton campaign did not pursue the issue after volleys were exchanged
between the candidates.
I inhaled
December 14, 2007 - 06:50 ET by FranksamWhile I won't vote for any of the Dems, I do find it refreshing that one of them is willing to acknowledge past use of illegal drugs. Anybody who has inhaled, including me, knows that the supply chain is full of people who accomodate their friends by "selling".
It's time to quit vilifying those who don't respect prohibition. Substance abuse is a scourge, but there is not much difference between heroin addicts and alcoholics, other than the drug of choice.
Liberals don't care what you do, as long as it's mandatory. -Franksam
Other type addicts
December 14, 2007 - 09:08 ET by PawpawNYou left out the POWER HUNGRY ADDICTS, like the Shillary, etc. That is their drug of choice.
I agree Frank
December 14, 2007 - 11:02 ET by candanceObama admitting he did it and using it to counsel other kids not to - way better than Clinton's disingenuous line about being goody two shoes and not inhaling.
I honestly don't think too many Republicans will care about that. He tried drugs when he was a kid, so what? Who hasn't in this day and age? Hillary threw that out there because she was hoping Republicans would run with it and it backfired.
"Hillary's mom lives with her..."
December 14, 2007 - 07:00 ET by Jack BauerThe lastest the Mrs C. word's commercial is clearly a laugh riot... especially the shot of Hillary in the kitchen giving her mom cooking tips, when the caption pops up
Anyone like me, waiting for the other shoe to drop?
I went to her website,
December 14, 2007 - 07:56 ET by motherbeltI went to her website, didn't find that video, but took a look at another one.
One in which she says (paraphrasing) If this President won't end this war before he leaves office, when I am President I will.
So apparently she is back to "ending the war." From ending the war, to having troops there for a long time, back to ending the war.
Well, I guess she can "have it all." She meant ending the war "eventually." Not right away. "In a responsible manner" (wasn't that another of her claims?)
Or I guess she can just declare "victory" and say "the war is over" What we then have is a "peacekeeping force."
Nice.
mother -- you can find it
December 14, 2007 - 08:10 ET by Jack Bauermother -- you can find it here
http://www.classicalvalues.com/archives/2007/12/surprise_endors.html
All Together Now
December 14, 2007 - 07:24 ET by NoMoreClintonsWith the media now smelling blood and seemingly unafraid of "losing access" to her highness, it won't be long before we'll all be singing "Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead".
The First Ring of the Bell
December 14, 2007 - 09:05 ET by OldSailor88When MSNBC starts calling her dead.......it's over for Mrs. Bill Clinton.
By Howard Fineman
MSNBC
updated 3:17 p.m. ET, Wed., Dec. 12, 2007
WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Clinton’s campaign is teetering on the brink, no matter what the meaningless national horserace numbers say. The notion that she has a post-Iowa “firewall” in New Hampshire is a fantasy, and she is in danger of losing all four early contests, including Nevada and South Carolina – probably to Sen. Barack Obama, who is now, in momentum terms, the Democratic frontrunner.
gate
December 14, 2007 - 10:41 ET by taylorkCan we please stop using the suffix gate when referring to some sort of scandal? 30 years and we can't think of something else?
We Know
December 14, 2007 - 16:05 ET by okiehawk44we know that hillary really believes bill didn't inhale and monica didn't swallow -- is America willing to trust its future to such a gullible person?
Crazy
April 17, 2008 - 12:59 ET by zaninessI think that this is just a crazy idea. They all want to be as high as possible in their position, but I think that people are smarter than that. For their loony ideas I suggest they should go to drug rehab in california because I have heard that they are one of the best.
drug rehab in
california