Has the Dem infighting for 2012 begun? Is Hillary exploiting Pres. Obama's waffling over Afghanistan to launch an offensive against her ostensible boss?
The question arises after former senior Clinton aide Dee Dee Myers described PBO as looking "indecisive" and "pushed around" in his handling of Afghanistan, and Hillary herself laid down a heavy marker, describing in graphic terms the dangers of an al Qaeda resurgence were the Taliban permitted to succeed.
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It all went down on this evening's Hardball.
DEE DEE MYERS: Now, you know, things have deteriorated a great deal in the last six months [i.e., on Obama's watch!]. Not only escalating casualties this month, we had the debacle of the elections in Afghanistan. Things have gotten a lot tougher and the president rightly has said let's take a look, let's not send resources after a bad strategy. Let's reevaluate our strategy. On one level that's a solid thing: you want the president to rethink these things and to be clear before we make a plan. On the other hand, it's making him look indecisive, and as Pat said, he's being pushed around by the generals, by the Secretary of State and by others.Whoa! A Clintonista accuses PBO of looking "indecisive" and pushed around by "the Secretary of State"? Last time I looked, that would be Hillary.
Speaking of whom, cut to this Clinton clip . . .
CHRIS MATTHEWS: Here's the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, his former rival, you're right, I think she's putting up a situation here that he's going to have to contend with. Here's Secretary Clinton."Former rival"? Is this the beginning of a serious Clinton insurgency? Will the MSM at large report the rift?
HILLARY CLINTON: Some people say, well, al Qaeda's no longer in Afghanistan. If Afghanistan were taken over by the Taliban, I can't tell you how fast al Qaeda would be back in Afghanistan.
MATTHEWS: Wow! Dee Dee, she's his ally, she works for him as his top foreign policy minister. She's dictating policy here. I'm not being tough here: I'm just stating the fact. How does he respond to that?
MYERS: Yeah, I don't think she made a secret of what she thinks.
—Mark Finkelstein is a NewsBusters contributing editor and host of Right Angle. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net.
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wow, that is entertaining
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 19:46 ET by RayRaylots of intrigue there on what she's up to (well, both of them really)
but is it that DeeDee has turned on the Clinton gang because of something they did to her? Is she Dick Morris II?
wow
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:35 ET by seesalrunNews on MSNBC.
SHOCKING!
Clinton People Attacking Obama
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 07:26 ET by allanfStephanopolus gave Obama the toughest of his interviews last Sunday. Perhaps the Clinton allies are getting ready for a push against Obama should he falter.
I feel the beasts pain!
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:30 ET by hughglassIt's one thing to run against against someone you feel is a no good bum and lose the race and discover the guy does a decent job. It's quite another to run against someone you feel is a no good bum, lose the election and discover that the guy is a no good bum! Oh, the pain. I look for the beast to resign dramatically over any number of bonehead moves to come by bozo and run again in 2012.
Racist
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 03:57 ET by BronxBomberIf Hillary does quit and then runs against President Jesus does that make her a racist again?
We gotta find a new planet...
By the time of the next
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:44 ET by stancoyleBy the time of the next election, the American people will be so tired of unbridled socialism and liberism that just about any republican that runs will win the election.
The sad thing is this will
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:51 ET by Free StinkerThe sad thing is this will mean that a lot of &%$#@! RINOs will sneak into office . . .
"President Obama is learning on the job and it shows." --Boris Epshteyn
that's why we can't let up on the RINOs
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:56 ET by candanceAnd keep reminding people it's not an anti-Obama thing, it's an anti-big government thing. Hit the primaries hard next spring.
Crushing RINOs, posers, etc.,
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:04 ET by Sergeant ROCKO heard a story on NPR about a GOP'erin SC facin, I think, four opponents in the primary. NRA scored him an A. His downfall?
He joined the chorus of those that wanted an apology from Joe Wilson on the House floor.
lol... talk about no mercy!?
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
may the best person win
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:08 ET by candanceIt's about time we got more than the same old House critters no one is willing to run against.
All GOP Congress-critters
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:11 ET by Free StinkerAll GOP Congress-critters should be facing 4 opponants in the primaries.
Might help them pay better attention when an important floor vote comes up.
"President Obama is learning on the job and it shows." --Boris Epshteyn
NPR's spin..
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:17 ET by Sergeant ROCK.. of course, was to opine that it might not be a good idea to throw this supposed conservative under the bus to appease a 'minority' right-wing faction. AND it would scare away 'moderates' and independents.
Huh?
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
it's the John McCain strategy
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:22 ET by candanceEndorse the most liberal Republican by insisting they could win independent votes in the general. Then, upon general election, immediately endorse the Democrat and smear the Republican as a RINO.
What is sad is I truly
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:27 ET by bigtimerWhat is sad is I truly think McC is going to run again next round...as long as his health holds up...and if he takes after his mom, it will be.
He sure acts as if he is on the campaign trail on all the shows he has been on recently...the last few months anyway.
I wonder if the GOP is going to support the RINO again.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Ruby Ridge
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:29 ET by Sergeant ROCKI wonder if the GOP is going to support the RINO again.
That's when I say the hell with it and move.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Recipe for disaster
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:28 ET by Sergeant ROCKOf course, the goal here is to influence the outcome of elections to their liking. How many times have you heard this lame excuse: "I like him/her, but he/she can't win." That's what media influence can do.
That sort of handwringing got us McCain.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
I recall in 2000 that the
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:31 ET by Free StinkerI recall in 2000 that the MSM thought Governor Bush was just the best !
Until the primaries were over . . .
"President Obama is learning on the job and it shows." --Boris Epshteyn
Good Point!
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:34 ET by Sergeant ROCKWell, what could they do? Heap praise on Alan Keyes, who mopped the floor with the competetion in that one debate?
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
I know that's right
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:19 ET by candanceno more taking your seat for granted.
FREE STINKER...
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 01:54 ET by danybhoyBingo!!! We will see what Adrew Wilkow likes to call "jersey wearing republicans", who are part of the team, but really part of the cause.
"...How blind can you be, don't you see...
...that the gambler lost all he does not have..."
Nightwish
The Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and Afghanistan
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 20:51 ET by KC MulvilleWe have to make distinctions, and they're important distinctions. Be careful of the rhetoric.
The question isn't whether we should fight the terrorists. The question is only about where they are. They've split up. The Taliban will be in Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda, however, is mostly in Pakistan. Who's the better target to go after? Should we mount a "surge"-style effort in Afghanistan to attack the Taliban ... when the chief target is really in Pakistan?
I'm suspicious of the assumption that we can't afford to let the Taliban retake Afghanistan, because it will allow al-Qaeda to re-emerge there. There's little in Afghanistan to retake, and what matters is al-Qaeda's financial and training support. I suspect that al-Qaeda has evolved to the point that they don't need the Taliban anymore, so there's no need to dwell on the Taliban.
If Obama gives the military the mission to protect Afghanistan, I'm sure that a surge is the military's best method to do it. You know what question I want to ask McChrystal? It's a question that he'd never answer, but I'd love to ask it anyway: "I already know that a surge is your best way to achieve the mission you've been given. But is this the appropriate mission to be given in the first place?"
KC... You posted a lot we
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:54 ET by bigtimerKC...
You posted a lot we here at home have mulled over also in the evenings....
I'd love to know the answer myself you posed to McChrystal...if he were free to do so.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Yeah - it'll never happen, though
Thu, 09/24/2009 - 02:06 ET by KC MulvilleNo commander will (or should) contradict the president's position, certainly not publicly. It doesn't matter whether his answer would support or undermine my politics, I don't want him to say either way. That's not his role. So, despite my curiosity, he can't answer it publicly.
You have to wonder whether McChrystal and Petraeus agree with the mission in the first place. The official position is that if Afghanistan falls back to the Taliban, they'll return the whole country back into a terrorist haven. And that's why we have to make sure the Taliban doesn't return.
But stop. That may have been the equation pre-9/11. Does that make sense now? The reason the pre-9/11 terrorist bases used to flourish is that we didn't really grasp their threat. Now we do. So, armed with Predator surveyors, and more importantly the willingness to attack, does anyone think al-Qaeda can set up shop like they did before? If the Taliban takes over, does anyone think that will make us hesitate from throwing missiles wherever we want there?
Funny. I'm half-willing to let the Taliban take over. When they invite their friends back to town, it'll be like flypaper. A bunch of terrorists in one place, easily spotted ... it'll be the perfect way to lure them out of the hills into target-ready locations ...
Mark... I don't think
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 21:49 ET by bigtimerMark...
I don't think Hillary took/accepted her particular job without calculating reasons for her own future, she had to know what he would do on down the line, what a corner he would paint himself into over WOT.
Going to be interesting...very interesting.
What is criminal are the lives at stake...all lives involved, especially our military men and women.
Makes one want to weep at times....anything for power...at all costs.
'Doubling down on stupid is not a particularly good idea'~Breitbart
Risk
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 23:11 ET by WesenQuite the spectacle. You'll remember Barry's comments about the Joint Chiefs when he was "President Elect".
“I will call my Joint Chiefs of Staff in and give them a new assignment and that is to end the war.”
I wonder how that worked out for him.
Hildabeast
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 22:49 ET by nadadhimmiShe, Queen of the order of the cankles, will challenge the one at the convention in 12. She will be too old in 16, so a back stab and payback is on the way. This will split the Dems and the 98% of blacks that voted for Obama on racists grounds will never vote for that white biotch. Romney, or Palin, can beat either one in 12. Romney is smart but sneaky. Palin is smart but more honest. Romney will DESTROY and embarrass Obama in any honest debate. The black vote will be ignored because it's well know they vote Dem regardless and have given up any leverage they had because their votes are not in question. This Obama thing will annihilate the Democrat Party.
The last two sitting
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 22:55 ET by Free StinkerThe last two sitting Presidents that got challenged in the primary did not get re-elected.
1980 - Carter challenged by Kennedy
1992 - Bush Sr. challenged by Buchanon
Bad sign if Hillary makes the challenge . . .
Never though I'd say this
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 23:19 ET by RESTLESS 1but please run Hillary.
"If the man, with the power, can't keep it under control...some heads are gonna roll." -Judas Priest
It aint that bad,,,,
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 23:23 ET by general companyGet a hold of yourself!!
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Hey, if she does run
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 23:27 ET by RESTLESS 1Buy stock in popcorn.
"If the man, with the power, can't keep it under control...some heads are gonna roll." -Judas Priest
Restless/General Co. on Hillary
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 23:31 ET by Georgia GirlIt might be that bad...I'm starting to have scary thoughts as well.
President Hillary? No Worries!
Wed, 09/23/2009 - 23:40 ET by Free StinkerHillary Clinton dreamt that she was elected President in the 2012 election.
She was then woken up from her dream by a 3am phone call from Sarah Palin.