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A Baloney Hillary Article

By Jeralyn, Section Hillary Clinton
Posted on Sat Sep 02, 2006 at 11:49:09 PM EST
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I wasn't going to blog this weekend, but this Sunday Times (London) article stands out as too much baloney for me not to make a quick comment. The premise:

FRIENDS of Hillary Clinton have been whispering the unthinkable. Despite her status as the runaway frontrunner for the 2008 Democratic nomination for president, some of her closest advisers say she might opt out of the White House race and seek to lead her party in the Senate.

Here's the tip-off to me it's total spin:

The solution, insiders say, is for Clinton to take over as Senate minority leader in 2009 from the lacklustre Harry Reid, senator for Nevada.

Since the "insiders" are assuming Hillary would be a "minority" leader in 2009, they are proclaiming Republicans will maintain a majority in the Senate in 2008. Now, who would be saying that? Certainly no one who was a "Democratic" insider.

If Hillary wants to run, she'll run. I suspect the only people who know which way she's inclined right now are Bill Clinton and her campaign staff. Even though I don't like this article, there's a line from Terry Mcauliffe that warrants repeating. In describing the effect Bill Clinton's support for Hillary could have on any future election, he states:

He is probably the most popular politician in the world."

I think you can take that one to the bank.

< Is Rove Relevant? | The Value of Political Populism >

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    • A Baloney Hillary Article | 9 comments (9 topical)
    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#1)
    by Andreas on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 12:35:12 AM EST
    The Socialist Equality Party has succeeded in placing its candidate for US Senate, Bill Van Auken, on the ballot in New York for the November 7 election, having filed petitions bearing the signatures of nearly 25,000 of the state's voters. ... The challenge that the SEP is mounting to Hillary Clinton--the frontrunner in the contest for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination--has national and international political significance. The incumbent junior US senator from New York embodies the reactionary role of the Democratic Party and its support for both US militarism abroad and social reaction at home. Having voted for the October 2002 resolution authorizing the Bush administration to launch the unprovoked invasion of Iraq, she has continued to support the war, joining with the Democratic Leadership Council in affirming that she stands "for winning in Iraq, not a rush for the exits." She has criticized the Bush administration from the right for failing to pursue a more aggressive policy against Iran and gave her uncritical support to the US-Israeli war against Lebanon.
    Challenging Hillary Clinton Socialist Equality Party on the ballot in NY Senate race WSWS, 2 September 2006

    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#2)
    by squeaky on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 08:27:00 AM EST
    Wow, great catch Jeralyn!! I had read the article earlier and took it at face value.
    The solution, insiders say, is for Clinton to take over as Senate minority leader in 2009 from the lacklustre Harry Reid, senator for Nevada.
    Friends of Hilary Clinton indeed. Without having picked up that this was a fake article spun by rethugs, I was struck by the odd name of the source "Friends of Hilary Clinton", as if it were some kind of established group. But I missed the tip off. Rove's hand? I will write the NYT about this one.

    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#3)
    by squeaky on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 08:47:12 AM EST
    oops! Went to write the paper and noticed that it was the London Times. I had previously read the article from google news and did not notice where it was from. It is from the right wing London Sunday Times owned by Rupert Murdoch. No wonder, I did not think that the NYT would stoop that low. That makes perfect sense. The article was placed with the paper's full knowledge, no doubt. In fact Murdoch may have had the idea first and called on Rove for the finer points.

    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#4)
    by Repack Rider on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 09:12:10 AM EST
    I'm trying to care about Hillary's presidential ambition. Really. I'm not just saying that.

    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#6)
    by teacherken on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 11:13:17 PM EST
    For what it is worth, the London article actually coincides from something I was hearing from well-connected DLC sources more than two years ago, that she had no real desire to run for President because of what it would put her family through, but that she wanted to be Senate majority leader at some point. The intent was to challenge Daschle for Dem leader after the 2004 election in part on the grounds that Dems were still in the minoirity, but when Daschle was beaten by Thune, she was in no position to challenge Reid. I disagree with the assessment that Reid is considered a weak leader. I think that she might have had a shot against Daschle but would have little shot running against Reid. Far more likely that she would wait until his next term is up and hope he retires. For what it is worth, I think the issue of the vituperation she would face as a candidate for president is something that would concern her. She wants to be a "player" and she is becoming one in the Senate. She might decide that such a role gives her enough ability to influence policy, particularly if Dems take over the Senate, without the aggravation of running on the national stage.

    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#5)
    by Pol on Sun Sep 03, 2006 at 11:17:57 PM EST
    Is Hillary really the frontrunner? The press says she is, but do the polls back that opinion? I honestly don't know, but my personal opinion is that the press is trying to use the name "Clinton" to scare the masses.

    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#7)
    by Lww on Mon Sep 04, 2006 at 10:44:49 AM EST
    "He( Bill Clinton) is probably the most popular politician in the world." If only "the world" could vote in presidential elections the Clinton's would be shoo-ins...Ain't gonna happen.

    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Sep 04, 2006 at 10:44:49 AM EST
    The DNC is trying to pull the wool over the voters. Look at the goals of the DNC are then look at the goals of the Communist party of America are. The DNC has promised the CPOA that in exchange for their support that members of the (Progressive) CPOA will be given top chairmanships of top commitees in congress in 2007. Wake up America, if you don't believe the above go to the offical web site of the Communist Party and read.

    Re: A Baloney Hillary Article (none / 0) (#9)
    by chris on Mon Sep 04, 2006 at 10:44:49 AM EST
    Bill Clinton, the most popular pol in the world? I don't remember him ever getting as many votes as Al Gore or John Kerry, and certainly not the percentage. For my part, I think he was the James Buchanan of his day, laying the groundwork for the mammoth corruption and abuses of power we see today. Now, that said, compared to Bush, I miss him terribly. But I cannot understand deifying a man who never won a popular majority or even came very close.

    A Baloney Hillary Article | 9 comments (9 topical)