Barack Obama's aides worrying over what Bill Clinton will say in his convention speech

Telegraph ^ | August 22, 2008 | Tim Shipman

[cdchik123]

The former president has been slow to provide Mr Obama's aides with details of what he will say, raising concerns that he will stop short of the emphatic endorsement they want to see.

Allies of Mr Clinton say that he wants to use the bulk of his speech in Denver next Wednesday to attack the record of George W. Bush, accusing the current president of squandering the economic gains of the Clinton years.

That will inevitably be seen as a message to those who yearn for a Clinton restoration, rather than a boost for Mr Obama.

[rdl6989]

I must remember to get a few extra boxes of popcorn when I go to the store. I’d hate to run out in the middle of the festivities.

[Aria]

It would be great if he said what he’s really thinking. LOL

[TheWasteLand]

I doubt either Clinton will say anything bad about Obama, or fail to endorse him strongly.

Publicly, they have to look like they support him, while privately doing everything they can to destroy him.

[angelsonmyside]

BTTT

[PhatHead]

[ASA Vet]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066477/posts

[Centurion2000]

I doubt either Clinton will say anything bad about Obama, or fail to endorse him strongly.

Publicly, they have to look like they support him, while privately doing everything they can to destroy him.

I don't think so. Depending on where exactly he is in the line up, I think he gets to fire the opening salvo to destabilize the convention.

[Kickass Conservative]

I guess Clinton will skip over that little event that occurred on 9/11/2001 that cost our economy a couple of Trillion Dollars and the miraculous economic recovery due to the Bush Tax Cuts.

Liars and ignorant DimocRats, one in the same.

[TheWasteLand]

Depending on where exactly he is in the line up, I think he gets to fire the opening salvo to destabilize the convention.

If they try to stage a coup it will destroy their party. That's something I'm fully on board with :), but I don't think the Clintons would be foolish enough to try it.

If Obama loses, Hillary! and the Clintonites own the party, and she can run as the anointed one in 2012. Why would they risk tearing the party to pieces, when absolute party power is a couple months away?

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

I doubt either Clinton will say anything bad about Obama, or fail to endorse him strongly.

Bill has been having problems even campaigning for Hillary, so how on earth is he going to be able to endorse Obama? Bill is all about himself. He will spend 95% of his speech trying to (re)create his legacy.

[tflabo]

I told you all that Barack fella was a fantasy but you wouldn't listen to me.

[FlingWingFlyer]

[bajabaja]

If Obama loses, Hillary! and the Clintonites own the party, and she can run as the anointed one in 2012. Why would they risk tearing the party to pieces, when absolute party power is a couple months away?

But it might not be the same party in 2012 that it was in 2008.

There is some meltdown going on now on CNN and liberal blogs. PUMAs say Hillary! was disrespected and should have been the VP (the inevitability theme again). The Messia-uuhhh's disciples retort: "We won, now do what we would have done if we lost. Support our candidacy or we will lose the nation to another Bushitler twin." If Obama loses, I think you are right, a meltdown will occur. That meltdown will yield a differently composed party in 2012 and there is not enough information now to predict its composition now, IMHO. For example, some disciples threaten not to vote for Hillary! in '12 if the PUMAs don't fall in line for their chosen one. Hard to say how serious or large that contingent is, but the party will look different -- and perhaps not so Clinton friendly. The "new faces" argument will not go away just because Obama lost.

Are we having fun yet?

[TheWasteLand]

But it might not be the same party in 2012 that it was in 2008.

True. There will be a meltdown, and who knows how bad it will be. I would say the odds are that the hard left would be the ones to leave, which would probably strengthen the Clintonites, rather than weaken them.

Are we having fun yet?

Oh yes. Yes indeed.

[Centurion2000]

If they try to stage a coup it will destroy their party. That's something I'm fully on board with :), but I don't think the Clintons would be foolish enough to try it.

I must respectfully disagree; I think they will. Hillary wants that POWER right frakking now.

There are way too many dead bodies and skeletons that could come out in four years to haunt them. And that actually might even be literally. Too many enemies; not enough time.

I really think they are going to roll the dice.

[wastedyears]

And beer, don’t forget beer.

[TheWasteLand]

Well, we’ll find out soon enough. Denver is going to be very, very entertaining.

[Centurion2000]

Well, we’ll find out soon enough. Denver is going to be very, very entertaining.

True .... think it's time to get the

"RIOTERS WILL BE SHOT ON SIGHT"

posters ready for the neighborhood.

[Vicki]

Bill Clinton will not be able to control himself. Even if it is just subtle, his true feelings will be known. Obama picks Biden and the convention is just 2 days away! This is almost too good to be true.

[beaversmom]

I think the Clintons will be very subtle. They will do some Clintonesque parsing of words—back handed compliments. They will talk about themselves a lot. They will pay homage to Obama, but I don’t think it’s going to be an over the top love affair. Billary have got to be truly cheesed that Hillary wasn’t even in the running for the VP slot. Not that she would have accepted it, but to know she wasn’t even considered has got to be humilating to the Queen.

[beaversmom]

Denver is going to be very, very entertaining.

Let's hope the Dems don't disappoint.

[Wil H]

This is beginning to look like the same Saul Alinsky tactics that were used in 2000 in Florida.

Namely :

1 question the validity of the vote - in 2000 they pulled the scam by phoning the Palm Beach County seniors and suggested that they may have misread the butterfly ballot.

2008 they get an activist to file a lawsuit challenging Obama’s citizenship.

2 Get the people demonstrating in the streets - in 2000 this failed, but if you recall Jesse Jackson was dispatched immediately to Florida to rabble rouse but he was unsuccessful.

In 2008 the Dem Convention is the perfect place for demonstrations, watch PUMA or other pro hillay groups make trouble.

3 Keep counting the vote - In 2000 we all know the chad issues.

In 2008 Hillary will be manipulating Super Delegates behind the scenes

4 Make sure you control the vote counting. in 2000 Gore insisted on recounts in Dem controlled districts.

In 2008 ?

5 Litigate if necessary, but keep the count alive - in 2000 Gore actually suckered the Bush camp into filing the first law suit, but that was only because it was inevitable any way.

In 2008 Will hillary litigate her way to the nomination? I doubt it, But the rest of the plan could well unfold.

Get The popcorn.....

[F15Eagle]

[According2RecentPollsAirIsGood]

Think if I drink every time Bill subverts The Messiah, I’ll live to the end of the speech?

[~Vor~]

I don't think ole Billy will be able to speak for laughing at the thought of an Obama bin Biden ticket...

[rodeo-mamma]

It sure does make Obama look weak that he couldn’t say no to those people. He should have said no, even if it cost him the election. It’s the principal of the thing.

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I’d worry too. Remember Clinton’s drug speech? “No! No! No! No! No!” [etc.]

[HAL9000]

They ought to be worried.

Bill Clinton gave a disasterous speech for Dukakis at the Democratic National Convention in 1988 that went on and on and on.... until everyone was sick of it.

[Dahoser]

Bill Clinton gave a disasterous speech for Dukakis at the Democratic National Convention in 1988 that went on and on and on.... until everyone was sick of it.

Four years later he was President. Go figure. (I still can't.)

[Jimmy Valentine]

"Even if it is just subtle, his true feelings will be known"

Subtle?? We are discussing Bill "Look at me, look at me" Clinton, are we not?

[rrrod]

This just gets gooder and gooder.....

[bert]

.......they have to look like they support him......

Or they don’t get the $23 mil to retire the campaign debt.

[upchuck]

I truly hope that Sinkmeister showers the convention with sour and very, very bitter grapes. The cathartic effect will be good for him.

[Condor51]

Allies of Mr Clinton say that he wants to ... attack the record of George W. Bush .... That will inevitably be seen as a message to those who yearn for a Clinton restoration, ...

I for one don't "yearn for a Clinton restoration".

I spent those eight years basicaly drunk. And today I just couldn't afford the Bar Tab.

[Scotswife]

I don’t have to read the article.
The headline is hysterical.

The jokes just keep writing themselves.

[Don Corleone]

Bill will say something akin to ,”I think we should nominate Hillary by acclimation”. That will; bring the house down and end the procedure right there.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

"And, in closing, don't forget: The best way to support Senator Obama is to make a contribution to hillary2012.com"

[GOPJ]

One bag of popcorn just for Bill Clinton's long walk down hallways, up stairs, and sloughing to get to the stage...

[SunkenCiv]

‘Just Words’ That Joe Biden Would Like To Forget
-The curse of a loose mouth and Nexis
National Review | 8-20-08 | Jim Geraghty
Posted on 08/22/2008 8:33:55 PM PDT by STARWISE
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066525/posts

Revisiting the Thomas-Hill Hearings
(Biden says Thomas only on court cause he’s black)
Aliicia Patterson.org | 1994 | Florence Graves
Posted on 08/23/2008 12:15:42 PM PDT by PghBaldy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066806/posts

Can Biden provide the ‘Scranton’ effect?
The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review | August 23, 2008 | Salena Zito
Posted on 08/23/2008 7:55:22 PM PDT by Salena Zito
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066964/posts

FPN to Launch BOYCOTTHALLMARK.COM Over Gay “Wedding” Cards
Family Policy Network | 8-23-08 | FPN
Posted on 08/23/2008 3:23:32 AM PDT by TheAverageGuy
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2066614/posts

[snip] What they don’t think of is a man who could have a great impact in Pennsylvania. The question becomes: Can he make his impact as broad as Hillary Clinton — another Scranton native — did in the Pennsylvania primaries? [end]

[hershey]

But dems are saying all is sweetness and light between Obama and the Clintons. There is no divide, and in fact, relations couldn’t be better. Hillary (never one to harbor a grudge, of course), is delighted that Obama did little to help pay off her $24 million campaign debt. She’s fine with that and the fact that he didn’t put her on any VP list, short or long. Who knew! She’s a walking saint.