Posted on 02/02/2007 9:26:34 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
Yesterday was the first cattle call of the Democratic presidential campaign and -- holy cow! -- these candidates can moo.
"Each candidate has been given seven minutes to speak," announced Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean before the first of six Democratic candidates took the stage at the Hilton Washington. He further announced that an "official timekeeper" will hold up warning and "time's up" signs. "After 10 minutes, wild gesticulations will take place," he threatened.
This quaint exercise in Democratic Party discipline lasted about, well, seven minutes. The first candidate, Sen. Chris Dodd (Conn.), took the floor for 20 minutes and 15 seconds, ignoring Dean's hovering, the removal of Dodd's image from the projection screens, and the fact that he drew applause for saying "Let me conclude." Former senator John Edwards (17:40) wasn't far behind, trailed by Sens. Hillary Clinton (16:12) and Barack Obama (15:30).
The closest to the limit was Rep. Dennis Kucinich (12:38), but this was probably because the audience treated his appearance as a chance to start conversations or to visit the restrooms. "Can you hear me in the back?" Kucinich called above the din. "Because I can hear you."
Now in control of Congress, Democrats were eager to demonstrate that they could make the trains run on time yesterday. They started the proceedings with an ROTC color guard. And Dean sternly read out the ground rules. "Each candidate was given the opportunity to play 30 seconds of music and can have up to 100 campaign signs evenly placed around the room."
But the Democratic National Committee is not exactly a precision drill team. The first speaker, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, wasn't ready when his time came to speak. Clinton, for her part, showed flagrant disregard for Dean's sign restrictions; her supporters hoisted about 300.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
At a Democratic summit, Hillary Clinton and the other five candidates flouted the rules Howard Dean spelled out.
BTW, remember the chronically late Clinton? Compare that to the all business, on time GW White House.
It's NOT Democratic Party, it's DEMOCRAT party, get it right--please...
Normally, I wouldn't ping anyone to a Dana Milbank article...but this one is NOT to be missed!!!! LOL
PING
Just as "only seven minutes" ends up 15, the RAT pledge that they only want to raise taxes on people who make more than 500K a year will end up an increase for everyone making more than 50K a year.
this is going to be fun.
You got that right...when Dana Milbank writes this kind of column...it is just TOO funny.
I watched this convention this morning...and they kept showing this lady standing up holding the sign that said TIME on it....but, I never noticed that the candidates even noticed it...
I guess they didn't....LOL
BTW..Osama Obama may not have talked as long as some...but he said a whole lotta nothing when he did talk.
He had one sentence where he was talking about how "they keep saying we need to spell out OUR plans, our agenda....they want details of this and that....but, we have done that in the past....now it is time for something different, now it is time for .....HOPE!!" LOL
I am paraphrasing....but it was just about like that...I just laughed out loud!!!
Dean couldn't cut off their mikes or drrown them out with loud music? Any high school principal could have run that meeting better.
Just as "we will run the most ethical, and bipartisan Congress there ever was"....
lasted less than a nanosecond...you can't count on Dems.
I also heard tonight...that Osama Obama had promised a group from New Hampshire that was attending, that he would come for a meet and greet after his speech...
Well..he NEVER showed up!! and so not only did the people from New Hampshire not get to meet him..in the process of waiting for him...they missed Hillary's speech!!
YIKES!!!
Obama is toast, Hillorat will destroy him, but then again, maybe he`s going to be the VP.
Democrats Control the Hill (and the republicans), but Not Themselves
I don't think Dean wanted to suffer the wrath of Hillary or Evita Pelosi....I am sure they would remind him of his "loser" status in the 2004 primaries, really fast.
See my post #15...for a remark about Obama.
Also...please pay particular attention to the part of Milbank's column about Harry Reid...I had tears of laughter, I tell ya.
You're absolutely right. As a writer, it constantly amazes me how these MSM types don't realize (or aren't allowed to realize, on penalty of not receiving a paycheck and/or free food) that the Old Hippie Party is nothing more than a constant inspiration for rueful comedy.
The first "name" mainstream reporter who breaks free of the liberal ('60s worshipping) straitjacket and documents the last five years or so of the hapless Old Hippies is going to make a freaking mint on the book.
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