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Hillary And Bill: A Mess Of Their Own Making
Townhall.com ^ | December 16, 2007 | Austin Hill

Posted on 12/16/2007 6:54:06 AM PST by Kaslin

So - - what in the world happened to Hillary Rodham Clinton last week?

The one-time frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination faced a slue of bad news, and committed a series of what where perceived to have been “blunders” in her campaign. By the end of the week, her campaign had sustained a key resignation, a key defection, and a growing chorus of commentators saying that her campaign was in trouble, and that Mrs. Clinton could end up losing all four early primary races.

After changing her approach with rival Barack Obama back in November to one of “hitting back,” in early December Mrs. Clinton took to criticizing Obama for having written of his presidential ambitions when he was in kindergarten, and in the third grade. Then when Mrs. Clinton faced criticism for being “petty,” she had her aides insist that the criticisms of Obama’s childhood were a “joke,” and express disbelief that anybody would take them seriously.

But back to last week - - on Wednesday, heavyweight New Hampshire Hillary campaign operative Bill Shaheen told the Washington Post that, if he were to become the Democratic nominee for President, Obama would be constantly nagged about his past marijuana usage, and therefore would be a liability to the party. This led to Shaheen’s resignation from the campaign the next day, and a swift apology from Hillary.

Now, let’s examine this “Obama liability” thing very carefully. When it comes to Democratic party politics, Bill Shaheen, if you’re not familiar, is most certainly a New Hampshire heavyweight. He is a much sought-after guy when it comes to primary election campaigns, and has been helping candidates win in his state since the days of Jimmy Carter. And as if those aren’t sufficient credentials, he is himself a former U.S. Attorney, and his wife is former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen.

Call me crazy, but I find it difficult to believe that a political veteran like Bill Shaheen would make such strong statements about his candidate’s opponent, without being authorized and directed to do so by the candidate’s “inner circle,” or perhaps by the candidate herself. If my analysis is correct and indeed Mr. Shaheen was directed to do this by, say, Mr. or Mrs. Clinton, only to have the Clinton’s tender his resignation after the tactic blew-up in Mrs. Clinton’s face, then this would seem consistent with some of the worst things we know about the Clintons. They are no strangers to brazen political tactics, but worse yet, they are often highly hurtful and destructive to the closest and most loyal people around them.

But let’s consider what the real “blunders” are here. The attack on Obama’s kindergarten dreams was petty and “knee-jerk,” by most any objective measure. Yet it came shortly after polling numbers had shown for the first time that the former President’s wife had lost her lead in Iowa. The timing of these two events made Mrs. Clinton appear as though she was acting out of a sense of disbelief, and desperation, and it cost her a very public and embarrassing defection of an Iowa campaign worker who disapproved of her negativity and joined-up with the Obama campaign.

But if the Clinton’s seemed panicked when attacking Obama’s childhood, they now seem to be something worse than panicked having raised the issue of Obama’s “pot smoking.” Certainly, drudging-up negative details about another person’s personal past can be perceived as bad form, no matter what the circumstances.

But in this case, Obama has already addressed this negative part of his past, and has handled it about as skillfully as anybody could - - he has admitted to smoking pot, has admitted that it was a wrong choice on his part, and has expressed regret for what his decision cost him. It’s difficult to be critical of a “sinner” who has confessed his sin, especially when the “sin” is perceived my many to be minimal, yet the Clinton’s have chosen precisely this very course of action.

Worse still for the Clinton’s, Obama has done what Bill Clinton has heretofore been unable to do; he has said in no uncertain terms that, yes, he did smoke pot, and he has taken full responsibility for doing so. Obama’s approach to the “pot problem” bares a striking contrast to Clinton’s approach to the same dilemma fifteen years ago, when he stated that he “experimented” with marijuana “a time or two,” but that he “didn’t inhale.” Bill Clinton was unbelievable then, and remains so today. To once again criticize Obama for his admitted pot usage draws further attention to the Clinton’s problem of trustworthiness.

Mrs. Clinton is adept at playing the role of victim. In announcing her new, more aggressive campaign tactics earlier this month in an interview with Katie Couric for CBS Television, she explained that she had endured many months of attacks herself, and therefore needed to begin responding.

Yet, in light of last week’s events, it would seem that the Clintons became victims not of other people’s attacks, but of their own miscalculations and missteps.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: billary; stophillary
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To: Kaslin
Mrs. Clinton is adept at playing the role of victim.

This might be a good time for Bill to get caught with a new girlfriend. The sympathy factor might put her back in the lead!

61 posted on 12/16/2007 11:22:57 AM PST by TravisBickle (Are you talkin' to me?)
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To: Kaslin
having raised the issue of Obama’s “pot smoking.”

Are we sure that it was "pot"? Bill Oreilly kept using the word "cocaine" when describing Obama's "youthful indiscretions".

Regards,
GtG

62 posted on 12/16/2007 11:24:06 AM PST by Gandalf_The_Gray (I live in my own little world, I like it 'cuz they know me here.)
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To: Gondring
make any reference to shooting blanks.

I might remind you that Monica's blue dress is proof that Bill's not shooting blanks.

63 posted on 12/16/2007 11:37:05 AM PST by Hardastarboard (DemocraticUnderground.com is an internet hate site.)
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To: Kaslin
Has anyone in the MSM asked Hillery about HER pot smoking and drug use???????????????????

That has to be a logical question after bringing it up about an opponent

I'm SURE there are some old hippies or old lesbian girlfriends that remember smoking with her and Bill in the good ol days!

64 posted on 12/16/2007 11:50:34 AM PST by M-cubed (Why is "Greshams Law" a law?)
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To: M-cubed
"Has anyone in the MSM asked Hillery about HER pot smoking and drug use?"

Yes, and the hillary said "The answer is No."

I'm not sure what the truth is, but it looks like the official answer is "No".

65 posted on 12/16/2007 12:50:37 PM PST by joshhiggins
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To: Hardastarboard
That was then; this is now.

Besides, perhaps it was the Spinach Dip...

66 posted on 12/16/2007 12:50:42 PM PST by Gondring (I'll give up my right to die when hell freezes over my dead body!)
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To: Kaslin; All

“Mrs. Clinton is adept at playing the role of victim.”

You got that right!! I’ve been wondering if this was a ploy .. her seemingly “victim” status ..??

Remember .. NOTHING HAPPENS BY CHANCE WITH THE CLINTONS.


67 posted on 12/16/2007 1:01:45 PM PST by CyberAnt (AMERICA: THE GREATEST FORCE for good in the world!)
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To: Eric in the Ozarks

We can hope so, but don’t count on it. The Clinton mafia is at its most dangerous when it really feels threatened.

And I am sure Hillary’s goons have lots of other nasty surprises they can reach for in the days ahead.


68 posted on 12/16/2007 2:00:10 PM PST by Ronin (Bushed out!!! Another tragic victim of BDS.)
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To: potlatch


69 posted on 12/16/2007 2:04:10 PM PST by devolve (---- - Hey Boone! - My bonus check is late again! -)
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To: devolve

Cute!!


70 posted on 12/16/2007 2:15:24 PM PST by potlatch ("Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance!")
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To: donna
It was cocaine, not just pot

Ah! But did Obama have "a nose like a vacuum cleaner" and did he collapse stoned amongst the trash cans?

'Bout time that little story did the rounds again methinks...!

71 posted on 12/16/2007 3:34:25 PM PST by Wil H
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To: devolve

Is that Huma???


72 posted on 12/16/2007 3:37:53 PM PST by jimbo123
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To: ALOHA RONNIE

Another great indicator of hillary’s character and compassion is that she allegedly was the author of the legal phraseology in the Whitewater Land Contracts that stipulated that if anyone was late with a payment the prior payments reverted to RENT and they lost title to the land. Apparently they fleeced many seniors of their life savings this way, selling them worthless land and repossessing it.


73 posted on 12/16/2007 3:48:24 PM PST by Wil H
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To: Kaslin

Everything Bill Clinton touches turns to $hit.

Nobody wants to go “Back to the Future”, her new campaign slogan.

Almost every single person he has ever campaigned for lost. Not that Her Heinous doesn’t bear her own responsibility for the chaos in her campaign. People are seeing her for what she really is, and they are turning away.

The chickens have finally come home to roost.


74 posted on 12/16/2007 3:55:48 PM PST by Cincinna (HILLARY & HER HINO :: Keep the Arkansas Grifters out of the White house.)
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To: potlatch; jimbo123

.

I allegedly deny any alleged implication that Humma is allegedly part of any alleged graphic I may or may not have allegedly posted on or about Sunday December 16, 2007

(Allegedly)


75 posted on 12/16/2007 3:57:46 PM PST by devolve (---- - Hey Boone! - My bonus check is late again! -)
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To: Sig Sauer P220

The only place the Clinton’s belong is locked up in Leavenworth.”

I agree- but is it fair to contaminate Kansas? Maybe we should opt for Gitmo instead. They can see the terrorists up close and personal.... Fitting for both of them.


76 posted on 12/16/2007 4:13:24 PM PST by ridesthemiles
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To: Wil H

.

Fits.

Thank you for your CLARITY, Wil H.

AR

.


77 posted on 12/16/2007 4:29:42 PM PST by ALOHA RONNIE ("ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer/Veteran-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965 http://www.lzxray.com)
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To: devolve

Hard to do now!! lol


78 posted on 12/16/2007 5:28:51 PM PST by potlatch ("Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we're here we might as well dance!")
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