Posted on 05/03/2008 5:30:03 AM PDT by Kaslin
SOUTH BEND, Indiana -- Well, it took nearly 12 years, but I finally convinced Sen. Hillary Clinton to speak with me on television. Emboldened by Barack Obama's "Rev. Wright" disaster, the senator is aggressively reaching out to independent voters, many of whom watch "The Factor."
After meeting and speaking with her face to face, my assessment is that health care is Clinton's strongest issue and Iran is her weakest. Polls show that most Americans are fed up with exorbitant medical costs and a callous insurance industry. So any presidential candidate who offers relief from this mess will get a hearing. Of course, the cost would be staggering, but she has a well thought out plan. Whether it is possible, I don't know.
However, Clinton stumbles on Iran. Both she and Obama want out of Iraq, but the unintended consequence of that would be a much bolder Iran. Those fanatics will spin a U.S. withdrawal as an "Islamic" victory. And then, most geo-political experts agree, Iran would attempt to dominate Southern Iraq.
That kind of aggression would likely cause world oil prices to double, causing major chaos in the economic marketplace. When I described that likely outcome to Clinton, she had no specific answer.
The thing about this presidential race is that some vital issues are so complicated they can give you a permanent migraine. Iraq is a mess. The Iraqi government is largely corrupt. But if we fold, Iran causes big trouble. Awful.
Regarding Afghanistan, the vicious Taliban are hiding in plain sight inside Pakistan. But the Pakistani government is afraid of the radical Islamists, and so it allows these killers to operate. That means the Taliban has a sanctuary from which to violently destabilize Afghanistan, and there's little the U.S. can do about it. The Pakistanis have made it clear that NATO forces are not welcome to cross into that country.
Back home, oil prices are hurting most Americans. Sens. Clinton and McCain want to suspend the federal gas tax this summer. Fine with me, but the truth is that both parties have sold out the folks on oil. Clinton voted against drilling in ANWR and the expansion of nuclear energy.
And that's pretty much the problem with her and most politicians: They are shortsighted. A closer look at "universal" health care costs may upset your stomach. California is running a $20 billion deficit, largely due to out of control medical costs. Sen. Clinton's home state of New York is $5 billion in the red. Again, health costs are driving the debt train.
So how on earth will Hillary pay for Hill Care? There aren't enough rich people in America to foot the bill. Canada has sky-high taxes with just 30 million people receiving government health care. The USA has 300 million people. Do the math.
In the end, I enjoyed my conversation with Sen. Clinton, although I believe she thinks I'm a pinhead. If so, at least I'm a fiscally responsible and national security-driven pinhead. Those issues are vital to all of us. No spin.
A lot of hype for nothing. In the end Bill O wasn’t even ready to confront Her Heiness. or maybe her would prefer to help her win out over Obama.
Regardless, it was a feeble effort given his years of touting just what her would accomplish (with politeness) if she ever came on his show.
Need to replace Bill O with The Great One. Withg the mre sequence of question, Levein would ask, she would be crying and running for the exit in a NY minute.
Bill who ? LOL
I didn’t see part two but I like the moments when Shrillary’s eyes flash red like daggers when O’Reilly mentions socialism.
You can see the real Shrillary then. She wanted his blood.
That is the absolute truth of who she is and no one cited it. And not the body language person either from what I hear.
But anyone can go back and freeze the reaction shots of her and see it for themselves. The Beast is just plain evil. I don’t know why people miss it.
I didn’t watch the interview. The comments on FR convinced me it would be a total waste of time, so I didn’t waste any.
This is one of the things I appreciate most about FR. :)
“And that’s pretty much the problem with her and most politicians: They are shortsighted.”
No Bill, they are corrupt and have their own agendas. Politics to these maroons is a job that offers them the key to Americas bank account and power.
I watched the interview and it was good. Bill didn’t let her get away with anything, but she did hold her own.
You didn’t watch the interview did you?
P S. Though the first segment was better then the second one, and the way I understand there were supposed to be four parts, so I am not sure if on Monday and Tuesday part 3 and 4 will be shown
I saw part one and also the reaction shots to Bill when the Beast’s eyes flash with the desire for blood. Like daggers.
They can’t seem to train her to stop doing that at some point.
To me if she hasn’t dropped out of the race, the interview was a flop. ;)
I agree with the Hildebeast on this one.
I read somewhere that it was her people who contacted OR about a sitdown. If so it shows just how desperate she is.
I can’t say I have ever really read an OR piece.
Is it me or does this look like it was written by a ten year old? I guess it is the folksy style but it falls flat for me.
You were too easily swayed and therefore remain in ignorance about a subject in which you should be fluent. Head-in-the-sand positions do not lead to knowledge or victory.
And what I like least about FR is posters like you who start off the morning by unnecessarily insulting other people. Have a nice day or just try hard not to ruin someone else’s.
1- She wants to punish the oil companies which will hurt the American people in the long run by increasing the cost and reducing the supply so companies can maximize profits within the new windfall profits tax environment.
2- She will force all Americans to pay directly for the healthcare of people that don't want to pay for it themselves.
3- She will open the borders and grant amnesty but “punish” US companies that hire illegals.
4- She says she wants to pull the troops out but I don't believe she will.
5- She will raise taxes at least 6% and as much as 14% on top of the healthcare costs.
Do we need to know anymore about the candidate to make a decision?
Dennis Miller NAILED BOR after the Hillary interview about not pressing her on her NO vote for ANWAR and her NO vote for EVERYTHING else that would help our energy problem! GO DENNIS!!
I must say that going on the O’Reilly Factor was the smartest thing the woman has done in this campaign. That interview was probably worth 5 percentage points in Indiana and a 2 percentage point gain in NC.
I do wish Bill O’ had been tougher on her but I truly believe he was trying to be respectful to a sitting U.S. Senator and candidate for President of the United States.
Me, I don’t have respect for any politician. Can anyone name one living politician I should respect?
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