Sen. Clinton's Unlikely Alliance

Newsday (aka Snoozeday) ^ | 5.25.2003 | Anne Q. Hoy

[NYC GOP Chick]

Washington - New York Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton teamed up last week with a political opposite - South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham - to win Senate passage of a provision to boost health care benefits for military reserve and guard members.

Since joining the Senate in 2001, Clinton has forged political alliances with the most unlikely members of Congress: House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) on foster care, Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) on allowing Israel its own Red Cross emblem and Budget Committee Chairman Don Nickles (R-Okla.) on extending unemployment benefits.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Graham effusively praised Clinton as smart, a good legislator and easy to work with. "Whatever differences we may have, it would be selfish and self-centered to let it get in the way of doing some good for the men and women who serve in the guard and reserves," he said.

He's not a stupid man, so why does he set himself up to be used by her like this, and in such a condescending manner as seen in this and other articles in which she seems to pat him on the head?!

[Dittohead_2]

Also ironic in that Lindsey Grahm will forever be remembered as one of the most eloquent men who helped impeach our last rapist-in-charge, Bill Clinton.

[spald]

Hillary's beefing up her defense credentials. First the Senate Armed Services committee and now forging deals to improve the status of the noncom personnel. Looking at 2008; hope those FBI files on Graham and others are dated by then.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

He's not a stupid man, so why does he set himself up to be used by her like this, and in such a condescending manner as seen in this and other articles in which she seems to pat him on the head?!

It's just a weakness Republicans have for not wanting to be seen as mean-spirited. Tomorrow Hillary and the democrats will be back playing hardball and stabbing them in the back, and the GOP will as usual take it.

[cabbieguy]

I am starting to wonder if Hitlery has mended fences with Dick Morris, this sounds just like the kind of advice he would persuade his clients to further their political goals, especially with President Bush at 66% in the polls.

[Randjuke]

He's not a stupid man, so why does he set himself up to be used by her like this, and in such a condescending manner as seen in this and other articles in which she seems to pat him on the head?!

If the bill is a good one (which it appears to be) I commend Lindsay Graham for supporting it, regardless of the co-sponsor. As for Hillary, well, even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.

[sd-joe]

>> "As for Hillary, well, even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while."

Stop insulting blind pigs.

[Blue Collar Christian]

Let us not turn our eyes away from this horrible creature, as some of our representatives allow her to team up to advance social programs. Even though the programs seem to be for the benifit of our strength, they are socialist nonetheless.

[Captain Shady]

He's not a stupid man, so why does he set himself up to be used by her like this, and in such a condescending manner as seen in this and other articles in which she seems to pat him on the head?!

As in my job,your job,or anybody else's jobs-results are more important than personalities. Sometimes we have to work with devils even when accomplishing good things.
Ever been on a job interview where one of the questions asked,"Have you ever worked with difficult people?"

[Captain Shady]

even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while

And even a stopped clock,unless its digital,is correct twice a day.

[Teacher317]

Like Hitler's unlikely pact with Stalin, they're just using each other. Unfortunately for Graham, Hillary's strategy is just like Hitler's: use this pact as long as it is advantageous, then abandon it and attack. He has little to gain from it, as this will give him little if any headway with left-leaning voters.

[hgro]

A whore is a whore, is a whore, is a whore and that applies to both parties in this.

[LADY J]

We know what the Clinton gang thinks of our military. Never forget how they disrespected and demoralized them while the leftists were in power.

No amount of what she does now to 'fake' concern for them will ever make me forget!

[NYC GOP Chick]

Except he didn't *have* to work with her to get his amendment passed -- and she wasn't the only co-sponsor, just the only one who used it for some cheesy self-promotion.

Yes, I've had to deal with unpleasant people at work, but I tend to not seek out further opportunities to work with them and I sure as hell don't gush over them as he did to her.

In another recent article about them pairing up on this, someone from her office basically said that she was working with him as a "thank you" for how he "took her husband to task for cheating on her."

Does he need this crap? If he felt that he needed a 'rat broad, why couldn't have approached, say, Mary Landrieu or Blanche Lincoln?

GOP senators have an obligation to avoid working with her, praising her, letting her use them to boost her national profile and credentials. She is not indispensible nor irreplaceable, and there is no need to have to resort to buddying up to her.

It's like back in the early or mid-90s when ex-Knicks coach Pat Riley used to talk to his players about *not* starring in the next Michael Jordan poster. As he told his team, each year, Nike executives would get together to examine all the great photos of Jordan's mid-air, gravity-defying feats. They would then choose the shot of the most amazing one, blow it up and sell millions of posters of it -- and in each year's poster, there was always a guy from another team who was left below on the ground, with a dumbfounded look on his face.

What GOP senator wants to be dunked on by Her Heinous? Or, to put it another way, does Lindsey Graham *really* wish to star in her next campaign ads, as "proof" that she is not only competent on military issues, but can work with "extreme right-wingers?"

[Randjuke]

GOP Chick, I hear what you are saying but this is the way I look at it - as conservatives we often criticize liberals for attacking people instead of ideas, and I don't want to fall into that trap. If the bill is good, it is good whether Hillary is associated with it or not, the bill should stand on it's own merits and not on the merits (or lack of) of it's co-sponsors.

Am I happy Hillary may get some political mileage of of this? No, but I am happy to see some consideration given to reservists, who have been called upon to do a lot the past decade or so and have not given much credit by the press. I am glad to see Mr. Graham's name associated with the bill.

[Captain Shady]

In another recent article about them pairing up on this, someone from her office basically said that she was working with him as a "thank you" for how he "took her husband to task for cheating on her."

She really said that. Hope she doesn't thank him too closely.

[NYC GOP Chick]

GOP Chick, I hear what you are saying but this is the way I look at it - as conservatives we often criticize liberals for attacking people instead of ideas, and I don't want to fall into that trap. If the bill is good, it is good whether Hillary is associated with it or not, the bill should stand on it's own merits and not on the merits (or lack of) of it's co-sponsors.

I'm not saying that he should criticize her or anything, just that he shouldn't be going out of his way to not only help burnish her "military credentials" but to *praise* her!

She's working hard to establish a reputation as being strong on military issues (an essential for any woman who wishes to lead a nation) and as a more "moderate" 'rat who is not the left-wing harpie that we know she is and who can "reach across the aisle" and work with some of the most conservative senators.

Am I happy Hillary may get some political mileage of of this? No, but I am happy to see some consideration given to reservists, who have been called upon to do a lot the past decade or so and have not given much credit by the press. I am glad to see Mr. Graham's name associated with the bill.

All true -- but she is not in any way *needed* for that. It just galls me that this hag from hell despises the military, but is using them and their well-being as a steppingstone to a White House campaign, and Lindsey Graham is aiding and abetting her in that.

[NYC GOP Chick]

She didn't say it, someone in her office did -- but you know it was approved by Her Heinous. It was meant to be patronizing, as if she was doing a favor by attaching her awful name to his amendment, as well as something of a smack.

PIAPS also has a nasty habit of taking credit for things that other people do. For example, in the months after the 9/11 attacks, her "people" were claiming that *she* was the one who "guided" two-term Mayor Rudy Giuliani through the maze of government to get money, help, etc. Sheah, like a freshman senator in her first 8 months in office is more knowledgable than a big city mayor who has served 7+ years.

[sugar_puddin]

It*s just a weakness Republicans have for not wanting to be seen as mean-spirited. Tomorrow Hillary and the democrats will be back playing hardball and stabbing them in the back, and the GOP will as usual take it.

Unfortunately, you*re right. All they are doing is helping her. No one believes me when I tell them that she will be President in 08 but I think she will be. These people are dangerous and will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. They are power hungry and ruthless. People knew about Clinton but they re-elected him again.

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Exactly; no one could have said it better. Sadly, that is the way it is.