"2016: By that time, after eight years of an Obama presidency, America will be lucky if it's still a country."
I sent the material below to Lyn, a wonderful person in the NoBama Movement who was trying to come up with creative ways to influence the "SuperDelegates" (perhaps the most timid and frightened individuals on the planet). The SDs remind me of the character in the Flannery O'Connor short story ("A Good Man is Hard to Find") of whom it was said, "She would have been a good woman -- if someone had a gun to her head 24 hours a day."
Lyn, it was a very good idea (buying Corsi's book and giving to SDs), but I think we're stymied. I want you to know -- and any other people who get this note -- that I care a great deal about everyone in the NoBama Movement. I also want you to know that, like you, conscience and country matter to me about one thousand times more than Party -- any political party. That said . . .
I don't think there is any chance in the world (barring something totally unforeseen) that Barack Obama will not be the nominee of the Democratic Party. I do believe, as an observer, that the Party is broken, and I wonder if it will be fixed anytime soon. I don't say those things to hurt people's feelings; I say them because they're obvious.
I don't blame anyone who follows his or her heart and head, because I do so myself.
Today, a friend sent me an article (and a video) critical of John Kerry, who is a hero to some people (a diminishing number). Kerry, Ted Kennedy, and Gov. Patrick all endorsed Obama even though their state, Massashusetts, went for Hillary by a huge margin. My own Democratic congressman, Jason Altmire, supports Obama although his district went two-to-one for Hillary. My own county voted for Hillary 28,000 to 12,000.
What I ask my friends in the Democratic Party is this: what are YOU going to do about these people (and include Howard Dean, Donna Brazille, and Nancy Pelosi, along with many other colleagues of HRC who turned their backs on ther)? If the answer is nothing, as I fear it may be from too many people, then they have the Party they deserve.
In 2016, the Party will perhaps nominate a Howard Dean-Donna Brazile ticket, and Democrats will be told to take-it-or-leave it. Some Democrats will be wandering around thinking, "Now, should I vote for Dean-Brazile, or should I consider the (shudder, shudder) Republican candidate?"
By that time, America, after eight years of Barack Obama, will be lucky if it's still a country.
In my view, the Party of FDR, Harry S Turman, and JFK has ceased to exist. People need to begin to look elsewhere for their political allegiances. To those who consider Barack H. Obama a suitable candidate for POTUS, they have my wishes for a speedy recovery.
As author O'Connor said, "a good man is hard to find." And Barack Obama isn't that man.
Showing posts with label John Kerry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label John Kerry. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
My Life Among the "Clintonistas"
If you're into YouTube, here's a link to an extremely important video by Carly Fiorina, former CEO of H-P and a strong possibility for V-P on McCain's ticket. The video is about why she supports John McCain and her praise of Hillary Clinton. Very, very good message http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f8qq3hrw5fk
The video could serve as a model for all Republican candidates, especially those working hard to get backing from Hillary Supporters.
On another blog, I write today about "My Life Among Clintonistas," talking about who those Hillary Supporters are and what they want from candidates. I work closely with Democrats and Independents in the effort called NoBamaMission. I'm one of 15 national leaders.
__________________________________
Since the end of April (when I founded this site), I’ve been working closely with Hillary Clinton Supporters who are very angry at what the national media and the DNC have done to their favorite presidential candidate. I’ll be writing a lot over the next week about “My Life Among the Clintonistas.”
Somewhat to my amazement – I am after all a Republican – I’ve been amazed at the number of good friends I’ve made among the Clinonistas. Many of them are wonderful people, individuals deeply concerned about the direction of their country.
I’ve been a member of two large Yahoo Groups: (1) ClintonDemsAgainstObama; and (2) EighteenMillionHillarySupporters. I’ve exchanged perhaps 150 (1) e-mails and read perhaps 1000 comments.
Many Clintonistas -- and the number is growing -- have grasped the facts-of-life and are now (at least tentatively) backing John McCain. As an example, check out (and join) http://clintons4mccain.com/. Also, go to a key directory -- http://www.nobamanetwork.com/ -- to find 300 groups and blogs now backing McCain for President. They've recognized, to their sorrow,that Hillary is yesterday's news.
Of the 18 million Hilary voters, as many as five million -- my educated guess -- will end up voting for McCain. Of the rest, many will stay home -- or perhaps even vote for Ralph Nader. Another 5-6 million, alas, probably wil do their Pavlov's dog routine, and vote for Obama. That's a lot fewer people than the Obama campaign wants -- and needs.
A significant number of Hillary Supporters believe there’s still a good chance she will get the nomination. In that belief, they’re living in Fantasy Land. But some people can’t handle the fact that their candidate has lost. When I point this out to them, as I often do, a few people get angry – at me. Why am I being so heartless? Why am I trying to dash their hopes?
In response, I regularly cite two of my favorite quotes. One from poet T. S. Eliot goes this way: “Humankind cannot bear very much reality.” The other is from poet W. B. Yeats, who observed: “Sometimes all of life is a preparation for something that never happens.”
In my case, I never want to inhabit the land of unreality, a place where some Hillary Supporters appear to reside. If they accept the obvious – that Hillary Clinton is NOT going to get the nomination, something important will go out of their lives. They don’t like “Kansas” – reality. Instead, they choose “the land of Oz.”
In the past few days, I’ve contributed to PUMAPAC, which is seeking funds for bus rides to the Democrats’ Denver Convention. I contributed because, no matter how misguided many PUMA (“Party Unity My Ass”) people are, I value their idealism. They believe they’re going to influence the Convention (and maybe produce a “Hillary Miracle”). I believe they’re wasting their time.
I may be too impatient. Many Hillary Supporters are coming to understand that there’s only one way to stop the “Obama Express.” That way is to contribute to and otherwise support John McCain.
At times, I get upset with people who think that voting for a Republican is something like committing an immoral act. Last night, I engaged in something of a rant, seeking to explain why I regard the Democrat Party as systemically corrupt. The following is my “rant” against people condemning (all) Republicans:
My criticism of the Democratic Party includes various "icons," including John Kerry, who stabbed his long-time colleague, Hillary Clinton, in the back. Gee, let's all go and vote to re-elect Sen. Kerry to his office. My God, if we don't, a (shudder) Republican -- a true warrior and a man of integrity -- might get in!
I realize many people here admire Sen. Clinton, and she's done much that's admirable. But my point to Mars [a member of the Yahoo Group] and others was that to have a Party worth voting for you really need more than one or two admirable people. I regard some of the Group's attacks on "evil" Republicans as hilarious.
Most of them translate into, "My God, that Supreme Court Justice wants to follow the Constitution rather than make it up as he goes along!" Or, "My God, the Republicans want to produce our own oil rather than buying it from Hugo Chavez." Or, "My God, let's never, ever improve education but make sure the NEA and AFT get paid off." Or, "Rudy Giuliani cut the crime and murder rates in half in NYC, but let's hate him because he's a Republican."
Hey, I was a Democrat for 14 years, so it's my fault too.
The video could serve as a model for all Republican candidates, especially those working hard to get backing from Hillary Supporters.
On another blog, I write today about "My Life Among Clintonistas," talking about who those Hillary Supporters are and what they want from candidates. I work closely with Democrats and Independents in the effort called NoBamaMission. I'm one of 15 national leaders.
__________________________________
Since the end of April (when I founded this site), I’ve been working closely with Hillary Clinton Supporters who are very angry at what the national media and the DNC have done to their favorite presidential candidate. I’ll be writing a lot over the next week about “My Life Among the Clintonistas.”
Somewhat to my amazement – I am after all a Republican – I’ve been amazed at the number of good friends I’ve made among the Clinonistas. Many of them are wonderful people, individuals deeply concerned about the direction of their country.
I’ve been a member of two large Yahoo Groups: (1) ClintonDemsAgainstObama; and (2) EighteenMillionHillarySupporters. I’ve exchanged perhaps 150 (1) e-mails and read perhaps 1000 comments.
Many Clintonistas -- and the number is growing -- have grasped the facts-of-life and are now (at least tentatively) backing John McCain. As an example, check out (and join) http://clintons4mccain.com/. Also, go to a key directory -- http://www.nobamanetwork.com/ -- to find 300 groups and blogs now backing McCain for President. They've recognized, to their sorrow,that Hillary is yesterday's news.
Of the 18 million Hilary voters, as many as five million -- my educated guess -- will end up voting for McCain. Of the rest, many will stay home -- or perhaps even vote for Ralph Nader. Another 5-6 million, alas, probably wil do their Pavlov's dog routine, and vote for Obama. That's a lot fewer people than the Obama campaign wants -- and needs.
A significant number of Hillary Supporters believe there’s still a good chance she will get the nomination. In that belief, they’re living in Fantasy Land. But some people can’t handle the fact that their candidate has lost. When I point this out to them, as I often do, a few people get angry – at me. Why am I being so heartless? Why am I trying to dash their hopes?
In response, I regularly cite two of my favorite quotes. One from poet T. S. Eliot goes this way: “Humankind cannot bear very much reality.” The other is from poet W. B. Yeats, who observed: “Sometimes all of life is a preparation for something that never happens.”
In my case, I never want to inhabit the land of unreality, a place where some Hillary Supporters appear to reside. If they accept the obvious – that Hillary Clinton is NOT going to get the nomination, something important will go out of their lives. They don’t like “Kansas” – reality. Instead, they choose “the land of Oz.”
In the past few days, I’ve contributed to PUMAPAC, which is seeking funds for bus rides to the Democrats’ Denver Convention. I contributed because, no matter how misguided many PUMA (“Party Unity My Ass”) people are, I value their idealism. They believe they’re going to influence the Convention (and maybe produce a “Hillary Miracle”). I believe they’re wasting their time.
I may be too impatient. Many Hillary Supporters are coming to understand that there’s only one way to stop the “Obama Express.” That way is to contribute to and otherwise support John McCain.
At times, I get upset with people who think that voting for a Republican is something like committing an immoral act. Last night, I engaged in something of a rant, seeking to explain why I regard the Democrat Party as systemically corrupt. The following is my “rant” against people condemning (all) Republicans:
My criticism of the Democratic Party includes various "icons," including John Kerry, who stabbed his long-time colleague, Hillary Clinton, in the back. Gee, let's all go and vote to re-elect Sen. Kerry to his office. My God, if we don't, a (shudder) Republican -- a true warrior and a man of integrity -- might get in!
I realize many people here admire Sen. Clinton, and she's done much that's admirable. But my point to Mars [a member of the Yahoo Group] and others was that to have a Party worth voting for you really need more than one or two admirable people. I regard some of the Group's attacks on "evil" Republicans as hilarious.
Most of them translate into, "My God, that Supreme Court Justice wants to follow the Constitution rather than make it up as he goes along!" Or, "My God, the Republicans want to produce our own oil rather than buying it from Hugo Chavez." Or, "My God, let's never, ever improve education but make sure the NEA and AFT get paid off." Or, "Rudy Giuliani cut the crime and murder rates in half in NYC, but let's hate him because he's a Republican."
Hey, I was a Democrat for 14 years, so it's my fault too.
OBAMA DONORS NOT GIVING TO HILLARY
"Not a penny for THAT WOMAN . . ." (An Obama Fat-Cat Donor)
A prominent donor to Senator Barack Obama recently sent an e-mail plea to other supporters, asking them — for the sake of Democratic unity — to write checks to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to help retire her $23 million in campaign debt.Some of the replies are unprintable, given the coarse language, the donor said.
A sampling of others included: "Why would I help pay off debts that Hillary amassed simply to keep damaging Senator Obama?""Gas prices are up, the markets are in turmoil, my kid's fall tuition bill is coming soon. Writing checks to politicians I don't like is not at the top of my list.
""Not a penny for that woman. Or her husband. Or — god forbid — Mark Penn," a reference to Mrs. Clinton's former senior strategist, whose firm is still owed several million dollars for work that included aggressive attacks on Mr. Obama.
As Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton prepare for their first joint fund-raisers to benefit the Obama campaign, in New York City on Wednesday and Thursday, their two camps are straining under the weight of continued resentments, recriminations and feelings that remain raw since the long primary battle.
Mr. Obama has asked his top donors to help raise money for her debt, and so far they have come up with less than $100,000 (though more in pledges), Clinton campaign officials said — a "paltry sum," in the words of one.Several Obama donors said in interviews that they were balking at Mr. Obama's call for help because they believed Mrs. Clinton accumulated most of her debts after she had lost any mathematical chance of winning the nomination and was hanging on only in hopes of an Obama collapse.
The idea of helping her now — and lining the pockets of Mr. Penn, a reviled figure in the Obama camp — is galling to them, they said, especially at a time when they say any available money should go to defeating Senator John McCain and the Republicans in November.While no other presidential candidate has ever amassed so much personal and campaign debt en route to losing the nomination as has Mrs. Clinton, both Clinton and Obama donors say the larger problem for Democrats is that if the Obama camp is seen as unhelpful, Mrs. Clinton, her husband and their supporters could prove something less than a force for unity.
Among the complaints from Obama campaign officials is that Mrs. Clinton's expectation for help has been a moving target; in other words, it is unclear how much money from Obama supporters will be enough to satisfy the Clintons. Even Clinton officials and donors were at a loss to specify a number, saying only that Mrs. Clinton was helping Mr. Obama with the understanding that he would do more for her."
There is no lack of emotion among some supporters of both candidates, but what I think the sensible elements of good will are trying to achieve is debt relief for Hillary consistent with getting Barack elected president," said Steven Rattner, a New York investment banker and leading fund-raiser for Mrs. Clinton, who is working with both camps to help Mrs. Clinton retire her debt.T
he bitterness in the Clinton camp about the primary battle is well known, but several Clinton donors and campaign officials said a deeper issue remained unsettled: The belief — or, perhaps, the perception — that Mr. Obama and his aides are half-hearted in their efforts to help Mrs. Clinton and include her top donors on his leadership team.
See entire article at:
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
How Howard Dean Shafted Hillary
On my Pennsylvania blog Thursday afternoon, I put a posting about the last undecided Democrat Superdelegate in America -- Pennsylvania Rep. Tim Holden. Some compare Holden to Prince Hamlet, although I actually see a resemblance to Harpo Marx. In any case, he's a new figure for Hillary Supporters to dislike -- and rightfully so.
Under the Category of People Who Shafted Hillary: HOWARD DEAN
Well said by Jean Avery at Moms4McCain: "Last week, Howard Dean and friends gave delegates to someone who wasn't even on the ballot and took half the delegates from a candidate who was. And, by the way, she was also the first woman with a serious shot at the Presidency. Suddenly millions of American women who hung their hopes on Hillary are the Desirable Voting Bloc. (Sure, Hillary had male supporters, but because many women's motives differed, their response to her rejection may differ too.)"
Last holdout among Democrat "SuperDelegates" confronts Obama warily . . .The lovely lady above marks the launch of my "Odd Picture of the Day" series. Please send odd picture to me and Ill (1) post them; (2) gtive them a caption. All blogs every day. TalkTop65@aol.com.
Has any political party ever come up with a more undemocratic, elitist concept than SuperDelegates? I'm hearing from Hillary Supporters who are saying it's "payback time." (See my previous column.)
They're not just intoning the words "Just Say NoBama" and "Just Say No Deal (to Obama)." They're also targeting for defeat so-called "SuperDelegates" (not really super but delegates nonetheless) who basically pushed Mrs. Clinton under the bus.
Is there any political concept you've ever heard of that's less "democratic" than the idea of SuperDelegates? They aren't really "party elders." They're party big shots who get their seats at the convention without having to appeal to voters.
Consider my home state of Pennsylvania, where junior Senator Bob Casey, Jr. came out early and often for Obama. Clearly, Casey was carrying out an ancient family grudge (his pro-life father was prevented from speaking at the Bill Clinton convention in 1992).
Of course, there are decent people on both sides of the abortion issue. But Casey, who ran as a staunch pro-lifer endorsed the most pro-abortion candidate ever to run for President. What's wrong with that picture? Did Casey change his mind and support Hillary when his state went massively for Hillary? Of course not. He continued his anti-Clinton vendetta. When he runs for re-election, Hillary Supporters -- who pride themselves on their long memories -- may teach young Casey the era of his ways.
What about the state of Massachusetts, which the Hillary carried by very big numbers? The state's three best-known SuperDelegates were early endorsers of Barack Obama. They include Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry (up for re-election this year) and Gov. Duvall Patrick, a major cheerleader for Obama. What about the state's "popular will," as expressed by the voters. Frankly, these SuperDelegates assume they're unbeatable so they can pursue an approach that says, "The public be damned."
What about influential Democratic Senator Jay Rockefeller. He of course endorsed Obama. The fact that Rockefeller's state of WV gave HIllary a huge victory (41 percentage points) didn't seem to register with John D. Rockefeller's grandson. He has a safe seat, so why worry about offending a few hundred thousand people?
And how do we interpret the actions of Rep. Patrick Murphy from Pennsylvania's 8th district? He was one of Obama's earliest supporters (last August) of Barack Obama. Gee, how did Murphy's home county of Bucks register its its views in the April 22 Primary. It went for Hillary Clinton by 70,253 to 41,791. Again, any second thoughts on Obama Rep. Murphy? Surely, I must be jesting.
(See my Pennsylvania column for more on Rep. Patrick Murphy, a true piece-of-work.)
Murphy's opponent is Tom Manion. He's a thoroughly good man, something Murphy assuredly is not. Tom Manion and his wife lost their son, Travis, in Iraq. If you donate to and support Manion, you won't have to take a shower afterwards.
In my own congressional district (PA 4th), Jason Altmire is a Democratic SuperDelegate. He remained (supposedly) undecided, although he following Obama around like a puppy dog. What reason did Altmire have to come out for Hillary? Perhaps the fact that his district went for Hillary by West-Virginia size margins? (My own country, Beaver, west of Pittsburgh) went for Mrs. Clinton by 28,000 to 12,000. Several of those Clinton votes came from members of my own family.
Nevertheless, Altmire remained undecided until Obama "clinched" the nomination. Of course, he wouldn't have clinched anything if enough SuperDelegates like Altmire, Murphy, and Kerry had come out for Sen. Clinton. Somehow the Altmires of the world were okay with Obama and his surrogates portrayed Hillary as a warmonger, a liar, and, of course, a racist. There was glacial silence from Murphy, Kennedy, and others when Samantha Power, Obama's foreign policy advisor, called Hillary "a monster." When Rev. Wright trashed both Hillary and the nation, where oh where were Teddy Kennedy and Jay Rockefeller?
How should Hillary Supporters "handle" someone like Jason Altmire, who's running against a very strong and decent woman (Melissa Hart)? I'll leave that up to the Hillary Supporters.
I've just talked about a handful of people whose districts or states went heavily for Hillary -- but who backed Obama anyway. There are dozens of them across the nation. Some, like Nancy Pelosi, were technically undecided but nevertheless delighted in throwing sand in the gears of the Clinton candidacy.
Vote for the best person -- the best human being.
Don't vote for people who are incarnations of the concept of betrayal. Don't let people like Casey, Murphy, and Altmire spend the rest of their lives making deals in the halls of Congress. Remind them of the old saying, "Sin in haste, reprent at leisure."
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