Clinton Claps, Obama Refrains, When Bush Says Al Qaeda "On The Run" In Iraq

From the Washington Times:

When Mr. Bush entered the House chamber at 9:05, Mrs. Clinton stopped clapping after a few moments. Mr. Obama, however, clapped for almost the entire four minutes that Mr. Bush took to walk down the aisle.

One of the few policy lines on which the two senators differed came when Mr. Bush said that Al Qaeda is "on the run" in Iraq. Mrs. Clinton stood and clapped, while Mr. Obama did not.

On his way out of the chamber after his speech, Mr. Bush shook Mr. Obama's hand and then Mr. Kennedy's, and made a few quick remarks to both, drawing a smile from Mr. Obama.

The Hill highlighted the same moment:

Clinton and Obama's divergent views on the troop surge in Iraq, however, were plainly visible.

When Bush proclaimed, "Ladies and gentlemen, some may deny the surge is working, but among terrorists there is no doubt," Clinton sprang to her feet in applause but Obama remained firmly seated. The president's line divided most of the Democratic audience, with nearly half standing to applaud and the other half sitting in stony silence.

In one instance Clinton appeared to gauge Obama's response before showing her own.

The politics of clapping seemed to split both ways. A CNN analyst commented last night, "I saw at one moment, it appeared that Barack Obama was peering over at one moment to see if Senator Clinton had stood to applaud for something. You know there's always this politics of who stands up."

The Hill adds this color: "After his speech, Bush sought out Kennedy, his former partner in education reform, to exchange greetings. He also shook Obama's hand and said hello in typical Bush fashion: 'Hey buddy, how's it going,' he said, according to Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who also sat next to Obama for the speech."

Reagan Advisers See A Bit Of Their Former Boss In Obama

By Sam Stein, Huffington Post

Barack Obama found himself under fire on Thursday for having compared his candidacy to Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential run.

"I don't want to present myself as some sort of singular figure," he told the Reno Journal Gazette editorial board earlier this week. "I think part of what is different is the times. I do think that, for example, the 1980 election was different. I think Ronald Reagan changed the trajectory of America in a way that Richard Nixon did not and in a way that Bill Clinton did not."

The remark did not go over well in progressive circles. On Thursday, Sen. John Edwards, Obama's opponent for the Democratic nomination, ripped into him for the analogy, saying, "I can promise you this: this president will never use Ronald Reagan as an example for change."

But while Obama has felt the heat from within his own party, several former Reagan officials and even his son suggest that there are elements of historical truth to the comparison.

"If I understand what he was saying I can't entirely disagree with it. They both came along at times when society was on the cusp of change and they are both agents of change," Ron Reagan Jr, told the Huffington Post. "As far as Barack Obama being a similar agent of change, that remains to be seen. But what I do see him saying is that we are in a historical moment right now like the 60s and 80s. And I think he's right. We are overdue for a cultural shift."

Other Reagan aides grabbed onto the comparison, drawing historical similarities between the end of the Carter administration and the contemporary political landscape. The economic malaise and hangover from Vietnam of the late 1970s, they argued, are analogous in some ways to the middle class unrest and backlash to neo-conservatism today. And yet, for several Reaganites, it was the tone and tenor of Obama that best echoed the image of their former boss.

"Ronald Reagan was an inspirational leader who also was a uniter. There was never any vindictive stuff to the other side," said Lawrence Korb, a former Reagan aide and current Obama supporter who serves as a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. "In 1983, when you had the commission to fix Social Security, which basically gave us 20 more years with the program, after it was over Reagan would not campaign against any [Democrat] who supported that. And the harshest thing he said against [Walter] Mondale was that he was too young. There was never any of this vindictiveness... I think Obama is trying to get us back to that pleasantness."

Continue Reading

(You can watch the full video: here)

Clinton Machine In Overdrive

Obama has done something extraordinary, he is on his way to beating the "Clinton Machine" inside Democratic Party, on his own terms. It must be so, Bill is on the tub doing what he does best. Hillary, haven't you learned yet that Bill's skills are not transferable, you have to do your own fighting? Hillary does Obama scare you more then GOP? I use to think so.......now I know so.


Bill Clinton: Barack Obama is a Risk.....



A few highlights:

• "it's not close" in terms of how much better prepared Hillary is to be president;

• That picking Obama would be a "risk";

• Likened nominating Obama to picking "a gifted television commentator";

• Criticized Obama for beginning his presidential campaign after only one year in the Senate;

• Called Obama a mere "symbol for change," adding that "symbol is not as important as
  

Oh, by the way the reason I'm here Iowa: "It's a miracle she even has a chance."

Read Transcript Here

Guess Who Inherited Karl Rove playbook...Shame On You Mrs. Clinton

As we get closer to the first primary vote in Iowa Hillary has to stop Obama's momentum. Hillary is slinging mud to see what sticks. First it was a email sent to journalists and supporters but no takers, come'n girlfriend you have to work harder (see earlier post). So, she turns to New Hampshire campaign Co-chair Billy Shaheen who raises Obama's admitted use of cocaine and marijuana as a young man in an interview....Low and behold its now the headliner on Drudge Report. Still waiting Hillary. Only 22 day until Iowa send you packing. My bets on December 27 Hillary will start spreading the word that Obama beats his wife.


Clinton N.H. Official Warns Obama Will Be Attacked on Drug Use

DOVER, N.H. -- Billy Shaheen, the co-chairman of Hillary Clinton's campaign in New Hampshire, raised the issue of Sen. Barack Obama's past admissions of drug use in discussing the relative electability of the Democrats seeking the presidential nomination today........ ......Among his concerns about Obama as the nominee, he said in an interview here today, is that his background is so relatively unknown and that the Republicans would do their best to unearth negative aspects of it, or concoct mistruths about it. Shaheen, a lawyer and influential state power broker, mentioned as an example Obama's use of cocaine and marijuana as a young man, which Obama has been open about in his memoir and on the trail..... ......Shaheen said Obama's candor on the subject would "open the door" to further questions. "It'll be, 'When was the last time? Did you ever give drugs to anyone? Did you sell them to anyone?'" Shaheen said. "There are so many openings for Republican dirty tricks. It's hard to overcome."......
Continue Reading

Obama Camp Hits Hillary Over Campaign Official Who Brought Up His Past Drug Use

Obama campaign manager David Plouffe:

“Hillary Clinton said attacking other Democrats is the ‘fun part’ of this campaign, and now she’s moved from Barack Obama’s kindergarten years to his teenage years in an increasingly desperate effort to slow her slide in the polls. Senator Clinton’s campaign is recycling old news that Barack Obama has been candid about in a book he wrote years ago, and he’s talked about the lessons he’s learned from these mistakes with young people all across the country. He plans on winning this campaign by focusing on the issues that actually matter to the American people."

Update: Hillary Responds

Clinton spokesman Phil Singer:

"Senator Clinton is out every day talking about the issues that matter to the American people. These comments were not authorized or condoned by the campaign in any way."

Oh No, Not True: On Monday morning, Hillary Clinton's campaign included a cryptic, somewhat ominous, note in an email to journalists and supporters:

Something to Chew On: Respected columnist David Yepsen notes that "it's important for Democrats to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. Clinton's negatives are well-known, Obama's less so. Any shortcomings, inconsistencies or misstatements in Obama's past will be exploited by Republicans in the fall campaign if he's the nominee. It's best for Democrats to vet them now."

Update: Shaheen has regrets....Bless his hart

Shaheen himself adds in a statement:
“I deeply regret the comments I made today and they were not authorized by the campaign in any way."

Hillary Gender Card Update

I could not have said it better, thanks Barack

Obama, “I am assuming and I hope that Sen. Clinton wants to be treated like everybody else. And I think that that’s why she’s running for President.”

Abama "Grace Under Pressure."

Luntz focus group declared Obama the winner


AP Interview
By AMY LORENTZEN

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama said Wednesday that rival Hillary Rodham Clinton's less-than-straightforward answers in a Democratic debate raise questions about her ability to assume the presidency. "This may be smart politics by Washington's standards, but it's not what America needs right now," the first-term Illinois senator told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from Chicago. "Turning the page means offering the American people a clear sense of your principles and where you'd lead." Obama complained that during Tuesday night's debate Clinton didn't provide clear answers on a number of occasions. "After the most secretive administration in memory, an administration that consistently misled the American people, we need a president who is going to be open and forthright," Obama said. "I think last night's debate really exposed this fault line. Senator Clinton left us wondering where she stood on every single hard question from Iran to Social Security to drivers' licenses for undocumented workers." Obama said he was especially concerned by Clinton's response when asked if she would release her papers from her years as first lady. "Her big answer on whether she would release the papers from her White House years was particularly troubling because she is running on her record as first lady as much as on her record as a senator," he said. "How can people fully judge that record if the documents from those years remain locked away?"