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Lanny Davis, You Seem a Bit Confused – To Say The Least

By Heidi Li on October 22, 2008 at 1:20 PM in Barack Obama, DNC, DNC idiocy, Democratic National Convention, Democratic Nomination, Disenfranchisement, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi

(The following is a guest post, originally posted in Heidi Li’s Potpourri, an independent progressive blog. Heidi Li is a founder of The Denver Group, about which Medusa wrote an important story last night, featuring the Group’s impressive new video ad.)

In the October 17 edition of the Wall Street Journal, Lanny Davis writes that Democrats should be glad Senator Clinton stayed in the race because she made Senator Obama a better general election candidate. THIS is why Clinton supporters – most of whom were presumably Democrats – should be glad she stayed in the race?

Mr. Davis, we were glad Senator Clinton stayed in the race because we watched her win the popular vote. Many of us believe that if the Democratic Party had followed its own rules and the superdelegates and regular delegates had not been coerced by Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi and Senator Obama’s campaign (who Chairman Dean turned over the DNC to in June when no candidate had actually won the party’s nomination), Senator Clinton might very well have been the party’s nominee.

We were glad Senator Clinton stayed in the race because we thought she would make a superior President to either Senator Obama or any Republican, including Senator McCain. I still believe that.

If the best you can say about Senator Clinton’s campaign is that it helped Senator Obama then you really are not saying much about the millions of voters who cast their ballots for Senator Clinton, the thousands of us who donated money, time, and energy to Senator Clinton’s campaign. I assure you we did not do it so that her run for the nomination would help Senator Obama. We did it because wanted Senator Clinton to represent our party this November.

I am not sure, Mr. Davis, if you realize how insulting it is to those of us who are not “prominent” or “key” Democrats for you to define Senator Clinton’s campaign as some sort of testing ground for Senator Obama. Please give Senator Clinton some respect and some credit: presumably she stayed in the race because she wanted to win. She wanted to win. And it was perfectly ok for her to want to win, and to want to win because she thought she would make a better President than would Senator Obama.

I certainly agree with you, Mr. Davis, that “the cartoon caricature [of Senator Clinton] created over the years by extremists left and right has nothing to do with reality.” But although I have not known her personally over the years, as you make clear you have, I did not need to see Senator Clinton keep her word about campaigning for whoever became the Democratic nominee to recognize her as “principled and authentically committed to progressive issues”. I saw that when I first learned about Senator Clinton, which was before her husband ever ran for President, when I was studying the lawyers who worked to prosecute Richard Nixon’s participation in the Watergate break-in.

Finally, Mr. Davis, I must take issue with this particularly offensive passage in your commentary:

There always was a danger that certain working-class/rural voters who strongly supported Mrs. Clinton in such state primaries as Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia would not easily transfer their support to Mr. Obama. The same worry was often repeated about Democratic women who were angry or simply grieving about Mrs. Clinton not being picked as the nominee.

Mr. Davis, by definition, I do not qualify as one of the “certain working-class/rural voters” you disparage with the remark. But let me make it perfectly clear: I am not angry or “simply grieving” about “Mrs. Clinton not being picked as the nominee.” I am distressed that the Democratic Party rigged its own nomination process and PICKED a candidate rather than ELECTING one.

You began this election cycle supporting Senator Clinton, Mr. Davis. And as the tagline in the WSJ article states you are ending it as an Obama supporter. Given the patronizing and dismissive tone of the passage I quote above, I imagine you feel much more comfortable with the candidate you now back than the one you originally preferred.

doc99

Davis isn’t alone … Look at Govs Corzine and Rendell.

typewriterstreaming

sickening. The lot of ‘em. I can’t even pick a name from my former Dem. party I care to ever support again.

Kal

And all of which raises the very serious question of just how committed they were, and did that perhaps affect their effectiveness? And lack of reaction to all the misogyny?

LindaA1

The misogyny? What misogyny? It seems the devastating sexist treatment of Hillary Clinton by Barack Obama is no more than a distant memory.

Political hacks or not, there is no way to characterize this memory loss as anything other than lack of principle and the willingness to do anything, say anything and take any abuse to win. Which means these hacks had no moral compass in the beginning.

As a Hillary supporter, I’m disgusted. I have ALREADY VOTED FOR McCAIN-PALIN.

Ai1een

typewriterstreaming –
I feel the exact same way – SCREW THEM. For the first time in my liberal life, I will vote a straight ticket…REPUBLICAN.

That’s just how I feel about the putrid DEMOCRATS.

RM

Yesterday my husband and I cast our votes – Straight Republican Ticket – McCain and Palin. There was a line out the door…a constant line…and I wanted to ask all of them who they voted for, but of course I didn’t. I’m in Texas, and the people are really getting out to vote. Let’s hope it continues.

http://texashillblog.wordpress.com Texas Hill Country

I am in Texas too, voted straight Republican…

But unless you are in South Dallas, South Houston or in Austin… it’s Texas… everyone votes straight Republican.

It’s times like these that make me wish I lived in a battleground state LOL.

http://! mary

A THIRD PARTY ALTERNATIVE TO THE “EX-DEMOCRATIC” FRAUDULENT PARTY IS URGENTLY NEEDED! HOW ABOUT THE PUMA PARTY!?

This is the reason every Canadian has universal health care insurance since 1965. The “third party alternative” (New Democrats) pushed the minority government of the Liberals with Pearson to enact this piece of legislation that has given all Canadians respect and dignity. And in Canada “medical bills” is NOT the primary reason for Bankruptcies and home foreclosures!

Obamarama STOLE the nomination from Hillary like he stole it from his A-A mentor Alice Palmer in ’96 and now he’s stealing from McCain via fraud and misrepresention of his real agenda. OBAMA IS THE CAMOUFLAGED MISOGYNIST WHO IS THE GREATEST THREAT TO WOMEN’S RIGHTS…

Don’t ever forget that he slapped Bernie Mac on the back at the Fundraiser when a member complained about the nutjob’s “joke” that “all mothers and sisters are “HOS”! Obambi, after admonishing him, just said “just messin’ with ya, man!” What a rapper-mentality for the White House, eh?! The cruelest joke….is Obamba Himself who’s hiding his white grandmother in Hawaii and uses 30=year-old pics to fool everybody! God save us!

MikeinMI

Maybe we will all be Indepedents in 2012?

AnninCA

Oh, that’s funny. Like anyone would “grieve” this long, for gosh sakes.

It’s because the DNC blew off the public with their completely irresponsible judgement over Freddie and Fannie. And now they wish us to be stupid and blame it all on the other guy.

This Democratic Party insults the intelligence of voters.
johninca

Davis is a political hack; he’s all about supporting the party and party unity. Don’t expect him to declaim against caucus fraud or coerced delegates; Davis justifies Clinton’s candidacy on the basis that it made Obama a better candidate.

Got that? The candidate who was robbed was justified, not because she was robbed but because she made the candidate of the robbers stronger.
Jackie

As a woman I feel reat offense. I have been for McCain for years, But I have enormous respect for Hillary and the fact that she stayed in the race so long. Her willingness to suffer the insults and derision showed us what a Creep Obama and his minions are.

This dismissive tone implies that we are mearly hormonal. Fuck You!

I am not subject to PMS hormones I am a thoughtful capable and intelligent woman.

Asshats

AnninCA

Amen. And ditto for those who think if you don’t agree with them, you need meds. *haha
gottaluvit

I’m with you on that one! This years election is a girl thing for me. I’m a registered Democrat who will proudly vote for Mccain.

I think it’s time us women slapped the DNC upside their tiny little heads. The way they treated Hillary was ridiculous and then they went after Sarah. So, it’s not about party for me, it’s about respect. And the DNC has shown no respect for Women this year.

I’m voting straight down the ticket – Republican !
Ai1een

Jackie – Well said -

Patrick

As a Pennsylvania Republican who voted for both Ed Rendell and that hack Bob Casey, Jr. (wow is HE not is father), I am mortified now by my decisions. It will NEVER happen again.

Take care,
Patrick

typewriterstreaming

Hey, I voted for freak Chuck Schumer, thief rat bastard. I can’t even see myself ever voting for another Democrat. This party has to be thoroughly cleansed – I think we’d be better off starting from scratch.

OT: just off Drudge: AP has the race dead even.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D93VM4PO0&show_article=1

Judy L. NC

Polls are such a crock of shit. This morning the drudge headline was “Landslide Like Reagan”.

Pennsylvania goes RED!

Hey – you voted for Ed Rendell – you must be a racist!
(His opponent was Lynn Swann, an African-American)

Patrick – what are we going to do with you?

ryan2483

So does this mean the DNC should apologize for saying that Hillary staying in the race would damage their chances for winning? And regardless, then the Democrats have been… oh, what’s that word… oh yes, LIEING whenever it suits their purpose?

Gee, suddenly the failures of the Democratic Congress, the backwards logic (and I use the term “logic” in its loosest sense) of leadership (same for “leadership” as applied to “logic”) throughout the primary season, and the unignorable emptiness of The One (aka, “That One”) snap into place.

Lenny Davis has become a hack. Like Richardson. Like Powell. And like so many others who have become tainted by Obama’s hype.

ryan2483

Actually, in most probability, the majority of these people were “hacks” to begin with. It just wasn’t so apparent before.

Soon or later though, the truth comes out. A PUMA is a PUMA, and a hack is a hack. Simple as that.

http://! mary

Ryan

Absolutely! A PUMA is and will always be a Puma! If only the truth came out from Hawaii and Kenya’s bilionaire slum landlord Odinga, Obama’s cousin who was given by Barry a million$ to launch SHARIA LAW IN KENYA! The BBC and CBC(Canada) covered the Prsidnet of Kneya’s objections to the “Young immature Senatore from Chicago who’s interfering with our sovereign country’s election”! Why didn’t the CNN/MSNBC cover it? Hussein would not have made it this far…guess George Soros and the Ford Foundation have the bucks and Hillary was just the ‘old guard’ who had to be taken down…Hillary was far the strongest, most competent and qualified entry for presidnet! She was simply the BEST! And for me, will always be the BEST! She’s devoted her life to public service.

Now the misogynist attack dogs of the Obama Axelord campaign are attacking another competent woman with incredibly more executive experience than Barry Hussein!….Disgraceful thugs….

Bridgette

Yeah, I’m not angry or grieving simply because Senator Clinton did not get the nomination. It’s not as simple as that. It’s the fact that we could have had the best nominee I could possibly imagine and instead we get stuck with this fool Obama.

I don’t understand how this election went wrong…well I do. Caucus fraud and the dem party selecting the nominee instead the voters electing the nominee. But anyway, I’m not grieved that we didn’t get her, I’m grieved that we got stuck with Obama.

ryan2483

I’m grieved for both.

Bridgette

Well me too, lol. But it’s not cuz Hillary is a woman. It’s because she’s 1,000,000 times better than Obama. He is seriously the worst possible candidate we could have ended up with. I would have preferred anyone else that ran over him. With Hillary as my obvious first choice.

Dawnelle

I don’t know Richardson turned into Judas (or so Carville put it) and Eddie ended up being a worse cheat then Vitter or Bubba combined!

Maybe Dennis would have been fair.
Gravel would have been a kick.
Huckabee too.

Man anyone but BARRY!!!

typewriterstreaming

I’m grieved that my own party is filled with lying snakes. The whole lot including you Lanny Davis. You spineless flip flopping creature.

Zee

I prefer the term “empty scrotum.”

Grieving for “Mrs. Clinton” indeed. I’m grieving over the likes of empty scrotums spilling their shriveled seed over the public discourse.

Come on, WSJ. Some equal time for Heidi, please.

http://! mary

HEIDI LI FELDMAN, THANKS FOR A GREAT POST!

Heidi’s last paragraph is a true masterpiece where she says:

“Given the patronizing and dismissive tone of Lanny Davis’ passage quoted, I image Lanny feels much more comfortable with the candidate he’s backing now than Hillary”…. right on!

Lanny, get over it, sweetie. We ain’t hormonally challenged, but you sure are, you self-serving apostle-rat of the Chicago political sewers Bambi-Messia! Jerk….

lark

There will be a hundred books explaining it.

Elle

OT

Isn’t this something to think about?

If Barack Obama would apply for a job with the FBI or with

the Secret Service, he would not be qualified because of his past association

with William Ayers, a known terrorist.

For this same reason, he would be disqualified from joining the military.

If he is elected President, he would not qualify to even be his own body guard!

but – he would be Commander in Chief in charge of the FBI, Secret Service and the Military

Judy L. NC

As a CIA clerical applicant in 1968 (no Days of Rage for this country bumpkin), I distinctly remember filling out a 26-page application form. Several pages of the app. were lists of organizations such as KKK, SLA and SDS, membership in any of which was a disqualifier. For that matter, even acknowledgement of past marijuana use was a disqualifier. I also had to take a lie detector test. BTW, I was hired.

I don’t know what the qualifications are today. But, the whole situation boggles the mind.
lark

Unreal.
oowawa

“If he is elected President, he would not qualify to even be his own body guard!”

Quite true. And what about Cousin Odinga? Nobody with that character in the family would ever get a security clearance.

Ani

Heidi Li,

Thanks for this great piece. Yes, Lanny is confused.

This is the same insulting memo that MoDowd put out months ago — that Hillary was here for the sole purpose of making Barack a better candidate.

No dear, she was, is and will always be the better candidate. She was running for the benefit of the American people, not for Barack Obama. Not everything is about him.

And nothing has made Barack better. He just enjoys some of the greatest media protection I have ever seen, and with the DNC riding shotgun for him at every turn, who needs to improve?

He didn’t even need to have solid answers to issues at the debates — he would just say, “I agree with Hillary” and he was pronounced brilliant. He just did the same thing in his debates with John McCain if anyone missed it.

For Lanny Davis to insult Hillary Clinton in this way is unconscionable. He insults her supporters as well by passing this nonsensical memo that we are bitter and grieving.

Grieving? We know that with Hillary, we had the choice of a qualified Democratic nominee and the one we are left now with is not qualified or prepared. Nor capable of holding on to one policy without a flip flop. So we choose not to stand with him.

This is the Presidency we are talking about, not American Idol.

That smacks more of common sense than bitterness.

JustMe

Confused Lanny Davis needs to stay home.

AnninCA

Here’s the real scoop on the race.

http://www.wvec.com/news/topstories/stories/wvec_local_102208_ap_poll_presidential_race.13a4a6244.html?npc

Dead heat.

AnninCA

P.S.

I TOLD you Joe the Plumber was a game changer.

Docelder

The Obama campaign has been doing a good job of disguising “socialism” rebranding it and packaging it as some “hopey-changey” “unicornesque” “coke and a smile” hooey. What Obama did to himself by openly stating… “spread the wealth” was to clear his own smokescreen. It’s smoke and mirror deception… except he cleared his own smoke. It was just for a brief glimpse of reality, but it may be enough.

AnninCA

Well, I think it’s simpler than that.

People are not keen on the idea of sending their tax dollars to welfare recepients.

Just that simple.

We don’t mind building pipelines, bridges even, but just so someone gets a check to go spend at the corner?

Calling it socialism isn’t helpful to me, anyway.

Calling it a hidden welfare check….is.

typewriterstreaming

Did you hear that today Obama changed his plan, for those who don’t pay taxes they are going to have to work to get that tax rebate.
Are people in this country that stupid? The people in my company are, they are all ordering new Obama t-shirts “Black is the New President”
Barf.

Pennsylvania goes RED!

Of course they’re going to have to work – there will be plenty of opportunities at the local ACORN office.

On the back of those T-shirts your co-workers ordered should be:

“I voted for Barack 0bama and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.”
AnninCA

No, I didn’t hear that.

That’s as goofy as McCain’s new united nations idea. LOL*

Talk about a hail mary.
Zee

My sympathies, tws.

blech, indeed.
lark

for those who don’t pay taxes they are going to have to work to get that tax rebate.

That’s a lie and it also proves to Obamabots that he is just baiting them.

PewL

No One is Stuck with Obama,if you vote against him…Think what Obama did to Hillary,and the angry you felt the day,she stepped down,and the anger you felt the day she had her fairwell speech.

Mccain/Palin is the only safe bet there is.At least there real people,and not phonies..

tj

OT

Called the clerks office today to try and be a poll volunteer. Unfortunatly you have to do an 8 hr shift and I have little ones. My hubby works 10hr days so that leaves me out. We don’t have the early voting here at the polls, you just mail them in. It sucks too since they really need the help and I really wanted to do this.
Papoose

and the anger you felt when she forfeited our votes at the dNC’s so called Convention in Denver, this past summer.

wonder why. just wondering.

McHope

and the anger you felt when you viewed the videos depicting the caucus fraud and bullying and intimidation of voters that went on (that cost her the primary)

and the anger you felt when Obama texted his choice of Biden over Hillary at 3 AM

typewriterstreaming

Hey Lanny: Courtesy of PUMA PAC – some words for you from Gov. Palin:
Governor Palin’s Speech
“When it came time for choosing, somehow Barack Obama just couldn’t bring himself to pick the woman who got 18 million votes in his primary, and that seems to be too familiar a story isn’t it?” Palin said at a rally in Henderson, NV on October 21. “How it is for so many American women that the qualifications are there, but for some reason the promotion never comes?

“You’ve got to ask yourself why was Senator Hillary Clinton was not even vetted by the Obama campaign?” Palin continued. “Why did it take 24 years, an entire generation from the time Geraldine Ferraro made her pioneering bid until the next time that a woman was asked to join a national ticket?”

“In the long history of our country, 74 people have held the position of President or Vice-President, and why have the major parties given America only two chances to even consider a woman for either office?” Palin asked. “This glass ceiling, it is still there, but it’s about time that we shattered that glass ceiling once and for all.”

“Out on the stump he talks a good game about equal pay for equal work, but according to the Senate pay roll records women on his own staff get just 83 cents for every dollar that the men get,” Palin said of Obama. “That’s 9,000 dollars less every year that he pays the guys. Does he think that the women aren’t working as hard? Does he think that they are 17 percent less productive?”

“The working women of this country, those who work inside the home and outside of the home, they’re overlooked by politicians in Washington, and Barack Obama hasn’t given us a single reason to believe that he would be any better.”

“I’ve been very, very blessed to have a husband who’s supported me along the way. He’s a great dad who doesn’t disappear at bath time or run from diaper duty, and I appreciate that,” Palin added. “But a lot of women have it much, much harder than I’ve had it. And they need child care, which today can cost some families a third of their household budget. And they need reforms in labor laws that allow greater flexibility in the workplace, including more tele-commuting. And they need a tax code that doesn’t penalize working families.”

“Women of my generation were allowed finally to make more of our own choices with education, with career, and I have never forgotten that we owe that opportunity to women, to feminists who came before us,” Palin said. “The belief in equal opportunity is not just the cause of feminists, it’s the creed of our country — equal opportunity.”
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/palin-reaches-o.html

deborah1

wow! excellent speech!

i hope it shames some of the liberal feminists who can’t see that Palin is a feminist, too. i say that as a liberal feminist who does support Sarah and can recognize her accomplishments while disagreeing with some of her policies.

has obama ever made such a speech? and what do his actions says about HIS belief in women’s rights?

nobama
not now
not ever

http://elect2009.wordpress.com OMGIAMGOINGNUTS – Cindie

Off Topic:
http://tallahassee.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/second-citizenship-lawsuit-filed-against-barack-obama-.aspx?googleid=249870
2nd citizenship filed against obama.

Khan Krum

Oh goodie. More please!!!
Zimeeisme

I read that there are now 9.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2106516/posts

Percy11

No comment

What is left to say about this enitre election process. Oh wait.. I know.

God Help Us All!
http://msnGodhelpusall Lee M

Lanny Davis is just another hack like Colin Powell. Neither of them has one iota of interest in what is best for this country. They are only thinking of themselves and what they might benefit from the election of Barack Obama.

I don’t need Lanny Davis to tell me that I’m grieving over the fact that Hillary Clinton didn’t get the nomination when she so obviously earned it. I’m not grieving, that part of the cycle is over, I’m just bloody angry. The more he, and others like him mouth off, the angrier I get. If he thinks he is convincing anyone in my position to vote for Obama, he had better go back and repeat Psyc 101. He is only cementing our decision to stay as far away from the so-called Democratic Party as possible.

You have said that campaigning against Hillary made Obama a better candidate. Are you insinuating that that is all she was good for? What about your internet push to promote her for VP? I signed your petition because I thought at the time that as VP she would at least get some recognition for all the heart she had put into the campaign. Do you actually believe that Joe Biden is a better VP candidate?

I’m glad now that she didn’t get chosen to partner up with the “one”. She is so far more suited for the top office that it would have been impossible for Americans like myself to regard him as her boss.

If she were to run for national office again, there is no way in hades I would vote for her after the way she has shilled for the man who denigrated her so egregiously. I don’t live in NY so there is little chance that I would ever be in a position to vote for her again at any rate.

I no longer consider myself a Democrat after having worked for the party for over half my life. I have not gone Republican – that is still a little far removed for me, but I will be voting Republican on November 4th. Not just for the top spot but straight down the ticket. I want no association with anyone in the “New Democratic Party”. Dean and Brazile did not have to tell me twice that I was not needed.

Danny

same here – I mailed my ballot in yesterday. I voted for every Republican with great joy! I’m sure you can imagine how good that felt?!

I voted for Democrats since Reagan first ran for office, when I was 18. At this point I’m voting for the best candidates and none of them have a D in front of their names.

McCain/Palin have this country’s best interest at heart and will guide her back to greatness. Obama will destroy our country and drag us down into the darkness even further than Bush was able. Obama is the third term for Bush – not McCain. Obama is the corporate candidate – not McCain.

Vote for McCain is a vote for America and all of her people.

Larse12

My friend sent me this video to show me what has happened to the American people. It is long but good.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k6KUDv1wzraWhwlBt1
http://JohnMcCain.com Galt, Master Thrall of Planet Triskelion

No surprise, Lanny is spinning. But he ain’t no alchemist. He can’t spin dog shit into a win for The Precious.

Khan Krum

Yea, I hear he’s making something out of it called “Shinola.” How do these people live with themselves?

upper east side

The game changer is IN: Fuck you Lanny Davis! Fuck you and the horse you road in on.

AnninCA

I agree. When I saw the results of the tightening actually seep into the state polls, then I knew….

McCain has pulled it out of the hat.

Or Joe the Plumber has pulled it out, I should say.

It’s quite a feat. Obama looked as though he was hitting that “magical tipping point,” where nothing could stop him.

Joe the Plumber……one little ole bitty question. *haha

Then, Biden helps by talking. *haha

One more small miracle…..John wins.

Judy L. NC

“JOE FOR OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PLUMBER”

wodiej

are we suprised?? again, another male chauvinist pig who refuses to be respectful towards women. STICK IT UP YOUR ASS LANNY DAVIS.
KB

Thanks Heidi, great article. The only way to reclaim the democratic party is to throw them all out and rebuild. I regret not being able to vote for any democrat on November 4 but I just can’t take the chance that Barry gets in and then has a majority to lock step behind him. Not only that, the thought of voting for hacks like Carol Shea-Porter, ardent Barry supporter and BFF of Pelosi, I’m in NH, is just too much to bear. The down ticket dems who helped make this mess need to feel the pain. They should all be ashamed!
dperez

as a life long dem, I’m disgusted with my own party on so many levels.

will be voting repub from the tippity top of the ballot to the bottom of the ballot.

jbjd

According to the Old Testament, God delivered the Jews from bondage in Egypt and then, led by Moses, guided them through the desert on their way to the Promised Land. At some point, God called Moses up to Mt. Ararat to receive the 10 Commandments. Meanwhile, discouraged by the long wait for Moses’ return, the Jews reverted back to their idol worship days. They gathered up all their belongings and fashioned a golden calf, praying to this god to get them out of there. When God saw this, he was furious, and decided to make the Jews wander around in the desert for 40 more years, so that the generations who had known slavery and idol worship would die off, and only those Jews untouched by these evils would enter the Promised Land.

I swear to God, I will vote straight Republican for the next 40 years.

Rob G in Chicago

Some “Chosen People”, huh? God had them wandering around the desert for 40 years, and then settled them in the only land in the Middle East without oil. Fortunately, they’ve done very well with that land and have made the desert bloom.

eriezindian

Lanny Davis is trying to diminish Hillary’s run to an embellishment for bambi.!!! What a crock!!! Lanny hasn’t a clue how much we missed in a candidate. He should know, after his affiliation with her, but I truly don’t think he gets it. His words are disgusting and infuriating. Never again will I respect this man.
Papoose

Yep, upstairs ^

psych 101
hootnannie

Lanny Davis, like many Dems, seems to be merely going through the motions, mouthing words. Some seem to be subtlely trying to undermine Bobo, though. I heard that Rendell told the party they need to send the big guns to PA and that the BO camp was angered by the suggestion. Why? Probably because the illusion of Bobo’s inevitabiltiy is all he now has going for him. I think his handlers are desperate to win eastern states because they think people farther west will be influenced to jump on the Bobo bandwagon. And people like Rendell have to worry about their political future. If Bobo won, he’d bring the party down to ruin within a few months. He might well be impeached and removed, even by a Dem majority, if scandals continue to roll out about him the way they have been. What if it comes to light that he wasn’t born on U.S. territory?
notrees

Early voting begin in my state this week, but I will NOT be voting for ANY DEMOCRATS this time around and maybe NEVER. I voted for and still think the world of Bill Clinton. Hillary is another matter. In this election cycle and after all the research that has been done and from what I have read there is no way I could ever again vote for Hillary Clinton. I did vote for her in the primary. Not again. But to each his/her own opinion. In my opinion, anyone who would support the Black Panthers and now endorses and campaigns for Barack Obama also supports the likes of Lewis Farrakhan, William Ayers, Hugo Chavez and the list is long. Whether she had too, was forced too, for her own political survival makes no difference to me. No Obama, No Hillary, No Socialism–NO WAY. COUNTRY BEFORE PARTY AND FOR DAMNED SURE BEFORE AN INDIVIDUAL.
SensibleWomanNOTforBO

You know, I still remember VERY clearly how many of them firmly and plainly stated they had NO desire to run as his running mate. THAT was most telling for me.

b mathews

could that be why he chose biden? because no one else wanted it (or any part of obama)?

Mike

GREAT TO SEE that MSNBC has the new AP poll numbers on the home page!!!Check quick because they will take it down shortly.

fif

But Zogby has it at 10 pts. WTF?

Elizabeth

Two weeks ago he had it at 2 and Obama has had nothing but socialism, assaults on free speech, Joe Biden threatening WWIII, and competition from the new, new thing in Sarah Palin …. and now it’s 10 again ???

I never understand his methodology of know where Zogby numbers are coming from.

ford

Do not be discouraged by the polls , the MSM use those to break your spirit…remember Hillary in New Hampshire???

She and McCain were told by the MSM they were done, and they both won big…bigger than any poll predicted.

Keep the Faith, and continue to work to defeat BO.
Marty

Hear that Al-Qaeda has endorsed McCain? THERE’S a “maverick” for ya!

“Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election,” said a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said the Arizona Republican would continue the “failing march of his predecessor,” President Bush.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102477.html

Obama ’08

Steve in KC

And of course most Americans will flock to the endorsement of our #1 enemy. I mean, al Qaeda wouldn’t lie to us, would they?

When you are older and in high school, maybe you should take Psychology 101. You might learn a little something about reverse psychology.

Oh please, Br’er Fox, please don’t throw me in the briar patch! Anything but that! — Br’er Rabbit, as told by Uncle Remus.

Rob G in Chicago

Didn’t Al Qaeda pull the same nonsense in 2004 ?

Silver

Heidi, what a terrific post!! It’s amazing to me that politicians and pundits don’t seem to “get” that I didn’t just vote for Hillary because of issues. Issues are worthless unless there’s character and integrity behind the mouth of the person who spoke about them.

After November, I think I’ve had my fill of politics for a lifetime. I still don’t understand how politicians can go to social events, pat each other on the back, call each other “friend”, and then go and backstab each other on the campaign trail. It seems like John McCain was super friendly towards Obama at the press dinner, and then the very next day he acted outraged at the way Obama’s campaign was treating Joe the Plumber. Which is it?? Either BE outraged or be nice—but not both within 24 hours. It makes politicians look insincere. I’ve seen Hillary, Bill Clinton, James Carville, Obama. . . . actually all politicians and surrogates act this same way—and it ain’t pretty. They call it politics, but it seems more like faking orgasms to me.
mira

Yesterday I saw a clip on CNN of Hillary and Obama in Florida at a rally. When the interviewer asked them how things were going, Hillary went to speak but Obama interrupted as he put his arm around Hillary’s shoulder, leaned close and said somethin on the lines of “oh she’s doing great, just great…” as though she was his assistant. No doubt that’s how he sees her. Following that they both said that the Dems would win Florida.

I don’t know why any Hillary supporters would even consider voting for Obama.

fif

He is so patronizing. “She’s such a good girl.” It amazes me that many HRC supporters are willing to support Obama now, after they clearly witnessed who he is during the primary season just because he has a “D” after his name. Corruption, fraud, intimidation, dishonesty? No problem–he has a “D” after his name.

Papoose

Yeah, look at Governor Rendell…

He has never responded to any of my communications but he continues to send me canned requests/pleadings to vote the ‘down ticket’ 2008.

He’s kidding me, I know.

Never Again. (Has an apPealling ring to it, I think).
fif

I am not angry or “simply grieving” about “Mrs. Clinton not being picked as the nominee.” I am distressed that the Democratic Party rigged its own nomination process and PICKED a candidate rather than ELECTING one.

Exactly Heidi. “Picked” is the operative word. The DNC leaders strong-armed the superdelegates and decided the nominee for us. So much for democracy. The immediately transferable loyalty of so many of the same people who criticized all the same things about Obama (and that includes you Mr. Biden), reveals their lack of integrity. The condescending tone is the “New Dem Party” that Obama has fashioned. No thank you.

JustMe

They picked him,pimped him & primed him and hes pickled his chances.

McCain / Palin 08

Betty

I’m glad Senator Clinton stayed in the race because each day, each new assault on everything I hold dear opened my eyes to how the Democratic party is not what I thought it was and has been fooling me for years. All those years I was willing to “share the wealth” because they told me they would use it to improve the lot of the poor. But I now know, with out any doubt, that once they got control of my money and stiffed the poor and enriched themselves and their friends.

As for Acorn, my brother died and the late 70s but something he said to me keeps popping into my mind. He said ~”social workers are only interested in procreating themselves. They get hired to work on a program but if they can think up a program of their own, then they can run it and hire others to do the work, and these workers in turn think up a program so that they can run it and hire – and so on and so on.” Acorn is the horrible, but inevitable, result of that incest.

I don’t see eye to eye with the Democratic Party any more and I know that anyone who is nominated to either low or high office by this party is someone who is “going along” in a sea of corruption.

Pennsylvania goes RED!

they told me they would use it to improve the lot of the poor. But I now know, with out any doubt, that once they got control of my money and stiffed the poor and enriched themselves and their friends.

This is the essential problem of wealth distribution: Once the money leaves your hands YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER IT. At least with charitable donations, you can research the charity to see how its funds are disbursed. You can interview beneficiaries of the organization to gauge the satisfaction level. You can visit their offices or facilities to get a sense of the operation. You can even volunteer and offer your time and service which can be more valuable than money.

But once you write that check to any government authority, into a black hole it disappears.

As for your brother’s words about social work: Unfortunately I have seen that dynamic at work. I advocate for a disabled relative. There are many decent social workers out there who are underpaid and have a genuine commitment to helping their clients. However I have also witnessed the self-perpetuating “program building” which in the end mainly benefits those employed by the program, while its clients fall through the cracks.

Who said this: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Boxer Mum 06

Great point!

And let’s take a look at where the Obama family has graciously placed their own personal donations… Trinity Church, etc..

I find it funny that my husband and I make a fraction of the amount the Obama and Biden households do but have donated more than both of their families combined.

They are all about spreading the wealth – just not THEIR wealth!

IndieDogg

Call me simple-minded, which I’m not, but at the moment searching for some simplicity in what has become a living Alice in Wonderland experience… and please, someone, help me find some clarity on this.

WHY is every non-Obama vote suspect?

Why must every non-Obama voter justify their decision, as if they have obviously lost their minds?

WHY (and this one I really don’t get) is Barack Obama, a barely-first-term Senator, presumed to be “GOOD” for the economy? What does he know about the economy that I don’t? I have as many degrees as he does and far more experience in financial markets. What qualifies this man as my economic guru? What is the source of this “presumption” of brilliance in all subjects, a brilliance that hasn’t shown its face in the space of 47 years.

Great, he graduated from law school. So did a lot of people, myself included. Are all lawyers automatically qualified to run the free world? Most of you won’t turn your back on one and the best jokes you know, I’m guessing, are lawyer jokes. Well earned lawyer jokes. So, that’s it? He went to law school?

Okay, sorry, getting all wrapped up in this again.

Back to the simple question that’s never been answered at all, much less to my satisfaction:

“What is it about Barack Obama’s record of public service that should make me want to vote for him?”

Does this not seem like a simple question?

Why should I vote for him?

I’ve yet to hear a single reason.

He’s just groovy doesn’t really do it for me. Besides, he doesn’t come across as just groovy. He comes across as playing to a role, aloof and arrogant. And his speeches are whip cream and icing. Besides, I’m not voting for someone to play the part of President. I’m voting for someone who can actually do the job.

Simple for me.

Barack Obama hasn’t done a single thing in his public life, whether in Illinois or his brief fly-over in the U.S. Senate, to suggest he’s qualified to be President of the Unite States.

Nothing.

So, where does the “presumption” come from?

I’m honestly baffled.

In the end, it’s only after an election that you can begin to sort through all the campaign rhetoric and there is surely enough to go around this time.

I believe, in the end, you vote based on whom you best trust with something important, the immediate future of your nation.

And, in elections, as in life, trust is earned. It comes from actions, your past, your footprints in the snow. That’s how we know from whence you came and where you are most likely headed in the future. We learn that we can trust someone. “Just trust me” doesn’t do it. Never has. Never will.

So, we look to your past. Yes, who you hang out with, pal around with, do business with. Your mentors, benefactors, backers, associates, pastor (p.s. / most people pick a church “because of” and not “in spite of” the minister). That’s how we do it with our friends and associates in life. That’s the way it is.

A powerful adage: “What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you’re saying.”

Bottom line. I don’t know of a single reason, with that in mind, to vote for this Barack Obama guy. I know nothing about him other than what he says and even his “Just Words” and “Believe in Your Own Audacity” speeches were lifted from a fellow Axelrod client. No one to this date has given me one rational reason, based on past performance, to vote for the man.

None.

So, I reject the notion that I should have to justify my “rejection” of his candidacy to some Jim Jones Peoples’ Temple type of Obama disciple who has been taken over by the spirit and wants to call up the devil on any non-believers.

The question has been turned on its head.

I don’t have to tell you why I’m not voting for him.

I’d expect to have been told why I should.

And to have been pointed to some footprints to verify the oratory. But, this man does not leave footprints. When you are elevated by the fawning masses, I suppose your feet don’t actually touch the ground.

AnninCA

*STANDING OVATION!*
McHope

Woot! Woot!

You said it, IndieDogg!

Besides, I’m not voting for someone to play the part of President.

Best comment, ever!
Urban Hillbilly

A better democratic candidate would be ahead by 15-20% right now.

After the Iraq War lies and bumbling, then Katrina, among other things (ie spending, deficits) the republicans ruined their “brand”. Nobody wants to vote for them, people want “change”.

As you know, that is Obama’s trump card. However, polls are tight. I’m not sure the American electorate wants someone with the Wright/Ayers ties and socialist economic views in the White House OR the republican no-goods.
socalannie

IndieDogg…excellent…just excellent. I’m going to share your comment with my obot family members.
Elizabeth

A very liberal politically colleague voted early today and the best she could come up with afterwards was that “I don’t know, I just think McCain doesn’t really want to be President…”

I told her Biden didn’t look like he wanted to be VP either and she just laughed. But it’s interesting that she would have considered the conservative choice at all. Maybe the perception of McCain as dispassionate or disinterested comes from wanting him to declare all out war with both guns blazing or look more like a back alley mugger moving in for the kill ?? Or that’s simply the talking point picked up on ‘progressive’ radio ?

I’m just praying more moderate and conservative Dems will balance any concerns about McCain with a fierce repulsion of Obama.

hadenough

More good news for obama:

DOWn
-670.56

What happened to the bailout bill that obama said met his ‘four principals’? What happened to the bailout bill we were told obama not only rounded up enough dems to get pasted but obama also reached across the aisle and got repubs to vote for the bailout bill?

Too bad the “liberal media” is busy wringing their hands over the cost of Palin’s wardrobe to ask obama about the failed bailout bill obama approved of and helped get past.

Pennsylvania goes RED!

My friend’s husband is an investment counselor. She said he and his associates think the market is nervous because it thinks we’re headed for a president 0bama.

Marilyn

We should all contact those liberal Hollywood types that back Obama and tell them because of their support for The One, that it is their patriotic duty to open their wallets and start sending money to the have nots. If asked to redistribute their wealth they’ll send their money filled wallets offshore turning their backs on what their patriotic duty is if and that’s a big if Obama/Biden get elected.

winess08

And those Hollywood people won’t be exempt from the draft either!

In an Obama presidency you won’t see the wealth of the very rich being spread around. They know how to protect and hide their assets. They have lawyers who specialize in tax laws. There’s a reason that Obama has the support of so many law firms. Have you heard of the “Death tax”? Obama wants to reinstate it. Estate lawyers fought against repealing the death tax as it directly affected their livelihood.
This tax hurts those of moderate means who can’t afford lawyer fees.

http://www.deathtax.com/deathtax/update.htm

The information below is taken from an Estate tax lawyer’s website.

“Some people are surprised to learn that the following assets are also included in your taxable estate:
* the death benefit value of any life insurance policy that you own; and
* the value of your retirement account, even if you have a designated beneficiary.
* any assets that you own jointly with right of survivorship, even with your spouse.

gottaluvit

If Colin can cross party lines … why not Hillary?

I wish she would just come out and do it. Her, Bill and Chelsea. Now that would be a wake up call!
doc99

Andrea Mitchell Busted.

typewriterstreaming

Okay, that is beyond disgusting. Andrea Mitchell should go back to Middle Earth from whence she came. That is an outrage. How much did Obama pay MSNBC and Andrea Mitchell and the lot of them?

Dawnelle

McCain Palin rally on now in OHIO
scorbs

By the way, thank you Heidi for articulating a clinton-supporter’s feelings about this obama-pandering being done, led by people like Davis. I’m an Independent voter who pulls the lever for Dems year after year, and I am now going to completely rethink that after the past eight months with the obamocrats and the complete lack of support of women by the Democratic Party. And Lanny Davis is trying to get in good with the obama crowd? Forget it, that’s the last straw.
Hispana

“…the Democratic Party rigged its own nomination process and PICKED a candidate rather than ELECTING one. ”

Dead on accurate
socalannie

Kick ass article!!! Thank you Dr. Feldman!
Boxer Mum 06

I heard Biden talking last night. Not sure where or what all was about but one thing really struck me.

He went on and on about a scenerio with his mom when he was a young boy and wanted to hang with the boys on the street corner.

He said his mom said ‘joey, you are who you hang with’ or something to that effect.

He then went on to say: if it looks like a duck, talks like a duck.. it’s a duck.

Damn, I thought he was referring to Obama and all of his associations with Wright, Ayers, Phelger, ACORN, etc.. the list is long.

Also just heard a shout out to the PUMAS on Hannity show. A woman (said she was a conservative and not a PUMA) was complimenting our efforts and proud that we are able to put country first!

socalannie

omg! Maybe Credit Card Joe really is trying to throw the election. He sounds crazier by the day. Do you have a link?

Boxer Mum 06

http://newmexicoindependent.com/5649/biden-rallies-southern-nm-voters-for-obama

here’s a link but no video feed.

Biden had harsh words for McCain as he sought to link the Republican presidential nominee to Bush. He cited McCain’s desire to extend the Bush tax cuts as an example of how the two are similar and said McCain wants to expand tax cuts for the wealthy. Obama, on the other hand, wants to let the Bush tax cuts expire and instead give the 95 percent of Americans who aren’t the wealthiest a tax cut, Biden said.

“If it looks like a duck, if it quacks like a duck, if it walks like a duck, it’s a duck,” Biden said in comparing McCain to Bush.

Boxer Mum 06

Notice how he makes the association comparison – McCain to Bush is ok but no way when it comes to Obama’s associations?

What a double standard – sometimes, I really wonder if they ever think about what they argue.

http://firefox McAnnie Carmel Baracuda

Lanny is for sale to the highest bidder…exactly as the other former Hillary “Spokespersons.” Everytime I see one of these backstabbers (they stabbed us) on one of the networks, they make it onto my list of political BS’ers. Oh, you used to work for Hillary? Where’s the remote? And I can’t agree with Hillary supporting this thug either. If she ever does run again, I’ll have to do some serious thinking about it. You know there’s something about that “Be true to yourself” thing…Somehow Sarah seems to measure up on that part.

http://medusa2.wordpress.com Medusa

Perfectly said Heidi Li. Thank you. Lanny Davis and the other twits who remain clueless about a very large group of citizens of this country can take a flying leap. I’m sick of the lot of them.

http://firefox McAnnie Carmel Baracuda

Do not be discouraged by the polls , the MSM use those to break your spirit…remember Hillary in New Hampshire???

She and McCain were told by the MSM they were done, and they both won big…bigger than any poll predicted.

Keep the Faith, and continue to work to defeat BO.

Thanks, Ford. We need daily reminders of this due to the constant barrage of MSM BS.

And, remember how stunned the Obamacrats were? Hahahaha, typical example of believing your own press. I wish them shock and awe when McCain/Palin are declared the new President and Vice President on 11/4.
Undercover Black

Heidi Heidi Heidi… Did neither Sen. Clinton nor her campaign handlers realize that the Democratic nomination isn’t determined by “popular vote”? If they didn’t realize that, then they were too dumb to win.

So… why do you keep bringing up the “popular vote”?

AnninCA

Well, we did have this crazy idea that our super delegates would pay attention to how she won the key states, how she led in the popular vote, how she had a terrific platform, real experience, a record to review.

But, you’re right. We were sort of dumb. We hadn’t realized it was coming down to money, as in who paid them off.

Undercover Black

AnninCA, I’m not saying you — or anyone else who supported Hillary Clinton — was dumb. But hasn’t the past month proven that the superdelegates were right to line up behind Obama? He’s raising more money than any candidate in history… he’s drawing bigger crowds than any candidate in history… and he’s on the verge of a strong victory.

Sen. Clinton simply could not have inspired this degree of enthusiasm in the electorate. The Democratic primary and caucus process worked the way it was intended to work. It led to the selection of a winning candidate.

AnninCA

We’ll see. I’m not convinced he’ll win yet. As for the money? That’s a shameful chapter in our history. We were for fair politics once, remember? We were against buying elections.

He’s not aroused enthusiasm from Hill supporters. Those going for him are doing so reluctantly.

I KNOW I would have never even investigated McCain had it not been for the DNC and the way the SD’s ignored the momentum SHE amassed.

But, having said that, it doesn’t matter. I have discovered I’m quite comfortable with the Republican perspective.

I’ve switched parties.

http://tdg.typepad.com/heidi_lis_potpourri/ Heidi Li

Thank you all for kind comments on the post and even more for sharing your own ideas and elaborations. To me, the best part of this wretched political moment is that it has fostered more of us to share more of our ideas with one another – and that’s the way a movement begins.
JRM

McAnnie Carmel Baracuda, you are exactly right. Lanny, just like the gutless Bill Richardson, was for sale. Lost all respect for Lanny after reading his article a month or so ago about how he had to “go through a 12 step program” process to come around to the Jelly Man. Yeah right. Twelve step program in about 12 hours? Give me a break. Thought he was a thoughtful and honest individual. But there I go thinking again…
MP98

Latest poll (FOX) shows 88% Dems for Osama (oops Obama).

Where did all these PUMA’s go?
Or,
did they ever exist?
Sassy

The support of Senator Clinton by the likes of Davis was so lame and shallow it was disgraceful.
I was really into her campaign, and I always liked hearing President Clinton speak, but I am no longer a member of their party! Never again!
Once they went over to the BO side, our relationship ended, big time and permanently!
what?

I think the post addresses some issues folks are concerned about but it also puts a whole lot of words in Mr. Davis’ mouth. He was calling the punditry to account for their stupidity, viciousness and smears. He was also restating their false arguments to knock them down.
http://nobloodforhubris.blogspot.com No Blood for Hubris

So why do you think Hillary Clinton is spending so much time campaigning for Obama?

You think she’s been brainwashed? Or is merely deluded?

Has your vaunted respect for her somehow suddenly vanished?

What’s up with that?