Just scanning First Read right now and I am struck by the two Clinton stories at the top.
#1) Hillary starts crying talking about how hard she works to help people
#2) Bill gets interrupted by a cell phone call from Hillary who says she is not entitled to the Presidency
I have actually been scrummin' it up a bit over on Blue Hampshire giving my two cents for why Hillary does feel entitled to the Presidency as evidenced by her attitude and body language on the stump and in the debates, and her campaign's sleazy tactics against her Democratic opponents.
These two ruses by the Clinton campaign spell out pretty perfectly why I don't want them back in the White House.
For starters, they have pulled so much bullshit this campaign that I can't even trust Hillary when she chokes up. How perfect? She comes across as nasty and aggressive in the debates, awww, and now she is getting emotional about helping people. See, guys, she's not so mean, after all!
Next, another human moment with Bill (they spontaneously love each other! Yay!) Yeah, right, like she didn't know he was in a meeting of supporters. What a crock. And the first thing out of his mouth, Oh, by the way, people, she isn't entitled. Listen to what I say.
That is the problem with the Clintons. They have forced me (and so many of us) into a pigeonhole where I can't help but think that every single thing that they do is scripted to show a poll-tested point. Whether that is true or not (and I believe that it is true) it is exactly why it is time for a Change, at the very least in last names of the President.
P.S. Iraq.
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hillary Clinton. Show all posts
Monday, January 7, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
As Iowa Burns
Old Town Tac, WA -
Bill Clinton Whines. Poor Bill is looking for some FOX-styled fair and balanced coverage of his gal Hill.
Except, of course, get ready for some straight up MUD. Drugs? Race? Experience? Ears? It's all on the table. We're about to find out in these next two weeks just how badly America wants change.
Reminds me of Chris Rock. I can't find the transcript, but in one of his comedy bits he was talking about black people in the 'hood blaming the media for why it is a bad place to live. I'll paraphrase "'It ain't us, its the media! The media has distorted our image!' Well when I'm in the hood, I ain't afraid of gettin' robbed by the media."
Well that reminds me of another Chris Rock line.
"That shit wasn't about race... that shit was about fame. If O.J. wasn't famous he'd be in jail right now. If O.J. drove a bus, he wouldn't even be O.J. He'd be Orenthal the bus driving murderer."
Well if Hillary Clinton wasn't married to Bill she would be Ms. Rodham the war-baiting, election-losing lawyer. Fairness is a two-way street, Bill.
Let's face it, Chris Rock was the sage of the 1990s.
Bill Clinton Whines. Poor Bill is looking for some FOX-styled fair and balanced coverage of his gal Hill.
"I think we can change [the tone of campaigns] as long as you have access to information by people who are committed to judging everybody by the same set of rules and following the same set of rules," he said. "According to the most recent media analysis, that’s not what’s happened so far, but yeah, I think it should be done."
"Nobody would like it better than us if you could get that personal vilification out of there, because nobody’s been vilified more than we have,"
Except, of course, get ready for some straight up MUD. Drugs? Race? Experience? Ears? It's all on the table. We're about to find out in these next two weeks just how badly America wants change.
Reminds me of Chris Rock. I can't find the transcript, but in one of his comedy bits he was talking about black people in the 'hood blaming the media for why it is a bad place to live. I'll paraphrase "'It ain't us, its the media! The media has distorted our image!' Well when I'm in the hood, I ain't afraid of gettin' robbed by the media."
Well that reminds me of another Chris Rock line.
"That shit wasn't about race... that shit was about fame. If O.J. wasn't famous he'd be in jail right now. If O.J. drove a bus, he wouldn't even be O.J. He'd be Orenthal the bus driving murderer."
Well if Hillary Clinton wasn't married to Bill she would be Ms. Rodham the war-baiting, election-losing lawyer. Fairness is a two-way street, Bill.
Let's face it, Chris Rock was the sage of the 1990s.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Obama Press Conference on Negative Campaigning
Concord, NH –
The Obama campaign held a press conference this morning at their Concord office to talk about the recent charges of negative attacks by the Clinton campaign, more specifically stemming from the incident yesterday involving Clinton’s NH co-chair Bill Shaheen’s remarks about Obama’s past drug use and the implication that Obama may have also distributed drugs at the time.
Two of Obama’s own state co-chairs, Ned Helms and state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, were on hand to deliver remarks about the issue and take questions from the handful of reporters crammed into the Eagle Square office.
“Now is not the time to return to old politics,” Helms asserted, as he charged the Clinton campaign with resorting to character attacks instead of real policy disagreements congruent with Obama’s recent rise in the polls in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
“They have moved from looking at his kindergarten record,” Helms continued, “to reading his book” to glean information from Obama’s teenage years. “There is no place in the process for smearing character.”
Senator Clark reiterated Helms’ remarks that Obama’s campaign was successful because of his positive message. The voters, she suggested, “are looking for a President who can bring people together.”
Asked by a reporter what more the Clinton campaign could do beyond condemning the statement. Were they pushing for Shaheen to resign?
“That’s a conversation that needs to happen within the Clinton campaign,” Helms replied, before adding that they are not in the business of giving advice to rival campaigns.
Pressed further by another reporter about whether or not that meant that the Obama team believed that the Clinton campaign actually did, if not authorize, at least allow for such comments to be made.
Helms did not confirm that statement, but said “When you see a pattern,” citing the two nefarious e-mails in Iowa and now Shaheen’s remarks, “it doesn’t take a genius to see that there is a thread going on here.” He then added that at some point you just need to say enough is enough.
With that, there were to be no further comments.
The Obama campaign held a press conference this morning at their Concord office to talk about the recent charges of negative attacks by the Clinton campaign, more specifically stemming from the incident yesterday involving Clinton’s NH co-chair Bill Shaheen’s remarks about Obama’s past drug use and the implication that Obama may have also distributed drugs at the time.
Two of Obama’s own state co-chairs, Ned Helms and state Sen. Martha Fuller Clark, were on hand to deliver remarks about the issue and take questions from the handful of reporters crammed into the Eagle Square office.
“Now is not the time to return to old politics,” Helms asserted, as he charged the Clinton campaign with resorting to character attacks instead of real policy disagreements congruent with Obama’s recent rise in the polls in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
“They have moved from looking at his kindergarten record,” Helms continued, “to reading his book” to glean information from Obama’s teenage years. “There is no place in the process for smearing character.”
Senator Clark reiterated Helms’ remarks that Obama’s campaign was successful because of his positive message. The voters, she suggested, “are looking for a President who can bring people together.”
Asked by a reporter what more the Clinton campaign could do beyond condemning the statement. Were they pushing for Shaheen to resign?
“That’s a conversation that needs to happen within the Clinton campaign,” Helms replied, before adding that they are not in the business of giving advice to rival campaigns.
Pressed further by another reporter about whether or not that meant that the Obama team believed that the Clinton campaign actually did, if not authorize, at least allow for such comments to be made.
Helms did not confirm that statement, but said “When you see a pattern,” citing the two nefarious e-mails in Iowa and now Shaheen’s remarks, “it doesn’t take a genius to see that there is a thread going on here.” He then added that at some point you just need to say enough is enough.
With that, there were to be no further comments.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Wrong Turns on the Track of the Clinton Hostage Taker
**This piece was originally produced for Huffington Post's Off the Bus Project**
Somersworth, NH -
I caught wind of the Clinton office hostage situation in Rochester just after 2PM today, while the US History class I was substitute teaching half-heartedly watched a video about the Roaring 20's. My gmail inbox turned white at the top with a new item from Off the Bus asking if it were possible to get out to the scene of the crime to do a little bit of citizen journalism. I told OTB that I could be in Rochester by 4:30, and they told me to run with it.
So I picked up my laptop and my digital camera and burned rubber toward the seacoast. My editor, Neil Nagraj, was giving me updates on the story over the phone as I drove an hour due east to Rochester without a map. I was going purely on instincts, road signs and telephone directions. It was one of those afternoons.
By the time I veered off of Rte. 4 and onto US 202, it was beginning to be widely reported that a man named Troy Alan Stanley was the alleged hostage taker based on the report of a family friend given to FOX News's Carl Cameron. Whereas the original purpose of my trip was to bear witness to the growing media circus revolving the hostage situation, my new assignment was to find background on Mr. Stanley.
Just as Neil was giving me directions to turn right onto US 202A through the center of Rochester to find Stanley’s house, I hit the first of many roadblocks. Much of the town center of Rochester was cordoned off by local and state police, and sitting directly across the lane I was slated to turn on to was a police car parked perpendicularly with an office standing alongside and directing traffic away from 202A.
I hung up the phone, pulled the car over, and ran over to the officer for guidance. She directed me all the way around the city to Rochester Hill Road, where ten minutes later I would find the apartment complex where Mr. Stanley lived. I climbed the stairs to the second floor to where I was told his apartment would be, turned to my left and walked to the end of the hallway. When I finally shifted my gaze to the appropriate door, my heart dropped in my stomach. There were clear indications around Stanley’s apartment of unusual behavior. Was this the residence of America’s Most Wanted man?
I stumbled down the hallway a little ways and knocked on a door to ask some neighbors about him. Three of them were sitting together eating fish and chips and happily obliged my request for background on Mr. Stanley. Just like the media in downtown Rochester, they instantly and excitedly jumped on the Stanley guilt bandwagon. Although the neighbors asked to remain anonymous, they nevertheless bombarded me with dozens of stories about the man that I won't report here because of his innocence, but that were telltale signs of schizophrenia and potentially clear windows into the mind of the hostage taker.
As a result, everything seemed to fall into place. A tormented man with a history of lashing out at neighbors and habitually engaging in generally twisted activities fit the profile of what we were all looking for incredibly well. So well, in fact, that it seemed almost too good to be true.
"You won't believe it," I told my editor over the phone after I left the apartment building. "This guy has quite a story."
I recounted all the things that the neighbors had told me. Neil suggested I talk to the apartment managers to find out a little bit more about their tenant, possibly a photograph or a personal reference. I walked across a field, the grass just beginning to crisp with the cold evening air, and rang a doorbell. A woman answered the door.
"It's not him," she told me. "My husband was just inside the building. Stanley walked into his apartment not two minutes ago."
Not sure what to think, I returned to my car, called my editor and told him the news. "Go ask again," he told me. "Find out for sure."
Just to make sure, I went back. This time the apartment manager himself arrived at the door. He reiterated that Stanley was in his apartment as we speak, and pointed to the light on the second floor window facing the driveway. He suggested I go talk to him myself if I didn't believe him.
I thanked them for their time and walked away from the house. After all the hoopla, it turned out that the most wanted man in New Hampshire was sitting in his apartment, victim of false media reporting and fear at the hands of his friends and family. It was like an episode of Scooby Doo, and I had just spent an hour chasing a Red Herring. The most obvious answer, fueled by a mixture of storytellers from around town, isn't always the best.
With this in mind, and spurred on by a request from the HuffPo to talk to Mr. Stanley about his feelings on the widely reported accusations, I summoned the courage to walk back into the apartment building and up the stairs to Stanley's room. I thought for sure he would be angry, and potentially volatile given the nature of they hysteria from earlier in the day and the description I had been given less than a half hour earlier. How could he not be?
On the contrary, Stanley was quite calm and far from menacing. He told me had no comment on the incident, and then launched into a five minute sermon about his past. Our discussion was short only by my insistence on giving him his peace. His mental illness shone through the entire story.
On the bright side, I felt relieved that the terrible misunderstanding didn't seem to affect him, he still had the same worries on his mind that his neighbors and relatives had described. But on the other hand I was incredibly saddened at the idea that his illness was so severe that such would be the case in the first place.
Down the stairs, along the driveway and into my car, I drove back to downtown Rochester, or at least as close as I could get before the police blockade. By this time, the identity of the actual perpetrator had become news. It was a man named Leeland Eisenberg. The hostages had all been released and I could hear the police radio announcing his capture as I stood in the crosswalk next to the State Trooper who was directing traffic near the blockade.
My editor called me just then, and we discussed the next course of action. The research team back at headquarters was looking into Eisenberg's background and awaiting further news from the authorities and the other media outlets. I was resigned to walk the streets asking if anyone knew the guy, and thinking about the things that had happened so far.
At the pizzeria, in the comic book shop and on the sidewalk nobody knew anything about Eisenberg. Maybe he was from out of town. But the more I walked around, the more I gathered that most of the people in sleepy Rochester this cold winter night were media types.
Packs of television reporters scurried around doing the same thing I was doing, only more aggressively and with a bigger camera and a better dressed inquisitor at the helm. It was then that I fully realized that I was part of the media circus myself. I turned around and headed back toward my car.
On the way back there was a candlelight vigil for World AIDS Day at a church next to the police blockade. I stopped and helped them fill their white paper bags with cat litter as a counterbalance for the wind while they lit votives and placed them inside. Their event was drastically reduced in guests and stature by the hostage tragedy, but they were joyfully moving on as planned. All things go on.
Sure enough, I got a call moments later with the location of Leeland Eisenberg's home. I had a second chance to find a back story on the troubled man who had caused such an uproar in the media, and so much stress and heartache in the friends and families of the hostages.
I left Rochester driving south toward Somersworth, coincidentally right past Mr. Stanley's apartment. Mr. Eisenberg lived alongside the same exact road, a mere two and a half miles south toward Dover. By the time I arrived, after inquiring at a Dunkin Donuts and a gas station to find out exactly where Eisenberg's trailer park was located, the place was a zoo.
The scene near Eisenberg's residence just after his arrest.
The park consisted of one elbow-shaped street hardly wide enough for two cars, and yet it was stuffed with three police cruisers, two television satellite vans, four sets of camera crews, and a handful of cars parked here and there along the street. I thought it best, and most respectful, to keep the area as clear as possible so I switched the clutch over to reverse and wheeled my car around a corner to the parking lot beside an Indonesian restaurant and entered on foot.
Now at my second suspects house of the night, the locals were equally as forthcoming about their neighbor as the earlier bunch, but had no qualms about going on the record. Much to my surprise, and the television reporters beside me, their words were mostly positive. While George Isaacson, Lucie Sunkduag and Erik Carlsen all acknowledged the domestic disputes between Eisenberg and his wife, they were also quick to point out his usually sunny demeanor.
"He was a very pleasant man. It is a complete shock to me," Isaacson said.
"He was never down," noted Carlsen. "He always seemed lively and up."
Sunkduag's take was that "he always said hi. He was always well dressed when he went to the store."
When I asked about his walks to the store, I found out that they were quite frequent. Every day, in fact. And what did he get when he was there? Beer.
"I knew it wasn't the hard stuff," said Sunkduag, "because the grocery store down there only sells beer and wine. He goes there every day, nowhere else."
Carlsen observed that Leeland "was drunk 24/7."
Having picked up on this pattern of Eisenberg's lifestyle, I immediately became interested in a small detail. The mainstream media were disseminating these instant reactions to millions of people all over the world, so I figured I was best served asking around elsewhere to find out the question that all the sudden consumed me. What kind of beer did Eisenberg drink to escape his problems and fuel his domestic violence?
I asked the neighbors, but they could only testify to having seen brown paper bags. I wondered to myself, was it Bud bottles or maybe tall cans of Keystone Ice? I thanked the neighbors for their time, left them to do their live television interviews with the local and cable news reporters on the scene, and decided to head down to the local convenience store to investigate.
Under a clear, cold sky, I followed Eisenberg's nightly path. It was about a three minute walk along a busy country highway and through a car dealership over to the Maxi Mart convenience store and gas station, home to a Domino's Pizza, a standard assortment of candy and chips, and of course a cooler full of beer and a tall rack of cigarettes behind the counter.
The Maxi Mart, near Eisenberg's house
After a brief and confusing struggle to describe Mr. Eisenberg to the shop's owner, Pierre Salfini, we finally agreed that Leeland, a short, thin, mustachioed man of about fifty was both the regular customer who came by around 6PM every day as well as the man who entered the Clinton campaign office some seven hours earlier claiming to have a bomb strapped around his chest.
"I think he was in here this morning," said Ali Ghaddar, the store's co-owner, with a bemused look.
"This may sound strange," I said to Silfani. "But I want to know what kind of beer this man bought when he came in here every day."
"He always bought uh, Natural, natural…" he trailed off.
"Natty Light?" I chimed in.
"Yeah, Natural Light," Silfani recalled. "Six packs. And he smoked either Basic Menthol or Pall Mall menthols."
Ghaddar spoke up from behind. "It was Pall Mall."
"Yeah," Silfani agreed. "Pall Mall. But definitely menthols."
The store owners gave almost identical testimonies on their perception of Mr. Eisenberg as his neighbors. "He was very nice and polite. Always well dressed."
While they chatted about the odd circumstance that they habitually sold legal doses of stimulants and depressants to a man who it turns out was quite disturbed I snuck off to the back of the clean, brightly lit store. I wanted to get a look at the beer cooler. Natural Light, coincidentally, was the first beer that ever got me drunk seven years ago. I knew of its allure. Sure enough, in the lefthand corner of the bottom shelf was the tell-tale soft gray and baby blue sheen of Natural Light.
Walking back to the counter, I asked how much the Natty Light six packs went for.
"$2.99," Ghaddar told me.
"And the smokes? The Pall Malls?"
He looked back and turned to me with an ironic smile on his face. "Same price."
Eisenberg may have been one of the better dressed customers at the Maxi Mart, but he bought the cheapest beer and the cheapest cigarettes they had to offer.
As I walked out of the convenience store I found myself whistling along with the song playing on the radio, The Police's "Message in a Bottle". Just a castaway, and island lost at sea. Another lonely day, no one here but me. I can only imagine that is how it felt a lot of the time for the two men who were involved, one wrongfully and the other correctly, in today's hostage fiasco in Rochester.
Somersworth, NH -
I caught wind of the Clinton office hostage situation in Rochester just after 2PM today, while the US History class I was substitute teaching half-heartedly watched a video about the Roaring 20's. My gmail inbox turned white at the top with a new item from Off the Bus asking if it were possible to get out to the scene of the crime to do a little bit of citizen journalism. I told OTB that I could be in Rochester by 4:30, and they told me to run with it.
So I picked up my laptop and my digital camera and burned rubber toward the seacoast. My editor, Neil Nagraj, was giving me updates on the story over the phone as I drove an hour due east to Rochester without a map. I was going purely on instincts, road signs and telephone directions. It was one of those afternoons.
By the time I veered off of Rte. 4 and onto US 202, it was beginning to be widely reported that a man named Troy Alan Stanley was the alleged hostage taker based on the report of a family friend given to FOX News's Carl Cameron. Whereas the original purpose of my trip was to bear witness to the growing media circus revolving the hostage situation, my new assignment was to find background on Mr. Stanley.
Just as Neil was giving me directions to turn right onto US 202A through the center of Rochester to find Stanley’s house, I hit the first of many roadblocks. Much of the town center of Rochester was cordoned off by local and state police, and sitting directly across the lane I was slated to turn on to was a police car parked perpendicularly with an office standing alongside and directing traffic away from 202A.
I hung up the phone, pulled the car over, and ran over to the officer for guidance. She directed me all the way around the city to Rochester Hill Road, where ten minutes later I would find the apartment complex where Mr. Stanley lived. I climbed the stairs to the second floor to where I was told his apartment would be, turned to my left and walked to the end of the hallway. When I finally shifted my gaze to the appropriate door, my heart dropped in my stomach. There were clear indications around Stanley’s apartment of unusual behavior. Was this the residence of America’s Most Wanted man?
I stumbled down the hallway a little ways and knocked on a door to ask some neighbors about him. Three of them were sitting together eating fish and chips and happily obliged my request for background on Mr. Stanley. Just like the media in downtown Rochester, they instantly and excitedly jumped on the Stanley guilt bandwagon. Although the neighbors asked to remain anonymous, they nevertheless bombarded me with dozens of stories about the man that I won't report here because of his innocence, but that were telltale signs of schizophrenia and potentially clear windows into the mind of the hostage taker.
As a result, everything seemed to fall into place. A tormented man with a history of lashing out at neighbors and habitually engaging in generally twisted activities fit the profile of what we were all looking for incredibly well. So well, in fact, that it seemed almost too good to be true.
"You won't believe it," I told my editor over the phone after I left the apartment building. "This guy has quite a story."
I recounted all the things that the neighbors had told me. Neil suggested I talk to the apartment managers to find out a little bit more about their tenant, possibly a photograph or a personal reference. I walked across a field, the grass just beginning to crisp with the cold evening air, and rang a doorbell. A woman answered the door.
"It's not him," she told me. "My husband was just inside the building. Stanley walked into his apartment not two minutes ago."
Not sure what to think, I returned to my car, called my editor and told him the news. "Go ask again," he told me. "Find out for sure."
Just to make sure, I went back. This time the apartment manager himself arrived at the door. He reiterated that Stanley was in his apartment as we speak, and pointed to the light on the second floor window facing the driveway. He suggested I go talk to him myself if I didn't believe him.
I thanked them for their time and walked away from the house. After all the hoopla, it turned out that the most wanted man in New Hampshire was sitting in his apartment, victim of false media reporting and fear at the hands of his friends and family. It was like an episode of Scooby Doo, and I had just spent an hour chasing a Red Herring. The most obvious answer, fueled by a mixture of storytellers from around town, isn't always the best.
With this in mind, and spurred on by a request from the HuffPo to talk to Mr. Stanley about his feelings on the widely reported accusations, I summoned the courage to walk back into the apartment building and up the stairs to Stanley's room. I thought for sure he would be angry, and potentially volatile given the nature of they hysteria from earlier in the day and the description I had been given less than a half hour earlier. How could he not be?
On the contrary, Stanley was quite calm and far from menacing. He told me had no comment on the incident, and then launched into a five minute sermon about his past. Our discussion was short only by my insistence on giving him his peace. His mental illness shone through the entire story.
On the bright side, I felt relieved that the terrible misunderstanding didn't seem to affect him, he still had the same worries on his mind that his neighbors and relatives had described. But on the other hand I was incredibly saddened at the idea that his illness was so severe that such would be the case in the first place.
Down the stairs, along the driveway and into my car, I drove back to downtown Rochester, or at least as close as I could get before the police blockade. By this time, the identity of the actual perpetrator had become news. It was a man named Leeland Eisenberg. The hostages had all been released and I could hear the police radio announcing his capture as I stood in the crosswalk next to the State Trooper who was directing traffic near the blockade.
My editor called me just then, and we discussed the next course of action. The research team back at headquarters was looking into Eisenberg's background and awaiting further news from the authorities and the other media outlets. I was resigned to walk the streets asking if anyone knew the guy, and thinking about the things that had happened so far.
At the pizzeria, in the comic book shop and on the sidewalk nobody knew anything about Eisenberg. Maybe he was from out of town. But the more I walked around, the more I gathered that most of the people in sleepy Rochester this cold winter night were media types.
Packs of television reporters scurried around doing the same thing I was doing, only more aggressively and with a bigger camera and a better dressed inquisitor at the helm. It was then that I fully realized that I was part of the media circus myself. I turned around and headed back toward my car.
On the way back there was a candlelight vigil for World AIDS Day at a church next to the police blockade. I stopped and helped them fill their white paper bags with cat litter as a counterbalance for the wind while they lit votives and placed them inside. Their event was drastically reduced in guests and stature by the hostage tragedy, but they were joyfully moving on as planned. All things go on.
Sure enough, I got a call moments later with the location of Leeland Eisenberg's home. I had a second chance to find a back story on the troubled man who had caused such an uproar in the media, and so much stress and heartache in the friends and families of the hostages.
I left Rochester driving south toward Somersworth, coincidentally right past Mr. Stanley's apartment. Mr. Eisenberg lived alongside the same exact road, a mere two and a half miles south toward Dover. By the time I arrived, after inquiring at a Dunkin Donuts and a gas station to find out exactly where Eisenberg's trailer park was located, the place was a zoo.
The scene near Eisenberg's residence just after his arrest.Now at my second suspects house of the night, the locals were equally as forthcoming about their neighbor as the earlier bunch, but had no qualms about going on the record. Much to my surprise, and the television reporters beside me, their words were mostly positive. While George Isaacson, Lucie Sunkduag and Erik Carlsen all acknowledged the domestic disputes between Eisenberg and his wife, they were also quick to point out his usually sunny demeanor.
"He was a very pleasant man. It is a complete shock to me," Isaacson said.
"He was never down," noted Carlsen. "He always seemed lively and up."
Sunkduag's take was that "he always said hi. He was always well dressed when he went to the store."
When I asked about his walks to the store, I found out that they were quite frequent. Every day, in fact. And what did he get when he was there? Beer.
"I knew it wasn't the hard stuff," said Sunkduag, "because the grocery store down there only sells beer and wine. He goes there every day, nowhere else."
Carlsen observed that Leeland "was drunk 24/7."
Having picked up on this pattern of Eisenberg's lifestyle, I immediately became interested in a small detail. The mainstream media were disseminating these instant reactions to millions of people all over the world, so I figured I was best served asking around elsewhere to find out the question that all the sudden consumed me. What kind of beer did Eisenberg drink to escape his problems and fuel his domestic violence?
I asked the neighbors, but they could only testify to having seen brown paper bags. I wondered to myself, was it Bud bottles or maybe tall cans of Keystone Ice? I thanked the neighbors for their time, left them to do their live television interviews with the local and cable news reporters on the scene, and decided to head down to the local convenience store to investigate.
Under a clear, cold sky, I followed Eisenberg's nightly path. It was about a three minute walk along a busy country highway and through a car dealership over to the Maxi Mart convenience store and gas station, home to a Domino's Pizza, a standard assortment of candy and chips, and of course a cooler full of beer and a tall rack of cigarettes behind the counter.
The Maxi Mart, near Eisenberg's houseThere were four people behind the counter when I arrived, the two co-owners, one of their wives, and a friend. They were taking turns dealing with customers and jovially bantering with one another. Perfect, I thought. It was just the kind of welcoming family business where the habits of the regulars might be recalled with some degree of clarity, and a little bit of conversation was part of the deal every time you bellied up to the counter for a sale.
After a brief and confusing struggle to describe Mr. Eisenberg to the shop's owner, Pierre Salfini, we finally agreed that Leeland, a short, thin, mustachioed man of about fifty was both the regular customer who came by around 6PM every day as well as the man who entered the Clinton campaign office some seven hours earlier claiming to have a bomb strapped around his chest.
"I think he was in here this morning," said Ali Ghaddar, the store's co-owner, with a bemused look.
"This may sound strange," I said to Silfani. "But I want to know what kind of beer this man bought when he came in here every day."
"He always bought uh, Natural, natural…" he trailed off.
"Natty Light?" I chimed in.
"Yeah, Natural Light," Silfani recalled. "Six packs. And he smoked either Basic Menthol or Pall Mall menthols."
Ghaddar spoke up from behind. "It was Pall Mall."
"Yeah," Silfani agreed. "Pall Mall. But definitely menthols."
The store owners gave almost identical testimonies on their perception of Mr. Eisenberg as his neighbors. "He was very nice and polite. Always well dressed."
While they chatted about the odd circumstance that they habitually sold legal doses of stimulants and depressants to a man who it turns out was quite disturbed I snuck off to the back of the clean, brightly lit store. I wanted to get a look at the beer cooler. Natural Light, coincidentally, was the first beer that ever got me drunk seven years ago. I knew of its allure. Sure enough, in the lefthand corner of the bottom shelf was the tell-tale soft gray and baby blue sheen of Natural Light.
Walking back to the counter, I asked how much the Natty Light six packs went for.
"$2.99," Ghaddar told me.
"And the smokes? The Pall Malls?"
He looked back and turned to me with an ironic smile on his face. "Same price."
Eisenberg may have been one of the better dressed customers at the Maxi Mart, but he bought the cheapest beer and the cheapest cigarettes they had to offer.
As I walked out of the convenience store I found myself whistling along with the song playing on the radio, The Police's "Message in a Bottle". Just a castaway, and island lost at sea. Another lonely day, no one here but me. I can only imagine that is how it felt a lot of the time for the two men who were involved, one wrongfully and the other correctly, in today's hostage fiasco in Rochester.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
The Clinton Guarantee
Nashua, NH -
It still isn't yet winter, but the dark sky and bleak landscape on the side of the highway as I drove from Concord to Nashua at 6PM told me that it sure as hell wasn't summer. In other words, going back to my own personal 2004 metaphor, we are a hell of a lot closer to my mid-December Wes Clark visit, when a couple of hundred people stuffed themselves into the Alvirne High cafeteria to hope in vain for a Democratic Bush-beater than we are to my early-August John Edwards visit when there were a couple dozen people stopping by the City Hall steps just to see who this guy was.
Yet, when I walked into the Nashua South High gym tonight, I couldn't help but get much more of an early summer feel than I could have ever expected. The crowd, filling a half gym full of folding chairs and a few on the sides, numbered around four hundred in total, and it was a subdued four hundred. The event had neither the air of a jacked up rally, nor of a tuned-in town hall meeting.
For starters, the pop-medley playlist of a normal Clinton event was replaced with a number of mellow, almost folky songs, none of which I could recognize. The audience, a mix of middle-aged yuppies with a handful of elderly and Nashua South students tossed in, sat quietly chatting as the music softly played , appropriately framed by the light purple bleachers surrounding the gym. A couple minutes after 6:50 the music abruptly stopped and, politely and immediately, so did the chatter from the audience.
Silence now filling the room, Hillary Clinton entered from stage left. At first confused, the crowd recognized what was going on within a couple of seconds and began cheering the former First Lady as she stepped up onto the stage flanked by the school's principal and an art teacher.
The principal was the first to speak, and she did so with such a falsely elevated diction that I felt sorry for her. She was trying so hard to sound impressive to the crowd and the Senator, but was misusing words, like calling her school a “fine establishment” and otherwise sounding fake and nervous. Hey, introducing the Next President is no slouchy gig. So she handed off to the teacher who read from a prepared script previewing the tone of Hillary’s speech.
Clinton, who had lost her voice earlier in the day at a campaign stop with Bob Vila in Peterborough, stood by silently smiling with her hands neatly clasped at her waist. In front of her was a stool with a bottle of water and a mug of tea for her throat, and otherwise the small stage was bare. This time there were no prudently pre-selected supporters of mixed age, race and appearance; no podium adorned with message; just Hillary and whatever she had to say.
The first item was about the near future. "This election has to bring our country together," she said, and it was a curious sentiment coming from arguably the most divisive candidate in the race. But it came into focus a little better moments later, as it revealed itself to be a prebuttal to a veiled attack on Obama.
"Change for the sake of change isn't what we're looking for"
Instead, Clinton aims to project more meaningful change with her four stump speech R’s: Restore our reputation, Rebuild our middle class, Reform our government, Reclaim our sense of self.
After a few more minutes discussing her latest policy proposals, Clinton changed the course of her conversation back to that elusive political goldmine, change. She started in by declaring that she wouldn't just make government change, and all the sudden my ears perked up with near shock. Was Hillary Clinton, mantle-holder of the Clinton Democratic establishment, actually going to ask people to change for the good of the country?
The next line was about the oil industry, how she would give them the opportunity to change and be a part of the Clinton reform juggernaut. Same for the utilities. But no people. We weren't asked to call on ourselves and our families and friends to make better decisions. Instead the implication was to just sit back and let Hillary make everything better.
That is really the gist of the Clinton campaign. A competent doer with all the glamour, success and familiarity attached to the Clinton brand name. She takes a different approach to reform than the other candidates, framing problems positively instead of negatively, and evoking feelings of comfort and assuredness.
It reminds me of the scene in Tommy Boy where the parts buyer tells Tommy Callahan about his ingrained need for a guarantee on the box.
“I like your line. And I like your prices. But there's a problem. There's no guarantee on the box. It should always be on the box. Comforting you, calling out, ‘I'm good. I'll never let you down. But if I do, I'm gonna make all things better.”
That is the Clinton campaign in a nutshell. She has positioned herself as the guarantee on the box. She is the Ray Zalinsky of 2008.
In a way, her voice problems actually helped to solidify this image. All throughout the half hour speech, Clinton spoke at a low volume into the microphone, refraining from motivational rhetoric and loud pleas to fire up the crowd. Instead, in a hushed tone she kept the audience in a rapt state of calm just the way that a comfortable brand of cereal makes someone feel good on a sleepy morning before work. Just the way that someone can walk into a McDonalds and a Starbucks in Sandusky, OH or Nashua, NH and drink the same tasty pumpkin spice latte and eat the same glistening French fry. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
As the polls continue to show, a comforting juggernaut like that is hard to uproot. It doesn’t matter how high the negatives are for a Home Depot or a Wal-Mart, they keep churning out a massive profit by providing Americans with a recognizable, widely available, and vaguely affordable service that, on the surface, makes their lives easier.
True to form, when Clinton finished her remarks nearly half the crowd immediately stood up and headed for the exits. After all, it is what they had come to expect from Hillary Clinton. You get a speech and a few handshakes. No questions, folks.
Then, over the din, she spoke into the microphone and with a fragile voice announced that she would take a few questions from the audience. Surprised, and maybe even a little relieved, everyone made their way back into the gym, this time mostly milling around near the back instead of trying to find their old seats.
Still a little confused, no hands raised for the first few seconds, then one, then two, then a few more. Clinton called on a young girl who asked if she would help global warming. Then an older man asked her something bland about foreign policy. Already nearly 8PM, and with a full night of writing, an hour drive, and an early morning wake up call ahead of me, I skipped out after the second softball question.
A few days later, in light of the Iowa plant scandal, I couldn’t help but wonder about the timing and the timidity of the Q&A session in Nashua.
But when you are dealing with the high stakes world of the Presidency led by the juggernaut branding machine of Mark Penn, efficient and effective strategies like audience plants are to be expected. They are also the sort of rot that can take down a massive tree from the inside. Tommy Callahan puts it better than I can.
“Here’s how I see it. A guy puts a guarantee on the box ’cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside. [But] all they sold you was a guaranteed piece of shit. That’s all it is. Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for right now, for your sake, for your daughter’s sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality item from me.”
Everyone in the Democratic primary knows and loves the Clinton name. It really does make a lot of the voters fell warm inside and in politics, that warmth is like gold. But like the old Latin phrase goes, caveat emptor. That slick and familiar Clinton label looks pretty good in the store window, but the voters will do themselves a favor to really take a look and make sure they’re not just buying a guaranteed piece of shit.
It still isn't yet winter, but the dark sky and bleak landscape on the side of the highway as I drove from Concord to Nashua at 6PM told me that it sure as hell wasn't summer. In other words, going back to my own personal 2004 metaphor, we are a hell of a lot closer to my mid-December Wes Clark visit, when a couple of hundred people stuffed themselves into the Alvirne High cafeteria to hope in vain for a Democratic Bush-beater than we are to my early-August John Edwards visit when there were a couple dozen people stopping by the City Hall steps just to see who this guy was.
Yet, when I walked into the Nashua South High gym tonight, I couldn't help but get much more of an early summer feel than I could have ever expected. The crowd, filling a half gym full of folding chairs and a few on the sides, numbered around four hundred in total, and it was a subdued four hundred. The event had neither the air of a jacked up rally, nor of a tuned-in town hall meeting.
For starters, the pop-medley playlist of a normal Clinton event was replaced with a number of mellow, almost folky songs, none of which I could recognize. The audience, a mix of middle-aged yuppies with a handful of elderly and Nashua South students tossed in, sat quietly chatting as the music softly played , appropriately framed by the light purple bleachers surrounding the gym. A couple minutes after 6:50 the music abruptly stopped and, politely and immediately, so did the chatter from the audience.
Silence now filling the room, Hillary Clinton entered from stage left. At first confused, the crowd recognized what was going on within a couple of seconds and began cheering the former First Lady as she stepped up onto the stage flanked by the school's principal and an art teacher.
The principal was the first to speak, and she did so with such a falsely elevated diction that I felt sorry for her. She was trying so hard to sound impressive to the crowd and the Senator, but was misusing words, like calling her school a “fine establishment” and otherwise sounding fake and nervous. Hey, introducing the Next President is no slouchy gig. So she handed off to the teacher who read from a prepared script previewing the tone of Hillary’s speech.
Clinton, who had lost her voice earlier in the day at a campaign stop with Bob Vila in Peterborough, stood by silently smiling with her hands neatly clasped at her waist. In front of her was a stool with a bottle of water and a mug of tea for her throat, and otherwise the small stage was bare. This time there were no prudently pre-selected supporters of mixed age, race and appearance; no podium adorned with message; just Hillary and whatever she had to say.
The first item was about the near future. "This election has to bring our country together," she said, and it was a curious sentiment coming from arguably the most divisive candidate in the race. But it came into focus a little better moments later, as it revealed itself to be a prebuttal to a veiled attack on Obama.
"Change for the sake of change isn't what we're looking for"
Instead, Clinton aims to project more meaningful change with her four stump speech R’s: Restore our reputation, Rebuild our middle class, Reform our government, Reclaim our sense of self.
After a few more minutes discussing her latest policy proposals, Clinton changed the course of her conversation back to that elusive political goldmine, change. She started in by declaring that she wouldn't just make government change, and all the sudden my ears perked up with near shock. Was Hillary Clinton, mantle-holder of the Clinton Democratic establishment, actually going to ask people to change for the good of the country?
The next line was about the oil industry, how she would give them the opportunity to change and be a part of the Clinton reform juggernaut. Same for the utilities. But no people. We weren't asked to call on ourselves and our families and friends to make better decisions. Instead the implication was to just sit back and let Hillary make everything better.
That is really the gist of the Clinton campaign. A competent doer with all the glamour, success and familiarity attached to the Clinton brand name. She takes a different approach to reform than the other candidates, framing problems positively instead of negatively, and evoking feelings of comfort and assuredness.
It reminds me of the scene in Tommy Boy where the parts buyer tells Tommy Callahan about his ingrained need for a guarantee on the box.
“I like your line. And I like your prices. But there's a problem. There's no guarantee on the box. It should always be on the box. Comforting you, calling out, ‘I'm good. I'll never let you down. But if I do, I'm gonna make all things better.”
That is the Clinton campaign in a nutshell. She has positioned herself as the guarantee on the box. She is the Ray Zalinsky of 2008.
In a way, her voice problems actually helped to solidify this image. All throughout the half hour speech, Clinton spoke at a low volume into the microphone, refraining from motivational rhetoric and loud pleas to fire up the crowd. Instead, in a hushed tone she kept the audience in a rapt state of calm just the way that a comfortable brand of cereal makes someone feel good on a sleepy morning before work. Just the way that someone can walk into a McDonalds and a Starbucks in Sandusky, OH or Nashua, NH and drink the same tasty pumpkin spice latte and eat the same glistening French fry. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
As the polls continue to show, a comforting juggernaut like that is hard to uproot. It doesn’t matter how high the negatives are for a Home Depot or a Wal-Mart, they keep churning out a massive profit by providing Americans with a recognizable, widely available, and vaguely affordable service that, on the surface, makes their lives easier.
True to form, when Clinton finished her remarks nearly half the crowd immediately stood up and headed for the exits. After all, it is what they had come to expect from Hillary Clinton. You get a speech and a few handshakes. No questions, folks.
Then, over the din, she spoke into the microphone and with a fragile voice announced that she would take a few questions from the audience. Surprised, and maybe even a little relieved, everyone made their way back into the gym, this time mostly milling around near the back instead of trying to find their old seats.
Still a little confused, no hands raised for the first few seconds, then one, then two, then a few more. Clinton called on a young girl who asked if she would help global warming. Then an older man asked her something bland about foreign policy. Already nearly 8PM, and with a full night of writing, an hour drive, and an early morning wake up call ahead of me, I skipped out after the second softball question.
A few days later, in light of the Iowa plant scandal, I couldn’t help but wonder about the timing and the timidity of the Q&A session in Nashua.
But when you are dealing with the high stakes world of the Presidency led by the juggernaut branding machine of Mark Penn, efficient and effective strategies like audience plants are to be expected. They are also the sort of rot that can take down a massive tree from the inside. Tommy Callahan puts it better than I can.
“Here’s how I see it. A guy puts a guarantee on the box ’cause he wants you to feel all warm and toasty inside. [But] all they sold you was a guaranteed piece of shit. That’s all it is. Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for right now, for your sake, for your daughter’s sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality item from me.”
Everyone in the Democratic primary knows and loves the Clinton name. It really does make a lot of the voters fell warm inside and in politics, that warmth is like gold. But like the old Latin phrase goes, caveat emptor. That slick and familiar Clinton label looks pretty good in the store window, but the voters will do themselves a favor to really take a look and make sure they’re not just buying a guaranteed piece of shit.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
1984, 2004, 2008?
Portsmouth, NH -
I just caught this nugget about Clinton using plants at her Iowa events. Busted!
That, my friends, is some George W. Bush shit. And based on the softballs coming from youngsters in Nashua on Thursday, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the plantings were going down in the Granite State, as well.
"Umm, are you going to do anything to stop global warming?"
"Ahh, thanks, Suzy, for asking such an important question!"
Ready for Change?
Questionable.
I just caught this nugget about Clinton using plants at her Iowa events. Busted!
The story was first reported by Patrick Caldwell, a junior at Grinnell College and the features editor of The Scarlet and Black college newspaper. He reported that student Muriel Gallo-Chasanoff was approached by the campaign to ask a question. She told the reporter that "they wanted a question from a college student." She also said that she "noted that staffers prompted Clinton to call on her and another who had been approached before the event
That, my friends, is some George W. Bush shit. And based on the softballs coming from youngsters in Nashua on Thursday, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the plantings were going down in the Granite State, as well.
"Umm, are you going to do anything to stop global warming?"
"Ahh, thanks, Suzy, for asking such an important question!"
Ready for Change?
Questionable.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Rock Solid
Snow Pond, NH -
I was looking through some old Chris Rock material tonight to back up a point I was making when I came across this nugget from 1999's Bigger and Blacker, which is probably the greatest stand-up performance of my generation. Witness Rock wax truthful on Hillary, sex, homophobia and war. Hell, with wisdom like this, he should be President.
I was looking through some old Chris Rock material tonight to back up a point I was making when I came across this nugget from 1999's Bigger and Blacker, which is probably the greatest stand-up performance of my generation. Witness Rock wax truthful on Hillary, sex, homophobia and war. Hell, with wisdom like this, he should be President.
See, this whole Monica Lewinsky scandal, a lot of this
shit is Hillary's fault. That's right, I said it. I said
it. It had to be said. Somebody got to say it.
Everybody's like, "Hillary's a hero."
No, she ain't. Aquaman's a hero. He can talk to the fishes.
What the fuck can Hillary do? A lot of this shit is
Hillary's fault, 'cause, ladies, you know your man.
You know your man better than he knows himself. You know
what kind of man you got.
You know if you got the crazy, need-a-blowjob-all-the-time
man. So sometimes you gotta save your man from himself. So
you know what happens if he don't get his medicine.
So Hillary Clinton put us all in danger. She put the
security of the free world in jeopardy, and she needs to
suffer the consequences for her actions.
That's right, she's the First Lady. She's supposed to be
the first one on her knees to suck his dick!
Shit!
That's right. Monica Lewinsky shouldn't have even stood a
chance.
Hillary's supposed to already be down there like, "Hey, I
got it. I've got it. I got the dick! Tickle his ass, or
something. Yeah, grab a ball, make yourself useful."
And they always been on Clinton. Before any of this
happened, they was on Clinton.
What was they on him for?
Gays in the military. Everybody says, "Don't let them in!"
If they wanna fight, let them fight, 'cause I ain't
fighting. I wouldn't give a fuck if I saw a Russian tank
rolling down Flatbush Avenue. I ain't shooting nobody. So
call me a faggot. When the war is over, I'll be the faggot
with two legs, thank you.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
But Will It Play in Skaneateles?
Snow Pond, NH -
Or for that matter, Punxsutawney.
For this Sunday's must-read column we're taking a break from Frank Rich and heading south to the Washington Post. They have a great feature this week on the Hillary Clinton upstate New York theory, and its potential flaws. Whenever I have seen the Clintons on the stump, Bill has always talked about Hillary's overwhelming victories in Republican-leaning Upstate New York. Taken at face value, it is a pretty convincing argument that Hillary moved from a 3-point deficit in 2000 to at 61% take of the Upstate vote in her re-election bid.
What the campaign doesn't say is that Gore outpolled her Upstate in 2000 before she was able to pork barrel her way into their favor, and both Chuck Schumer (72%) and Elliot Spitzer (69%) have won their recent statewide elections with more votes than Hillary (67%).
In other words, she's hardly the rural juggernaut her campaign is making her out to be, especially since her 2006 opponent was, in the words of Dick Vitale, cupcake city, baby! Dennis Kucinich probably could have been elected Senator in New York in '06 if he was facing John Spencer.
In fact, the article quotes same backyard Upstaters that Clinton has so cheerily adopted have the same concerns about her character that everyone else has.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying she's unelectable. I think she can do it if she makes the general. But it won't be by winning over kindly dairy farmers and GOP-leaning rural business leaders. She'll win it by doing things like raising nearly five times more from military contractors than any other Democrat, and almost double any Republican.
But its not just her, they've given more to Dems this time than to GOPers. And if there is one thing we know about the Military-Industrial complex, it is that they like to win. And if there is another thing we know about them, it is that they resemble Borat's sister in they both a-like to make MONEY!
I understand that people who work for weapons makers and lobbyists are "real people" who have the right to make political donations, but if I was a Democrat I would do my darnedest to make sure that my candidates would actually be able to distinguish themselves from the "real people" who pull the purse strings in Washington to the "real people" in the rural swing states who make the decisions to put the candidates in office.
Or for that matter, Punxsutawney.
For this Sunday's must-read column we're taking a break from Frank Rich and heading south to the Washington Post. They have a great feature this week on the Hillary Clinton upstate New York theory, and its potential flaws. Whenever I have seen the Clintons on the stump, Bill has always talked about Hillary's overwhelming victories in Republican-leaning Upstate New York. Taken at face value, it is a pretty convincing argument that Hillary moved from a 3-point deficit in 2000 to at 61% take of the Upstate vote in her re-election bid.
What the campaign doesn't say is that Gore outpolled her Upstate in 2000 before she was able to pork barrel her way into their favor, and both Chuck Schumer (72%) and Elliot Spitzer (69%) have won their recent statewide elections with more votes than Hillary (67%).
In other words, she's hardly the rural juggernaut her campaign is making her out to be, especially since her 2006 opponent was, in the words of Dick Vitale, cupcake city, baby! Dennis Kucinich probably could have been elected Senator in New York in '06 if he was facing John Spencer.
In fact, the article quotes same backyard Upstaters that Clinton has so cheerily adopted have the same concerns about her character that everyone else has.
"I don't like her. I don't think she's honest," said Jim Morelli, a construction equipment salesman.
"I'm not a fan at all. She shifts a lot of her policies depending on what the question is," said Wendy Leffler, a development officer with a hospice care agency. "I don't feel her values are consistent."
Wait, do you mean shifting policies like voting for Kyl-Liebermann one day, and then latching on to Jim Webb to water it down the next?Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying she's unelectable. I think she can do it if she makes the general. But it won't be by winning over kindly dairy farmers and GOP-leaning rural business leaders. She'll win it by doing things like raising nearly five times more from military contractors than any other Democrat, and almost double any Republican.
But its not just her, they've given more to Dems this time than to GOPers. And if there is one thing we know about the Military-Industrial complex, it is that they like to win. And if there is another thing we know about them, it is that they resemble Borat's sister in they both a-like to make MONEY!
I understand that people who work for weapons makers and lobbyists are "real people" who have the right to make political donations, but if I was a Democrat I would do my darnedest to make sure that my candidates would actually be able to distinguish themselves from the "real people" who pull the purse strings in Washington to the "real people" in the rural swing states who make the decisions to put the candidates in office.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Goo Goo for Hill
Snow Pond, NH -
This from the Clinton Camp today:
Just 20 bucks to see the Goo Goo Dolls, Mary Steenburgen and Terry McAuliffe?? It's 1995 all over again! At least, that's what the Clinton campaign wants us to believe.
I also find it hilarious that McAuliffe is headlining an event aimed at women. What a snake! And is Johnny Rzeznik even hot anymore? He's gotta be pushing 45.
Considering GGD is headlining a Hillary event (where you at, Celine?) shouldn't this have been the campaign theme song? They are from Buffalo! Sure seems like it to me...
Scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you get to be a star
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are
You grew up way too fast
And now there's nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell em your name
I think about you all the time
But I don't need the same
It's lonely where you are come back down
And I won't tell em your name
This from the Clinton Camp today:
Hillary Clinton will visit Boston for a Club44 “Make History” low-dollar fundraiser next week at the city’s historic Symphony Hall. The Goo Goo Dolls will headline the Club44 event, part of the campaign’s effort to engage women to make history by electing Hillary our 44th president.
The event will be emceed by actress Mary Steenburgen and Campaign Chairman Terry McAuliffe and will feature other live entertainment, including an a cappella group from Wellesley College, Hillary’s alma mater.
Admission to the Club 44 event starts at $20 per person.
Just 20 bucks to see the Goo Goo Dolls, Mary Steenburgen and Terry McAuliffe?? It's 1995 all over again! At least, that's what the Clinton campaign wants us to believe.
I also find it hilarious that McAuliffe is headlining an event aimed at women. What a snake! And is Johnny Rzeznik even hot anymore? He's gotta be pushing 45.
Considering GGD is headlining a Hillary event (where you at, Celine?) shouldn't this have been the campaign theme song? They are from Buffalo! Sure seems like it to me...
Scars are souvenirs you never lose
The past is never far
Did you lose yourself somewhere out there
Did you get to be a star
And don't it make you sad to know that life
Is more than who we are
You grew up way too fast
And now there's nothing to believe
And reruns all become our history
A tired song keeps playing on a tired radio
And I won't tell no one your name
And I won't tell em your name
I think about you all the time
But I don't need the same
It's lonely where you are come back down
And I won't tell em your name
I guess old rock stars never lose their glam.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Ads and Disguised Attacks
Snow Pond, NH -
The Clinton campaign has unleashed a new ad today, set to air in both New Hampshire and Iowa called Stand By Us. It is potentially controversial because it includes footage of Ground Zero within a general discussion of Clinton's health care record. Hillary's campaign seems to have deftly maneuvered around the 9/11 politicization bullet because of the health care thing. I know I found it pretty distasteful when Bush did the 9/11 ad back in '04, but this time around should be different. You never hear of Clinton trying to over expose that event, so she should get the kind of breathing room that a brow beater like Rudy wouldn't.
Speaking of which, Ben Smith at Politico gives a good analysis on how this message both helps Clinton and hurts Giuliani, who is ripe for criticism over what looks like an iceberg-type problem of relief worker health issues, growing by the day. Though I think he is slightly off the mark when he speaks of the aim toward her Democratic rivals. Here is what Smith says:
Listen to what Edwards said that the debate last week:
Clinton: "Which one do you think will never back down?"
This subtly challenges Edwards on the perception that he has changed his mind too many times. Where was he on health care back in the 90s? Where was he on Iraq in 2002? Clinton wants to be seen as the steadfast Democrat. That may hurt her on Iraq, where Edwards has repeatedly pounded her on not admitting her mistake. But it could be very helpful on issues like health care, where her record is potentially longer and stronger than her main rivals.
In the street it might sound like this.
Edwards: "I'm the man on this now. Ask somebody."
Clinton: "Yo, I don't care where you at, son. Where you been? 'Cuz I been with the 9-11 workers and the children. Now what?"
All I'm saying, until Obama proves that he'll take it to Clinton, she'll be taking it to Edwards and trying to stomp on the sapling before it becomes a tree. Thats how you win in politics. We'll see how spiny Edwards' branches are, and if they are sharp enough to hurt Clinton's tender footsteps. It ain't out of the question, folks.
Since we are talking about commercials, how 'bout this classic. Got Milk?
The Clinton campaign has unleashed a new ad today, set to air in both New Hampshire and Iowa called Stand By Us. It is potentially controversial because it includes footage of Ground Zero within a general discussion of Clinton's health care record. Hillary's campaign seems to have deftly maneuvered around the 9/11 politicization bullet because of the health care thing. I know I found it pretty distasteful when Bush did the 9/11 ad back in '04, but this time around should be different. You never hear of Clinton trying to over expose that event, so she should get the kind of breathing room that a brow beater like Rudy wouldn't.
Speaking of which, Ben Smith at Politico gives a good analysis on how this message both helps Clinton and hurts Giuliani, who is ripe for criticism over what looks like an iceberg-type problem of relief worker health issues, growing by the day. Though I think he is slightly off the mark when he speaks of the aim toward her Democratic rivals. Here is what Smith says:
ALSO: Two digs. Standing by the 9/11 workers is a shot at Rudy, who bears some of the blame for the failure to enforce safety standards at Ground Zero; and when she says that "almost every candidate is standing up for health care for all," that does sound like a dig at Obama.The basis, of course, comes from the argument that Obama's plan is not truly universal. But I think it is more of a swipe at John Edwards, who I believe may be the opponent the Clinton campaign fears the most because of his southern roots and the fact that he is the one taking the most pointed shots at Hillary.
Listen to what Edwards said that the debate last week:
What is clear from this presidential campaign is I was the first presidential candidate -- others have followed me now, and that's a good thing --good thing for America.
But I was the first presidential candidate to lay out a specific, truly universal health care plan. And the one thing I can tell you is anybody who knows me -- anybody who knows me knows I will never give up.
What happened in '93 and '94 is that we didn't get universal health care, but we got NAFTA. And when I'm president of the United States, you have my word, I will never pull the universal health care bill. I will put everything I have behind making sure that it's enacted.
And here is what Hillary's ad says:
Hillary stood up for universal health care when almost no one else would, and kept standing until six million kids had coverage. She stood by Ground Zero workers who sacrificed their health after so many sacrificed their lives, and kept standing until this administration took action. She stood by our National Guard and Reserve and kept standing until they received health care they deserved. So now that almost every candidate is standing up for health care for all, which one do you think will never back down?
Clinton: "Which one do you think will never back down?"
This subtly challenges Edwards on the perception that he has changed his mind too many times. Where was he on health care back in the 90s? Where was he on Iraq in 2002? Clinton wants to be seen as the steadfast Democrat. That may hurt her on Iraq, where Edwards has repeatedly pounded her on not admitting her mistake. But it could be very helpful on issues like health care, where her record is potentially longer and stronger than her main rivals.
In the street it might sound like this.
Edwards: "I'm the man on this now. Ask somebody."
Clinton: "Yo, I don't care where you at, son. Where you been? 'Cuz I been with the 9-11 workers and the children. Now what?"
All I'm saying, until Obama proves that he'll take it to Clinton, she'll be taking it to Edwards and trying to stomp on the sapling before it becomes a tree. Thats how you win in politics. We'll see how spiny Edwards' branches are, and if they are sharp enough to hurt Clinton's tender footsteps. It ain't out of the question, folks.
Since we are talking about commercials, how 'bout this classic. Got Milk?
Monday, September 24, 2007
Inslee In Dee House
Manchester, NH -
Rep. Jay Inslee, Democrat of Washington's 1st District which covers such illustrious locales as Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Mukilteo and Woodinville, was in the Granite State this past Saturday on a tour of New Hampshire's best examples of renewable energy and sustainable living. He started his morning in LEED certified Langdon Woods dormitory at Plymouth State University, followed by a lunchtime stop to see New Hampshire Community Tech's Energy Services and Technology Program that specializes in solar paneling and energy analysis, and finally a buzz through Jaffrey's New England Wood Pellet manufacturing plant.
I joined the Congressman at PSU (obviously) then went home to catch up on all the political I missed when I was down in Quabbin Qountry before re-joining him for a review of the day in Manchester along with fifteen potential supporters and a couple of my fellow media wizards, including the indispensable Cosmo and a New Hampshire newcomer from NBC.
It was a small room, so the reporters were shoved in the window bay with yours truly arriving the most fashionably late and taking the furthest back position next to the window. It was also next to the air conditioner, providing a nice autumn chill for me, and enough breeze to vibrate my pant leg and set off a false cell phone alarm more than twice. I couldn't have been happier.
Rep. Jay Inslee, Democrat of Washington's 1st District which covers such illustrious locales as Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, Mukilteo and Woodinville, was in the Granite State this past Saturday on a tour of New Hampshire's best examples of renewable energy and sustainable living. He started his morning in LEED certified Langdon Woods dormitory at Plymouth State University, followed by a lunchtime stop to see New Hampshire Community Tech's Energy Services and Technology Program that specializes in solar paneling and energy analysis, and finally a buzz through Jaffrey's New England Wood Pellet manufacturing plant.
I joined the Congressman at PSU (obviously) then went home to catch up on all the political I missed when I was down in Quabbin Qountry before re-joining him for a review of the day in Manchester along with fifteen potential supporters and a couple of my fellow media wizards, including the indispensable Cosmo and a New Hampshire newcomer from NBC.
It was a small room, so the reporters were shoved in the window bay with yours truly arriving the most fashionably late and taking the furthest back position next to the window. It was also next to the air conditioner, providing a nice autumn chill for me, and enough breeze to vibrate my pant leg and set off a false cell phone alarm more than twice. I couldn't have been happier.
Inslee began his talk with nothing but superlatives for all of the places he had seen, and pledged to brag about them as he traveled the country.
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) contemplates sustainability
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) contemplates sustainabilityBut here in Manchester Inslee's purpose was to take these events and connect them, along with his own experience with sustainable energy policy, to Hillary Clinton. Inslee you see, who sits on the House Natural Resources and House Energy and Committees, is one of Clinton's national campaign co-chairs. He is also a pretty handy surrogate on issues pertaining to energy and sustainability.
After recounting his earlier visits, Inslee predicted that they would soon become part of the "clean energy revolution that's gonna sweep this nation" provided we chose the right leader to usher it in to play. Inslee suggested that such a leader would require the combination of bold, wise vision and the ability to start working on day 1 of the Presidency.
"We are lucky," he said "to have a candidate like this."
Inslee was referring, of course, to Hillary Clinton.
Speaking to her strengths as an energy leader, Inslee mostly talked about her plan to cut carbon output to 80% of current levels by 2050, and to create a $50B Green Energy Fund to invest in start-up costs and research and development for American investment in efficiency and renewable energy. While in Plymouth, he especially touted the $50B number as the PSU people mentioned the difficulty in scraping up the front-loaded costs of building new energy efficient buildings and retro-fitting old ones. Especially since, in the case of Langdon Woods, the added LEED buildings costs were recouped in energy savings in the first year of operation.
That afternoon I went home and researched the differences in the Democratic candidates, to see why Inslee was realistically hyping Clinton's plan as the best. I already knew that her 80% figure was par for the course, and a tad lower than Bill Richardson, but I was mostly curious about the Green Energy fund. Sure enough, from what I could tell there were no other numbers specific to green investment that high in the other plans. Other than that, it is clear that Inslee sees Clinton as potentially the most effective environment/energy candidate because of her perception of being able to begin instituting effective governance starting from day one of her first term.
Lord knows every day we waste without a strong plan to cut down on inefficient energy systems in our everyday lives is a knock against us in the long run. Whether or not Clinton is the best purveyor of a green future is up to each voter, but having Jay Inslee cheerily on the stump will certainly be a boon, if only to the dozen or so people who get the chance to go along for the ride.
...
Inslee has just co-authored a book, Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy, and seems genuinely excited about the prospects of clean energy even within the next few years. This is especially true on the matters of solar-thermal energy and the now functional plug-in car.
After recounting his earlier visits, Inslee predicted that they would soon become part of the "clean energy revolution that's gonna sweep this nation" provided we chose the right leader to usher it in to play. Inslee suggested that such a leader would require the combination of bold, wise vision and the ability to start working on day 1 of the Presidency.
"We are lucky," he said "to have a candidate like this."
Inslee was referring, of course, to Hillary Clinton.
Speaking to her strengths as an energy leader, Inslee mostly talked about her plan to cut carbon output to 80% of current levels by 2050, and to create a $50B Green Energy Fund to invest in start-up costs and research and development for American investment in efficiency and renewable energy. While in Plymouth, he especially touted the $50B number as the PSU people mentioned the difficulty in scraping up the front-loaded costs of building new energy efficient buildings and retro-fitting old ones. Especially since, in the case of Langdon Woods, the added LEED buildings costs were recouped in energy savings in the first year of operation.
That afternoon I went home and researched the differences in the Democratic candidates, to see why Inslee was realistically hyping Clinton's plan as the best. I already knew that her 80% figure was par for the course, and a tad lower than Bill Richardson, but I was mostly curious about the Green Energy fund. Sure enough, from what I could tell there were no other numbers specific to green investment that high in the other plans. Other than that, it is clear that Inslee sees Clinton as potentially the most effective environment/energy candidate because of her perception of being able to begin instituting effective governance starting from day one of her first term.
Lord knows every day we waste without a strong plan to cut down on inefficient energy systems in our everyday lives is a knock against us in the long run. Whether or not Clinton is the best purveyor of a green future is up to each voter, but having Jay Inslee cheerily on the stump will certainly be a boon, if only to the dozen or so people who get the chance to go along for the ride.
...
Inslee has just co-authored a book, Apollo's Fire: Igniting America's Clean Energy Economy, and seems genuinely excited about the prospects of clean energy even within the next few years. This is especially true on the matters of solar-thermal energy and the now functional plug-in car.Saturday, September 15, 2007
Clark Endorses Clinton
Wes Clark is endorsing Hillary.
I don't normally pay much attention to endorsements, but this is a special case. I remember waking up with a monster hangover back on November 3, 2004 muttering over and over to myself over eggs and hash browns at the Denver Diner that Clark would have won the election. Then again, I was looking for anything to soothe my jangled nerves at the time.
Clark is an impressive backer for any campaign. But for Hillary he is particularly helpful because he can bring some of the anti-war and veteran vote to the primary that otherwise would have gone elsewhere. Clark has a sizable following in his own right, and brings hefty military credentials to the campaign.
The road to Denver just got even rougher for Edwards and Obama (and Richardson?). Now don't go all Arizona on us, guys.
I don't normally pay much attention to endorsements, but this is a special case. I remember waking up with a monster hangover back on November 3, 2004 muttering over and over to myself over eggs and hash browns at the Denver Diner that Clark would have won the election. Then again, I was looking for anything to soothe my jangled nerves at the time.
Clark is an impressive backer for any campaign. But for Hillary he is particularly helpful because he can bring some of the anti-war and veteran vote to the primary that otherwise would have gone elsewhere. Clark has a sizable following in his own right, and brings hefty military credentials to the campaign.
The road to Denver just got even rougher for Edwards and Obama (and Richardson?). Now don't go all Arizona on us, guys.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
HRC: Everything and Everyone
Concord, NH -
The sun shone brilliantly through an incredibly blue sky in Concord Sunday afternoon, the perfect setting for a fall kickoff event. Temperatures were comfortably warm, and the podium, draped by the trees on the statehouse lawn on either side, was regally juxtaposed with a big granite gateway arch directly behind. Such was the stage set for Sylvia Larson, President of the NH State Senate, to introduce the most famous denizens of the 2007 campaign trail, Hillary and Bill Clinton. Or is it Bill and Hillary Clinton?
What better than perfect weather and scene for an afternoon with the closest to perfect political craftsmen of this election cycle, the Clinton team. The uber-couple walked down a long corridor adorned with hundreds of adoring fans. Hillary was wearing a turquoise skirt suit, and Bill a pair of white pants with a light red and white checkered shirt, hair matching the pants to a tee. On stage together, one of the things that strikes me more than anything else is the choreography.
The Clintons, dating back to Clinton/Gore ’92, have perfected the diagonal-double-wave as well as the arm-around-the-shoulder-and-point-to-something-cute-in-the crowd. You know the ones, where Hillary stands in front of Bill at the same angle, and their arms shoot up in the exact same direction, both elbows crooked at 120 degrees on the nose. Same with Bill slightly hunched over, head close to Hill’s as they smile, laugh and point to a silly sign in the crowd. Today it worked for the “Utah Democrats”, a vacationing couple from just outside Provo, among others.
Bill took the stage and let loose with a mixture of reminiscing and warnings for the future. He told the crowd how grateful he was for New Hampshire, who gave him a chance back in that winter of 1992. He talked about the importance of this year’s election, and how both the world and the nation would turn overnight if we elect Hillary, citing her popularity with unnamed world leaders and New York Republican voters. He closed with a story of a golf caddy who physically restrained him as he walked off the putting green to tell him that he was a NYFD captain, and that Hillary Clinton possessed unique and remarkable judgment in her assessment of the need for environmental protection for firefighters on September 11th.
But if you break it all down, it comes to this: He is the original outsider, to Barack Obama’s version today. Bill Clinton is the spousal lapdog to Elizabeth Edwards’ attack dog. He is personable yet tough, and like husband, like wife. Furthermore, Hillary is the electable one, media be damned. Hillary is the wizened one, in direct contrast to her top competitors. Real fire fighters like Hillary despite the IAFF’s endorsement of Dodd. Hillary is actually the best leader to come out of 9/11, not Giuliani. If you listen to Bill’s intro, you are already thinking of the campaign themes that the Clintons want. Bill Clinton, master framer.
Thusly did Hillary Clinton, former First Lady and current Senator from New York, take the stage. Whereas Bill said that he liked all the candidates, Hillary said, “it does make a difference who we elect.”
During the 90’s, she mentioned, we didn’t have widespread insecurity in our households on things like health care and the economy, but now we have it again. She pointed out the women in charge in New Hampshire, Sylvia Larsen, Senate President, and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.
Referring to the females she said, “we’ve seen change in New Hampshire.”
“Are you ready for change in America?”
Changes in health care. Changes in schools. Changes Presidential and administration competence.
Last of all, change in Iraq.
“If you are ready for that, I am ready to lead.”
Clinton then reminded us of that popular adage from this Democratic primary cycle, that we need to set big goals. Dream big dreams. Hillary’s plan for achieving this goal comes from four major stances.
Restore leadership in the world
Re-build the middle class
Reform government
Reclaim the future for our children.
(and)
Retread the tires on a Clinton White House. (just kidding!)
“It is up to leadership to make change our friend.” Because the current leadership, like Garth Algar, fears change. We know this.
Change was one of the many aspects of her rivals campaign messages she co-opted. Moments later she mentioned that she couldn’t wait to say “America’s Back” to the rest of the world, as soon as she was elected and even before she became President. She accompanied this with an interesting idea to send American dignitaries abroad, and to encourage Americans to travel and spread the good news. After all, we would be back.
But don’t forget she also has experience! To highlight this fact, the Clinton campaign ripped off, almost verbatim, Bill Richardon’s latest debate money line, “Change and experience, with me you get both.”
Having established herself as the candidate of both “change + experience”, as the campaign signs posted everywhere said, Clinton touched on how should would restore, rebuild, reform and reclaim. She closed her policy refrains with a story of the Messi tribe in Africa, and how when they see each other walking around the trail they don’t ask, “how are you?” They ask, “how are the children?”
Just like last time in Nashua, Clinton is working to define herself as not only the candidate of change + experience, but also of toughness and maternity.
Maternity established, she shifted toward the tough talk. Clinton commented that the Bush administration has “had their way” with America. I admit, it was the first time I had heard a sexual assault analogy used for a Presidential Administration. I liked it.
She then moved on to subtly jab her party-mate opponents, differentiating herself from Obama and Edwards by saying that she was best skilled to be the one to roll up her sleeves for the painstaking process of getting 60 votes in the Senate. She mocked John Edwards’ crusade against the rigged system by saying, next time someone tells you that we can’t win against the lobbyists, tell them “yes we can!”
Clinton closed with stories only she can tell, about little girls seeing her on the stage and hearing their mothers point and say, “see you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up.” Stories of elderly women who say, “when I was born, women didn’t even have the right to vote, and I want to live to see one elected president.”
And once again, “if you’re ready for change, I’m ready to lead.”
After the event I hightailed it over to the Seacoast, where the Clintons were scheduled to have another, larger event later that evening. I spent some time in a coffee shop in Portsmouth checking up on the internet news before zipping over to Dover in order to mix up the day with Bill Richardson, after which I came back to the cobbled streets and twinkling sea light reflections of Portsmouth. It turns out I couldn’t escape the former first family. Despite Richardson’s carrying on and a fifteen minute drive, the Clinton event was just finishing up as I walked into Market Square.
Crowds of people still stood on the bleachers trying to catch a glimpse of the Clintons. Hordes still lined up along the barrier fence for an autograph or a handshake. The same happened in Concord earlier, but with the intoxicating smell of the ocean hanging in the air, and the flood lights illuminating the night air, this scene truly showed the rock star status of the candidate and her gentleman escort. If a Mainer had come down over the bridge and been told that the Stones were in town, he would do well to believe it, especially for the crowd in front of Bill, a good four times larger than the one in front of his wife. The Clintons have star power, the kind that isn’t easily outshone.
Well we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in Hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
in the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary of
today's who's who
They'll get you anything
with that evil smile
Ahhh, politics.
The sun shone brilliantly through an incredibly blue sky in Concord Sunday afternoon, the perfect setting for a fall kickoff event. Temperatures were comfortably warm, and the podium, draped by the trees on the statehouse lawn on either side, was regally juxtaposed with a big granite gateway arch directly behind. Such was the stage set for Sylvia Larson, President of the NH State Senate, to introduce the most famous denizens of the 2007 campaign trail, Hillary and Bill Clinton. Or is it Bill and Hillary Clinton?
What better than perfect weather and scene for an afternoon with the closest to perfect political craftsmen of this election cycle, the Clinton team. The uber-couple walked down a long corridor adorned with hundreds of adoring fans. Hillary was wearing a turquoise skirt suit, and Bill a pair of white pants with a light red and white checkered shirt, hair matching the pants to a tee. On stage together, one of the things that strikes me more than anything else is the choreography.
The Clintons, dating back to Clinton/Gore ’92, have perfected the diagonal-double-wave as well as the arm-around-the-shoulder-and-point-to-something-cute-in-the crowd. You know the ones, where Hillary stands in front of Bill at the same angle, and their arms shoot up in the exact same direction, both elbows crooked at 120 degrees on the nose. Same with Bill slightly hunched over, head close to Hill’s as they smile, laugh and point to a silly sign in the crowd. Today it worked for the “Utah Democrats”, a vacationing couple from just outside Provo, among others.
Bill took the stage and let loose with a mixture of reminiscing and warnings for the future. He told the crowd how grateful he was for New Hampshire, who gave him a chance back in that winter of 1992. He talked about the importance of this year’s election, and how both the world and the nation would turn overnight if we elect Hillary, citing her popularity with unnamed world leaders and New York Republican voters. He closed with a story of a golf caddy who physically restrained him as he walked off the putting green to tell him that he was a NYFD captain, and that Hillary Clinton possessed unique and remarkable judgment in her assessment of the need for environmental protection for firefighters on September 11th.
But if you break it all down, it comes to this: He is the original outsider, to Barack Obama’s version today. Bill Clinton is the spousal lapdog to Elizabeth Edwards’ attack dog. He is personable yet tough, and like husband, like wife. Furthermore, Hillary is the electable one, media be damned. Hillary is the wizened one, in direct contrast to her top competitors. Real fire fighters like Hillary despite the IAFF’s endorsement of Dodd. Hillary is actually the best leader to come out of 9/11, not Giuliani. If you listen to Bill’s intro, you are already thinking of the campaign themes that the Clintons want. Bill Clinton, master framer.
Thusly did Hillary Clinton, former First Lady and current Senator from New York, take the stage. Whereas Bill said that he liked all the candidates, Hillary said, “it does make a difference who we elect.”
During the 90’s, she mentioned, we didn’t have widespread insecurity in our households on things like health care and the economy, but now we have it again. She pointed out the women in charge in New Hampshire, Sylvia Larsen, Senate President, and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.
Referring to the females she said, “we’ve seen change in New Hampshire.”
“Are you ready for change in America?”
Changes in health care. Changes in schools. Changes Presidential and administration competence.
Last of all, change in Iraq.
“If you are ready for that, I am ready to lead.”
Clinton then reminded us of that popular adage from this Democratic primary cycle, that we need to set big goals. Dream big dreams. Hillary’s plan for achieving this goal comes from four major stances.
Restore leadership in the world
Re-build the middle class
Reform government
Reclaim the future for our children.
(and)
Retread the tires on a Clinton White House. (just kidding!)
“It is up to leadership to make change our friend.” Because the current leadership, like Garth Algar, fears change. We know this.
Change was one of the many aspects of her rivals campaign messages she co-opted. Moments later she mentioned that she couldn’t wait to say “America’s Back” to the rest of the world, as soon as she was elected and even before she became President. She accompanied this with an interesting idea to send American dignitaries abroad, and to encourage Americans to travel and spread the good news. After all, we would be back.
But don’t forget she also has experience! To highlight this fact, the Clinton campaign ripped off, almost verbatim, Bill Richardon’s latest debate money line, “Change and experience, with me you get both.”
Having established herself as the candidate of both “change + experience”, as the campaign signs posted everywhere said, Clinton touched on how should would restore, rebuild, reform and reclaim. She closed her policy refrains with a story of the Messi tribe in Africa, and how when they see each other walking around the trail they don’t ask, “how are you?” They ask, “how are the children?”
Just like last time in Nashua, Clinton is working to define herself as not only the candidate of change + experience, but also of toughness and maternity.
Maternity established, she shifted toward the tough talk. Clinton commented that the Bush administration has “had their way” with America. I admit, it was the first time I had heard a sexual assault analogy used for a Presidential Administration. I liked it.
She then moved on to subtly jab her party-mate opponents, differentiating herself from Obama and Edwards by saying that she was best skilled to be the one to roll up her sleeves for the painstaking process of getting 60 votes in the Senate. She mocked John Edwards’ crusade against the rigged system by saying, next time someone tells you that we can’t win against the lobbyists, tell them “yes we can!”
Clinton closed with stories only she can tell, about little girls seeing her on the stage and hearing their mothers point and say, “see you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up.” Stories of elderly women who say, “when I was born, women didn’t even have the right to vote, and I want to live to see one elected president.”
And once again, “if you’re ready for change, I’m ready to lead.”
After the event I hightailed it over to the Seacoast, where the Clintons were scheduled to have another, larger event later that evening. I spent some time in a coffee shop in Portsmouth checking up on the internet news before zipping over to Dover in order to mix up the day with Bill Richardson, after which I came back to the cobbled streets and twinkling sea light reflections of Portsmouth. It turns out I couldn’t escape the former first family. Despite Richardson’s carrying on and a fifteen minute drive, the Clinton event was just finishing up as I walked into Market Square.
Crowds of people still stood on the bleachers trying to catch a glimpse of the Clintons. Hordes still lined up along the barrier fence for an autograph or a handshake. The same happened in Concord earlier, but with the intoxicating smell of the ocean hanging in the air, and the flood lights illuminating the night air, this scene truly showed the rock star status of the candidate and her gentleman escort. If a Mainer had come down over the bridge and been told that the Stones were in town, he would do well to believe it, especially for the crowd in front of Bill, a good four times larger than the one in front of his wife. The Clintons have star power, the kind that isn’t easily outshone.
Well we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in Hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
in the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair
And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary of
today's who's who
They'll get you anything
with that evil smile
Ahhh, politics.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Clinton Set List 9/2/07
Here is the set list for the Clinton visit to Concord, NH on Sunday, 9/2/07
Opening Set
I’m a Believer - Smashmouth
You and I - Celine Dion
Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now - McFadden and Whitehead
Rock this Country! - Shania Twain
I’m a Believer (encore) - Smashmouth
You and I (encore) - Celine Dion
Walkaway Set
Simply the Best - Tina Turner
Opening Set
I’m a Believer - Smashmouth
You and I - Celine Dion
Are You Gonna Go My Way - Lenny Kravitz
Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now - McFadden and Whitehead
Rock this Country! - Shania Twain
I’m a Believer (encore) - Smashmouth
You and I (encore) - Celine Dion
Walkaway Set
Simply the Best - Tina Turner
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Hsu's Yer Daddy?
The story coming out of California about the Paw family and all levels of shadiness surrounding HillRaiser and Dem super bundler Norman Hsu is interesting, indeed. The latest, for those who haven't heard, is that the WSJ has reported that a family of seven living in a tiny house in San Francisco, whose head makes a $49,000 postal worker's salary, has given more than $200k to Hillary Rodham Clinton and various other New York Democrats in the past three years. Oh yeah, did I mention that this family happens to have ties with Hsu? Apparently he once listed his address as the one where the Paws are living now.
It gets fishier. Pressed for comment, Hsu's attorney immediately played the race card: "There is no factual support for this story and if Mr. Hsu's name was Smith or Jones, I don't believe it would be a story."
Whoa, don't get defensive or anything. Now the LA Times has reported that Hsu is a fugitive from the law, for the crime of grand theft in a business scheme involving latex gloves and a million dollars! Did I mention he's a HillRaiser, and she ain't giving the money back? It starts with the war, it moves to fundraising, imagine the hubris from an oval office setting! Say what you will about Mitt Romney sprinting away from Mr. Craig, at least he claims to support a level of proper dignity for our elected officials. I'm not trying to be too harsh on Clinton, I'm just saying that Norm Hsu maybe has some questionable judgment. We'll see where this goes, but it stinks of heavy ammo for general election attacks to me.
It gets fishier. Pressed for comment, Hsu's attorney immediately played the race card: "There is no factual support for this story and if Mr. Hsu's name was Smith or Jones, I don't believe it would be a story."
Whoa, don't get defensive or anything. Now the LA Times has reported that Hsu is a fugitive from the law, for the crime of grand theft in a business scheme involving latex gloves and a million dollars! Did I mention he's a HillRaiser, and she ain't giving the money back? It starts with the war, it moves to fundraising, imagine the hubris from an oval office setting! Say what you will about Mitt Romney sprinting away from Mr. Craig, at least he claims to support a level of proper dignity for our elected officials. I'm not trying to be too harsh on Clinton, I'm just saying that Norm Hsu maybe has some questionable judgment. We'll see where this goes, but it stinks of heavy ammo for general election attacks to me.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
More Bush Lite
But wait, there's more! This morning's edition of WP's The Trail recognizes HRC as the Roveian candidate of 2008.
Witness Clinton's own campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle saying that, compared to Bush '04, she "would run this race no differently."
Witness Bill Clinton telling Rove in 2004, "Hey, you did a marvelous job, it was just marvelous what you did."
Witness, furthermore, that 2 million+ pages of Hillary Clinton's files at the WJC Presidential library will be on lockdown until after 2008. How conveeeenient!
Witness 4 more years of skullduggery???!!!
(This article is Part 2 in a series, to be continued indefinitely)
Witness Clinton's own campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle saying that, compared to Bush '04, she "would run this race no differently."
Witness Bill Clinton telling Rove in 2004, "Hey, you did a marvelous job, it was just marvelous what you did."
Witness, furthermore, that 2 million+ pages of Hillary Clinton's files at the WJC Presidential library will be on lockdown until after 2008. How conveeeenient!
Witness 4 more years of skullduggery???!!!
(This article is Part 2 in a series, to be continued indefinitely)
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Bush Lite
Cotuit, MA -
Elizabeth Wilner at The Politico beat me to the punch yesterday with her article on Clinton's very Bush-y campaign. This exact point has been my second biggest beef with Hill since I started paying attention (after the dynasty matter, of course). The amount of bullying, manipulation and arrogance employed in such an operation creates a nauseous sense of wrath in a humble country boy like myself, most notably after the debacles of the past two presidential elections. As Wilner points out, there is a good chance that most Democrats are willing to take the gamble on a second-coming of a more liberal George W. Bush if it means victory in 2008. But for a cantankerous old farm hand like the Quabbin Blogger? I say no thanks.
Certainly the rest of the Democratic field's only hope is to jump on this relationship if they want to go all Ronald Reagan on Hillary and tear down this wall of bullshit. Obama has begun with the Bush Lite bit, but not hard enough. Edwards, whose mouth ticks and tocks back and forth between a smile and a foamy froth, seems the likeliest to do it given his continued ascent toward a moral boiling point. Richardson is perhaps too diplomatic (and not to mention bungling) but I have hope in his ability to say the things that real Dems are thinking and I am still waiting for him to take the gloves off if he wants to be taken seriously as a borderline top-tier candidate. Biden always has it in him to spout off some gems, but will he still be relevant if he gets around to it? Same for Dodd. The last two, of course, also seem to be favoring Clinton for future favors. We all know what Gravel would say. Kucinich, meanwhile, will likely be too concerned with riding his beautiful high horse. Did I mention that it is beautiful? It is. But its also a high horse.
Speaking of high horse (or hobby horse, rather) Clinton just received another high profile California mayoral backing. If you support pols who are so popular with women they are not married to that they end up in bed together, Clinton is your candidate. Oh, I shouldn't have done that. Instead, it is better spun in the terms that the kind of people who are supporting Clinton are more likely to be ambitious, win-at-all-costs, rules-be-damned politicians as opposed to those of us who seek inclusive, healing, honest and issue-oriented candidates. Oh, I shouldn't have said that. What a loser! But seriously, hasn't the laundry list of complaints in a failed Bush presidency been topped by secrecy, arrogance, stubbornness, and incompetence? With the exception of the last one, I dunno, I begin to see parallels. I'm just sayin', is all.
At any rate, it ultimately comes down to a baseball analogy. Do you like the Yankees, or don't you? Do you like George Steinbrenner, or don't you? I say go Sox! Go M's! Go Cubbies! Now this all reminds me of my favorite joke - what is your favorite baseball team, the Yankees, the Phillies, the Expos, the Mets, the Dodgers, or the Rockies?
Ahoy from the beach,
BTB
Elizabeth Wilner at The Politico beat me to the punch yesterday with her article on Clinton's very Bush-y campaign. This exact point has been my second biggest beef with Hill since I started paying attention (after the dynasty matter, of course). The amount of bullying, manipulation and arrogance employed in such an operation creates a nauseous sense of wrath in a humble country boy like myself, most notably after the debacles of the past two presidential elections. As Wilner points out, there is a good chance that most Democrats are willing to take the gamble on a second-coming of a more liberal George W. Bush if it means victory in 2008. But for a cantankerous old farm hand like the Quabbin Blogger? I say no thanks.
Certainly the rest of the Democratic field's only hope is to jump on this relationship if they want to go all Ronald Reagan on Hillary and tear down this wall of bullshit. Obama has begun with the Bush Lite bit, but not hard enough. Edwards, whose mouth ticks and tocks back and forth between a smile and a foamy froth, seems the likeliest to do it given his continued ascent toward a moral boiling point. Richardson is perhaps too diplomatic (and not to mention bungling) but I have hope in his ability to say the things that real Dems are thinking and I am still waiting for him to take the gloves off if he wants to be taken seriously as a borderline top-tier candidate. Biden always has it in him to spout off some gems, but will he still be relevant if he gets around to it? Same for Dodd. The last two, of course, also seem to be favoring Clinton for future favors. We all know what Gravel would say. Kucinich, meanwhile, will likely be too concerned with riding his beautiful high horse. Did I mention that it is beautiful? It is. But its also a high horse.
Speaking of high horse (or hobby horse, rather) Clinton just received another high profile California mayoral backing. If you support pols who are so popular with women they are not married to that they end up in bed together, Clinton is your candidate. Oh, I shouldn't have done that. Instead, it is better spun in the terms that the kind of people who are supporting Clinton are more likely to be ambitious, win-at-all-costs, rules-be-damned politicians as opposed to those of us who seek inclusive, healing, honest and issue-oriented candidates. Oh, I shouldn't have said that. What a loser! But seriously, hasn't the laundry list of complaints in a failed Bush presidency been topped by secrecy, arrogance, stubbornness, and incompetence? With the exception of the last one, I dunno, I begin to see parallels. I'm just sayin', is all.
At any rate, it ultimately comes down to a baseball analogy. Do you like the Yankees, or don't you? Do you like George Steinbrenner, or don't you? I say go Sox! Go M's! Go Cubbies! Now this all reminds me of my favorite joke - what is your favorite baseball team, the Yankees, the Phillies, the Expos, the Mets, the Dodgers, or the Rockies?
Ahoy from the beach,
BTB
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Plans
Bill Richardson finally released his health care plan. It is pretty streamlined here on the website, so I will be interested to hear if there are more details. But in the meantime it has pretty bullet points to read.
Hillary Clinton also said some stuff about lending practices. Being a life-long renter, I had no idea what she was talking about. It is probably mushy, though.
Speaking of plans, I'll be in New Hampshire again on Thursday for a Dodd stop in the morning, and then expanding my new GOP blogging capability with a visit to John McCain's town hall meeting in Merrimack. Seeing as how I intend to start calling myself the Merrimack Daddy once I fully move into the Granite State, I think that will be an important step on the road to the blog house. That said, the event will cause me to miss the Manchester CIGNA 5k but I fully intend to hit up Strange Brew with some runners afterward. Hit me up if you're around.
Getting personal,
BTB
Hillary Clinton also said some stuff about lending practices. Being a life-long renter, I had no idea what she was talking about. It is probably mushy, though.
Speaking of plans, I'll be in New Hampshire again on Thursday for a Dodd stop in the morning, and then expanding my new GOP blogging capability with a visit to John McCain's town hall meeting in Merrimack. Seeing as how I intend to start calling myself the Merrimack Daddy once I fully move into the Granite State, I think that will be an important step on the road to the blog house. That said, the event will cause me to miss the Manchester CIGNA 5k but I fully intend to hit up Strange Brew with some runners afterward. Hit me up if you're around.
Getting personal,
BTB
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Stinky Bedfellows
Orono, ME -
Two quick reads about Giuliani here and here. The first is about his relationship with bosom buddy and uber-political crook Roger Ailes, and the second one is about the promotion of a vulture fund buddy into the role of Senior Policy Advisor. This just in, new policy to include scamming poor countries and failing businesses. Rudy '08!
P.S. Real Candidates don't go to the Hamptons.
And yeah, no need to excoriate me for shamelessly ripping of today's Times, cuz damn it was a good one. Self-flagellation should be punishment enough.
Lastly, I will try to put up a few more fluff pieces over the remainder of the week, but internet time could be limited for the QuabbinBlogger. I am heading up into the Maine woods to refuel my spiritual mojo, and seek some truth for the late summer campaign push. Meantime, see you in the woods.
Two quick reads about Giuliani here and here. The first is about his relationship with bosom buddy and uber-political crook Roger Ailes, and the second one is about the promotion of a vulture fund buddy into the role of Senior Policy Advisor. This just in, new policy to include scamming poor countries and failing businesses. Rudy '08!
P.S. Real Candidates don't go to the Hamptons.
And yeah, no need to excoriate me for shamelessly ripping of today's Times, cuz damn it was a good one. Self-flagellation should be punishment enough.
Lastly, I will try to put up a few more fluff pieces over the remainder of the week, but internet time could be limited for the QuabbinBlogger. I am heading up into the Maine woods to refuel my spiritual mojo, and seek some truth for the late summer campaign push. Meantime, see you in the woods.
Monday, July 30, 2007
I Don't Want to Go To...
After reading today's Times article about Chelsea C. I had to fiercely battle my inner demons not to write some wrathfully mocking recap. But hey, at least she kept entry-level tickets to the ballet at a very pedestrian 75 bucks a pop...Okay, I can't hold my tongue. How fitting is it that the potential First Hedge Fund Baby is about to get hitched to the son of a crook whose Congressman father tried to plead insanity via Malaria drugs to beat prison? If things don't work out, tell Chels that the Quabbin Blogger is always potentially single and, while my lovin' comes with a lot of perks, money and a HRC vote aren't two of them.
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