THE PLANK AUGUST 13, 2008
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Maureen Dowd's latest column about the Obama-Clinton dance is certainly entertaining, but I think she's overstating things just a bit when she writes of Hillary:
You can almost hear her mind whirring: She’s amazed at how easy it was
to snatch Denver away from the Obama saps. Like taking candy from a
baby, except Beanpole Guy doesn’t eat candy. In just a couple of weeks,
Bill and Hill were able to drag No Drama Obama into a swamp of Clinton
drama.
Okay, who knows? Maybe Hillary really is thinking this. But if she is, she's delusional. There could be a Clinton speaking every night of the convention--instead of just Hillary on Tuesday and Bill on Wednesday, why not book Chelsea for Monday and Roger for Thursday--and the convention would still be Obama's show.
Why? Because, unlike like when the Clintons threatened to overshadow Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, this year's Democratic presidential nominee is one with undisputed star power. The presidential primaries, after all, should have been ample proof that Obama has the wattage to outshine Bill and Hillary both.
As Michelle pointed out in her own NYT op-ed last week about Hillary's push for a roll vote:
Yes, we would all be reminded of how close the Democratic race for
president was when, on the convention floor, delegation after
delegation rose to cast its votes. (A few die-hards for Mrs. Clinton
might even get mouthy.) But in the end, the tally would indicate that
Mr. Obama won. He beat Mrs. Clinton, the inevitable nominee who drove
far-more-experienced politicians than Mr. Obama from the race before it
even began, and who beat every other guy in the race.
And besides, after the last night of the convention, when Obama addresses a crowd of 80,000 people on the 45th anniversary of MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech, do you really think anybody is going to be talking about the Clintons?
--Jason Zengerle
11 comments
Hmm. It seems to me that TNR peeps (editors and bloggers) last week, and maybe the one prior, decided that Dowd's political musings were ridiculous, analyses not warranting much attention. I don't understand, therefore, why we should entertain any ideas she has about Clinton if we're going to dismiss those she has about Obama. Jason's post indicates Dowd simply "overstates" things with Clinton. Last week, peeps at TNR exoriated Dowd for her editorials about Obama. So tell me, is Dowd more accurate about Clinton than she is Obama? Hmmmm. Just asking.
- TammyA
August 13, 2008 at 2:30pm
My post has nothing to do with this topic. I work for a commercial real estate managment company in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and our company manages property for the Gwanty Family. As some of you may have already heard, Bill Gwatney was shot 3 times in his office at Arkansas Democratic Party Headquarters today where he is the Chairman of the State party. I ask all of the thoughfull folks who read and post on TNR to keep Mr. Gwanty in their thoughts and prayers. The initial reports here locally are that it was not politiically motivated, as the suspect had initially entered the office of an Arkansas Baptist organization ranting about losing his job, then left and went next door to the State Democractic offices and asked to see Gwanty. When the secretary refused, apparently, he went into Mr. Gwanty's office and shot him. I consider TNR and its readers to be a good group of people and ask for your thoughts and prayers.
- mghogwild
August 13, 2008 at 3:05pm
mghogwild gets comment of the day for "TNR and its readers to be a good group of people". Hope Mr. Gwanty recovers.
TammyA: agree. Why we pay attention to Dowd is beyond me. Her musings have as much depth as the "gold" plating on Joan Rivers jewellery on the Shopping Channel, and about as much authenticity. "Beanpole Guy"? Original and funny; very witty. Gut-splitting in fact. And devastating. Yeah.
- icarusr
August 13, 2008 at 3:33pm
Tammy: MoDo or no MoDo, facts or no facts, the TNR "peeps" will sieze any opportunity to mull over the very important question of whether Hillary is motivated more by pure maliciousness or by her overwhelming vanity. Actually, I guess this post is really more addressed to the question: Is she an evil genius or an arogant fool? I guess we'll never know for sure.
- newdex
August 13, 2008 at 5:55pm
Newdex. Well if so, that would be a shame because she is likely not one or the other. Yet, I understand that the so-called progressive and democratic readers here would like to continue taking her down. I never ever expected that a liberal/prog magazine and website would do this to a fellow liberal and someone from a party we endorse. While I find some of the blogs here fun, enlightening, and engaging, I wil not be renewing my subscription. The main reason is the treatment of Hillary here. Unacceptable. In the mean time, I'll read and blog to get my $ worth.
Icar: Dowd's stature is beyond me. And you're right, she is dangerous.
- TammyA
August 13, 2008 at 7:55pm
I have said since Hillary finally lost that there was no way the Clinton's were going to work to get Obama elected. What is their incentive? If he's in, they're out, likely for life.
If he loses, Hillary still has a shot in 2012. And what's happened? Bill has been undermining Obama, not very subtly, at every turn since June.
And Hillary is still rousing her troops.
Of course Maureen is right about Hillary. Certainly in the broad stroke if not in every detail.
- ChanRobt
August 13, 2008 at 8:38pm
hogwild, I'm very sorry to learn of Mr. Gwanty's death. People everywhere have been appalled to read of this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers of compassion go out to the Gwanty family and all who hold the Gwanty's as friends.
- ChanRobt
August 13, 2008 at 8:42pm
I think Hillary and her campaign's actions over the last few months (and Bill's continued behavior), and in particular her faliure to cut the Rovian Swift Boater Mark Penn loose only after his conflict of interest was revealed, have earned her all the venom she's gotten among the TNR bloggership.
- sportdoc62
August 14, 2008 at 1:06pm
I don't think Hillary is evil, that's way too simplistic. She CAN be evil, many of us can.
Hillary is a fierce competitor, and when I say fierce - I'm mean, no rules no how. She's all about winning. That in itself is something I admire in many ways. Yes, I could do without her very dark side: smashing Bill's many women, race baiting, vengefulness, unbelievable narcissism, rotten politican.
But she's also very funny at times, knows alot about alot, genuinally cares about the right things, never folded in the face of Repblican evil and inspires millions for many reasons. I even think she is beautiful, not that is remotely important. It isn't. It's just that Hillary is as intensely yin and yang as I've seen in a long time and very very American for it.
- Wandreycer1
August 14, 2008 at 1:45pm
My best wishes to Mr Gwanty and his family. You're good man, mg.
- teplukhin2you
August 14, 2008 at 2:43pm
Mghog - I just read your post, I often have to skip too many because of my time limitations. Thank you for checking in with this. Very sad, tragic. Its amazing how little national coverage this seems to be getting so far. Are we so numb?
His family must be devastated - if there is any way to send flowers to a service, and it isn't too much of an invasion of privacy to let us know, I would be honored to.
- Wandreycer1
August 14, 2008 at 3:00pm