Hillary Adviser Sid Blumenthal: Public Doesn't See McCain As Continuation Of Bush
A few weeks back Hillary took some heat for saying that John McCain had passed the "commander in chief test," prompting some to point out that this could prove rather helpful to McCain in a general election.
Now Hillary adviser Sidney Blumenthal has veered similarly off the Dem message for the general, warning his party that painting McCain as a "McSame" continuation of Bush will fail:
Bucking the Democratic National Committee's talking points that characterize a potential McCain administration as tantamount to a third Bush term, Blumenthal told our Liz Halloran that running on that strategy in the fall would be a mistake."I understand people's political reasons for doing that," he said. "I think it's more helpful to describe [political opponents] as they are." Bottom line, Blumenthal calls the strategy "a mistake and adds: "The public doesn't see [McCain] that way. That's a hard sell."
Whether Blumenthal is right or wrong about this -- my take is that the jury's out on whether the public will buy this, because the media has seared the "McCain is a maverick" line into the electorate's brain for 15 years or more -- it certainly won't make him any friends at the DNC.
Yes, let's please take strategy advice from Team Clinton.
May 21, 2008 11:15 AM | Reply | Permalink
Exactly. Inevitability worked like a gem.
May 21, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, Blumenthal is the Hillary camper arrested for speeding drunk in NH the weekend before that primary. Just the one we should listen to. Not.
May 21, 2008 12:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Blumenthal is also the guy who has been relentlessly e-mailing right-wing anti-Obama propoganda to reporters for months and months.
He's one of the "Hillary or Nobody" cultists.
May 21, 2008 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sidney Blumenthal is a dick.
May 21, 2008 11:16 AM | Reply | Permalink
More than that, he's Full. Of. Shit.
And he's Full. Of. Himself.
While Christopher Hitchens is wrong about many things, most notably Iraq, he was right on the subject of El Sid.
May 21, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Re-playing McCain's own statements on video is a losing strategy.
May 21, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even worse. Blumenthal, who supposedly follows political trends as his profession, missed a telling bit of evidence that contradicts his conventional thinking.
Several weeks ago, in a poll taken about the three things voters disliked the most about John McCain, the most common response was "too close to Bush's policies," or words to that effect. I cannot find a webpage right now, but I think that among self-identifying Republicans over thirty (30%) per cent gave this response, that one of the facts they most disliked about McCain was his close support of the Bush policies.
If I am remembering correctly, Blumenthal needs remedial lessons in keeping his mouth shut about things he doesn't have any data about, such as the disaffection of large numbers of people about a McCain administration becoming a Bush III term.
May 21, 2008 11:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
That Blumenthal fella is dead WRONG.
May 21, 2008 11:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
How ironic, just like the GOP, the Shrillary campaign believes they're so in-tune with the American public!
Oh wait, is this what they think we think or what they DEMAND us to think???
What a bunch of tools her campaign consists of!
May 21, 2008 11:19 AM | Reply | Permalink
What an asshat.
If he really believes this, he is an idiot. If he doesn't, it a cynical attempt to undermine Obama, and the Dems chances in November. Either way, my point stands. Asshat.
May 21, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
He undermines HILLARY's message as well. She's been talking about McCain as more of the same.
May 21, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
See my post below from 11:47am.
May 21, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
A few weeks back Hillary took some heat for saying that John McCain had passed the "commander in chief test," prompting some to point out that this could prove rather helpful in a general election.
Especially if Hillary were Obama's running mate. Video of Obama's own running mate saying that McCain is ready to be Commander in Chief and Obama is not would make for a rather powerful ad for McCain. Hopefully this won't happen, but it will if Hillary is the veep candidate.
May 21, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yet another in a long list of reasons why Hillary should not Obama's running mate.
May 21, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
The losing team has the best strategy!
The were right so much, let's listen to them!
May 21, 2008 11:20 AM | Reply | Permalink
Hard Sell? To align McSame to Bush? I sure buy it.
May 21, 2008 11:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Enough already! Why can't these people see what they are doing to the party's chances in Nov? Hillary must have decided to help McCain beat Obama so she can run in 2012. That's the only reason for such nonsense like this to be passed around.
May 21, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, they'd be undermining the Party if they weren't coming across as such screw-ups, themselves. As it is, I don't know that what Blumenthal thinks carries a lot of weight.
But, it does highlight that the notion of Hillary on Obama's team would be a big no-no. When this primary is done, Hillary needs to drag herself back to NY and pick up the pieces of what's left of her career and carry on.
May 21, 2008 12:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
There is the small matter of 22.5 Million Dollars that she will forfeit should she not campaign clear into the convention. I just wish she and HER SURROGATES would shut up already with the internal attacks and focus, Focus, FOCUS; on McCain. Be useful, not stupid, already!
May 21, 2008 1:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Geesh, the horse is dead hillary get off take your saddle and go home.
Dang it!!!!!!
May 21, 2008 11:22 AM | Reply | Permalink
The message from Barack's speech was as direct as it is compelling. I think it's safe to say that El Squid will be viewing this contest from the cheap seats...Where's he been for the past week since the Knesset Kerfuffle? Getting hot dogs?
Talk about out of touch!
I will leave it up to Senator McCain to explain to the American people whether his policies and positions represent long-held convictions or Washington calculations, but the one thing they don't represent is change....
May 21, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
I don't know, according to TPMEC
...my take is that the jury's out on whether the public will buy this...
May 21, 2008 11:28 AM | Reply | Permalink
fuck you, Sidney!
fuckyou fuckyou fuckyou fuckyou fuckyou fuckyou fuckyou!
You are one of the biggest goddamn hypocrites drawing breath.
May 21, 2008 11:23 AM | Reply | Permalink
That is why they campaign and debate! Obama and the Democrats will demonstrate that McCain wants more time in Iraq (just like Bush), continued Tax Cuts for the wealthy (just like Bush) and so on and so on.
Obviously the general public may not be there just yet on McCain but to say that it won't work is to ignore the reality that McCain has adopted nearly every Bush stance in his quest for the White House.
Blumenthal's statement is like a marketer for an unknown company saying that a product won't sell because you have no brand awareness. It's the marketer's job to create the awareness! Just as will be Obama and the Dems responsibility to make this case to the American people.
May 21, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
What part of "Throw the Bums Out" does El Squid not comprehend?
May 21, 2008 11:24 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is incredibly lame for all love!
The Clinton people have gone completely infuckingsane.
To think I used to admire Sidney Blumenthal. This is an outright lie, Sidney! It's a goddamn lie.
You are just a Republican in sheep's clothing = you and Hillary and the rest of the goddamn DLC.
Kiss my ass, Sidney! You fucking hypocrite.
May 21, 2008 11:27 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ok, tell us how DO you really feel??
Don't you get it, the DLC is the Dem version of K-street, a way to siphon money from corporate America into the pockets of the political establishment in exchange for policies that benefit said Corporations (and their leaders). In order to do that they need (DLC) either political power or the promise of obtaining it, there were no more safe bet the last 8 years that HRC will run and that she will win, and accordingly the money and influence increased, what to do now with an insurgence candidate, make him need your support desperately enough to make concessions to your supporters, so you keep the money flowing
What HRC, Bill, TerryMc, Harold Jr. et al are facing is the end of their dem monopoly of influence peddling ergo they are fighting back
May 21, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I know that and I'm furious with them that they are willing to take the whole party down to save the DLC.
The DLC is dead. Long live the DNC and Howard Dean.
Sidney Blumenthal is totally irrelevant. Hear that, Sid? You keep writing for the Guardian and I'm going to start writing letters to the editors about you.
You make me really sick.
May 21, 2008 12:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why, yes! Intriguing and well-said.
I'm greatly looking forward to this little passion play unfolding.
May 21, 2008 12:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
I really want to see Gitmo closed. But can we really afford to have jackasses like Mark Penn and Sid Blumenthal walking the streets?
I bought his "Clinton Rules" book 2 or 3 years ago. It seemed like good red meat reading for me, but I couldn't even get halfway through it. Good harbinger of things to come, I guess.
May 21, 2008 11:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
What the hell? The strategy actually seems like it's working like a charm. McCain keeps parroting Bush talking points. What's Obama supposed to do, go around autographing boxing gloves?
May 21, 2008 11:30 AM | Reply | Permalink
More War Years! More War Years! More War Years!
The McBushCain Hybrid War Machine runs on Ignorance, Bullshit, and Fear.
More War Years! More War Years! More War Years!
May 21, 2008 11:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Boy, am I thoroughly and totally disgusted with Sidney fucking Blumenthal and the rest of those liars and closet-Republicans who congregate around the Clintons.
Utterly disgusted.
May 21, 2008 11:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
SO I do agree with you post but not necessarily your French accent. But here is question - would you consider Hillary a liberal, moderat, or conservative democrat? I was suprised to hear some talking head last night refer to her as a moderate to conservative candidate. Her health care policy is on the liberal side but her military policy is to the right of McCain at time. Quite confusing for me to categorize it.
May 21, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
The Clintons are DLC
meaning Republican Lite
May 21, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
oh, she is a conservative Democrat, for sure. her health care plan is not really 'more liberal', its more corporate-friendly. it's an absolute guarantee to the big insurance companies that they'll have 300 million customers to defraud which punishes people who wouldn't be able to afford it. its hard to assess since she hasn't given enough hard numbers for people to go on, but what she has said is that premiums would cap at 10% of income. so, a person earning $30,000 per year would have a new expense of $250 per month, and we have no indication how much of that an employer would have to pay if any, whether a person at that income level would qualify for subsidies, and what those would be if so, or what the co-pays / non-covered items would be.
she's very hawkish on foreign policy, almost republican in that regard. she embraced the conservative 'gas tax holiday', and she has used that most tried and true of republican tactics, the 'Southern strategy' (although it didn't work so well for her) against her opponent in this primary contest. she voted in favor of continued use of landmines and cluster bombs in residential areas during combat, she voted in favor of increased tensions with Iran and says she would continue the Bush policy of demanding concessions prior to conducting any negotiations with 'enemy' countries, she supported the terrible bankruptcy bill. she supported NAFTA (before she was against it) and of course, worst of the worst of all, supported the AUMF against Iraq, refused to apologize and told those who disagreed to "find another candidate" (which I definitely did). yeah - she's quite conservative.
May 21, 2008 12:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
Speaking of the gas tax holiday, the house goopers are introducing just that, possibly today. An attempt to get the Dems on record as against consumers, no doubt.
The sooner Obama is in office with large majorities in both houses, the better IMO.
May 21, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
She's a classic neoliberal who uses feminist leaning social positions and hawkish neoconservative foreign policy positions to court both sides of the aisle. She has managed to triangulate positions all across the political landscape, and now that she's become a whiskey swilling Annie Oakley openly fighting against the advancement of the Angry Black Man, the final piece of the puzzle has clicked into place. It's why she's saying "Map not Math", because in her mind, she's become the perfect amalgamation of the fears and prejudices of this country, and she would destroy anyone in a general election.
And who knows. If the general was tomorrow, she might be right. But it's not, and she hasn't even begun to be revetted. She has also lost to Obama in every world except her own. And to be honest, the idea of having to vote for the ultimate Franken-canidate creeps the hell out of me.
May 21, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
Folks, I'm tellin' ya, we ignore The Pantsuit Menace at our own peril!
This comment by Blumenfuck is stupid, but even if it weren't it would be counterproductive.
As is The Neverending Primary.
They talk "unity" but I'm not buying it yet.
May 21, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unity my ass!
What they are saying by what they say and do is:
If Hillary can't be president, no Democrat will be.
And fuck them sideways with a rusty chainsaw for it, too.
They are destroying the Democrats' chances as diligently as they can. Somebody shut them the fuck up.
May 21, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
I'm soooooooo stealin' the "rusty chainsaw" line!
:)
May 21, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
Don't forget the "sideways" part of the line.
May 21, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not a chance. Therein lies the splendor!
May 21, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
Were you a sailor at one point?
May 21, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Better yet, a Texas lawyer.
May 21, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ewwwww!
I love you, Tena! You're awesome.
May 21, 2008 12:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Obama needs to come down hard on this. He can no longer let Clinton and her people get away with this crap. Screw her supporters if they want to become Republicans. Obama needs to stop this bullshit before it's completely out of hand.
May 21, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
"I think it's more helpful to describe [political opponents] as they are"
This coming from a Hillary advisor??? HAHAHAHAA!! Right.
May 21, 2008 11:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
This is one of the things I've never liked about Clinton and her campaign.
She's NEVER gone after McCain with force the way Obama does. She criticizes him, but it always seems reserved, and polite. Obama hits him with a sledgehammer.
May 21, 2008 11:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sidney's dead wrong on this one. After all, he was the one that pushed the false Obama smear e-mails.
May 21, 2008 11:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Goddamn!
May 21, 2008 11:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
Roddamn!
May 21, 2008 11:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
Question.
Should we really be taking campaign advice from the people responsible for sinking a campaign (read: Hillary's) that was enjoying double digit leads mere months ago and was supposed to roll its way to a surefire nomination?
For Sidney Blumenthol to be doling out campaign advice at this point is a little akin to Lindsey Lohan giving advice on how to handle success.
I think it's time for Josh to hit the "unsubscribe" button at the bottom of his Daily Sid Newsletter.
May 21, 2008 11:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Word straight motherfucking up.
May 21, 2008 11:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Must be that time of the month, claws and all
May 21, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Time for you to be a condescending chauvinist? Isn't that every day?
May 21, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Mostly when Tena and Aubie go off with a fucking fucked-up motherfucking rant (usually in every thread). Cheered on by Pubicola.
May 21, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
If you can't stand the heat ...
May 21, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's not heat. It's garbage.
The nastiest and most vicious kind usually comes from people with Hussein in their nickname.
May 21, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
That's not heat. It's garbage.
The nastiest and most vicious kind usually comes from people with Hussein in their nickname.
May 21, 2008 1:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's really simple to cure that.
Try to follow along, I'll use small words: if you don't like my comments, don't read them.
It's easy to tell which ones they are - they have my face on them.
May 21, 2008 12:29 PM | Reply | Permalink
I thought that was Dianne Keaton, if you forgive my saying so. Trรจs belle.
May 21, 2008 1:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know, watch out, Lalo. She'll fuck you up.
You might want to take off the hat.
May 21, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Didn't know you were the manners police. Wrong hat for that job.
May 21, 2008 1:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think it's more helpful to describe political opponents as they are. I think it would be best to describe John McCain as a far-right creep with no moral compass. Bush is a moderate-right creep with no moral compass.
Big difference.
May 21, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
I really hope the new argument out of the Hillary camp isn't that they're sitting on some super-secret strategy to defeat McCain and we have to nominate her to find out what it is.
May 21, 2008 11:42 AM | Reply | Permalink
She's been more or less touting her not so secret strategy to beat McLame all along - her secret is that she's white, according to her and her people.
May 21, 2008 11:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Unless she's in Southwest Texas, New Mexico, Queens and some parts of Brooklyn, Puerto Rico. Then she's a Latina!
One plus, we won't EVER have to see a repeat of her speech in Selma. I ain't no ways tired!
May 21, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
OMG - I had forgotten that!
May 21, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
She pretty much lost my vote forever with that one speech where she told a bunch of black leaders in a Harlem church that "The House of Representatives has been run like a plantation...and you know what I'm talking about!"
Nails-on-a-chalkboard panderer.
May 21, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. No, please, tell me she did not say that.
I'm withering in embarrassment for her. Except, she has no shame, so I know that my empathy is wasted.
Ugh. What a sad period this has been for the Democratic Party.
May 21, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, she certainly did. But of course it's ok, since no one has done more for black people than the Clinton's have.
May 21, 2008 2:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
So what's Blumenthal's argument for Hillary? Can she out McCain McCain?...on Irag/Iran? If Blumenthal's right, then I think it' not a good thing for her
May 21, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
She and McCain are starting the new Beach Boys (& Girl): "bomb, bomb, bomb...bomb, bomb Iran...".
May 21, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
"It takes a Clinton to clean up after a Bush."
That's the only remedy.
May 21, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
You radicals have a major problem with the truth.
All Americans have not drank the kool aid and still buy into the corporate media.
But you have drank the kool aid and buy into corporate media too until they turn on Obama.
Then you will cuss like radicals.
May 21, 2008 11:45 AM | Reply | Permalink
Pompous much?
(Also, you do realize that's not really a sentence, yes?)
May 21, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
Thanks for the comic relief!
May 21, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
..."radicals"...
You keep using that word; I don't think it means what you think it means.
May 21, 2008 12:03 PM | Reply | Permalink
Princess Bride quotes.... always awesome!
May 21, 2008 12:45 PM | Reply | Permalink
When the situation presents itself...I cannot pass it up.
May 21, 2008 1:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Inconceivable!
May 21, 2008 12:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Beat it troll.
You are such a troll. I never write in that styel.
You imitation is just sad.
I do not support W, or McWar.
I support the democratic nominee. Want Hillary, but will take Obama.
Take a hike loser troll.
Pathetic.
May 21, 2008 12:20 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hmmmm...okay, I think I'm getting you.
You're so awesome, GotALife, and it's so great to have you on the Obama team now.
And your style is so esoteric - like with the Haiku and stuff, and I have to say, sometimes you're a LITTLE hard to follow.
But, I see what you're saying here. Americans haven't yet "drank" the "Corporate Kool Aid" that Blumental's selling, that would convince them that McCain's a cool guy, but when they do, they'll turn on Obama.
Right? Okay! Alright! I get it!
Great to have you on the team. Interacting with you is like, you know, untangling a knot, but...it's definitely worth it.
May 21, 2008 12:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
This from the same guy who's been adopted into the very "right-wing conspiracy" that his candidate complains about?
Don't get it twisted - this is right ON message for the Hillary camp. She accepts the endorsement of Richard Mellon Scaife, the math of Karl Rove and the tactics of those who would have seen her and her husband disgraced in the '90s. How much clearer could it be?
Hillary wants McCain to win. Period.
She doesn't care about what's right (pardon the pun). She only cares about herself, and being right about Obama being the weaker candidate. She'd rather say "I told you so" than "Yes, we can".
May 21, 2008 11:47 AM | Reply | Permalink
You couldn't be more right about that. That's what it is about and always was. "I told you so."
May 21, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
She cares about power. Can't leave that one out.
May 21, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're right.
She's The Pantsuit Menace.
She can't win, so her plan is to sink Obama.
She's not a Democrat. She's a wannabe despot.
And batshit crazy, to boot.
May 21, 2008 11:58 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you've nailed it. This is a battle between the old guard and the rest of us. Blumenthal is part of the old, and he will be out.
May 21, 2008 12:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
And lets not forget that Fox news is the most fair and balanced news org out there according to Team Hillz
May 21, 2008 12:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm pretty sure he wasn't sober when he gave this interview.
May 21, 2008 11:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
Blumenthal needs to crawl back into whatever dreary shithole he came from and take his surrogates with him.I mean, WTF!
Where is Hillary in all this? Am I expecting much from an ant if I think Hillary should call this dirtbag on his disingenious statement? Go away into obscurity from whence you came you disgusting piece of useless breathing nonsense. Am I speaking for all Real Democrats here? Say...aye!
May 21, 2008 12:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think we're out of that period of the campaign where all surrogates had to resign for saying crazy shit.
May 21, 2008 12:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
You have to admit that the polls for Bush are abysmal, while McCain is in a tight race with Obama. McCain didn't spend the Viet Nam war playing hooky from the "champaign unit" of the Reserves. He's able to speak coherently. He has a strong record in the Senate compared to Bush's string of failures in the business sector. His daddy didn't set him up. We may try to paint him as McBush, and we may succeed, but he really isn't. If we put a lot of effort into branding him, and it fails, it wouldn't exactly be a first.
May 21, 2008 11:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Yes he is.
You're full of shit. He is nothing more than a Bush clone now. He went around the bend in '04 when Bush snapped that choke chain on him after Kerry said McLame agreed with him in the 2d debate.
From then on, McLame was on Bush's helicopter and was on the stage with Bush every damn rally and fund raiser.
You're full of shit, Otto. As much as Hillary and all her lying staff.
May 21, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
You're wasting your time with that guy, Tena.
May 21, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Otto, Meet Sid Blumenthal, you all will be great friends.
May 21, 2008 12:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, they are two distinct individuals with different upbringings and experiences. All of that is true. It's also true that they support the continuation of all of Bush's policy, only McCain promises to be more Mavericky when he does so.
Maybe you, Sid, McSame and the Worst President in Modern History can all Hug it Out.
May 21, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Otto is the Racist scumbag moron that claims that he still listens to Randi Rhodes on Air America.
May 21, 2008 12:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
No, I think you make fair points here, Otto. And you're right, there is a calculated risk here. But, I think that McCain is going in weak and has pretty much nothing substantive to fall back on, other than his background as a war hero. He's got his legislative history on reform efforts, but what has he done lately in taht regard? Lately, he's been in lockstep with Bush. I think he's vulnerable and ripe for the picking and Obama is going to real well against him in debates on foreign policy, on the economy, and on energy policy. I'm ready for this campaign to get substantive.
May 21, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well Mr. McCain has wrapped himself in the policies of Bush......
It is CLEARLY a third Bush term.
His pandering to the far right will SINK him.
May 21, 2008 11:53 AM | Reply | Permalink
Blumenthal is a despicable whale turd at the bottom of the ocean. On three issues of primary importance; Iraq, supply side economics and SCOTUS, Grampy McSame is a carbon copy of the chimp in chief and it is up to Democrats to pound that point home with one voice. What a jackass. I hope he gets blacklisted when Obama wins in November.
May 21, 2008 11:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
You think that is bad, well you have not seen this:
"The reason I believe history will redeem President George W. Bush is that he is one of the few leaders on the planet today who understands the larger picture. He has not lost his courage and vision of the future. He knows what calamities await the world if it engages in appeasement and deserts an ally in order to buy an illusory peace. We will recognize his worth long after he is gone.-Ed Koch"
OMG.
May 21, 2008 11:55 AM | Reply | Permalink
So you're into Bush, Koch and McCain.
Wow.
May 21, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
OMG this troll is sad.
I say many thing. I never said I like W.
I will never say this. Only a sad troll would.
I am a democrat. I will support my party.
May 21, 2008 12:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ed Koch is a flaming looney and everyone knows it.
Assrocket and Pajamas Media say the same thing - claim Bush is a "misunderstood genius."
yeah sure he is.
I'm really not concerned about Ed Koch's opinion.
May 21, 2008 12:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
Bush understands the larger picture huh?
Does that include raining bombs on innocent citizens in Iraq?
Can we count the recently apprehended Osama Bin Laden, now serving multiple life sentences at Sing Sing? Or wait...
Did I miss the video of Rumsfeld on CNN posing in front of the Iragi stockpile of Deadly WMDs in 2000? No wait, this did not happen!
How big a picture can it get more than the free-fall dollar, the housing market crash,Weakening economy,decline of the mighty US military...the list goes on my friend so stop playing dumb.
May 21, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
I know, GotALife, OMG, right? Ed Koch is a looney - I mean, really losing it.
I'm so happy that you came around and are on board with us.
Great to have you Team Obama!
May 21, 2008 1:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
Utter nonsense. Not only is mcbomb a continuation of bush, he is attempting the same tactics that bush used in 2004, namely fearmongering (note his repeated assertions about obama's inability to keep us "secure"- obviously bogus). Blumenthal is full of shit. The more we tie mcbomb to the worst president EVER, the bigger Obama's margin of victory in November.
May 21, 2008 11:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Instead of just saying McCain is Bush, we could go into details. Like how McCain has flipflopped on the religious right, tax cuts for the rich, and says he always criticized the Iraq war when he really wasn't but thinks we can be there for a hundred years but will win it by 2013...
Maybe it is simpler to say McCain = Bush.
May 21, 2008 12:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, let's take advice from Hillary Clinton's team! We've seen how far they've gotten themselves. I mean, they're on the cusp of winning the Democratic nomination, and are polling far ahead of McCain in the most recent Reuters/Zogby poll. ...Waaait... That's Obama. My bad!
May 21, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sid Blumenthal? Was he not just convicted for DUIin NH? How would he know? He is the one spreading the lies via viral emails that Obama is muslim. I rest my case.
May 21, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Even if what Blumenthal says is true, why isn't the message: "Hit harder on the connection" rather than what he seems to be saying: "This argument won't work"?
May 21, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why is Sid Vicious carrying McNasty's water? Does he want McNasty to win?
May 21, 2008 12:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
maybe hillary should challenge mccain for his party's nomination. he is very presumptuous to claim that he has won the repub nomination without asking her.
May 21, 2008 12:11 PM | Reply | Permalink
LOL!
May 21, 2008 12:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Note Blumenthal is not saying that McCain is significantly different than Bush. He's just saying that the public perception is that McCain is different.
This quote sums up a significant difference between Clintonism and Obamaism: Clintonites take public opinion as a given, and try to mold their message to appeal to the largest part of the public.
Obama is actually trying to change public opinion where he believes it is wrong. Some might even call the latter leadership.
May 21, 2008 12:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
"This quote sums up a significant difference between Clintonism and Obamaism: Clintonites take public opinion as a given, and try to mold their message to appeal to the largest part of the public.
Obama is actually trying to change public opinion where he believes it is wrong. Some might even call the latter leadership."
Well stated. Thank you.
May 21, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You're welcome! I thought the gas tax issue also highlighted this difference, so I jotted off a quick blog post about it here.
May 21, 2008 12:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
Excellent point.
And it fits in with the dirty work Blumenthal and Clinton were trying to do -- spreading various smears about Obama, on the plea that "It's not that WE agree with this stuff, but it's what a lot of people are saying."
May 21, 2008 12:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
You nailed it.
It is up to Democrats to redefine the debate on their own terms; not give in to erroneous public perception without a fight. That is how you lose a healthy majority in Congress two years after you take office.
May 21, 2008 2:00 PM | Reply | Permalink
oh, you mean drunk-driving, "I send racist mass-emails out to Clinton supporters attacking Obama and calling him a secret muslim" Syd Blumethal? I don't think actual Democrats really listen to him much very anymore.
May 21, 2008 12:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
There are also all kinds of tactical reasons Obama is exactly right to press the McSame:
The kinds of things McCain will have to do to try to rebut "McSame" will likely cause him all manner of trouble -- amplifying his problems with the Religious Right, annoying the Big Business bloc of the party; limiting his access to Bush fundraising apparatus, and erode his credibility by opening up a thousand Youtube refutations of his efforts to create distance from W.
May 21, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good point. Putting McCain on the defensive about his association with Bush leaves him between a rock and a hard place, similar to the one Clinton hoped to squeeze Obama on about Reverend Wright.
May 21, 2008 12:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
I would tend to believe Sydney, but after John Kerry's Swiftboating, when a veteran got smeared for being a coward and unpatriotic in spite of the real facts, I believe anything can be done with the right ad and a consistent message.
May 21, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ah, he said it in US News, so no one will read it. Fortunately, pretty much everyone outside Clinton HQ thinks this guy's a major league tool. What we're watching is the death rattle of a formidable, incredibly determined campaign. Soon, the last gasp of putrid air will slide out of the body and we will all be done with it once and for all. Here's something to ponder: Soon Sidney Blumenthal won't be able to get quoted in the Chappaqua weekly paper.
May 21, 2008 12:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
When I read stuff like this I wonder what her real game plan is. How about this:
Cross over to become McCain's running mate. She can claim that true bi-partisanship trumps the dreamy post-partisanship Obama talks about. She might think she can bring all those diehard supporters with her. She might see this as the [all-white] "dream ticket" that whumps Obama's ass, proving her right all along. If McCain dies in office, she becomes president. If not, she's still in a good position to be elected president either in 2012 or 2016.
Am I crazy?
May 21, 2008 12:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Diabolical conspiracy--can't say I haven't entertained such machinations.
I don't believe it myself
I believe the truth is much simpler: an army of machiavellian winged ninjas will fly out of HRC ass and get her elected at the last moment
And, yes, you are crazy.
May 21, 2008 1:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Cross over to become McCain's running mate. ... She might think she can bring all those diehard supporters with her.
Alegre, Larry Johnson and Susanhu will follow her.
May 21, 2008 2:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Apocalypse now - I just shat my pants. In their rabbit hole this would be a justifiable move. Except too many Repubs carry so much Clinton hatred that they'd become Dems and vote for Obama before ever pulling the lever for a Clinton. They'd ship McSame back to the HHilton.
May 22, 2008 6:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Blumenthal is already mapping out strategy for Clinton in 2012: tell the Obama people that their strongest argument against McCain is their weakest. So transparent.
Blumenthal.
Ferraro.
Both should be drummed out of the Democratic Party for political apostasy.
May 21, 2008 12:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
As I keep saying, perhaps McSame can make a place for Hillary on his campaign, as his running mate! She should take note of the fact that there's a D after her name. As the wise man said, this election is for the Democrats to lose. With Hillary as a "friend," who needs enemies?
May 22, 2008 4:09 AM | Reply | Permalink