The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

We are big on body language. And, last night spoke volumes. Obama, flew into Madison, Wisconsin, bounded onto the stage, after the rousing victories in Virginia, Maryland and The District of Columbia. The packed house had been waiting for some

time, but they didn't seem to mind. The agent for change, was worth waiting for, they figured. And, that speech gave them what they were waiting for.

Barack Obama hit a grand slam. They loaded up the bases for him, and he knocked it out of the park. Issues, you want issues, we'll give you issues.

He spoke about the Economy. He spoke about Healthcare. He spoke about the security of Social Security. He spoke about "the war that never

should have been authorized, never should have been waged". He spoke about the mozaic of his movement for change. He spoke about looking forward and not back. And, yes, he talked about CHANGE.

He praised John McCain, as an American hero. Then he stated their differences. But, he did it in a way that was so classy. If destiny is served, and these two meet in the contest for President of the United States of America, it will be a different kind of race than we've been used to these last few
decades.

"I love you guys", he closed, as the house went mad.

Is it me, or does it seem like Hillary has outsourced "commenting" and "blog posting" to some phone bank in a third world country?

E.G.,

"If you wont a "Car Sales man as President" ? then go for it, but remember you can only harvest what you sow? If you wont the most brillent woman not only in the U S A but the world, then I say to the Smart Democratic voters , the Swing voters, the Republicians who wont a strong U S A then I say to them all, unite and Vote for Hillery Clinton,?"

and,

"it's so sad to read all these people trashing hillary. they seems to go for obama like voting for someone on american idol. obama is running on slogans and empty phrases. yes we can, i am skiny but strong, this is our time, etc. where is the beef? "

See what I mean? Seriously, it seems like this stuff was dictated by a non-native speaker to a child-laborer typist in Bangladesh or something. Either that, or this is what they mean when they say that Hillary supporters are less well educated.

Deck chairs on the Titanic. At least she can divorce now.

I'm not a cheerleader for either Clinton or Obama, yet I find the use of the word "Hillaryland" demeaning to any candidate for president and beneath the dignity of The Post. You're a newspaper of record; that's a tabloid header; leave it to the tabs.

On the subject of Clinton v Obama: the Democratic party, as witnessed in the above letters, is spilling its guts in living color--pun intended. It's a good housecleaning, and long overdue. The Republicans can't provide this catharsis. The chances of having an African-American male and a white female running for president in the same election under the banner of the elephant are close to absolute zero. (That it's a Yale-Harvard game is a story best left untouched for the moment, Obama being divine and his higher mere heavenly filigree. :)) God bless us and may the best candidate win.

I resided in the U S A for 13 years, and OBAMA sounds so much like a "Car Sales Man" to me, I have heard it all before,Motor Mouth, flapping lips that say nothing? Just stop and listen to what he is saying, OBAMA will not unite the U S A , he will divide your country?, in his speaches he sounds like a broken record? Just step back and look at the mess a inexperienced person who is elected as President can make, I am quite sure the U S A does not wont a repeat of Bush's years, while in the U S A, I attended a meeting that Mrs Hillery Clinton spoke for 4 hours with out any notes, she answered questions for 30 minuts, I was over welled, I know and the smart people of America know that with Hillery Clinton as President she will gain the respect from world leaders, and respect for America in the eyes of the people of the world, If you wont a "Car Sales man as President" ? then go for it, but remember you can only harvest what you sow? If you wont the most brillent woman not only in the U S A but the world, then I say to the Smart Democratic voters , the Swing voters, the Republicians who wont a strong U S A then I say to them all, unite and Vote for Hillery Clinton, John McNicol, Australia. 6147822123

It would be wise to compare Obama's political record (in both Illinois and Capitol Hill) with Hillary's. Obama has more experience. There was a post a few days ago by someone who knowledgeably compared the records of the two. Obama's record and experience towers over Hillary's. I wish the person who posted that very well-presented comparison would post it again.

Obama is running on trite and hollow slogans and buzz phrases. The man lacks the experience and gravitas to run the country. HE HAS NO PLANS. What are we gonna do--give him 4 years to figure out how to do his job -- as in ON THE JOB TRAINING? If Obama is elected, the Republicans will eat him alive. Hillary is the only Democrat with a spine of steel and plan after plan who can stand up to the Republicans and lead the country out of the 8 years of disaster that Bush/Cheney have plunged the country into. Like she said the other day: "This country doesn't need HOPE; what it needs is HELP." She is the only candidate who can do the job.

Obama is not running on "empty phrases." Obama has outlined his positions on the issues in detail on his website, in debates, and on the campaign trail. Phrases like Clinton's "ready to lead on day one"; "35 years of experience"; "Let the conversation begin"; "I have real solutions for America"; "it took a president." are like Obama's phrases; they are meant to energize and inspire their supporters--not explain how to fix social security.

I am just amazed how people who oppose a candidate make up "empty" reasons for condemning the candidate.

Obama and Clinton are both politicians with experienced campaign managers; thus, both have outlined their positions on the issues in detail. Obama and Clinton both have speech writers who develop phrases which they hope will define their candidate's character, aspirations, and hopes for America, while energizing their supporters.

Obama and Clinton are both working very hard to win the nomination--that includes repeating campaign slogans in their speeches. Frankly, I don't know how they get out there day after day, giving speech after speech, in city after city.

Right on, norcrossman! Your post says it all!

to browneyedgrl615
Well said. Amen. It is happening.

Headline misleading. There was one more "shakeup." Headline implies there were multiple shakeups. This could be poor choice of words, or bias. Wish it were neither, hope it's the former.

jimnpat:

You are ridiculous. Where is your evidence that Hillary Clinton is so brilliant? So she has an Ivy League education and was a partner in a law firm. That describes like 95% of the people on Capitol Hill? And what is Hillary Clinton's great experience? 8 years in the Senate without having played a leading role in writing or passing any significant legislation? And if Hillary can't get elected president what other female can? Right. As if there aren't 16 other female senators, most of whom have more seniority than her, and that speaks nothing of the several female governors that we have. Were Dianne Feinstein running against Barack Hussein Obama, she would clean his clock.

That is why Hillary Clinton is doing so poorly with her claims that she has so much experience WHEN SHE IS ONLY A JUNIOR SENATOR TO CHUCK SCHUMER, WHO IS ACTUALLY THE MORE EXPERIENCED ACCOMPLISHED POWERFUL PROMINENT SENATOR FROM HER OWN STATE. AND SCHUMER WAS ONLY ELECTED IN THE MID 1990S!

The reason why Clinton is playing the "experienced" card is also racial by the way. It is a long - utilized conservative race - baiting tactic against not only black political candidates but blacks in general. Whenever a black person achieves something or is a candidate for something, inside or outside of politics, the Rush Limbaugh contingent always claims that they are stealing an opportunity from some imaginary more qualified white person. Just like those Jesse Helms ads that showed a black man's hand pushing a white man's hand off the table. That was why Hillary Clinton was saying that "she respected Charlie Rangel because he hasn't tried to leapfrog anybody to get where he is." And where is Charlie Rangel exactly? A dead - end job as a congressman in a black district. Rangel has never been in the house leadership, and the New York Democratic Party has never put Rangel up for statewide office. Unlike, well, HILLARY CLINTON, who got the Senate nomination unopposed despite not even being a New York resident! Hey Hillary, who was "more experienced" when you ran for New York Senate? You or Rangel? Heck, Rangel is more experienced than Hillary now, just like 80% of the people on Capitol Hill.

But Hillary's political skills are so bad that she doesn't realize that she isn't running a 1980s Arkansas governor's race, so her coded anti - affirmative action language isn't nearly as effective. That is, except with blacks, who have gone from supporting Hillary by 2 to 1 to supporting Obama by 9 to 1! Affirmative action has been DEAD as a political issue since 1998 when huge black turnout picked up some Democratic congress seats bailed out her perjuring disbarred husband during impeachment (only THEN did Hillary see the wisdom to settle Paula Jones' lawsuit, which if she had done in 1993 Clinton never would have gotten impeached, perjured himself, or been disbarred in the first place ... then again Travelgate and Filegate would have still happened, and all of Clinton's associates would have still gone to jail for refusing to testify against him, but hey, it was just a failed land deal right?). If Republicans had to give up the affirmative action resentment card since it was no longer working for them, then what made Hillary think that doing the same would work for her in a Democratic primary? Now I do know that a lot of the women that file these anti - affirmative action lawsuits JUST HAPPEN to be suburban white women like Hillary, but still, come on.

jimnpat, Hillary is just a bad candidate. Better to find out now than against McCain. Obama isn't perfect, but at least with him you have a shot. Even Obama said that for Hillary to claim that she would have to change her message to run against a fellow that was serving in Congress back when she was still on the Wal - Mart board of directors back in Arkansas (and Tyson Chicken too).

As an Obama supporter, I have nothing against Hillary. We have two exceptional candidates; it's a competition; he is winning fair and square. I must say that I do like the fact that Obama presents himself as an ordinary person; that transparency will be part of his government; that change will only happen if we make the change, and not wait for our president to solve our problems.

Integrity, honesty, and the ability to connect with real people who have never had the perks the Clintons, Bush's, et al have had are trumping the politic of going with the wind, public service for power, and petty behaviors. This is good for American and will be even better in the right and nomination happens w/o interference by power mongers and status quo.

it's so sad to read all these people trashing hillary. they seems to go for obama like voting for someone on american idol. obama is running on slogans and empty phrases. yes we can, i am skiny but strong, this is our time, etc. where is the beef? the "i'm a uniter" remind me of 7 years or so ago. we have been there and aparently will done that again. 8 years of Bush "learning on the job" is not enough, brace yourself for the next round.

I write as an American Citizen living outside the USA. The world watches what we do and what we say. I pray for the sake of the Democratic party, which has the opportunity to make a dramatic change for the better for America and for our global community, lets not let this slide into gender, racial, or a morality oriented slanging match. I encourage Hillary, should she lose now in Ohio or Texas to step aside and acknowledge that Obama is the better candidate, and to throw her considerable talents behind him, for this reason alone: Obama is clearly a leader who unifies.

Nicholas Randall
Australia

I don't hate Hillary, but Obama is exciting and inspirational.

She's got an uphill battle, as anyone would, going up against the guy with the message of Hope, Change, Unity, and a 'Can Do' attitude.

I don't think the problem is her so much as it is that Obama is looking unstoppable.

Which is fine with me: Obama O8

~

the only reason these people are saying mean things about hillary is because they know shes the one to be our president.and she will win.no way obamma needs to be president,i can't beleive the american people can't see through obamma,he never answers a question its always a bunch of talking that it feels like hes speaking another language i don't understand!

Once again personality trumps skill in presidential politics. I for one am glad we had 8 good years under the Clintons. My heart goes out to all those sincere women and men, such as myself, who wished to see a lady president. If someone as brilliant and experienced as Hillary can't get to the top, I'm afraid there is no hope to see a lady president in America.

ladyolove
and, no doubt, Hillary's "First Laddie" would do the same. It's time we stopped this BUSH/CLINTON/BUSH dynasty with their dual presidencies, a'la CLINTON/CLINTON & BUSH/CHENEY. We want the ones we elected to be up front and responsible.
GO OBAMA 2008!!!!!!!!!!

You guys need to get a life outside of Hillary bashing. You all sound sooo petty!!

Of course she wants power. So does every other candidate out there. And what's wrong with a professional woman being more than window dressing as first lady? An office is an issue for you. Would you be making that same point against a man whose wife was elected president?

Get smart. Get active. Get involved. And get a life.

An Obama supporter.

So much for Billary's leadership abilities. Like Bill says, "There's the right kind of experience and the WRONG kind of experience". Loaning yourself $5 million, changing management mid-stream, and inflating your position - all show a poorly run campaign.

I shudder to think that Clintons would do as poorly - or worse, throwing in a few new scandals - if they were allowed 4 more years in the White House.

Trivia fact: Hillary was the only "First Lady" to set up office in the Oval Office!! Does that tell you anything about her lust for power & position?

The wicked witch has a lot more tricks in her to get the Ruby Slippers. Just watch!

Hillary will fire lots more people. She will never admit that she's the problem. With Bill and her, it's always someone else's fault.

She probably believes this Henry guy was a mole planted by 'the vast right-wing conspiracy; that's been after her for years.

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