Hillary Vs Obama Continued
Reuters reports from Iowa:
Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton sharpened her attacks on Tuesday on rival Barack Obama's experience, a day after a poll showed her falling slightly behind him in Iowa. ...
"Voters will judge whether living in a foreign country at the age of 10 prepares one to face the big, complex international challenges the next president will face," Clinton said during a campaign stop in Shenandoah, Iowa.
Because a lot of modern political campaign rhetoric is developed in the crosstab foundries of focus groups, polls and surveys, Hillary's remarks against Obama brought to mind the subject of ranging salvos.
Bracket Salvo - A method used to determine the range to a target. This procedure was extensively used by the German Navy in both World Wars. As used by the Germans, three half salvos were fired. The first half salvo was fired at the range determined by the rangefinder, the second at a range 400 meters too long and the third at a range 400 meters too short. By seeing which half salvo lands closest to the target, the actual range and bearing can be determined.
Working backwards from Hillary's remarks, the question is what is her political rangefinder trying to hit? Did some polls reveal a slight voter anxiety about Obama's childhood in a foreign country?
But almost as if on cue, Obama is shifting his image ever so slightly in a way that might make Hillary's next salvo land wide of the mark. Oprah Winfrey will campaign for Obama in Iowa and New Hampshire.
Obama made the disclosure while working a crowd at Central High School here, after delivering an education policy speech. A man, Ralph Hoagland, asked Obama—who was mingling and shaking hands-- if Oprah was going to stump for Obama in New Hampshire.
“First she’s coming to Iowa,” Obama told Hoagland, who in 1963 was a co-founder of what is now the giant CVS pharmacy chain. “But we’ll talk about it. We’ll get her up here.”
A woman piped up. “We need her here.”
“Is she thinking of not coming up to New Hampshire?” Hoagland asked?
Obama replied, “No, no no. We’re just doing it one state at a time.”
posted by wretchardthecat at 11/20/2007 03:43:00 PM
10 Comments:
This brings up an interesting question: Is a girl whose entire political career was founded on who she slept with really in any position to taunt someone else on a lack of experience? o_O
Obama had a good comeback, though:
Obama's retort: "I was wondering which world leader told her that we needed to invade Iraq."
Obviously, Obama is the Democrat anti-war candidate. He benefits from the strong viceral anti-war feelings of the Democrats Nutroots contingent. Here's his problem, if the country is evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and Independents how will promising an American defeat play to the non-crazies among the Dems and Indies? How will it play if the surge strategy is seen as working?
Clinton has been slapping harder at Obama on the issue of experience _ on Monday she said the nation's economy "can't afford on-the-job training" for the next president.
Unfortunately for her, Hillary is also vulnerable to inexperience charges. How much White House experience does Hillary have? The only thing Bill put her in charge of was the socialized healthcare plan, which was a spectacular failure, leading to Republican takeover in Congress. Did Hillary learn something from her mistake? She's still pushing for Hillarycare.
Hillary's inexperience was on display this week when she cancelled an appearence before a Sikh Group fundraiser after previously agreeing to appear. The reason given for the cancellation was "security concerns". Personally, I think the headline should have read "Seeking Sikhs' Support, Serious Security Scandal Surfaces". Now THAT's alliteration!
:^)
Paraphrasing Peter Grynch, Obama...benefits from the strong viceral anti-war feelings of the Democrats Nutroots contingent...if the country is evenly split between Democrats, Republicans, and Independents how will promising an American defeat play to the non-crazies among the Dems and Indies?
Two words: Ned Lamont.
I don't know what the harridan, or if you prefer, the scold, was doing when she was 10 but I do know that in a mid September day in 2007, when she was in her late fifties, she called the architect of the successful COIN strategy in Iraq a liar.
It requires the willing suspension of disbelief to accept that she is somehow capable of handling "big, complex international challenges" when she wasn't bright or courageous enough to embrace victory when it was staring her in the face.
Maybe if Hillary doesn't win, she'll join Lieberman, the Flying Pigs, et al.
Any attempt by Hillary to criticize other Democratic candidates for lack of experience calls to mind the phrase 'circular firing squad'...
Seriously.
Beer here, beer here, get your Ice Cold Beer.
Wow, this is fun. Pass the popcorn.
The fact that none of these people (including the Breck Girl) has ever run anything is the obvious disqualification.
I believe that Hillary is also hung around the neck with Bill. How will that White House function with her with no real experience and him with eight years of it? Add in the colossal egos and narcissism and the potential is rather off putting. We heard the china flying in the first eight. What'll it be like in the second?
Herb,
" We heard the china flying in the first eight. What'll it be like in the second?"
It will be the Mainland China. Will she be ready for that?
I think a better question is actually about whether or not it is possible to achieve a victory in Iraq no matter the circumstances of our exit.
It is an important principal in warfare that sieging is not the best tactic as the costs out way the benefits. Even with a "surge" It is my belief that even seeing a successful Iraq, prolonging our occupation will undoubtedly cripple our resources and man power allowing our enemy to gain an important advantage.
Another important thing to note is that terrorists have no home country. So capturing am insignificant refuge will have no benefit in the long haul.
I don't think that one can truly say in any sense, that Iraq is a victory. In fact I believe that leaving will may cause the region to settle due to the importance of self-preservation.
Although a defenseless Iraq is a prime target for Iran, Saudi would make a bid as well, every country in the region would get involved. Based on my knowledge of human history, self preservation is the greatest motive, even more than power.
I do not believe that Russia would get involved with these countries due to the political situation currently. I also believe that a war in the middle east would pull focus away from hating the US and Isreal. If that happens the region looses it's uniting bond and shatters.
In short, I see the middle east as such a powder keg in the world, that no one will dare to mess with it for fear of being too close when it goes off. It's the same principal as mutually assured destruction. Just as Russia and the US aimed nukes at each other until the early 90's, the middle east will be a cold war over the Iraq region.
Once oil runs out the region will lose influence and thus break into warfare on a much smaller scale with territorial squabbles.
I would also cite North Korea. They will never actually attack the US because they know that the damage they can inflict us would be almost negligible compared to what could happen to them.
If we stay in Iraq we will only continue to strain ourselves to protect a bomb no one wants to set off anyway. We need to recognize this and slowly, carefully set it down.
There is no cutting our loses in Iraq, because there will be no winning.
I'm sorry this was so long and I didn't get to my point until just now.
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