BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

The mailers Hillary referred to in her statement of “outrage” arrived a few weeks ago.  In fact, I have had the NAFTA mail out for at least two weeks.  So, this morning, Madame Clinton awoke to “outrage?”  Sounds a little contrived to me.

It’s just hard for me to believe that a campaign, either Clinton’s or Obama’s, is unaware of everything the other sends out.  Or, is this just another example of the chaos and lack of containment in the Clinton war room?  And, the comparison to Karl Rove tactics?  That’s just garbage.

Now, let’s get real… Hillary’s words from last week… and take a look at NAFTA.  Obama claims that Clinton was a NAFTA supporter.  It was while Bill was in the Oval Office that NAFTA was signed.  At the time Hillary was the happy first wife and supportive of the bill… and of Bill.  Granted, the implementation has probably been a disappointment as Hillary has said, but doesn’t that leave her open to a discussion she would rather not have?

She liked the idea of NAFTA, but doesn’t particularly care for the result.  She liked supporting the President going into the War in Iraq, but doesn’t care for the result.  Oh, my!  I can certainly understand her position.  How many times have ideas sounded really good when presented and turned out to be a pile of poo?  I have fallen for those ideas more than once, wanting to trust the person presenting them.  But, come on, Hillary, you are running for President of the United States of America.  I’m running around the yard chasing the dog.  Hillary is not sounding like the candidate who is ready for “day one.” 

On the healthcare issue, Hillary is right on one point.  You have to start out asking for the hospital, because when the plan is “nibbled” away, we will be lucky to have a doctor.  But, Barack’s flyer only pointed out that mandates won’t work.  There are many Americans who would like to have health care, but mandating them to choose between food on the table and health care coverage isn’t going to work.  Some people can’t afford it.  Some people are playing medical roulette, gambling that they won’t need coverage, at least for a while, hoping that the economy will get better and with a new job or a pay raise, there won’t be a coin flip between health care coverage and feeding the family.  Either way you go.. Clinton’s plan or Obama’s… there are going to have to be subsidies and exceptions.  Let’s not forget that.

I really think Hillary is a very smart, well educated, politically astute candidate.  She’s nobody’s dummy, so let’s not bash her there.  However, recently she has shown her downside, perhaps more than she wanted to.

Can anyone remember the debate when Barack said he had a problem keeping up with papers, etc.?  He commented that he told his aides not to put a paper in his hand until he was ready to use it.  Hillary jumped on his lack of “managerial experience” like a fly on poop.  She commented that it was necessary for a President to be able to handle all areas of everything, sounding more like a control freak than a candidate.  So what has followed that debate?  Extensive exposure of Clinton’s lack of ability to manage… her campaign, her staff, the cost of donuts. 

Senator Clinton has complained that President Bush had no plan for Iraq after our grand entrance into the occupation and there is no exit strategy, no Plan B.  Well, it has come to light that much like Bush going into Iraq, Clinton went into Super Tuesday, expecting to sweep the states and be greeted with flowers as the savior of the Democratic Party.  Like Bush, Senator Clinton underestimated the adversary and had no follow-up plan.  Although the conclusion to the Austin debate sounded as if she is practicing her exit strategy.

So, we are into the “silly season”… deep into it.  Unfortunately, there are not enough differences between the candidates on policy issues to successfully debate position points to any great advantage.  Instead, like it or not, we are down to personalities and it’s time Hillary settled on one.