Hillary '08 - The Lady Who Divides

This morning this story popped up in the Tuscaloosa News. An outside group - supposedly - not affiliated with the Clinton campaign is already airing ads supporting her run for the presidency in the early primary state of New Hampshire.

The ads are designed to gin up the excitement and to firmly plant Hillary as the frontrunner in the minds of that state's "first in the nation" voting position.

There has been a consistent debate over whether Hillary has the steam to make it through the primary and general election cycle in 2008. Most critics who seem to think she won't always cite the same reason.

"Hillary is the strongest Democrat. She's the most popular woman in the
country," said Kunst, who believes the polarizing senator will attract votes
from Republicans who are unhappy with the Bush administration.

"The party simply says, 'Well, Hillary divisive, Hillary controversial.' We
say that is an asset, not a liability," Kunst said. "Nobody gets attacked like
her, but on the other hand nobody has the support like her."

For what it's worth. Divisive and controversial is exactly what she will have to be to give herself definition from the rest of the crowd of liberal standards that will attempt to run against her.

In marketing you always try to make your brand something that is distinct and triangulating division is how the Clintons were successful in the 90's.I don't know if it gets her anywhere in the general election.

But for the duration of the primary - expect Hillary to be divisive and controversial - she has to win the base. Expect the more calm, resolute Hillary to show up after the rest have dropped out and she's on her way to the big dance.

Will the REAL Hillary please stand up, please stand up, please stand up...

It is frustrating seeing the rapid almost scary changes that the former first lady can morph herself in to.

Senator Clinton in speaking to a fund raising crowd that would later in the day bestow better than $250,000 to her campaign chest, threw out the red meat ala "Howard the Dean" style in New York City.

The most outrageous things said:

"There has never been an administration, I don't believe in our history, more intent upon consolidating and abusing power to further their own agenda."

"I can tell you this: It's very hard to stop people who have no shame about what they're doing. It is very hard to tell people that they are making decisions that will undermine our checks and balances and constitutional system of government who don't care. It is very hard to stop people who have never been acquainted with the truth."

"Now, I talk to Eleanor Roosevelt all the time, and she has never said there is any reason to only have one point of view. But apparently they have a different direct line."

And following all of that invective against Christians, Conservatives, and Republicans she then turned her gaze to the media...

"It's shocking when you see how easily they fold in the media today," Mrs. Clinton said, again to strong applause. "They don't stand their ground. If they're criticized by the White House, they just fall apart.

"I mean, c'mon, toughen up, guys, it's only our Constitution and country at stake."

So just remember these little jibes the next time you hear a report about how "centrist" Hillary has become.

"HILLARY IN 2006" or "HILLARY IN 2008"
"Who the hell cares - just so long as I get to rule the world!"

HillaryWatch: Clinton's new approval numbers...

Just "look how far she's come"...

In 2001, the incoming Senator only had the confidence of 38% of her voter constituency, that now sits at an all time new high of 65%.

Not only that she continues to lead all Democratic front-runners for 2008 Presidential prospects... Among Democrats - 40% choose Clinton to be the party's nominee in the next presidential race. 25% picked John Kerry, 17% went with John Edwards.

It is important to point out that no other female candidate has ever had such a chance of winning a party's nomination before.

Long time Clinton strategist, and later Clinton critic - Dick Morris wrote for "The Hill" today that Condaleeza Rice will be the best shot for Republicans in opposing Clinton's eventual coronation.

HillaryWatch: Pro-Life Groups want a meeting...

Perhaps you missed this bit of news today...

A Pro-Life group has asked for an audience with Senator Clinton. This comes on the heels of a speech given last month in which the Senator advocated finding more "common ground" on the issue of abortion prevention.

While most pro-life groups laughed at the idea that Senator was doing anything more than triangulating for a 2008 Presidential run, the Christian Defense Coalition is taking up the senator on the offer to find said common ground.

In a letter sent to Clinton the groups said:

"Senator Clinton, it is truly our hope that you were sincere in your desire to reach out to people of faith and the pro-life community. It would be very disappointing and troubling to discover your recent statements were motivated only by political posturing. Senator Clinton, a discussion with the pro-life community would help determine if you were sincere in your comments, or if you were attempting to reinvent yourself on the topic of abortion, to appear less radical."

The group also has plans to approach the Senator's office to schedule a face to face.

HillaryWatch wishes them well in their lofty endeavors.

HillaryWatch: "Praying Person" comment questioned...

A few weeks back this blog and many others across the blogosphere were taken in by a preliminary report that later turned out to be satire concerning Hillary's "Evangelical-ness". However at recent gatherings in discussing the use of faith-based initiatives - confirmed reports have Hillary casting herself as one of the faithful referring to herself as someone who has always been a "praying person". Faith based activists do seem to be objecting to such categorization.

HillaryWatch: Weekend Roundup

I'm sure this will surprise no one - but this former Hillary staffer is predicting/advocating two things...Hillary is the top candidate to beat in '08...and Bush's speech was 100% on target.

A lot of folks dismiss Morris now as some sort of one man Clinton truth squad - but the truth is - he does know the Clintons in ways that no other former staffers do. Which is one reason why these:

are such best sellers. But whether you love him or hate him...he's hard to argue with. He lived it - was there - heard the off the record conversations.

The LONDON TIMES has just released some interesting numbers. Laura Bush's approval rating nearly double as President Bush enters his second term as what Hillary's was going into "Bill II".

As it happens, Laura Bush has the highest approval rating of any first lady in living memory: it currently stands at 71%. Her popularity outranks her husband’s by nearly 20%, and 55% of Democrats like her, even if they loathe her other half. Her fans don’t consist solely of conservative evangelicals. Furthermore, nearly four-fifths of Americans recently told pollsters she has “improved the image of the office of first lady”. To put this in context, Hillary Clinton’s approval rating as her husband went into his second term was a mere 47%.

"Has improved the image of the office of the first lady?"

OUCH - who was the first lady immediately previous to Mrs. Bush? HillaryWatch does not see how this will help demonstrate much of anything other than the fact that the front-runner for the Dems in '08 (despite RadioBlogger's objection) does indeed have work to do to "improve the image of a former first lady" - the only one in history who did go on to become Senator. And if she achieves her goal - the first to become President...

HillaryWatch: More 2008 Speculation...

It seems darn certain. Or then again does it? Today more reports concerning Hillary's intention for 2008.

The National Ledger picked up on a report that USNews was circulating this weekend. It went something like this...

You don't have to take it from us about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's desire to run for president. Her brothers, Hugh and Tony Rodham, say it's true. Friends tell us that the two are cheering Sis on and say she's making all the moves to get ready for the race--presuming she is re-elected by New Yorkers
in 2006.

But they weren't the only ones pondering aloud what Hillary's next step is. The NYDailyNews Richard Shwartz goes so far as to say that Bill Clinton's by-pass came at an "inadvertently convenient" juncture in Hillary's time-table. The implication being that it took her off the trail long enough to not be really pressed into duty for the Kerry Campaign.

And it looks like Hillary's position may infact be weakening Gov. George Pataki's resistance to the idea of running for Senator against Hillary.

HillaryWatch has maintained from the beginning that she will run for President. This is something we still believe - however - as we've said before she MUST win her Senatorial race to do so.

A loss against a Pataki, Powell, or Gulliani in 2006 would seal her fate in 2008.

HillaryWatch honors Dr. King.

Today the question should be - are we any closer to achieving the dream he laid out for us than we were when he challenged us?

In many ways HillaryWatch believes we might be...in some significant ways we believe that we are not.

Dr. King was a valiant man of faith and in many good ways - optimism. Today we rededicate ourselves to his ideas. His widow Coretta has issued a tremendous challenge to us today - make something of today as a tribute to the lasting power of Dr. King's legacy.

We agree and dedicate ourselves to just that.

HillaryWatch: Finance Aide Indicted/Hillary Knew The Truth

As the news was breaking on the new developments in the "Hillary Aide" story, I am sad to report I was headed out of town. But I have since returned and there are some important things to be pointed out here.

First off...

The indictment is serious. WNBC had the details first. Up to four seperate counts of indictable wrong doing. Each of them carrying a jail sentance of up to five years and $250,000 PER in fines. (That's $1,000,000 all totaled.)

With her typical style, Clinton denied being informed of the details. Her attorney David Kendall (of impeachment fame) simply said that the Senate office was working with the investigation and that they were confident that when the smoke cleared... blah, blah, blah...

BUT NOW COMES THIS TIDBIT...

It turns out that Hillary had herself personally negotiated some of the fees involved in the now infamous fund-raiser. And this come's from the producer for the event - Peter Paul.

Paul is saying that he informed Mrs. Clinton that her finance director, had failed to accurately report the costs for the event to the Federal Election Commission.

"Hillary Clinton personally called the producer of the concert part of this event," Mr. Paul told Fox News Channel's Eric Shawn. "She asked him to lower the fee that he was charging of $850,000 at my request. So I don't understand how she could possibly say that she didn't know."

The Clinton camp, for what its worth, is sticking by its story...with lackey-lawyer Kendall running out with press statements.

This time however conservative activist group Judicial Watch claims that they can produce video, pictures, and thank you notes that demonstrate Hillary's involvement. A Judicial Watch spokesman confirmed to HillaryWatch that they have in fact handed this evidence over to the Justice Department.

HillaryWatch firmly believes that if Mrs. Clinton is to have any chance at securing the party's nomination in 2008 she has to be transparent on this issue and anything else that comes as close to the heart in the weeks ahead.

We even suggest that Hillary might in fact do so in certain transparency to be more acceptable to the middle of America that she believes she might still snag long term in a heated Presidential race.

HillaryWatch: Clinton's Public Pledge on Tsunami Disaster Relief

President and Mrs. Clinton who have made better than $30 million in book advances since leaving the White House took time this weekend to make a very public pledge of personal funds towards the relief work going on in the Tsunami wrecked region of the Indian Ocean.

The Clintons were appearing at a relief effort in Queens and met with some 30 volunteers gathered. Oh yes, and New York Newsday newspaper reporter just happened to be there to get a statement from the couple.

Later in the weekend when the Clintons were queried by CNN as to how much they would be personally donating to the cause - the Clintons' spokesperson went silent.

Lesson learned? Don't make a big public deal about what a great contribution you're going to make to charity - if you intend it to be private. HillaryWatch believes it makes you look like a couple of cheap publicity chasers...

HW is also sure it makes you look that way to others as well...

HillaryWatch: NYPost readers miffed...

New York Post readers are not taking kindly to recent revelations concerning the timeline between Bill Clinton's last minute pardon of Oil Financier Marc Rich and his ex-wife's contributions to the "Hillary for Senate campaign...
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"Bill Clinton pardons Marc Rich in the final minutes of his presidency, after Rich's ex-wife had donated to Hillary Clinton's senatorial campaign. And, of course, Rich immediately goes into business with Saddam Hussein in the Oil-for-Food scam. Now Hillary is running for president and Bill is looking to become the next U.N. secretary general.Quite the cozy arrangement, that."
Joan Reilly/Denver,Colo.
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"When Bill Clinton pardoned Marc Rich in 2001, that made it easier for Rich to participate in the Oil-for-Food scandal. Therefore, it can be fairly said that Bill Clinton himself bears partial responsibility for the deaths of more than 1,000 soldiers in Iraq, since the reason the soldiers were sent in Iraq was to prevent Saddam from using his stolen booty to build WMDs. Bill Clinton: the gift that keeps on giving."
James Nollet
Billerica, Mass.
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Hopefully, some chickens are coming home to roost for Bill and Hill now that Marc Rich has been fingered as an active participant in the U.N. Oil-for-Food fiasco. This is the same tax evader and fugitive whose ex-wife Denise funded Hillary's senate campaign and Bill's presidential library with big bucks, in exchange for a last minute presidential pardon for her husband just before Clinton left office. When Hillary Clinton runs for president as the Democratic candidate in 2008, the Republicans must not let Americans forget about Marc Rich.
Emil Maricondo
Brooklyn

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