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Is this the end of the Clintons?
Telegraph.Co.UK ^ | Jan. 2, 2008 | Toby Harnden

Posted on 01/02/2008 10:31:10 AM PST by COUNTrecount

Was I witnessing the last throes of the 15-year-long Clinton political psychodrama in Ames, Iowa yesterday? Here’s my newspaper piece on Hillary’s final plea for support in tomorrow’s caucuses. The case she made was far from compelling – that she’s human (honest) and that she has unrivalled experience. Both propositions are debatable and she was much less compelling than Barack Obama and John Edwards have been in recent days. She seems to have had some kind of speech therapy to create a softy-soft voice that made me long for the grating shrillness of yore.

Hillary Clinton tried to present herself as softer and more human

The Obama campaign is supremely confident that victory is within its grasp. “So what?” I hear you ask. Iowa is a sparsely populated, unrepresentative state in which on the Democratic side only 124,000 people caucused in 2004. Surely it can’t matter that much? Don’t bet on it. If Hillary loses tomorrow, her presidential bid is likely to collapse like a house of cards.

For all the arguments against Iowa having such disproportionate influence – and Christopher Hitchens airs some good ones with characteristic aplomb here – it does mean that pre-packaged, calculating politicians like Hillary are scutinised and exposed (we’ll see if Mitt Romney is too).

All the money and establishment backing she had behind her couldn’t prevent her getting caught out by voters asking her about Iran and Iran, discovered planting softball questions and rumbled for having advisers forwarding smear emails about Obama. She tried to remain aloof and away from the voters but it didn’t work – if anything, the seeds of her demise (if that’s what it turns out to be) lay in that strategy.

When an incumbent-style campaign is built on a sense of inevitability, it comes under huge strain when hit by an early defeat. The bubble is burst – which is what will happen if Hillary loses Iowa to Obama in Iowa (if she loses to Edwards, the picture will be less clear).

Of course, if Hillary pulls through then it’s difficult to see how Obama and Edwards can beat her – this is absolutely their best shot. Adam Nagourney of the “New York Times” argues here that Iowa might mean nothing. That’s possible. But my hunch is that it will end up meaning everything.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: getoffthestage; hillary; ia2008; impeachedpresident; nothirdterm; oligarchy
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1 posted on 01/02/2008 10:31:12 AM PST by COUNTrecount
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To: COUNTrecount

The Clintons’ political drama is much older than 15 years. Their WHITE HOUSE spotlight has already lasted for 15 years.


2 posted on 01/02/2008 10:34:23 AM PST by weegee (End the Bush-Bush-Bush-Clinton/Clinton-Clinton/Clinton-Bush-Bush-Clinton/Clinton Oligarchy in 2008.)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: COUNTrecount

I don’t see Mrs. Bill Clinton losing this election. This is just another “Mrs. Bill Clinton overcame HUGE odds and is now the new Comeback Kid.”


4 posted on 01/02/2008 10:36:05 AM PST by MuttTheHoople
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: COUNTrecount

She seems to have had some kind of speech therapy to create a softy-soft voice that made me long for the grating shrillness of yore.


The only person I can recall who tried to remake themselves harder than Hillary is Michael Jackson. And, frankly, I’m surprised we haven’t seen her get “darker” to counter Obama’s advantage with African Americans.


6 posted on 01/02/2008 10:36:53 AM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: COUNTrecount

I am softer and more human


7 posted on 01/02/2008 10:38:00 AM PST by Zakeet (Be thankful we don't get all the government we pay for)
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To: COUNTrecount

GOD, I hope so!


8 posted on 01/02/2008 10:38:01 AM PST by ryan71
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To: Bon mots

“I hope it’s the end of those clowns”

I doubt this will be the stake through the heart that it’s going to take to stop this bloodsucker.


9 posted on 01/02/2008 10:38:34 AM PST by dblshot
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To: COUNTrecount

Not until they have had stakes driven through their hearts, and have been turned to ash by being exposed to the full light of day.


10 posted on 01/02/2008 10:39:37 AM PST by null and void (Don't taunt the tiger...)
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To: COUNTrecount
When I was putting Halloween decorations back in the attic I found a newspaper I saved from long ago that I forgot all about.

Tacoma News Tribune
December 20, 1998

Headline: CLINTON IMPEACHED

Who would of thought that they would still be on top of the political heap 10 years later? The Clintons arn’t going anywhere.

11 posted on 01/02/2008 10:40:35 AM PST by NavyCanDo
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To: dblshot

LOL, GMTA...


12 posted on 01/02/2008 10:41:21 AM PST by null and void (Don't taunt the tiger...)
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To: Bon mots
"But if I were Obama, I would stay the hell away from Ft. Marcy Park."

Also small planes and high rise buildings.

13 posted on 01/02/2008 10:41:38 AM PST by joebuck
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To: Zakeet

14 posted on 01/02/2008 10:43:24 AM PST by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: COUNTrecount
Even if this is the end of the Clintons politically, they will continue on the national stage.

They will become like Jimmy Carter -- still there, and desperately trying to influence events.

Both of them (that is, both of the Clintons) will try to win the Nobel Peace Prize (just like Carter).

Both of them will strive to be "Elder Statespeople".

And, like Jimmy Carter, they will become grotesque figures -- sort of like the weird uncle that all family members tolerate, but most feel embarrassed about.

15 posted on 01/02/2008 10:43:30 AM PST by chs68
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To: COUNTrecount
The Clintons aren’t going away any time soon. Stay tuned for lots more drama.
16 posted on 01/02/2008 10:43:37 AM PST by mojito
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To: COUNTrecount; MuttTheHoople
I think MuttTheHoople is on target in his post, but even if Hillary does go down in flames she's still a US Senator from New York. She might even be able to hold onto that position forever and ever and ever, just like the other liberal icons from New England get to do.

If Obama loses tomorrow, it's all sewn up for Hillary. In fact, Obama needs to win with a several point cushion and have Edwards place second. Only then will I finally be convinced that Edwards will be the Democratic nominee.

17 posted on 01/02/2008 10:43:46 AM PST by The KG9 Kid
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To: rbg81

And, frankly, I’m surprised we haven’t seen her get “darker” to counter Obama’s advantage with African Americans.


That might be a tough one - but she’s in no ways tard of talking “darker”.


18 posted on 01/02/2008 10:45:38 AM PST by 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
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To: COUNTrecount

But she cannot overcome the dreaded man hands.

19 posted on 01/02/2008 10:46:02 AM PST by brewcrew
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To: COUNTrecount

How will it ever be the end? Clintons scattered their flying monkeys all over the airwaves, with Snuffeloctopus on ABC and Car-
Vile on CNN. Until the
D(nc)inosaur media is erradicated or totally reformed (fat chance)these corrupt scumbags will be around for a long long time.


20 posted on 01/02/2008 10:46:35 AM PST by Bommer ("He that controls the spice controls the universe!" (unfortunately that spice is Nutmeg!)
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