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Out With the Old, In With the New (Obama and Huckabee rise; Mrs. Clinton falls. )
Opinion Journal ^ | January 4, 2008 | Peggy Noonan

Posted on 01/04/2008 5:07:51 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182

And so it begins.

We wanted exciting, we got exciting.

As this is written, late on the night of the caucuses, the outlines of the decisions seem clear: Barack Obama won.

Hillary Clinton, the inevitable, the avatar of the machine, lost.

It's huge. Even though people have been talking about this possibility for six weeks now, it's still huge. She had the money, she had the organization, the party's stars, she had Elvis behind her, and the Clinton name in a base that loved Bill. And she lost. There are always a lot of reasons for a loss, but the Ur reason in this case, the thing it all comes down to? There's something about her that makes you look, watch, think, look again, weigh and say: No.

She started out way ahead, met everyone, and lost.....[snip]

[snip]....My sense is that Mr. Huckabee's good supporters deserve a better leader.

His next problem may be not so much New Hampshire as Ed Rollins, the Reagan White House political aide who came in a week ago to manage his campaign. Mr. Rollins began his tenure announcing to respectful young reporters that he--"the grizzled veteran," the "old battler"--would like to sink to his knees and "shoot Romney in the groin" and "punch his teeth out." Such class is of course always welcome on the trail, but one senses the verbal ante will constantly be upped, and I'm not sure that will work well for Mr. Huckabee. Self inflated dirigibles, especially unmoored ones, can cast shadows on parades.

(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: ia2008; noonan

1 posted on 01/04/2008 5:07:53 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Anti-Bubba182
Too bad.

I want her to win the democrat primaries.

Conservatives can easily beat her.

People are stupid. They'll easily elect the first black president.

Obama will be harder to beat.

2 posted on 01/04/2008 5:12:04 AM PST by Bear_Slayer (When liberty is outlawed only outlaws will have liberty.)
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To: Anti-Bubba182

>>
Self inflated dirigibles, especially unmoored ones, can cast shadows on parades.
>>

What could she possibly mean by that!

I have said this before but this woman is TOO CEREBRAL. Her use of language is so-o-o creative it makes me cringe.


3 posted on 01/04/2008 5:13:39 AM PST by SatinDoll (Fred Head and proud of it!)
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To: Anti-Bubba182

Well, it was nice to see Hilliam Jefferson Rodham Clinton lose in their third Iowa Caucus, but the real question is:

Will ANY of the current candidates (from either criminal syndicate... I mean political party) actually “support and defend the Constitution” if they are elected President of the UNited States of America?

The 2008 “crop” certainly apperas, to me at any rate, to be THE WORST batch of presidential contenders this country has fielded in my lifetime (which started during the Johnson administration).


4 posted on 01/04/2008 5:15:10 AM PST by WayneS (Follow the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th.)
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To: Bear_Slayer
Obama will be harder to beat.

He might do well in polling, but he'll lose at the polls. Hes an out and out socialist.

5 posted on 01/04/2008 5:16:07 AM PST by Nonstatist
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To: Bear_Slayer
I wish Hillary would of won also. The Iowa tradition of not picking a President since 1976 would a strong negative on her. Let’s hope it holds true for Obama AND the Huckster.
6 posted on 01/04/2008 5:16:59 AM PST by mad_as_he$$ ("Has there been a code nine? Have you heard from the Doctor?")
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To: Bear_Slayer

Agreed. Obama sounds good superficially, if you look no deeper .. and many easily-led Americans will not, since the alphabet media will fawn all over him and puff him up just like they did the Clintons.


7 posted on 01/04/2008 5:17:07 AM PST by cinives (On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
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To: SatinDoll

If she is saying Rollins is too nasty, maybe, but much of the so called outbursts are calculated. Huckabee must have someone to take the lowroad as he must always appear to take the high road.


8 posted on 01/04/2008 5:18:19 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: Anti-Bubba182

If you saw Obama’s victory speech last night, you would be tempted to send a donation to Hillary this morning. He is a TERRIFIC orator and would be much harder to defeat than Hillary, with all her baggage. And that includes her HINO. Think of it...67% of the 220,000 Iowa Dem caucus goers voted against her last night. If she weren’t Mrs. Clinton, she would be finished this morning, but the msm will keep propping her up as long as she’s breathing.


9 posted on 01/04/2008 5:19:48 AM PST by kittymyrib
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To: SatinDoll
Her use of language is so-o-o creative it makes me cringe.

You say creative and I say pretentious. Sort of like the writer who uses a really long word where a really short one will do as well.

10 posted on 01/04/2008 5:22:43 AM PST by KevinB
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To: Anti-Bubba182

Yeah, I know. But I’m talking about Peggy Noonan’s writing; it drives me CRAZY!!


11 posted on 01/04/2008 5:24:06 AM PST by SatinDoll (Fred Head and proud of it!)
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To: Nonstatist
Like I said. People are stupid.

THey don't care that he is a socialist. Most people couldn't tell you what one is, anyways.

In fact, they'll be glad to elect him if he promises more milk from the government t!t.

He's black, he's handsome, he's young.

Black is the new . . . black.

Haven't you noticed.

It's cool to be black -- even if your white.

12 posted on 01/04/2008 5:27:16 AM PST by Bear_Slayer (When liberty is outlawed only outlaws will have liberty.)
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To: kittymyrib

Have you noticed something weird about Obama’s speeches? He never says “how” he is going to do these miraculous bipartisan miracles of cooperation.

If he somehow pulls off being elected President he will be an utter failure and result in a tragedy for this nation.


13 posted on 01/04/2008 5:27:41 AM PST by SatinDoll (Fred Head and proud of it!)
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To: Bear_Slayer
People are stupid. They'll easily elect the first black president. Obama will be harder to beat.

Perhaps, but he'd still be a lot percent better than Hillary in the White House. I heard him on "Meet the Press" last Sunday with a counter to her forced health care plan. Naturally, Hillary will make it mandatory, by force of government, that people are in the program (and, just as naturally, you'll probably be seeing a doctor named "Mohammad" who graduated from the University of Nairobi medical college). Obama, at least, wants to make health care more afordable and still give Americans a choice.

This is in no way an endorsement. He'd be a complete failure when it comes to foreign policy and we'd be primed for numerous 9-11s. He has stated that he intends to dog OBL to ground (at the risk of a nuclear exchange with Pakistan) IOW, points for bravado, but at the price of pure stupidity.

14 posted on 01/04/2008 5:29:39 AM PST by meandog (I'm one of the FEW and the BRAVE FReepers still supporting John McCain)
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To: Anti-Bubba182
One thing for sure; Leo Durocher was wrong about both parties - nice guys don't always finish last.

That's one common point both Obama and Huckabee share so far with the memory of Ronald Reagan; he never came across as mean or unpleasant.

The other good news from this Iowa party is that money was not the deciding factor. That is a good thing for America.

15 posted on 01/04/2008 5:29:42 AM PST by Bernard (If you always tell the truth, you never have to remember exactly what you said.)
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To: kittymyrib

“He is a TERRIFIC orator and would be much harder to defeat than Hillary, with all her baggage.”

I listened to his speech. I agree with you.

He may just be the best orator since Ronald Reagan.

He’s scary.


16 posted on 01/04/2008 5:29:44 AM PST by EEDUDE
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To: Anti-Bubba182

I’m so hoping for a Clinton/Obama ticket. If he won’t consent to playing second fiddle, he might should stay clear of all planes and parks and hire a great tax attorney.


17 posted on 01/04/2008 5:30:24 AM PST by mtbopfuyn (I think the border is kind of an artificial barrier - San Antonio councilwoman Patti Radle)
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To: Bear_Slayer

Exactly. Out of the dem 3, Hillary would have been the easiest to pick off in November.


18 posted on 01/04/2008 5:32:24 AM PST by Hoodlum91 (I support global warming.)
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To: meandog
Perhaps, but he'd still be a lot percent better than Hillary in the White House

Why care!?

I'm tired of electing the lesser of two evils. They're still evil (metaphorically)

We need to elect people that truly understand the constitution and long for liberty; people that understand a long-term local & global vision that protects that liberty and saftey of america from all enemies foreign and domestic.

19 posted on 01/04/2008 5:36:02 AM PST by Bear_Slayer (When liberty is outlawed only outlaws will have liberty.)
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To: meandog
"He has stated that he intends to dog OBL to ground..."

Shouldn't be too difficult, he probably has a key to OBL's crib.

20 posted on 01/04/2008 5:39:30 AM PST by FishTale
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To: Anti-Bubba182
My sense is that Mr. Huckabee's good supporters deserve a better leader.

Yikes. The kiss of death from Ms. Noonan. Wonder who she supports?

21 posted on 01/04/2008 5:54:10 AM PST by wbill
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To: SatinDoll

It’s a fairly direct reference to Ed Rollins, who she knew personally from the Reagan years. Rollins is a egotistical blowhard (self-inflated dirigible) who will harm Huck in the end (shadow on the parade). Although, IMO, Huck will bring the shadows onto his own parade.


22 posted on 01/04/2008 5:55:05 AM PST by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: cinives

I would suggest that this same “sounds good superficially” applies to Huck as well. This too shall pass.


23 posted on 01/04/2008 5:56:30 AM PST by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Bear_Slayer
he's handsome

Where in the world did this rumor get started? He may be charismatic, a socialist, a great orator. I don't know - I've never listened to one of his speeches. But handsome? Why does this keep being repeated? He is NOT handsome. Not in any sense of the word. His wife is more handsome than he is. For that matter, his wife is more manly than he is too.

If Obama is handsome, then Huckabee's a hunk. (And he's not.)

24 posted on 01/04/2008 5:56:57 AM PST by carmody
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To: Nonstatist
I think that Obama will lose in a general election.

Why? Because, despite all of their posing to the contrary, people just won't vote for the black guy. I can think of plenty of Southern Democrats who will find a reason to vote (R) this year. "Obama - bless his heart, nice guy, but I like Fred Thompson because of his stance on blahblahblah.".

It will be fun to watch hypocracy explode the Democrat party.

25 posted on 01/04/2008 5:57:21 AM PST by wbill
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To: Servant of the Cross

I hope so. The Huckster is just as bad as the Clintons IMO


26 posted on 01/04/2008 5:57:59 AM PST by cinives (On some planets what I do is considered normal.)
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To: Bernard
That's one common point both Obama and Huckabee share so far with the memory of Ronald Reagan; he never came across as mean or unpleasant.

Huckabee has a nasty mean streak.

27 posted on 01/04/2008 5:58:28 AM PST by BfloGuy (It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we can expect . . .)
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To: SatinDoll

Name your poison?
That is, you know the dems are going to win the general election. As a crossover voter whom do you choose?

1. Richardson
2. Obama
3. Hemlock “Pay it and do not neglect it”.


28 posted on 01/04/2008 5:58:48 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT (Life is Good!)
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To: Hoodlum91
Exactly. Out of the dem 3, Hillary would have been the easiest to pick off in November.

Agreed, but IMHO, it's better to take her out early and not give her the chance.

Rudy would have stomped her in the 2000 Senate Race; instead, he came down with Prostate Cancer.

In a two party race, Hillary loses, but, all it would take is an idiot like Bloomberg to jump in, and we could have another Clinton presidency.

Better to end her campaign early. And expediently.

29 posted on 01/04/2008 6:00:51 AM PST by wbill
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To: wbill
I completely agree with her on this. IMO, she thinks they should find their way to Fred.
30 posted on 01/04/2008 6:01:29 AM PST by Servant of the Cross (the Truth will set you free)
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To: Anti-Bubba182

Nobody should be afraid of the lightweight Obama. He was always Hillary’s first choice for an opponent because he would be the easist to knock off at the end.


31 posted on 01/04/2008 6:02:54 AM PST by palmer
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To: DUMBGRUNT

No, I don’t know that the Dems are going to win the election. But I do remember how perfectly sane conservatives went out and stupidly voted for Jimmy Carter in ‘76. Some people, I’m sure, will look at Obama and say, “how could someone who sounds so right be wrong”.
And wanting to believe the blather, they vote for him.

It would be a big mistake.


32 posted on 01/04/2008 6:03:17 AM PST by SatinDoll (Fred Head and proud of it!)
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To: WayneS
Will ANY of the current candidates (from either criminal syndicate... I mean political party) actually “support and defend the Constitution” if they are elected President of the UNited States of America?

One word answer, HELL NO! Okay, sorry, two words.

33 posted on 01/04/2008 6:03:20 AM PST by RetiredArmy (Better prepare, come Nov 08, we have a Marxist Commissar President and Marxist Congress.)
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To: palmer

That is the conventional wisdom. I wish Obama well, just long enough to destroy Hillary in this election.


34 posted on 01/04/2008 6:11:57 AM PST by Anti-Bubba182
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To: RetiredArmy

Yeah, that’s what I was thinking too. What a sad time for our country.

PS - Thank you for your service.


35 posted on 01/04/2008 7:00:39 AM PST by WayneS (Follow the 2nd Amendment; Repeal the 16th.)
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To: carmody
I'm guilty of repeating it, but I'm not the orignator of it.

I don't know where it comes from. There must be some segment of women that think he is handsome.

I'm a man so I'm not moved by his appearance, but objectively speaking I did not find him repulisve. I assumed women thought him attractive and repeated the rumour.

36 posted on 01/04/2008 7:17:37 AM PST by Bear_Slayer (When liberty is outlawed only outlaws will have liberty.)
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To: Nonstatist
He might do well in polling, but he'll lose at the polls

Ultimately, the "race card" that Obama is playing now will be used against him.

And justifiably so.

Conservatives will be FOOLS if Obama is nominated and they don't subtly play the race issue against him. You do what you must to win - ESPECIALLY since Mr. Obama will himself be playing that very same card.

And before you label me "racist!" (which makes no difference to me), I will admit that I voted for Gary Franks for the House of Representatives, here in Connecticut. Mr. Franks was a black running on the Republican ticket.

But I will not, and would not, vote for a black to be president. Sorry if that offends some here.

- John

37 posted on 01/04/2008 7:26:40 AM PST by Fishrrman
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To: Bear_Slayer
I know ... the media says it ... over and over and over. I hope you don't think I was accusing you. I didn't mean to.

Media: "Obama handsome."

Normal Woman: "Obama NOT handsome."

Take a poll. Obama looks nice enough. Certainly not repulsive. But he's no Denzel. No matter how much the media want to paint him as such. Obama is weak. Obama looks like a little boy. Obama has a smooth voice. But his physical appearance is gray. His wife is stronger and more handsome than he is. He's probably a nice dad. An attentive husband. An obedient husband. But he's no Cary Grant.

38 posted on 01/04/2008 7:41:31 AM PST by carmody
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To: carmody

I asked my wife. Her response, “He is repulsive.”


39 posted on 01/04/2008 7:47:02 AM PST by Bear_Slayer (When liberty is outlawed only outlaws will have liberty.)
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To: Fishrrman
Ultimately, the "race card" that Obama is playing now will be used against him.

IMO, polling will overestimate his support by at least 5 %, like it did to Wilder in Va. What you wont tell a pollster, youll act out in the voting box..

While I dont think Obama demagogues much on the race issue,he does pull the cord on the War and other issues. And it still is the only reason he has any viability. Demagoguery in general cuts both ways...

40 posted on 01/04/2008 7:48:03 AM PST by Nonstatist
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To: carmody; Bear_Slayer

I haven’t heard any women describe Obama as specifically ‘handsome’ but I have heard them call him ‘cute’, ‘sexy’, and ‘good looking’. IOW, it adds up to the same thing. Either that or you’re just splitting hairs.

Obama has a lot of appeal to women. He is good looking. He’s non-threating. He’s for ‘change’. A lot of women think he would tone down the partisanship (can’t we all just get along). I think a lot of women think they could trust him.

Hillary, OTOH, turns off most women (outside the NOW contingent). She’s shrill. She’s confrontational. And, I think, a lot of women still haven’t forgiven her for not kicking Bill out of the house.

Now, the question becomes which GOP candidate does best against Obama? I think the electorate is looking for a ‘change candidate’ who is also non-confrontational.


41 posted on 01/04/2008 8:11:27 AM PST by DugwayDuke (Ron Paul - building a bridge to the 19th century.)
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To: Bear_Slayer

“Obama will be harder to beat.”

This is the conventional wisdom right now and I don’t necessarily disagree. It will depend on the extent to which the electorate is provided with a clear and honest picture of Obama’s beliefs, philosophies, and leftist policy stances.

If his policies are properly revealed and scrutinized he will lose. If the media can successfully prevent the electorate from learning about his leftism he has a good chance.

JMHO.


42 posted on 01/04/2008 8:19:23 AM PST by wolf24 ("It's always easy to rally the stupid.")
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To: BfloGuy
Huckabee has a nasty mean streak.

Either he hid it pretty well, or found somebody else to blame, or the media just didn't talk about it very much. Perception is reality.

43 posted on 01/04/2008 8:34:12 AM PST by Bernard (If you always tell the truth, you never have to remember exactly what you said.)
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To: DugwayDuke
I think any woman who calls Obama 'cute', 'sexy', or 'good loiking' is responding like a mouse in a lab to a ringing bell (iow, the media). Put his photo - especially the one of him in his swim suit on the beach - next to any other man who truly is cute, sexy, or good looking - and you'll see what I mean. He's not any of those things. He's being packaged ... as "the new JFK!"

Yesterday, Fox was interviewing two young college kids who both said, "Obama is just like JFK!" Really? Those two 20 year olds remember JFK? Even their parents weren't born yet. JFK is OLD news. Guess that makes Michelle Obama Jackie O? The media is so see-through. Trying to return the country to Camelot.

Here's the spin: Bill Clinton was the First Black President. Barack Obama is the Black JFK.

I'm for FRED. Who needs cute? The strong quiet type is sexier.

44 posted on 01/04/2008 9:55:54 AM PST by carmody
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