Der Parson's rant

Clinton: It'd be 'terrible mistake' to pick McCain over Obama - CNN.com:

"Despite her campaign being more than $20 million in the red, Clinton confirmed she plans to keep going.

'I'm not going anywhere except to Kentucky and Oregon and Montana and South Dakota and Puerto Rico,' she said."

I'm surprised she didn't give that YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAA!!! scream after that.

Clinton teared up as she described what she called "one of the most incredibly gratifying experiences" of her life -- having her 28-year-old daughter, Chelsea, campaigning for her.

If all else fails use the tears again. Because that's what we need in a President. I guess instead of reading "My pet goat" during a national crisis she can take a moment to shed some tears.

"I'm not going to put my lot in with economists because I know if we did it right...we would design it in such a way that it would be implemented effectively."
-- Hillary Clinton, asked if any economists support the gas tax holiday proposal

Wow, this sounds like it could have came right out of George W. Bush's mouth. Don't listen to the economists because they might be right and we know Washington wouldn't want to implement something effectively.

Clinton rally moves to park | The Journal Gazette

Clinton rally moves to park
The Journal Gazette

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will make her second stop in the Summit City on Saturday, but the location has changed, her campaign announced Tuesday.

The Democratic presidential hopeful, originally slated to visit Thursday, then to speak at Grand Wayne Center, is now scheduled to speak at 10 a.m. at the Headwaters Park Lincoln Pavilion. Gates open at 8 a.m. at the South Clinton Street entrance.

The stop is part of Clinton’s “Solutions for the American Economy” tour, which is also heading to Bloomington, Gary, East Chicago and South Bend this weekend.

On joy, here she comes again... This is her 2nd. trip to Fort Wayne, Bill was here a while back and last week Chelsea was here. If I wake up in time I may drive down there and see what kind of crowd there is, the Headwaters Park Pavilion is a pretty nice place for them to have this if the weather is nice. The forecast for Saturday looks pretty good for Fort Wayne. I see Clinton won the Penn. primary. Hopefully Obama will do some more campaigning around here so we can stop Clinton from helping McConjob win the presidency.

Guess who's coming to diner | The Journal Gazette

Owner Nabi Faghihi realizes using his small diner on the city's southwest side as a venue for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit to Fort Wayne today is somewhat odd.

“The menu's three times bigger than the restaurant,” Faghihi joked Thursday.

Inside the front door of Sara's Family Restaurant, a smiling picture of George W. Bush greets customers above a list of specials - the Reuben sandwich platter and French onion and vegetable beef soups Thursday.

Hillary comes to Fort Wayne, probably to make sure Bill didn't leave any stains behind when he was here a few weeks ago.

On another note, The Obama campaign is openining a office here in Fort Wayne on Saturday around 10am. (I couldn't find links for more info though) I might try to get up and drive down there a take some pictures and maybe see what kind of information they have.

Mixing Memory : Defending Hillary Clinton From a Memory Researcher's Perspective

Let's look at what might have happened. In Germany, Clinton got on a plane that was used specifically because of its ability to maneuver during landings to avoid incoming fire. Undoubtedly, they were told that this was the reason for using the plane. They had flak jackets and Clinton was put into the armored cockpit for the descent, again as a precaution against incoming fire. Add to this the fact that there were credible threats, meaning she was probably rather anxious, and we all know that stress doesn't make for better overall memory, even if it makes us remember perceptual details better. Hell, maybe even Clinton and her entourage were rushed, after the meeting on the tarmac, to their cars because they were on a tight schedule (not because of the threats), and you get a situation that's easily distorted by the reconstructive processes of memory into something like the version that Clinton told. In fact, I'd bet that they even told Clinton or someone on her team that in the case of incoming fire, they would have to be rush to their cars with their heads down, instead of having the scheduled ceremony on the tarmac. All this could easily add up to a memory in which the threat, the fear, the flak jackets, etc., add up to a difficulty in remembering what actually happened and what she was afraid might happened. And the fact that Clinton seems to remember it so vividly, contrary to being evidence that she's lying, is likely just a product of her brain filling in the gaps and building a coherent representation of the episode, just like it's supposed to do.

This is a interesting post that defends Clinton's "memory". The complete article is pretty interesting. It's still doesn't exactly make it ok for her to bend the truth so much.

I don't mean a Burger King whopper either. Seems there are some memory lapses I would expect that from the 71 year old running for president.
Cafferty File:Why would Clinton not tell the truth about her 1996 Bosnia trip?

On two different occasions, Senator Hillary Clinton has described a trip she took as first lady to Bosnia in March of 1996.

To hear her tell it, she was lucky to escape with her life, landing in a hail of sniper fire. She said they were forced to cut short the greeting ceremony at the airport and, “run with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.”

But apparently there was time to stop and visit at the airport with an 8-year-old girl who greeted Mrs. Clinton on the tarmac when she landed and read her a poem.

The military commander on hand to greet Clinton at the time, Major General William Nash, told the Washington Post he was unaware of any sniper threat to Clinton during her 8-hour stay.

This is from the Washington Post

Hillary Clinton has been regaling supporters on the campaign trail with hair-raising tales of a trip she made to Bosnia in March 1996. In her retelling, she was sent to places that her husband, President Clinton, could not go because they were "too dangerous." When her account was challenged by one of her traveling companions, the comedian Sinbad, she upped the ante and injected even more drama into the story. In a speech earlier this week, she talked about "landing under sniper fire" and running for safety with "our heads down."

There are numerous problems with Clinton's version of events.

There is video on YouTube, apparently it wasn't too dangerous for that little girl to read a poem and give Hillary some flowers.


Haven't politicians figure out yet they need to stick closer to the facts? With all the other people on the flight, the internet and sites like Youtube. Just the fact that MSM is going to have archived footage that is easily dug up and put on the internet. Why stretch the truth like this? Are we suppose to think she some great war hero? If it was so dangerous why did she take her daughter in the first place? Maybe when Chelsea runs for senate or president she can use the same "courage under fire" story.

I think I have to agree with this,

The Pinocchio Test
Clinton's tale of landing at Tuzla airport "under sniper fire" and then running for cover is simply not credible. Photographs and video of the arrival ceremony, combined with contemporaneous news reports, tell a very different story. Four Pinocchios.

You can read more fun facts about Hillary's foreign policy experience here, FactCheck.org

CNN Political Ticker: All politics, all the time - Blogs from CNN.com

"If you are looking at substance rather than if there is an R or a D after his name, manifestly, if he's our candidate, than Hillary is going to be our girl, because she's more conservative than he is," Coulter said. "I think she would be stronger on the war on terrorism."

Coulter took aim at McCain's positions — particularly his fervent anti-torture stance — and said he and Clinton differ little on the issues. Coulter also said she is prepared to campaign on Clinton's behalf should McCain win the party's nomination.

If there was any reason to think why Hillary should not be the Democrat's nominee for President. This has to be it!!!! The thought Hillary and Coulter together might give Bill some wild ideas, but it just makes me sick. Coulter any were near campaigning for Hillary and I might just vote for McCain in a general election. If Hillary tells Coulter "thanks but no thanks" that would give Hillary a few points in my book.

I'm find it funny all the old school Republicans hate McCain so much but he keeps winning primaries. You would think that would be a clue to them that they have a problem with their party. I guess I shouldn't say much, Democrats are in a bit of the same situation with Hillary. It seems everyone loves to hate her but she keeping up in the primary race.

Right now we need to do our best to get Obama into a comfortable lead. Obama isn't perfect obviously, but I think he's a better choice then Hillary. It has nothing to do with gender or race. I just think Obama would be a better President. I don't even know if I would like a Obama/Hillary ticket. Last we need is to replace Darth Chaney with Darth Hillary.
"I find your lack of faith in my health care plan disturbing"

John Edwards to quit presidential race - Yahoo! News:

"By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer
DENVER - Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters' sympathies, The Associated Press has learned."

This is really bad news, I was really thinking Edwards would be our best choice. I guess now Obama is our last hope for a decent candidate. I really think if the democrats pick up Hillary for the nominee we are going to get raked over the coals in November. I wonder if Edwards will endorse one of the others? Hopefully he will endorse Obama.

Little Gamers ♥ Hot swedish love

(click on the image for a larger version)
Sorry but I found that rather amusing.

Obama, Huckabee Win Iowa Caucuses - Politics on The Huffington Post

DES MOINES, Iowa — Sen. Barack Obama, bidding to become the nation's first black president, swept to victory in the Iowa caucuses Thursday night over Hillary Clinton and a high-powered Democratic field. Mike Huckabee rode a wave of support from evangelical Christians to win the opening round among Republicans in the 2008 campaign for the White House.

Hopefully this is some good news for Obama and he can keep this momentum going. Personally I favor Edwards, but I think anything is better then Hillary or a full blown Republican especially Huckabee. The bad thing is ol' Hillary will circle the wagons and really go on the attack now to pick up NH and try to get back in front.

Losing Ground In Iowa, Clinton Assails Obama - washingtonpost.com

Clinton, campaigning across Iowa on Sunday, appeared to be spoiling for a fight with her chief Democratic rival in national polls -- even at one point describing the battle as "fun."

"I have said for months that I would much rather be attacking Republicans, and attacking the problems of our country, because ultimately that's what I want to do as president. But I have been, for months, on the receiving end of rather consistent attacks. Well, now the fun part starts. We're into the last month, and we're going to start drawing the contrasts," she said.

That drew a swift rebuke from Obama. "This presidential campaign isn't about attacking people for fun, it's about solving people's problems, like ending this war and creating a universal health care system," he said in a statement. "Washington insiders might think throwing mud is fun, but the American people are looking for leadership that can unite this country around a common purpose."

Hopefully Obama and Clinton will keep this in-fighting going and turn voters off and help John Edwards get more support. That's what I hope for anyway.

Hostage standoff at Clinton campaign office - International Herald Tribune: " Hostage standoff at Clinton campaign office,Reuters Published: November 30, 2007

ROCHESTER, New Hampshire: A man claiming to have a bomb strapped to his chest seized several hostages at Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire campaign office on Friday before releasing two in a tense standoff with police. It was unclear whether there were any hostages remaining in the campaign office in Rochester, New Hampshire and police were still surrounding the building."

I don't really want Hillary to be president either, but I think the Republicans are even more worried.

I wonder if Bill Clinton will get one of these for Christmas?


Hillary Nutcracker : Stupid.com: "You may hate her. You may love her. But friends, you've never seen her like this. THE HILLARY NUTCRACKER"

I thought about buying one, but they cost $22.00. It's too bad they ran out.

I don't know if anyone seen this story run in the NY times about Hillary's waitress tipping ordeal.

I could care less about the tipping, I've forgotten to tip once or twice in my life. (I never forgot to tip a stripper, but that's another story).
Here is part of what the waitress had to say, (from the NY times story).

Ms. Esterday said she did not understand what all the commotion was about.
“You people are really nuts,” she told a reporter during a phone interview. “There’s kids dying in the war, the price of oil right now — there’s better things in this world to be thinking about than who served Hillary Clinton at Maid-Rite and who got a tip and who didn’t get a tip.”

I thought this was interesting though,

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign on Thursday introduced a Web site dedicated exclusively to the instantaneous rebuttal of charges or news reports it deems offensive or wrong.

The web site is "The Fact Hub". Don't go there looking for a unbiased view of Hillary. If the top banner doesn't give it away "The Fact Hub : The Straight Scoop On Election '08 From The Hillary Clinton Campaign", at the bottom of the page it says "Paid for by Hillary Clinton for President". A few entries I read through didn't really seem to shed any light on things. It looked like more spin to me.
Here is there rebuttal for the tipping story, the NY times story seems to have a little different version.

I think I have to give someone credit though, this is a great idea. If your running a campaign in these days for blogs and Youtube video, you need to have a place to answer your critics or get the spin out after your caught tapping your foot in a airport restroom. I think some local Fort Wayne politician's could have used such a site. Especially with some of the blowhards (on the left and right) around our local scene, sometimes the guy defending you does more damage then the attack would have. At least this way you or "your people" have control of the spin. On the The Fact Hub they have a rebuttal to something Obama said about Hillary not having a plan for Social Security. The rebuttal the quotes and such they have try to spin it as her having a answer, but the way I read it, Obama was right, she does the ol' tap dance around the issue, but never gives a direct answer. I guess at least they are seeing the threat and trying to get a spin out there, hopefully people can make up their own mind. I would say if you going to "The Fact Hub : the straight scoop on election '08 from The Hillary Clinton campaign", your already sailing on the HMS Hillary in the kool-aid seas. On "The Fact Hub" they have a link to another site called "HillaryHub.com", it's just a list of links to news stories blogs about Hillary, another pretty good idea. Both sites have RSS feeds, so if your running a "I love Hillary" blog you can get the kool-aid hooked right up to your veins.

If you really want to do some fact checking, I found these websites, FactCheck.org (added their RSS feed to the right side under the WP Issue tracker). They are nonpartisan and nonprofit, and seem to be credible source to check up what the candidates are saying, they also run FactCheckED.org it is aimed at high school students, sort of a answer to Wikipedia and the possibilities incorrect or just plain false information.
This site, PolitiFact seems ok, but looks likes it's part of a newspaper's website so may not be completly "fair and balanced". Same as the Washington Post Issue Tracker on the right side, it might lean a little.

Democrats Seem Ready to Extend Wiretap Powers - New York Times

All Bush needs to do now is teach the Democrats to roll over and play dead, he seem to already have them housebroken.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 — Two months after insisting that they would roll back broad eavesdropping powers won by the Bush administration, Democrats in Congress appear ready to make concessions that could extend some crucial powers given to the National Security Agency.

Administration officials say they are confident they will win approval of the broadened authority that they secured temporarily in August as Congress rushed toward recess. Some Democratic officials concede that they may not come up with enough votes to stop approval.

Which really means "we are worried about try to get a little bit of the conservative vote when it's time to be re-elected, so we can't look like we are too liberal." George is probably sending these Democrats some special kool-aid to help them sleep at night. Hillary will probably be the first one to vote yes on this bill.

Comcast.net News - Bush Vetoes Child Health Insurance Plan:

"The president argued that the Democratic bill was too costly, took the program too far beyond its original intent of helping the poor, and would entice people now covered in the private sector to switch to government coverage. He has proposed only a $5 billion increase in funding. After Bush's speech, White House counselor Ed Gillespie said the president's offer of more money meant more than the $5 billion extra, but he wasn't specific about how much more."

I know us bloggers are suppose to say something like "Bush hates the children" when we see this story. I don't really see it that way. I think it's the Democrats that aren't thinking of the children. At least not thinking things all the way through. They want to push through a child health care bill so they can pat each other on the back and get Hillary a few more votes come election day, and there is the added benefit of making the Republicans look bad. The Republicans don't need help too look bad.

My concern with the health care plan is this part "and would entice people now covered in the private sector to switch to government coverage." If Bush signed that bill, I can almost guarantee when you went to work Monday morning, you would be having a special benefit meeting. In this meeting they will tell you the company health care will no longer cover your children. Why? because you can get the government to cover them now. Why should your employer foot the bill? Were I work we pay a percentage of the insurance and the company pays the rest so dropping you children would save them money.

Do you really want a government lead by George Bush to be running your child's health care? As if HMOs aren't bad enough. Look at all the welfare scams that go on already with low income people having more kids just to get more welfare money, this plan may open the system up to more abuse. The Democrats need to come up with a bill to clean up the system and get it back on track, the Republicans love that kind of thing and would be more likely to sign on to it.

Sorry, I just found this funny.

This is pretty sad, the wingnuts are cleaning their rifles just in case Hillary gets elected president, and posting it on Bill O'reilly's website.

Lane Hudson: BillOreilly.com Being Investigated by Secret Service - Politics on The Huffington Post

Lane Hudson apparently reported it to the Secret Service and they seem to be taking it seriously. Taylor Marsh as a post about it too, and links to the same Lane Hudson post.

I don't know how true to life the move The Sentinel is, but in that movie Keifer Sutherland is a Secret Service agent that investigates threats on the President's life. They show him listening to phone messages and think reviewing internet post. I could only sit through the movie once, the plot is kind of silly. One Secret Service agent is sleeping with the First Lady and wackyness insues.

We all know I'm not President Bush fan, but I would never post anything or even think of wanting harm to come to the poor old bastard.