The problem with what David Paterson did, and the way he did it, was that he put everybody, including himself, into an impossible position. Everybody understands what happened. Paterson made multiple deals, and handled all of them very badly. It was clear that he’d given assurances to Kennedy, and requested that she not protect herself when the press came after her. She accepted the deal, sweetened the pot, and instead of reciprocating in kind, instead of acting like an adult, he made himself a cat’s paw for the Clintons.
His plan was obviously to appoint Kirsten Gillibrand. Hillary Clinton had taken some heat (much of it from me) for her habit of pulling the ladder up behind her. As Gillibrand had worked to get her elected in 2000, when HRC ran against professional tomato can Rick “look at my butt” Lazio, she was chosen to proclaim Clinton as her mentor. She might have said it in Chinese, or French…
Paterson opted to have the press bloody up Caroline Kennedy. It was deliberate, and it served to punish the Kennedys for backing the new president. (It’s Barrack Obama who’s given Hillary Clinton the security clearance she lacked as co-president of the United States.) Also to protect Gillibrand from media and its questions. It was also intended as appreciation towards the Clintons for getting Spitzer out of the way of Paterson’s ascension. It will also prove it be his ultimate undoing.
Even after he’d admitted that he’d hung her out to dry, Kennedy still acted like an adult and tried to do the right thing by the state, and withdraw her name from consideration. If he’d handled himself properly, it would have worked. Instead, he had snide rumors gratuitously circulated. Of course everybody knows that there is no such thing a personal situation that will keep any Kennedy from public service, but by minimizing the fall out, she, unlike the other players in this ugly game, wasn’t trying to fool anybody, she was trying to protect the people of the state. She and her family walked 26 blocks, on a NY winter’s evening, to have their dinner out, show face, and really put the public a little more at ease. That’s a gesture of a true, seasoned player.
Nobody wants to be seen as a pushover, it sets an impossible tone. It’s the same reason women can be unyielding about the beginning of a relationship. It’s not that she doesn’t want to see you, she doesn’t want to tell your children that the first real date she had with their father, involved liquor, a famous hotel, and not even a gaggle of girlfriends to feign the appearance of propriety.
If the Kennedys don’t end his career, they invite every hustler, grifter, scammer to target all of them, and all their foundations. The Special Olympics, The River Project, all the environmental stuff, the housing, the heating, everything. It will be as if someone has rung a bell… it’s nothing more, or less than the way the world works.
So with David Paterson’s career very much over, who benefits? Andrew Cuomo looks like he feels like he’s in the running, but I wonder if he’s thought it through. I think he knows that HRC is largely a figurehead, and as such he figures she won’t have enough influence to jeopardize her job. He’s probably been assured that Bill will behave, but what if the Clintons, who have repeatedly been stone cold busted telling untruths to the public, are lying also to him. Even in private. OMG! What if HRC is conspicuous when disagreeing with the president? Is it possible she’ll lose this plum assignment, and need a place to land. With Paterson out of the way, and the Kennedys and Cuomos fighting each other, she can reluctantly agree to be called.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
HRC Hearing.
So Hillary Clinton's confirmation hearings began today. How nice. That woman uses the word smart as frequently as Ted Haggard uses the word fabulous. Honestly, is no one on this planet a grown up? The woman deliberately exploits her own daughter Chelsea as a human shield, and no one objects. What's up with that? By the by, wasn't it nice for John Kerry to offer Chelsea an internship? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more, say no more..., anyhooo... I was surprised to know that HRC was urged to reveal more of her husband's donors. Hadn't that already been done? That should have already been done. But of course Hillary Clinton should have also resigned her seat in the Senate.
What about this business that international abuse of women isn't culture, according to Hillary Clinton, it's a crime. Well, that's nice too. Am I the only one who remembers, it was the year 2000, the Puerto Rican Day Parade. It was NYC, and a bunch of damn fools got loaded, and proceeded to sexually assault numerous random women. Hillary Rodham Clinton was responsible for capitalizing on that event to call for the names of all victims of sexual assault to be published. She was a woman in her fifties then. I found that disturbing at the time, I find it even more deeply disturbing now.
If somebody is willing to do something once, and then repeats the thing, twice; what right do you have to put your money that they won't do it yet another time? This nation needs to use its head, to protect itself. To keep records, recordings, of the things that are actually happening. In order for this nation to have the freedoms in the future, that this nation, and its citizens have come to expect, this nation has to be self reliant. We have to look out for our own interests for the future, and not simply rely on those things we are owed. Just because Mrs. Peacock owes Colnel Mustard, is no reason to think she won't blab about him being in the library with the candlestick. True or not, he won't be in any position to call in the debt.
What about this business that international abuse of women isn't culture, according to Hillary Clinton, it's a crime. Well, that's nice too. Am I the only one who remembers, it was the year 2000, the Puerto Rican Day Parade. It was NYC, and a bunch of damn fools got loaded, and proceeded to sexually assault numerous random women. Hillary Rodham Clinton was responsible for capitalizing on that event to call for the names of all victims of sexual assault to be published. She was a woman in her fifties then. I found that disturbing at the time, I find it even more deeply disturbing now.
If somebody is willing to do something once, and then repeats the thing, twice; what right do you have to put your money that they won't do it yet another time? This nation needs to use its head, to protect itself. To keep records, recordings, of the things that are actually happening. In order for this nation to have the freedoms in the future, that this nation, and its citizens have come to expect, this nation has to be self reliant. We have to look out for our own interests for the future, and not simply rely on those things we are owed. Just because Mrs. Peacock owes Colnel Mustard, is no reason to think she won't blab about him being in the library with the candlestick. True or not, he won't be in any position to call in the debt.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Lame Duck Senator
Isn't Hillary Clinton's refusal to step an extreme slap in the face of New York State? Seriously, she is a lame duck senator. She can't make any deals, because everybody knows that she's leaving, and won't be in a position to hold up her end. She's doing harm to the transition process. By not vacating the seat, she's keeping the hands of Gov Paterson tied behind his back, adding to whatever burdens come naturally to a governor of New York. On top of all that, she is ensuring her replacement will be more junior in the senate, than junior senator from Delaware, and maybe even Illinois.
Instead of aiding the transition process, untying the Governor’s hands, instead of preparing for her new job at state, how is she spending her time?
She’s bargaining with Bon Jovi to get her campaign debt paid down. She’s selling her email list to Bill’s charity. That she’s all about the Benjamins, there is little doubt. She’s holding on to the headlines, having her surrogates lavish public, although dubious, praise onto her, hoping to bury any reference to the tenth anniversary of her husband’s impeachment.
She should resign. She should spend this time boning up on world issues. Our position on Gaza, the riots in Greece, so many other things are going on. For the good of the world, for the good of the nation, for the good of New York, Hillary Clinton should resign.
Instead of aiding the transition process, untying the Governor’s hands, instead of preparing for her new job at state, how is she spending her time?
She’s bargaining with Bon Jovi to get her campaign debt paid down. She’s selling her email list to Bill’s charity. That she’s all about the Benjamins, there is little doubt. She’s holding on to the headlines, having her surrogates lavish public, although dubious, praise onto her, hoping to bury any reference to the tenth anniversary of her husband’s impeachment.
She should resign. She should spend this time boning up on world issues. Our position on Gaza, the riots in Greece, so many other things are going on. For the good of the world, for the good of the nation, for the good of New York, Hillary Clinton should resign.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Again, still, whatever...
Susan Estrich is at it again, still, there are some things that aren't ever going to change. She goes into a list of Bill Clinton's good works, such as personally carrying medicine to people who would die without it. (We're apparently supposed to believe that there is no mail system or delivery system of any kind in Africa.)
All this is guise to proclaim Hillary Clinton, the most victimized person in history. Who'd want that mantel? Normal people don't want that. Being victimized is certainly something, including time consuming, but I don't think it belongs in the accomplishment column. HRC is supposed to be strong, deserving and independent from her husband. Huh? We don't give important jobs to people because they deserve them, we do it because they'll do the job we need done. As for her independence from her husband, what job has Hillary Clinton ever held that he didn't arrange for her?
Estrich uses words borrowed from bubble-bodied baby broads, who in spite of limited resources, wear their hair big, and their fingernails in the style of bank tellers. Educated people don't tend to call people haters. Intelligent people tend to have a better argument than to say others don't have much respect. Proving that you heard what was said, although very cute, isn't the same thing as actually getting it.
Bill and Hillary Clinton have amassed a personally fortune in excess of $100 million, so let's not pretend they're poor.
Minnie Pearl's hats had a more discreet price tag, than the many on the Clintons. I say that it doesn't look right, for a man's charitable organization to buy, or rent an email list from his wife. If Bill Clinton would like to pay off his wife's campaign debt, let him reach into his own pocket, and not the money marked for malaria medicine.
Susan Estrich does concede that it would be very bad if children had to die because Bill Clinton's efforts to prevent and treat malaria in the third world were blocked. That tragedy would be second only in severity to her friend, Hillary Clinton, not becoming Secretary of State. That would be truly be too bad.
We all have our interests, and that was just a column. Written by a person who has been refusing to use her head, and instead, mainlining the Clinton Kool Aid for decades. (And why not? They are her cash, and cachet. Why would she try to imagine, even flirt with a future without them?) I'm sure it wasn't taken personally, and that it's done no harm.
All this is guise to proclaim Hillary Clinton, the most victimized person in history. Who'd want that mantel? Normal people don't want that. Being victimized is certainly something, including time consuming, but I don't think it belongs in the accomplishment column. HRC is supposed to be strong, deserving and independent from her husband. Huh? We don't give important jobs to people because they deserve them, we do it because they'll do the job we need done. As for her independence from her husband, what job has Hillary Clinton ever held that he didn't arrange for her?
Estrich uses words borrowed from bubble-bodied baby broads, who in spite of limited resources, wear their hair big, and their fingernails in the style of bank tellers. Educated people don't tend to call people haters. Intelligent people tend to have a better argument than to say others don't have much respect. Proving that you heard what was said, although very cute, isn't the same thing as actually getting it.
Bill and Hillary Clinton have amassed a personally fortune in excess of $100 million, so let's not pretend they're poor.
Minnie Pearl's hats had a more discreet price tag, than the many on the Clintons. I say that it doesn't look right, for a man's charitable organization to buy, or rent an email list from his wife. If Bill Clinton would like to pay off his wife's campaign debt, let him reach into his own pocket, and not the money marked for malaria medicine.
Susan Estrich does concede that it would be very bad if children had to die because Bill Clinton's efforts to prevent and treat malaria in the third world were blocked. That tragedy would be second only in severity to her friend, Hillary Clinton, not becoming Secretary of State. That would be truly be too bad.
We all have our interests, and that was just a column. Written by a person who has been refusing to use her head, and instead, mainlining the Clinton Kool Aid for decades. (And why not? They are her cash, and cachet. Why would she try to imagine, even flirt with a future without them?) I'm sure it wasn't taken personally, and that it's done no harm.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
2008
It’s that time again. The time of year where so many of us ponder those (mostly famous) people who have left our ranks, to join the newly dead. We tally up what they took from this world, and what they gave it, so let’s go over a few…
Mary Meader, an early pioneer in aerial photography, forever expanding our knowledge of geography. Dith Pran, who told us his story in “The Killing Fields”
The actors, Suzanne Pleshette , Richard Widmark, Charlton Heston, Roy Scheider, Sydney Pollack, Bernie Mac, George Carlin.
Albert Hofmann, who gave the world LSD, and all of its accoutrements.
Those who died stupid deaths, Brad Renfro, Heath Ledger, and LeRoi Moore, saxophonist, taken via an ATV accident.
Paul Newman, where do we put him? An actor, an icon an activist. Brilliant businessman, by the time he died, he’d raised a quarter of a billion dollars, to benefit a bunch of strangers. He arranged for his fundraising and charity work to go on without him.
Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, he gave us bypass surgery, and a bunch of other trinkets to keep us alive and healthy. Judah Folkman, who believed and proved that if you kept the blood flow away from a tumor, the cancer couldn’t spread.
For their politics, Jesse Helms, William F. Buckley Jr., Richard Darman, Tony Snow, And former Indonesian president, Suharto.
The musicians, Bo Diddley, whose innovative style helped define rock and roll. Cachao. Isaac Hayes. Levi Stubbs, of The Four Topps. Richard Wright, of Pink Floyd. Dave McKenna, considered to be the best pianist alive, he was 78.
Cyd Charisse, and Eartha Kitt, each admired and desired to the very end.
Sunny von Bulow, and Betty Paige, both widely believed to be dead for decades, now actually are.
Reporters, Alan Lupo Tim Russert Studs Terkel, Don Gillis, Jim McKay and Jerry Wexler, of Billboard Magazine, he coined the phrase rhythm and blues.
Marie Smith Jones was the last of the Eyaks. She left with us dictionary, just in case anybody ever wants to learn the language that died with her.
This isn’t anywhere near everybody. There have been many more quietly contributing, teaching, mentoring, loving and being loved, none easy feats. People have been doing the things worth doing. Things that make the difference, although they may have been overlooked, they haven’t gone unnoticed.
Adieu.
Mary Meader, an early pioneer in aerial photography, forever expanding our knowledge of geography. Dith Pran, who told us his story in “The Killing Fields”
The actors, Suzanne Pleshette , Richard Widmark, Charlton Heston, Roy Scheider, Sydney Pollack, Bernie Mac, George Carlin.
Albert Hofmann, who gave the world LSD, and all of its accoutrements.
Those who died stupid deaths, Brad Renfro, Heath Ledger, and LeRoi Moore, saxophonist, taken via an ATV accident.
Paul Newman, where do we put him? An actor, an icon an activist. Brilliant businessman, by the time he died, he’d raised a quarter of a billion dollars, to benefit a bunch of strangers. He arranged for his fundraising and charity work to go on without him.
Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, he gave us bypass surgery, and a bunch of other trinkets to keep us alive and healthy. Judah Folkman, who believed and proved that if you kept the blood flow away from a tumor, the cancer couldn’t spread.
For their politics, Jesse Helms, William F. Buckley Jr., Richard Darman, Tony Snow, And former Indonesian president, Suharto.
The musicians, Bo Diddley, whose innovative style helped define rock and roll. Cachao. Isaac Hayes. Levi Stubbs, of The Four Topps. Richard Wright, of Pink Floyd. Dave McKenna, considered to be the best pianist alive, he was 78.
Cyd Charisse, and Eartha Kitt, each admired and desired to the very end.
Sunny von Bulow, and Betty Paige, both widely believed to be dead for decades, now actually are.
Reporters, Alan Lupo Tim Russert Studs Terkel, Don Gillis, Jim McKay and Jerry Wexler, of Billboard Magazine, he coined the phrase rhythm and blues.
Marie Smith Jones was the last of the Eyaks. She left with us dictionary, just in case anybody ever wants to learn the language that died with her.
This isn’t anywhere near everybody. There have been many more quietly contributing, teaching, mentoring, loving and being loved, none easy feats. People have been doing the things worth doing. Things that make the difference, although they may have been overlooked, they haven’t gone unnoticed.
Adieu.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Still?
Why are people still vilifying Caroline Kennedy, for applying for a job? What is up with that? She’s perfectly qualified, knows the industry, all the right people, and with the glaring exception of Hillary Clinton, pretty much everybody returns her phone calls.
Although it has been reported that HRC "told her supporters not to involve her in their efforts to stop Caroline Kennedy's path to the U.S. Senate" it doesn’t really seem that they’re exactly backing off. More like they’re trying not to leave HRC’s fingerprints on the matter. I happen to think that's a bit slippery. But what do I know. (I have the same opinion of James Carville using HRC's email list to solicit money for Media Matters, which was founded by Hillary Clinton, for Hillary Clinton.)
By the by, where is Howard Wolfson? Isn’t he supposed to be charging in, his spinning flail at the ready to fell all those who dare denigrate a fellow democrat? Why is he waiting?
It seems to me that some people do not want Gov. Patterson to appoint anybody to the soon to be vacated seat. It seems that they’re offended that anybody would try to get the gig. Well then, maybe Hillary Clinton should serve out her term, and just hope that the Secretary of State position remains unfilled for the next two years. Either that, or just act like a grown up.
Although it has been reported that HRC "told her supporters not to involve her in their efforts to stop Caroline Kennedy's path to the U.S. Senate" it doesn’t really seem that they’re exactly backing off. More like they’re trying not to leave HRC’s fingerprints on the matter. I happen to think that's a bit slippery. But what do I know. (I have the same opinion of James Carville using HRC's email list to solicit money for Media Matters, which was founded by Hillary Clinton, for Hillary Clinton.)
By the by, where is Howard Wolfson? Isn’t he supposed to be charging in, his spinning flail at the ready to fell all those who dare denigrate a fellow democrat? Why is he waiting?
It seems to me that some people do not want Gov. Patterson to appoint anybody to the soon to be vacated seat. It seems that they’re offended that anybody would try to get the gig. Well then, maybe Hillary Clinton should serve out her term, and just hope that the Secretary of State position remains unfilled for the next two years. Either that, or just act like a grown up.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Empty seat...
Why is every opportunity afforded to a woman, who isn't Hillary Clinton, a slap in the face of Hillary Clinton? Seriously, this has been old for a while. Caroline Kennedy may be up the HRC's vacated Senate seat, why is this an insult to Hillary Clinton? Just because she endorsed Barrack Obama? The guy who gave Hillary Clinton the job she wanted almost as much as she wanted to be president? Is this for real? Clinton surrogates running around avenging the Kennedy endorsement of Obama, to what end? Are they trying to alienate the incoming democratic president?
Hillary Clinton has said that she is respecting Governor Paterson by keeping silent, she also claims that nobody speaks for her. Ummm, why is that considered good enough?
The Kennedys have done a lot for the Clintons, they opened many doors for them. Yes, back in the days before Bill Clinton became president, but also more recently. Ted Kennedy called HRC's appointment "outstanding" thus smoothing some of the ruffled feathers in Obama's circle. HRC should have reciprocated the gesture. She could have shown respect for everybody who ever suggested that she had class.
She should denounce the comments made by Hank Sheinkopf and Gary Ackerman as sexist. In doing so, she could show the Obama people that she is in fact an Obama team player, and not just out for what she can get for herself.
Hillary Clinton has said that she is respecting Governor Paterson by keeping silent, she also claims that nobody speaks for her. Ummm, why is that considered good enough?
The Kennedys have done a lot for the Clintons, they opened many doors for them. Yes, back in the days before Bill Clinton became president, but also more recently. Ted Kennedy called HRC's appointment "outstanding" thus smoothing some of the ruffled feathers in Obama's circle. HRC should have reciprocated the gesture. She could have shown respect for everybody who ever suggested that she had class.
She should denounce the comments made by Hank Sheinkopf and Gary Ackerman as sexist. In doing so, she could show the Obama people that she is in fact an Obama team player, and not just out for what she can get for herself.
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