robierap's blog
Added by robierap on Mar 15, 2008 - add as a friend | PM me
When each politician takes an oath to public life, voters did not mean that their sex lives would end up on the evening news or on CNN! Geez, there's a long history of sex scandals and politicians -- Gary Hart, Senator Craig -- to give late night TV hosts lots of materials. Jay Leno would have been fine without his writers if this news broke a few weeks ago.
Seriously, the victims remain Spitzer's wife and children and the voters of New York and even the Democratic Party. I hope that the two hours of fame was really worth it. Then again, we can ask the FBI for the tapes of the sessions.
Advice to politicians: just use the Internet
Top 10 list of Eliot Spitzer Excuses
10. “Oh come on, like you were never involved in a prostitution ring.”
9. “Hookers is fun.”
8. “Just trying to help the economy.”
7. “Have you ever been to Albany?”
6. “It’s part of my new MTV prank show, ‘Spitz’d.’”
5. “Haven’t been myself since Roy Scheider died.”
4. “Uh, tainted beef?”
3. “Whether it’s a hooker or your wife, you’re always paying for – you married fellas know what I’m talking about.”
2. “Wanted to be known as the Charlie Sheen of politics.”
1. “I thought Bill Clinton legalized this years ago.”
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Added by robierap on Mar 3, 2008 - add as a friend | PM me
Politics at its best!
Back in January, President Clinton could not muzzle his true feelings in South Carolina primary before the permanent damage was done to HRC. Now, a senior Obama campaign economic advisor talks to the Canadian Consul General in Chicago. Either the Canadian government is backpedaling on the memo or the Obama campaign is disavowing the context of the meeting. Either way, this look bad on the Canadian government for inserting itself into internal American politics or the Obama campaign for meeting with Consul General to talk about issue of the moment.
Curiously, before the weekend, the meeting did not take place until the Associated Press came out with the memo from the Canadian government (see link below). First rule of politics -- come out and say it whatever you need to say and the voters will forgive you! Obama should have just come out and say that the meeting took place.
Second rule of politics -- you do not give the impression of creating doubt, especially during an intense election campaign. The impression gives your opponent something to run at with and creates doubt among undecided voters. Just stay away from the Canadians! You'll have plenty of time to talk to them or even create a backchannel after you win the nomination and general election.
For Clinton supporters, this news may seem to stick at a quite opportune time. For Obama supporters, you hope voters will overlook this oversight and that the media will not make much of this story with less than 24 hours until election day.
All can agree that it's going to be a close and exciting Democratic election!
Added by robierap on Mar 1, 2008 - add as a friend | PM me
You thought U.S. politics were rough and tumble, just get a load of Russian democracy. Sunday's presidential election will turn out to be a coronation without the royal pomp and circumstance. Putin endorsed his successor and secured his job as the future Prime Minister before leaving office. However, Russia's cold history in the 20th century could be the reason why they're a little slow at grasping why Americans care about free and fair elections.
I must say that the Russian democratic system is better on some levels than the Chinese Communist Party system. There's still close to a billion Chinese who do not directly or indirectly choose their president. Russians may be reduced to validating Putin's choice, but nonetheless, they go through the democratic motions of standing in line and registering. Russians even spend money and energy on political campaigning and rallies; the only difference is that there's only one coronated candidate.
Having been an intern during the Clinton administration in 1997, I think everyone knows whom I want to be POTUS and be accused of being on the wrong side of history. I concede that Clinton continues to be on the ropes, even though neither Democratic candidate will achieve the more than 2,000 delegates necessary to win outright.
If she does not win Texas or Ohio primaries on Tuesday, Clinton will have to make a major political decision -- toughest in her life. She should use her clout to come to terms with the DNC leadership and Obama campaign for a truce. All three elements want to win in November and each side should compromise and accommodate other.
What does that mean after Tuesday? Obama needs to gracefully show Clinton an exit to the Senate leadership. I think we all know that Senator Clinton loves the U.S. Senate and would do a better job for Democrats than the low-key Senator Reid. Obama would encourage Reid's exit by offering a position within his administration -- pretty lucrative for a politician not to pass up.Two women controlling both chambers of the Legislative Branch would do wonders to solidify control of legislation benefiting an Obama administration (Pelosi and Clinton).
If situation does not improve for Clinton after Tuesday, I think Democrats should kiss and make-up for the sake of the general election. Remember how Democrats rallied around John Kerry after Howard Dean was crowned the front-running before Iowa caususes? In any case, Republicans remain demoralized against an organized Democratic party -- $12m raised for McCain vice $85m for Democrats in Feb; 22m voted in Demo primaries vice 14m voted in Republican primaries.
Stay tuned!
www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-clemons/hillary-clintons-future_b_88103.html
