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April 1, 2008 5:29 AM
Bill Clinton's California Swan Song, And More With Forum Throughout Day
During his monologue, Letterman joked that the Arizona senator reminded him of “the guy at the hardware store who makes the keys” and “the guy who can’t stop talking about how well his tomatoes are doing.” After Letterman added that McCain looked like “the guy who points out the spots they missed at the car wash,” the senator appeared on stage. “You think that stuff’s pretty funny, don’t you?” McCain asked, then added: “Well, you look like a guy whose laptop would be seized by the authorities.” McCain also said the host resembled the guy caught smuggling reptiles in his pants, to which Letterman replied, “Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it.” The candidate also likened Letterman to the manager of a creepy motel, the guy who enjoys watching his swim trunks inflate in a hot tub and the guy about whom neighbors later say, “He mostly kept to himself.”
I’m very happy to talk about my past and my values but all of that is a prelude to the future. If you have experience and knowledge and background and judgment, that’s what - and vision for the future. That’s what the American people will, I believe, the factor that will decide, will they support me, will they not, and I am very confident. McCain has a big speech tomorrow at another alma mater, Annapolis.
In any event, it’s rather academic. If she does hold on to win in this very strong state for her, it’s clear that it won’t be by any massive margin.
Obama is in the fifth day of a bus tour across Pennsylvania and is heavily outspending Clinton on TV in the Keystone State.
Barack Obama campaigns in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, Pennsylvania. Hillary Clinton campaigns in Philadelphia, Wilkes-Barre, and Erie, Pennsylvania. Bill Clinton campaigns in Havre, Great Falls, Helena, and Butte, Montana John McCain campaigns in Alexandria, Virginia.
He came, he saw, he left empty-handed. It was probably Bill Clinton’s political swan song in the state that may have mattered most to his presidency. Clinton came to California 70 times during his eight years in the White House. His trip to the California Democratic Party convention on Sunday probably felt like second nature. But this time, he went away empty-handed. Clinton spoke for nearly an hour to 2000 people in a packed San Jose convention hall, pushing his wife’s presidential candidacy. More importantly, he met privately beforehand with 15 to 20 uncommitted superdelegates. But when I called around party sources on Monday, it turned out he didn’t win over any of them to Hillary’s side. Keep in mind that the entire Clinton strategy now is to win with superdelegates. Barring an unforeseen total collapse by the new Democratic frontrunner, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton will end up in June with substantially fewer delegates from the primaries and caucuses than he. The Clintons have to win over at least two-thirds of the 350 uncommitted superdelegates around the country to close the gap with Obama. And since Super Tuesday on February 5th, when Obama came from behind to eke out a slender edge in the day’s contests, almost all the superdelegates who’ve declared have gone with Obama. So this was a big opportunity for the former president, in a state he mined for money and political support throughout the ’90s, which went with Hillary on February 5th, 51% to 43% over Obama. But it didn’t happen for him. On Sunday, Christine Pelosi (her mom is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi), one of those uncommitted superdelegates in the meeting with the former president, said: “He talked a little bit about letting the process play out.” Pelosi’s said previously that in June she will endorse the leader in delegates won in the primaries and caucuses. Which is almost certainly Obama. Another superdelegate in the meeting with Bill Clinton said yesterday that it was “convivial, but went nowhere.” Who is he likely to vote for? Obama. But he doesn’t want to irritate the Clintons and their allies before Hillary has played out the string till June. In his convention speech, Clinton basically pleaded for time for his wife’s campaign to try to get back on top, some way, somehow. “There is somehow the suggestion that because we are having a vigorous debate about who would be the best president, we are going to weaken this party in the fall. Chill out,” he declared. “We’re going to win this election if we just chill out and let everybody have their say.” Clinton ran through a litany of policies, reviewed his history with California, declared that Hillary “is the best candidate I’ve seen in 40 years.” The crowd was attentive and appreciative, but not excited. Former Governor-turned-Attorney General Jerry Brown whipped up more enthusiasm with a speech the day before. The truth was that the convention was more pro-Obama than pro-Hillary, despite Hillary’s primary win on February 5th. (In the chess game of politics, Obama closed a big gap late in California, forcing Hillary to spend more time here than planned — and forcing Bill Clinton to spend the last two days before Super Tuesday campaigning up and down California — while Obama turned his personal attentions elsewhere, which enabled him to win some other states that day.) The Clinton forces had a sign-waving cheering claque of about 150 people to whoop it up for the former president. But I was amongst them before and during part of Clinton’s speech, and it was clear that their enthusiasm was wilted from what it was a year ago when Hillary spoke to the convention. The Obama campaign made an interesting choice, counter-programming the former president in its convention speech slot with San Francisco’s glamorous young District Attorney, Kamala Harris. One wag noted that the choice may have disarmed Clinton, with his famous eye for the ladies. Obama, Harris proclaimed, is “all about the audacity of doing what seemed unimaginable.” Nevertheless, however audacious Harris and her cohort may be, they didn’t pick up any new superdelegate support, either. Steve Westly, the former state controller and ex-eBay honcho who is Obama’s California co-chair and national finance co-chair, says he expects to see California’s uncommitted superdelegates to start moving after the North Carolina and Indiana primaries on May 6th, where Obama is likely to do well. But Westly and his colleagues — who held a high-energy meeting with 500 Obama activists during the convention — were pleased that Bill Clinton left with nothing for his efforts. The truth be told, Clinton was probably happy just to come to California and feel some of that old adulation, one more time. And after shlepping around small market Pennsylvania last week, a Saturday night in San Francisco must have seemed just the tonic he needed before driving down to Silicon Valley. But after, it was back to the proverbial salt mines for the former president. Sunday ended for him with a rally in Medford, Oregon. He didn’t get any superdelegates there, either.
You probably already know about CNN International, BBC World, and Al Jazeera. Russia Today, which also features culture, entertainment, and sports, is based in Moscow and is owned and operated by the TV Novosti division of Russia’s state news agency, RIA Novosti. While it’s quite foolish to expect to see, say, criticism of Vladimir Putin on Russia Today, the channel is very interesting nonetheless. The NWN live link to RT does not constitute an endorsement of the channel’s views. It’s presented as an otherwise unavailable new media window.
Your posts are welcome in the Forum. Comments (58)Jonas Blane :Jonas Blane :It must be humiliating to be the former president and get turned down by party activists. Frank D,. Russo :You nailed this one, Bill. Clinton's speech to the convention was 50 minutes versus 17 minutes for Kamala Harris. There was excitement to see a former President. He said "and one more thing" and continued on for at least 5 minutes more. I watched the Obama and Clinton tables in the exhibit hallway and there were just about always a lot more folks stopping by the Obama table than the Clinton one. But the superdelegates is where it's at--at least for California. Capitol Boy :He came, he saw, he left. Bye bye, Bill. Ann :Which Bill? Bill Bradley :Um, the other one? :) Bill Bradley :Indeed. >Capitol Boy : He came, he saw, he left. Bye bye, Bill. Apr 1, 2008 06:45 AM Bill Bradley :Thanks, Frank. "Just one more thing ..." >Frank D,. Russo : You nailed this one, Bill. Clinton's speech to the convention was 50 minutes versus 17 minutes for Kamala Harris. There was excitement to see a former President. He said "and one more thing" and continued on for at least 5 minutes more. I watched the Obama and Clinton tables in the exhibit hallway and there were just about always a lot more folks stopping by the Obama table than the Clinton one. But the superdelegates is where it's at--at least for California. Apr 1, 2008 06:25 AM Bill Bradley :It's not turning out as planned. >Jonas Blane : It must be humiliating to be the former president and get turned down by party activists. Apr 1, 2008 05:48 AM Bill Bradley :Kind of an ironic comment from him. >Jonas Blane : I should just "chill out." Ok. Apr 1, 2008 05:41 AM Capitol Boy :I meant President Bill. Capitol Boy :I meant President Bill. Dana :Is Hillary's campaign becoming Bill Clinton's political swan song/victory lap? P.S. Bill--so what is the skinny on Lockyer? Did I guess right yesterday? Kandy Kid :Nick's early morning post deserves more attention on this thread. The outcome in the 3rd Senate District matters. NickM : Leno vs. Nation would be an interesting race to see how much the extremist nature of a district primary electorate can elect someone who is a detriment to his party statewide, but Carole Migden would be a complete nonfactor if not for Perata going to the mat for her. The woman is in desperate need of being involuntarily committed to a psychiatric institution for being dangerous to others. The reckless driving is among her lesser offenses. We're talking about someone who routinely (in the Assembly, Board of Equalization, and Senate) tried to severely injure others, including members of her own staff, by hurling hard objects at their heads - staplers, calculators, vases, paperweights, candy dishes, and on at least one occasion scissors! What has to be going through the mind of someone who decides to endorse a borderline psychotic over people who will vote just about the same way as she does on everything? Apr 1, 2008 03:34 AM Jack Aubrey :Nice drive by on some politician. I don't care. Clinton's not going to last much longer. It's a new leadership group coming up. Ann :What happens to the old leadership group? Bill Bradley :Some go away, others adapt. Bill Bradley :Certainly in California it's a new leadership group coming up. >Jack Aubrey : Nice drive by on some politician. I don't care. Clinton's not going to last much longer. It's a new leadership group coming up. Apr 1, 2008 10:36 AM Bill Bradley :That post may constitute libel. >Kandy Kid : Nick's early morning post deserves more attention on this thread. The outcome in the 3rd Senate District matters. NickM : Bill Bradley :Er, yes, except for the victory lap part. What was the guess on Lockyer? >Dana : Is Hillary's campaign becoming Bill Clinton's political swan song/victory lap? P.S. Bill--so what is the skinny on Lockyer? Did I guess right yesterday? Apr 1, 2008 09:35 AM Bill Bradley :marcus waldron :The site is working properly again. Hap Hazard :Bill Lockyer would have been a great governor, in that he is one who seems to be willing to invest a personal stake in the outcome of a major policy or bureaucracy reform, which is what will be needed desperately pretty soon in this state. Bill Bradley :When he made his famous statement that he voted for Schwarzenegger, he did so at the end of a speech that sounded like he was ready to leave politics. Bill Bradley :There's still a glitch. >marcus waldron : The site is working properly again. Apr 1, 2008 11:22 AM Hap Hazard :Lockyer appears to be a representative of the halcyon days of Sacramento politics, and perhaps he came to the conclusion that the days when state politics were entertaining, collegial, and substantive are over. T. Suzuki :That does not seem to track with the Schwarzenegger era. Jonas Blane :Many things happened with the Democrats working with Schwarzenegger. That's what I read here at least. Bill Bradley :Yes, you did. Bill Bradley :Not really. >T. Suzuki : That does not seem to track with the Schwarzenegger era. Apr 1, 2008 01:00 PM Bill Bradley :Which halcyon days were those? >Hap Hazard : Lockyer appears to be a representative of the halcyon days of Sacramento politics, and perhaps he came to the conclusion that the days when state politics were entertaining, collegial, and substantive are over. Apr 1, 2008 12:23 PM Chris M :Tuzla, revisited. [www.slate.com/id/2187780/pagenum...] Above, the noted Clinton-basher Christopher Hitchens adds context to Hillary's having "misspoken" regarding her trip to Bosnia. He claims, citing then-Sec'y of Defense Les Aspin as a source, that the Clintons turned a blind eye to genocide there from 1993-95 because US intervention would have drawn attention away from Hillary's health care initiative. Capitol Boy :That's dev astating, if true. Jack Aubrey :McCain sounds kinda confused there. I hope his Annapolis speech is better. Chris M :Next he'll be pledging not to take advantage of his opponent's youth and inexperience ;-). >McCain sounds kinda confused there. Hap Hazard :Hillary's health care initiative -- She could have gotten something out of this had she not been so insistent of having it all on the first enactment. I shudder to imagine what would not get done if she were president. Bill Bradley :It was a complete disaster. Bill Bradley :Perhaps. >Chris M : Bill Bradley :Some of my comments read confused, without actually sounding confused. >Jack Aubrey : Bill Bradley :It was Tony Blair who pushed hard for intervention in the Balkans. Hillary figures very slightly in all the Blair books. >Chris M : Brasky :"Hillary figures very slightly in all the Blair books" a whole chapter for Sinbad though... Ann :Bill Bradley :I think Tony Blair was more partial to Sheryl Crow. >Brasky : Capitol Boy :The Clintons lie about their money like they like about everything else. Dana :That his getting cold feet about running for Governor is spelled >Bill Bradley : Bill Bradley :I think that's right. Bill Lockyer previously said that if Jerry Brown runs, he wins. Dana :I knew enough about politics even then to realize her high-handed dismissive attitude toward the role of Congress meant the effort was guaranteed to fail. Don't forget -- it was a Democrat dominated Congress that rebuffed her "enact my vision" healthcare proposal. >Bill Bradley : Capitol Boy :The Clintons nearly wrecked the Democratic Party in 1994 with Hillary's health care debacle. marcus :I'm glad the blog is working right again. Bring back the Clintons; destroy the Democrats. I like it. Bill Bradley :Thanks, and er, whatever. Bill Bradley :It went so well that the Democrats lost elections around the country. >Dana : Scott :I think it's safe to say that Somalia had a bit more to do with US unwillingness to get involved in Bosnia than the Clinton health care plan... Just a thought. Bill Bradley :Somalia was a high-order Clinton screw-up. If that's an excuse not to intervene against ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, it's an excuse to do nothing across the board. Unconventional :Is there any video (or a transcript) available of the Jerry Brown convention speech? Hap Hazard :Jerry is interesting to listen to, but I for one hope that the utterances of Bill Clinton at the convention and shown above were the last public ones we have to hear from the disbarred bullshitter. Bill Bradley :Not likely. Bill Bradley :I don't know. Brown doesn't have it. I arrived at the convention after he started speaking, and didn't set up to film until the tail end. >Unconventional : Is there any video (or a transcript) available of the Jerry Brown convention speech? Apr 1, 2008 11:47 PM Bill Bradley :Incidentally, NWN passed 54,000 comments sometime in the past week. Comments have been archived for this page. |
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I should just "chill out." Ok.
Apr 1, 2008 05:41 AM