
The "Clinton Machine" escapes complete desecration, loss, and an actual defeat in an overall political venue (that matters). Hillary won Texas, Ohio, and Rhode Island, on Tuesday night. Sweeping the "Kennedy" states of Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and California (Maria Shriver), who is backing Barack Obama. A mere nine days ago, Bill Clinton stood on stage and bloviated, "If Hillary does not win Ohio and Texas, then she is pretty much done." Hillary has not only won all three of these states, but attained them with a brilliant and politically clandestine scheme, which may have been the best swing of all-time (maybe matched by the, left for dead, John McCain, nine months ago). A combination of slipping out some bad Barack Obama press (just four days away from the primaries and caucuses), a sly and fresh appearance on "Saturday Night Live," and having her pundits flood the political/news programs and radio talk shows tilted the table, enough for victory in 3 states Tuesday.
Last Friday, when most people are going home to be in front of the television, on the Internet and/or reading the newspapers, the names Antoine "Tony" Rezco, William "Bill" Ayers, and Jeremiah Wright were made household names. The Clinton pundits cleverly sent press releases, talked on radio and talk shows, and blogs on these people and their relationships to Barack Obama. Rezco was just a name in the Chicago and Illinois area, before he was linked to Obama, in the public eye. Rezco is currently on trial, in federal court, for countless business deals in the Chicago, Illinois area. Counts of fraud and possible tax evasion (plus, other charges are pending), are being raised against Rezco, but people are not sure of Obama's involvement. Obama is still a "self-proclaimed" friend with Rezco, Rezco and Obama have had at least one deal that is shaky, involving Obama's home in Chicago, (which was possibly illegal, Obama and his camp refuse to give up any of the transaction details and other records, to know for sure). Plus, Rezco held five different fund raiser functions for Obama's campaigns (both in state and federal seats). However, Obama was particularly upset that he was asked questions, "I didn't expect you guys to bite on that," was his response to the press (concerning Rezco questions).
More than half of the major media shows in the morning and in prime time, over the weekend, Obama's friendship with William "Bill" Ayers came up. Ayers, who was a member of "The Weathermen," which was a radical, liberal, fringe group (in the late 1960s, early '70's) who fire bombed the Pentagon and eleven other government buildings and sites (Ayers himself was brought up on charges, but was not formally charged, due to some law and police problems, with his case). However, Ayers has said formally and revels in actually fire bombing, these buildings. He is still a tenured college professor, has endorsed Obama and has given to his campaign. Another, to be "leaked," or at least strategically brought into the public fray, was Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's minister. Obama has been accused of being a Muslim, but has been a member of Wright's "Christian" church, for over twenty years. However, the problem with Wright and church, is the teaching on Afro-Centric/Afro-American dominate topics and interpretations (Jesus and all of the Bible's stories, people, and parables are seen thru a black only lens) and the church giving a "lifetime achievement award" to the minister Louis Farrakhan. Also, Wright made this comment, the Sunday after 9-11, "The attacks on September 11, are the consequences of our foreign policies, that were violent." Ceremoniously, equating that the United States, either provoked countries and deserved to be attacked, or the policies of America made us responsible for the 9-11 attacks.
All of the above, with a brief appearance on "SNL," where she made fun of herself, looked attractive, and was very down to earth. In skits that made fun of her, "have to win" and not playing politics "tonight" showed the American people in an age group that was crucial in Ohio, that Hillary Clinton is personable and even affable. In the past three debates, on the stump, and even on the television news shows her campaign allows her to do, she comes off as "just another politician." Saturday night, she came alive and made another "come back moment." Similar to the New Hampshire event, where she shed a couple of tears, this was a funny and emotional side of Hillary. It resonated with the American people, at least enough, for her to win (or contribute, to her wins) in the states she needed.
No matter what has happened to this point, in the democratic side of the ticket, there is not going to be any resolution to this nomination anytime soon. Pennsylvania is three weeks away, being the biggest primary left, it will be crucial. The American people will have to suffer thru at least one more debate, between now and then, but things should heat up, as well. Obama and Clinton, in their speeches Tuesday night, both took shots over their respective decks. Clinton, especially hit on Obama's "all hat and no cattle," or "he is just all words, with no action/plan," in her speech Tuesday. The success of the "3 a.m. advertisement" and Barack Obama's campaign manager (David Axelrod) not addressing the Tony Rezco problem (after being asked several times about it, on "ABC's Sunday morning, with George Stephanopolous") it looks like Clinton will be faster and harder, with some of Obama's perceived negatives. Clinton will also continue to speak loud and proud of her wins, in both Texas and Ohio, after being outspent almost three to one, in advertising by Barack Obama's campaign. Hillary Clinton is, once again, a force, has momentum, and she has more than turned the tables, this Tuesday.
Last Friday, when most people are going home to be in front of the television, on the Internet and/or reading the newspapers, the names Antoine "Tony" Rezco, William "Bill" Ayers, and Jeremiah Wright were made household names. The Clinton pundits cleverly sent press releases, talked on radio and talk shows, and blogs on these people and their relationships to Barack Obama. Rezco was just a name in the Chicago and Illinois area, before he was linked to Obama, in the public eye. Rezco is currently on trial, in federal court, for countless business deals in the Chicago, Illinois area. Counts of fraud and possible tax evasion (plus, other charges are pending), are being raised against Rezco, but people are not sure of Obama's involvement. Obama is still a "self-proclaimed" friend with Rezco, Rezco and Obama have had at least one deal that is shaky, involving Obama's home in Chicago, (which was possibly illegal, Obama and his camp refuse to give up any of the transaction details and other records, to know for sure). Plus, Rezco held five different fund raiser functions for Obama's campaigns (both in state and federal seats). However, Obama was particularly upset that he was asked questions, "I didn't expect you guys to bite on that," was his response to the press (concerning Rezco questions).
More than half of the major media shows in the morning and in prime time, over the weekend, Obama's friendship with William "Bill" Ayers came up. Ayers, who was a member of "The Weathermen," which was a radical, liberal, fringe group (in the late 1960s, early '70's) who fire bombed the Pentagon and eleven other government buildings and sites (Ayers himself was brought up on charges, but was not formally charged, due to some law and police problems, with his case). However, Ayers has said formally and revels in actually fire bombing, these buildings. He is still a tenured college professor, has endorsed Obama and has given to his campaign. Another, to be "leaked," or at least strategically brought into the public fray, was Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's minister. Obama has been accused of being a Muslim, but has been a member of Wright's "Christian" church, for over twenty years. However, the problem with Wright and church, is the teaching on Afro-Centric/Afro-American dominate topics and interpretations (Jesus and all of the Bible's stories, people, and parables are seen thru a black only lens) and the church giving a "lifetime achievement award" to the minister Louis Farrakhan. Also, Wright made this comment, the Sunday after 9-11, "The attacks on September 11, are the consequences of our foreign policies, that were violent." Ceremoniously, equating that the United States, either provoked countries and deserved to be attacked, or the policies of America made us responsible for the 9-11 attacks.
All of the above, with a brief appearance on "SNL," where she made fun of herself, looked attractive, and was very down to earth. In skits that made fun of her, "have to win" and not playing politics "tonight" showed the American people in an age group that was crucial in Ohio, that Hillary Clinton is personable and even affable. In the past three debates, on the stump, and even on the television news shows her campaign allows her to do, she comes off as "just another politician." Saturday night, she came alive and made another "come back moment." Similar to the New Hampshire event, where she shed a couple of tears, this was a funny and emotional side of Hillary. It resonated with the American people, at least enough, for her to win (or contribute, to her wins) in the states she needed.
No matter what has happened to this point, in the democratic side of the ticket, there is not going to be any resolution to this nomination anytime soon. Pennsylvania is three weeks away, being the biggest primary left, it will be crucial. The American people will have to suffer thru at least one more debate, between now and then, but things should heat up, as well. Obama and Clinton, in their speeches Tuesday night, both took shots over their respective decks. Clinton, especially hit on Obama's "all hat and no cattle," or "he is just all words, with no action/plan," in her speech Tuesday. The success of the "3 a.m. advertisement" and Barack Obama's campaign manager (David Axelrod) not addressing the Tony Rezco problem (after being asked several times about it, on "ABC's Sunday morning, with George Stephanopolous") it looks like Clinton will be faster and harder, with some of Obama's perceived negatives. Clinton will also continue to speak loud and proud of her wins, in both Texas and Ohio, after being outspent almost three to one, in advertising by Barack Obama's campaign. Hillary Clinton is, once again, a force, has momentum, and she has more than turned the tables, this Tuesday.