Comments for Political Snapshot

Comment on Lieberman May Speak at GOP Convention by The Paradox of Joe Leiberman « The Foxhole

The Paradox of Joe Leiberman « The Foxhole — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:16:25 +0000

[...] Link: http://politics.steidler.net/2008/04/16/lieberman-may-speak-at-gop-convention/ [...]

Comment on Mad as hell by Teeno

Teeno — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 08:01:45 +0000

So, if Hillary wants Obama to help pay off HER debts, when does McCain start helping Rudi Giuliani, Mike Huckabee or Fred Thompson pay off theirs?

When did this “pay off your rivals debts” become part of the political process?

Comment on Geraldine Ferraro’s Ugly Words - Accidental, or Campaign Ploy? by Tony Steidler-Dennison

Tony Steidler-Dennison — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:31:11 +0000

What’s interesting in this, as others have pointed out, is that the Clinton campaign used such a light touch in condemning the language. That leaves open the possibility that this is an actual strategy - to inject race into the campaign.

As noted on the Huffington Post:

Do I believe that Sen. Clinton has a secret command center dedicated exclusively to transmitting coded messages of racial bigotry? Of course not - er, I mean, not as far as I know. Do I think she and her staff use coded appeals to bigotry when it’s convenient? Put it this way: A pattern of “accidental” racial slurs has persisted throughout the campaign, despite all the controversy, and has yet to be explained. (And, as a commenter noted, Ferraro used the same line in 1988.)

The Clinton camp also responded by claiming that Obama was playing the situation to political advantage by expressing his concerns about the comments.

So, let me get this straight. A prominent official in the Clinton campaign (finance chair) makes racially-insensitive remarks. The campaign notes that the comments are “regrettable,” but leaves the official in place. The Obama campaign expresses concern at the tone of the remarks. The official futher expounds on and justifies the remarks. And, the Clinton campaign calls Obama an opportunist for expressing his concern.

This goes beyond hardball politics and is exactly the “politics of personal destruction” the Clintons decried in the 90s.

Someone in the Democratic party has to step in before this becomes a party-wide blood bath.

Comment on Really, Hillary? Name one. by Tony Steidler-Dennison

Tony Steidler-Dennison — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:44:58 +0000

This is the irritation I’ve felt every time I’ve heard the phrase “35 years of experience.” While I don’t dismiss the important role of spouses in decision-making, being the wife of the president clearly isn’t the same as being the president. She’s claiming that foreign policy experience by osmosis is of equal value to the real thing. I’m not buying it.

Comment on Clinton aide compares Obama to Starr by Tony Steidler-Dennison

Tony Steidler-Dennison — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:07:28 +0000

This is clearly the “ktichen sink” strategy in action. I’m concerned that the Clinton campaign is capable of rolling out so much chaff that the Obama campaign will just disappear in the interference. They’ve clearly moved into full general election mode.