Rosa DeLauro: now on the Clinton hit list?

Shorter Ferraro (0.00 / 0)

- Sen. Dodd supports Obama because it's "guys sticking together"
- Rep. DeLauro supports Obama because she's pandering to black people in her district

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by: joejoejoe @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 20:34:07 PM CDT

Is this the Clinton way to win friends and influence people? (0.00 / 0)

 Don't see how this strategy helps in a general election.  

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by: CaptCT @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 20:48:16 PM CDT

It's all about the nomination (0.00 / 0)

The Clinton campaign is going to say or do whatever it takes to win the nomination, as without it there is no general election for them.

Since there's been no repudiation of Ferraro's comments by the Clinton campaign (unlike Samantha Power for Obama's) this now looks like a deliberate strategy to polarize the electorate, and specifically in Pennsylvania, the next major primary. With time running out, and Clinton almost mathematically eliminated, they know they have to win in PA by an enormous margin, at least by 20pts and probably much more, to make any kind of dent in Obama's lead. Failing that this is over.  

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by: Scarce @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:33:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Monday (0.00 / 0)

she needed about 63% of all remaining delegates to tie Obama. You need about 65% to 68% of the vote in the primaries to achieve that 63% of the delegates. Obama won today, making the climb even higher. He will win some more states. She will likely need to get 70% +++ (just a shit house lawyer guess) in PA to keep up. She has a 55% to 36% lead in the PA polls right now. Her numbers have only gone down as the Obama campaign hits the ground in most states.

She is done before the PA campaign has even started.


Drinking Liberally in New Milford
ePluribus Media

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by: Connecticut Man1 @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 23:12:13 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Slate.com's delegate calculator (0.00 / 0)

is a neat resource for playing 'what if' with pretty good accuracy.  I would say it validates pretty closely your guess here given some scenarios I played with last night.  Here 'tis:

http://www.slate.com/features/...
Slate's Delegate Calculator

Egad that witch and her flying monkeys have gotten disgusting...  :-/

J

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by: J @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 16:21:05 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

PA Governor Rendell is a Clinton supporter (0.00 / 0)

And caused a bit of a sh*t storm about a snowstorm a few weeks ago.  It seems that he extended the PA filing deadline after 2-3 inches of snow fell.  Yhat was done once before in a truly crippling snowstorm, a fact that he used in what some in PA say was a tepid rationale.  Candidates grew like mushrooms due to the extension, and suddenly there were (what?  80 or so?) new candidates everywhere.  I know quite a few people filed lawsuits about it, and the suspicion by some is that Rendell had his finger on the electoral scale to help a rush of new filings that favored his favorite.  The new filings occurred on both the Dem and GOP side.  At the time of the extension there were at least 50 positions that were unchallenged.

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by: greenpeas @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:38:10 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ferraro is still alive? (4.00 / 2)

Let alone relevant.  I haven't heard her name since 1984.  What's next, Ferraro on Dancing With the Stars?

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by: snorwich @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:00:27 PM CDT

Five trailblazers (0.00 / 0)

Madeleine Albright, Hillary Clinton, Geraldine Ferraro, Nancy Pelosi, Mary Landrieu

From the 2007 Sons of Italy Foundation Gala. Of the four other women, only Nancy Pelosi has not yet endorsed Hillary Clinton.

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by: Scarce @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:59:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

As much as I bitch about spineless Pelosi... (0.00 / 0)

(CNN) - A so-called "dream ticket" scenario - the idea that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama could join forces this fall - may have gripped the imaginations of Democrats nationwide - but you can list House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as a skeptic.

"I think that ticket either way is impossible," Pelosi told a New England Cable News reporter Tuesday, pointing to comments from Clinton and her campaign that implied Republican John McCain would make a better commander-in-chief than Obama.

"I think that the Clinton administration has fairly ruled that out by proclaiming that Senator McCain would be a better commander-in-Chief than Obama," she said.

She spoke bluntly about her view that a joint ticket was not in the cards, she said, because "I wanted to be sure I didn't leave any ambiguity."

The California Democrat, who has remained neutral throughout the party's primary process, said she remains an uncommitted superdelegate.

And while she claims she is not made a choice, Rep. George Miller (D-CA), who is very close to her is an Obama superdelegate.

I also have to give her kudos for not folding on telcom immunity.  

The question is not what you are, we already determined that, we are now negotiating price.
electrealdemocrats.com Online since 3/07 -- TimetogoJoe.com Online s

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by: Met00 @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 04:03:14 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

George H.W. Bush (0.00 / 0)

Called Reagan on his "voodoo economics" and still became his V.P. Pelosi is correct to point out Hil's nastiness, but wrong to eliminate the possibolity of a joint ticket.

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by: Jon Kantrowitz @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 06:53:29 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

That doesn't make sense (0.00 / 0)

If Pelosi can comment on the tone of the Clinton campaign she can also go one step further and draw the logical conclusion. Obviously she has a purpose for saying this --sending a message-- without having to publicly commit either way, which at this stage is probably not appropriate. It would seem clear though which way she is headed.

Since Super Tuesday Clinton's lead among superdelegates has shrunk from around 100 now down under 40. It's expected to continue to dwindle.

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by: Scarce @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 08:51:20 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Did George ever say that the (0.00 / 0)

Democratic Apponent was more qualified to be President than Ronnie?

Nope.

There is a line over which you can not step. You can not say that the person in the other party is better than anyone in yours. You can say "I can beat them", you can say "We are better, but I'm the best." but you can't say that the leaders of the other party can govern better than any candidate in yours.

This is blowback from the inside core of the Democratic Party that is telling Clinton that she was out of line and that she has lost support since she in doing this attacked the party, not Obama.

You don't pull on superman's cape, you don't spit in the wind. You don't pull the mask off the old lone ranger and you don't mess around with Dem. Boop-boobitee, boop, ditty-da-da. [Everybody sing...]


The question is not what you are, we already determined that, we are now negotiating price.
electrealdemocrats.com Online since 3/07 -- TimetogoJoe.com Online s

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by: Met00 @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:38:58 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

What's even worse (4.00 / 1)

Is that Clinton did not outright denounce the comment.

Between that, the John McCain lovefest, and "Bill the adulterer" going on Rush Limbaugh, I'm losing all respect for her campaign.

Can I just see her tax returns please?

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by: ctblogger @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:09:45 PM CDT

If the "insult 40 states strategy" doesn't work (4.00 / 1)

Just try the "insult 211 superdelegates" strategy.

'Cause that's really gonna work.

"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to it."

-Lawrence Summers

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by: joesaho @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 21:36:20 PM CDT

Ferraro has a racist history (0.00 / 0)

"If Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race", said Ferraro in 1988, according to a Washington Post article unearthed by The Politico:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/...
So, Hillary should not have been surprised by what Ferraro said. Looks like a plant to me.
oldswede

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by: oldswede @ Tue Mar 11, 2008 at 22:07:01 PM CDT

Adding a bit of humor... (4.00 / 1)

to the outrage.

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by: ctblogger @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 01:20:17 AM CDT

Time for Democrats to step up (0.00 / 0)

Democrats like Chris Dodd and Rosa DeLauro and Nancy Pelosi need to issue a statement condemning Ferraro's remarks.

Italian-American women, DeLauro and Pelosi especially, need to step up and say Ferraro's comments are wrong and offensive.

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by: CaptCT @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:00:00 AM CDT

Are you sure? (0.00 / 0)

Gloves come off in elections.  If people are racist --or not -- at the core and vote that way, the election will be a fingerprint of the American people.

And if people aren't racist -- but the vote is manipulated -- the effec will be the same as if they are.

We have had how many years of profoundly  nasty campaigning and dirty tricks, and we now  think that it's not nice to play them on the black guy?

Don't get me wrong, I hate the nature of our political discourse, but this ain't gonna go away because we think it's racist or not nice or unfair or anything.

The only self defense I see in these putrid times is to keep my eye on the ball and hang on like a dog on a postman's leg regardless of the shit that flies.

It's going to get ugly.  Stepping up and saying the has-been Ferraro's comments are wrong and offensive perpetuates the discussion and gives new political life and recognition to someone who long ago faded from the scene.

This is a distraction, a diversion, a misdirection.  If the public is completely disinterested in the side show, it will get a whole lot less coverage.

I sincerely doubt that Barack Obama has any illusions about the stuff people say being something he will encounter in this election.  We shouldn't either.  There's just no reason to engage in it, pander to it, or wring our hands about it.

Racism is here and people have to sort out they rate competency, ideology, experience, race, sex, and military service, and where their last decisions got them.

When I realized I didn't give a shit about Spitzer hanging with a prostitute and wondered whether the wire tap was a legal one (telecom immunity, anyone?), I knew that the Clinton caprice and the subsequent events in our national history had truly inoculated me against irrelevant issues.  Has anyone asked what Larry Craig thinks about leaving a "paper trail"?

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by: greenpeas @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 11:55:00 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

raising awareness (0.00 / 0)

I understand what you're saying, and agree with a lot of it, but there's this too:

Race-baiting is a topic covered in depth in the book, The Political Brain. The book explains that when people are conscious of the emotional effect that race-baiting and other psychological tricks are meant to have, they are less affected by them. Maybe it's time for some consciousness-raising.

Perhaps if some of these leading Dems appeared with Obama and said something like, I'm supporting Obama because I believe he's the better candidate, or that we need to end the politics of division, whatever, I think it would put out some of this emotional fire.    

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by: CaptCT @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 12:16:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Good point about race baiting (0.00 / 0)

People don't necessarily realize what is happening when a visceral, irrational, unexamined nerve is hit.

I almost think there's just a powerful message in not saying anything but letting your actions say it all.  I'm supporting the candidate in all my actions, rather than doing what I call "explaining support while disdaining the candidate".  At MLN we've all seen it up close and personal when a person "explains" that they support someone but their actions don't match it.

Race baiting isn't just happening to BHO.  It's happening to people of color in many ways -- probably anyone who looks like they're Middle Eastern (whatever that means  - open to interpretation by the beholder) can talk about that with some passion.

What I'm getting at is whether there is a certain subtle patronizing of BHO by creating a clean, well lit pathway to the presidency for him.  What's that all about?  Is this a healthy relationship?

Not accusing you of anything, just to be clear.  It's a cruel world, and perhaps the best place to raise consciousness is not associating it with the presidential candidate, but with race baiting and the people of color affected who are closer to home, and let people make the obvious connections themselves.  I know I can count on you to have this concern all the time.

I'm with you in your concerns, CaptCt.  Just trying to tease this apart a little bit and see what is helpful and what is not.

The video ctblogger put up is brilliant, priceless, and hits the whole race baiting thing smack on the head.

Viral distribution, anyone?

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by: greenpeas @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 12:37:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

This just in (0.00 / 0)

I have a "google alert" set up to inform me of whenever "affordable" "housing" and "Connecticut" show up in an article online, and just got this weird headline through apparently random chance:

Clinton's Pennsylvania Pitch: 'I'm One of You'

This attack strategy is aimed at hardening her support in mid-state PA early so she can compete to as close to a draw as possible in Philly.

–7.25 / –7.28

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/tw...

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by: mattw @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 12:46:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

maybe just setting some ground rules (0.00 / 0)

Regarding the "subtle patronizing of BHO by creating a clean, well lit pathway to the presidency for him.  What's that all about?"

There's no question I'm biased -- I think Obama is the better candidate, and so it's good that you raise that point. But I'm also biased in favor of the Democratic Party, and these are the same tactics that Republicans use to divide the party.  Why insult and alienate an entire segment of the population? If Clinton said the same thing about Italian-Americans or any group (latte-sipping states?), that would be destructive too.

True, I'm not sure I'd be as vociferous if not for the presidential campaign, so you're point is well taken. However, when Don Imus made his racist and sexist comments about the Rutgers basketball team, I immediately posted a diary on it, and I followed up on it. My arguments against using a noose as free speech also kind of point to where I stand on this. So, I'm not exactly silent when these issues hit closer to home.

The stakes are incredibly high in this year's election, and that just stirs things up even more.
 

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by: CaptCT @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 14:28:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

see above, captct (0.00 / 0)

"Not accusing you, just to be clear."

I have nothing harbored against the candidate.  It really is not a matter of like/dislike him for me.

It really is a question of what keeps people focused on the issues, and my thought was centered around the saying, "that which we resist, persists."

NO!  Don't say that!  There IS no elephant in the room! seems like resisting and thus keeping the meme a live.

I am not attached to the idea, CaptCT, and the idea is directed at making the badass behavior go away -- not by dropping what I am doing and freaking out, but kind of by saying, 'Yeah, right, whatever" and staying keyed on the issues.

I am not a campaign strategist, nor do I play one on TV.  There's a reason for that, I'm sure.  But I do play armchair politics once in awhile, and there you go.

So thanks for your thoughts on this -- and taken under advisement.

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by: greenpeas @ Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 20:46:11 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Couldn't agree more (0.00 / 0)

The stakes are incredibly high in this year's election, and that just stirs things up even more.

But from someone who isn't completely in love with Obama--and who is not completely disgusted of Hillary, I am still waiting for the coup de grace from some party big-wig (Gore or Dean, perhaps) who would steer this ironic fight between two symbols of this Party so that whomever finally wins, does win unscathe and eventually wins the WH in the end.

I know Democrats are all for democracy, but for pete's sake can't you guys make up your minds without tearing each other apart?

CaptCT, this is not an attack on you. This is a general comment on why can't Democrats rally behind a candidate faster than Republicans do.

FWIW, Hillary and Barack are light-years ahead of what the other party has to offer this election cycle. Their policies are not that disimilar. It's all about symbolism at this point. Don't let that symbolism take away what potentially could be an eight-year prize as Chief Executive of this country.

The arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice. --Martin Luther King, Jr.

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by: connecticutyankee @ Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 23:04:44 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

also (0.00 / 0)

Don't forget Ms. Ferraro's "super delegates know best" op-ed in the NY Times a few weeks back. She's making quite a name for herself.

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by: kwhitehead @ Wed Mar 12, 2008 at 10:24:00 AM CDT