tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post783687768504117501..comments2024-03-28T06:43:21.546-04:00Comments on the daily howler: Supplemental: Parker and Chozick frisk Candidate Clinton!<b>bob somerby</b>http://www.blogger.com/profile/02963464534685954436noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-13788973289569512612015-07-15T12:32:16.151-04:002015-07-15T12:32:16.151-04:00Russert is supposed to be reporting news in a fair...Russert is supposed to be reporting news in a fair and unbiased manner. When he gets big bucks and spends his time with the moneyed interests he is supposed to be reporting on, he loses his objectivity. Reporters are not supposed to be high society or 1% insiders.<br /><br />Hillary's job is different. <br /><br />I find it amusing that unlike Ted Cruz, both Bill and Hillary's books were read by real people and were actual bestsellers. I have read them myself and especially liked Bill Clinton's thoughts in My Life. At the time, reviewers expressed admiration that he had written a real book, not the usual presidential memoir.<br /><br />Is there another Clinton rule I don't know about that forbids them from earning any money? Are conservatives like you still spiteful because you didn't actually put them in the poor house with the impeachment effort? That must have been a big disappointment to you all.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-59202828415655899582015-07-15T12:32:12.010-04:002015-07-15T12:32:12.010-04:00anon 11:30 - she said what she said, that at a par...anon 11:30 - she said what she said, that at a particular point in time she and her husband were "dead broke" and "in debt" as part of a response to Diane Sawyer's question about the big speaker's fees. Apparently there were large legal fees owed, so their liquid assets and probably net assets were in the red. Presumably, given their status, there prospect for future earnings to cover the debt were pretty good, or at least it turned out that way. (I know I, and I'm sure most people would be willing to give speeches at a much lower rate than what they charged).This answer has blown up in her face, to the point where Karl Rove is testing ads highlighting it to focus groups, But your response vigorously defending the press's treatment of this issue is quite wrong in my opinion, or rather, misses the real issue. We want whoever is elected president to be the one who will do the best job. Presidents don't have super powers to get everything they want happen. But they do have power, e.g., appointing Supreme Court justices and other federal court judges; getting us into war or not; veto power; etc. These trivial gaffes, like saying she was dead broke, (often these gaffes are actually true statements) the way the main stream press covers them, and how they are cynically exploited in campaign ads, turn the process into an absurd soap opera. That it might make some difference which person gets elected is ignored - its all horse race, process, gaffes, valuations of levels of authenticity and comfort in one's own skin. Actually, how important is it that she made that remark? And is the degree of media focus on it justified?AC/MAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-11802572783880854962015-07-15T12:24:37.452-04:002015-07-15T12:24:37.452-04:00And that honest and trustworthy question is asked ...And that honest and trustworthy question is asked only about Clinton -- not about any of the others running. Clinton rules. Given the perception of politicians in general and the 18% favorability rating for Congress, 42% may be pretty high. We have no way of judging when they don't ask the question about anyone else.<br /><br />Who thinks Jeb is honest? He starting running for office and raising money ahead of declaring, so he could coordinate with his PAC, deliberately subverting the rules. How honest is that? And then there's Rubio with his money problems, and all the folks Jeb was in business with who turned out to be crooks, and Christie's honesty problems in Bridgegate and so on. <br /><br />Hillary's numbers have decreased to the extent she is now a politician. That says more about being thought of as a politician than it does about Hillary personally. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-63282463282860418082015-07-15T12:17:01.137-04:002015-07-15T12:17:01.137-04:00"There is a special place in hell reserved fo..."There is a special place in hell reserved for them."<br /><br />Let's hope so. The rest of hell is going to get pretty crowded what with all those gay couple and the ministers who married them jostling for space.<br /><br />If you believe those things. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-43270232044079903712015-07-15T12:11:20.032-04:002015-07-15T12:11:20.032-04:00Hillary. You can take those high poll numbers to ...Hillary. You can take those high poll numbers to the bank!<br /><br /><strong>Hillary Clinton unfavorable numbers highest in 14 years</strong><br />By NICK GASS 6/2/15 7:11 AM EDT Updated 6/2/15 9:39 AM EDT<br /><br />Hillary Clinton is seeing her highest unfavorability ratings in 14 years, according to the latest CNN/ORC poll released Tuesday. Just 46 percent said they view the Democratic presidential front-runner favorably, compared to 50 percent who said they have an unfavorable view. In the preceding April survey, Clinton polled with 53 percent favorable, compared to 44 percent unfavorable.<br />--------------------<br /><br />Consistent with other polls on the issue, just 42 percent say they think the former secretary of state is “honest and trustworthy,” compared with 57 percent who say they do not."<br /><br />Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/poll-hillary-clinton-unfavorable-numbers-118532.html#ixzz3fydMsB8OAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-36903108048302426882015-07-15T11:54:47.038-04:002015-07-15T11:54:47.038-04:00And yet Hillary and Bill have such high favorabili...And yet Hillary and Bill have such high favorability and poll numbers! What accounts for that given their utter greediness and "out of touchness"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-38540656305146922912015-07-15T11:43:03.587-04:002015-07-15T11:43:03.587-04:00When the press and people like @10:37 pretend that...When the press and people like @10:37 pretend that it is only chance remarks that matter and that a candidates policies and experience are irrelevant, the public loses. At that point we get the leaders we deserve -- people like G.W. Bush, who show us vividly that it really does matter who becomes president. mm is not the pathetic person here. The folks who deliberately manipulate voters into forsaking their own interests are cynical scumbags who subvert our democracy for the interests of those looting our economy. There is a special place in hell reserved for them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-56014284728429142342015-07-15T11:30:30.074-04:002015-07-15T11:30:30.074-04:00Be more specific to refresh 12:07's memory.
P...Be more specific to refresh 12:07's memory.<br /><br />Poor broke Hillary Clinton, who had been scraping together money for Chelsea's tuition since Fall '97, must have left the White House sometime in 1999 when she and Bill bought the $1.7 million dollar home in Chappaqua, N.Y.<br /><br />"Under the terms of the deal, the Clintons will put down $350,000, drawn from their blind trust, Mr. Lockhart said. That represents a down payment of about 20 percent. The remaining financing comes in the form of a so-called securities-backed mortgage from Bankers Trust for $1.35 million.<br /><br />In this case, the collateral on the loan is the $1.35 million cash put up by Mr. McAuliffe."<br /><br />Want to take a tour of the Homes of Politician County? It is guided by someone quite trustworthy who makes more than a middle infielder.<br /><br />http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Tour-Bill-and-Hillary-Clintons-Chappaqua-New-York-Home-Video<br /><br />While struggling to make mortgage payments, tuition payments, and fretting about those huge legal bills, Mrs. C. found a new hobby in suburban New York, running for the U.S. Senate. She was elected in November, 2000. Anticipating the extra spending money the Clinton's would have once Mrs. Clinton began her new job, the family purchased a home in Washington right before New Year's<br />for the bargain price of $2.85 million.<br /><br />"The Clintons are making a down payment of $855,000 and have a loan commitment from Citibank for $1,995,000, said the White House spokesman, Jake Siewart."<br /><br />So, settled into two new homes, with two pools and 10 bedrooms, the broke empty nesters joined millions of everyday Americans with a net negative balance sheet in an uncertain terrifying financial future.<br /><br />On January 3, 2001 she was sworn in as U.S. Senator. For 17 days they were both full time federal employees before Bill officially began his life as a retired gentleman on January 20, 2001. But Hillary worked hard and passed the probationary period in her new job, and Bill "worked really hard" at temporary jobs he had to travel to and some free lance writing he performed in an old barn. They survived. <br /><br />To recap: The Clintons "had no money" when they got to the White House. They were "dead broke" when they left. But in between they managed to scrape a few pennies together after paying for three years of Chelsea's history degree at Stanford and find over $1,200,000 for two houses.<br /><br />It is a story that clearly will inspire laundry attendants all over America. They may even want to take JEB!'s advice and work "longer hours" so they too can achieve the dream realized by this poor penniless broke couple who went from public housing to affluence in a few short years. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-71059326620651020382015-07-15T10:37:04.029-04:002015-07-15T10:37:04.029-04:00mm you poor pathetic fool.
Karl and Co. had to wo...mm you poor pathetic fool.<br /><br />Karl and Co. had to work very hard for what they used on Kerry and it fooled almost nobody.<br /><br />Clinton's gift popped right out of her mouth. Just like Gore's.<br /><br />And with all due respect to the Blogger you so admire, clarifications, no matter how complete or incomplete, placed in paragraph 1 or paragraph 22 in July 2015 mean nothing when the barrage of television in swing states starts. It won't be imaginary sniper fire.N. Artfulnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-31040694711193511122015-07-15T10:29:02.271-04:002015-07-15T10:29:02.271-04:00The other Clinton rule, of course, is it is never ...The other Clinton rule, of course, is it is never her fault.<br /><br />Rule 1) She didn't really lose the nomination in 2008.<br />(All others do not matter)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-73868561924927220142015-07-15T10:20:06.190-04:002015-07-15T10:20:06.190-04:0012:07, she was elected to the Senate in November, ...12:07, she was elected to the Senate in November, 2000. Bill left office in January 2001.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-39224722588033964372015-07-15T10:18:27.069-04:002015-07-15T10:18:27.069-04:00You know, Somerby jumped all over the late Tim Rus...You know, Somerby jumped all over the late Tim Russert for citing his humble beginnings while living in nice digs in Nantucket. He also jumps on every story that Rachel Maddow tells that, according to him, is a bold attempt to make her sound like "one of us."<br /><br />Yet he not only gives Hillary a pass on "dead broke and in debt" but blasted Diane Sawyer for daring to ask the question that prompted that response. Yeah, some trick question.<br /><br />Please also note that in addition to the income that 4:38 cited, the Clintons were BOTH negotiating multi-million dollar book deals at the very time they were "dead broke and in debt" and Hillary actually had to sign hers before she was sworn into office because of Senate ethics rules.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-56555013993248376292015-07-15T10:07:11.837-04:002015-07-15T10:07:11.837-04:00You know, Somerby jumped all over the late Tim Rus...You know, Somerby jumped all over the late Tim Russert for citing his humble beginnings while living in nice digs in Nantucket. He also jumps on every story that Rachel Maddow tells that, according to him, is a bold attempt to make her sound like "one of us."<br /><br />Yet he not only gives Hillary a pass on "dead broke and in debt" but blasted Diane Sawyer for daring to ask the question that prompted that response. Yeah, some trick question.<br /><br />Please also note that in addition to the income that 4:38 cited, the Clintons were BOTH negotiating multi-million dollar book deals at the very time they were "dead broke and in debt" and Hillary actually had to sign hers before she was sworn into office because of Senate ethics rules.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-39262728921561929082015-07-15T08:40:35.675-04:002015-07-15T08:40:35.675-04:00That's one of the Clinton rules. Whenever she ...That's one of the Clinton rules. Whenever she is treated unfairly, it is always her fault.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-54266309408495422762015-07-15T08:40:16.449-04:002015-07-15T08:40:16.449-04:00Just like John Kerry foolishly handed Rove ammunit...Just like John Kerry foolishly handed Rove ammunition by foolishly earning his medals serving his country in Vietnam.mmnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-12945096327019610252015-07-15T08:01:57.210-04:002015-07-15T08:01:57.210-04:00Shorter troll:
Because it refutes me, I refuse t...Shorter troll: <br /><br />Because it refutes me, I refuse to get the point: Having an income does not mean you can't be bankrupt, as I stupidly implied.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-89438174893521771932015-07-15T00:24:37.079-04:002015-07-15T00:24:37.079-04:00No. I am arguing that Clinton foolishly handed Rov...No. I am arguing that Clinton foolishly handed Rove his best ammunition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-56513610619372829102015-07-15T00:21:31.425-04:002015-07-15T00:21:31.425-04:00I won't interpret much less define the circums...I won't interpret much less define the circumstances of your memory. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-34889064510268852532015-07-15T00:07:44.566-04:002015-07-15T00:07:44.566-04:00She ran for office before Clinton left office? I d...She ran for office before Clinton left office? I don't remember that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-78444256605964906742015-07-15T00:05:36.852-04:002015-07-15T00:05:36.852-04:00You seem to be arguing that it is fine for Rove to...You seem to be arguing that it is fine for Rove to slime Clinton in ads because she didn't describe her finances the way you would have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-42112268880163837442015-07-14T23:48:46.631-04:002015-07-14T23:48:46.631-04:00United State Senator from a state in which she had...United State Senator from a state in which she had apparently never lived in before she bought a $1.7 million home there while dead broke.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-53628931856404024522015-07-14T23:38:46.773-04:002015-07-14T23:38:46.773-04:00Freaks indeed:
"Under the circumstances, you...Freaks indeed:<br /><br />"Under the circumstances, you’d think the reporters would want to include a full account of what Clinton actually said. <strong>These freaks never do that.</strong><br /><br />It isn’t that hard to flesh out Clinton’s fuller remark. “We came out of the White House not only dead broke, but in debt,” she told NPR’s Terry Gross, making an accurate statement."<br /><br />Well, if they had taken something Mrs. Clinton said to Terry Gross they might have shifted the article from "dead broke" to"<br /><br />"No, I don't think you are trying to clarify. I think you're trying to say that, you know, I used to be opposed and now I'm in favor and I did it for political reasons. And that's just flat wrong. So let me just state what I feel like you are implying and repudiate it."<br /><br />Terry Gross and Clinton discussed gay marriage among other things. They did not discuss her wealth.<br /><br />Of course, to be fair, Gross is an old person. We don't know if she is oily, oleaginous, and a coot to boot. That may explain the confusion. But we think Bob is not totally accurate about where Clinton made her statement.M.L. Adaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-83514251865052771192015-07-14T23:31:04.652-04:002015-07-14T23:31:04.652-04:00You do not have the right to interpret much less d...You do not have the right to interpret much less define the circumstances of someone else's life. Not many people share your attitude about debt<br /> <br />What was Hillary's job on the day she left the White House?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-21278736216147191532015-07-14T23:25:35.997-04:002015-07-14T23:25:35.997-04:00All that means is people are busy with their lives...All that means is people are busy with their lives and have no time to argue with trolls.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8611810694571930415.post-72199301476301003482015-07-14T23:12:22.040-04:002015-07-14T23:12:22.040-04:00Hillary Clinton was employed on the day her husban...Hillary Clinton was employed on the day her husband left the White House and he was immediately a pensioner. That means the day he left the White House their income was much higher than the day before they left. They were not<br />broke, much less "dead broke."<br /><br />Having a negative net worth does not mean you are broke.<br /><br />Nobody has used the "we were in debt" line against Mrs. Clinton. And none of those to whom the Clinton's owed money were sending over goons with baseball bats or lawyers with liens threatening them with either crippling injuries or seizure of assets. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com