Sen. Clinton Assails Bush and G.O.P. ("Why can't the Dem's do more...")

[truthpusher]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/06/nyregion/06cnd-hillary.html?ei=5090&en=b58541f817436370&ex=1275710400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

June 6, 2005
--------------------------
Senator Clinton Assails Bush and G.O.P. at Campaign Fund-Raiser
--------------------------
By PATRICK D. HEALY
--------------------------

(snip)

"There has never been an administration, I don't believe in our history, more intent upon consolidating and abusing power to further their own agenda," Mrs. Clinton told the audience at a "Women for Hillary" gathering in Midtown Manhattan this morning.

"I know it's frustrating for many of you; it's frustrating for me: Why can't the Democrats do more to stop them?" she continued to growing applause and cheers. "I can tell you this: It's very hard to stop people who have no shame about what they're doing. It is very hard to tell people that they are making decisions that will undermine our checks and balances and constitutional system of government who don't care. It is very hard to stop people who have never been acquainted with the truth."

Mrs. Clinton described Republican leaders as messianic in their beliefs, willing to manipulate facts and even "destroy" the Senate to gain political advantage over the Democratic minority. She also labeled the House of Representatives as "a dictatorship of the Republican leadership," where individual members are all but required to vote in lock-step with the majority's agenda.

(snip)

"We can't ever, ever give in to the Republican agenda," she declared. "It isn't good for New York and it isn't good for America."

(snip)

"The press is missing in action, with all due respect," she said. "Where are the investigative reporters today? Why aren't they asking the hard questions? It's shocking when you see how easily they fold in the media today. They don't stand their ground. If they're criticized by the White House, they just fall apart.

"I mean, c'mon, toughen up, guys, it's only our Constitution and country at stake," she said. "Let's get some spine."

complete story: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/06/nyregion/06cnd-hillary.html?ei=5090&en=b58541f817436370&ex=1275710400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[Rebellious Republican]

1. You go girl,Its time Dems stop playing nice!

:woohoo:

[Gay Green]

10. It's high time she stopped playing Nicely-Nice

Now let's hope she holds her line back INSIDE the Beltway.

[Rebellious Republican]

41. It would be nice to see some politicians start standing up to these

slugs!

:toast:

[bahrbearian]

2. She should have had a little spine in the run up to the IWR.

[Alpharetta]

4. My thoughts as well. Senator Byrd has a question:

"Spine? Now? Why now?"

[Skwmom]

34. She's running for president.

The same reason she voted for the Iraq War.

[zanne]

52. God, Skwmom--I hope not!

Is she does run for president, I won't vote for her. I think she'd deligitimize party by siding with the opposition way too often. I always thought of Bill Clinton as a conservative Democrat. That worked out back then, but this is no time for a Republican-Lite candidate. They'll be far too much work to undo after eight years of Bush.

[IndianaGreen]

5. Redemption is a good thing!

If we were to condemn all those that voted for IWR, there wouldn't be a Democratic Party today. The issue today is: are they still in denial about IWR? Are they in opposition to Bush, or are they in the BOHICA position?

Hillary is saying what needs to be said. We need more Democrats to join the rising chorus of opposition to the Bush totalitarians.

[Skwmom]

35. What message would that send to current and future elected

officials? Go ahead and vote for war out of concern for your political future and all will be forgiven? Who cares how many soldiers are brought home in body bags, missing limbs or mentally scarred for life.

Today your neighbor's son, daughter, husband, father, mother have been sacrificed to further Clinton's (and others) political career. Who knows, in the future it may be a member of your own family.

I will not participate in giving ANY politician a blank check to sell out this country and its citizens (to do so would make me as guilty as they are).

[calimary]

45. I know. It's a serious conflict to have to face for many of us.

It IS true, however, that if we dismiss everybody in the Democratic Party who thought they ought to approve the IWR, then we'd have almost nobody left. Look, MY OWN CONGRESSMAN, Henry Waxman, who's the next best thing to John Conyers as far as his voting record and his overall opposition to bushco, even HE voted for the IWR.

Your point, however, is well-taken and DOES INDEED have to be faced by every one of our Dems who caved. And the next point following yours is - how many of 'em are still caving? How many of them have finally started learning from their mistakes? How many of them have actually been willing to recognize that they made a mistake to give junior the benefit of the doubt?

Redemption DOES exist and IS a good thing. Yes, Hillary blew it by buying the bullshit from bush. At the time, MANY Americans in and out of Congress did so. It was too soon after 9/11. Many of us were panicked (I'm not generalizing to the point where I include you or myself in this - I never bought the bullshit and I'm assuming you - and most of us here on DU - didn't either) and I cannot tell you how many of my friends who are otherwise of sound mind and good judgment and can smell a rat and have bullshit alarms built-in - how many of THEM bought it all. Hook, line and sinker. We who didn't were portrayed as appeasers and Saddam-lovers, and if you represented a whole lot of people who felt that way, you probably felt you were stuck.

What's important here is - do they still cling to the bullshit - especially now when the Downing Street Minutes have come to light, and we have people like George Galloway willing to speak truth to power and say that we were right all along and they were wrong? Or do they look at the facts and readjust their conclusions and reactions accordingly? If they do, then I applaud them. If they're willing to see the light and to respond accordingly, then I applaud them. If they keep capitulating, they're worthless. Or they're republi-CON. One-in-the-same, as far as I'm concerned.

Now, we need to see how much backbone Ms. Hillary has, and is willing to use. For heaven's sakes, it's not like she hasn't weathered a few storms in her day. I'd like to see some true guts out of her - beyond just speech-making before sympathetic crowds. I think she's got it in her, but I do NOT want to see ANY MORE caving to bush. On Iraq, or ANYTHING ELSE. That would be the test for me.

Because, as YOU say so astutely, Skwmom - there are MANY sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers, and mothers who've sacrificed, and have been sacrificed to this needless war-based-on-LIES. And those who keep capitulating about it to bush deserve a nice hot place in Hell with him. All this needless bloodshed IS ON THEIR HANDS.

[Skwmom]

49. Hillary never bought the *ullshit from Bush.

It was a pure calculated political move. Comparing Hillary to average citizens who bought into the war is b.s. Many were busy leading their lives and only heard the sound bites that the corporate media fed them.

I don't want someone sitting in the Whitehouse who in deciding whether or not to take this country to war will think of their political future first.

As far as redemption goes, how in the heck is it redemption to REWARD someone for casting a political vote to give Bush a blank check to go to war by elevating them to commander-in-chief (in essence making their pure political move payoff)?

[IndianaGreen]

3. Hillary fears no one!

And she is less prone to accommodate the bastards than Big Dog was.

[ElectroPrincess]

6. In my not so humble opinion ...

It's all for show ... part of the "ruling class" (Dems and Rep) waltz to lessen the fact that us "little people" we will lose anyway.

Just like Biden, she pontificates then backs away. DINOS = all fake sound and fury, signifying NOTHING of substance come decision time.

[MrPrax]

14. Well...Yeah, point taken

'It's all for show'...but it is a 'good show' ;-)

[ElectroPrincess]

54. Thanks, guess we differ in personal taste ...

If you're going to beat me up and take all my money (allow the government to promote corporate welfare off the backs of the working people), I'd prefer you would just *get on with it* (be a card carrying republican) ... that is, a fake kiss, before and after you annihilate me (DINOs' fawning behavior), IMO does not make for a good show.

[jamesinca]

25. Will Edwards go after her like he did Dean

Maybe that is the test here. If people like John Edwards go after you for these comments then you are where in the spectrum of truth, justice, and the American way. If he says nothing what does that say about your position on that spectrum? I am still under the impression that they could not beat Howard Dean so they incorporated him in an attempt to silence him.

[saracat]

28. Hillary didn't mis speak! She said what she meant. And Edwards didn't "go

after" Dean. He replied to a question about Deans statement. He didn't like his use of verbiage, and neither did Dean himself. He corrected it. I am not a Hillary fan but this speech rocks! you go girl. Give us more of these kinds of statements!

[jamesinca]

43. Hillary did give a good speech

Lets hope she acts on it and it is not just words. I stand corrected on the Dean/Edwards thing.

[Skwmom]

36. Funny, that's not what the Big Dog has indicated.

He's stated that Hillary is a very "pragmatic" politician (which means that she's even more willing then him to do whatever it takes to further her political career).

[GreenArrow]

7. actions speak louder than words

and your voting record ain't that great, doll.

[Worst Username Ever]

8. w00t

[Guaranteed]

32. Yeah.

[stepnw1f]

9. To Freepers: A Woman Smacking the Whitey Righty Around

How ya like that CRACKERS!

[Raksha]

11. Wonderful--now let's see her walk the walk! n/t

[SlavesandBulldozers]

13. amen

and amen again.

[Malva Zebrina]

12. Looks to me like the junior Senator from NY

has finally realized that her husband's approach (and by default her own) is already old politics and that there is mutiny stirring within the Democratic ranks. I think she is smart enough to read the cards. Let's see where she will go from here. It may be just icing on the cake and totally superficial politics. And I cannot forget that she voted for the IWR. She has a while to redeem herself with the multitudes who are watching every move and commenting upon it.

Right now, those comments are on the negative side and her husband continues to lock arms with the Bush family evil empire. Not a good thing for her. That must stop if she ever must have a chance at becoming the first American woman president.

It will be interesting.

[Joey Liberal]

15. Hillary Rocks!!

And she's 100 percent correct.

[Itsthetruth]

16. A Lot Of Hot Air From Hillary Clinton

"We can't ever, ever give in to the Republican agenda," she declared. "It isn't good for New York and it isn't good for America."

Long on rhetoric.

Short on substance.

What in the world does she called Senator Reid's Senate role in getting two key elements of the Republican agenda passed in the Senate? The "tort reform" and bankruptcy bills.

And how in the world would she describe Senator Reid's "deal" giving up the filibuster so that Bush's most right-wing judicial appointments could be approved in the Senate?

I know the right word to use.

The word is surrender. And our dear Hillary can find nothing objectionable about that or Senator Reid's collaboration with the Republicans on their legislative agenda.

[bling bling]

17. Preeeach!

Music to my ears. Keep screaming it Senator, the truth will set us free.

[Itsthetruth]

18. I Hope This Song Isn't Music To Anyones Ears

The Immoderate Pact Song Parody (Sing to When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again)

The "moderates" made a voting pact.
We're screwed, we're screwed.
The "moderates" got their power back.
We're screwed, we're screwed.
Their deal betrays our democracy.
We're stuck with dreadful nominees.
And I don't feel gay cause
The moderate Dems are hacks.

The "moderates" claim they did what's right.
We're screwed, we're screwed.
Averted a constitutional fight.
We're screwed, we're screwed.
The filibuster was up for grabs.
And now it's watered down for scraps.
And I don't feel gay cause
The Democrats lost this fight.

[bling bling]

19. I get that you lay the blame for Reid and the Democrats at Clinton's feet

Please, correct me if I am wrong.

Her voting record overall is in-line with a Democratic representative. Her life's work in poltics and social services is in-line overall with a Democrat.

The woman just called the neo-cons out for who they are and more or less told the media they collectively suck. That's music to my ears.

Dean, Clinton, Boxer, Conyers, and a couple of other Dems shine in their own ways at different times. I give them all kudo's when it's due.

[bitchkitty]

20. Senator, keep talking!

Keep it up and I'll start to love you again!

on edit - and please tell Bill to shut his trap - GW Bush is not now, nor has he ever been, a good man.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

21. It's frustrating, alright.

"The press is missing in action, with all due respect," she said. "Where are the investigative reporters today? Why aren't they asking the hard questions? It's shocking when you see how easily they fold in the media today. They don't stand their ground. If they're criticized by the White House, they just fall apart.

I respectfully ask:

"Where are our Senators, Hill?"

Hard questions?
Folding?
Not standing one's ground?

If you're gonna talk it, you damn well better walk it...and...I see... you're sitting down. Rhetoric.

[Supersedeas]

50. get some spine!!!!

[Imagevision]

22. Question is> how bad will it get before she gets a shot at the title

Will we see that mushroom cloud Cheney & Rice spoke of before Bush's term expires? (if he's not impeached for the war crimes bit}

[dad]

23. Hillary plays both sides of the fence

Don't get played by Hillary. Look at her voting record on the most important issues and decide for yourself whether she is part of the opposition or not. And Bill Clinton's recent Bush-loving rhetoric is not very encouraging either.

[sellitman]

24. You are 100% correct

Vote one way and speak another way....typical Hillary.

[bling bling]

26. Ok. I'd like to see it.

I would like to look at her voting record. Would you post it here for everyone to see? Please, if possible, bold the ones that are the most important issues, as you said.

Thanks.

[Kelvin Mace]

27. Yes, why can't YOU do more

Why can't you STOP voting for the whack jobs Bush sends down?

[dean2016]

30. Hillary as pres will keep us in Iraq

Hillary as president will keep us in Iraq for her time in office when we need to be setting a time to withdraw.

After shrub is finally gone I want our dem president to want to get out of Iraq, not continue the Bush policy of staying in Iraq for the forseeable future and building permanent bases.

How Hillary is leading the polls when she wants to stay in Iraq indefinately is very disheartening. How can we support someone with that policy.

[Skwmom]

38. Hillary as pres would dance to the tune of the corp media

who is making billions off of the war.

[Kelvin Mace]

56. I am always baffled at how the Clinton's

are viewed as "liberals". The are firmly right of center on a vast majority of issues. They take these position because it is how they feel they can get elected.

[understandinglife]

29. A small clue Senator Clinton, stop whining about how hard it is, and ...

... START DOING IT.

What you and all your colleagues have cluelessly, totally frigging missed is that you have millions of Americans ready to do everything it takes to restore America.

So, stop this type of bullshit: "It's very hard to stop people who have no shame about what they're doing. It is very hard to tell people that they are making decisions that will undermine our checks and balances and constitutional system of government who don't care. It is very hard to stop people who have never been acquainted with the truth.""

It would be a whole bunch easier if you and every Democratic member of the Senate and HR did the following:

1. STOP business-as-usual;

2. REFUSE to cooperate in any way with the current administration;

3. RETURN to your States and districts and spend every day meeting with the citizens in those States and Districts explaining to them why Bush and Cheney must be impeached, why numerous members of Bush's administration must be indicted and prosecuted, and why you will not allow any momentum on any legislation or appointments until a logistically sensible, multi-national cooperative plan for the removal of ALL US NATIONALS from Iraq has been adopted.

Get real Senator Clinton. Just whom do you think your rhetoric fools. Maybe the person you see in the mirror, but certainly not any of us.

Peace.


Emad Hajjaj, Al-Ghad Newspaper, Amman, Jordan

www.missionnotaccomplished.us - We have all the evidence of mendacity and illegal war-making we need to indict and prosecute Bush, Blair and every other neoconster scum-bag on the planet having any involvement in the Bush's illegal war on Iraq and all the torture and other atrocities that have been committed since August 2002.

[Skwmom]

53. Great post. e/o/m

[Guaranteed]

31. Oh, shut up, Hillary.

Give me a fucking break.

[AuntiBush]

33. She's a better person than I, giving them "all due respect."

Have absolutely "none" for any of the Repuks!

Either they're all being blackmailed by Carl Rove, they don't love their children, or they have the key to the bunkers... you know, just in case.

Remember: 45 Democrat Senators = MORE Voters then 55 Republican Senators, quoting NY Democrat Senator a few weeks back on the Senate floor, live C-Span 2.

[Niche]

37. A little too late there.... she has voted w/reps on everything!

[bling bling]

42. WOULD YOU PLEEEEAASSSEEE LOOK AT THE FACTS.

I think you are mistaking her for Dem Senators like Nelson of Nebraska, Biden of Delaware, Carper of Delaware, Johnson of South Dakota.

Go on... look .... just click on the link below. All you have to do is click on the underlined link to the left of every single issue that has been voted on and you can see for yourself how every Senator has voted.

It's easy. Please, do it. And please, please stop spreading the absolutely baseless and character-assassinating LIES about Clinton. It is revolting how lies like "Hillary votes with the Reps on everything, n/t" seems to stick without anybody ever providing any facts or asking to see the facts.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_109_1.htm

[Zodiak]

48. Hillary's record this Congress.

Just to humor you, I went and checked a few issues from this session.

Hillary voted with the Republicans on a some issues during this session, but she joined her Democratic friends on some key issues, as well. I would classify this voting record as middle-of-the-road Democrat. Better than many, but not as good as a few.

She voted against the objection the the Ohio vote after she spoke out for it.

She voted to confirm Condosleezy.

She voted against Gonzales.

She voted against tort reform (class action bill).

She approved of Chertoff.

Clinton did not vote on the bankruptcy bill.

She voted to have the Alaskan Wildlife refuge taken out of the appropriations bill.

She voted to confirm Negroponte.

She voted for the Iraq appropriations bill, and, by extension, the RealID Act.

She voted against confirming Priscilla Owen.

Someone else is going to have to cover the other years she has been a senator. Too much research for me on one thread.

[earth mom]

39. Has Hillary been reading DU?

Some of her comments sounds like stuff I've read here. Telling us what we want to hear maybe? :shrug:

[ima_sinnic]

40. did Hillary vote "yes" on Bush's last request for $$ for Iraq?

of did she JUST SAY NO? :shrug:

[truthisfreedom]

44. kick a$$, Hillary!

i still like you, even if a lot of DUers don't.

[Disturbed]

46. Good speech but...

if she had been really serious she would have mentioned the Downing Street Minutes right after the Rethugs not being able to know truth part.

[oasis]

47. After much preparation, Hillary's ready to take on the beast.

:woohoo: :applause:

[cap]

51. why did Nixon fear Hillary???

eom

[ElectroPrincess]

55. Hillary will be utterly destroyed. The seemingly second coming

of JC would successfully be made to look like Lucifer - evil incarnate - with the brilliance of the present corporate media propaganda machine. It's honing it's talking points into a fine science.

For example, look what it's presently doing with just Kerry's College records?

Result: Many freepers (and far too many moderate republicans) now have been led to believe that Kerry and * are equal to each other in IQ.

Now that is what's truly ABSURD with no end in sight.