Argus Leader (SD): Clinton is top candidate for Dems

[MethuenProgressive]

By The Editorial Board

Clinton is the strongest Democratic candidate for South Dakota. Her resilience and determination never should be questioned. She has met or overcome every challenge or roadblock in her way, and there have been many. Her determination to carry the nomination process through to its real conclusion has perhaps earned her a grudging respect from those who would never support her.

For the first time in memory, every state will play a role in choosing a nominee for the nation's highest office.

But Clinton is the strongest Democratic candidate for South Dakota.

Her mastery of complex policy detail is broad and deep, and her experience as a senator and former first lady matches that.

Measured against her opponent, Clinton is philosophically more moderate. That is likely a good thing for South Dakota.

Clinton has demonstrated a real commitment to Native American issues and will have visited several South Dakota reservations before the race is over.

Clinton is precisely correct when she says that people outside the region have a poor understanding of the troubling trends on our reservations. Federal attention could help. That includes but is not limited to higher-ranking posts in the federal bureaucracy.

Her truly universal health care plan would be welcomed by thousands of South Dakotans. Even on reservations, where health care is nominally universal already, such a plan would be welcome. The federal government would never be allowed to subject everyday Americans to the kind of care Native Americans living on reservations routinely receive.

Obama is justifiably credited as a powerful speaker, but Clinton holds her own easily. As those who have attended her South Dakota rallies can attest, she is quick on her feet and energetic. She frames her ideas clearly in speeches and answers questions with genuine directness.

Her resilience and determination never should be questioned. She has met or overcome every challenge or roadblock in her way, and there have been many. Her determination to carry the nomination process through to its real conclusion has perhaps earned her a grudging respect from those who would never support her.

Clinton might not win this race. In fact, it's a long shot. But whatever some might say, the race is not over, and her name is on the ballot. Win or lose, she's also the best Democratic candidate for South Dakota.

[stray cat]

1. whats the polling for SD

[book_worm]

4. the last poll was over a month ago and gave Obama a 12-pt lead

A more recent poll in Montana gives Obama a nearly 20-pt lead. I think Obama will win both Montana and SD.

[stray cat]

7. Thanks for the info - thats why I like DU!

[my3boyz]

14. I wonder why Obama is spending more time in Montana. Does he think he is going to

lose SD so he does not want it to appear that he is putting too much effort into it? Or is it because he thinks he has it locked down and does not need to spend as much time there (ala North Carolina). I hope he wins both!

[book_worm]

17. Actually I believe he is there today and then Saturday and Sunday in SD.

[my3boyz]

22. Oh okay! That's good! nt

[VotesForWomen]

27. if so, most of his lead must be coming from over by sioux falls. nt

[VotesForWomen]

26. based just on what i've seen here in Rapid City, i think clinton is doing pretty good.

[book_worm]

2. Oh yeah, the paper she was talking to regarding Bobby Kennedy's assassination

and they were so dumb they didn't challenge her on it.

[MethuenProgressive]

10. In truth, they were smart enough to know she she wasn't "hoping he gets shot"

It was not surprising that the Argus Leader’s executive editor, Randall Beck, put out a statement saying, “Her reference to Mr. Kennedy’s assassination appeared to focus on the time line of his primary candidacy and not the assassination itself.”

[karynnj]

15. Which means they are too stupid to see that timeline of the 2008 primaries

was pushed up far earlier than 1992, 1968 or even 2000 and 2004. The difference was that in 1968, the nomination was not determined yet - now there are 3 events left - SD, MT and PR - and HRC can not get more pledged delegates because Obama already has more than half . In 1992, all of the strongest opponents Clinton faced had already dropped out - leaving only Jerry Brown. He already was the presumed nominee.

The question is why, after she started with all the advantages in name recognition, party support and media support, the voters should be overruled.

[MethuenProgressive]

31. Which means the editor who heard her answer in person doesn't buy the BO Camp's "outrage"

[karynnj]

34. I agree that it did not mean that she thought Obama would be assassinated

My point is that the number of primaries already decided is far greater this year - which makes the time of year comparison stupid.

The surprise to me is that there were many threads, here and elsewhere in the blogosphere where people were offended by the use of CA 1968 the first time (or times?) she used it. I am kind of surprised that no one was able to convey those comments upwards then - when there was no major attention. Her internet team could have saved her the grief had they caught it then and seen that some people immediately translated CA 1968 to "assassination". She could likely have found other examples - or stuck with just 1972 - if she really thought this was a viable idea.

[MadBadger]

3. Arrrrrgggg us

[TwilightGardener]

5. What drivel. They reduce Obama to nothing more than a "powerful speaker"--

I used to live in SD, it's a red state, and a Repub-leaning paper wants "Operation Chaos" to continue. No big surprise. They also defended her "assassination" remark, when the rest of the world could see it for the ghoulish thing it was.

[MadBadger]

8. Speaking of Obama as a Speaker, I found a Fantastic quote from Bill given on a "West Wing" Special

It was about campaigning in poetry and governing in prose. I'll try to find the exact quote I saw and post it but it is wonderful.

[newmajority]

6. Another right wing Gannett paper endorses the right wing corporatist.

Color me shocked!

[JoFerret]

50. They will love

Obama then

[blm]

9. I bet that editor can't name ONE ISSUE Clinton fought for or led a fight for in opposition to Bush

her entire senate career.

She never FOUGHT for anything of any import to Dems or to this country if she would have to stand publicly against Bush to do so, and, in fact, she led opposition to those brave Democrats who DID stand to oppose Bush on his decision to use force in Iraq, his nominations of fascist judges, and sided against Dem plans for an Iraq withdrawal timetable.

Then, Lieberman lost HIS primary race, and HRC figured she could fool enough Dems and pretend she was for withdrawal.

[MethuenProgressive]

11. Thanks for the kick!

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[frylock]

30. word up

[dkf]

12. Guess that RFK assassination quote clinched the deal.

[MethuenProgressive]

13. Another victim of Karl Axlerod's SwiftAsasinationGateBoat is heard from...

You gotta give Karl Axelrod his due.

[muryan]

29. You want a list of all the bullshit "scandals"

that they media/Clinton campaign has tried to use against Obama? I think snipergate/assassinationgate pale in comparison. If you can't handle any criticism of your girl, just watch fox news

[whistler162]

33. Yup...

he is one great ventriloquist!

[dionysus]

16. that's it, i am switching my vote now....

[MethuenProgressive]

19. That's great, I knew you'd wise up someday! Say, when did that tree fall on Karl Axlerod?

[Beacool]

18. Very nice endorsement!!!

Thank you for posting it.

Hillary IS the better candidate, unfortunately we'll probably end up with the new kid on the block.

Leave it to the Democrats to snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory.

[Skip Intro]

20. K&R. Off to the greatest with thee.

[scarletwoman]

21. Good for them. They owed her a good word, for sure, after the whole "assassination" thing that came

our of their interview with her. I think this was the honorable thing for the Argus Leader to do.

Peace,
sw

[MethuenProgressive]

32. Thanks for the nice response,

...appreciated!

[PBS Poll-435]

24. Fantastic!

I knew they would endorse her.

[smiley_glad_hands]

25. Merry Xmas.

But you still won't be getting a bike.

[Ron Green]

28. Somehow this editorial reminds me of something from a high school newspaper.

The writer seems to admire qualities of toughness and stamina, as well as a regional advantage, but doesn't see the global imperative at all.

[tishaLA]

35. two bit newspaper whose editor defended hillary's RFK comments

color me unsurprised.

[MethuenProgressive]

38. You'll *love* this!

Update: Another tip of the hat, this one going to Lambert of Corrente; he correctly observes how Argus, the same newspaper that interviewed Hillary last week didn't think too much of "the baseless, defamatory, and grotesque charges propagated by the NY Post and the Obama campaign" as evidenced by their endorsement of Hillary.

[indimuse]

36. k&R!

I posted one as well.. didn't see yours! BUT...She also gained a SD!

[MethuenProgressive]

37. Excellent comment from your thread:

Update: Another tip of the hat, this one going to Lambert of Corrente; he correctly observes how Argus, the same newspaper that interviewed Hillary last week didn't think too much of "the baseless, defamatory, and grotesque charges propagated by the NY Post and the Obama campaign" as evidenced by their endorsement of Hillary.
< Indeed!

[Straight Shooter]

41. Those dancing girls are getting around!

[emilyg]

39. k/r

[Straight Shooter]

40. "every state will play a role in choosing a nominee for the nation's highest office."

It's been many years since I voted for someone I actually wanted to vote for, that being for Carter in the GE. This year it's for Hillary in Oregon's primary. Now let the chips fall where they may.

[MethuenProgressive]

43. Carter was my first ever Presidential vote, and my proudest.

I pounded some nails with him many years later and told him so - and he took my hand, and thanked me.
And you know what? He meant it. Be proud of that vote you're going to cast!

[Straight Shooter]

44. I would have been honored to work with Carter, pounding nails or painting walls.

Carter was my first vote, also. I fell asleep watching TV the night of the election, woke up in time to hear the election declared for Reagan, and immediately burst into tears, like I knew deep down it was the beginning of the end. I felt so bad for Carter, I knew he'd been sucker punched.

On a more cheerful note, I already voted for Hillary (primary was last Tuesday), and you betcha I'm proud!

[dailykoff]

42. I knew she was playing to the Hicksville haters

with the RFK crack. She's beyond repulsive so let them have her.

[MethuenProgressive]

45. "Hicksville"

Thanks for the elitist kick.

[JoFerret]

46. Nice endorsement

...many good points. Many GREAT points.
Obama folk should take note before jumping on the trash mobile.
Life is way more complex.

[MethuenProgressive]

48. Thanks for the response!

:you rock:

[totodeinhere]

47. It's too little too late.

[MethuenProgressive]

49. Yeah, Democrats are wising up to Obama, but it's probably too late.