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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Bill: TX will decide Hillary's fate

Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2008 2:18 PM by Mark Murray

From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
ARLINGTON, TX -- Bill Clinton has made no bones about the importance of Texas to the continuation of his wife's campaign. Today, at a get-out-the-vote rally in this Dallas suburb, the former president made it even more clear, saying that "her fate should be decided in Texas."

Clinton cited his wife's early political career when he told voters gathered at a blustery Arlington park this morning that it is "altogether appropriate" that the Lone Star State is such a crucial battleground for his wife, who launched a voter registration project here as a young woman. In the state, he said, will lie "her fate in this long and difficult nomination battle, where she has stood up to the most amazing kinds of challenges, where the pundits have danced on her grave repeatedly and she keeps coming back."

"The people who need a president know she'd be the best," he said, adding again that "is altogether appropriate that her fate should be decided in Texas."

Clinton also predicted that wins here and in Ohio would lead to a "handsome victory" in Pennsylvania in April. "Then I think she will become the favorite again and go on and win this thing."

The former president also mentioned -- for the first time -- the death of a Dallas police officer who was killed while escorting his wife's motorcade on Friday. Noting the loss and asking attendees to keep the fallen officer's family in their prayers, he mentioned "That also happened to me when I was president."

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Obama uses Republicans as a tool but at the end he will cry that he has been a tool of Republican to beat Democrats
If I hear "Ready from day one" again, I am going to vomit.  You heard Bill Texas!  Put an end to this whining politician who can't figure out whether she is honored to be with Barack Obama, or she hates him.  Texas, you owe us one!  Make Hillary cry like the act in New Hampshire.  Pathetic.
OHIO DEFINATELY HAS HILLARYS BACK. ITS A SHAME HERE IN AMERICA THAT THE MEDIA HAS TO TEAR APART HILLARYS CAMPAIGN. THE HATE FOR HER IN THE MEDIA IS A SIN, IM HOPING AT LEAST SOME OF THESE HATERS GO TO CHURCH TO BE CLEANSED.
TEXAS = Hillary's BIG comeback!!!
TEXAS VOTE HILLARY!! KNOCK OBAMA OUT OF THE RACE FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!!!
Why should Hillary bow out....coz she lost the last 11 primaries and caucaus??? Please, she has won the big states here, New York, Califonia, Florida (even though it doesnt count), New Hampshire, Nevada, New Jersey....all the big ones, and she will win Texas and Ohio...Obama has not one a a HUGE state....he has only won the little ones....so why back bow out now for....if she can and will win Texas and Ohio, i'm sure the superdelegates will see this and probably vote for her, as she has won the big main states....OBAMA IS A DREAMER, FUCKIN WAKE UP TO YOURSELVES PLEASE

On SUNDAY??

OH No She Didn't.??

Sacreligious..? Atheist? Blasphemer?
SHAME ON YOU HOLLARY !!!
For Todays (SUNDAY) Sacrelege, blasphemy, and Atheism..
Mocking the Christian belief in Salvation.
Poking fun and sarcasm at Believing that Heaven can Open to those who believe. Laughing at the notion that there are Celestial Angelic Choirs in the Heaven, that those who would believe can hear. Laughing at Hope.. Laughing at God..!!!
Hillary..Can you say Moses?
Did he not part the Red Sea and free his people from the Pharoh?
Who are you Hillary Rodham to tell us all not to believe that all things are possible through our Lord Our God?
The Lord God would ever extend his ever redeeming, ever forgiving ever everlasting Love to Our Nation? To America and her United States Citizens??
Its dillusional On SUNDAY to think this could be possible ??  2/24/08  One thing is certain..It won't be possible under your leadership. You are a non-believer.
I suppose the  deceased Dallas Police Officers family should abandon any HOPE for his Salvation.  His life was lost performing a difficult and demanding job too. There aint no God coming for him either.  Right Hillary??
May God have mercy on your immortal soul Hillary Rodham.

SHAME ON YOU HILLARY RODHAM
                                The Lord works in mysterious ways....

And today [2/24/08]God exposed your true dark soul to the world.  And In so doing, the Nation and the World will be better served.  
Here comes again. Bill said "The people who need a president know she'd be the best," Does he mean the millions of people who voted for Obama do not know how to choose their president? Or, did he mean that they want a body guard rather not a resident.  The Clintons, please, please, stop insulting the peoples' conscience.
I vain some political amateurs draw water in a sieve and they have a short memory what Clinton's family done for all Americans. Bill was the best President as economical policy on the last five decade. But some of "enemies" suffer by "memory vacuum"! They want to "sell" this country on an "international market" and to be controlled by Muslims, China and Russia. They targeting the American people to splodge through the mud...Finally, all this stupid communist propaganda will be failed. When the Oprah's millions of Dollars will be gone, all true Americans will wake up! Because our enemies want to bring a hornet's nest about one's ears !But I hope wouldn't be too late !!
But I am sure OHIO and TEXAS will make the difference ! PENN will put the final seal !!But Florida and Michigan will have the last audit signature ! If we'll fail on our desiderata we have to change on Plan B: vote for John McCain, a great American hero !! Amen !!  
You can tell from the hate and hysteria flung by the Obama disciples that this is not about issues or politics. The "Obamanation" (GAG) faint at his rallies, cheer when he sneezes and get their panties in a twist when others don't show the same adoration for their messaiah. There are many grown ups in Texas and we will vote for the candidate not the new pin up.
If Bill is using the word fate then Obama will win because allof people who trusted Bill in 92 and 96 found out about his liying ways. We just don't need that in the white house ths time around. And we don't need a clinton part 2 like the Bushes part 2 I think this country needs Change and Obama is the way McCain is just what he is a warmonger who forgot about Vietnam.  We have another one its called Iraq I guess people will never learn from what has happend in the past.
Most of us Texans are not impresses by the new kid with the smooth words. Like Ann Richards we like experienced, tough broads who don't hide from loud mouths. Texas ain't like the rest of the country. Y'all in the Obama fanclub: start your bawling now and keep the kool aid handy.
Is it just me or is Hillary getting extremely desperate?  No need to lash out.  It's time to say good by Hillary.  Obama will unite and energize the country and only with the support of the majority of the American public he'll be able to make things happen.  That's the key to his success.    
I do read JFK, MArtin Luther King Jr., and many other civil right fathers who where there ahead of us in Obama. I do believe that we will not be able to change the course of the move of God in Him. Let us hold hands and support this God's sent for us.
GO HILLARY! I am from Illinois and Obama scares me! His cult following is getting a bit spooky as well. I hope he don't start asking folks to start sacrificing themselves for him. People are going nuts over him like he is some second comming of Jesus, and he has DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING except dish out big lines of BS to people who are eagar to be lead around like sheep! I always wondered how somebody like that crazy David Koresh down there in Texas was able to get those people to follow him to there deaths. Well when you see a video of Obama blowing his nose and people are cheering about it....THAT IS SPOOKY STUFF!!! GOOD LORD YOU BETTER WIN HILLARY!!!! People need to get there heads out of fairy land, and recognize we are living in a real world with real problems. Sending some awesome used car salesman to run the country isn't cool!!!
I vain some political amateurs draw water in a sieve and they have a short memory what Clinton's family done for all Americans. Bill was the best President as economical policy on the last five decade. But some of "enemies" suffer by "memory vacuum"! They want to "sell" this country on an "international market" and to be controlled by Muslims, China and Russia. They targeting the American people to splodge through the mud...Finally, all this stupid communist propaganda will be failed. When the Oprah's millions of Dollars will be gone, all true Americans will wake up! Because our enemies want to bring a hornet's nest about one's ears !But I hope wouldn't be too late !!
But I am sure OHIO and TEXAS will make the difference ! PENN will put the final seal !!But Florida and Michigan will have the last audit signature ! If we'll fail on our desiderata we have to change on Plan B: vote for John McCain, a great American hero !! Amen !!  
I wish we could trust the Clintons to keep their word and bow out after Texas.  But those "35 years of experience" have shown us that Honesty is not the Clintons' strong suit.  More than half of America has said they will NEVER vote for Ms. Clinton, and that number is growing daily.  Mark my words, without Obama, Dems will never win the presidency.
Hillary flunked the bar exam twice and Bill has been disbarred after being only the 2nd president in history ever to be impeached.  Even Nixon wasn't impeached.  
It is because of the Clintons that Gore lost.  Al Gore will straighten this out at the convention and give the nomination to the candidate who has the most states, delegates and votes---Obama!
go hillary id rather have you than obama i know you have exprience and my whole family is driving for you it is time for a slight change maybe a 2 for the price of 1 president
I proudly support and will vote for Senator Hillary Clinton as our next President. The Clinton years were good to my family and community, I stood then for President Bill Clinton and his family. It does not matter what others say, do what you know in your heart and head is right!  Hillary Clinton has always stood up to answer the tough questions, has an actual plan of action, and has the experience to back it up. I have a deep respect for this remarkable woman!
This is probably the wisest thing Bill Clinton has said throughout the whole campaign.  However, the momentum is building against Hillary:   http://acropolisreview.com/2008/02/endorsements-of-barack-obama.html
I vote for obama-
I think obama needs to change his health care plan.
and help people in need of losing their homes.
I hope for a good change in america and I hope obama will deliver as promise..please dont let us down obama.
Bill Clinton had an escort officer die in a motorcade when he was president and he thinks something happen to him??? Man, a Texas-size hat wouldn't fit over that noggin.' I don't mind Hillary too much, but Bill has got to go.
Obama criticize Hillary for voting in favor of the Iraq resolution. Many people still haven't realized that Obama was a junior senator for Illinois when this vote was passed in the United States Senate. Obama wasn't even able to vote on this. He wasn't even in the US Senate then. Easy to say that he would've voted against it. Easy to criticize Hillary now. Obama's voting record in the US Senate now shows him voting 98% of the time with his fellow democrats. The other 2% of the time he just doesn't vote. Ironic how the people who Obama has accepted their endorsement (Kerry & Kennedy) also voted in favor of the Iraq resolution. That's ok! Obama loves to target the new college students, because many have just turned 18, haven't ever voted before, and are less experienced, or old enough to appreciate the good ol'days of the Clintons, and how well-respected, and prosperous our country was. Take it from the majority of the elderly, mature and experienced, who vote for Clinton. They know what politics are about. They know how important experience is! This man is voting for Hillary. Oh ya, it amazes me to see the anger, hate and ignorance that comes from some of the Obama supporters. Go to Hillary's blogs, and surround yourself with real unity! Obama wants to reach across the aisle and work with everyone? He blew off Hillary at the State of the Union address, while Hillary reached out to him. Is that already an example how he plans on "change"? How will he then deal with the Republicans? Hillary even reached out to him again in the recent Texas debate. She is the right person for the job! God bless America. Let's pray to God that our democratic party can be united. The way the Obama supporters are bashing Hillary is no way uniting our people. We need to focus on McCain.
It kind of disgusts me that the Obamaheads on this blog are constantly telling Hillary to get out. Seeing as she's only about two percent behind in both popular votes and pledged delegates. Why didn't BO get out when he was 20 points behind? Would have saved a lot of money! If BO were one or two points behind, I guarantee you BO supporters would be clamoring for him to stay in the race. Don't be such hypocrits. No matter what spin MSNBC wants to put on it, it's still a tight race. She had a big state strategy from the beginning. BO had a strategy to run around and win all those small red state caucuses. In the next few weeks we'll find out which was a better plan. In the meantime, shut your pie holes with the criticism. She has every right to stay in this race as long as she wants. And guess what, try imagining the Republicans quitting and going home. It ain't gonna happen. If he's the nominee, they'll rip him apart right up until election day, and it won't stop then. How in the world do you think this "most liberal senator" is ever going to find a middle ground with the conservative right. Sorry, but BO was wrong. Many of you are delusional. We're having our little democratic/independent love fest, but when the general election starts, you can forget about us all singing kumbaya together. AINT GONNA HAPPEN
Voters in Ohio and Texas will compare the records and see Obamas arguments against Hillary: Iraq, NAFTA, I don't know what he talks about.  I'm very clear that she did not have anything to do with it.  

We need experience, experience matters. We need universal health care once and for all.  We need great economic times like in the 90s and a balance budget.  We need Hillary.

Hillary 08, otherwise McCain 08.
Are we still living in America? The free United States of America? The one where you have to get up every morning and work hard for a days pay and at the end of that same day you can sit down with your family and watch a baseball game on the tv? Because with the election of either of these two candidates that America will be lost. Just listen to their own words. They are promising to give more of our money to our lasiest neighbors and to usher my America into a socialistic dream world. I would like a third party candidate to appear that will #1 Protect America from others that would seek to harm her. #2 Protect my Constitutional rights (which were what we were supposed to be given to us by the founding fathers of this nation). #3 Have even a slight concept of what most Americans think of the country or what it needs. I really don't care for any of the three current contenders. Just give me someone Dem. or Rep. that speaks to me and wont give all that I have worked for to someone else. Let there record and there dialog on how they would handle actual events. GET SPECIFIC!!! All of them need to quit talking in platitudes and tell me why they should get my vote; or yours.
John Kerry is in Galvalstone, Texas holding town hall meetings and answering questions from his personal knowledge base and packaging the answers as Obama thinks and Obama said. Ehmm where is Obama to answer those tough questions, may we ask or he is not versed enough to have honest answers without reminding us that change without substance is in the air. If we remember correctly, the last time we had a novice president who relied on other people's brains was 7 years ago. It took 71/2 years of on the job training before we could see a flicker of comprehension of presidential governance in him. Is this the chance America wants to take again even in the face of the collosal damage that has been caused by the current one. People stop and think! We want someone with solutions to our problems. Don't be fooled by the frivolous self serving media. Hear the candidates talk about the issues and their solutions. Judge them by their command and understanding of both the problems and the solutions and measure their passion to get our immediate problems solved. Wake up people! Take a good look at Hillary's solutions and compare. Be realistic. We have the power to make a candidate electable, don't let the media fool you with their constant forecast of doom for one candidate in preference for the other. Remember, the future of this country is in your hands and in your voting power. Also examine the quality of votes earned by each candidate. Does Obama have more votes simply because republican protest votes were casted for him against Hillary in most of these primary elections?. Doesn't that make you weary knowing that such votes will not come through in November since they are bound to return to their republican base? Doesn't that make you think that the votes received by Hillary are more valid, more reflective of a competitive process and more reliable? Think people! Think! Don’t let the media and their pundits fool you!
Hillary will win Texas, OHio and beyond!
Stop your lies about your rules Chuck Todd et al. How come you posted a three page lie on history about Hillary and Bill by NJH, NJ(above) if truly your rules for posting comments are as stated above. There is certainly no justice for Hillary on this blog or on MSNBC.
i think all of you need to take a reallity break. if you think this novice senator with training wheels or the gung ho az. senator is the answer to all of your problems. we will see if you have the same feelings when your sons and daughters die in some god forsaken desert or the country ends up in gridlock because we all know that none of the lobbyist are going to decide to leave washington because the dreamer gets in the white house. come on people get real. it will be biss. as usual. that is the way things get done like it or not nothing is going to change so wake up and smell the coffee before your children pay the ultimate price. texas has already sent a real winner to wash. for us think long and hard about what you are really doing!!!!!!!!!!
Changeishere, Dallas, Texas as stated above, may I remind you that game is over for you and your deceptive self serving Obama and his wife Michell. Shame on you because I know that you are a black person just like we are. You have allowed oration to overcome your sense of reasoning and cognitive thinking. Even though, you are neck deep in your problems you have decided to play the self serving card of reverse racism in this political process and I am glad that the first sign of it is happening right here and  right now and boomeranging in your face as clearly seen in the Smiley case. He fooled you with the oration of change, borrowing words without acknowledgement and got you running to the polls. Now you are no longer the sought after PRIZE, so he has no obligation to answer Mr Smiley. He is running after the Hispanic vote and the white vote and suddenly you have become greatly DIMINISHED in importance. So ask yourself, who is more of a brother? The Obamas or the Clintons?
As for Hillary winning Texas, that will surely happen. As America begins to know the REAL Obama, the process will begin to sort out itself. Also, Ralph Nader is in the mix now. Let the real discourse begin. Game is over! The phase of soft ball politics is over. Hillary has the God giving right to defend her self if her record is being tarnished by a self serving politician and his surrogates.It is an unfair attack on her record and she has the right to defend it as rigorous as she can. Her civility must not be taken for granted or trampled upon! GOT that RIGHT!
We DO NOT need a muslin in the White House. Our men and women are fighting the muslin for our freedom. Do you people want to be controlled by the muslin or do you want to continue to live in a free Country? GOD BLESS AMERICA
It's over. The Anti-Christ is coming to power. There is nothing that you, I, Hillary or McCain can do about it.
please be fair to Hillary the reason why my daughter finished her college is because of what Pres, Clinton program during his term thank you Sir. God bless you I hope to God that he will bring the right person in the ( White House) i mean white house and also help people to get health insurance not food stamp, so vote for Hillary she the best in the ( White House)
There was another Presidential candidate who was a lawyer, served 8 years in the Illinois legislature and one term in Congress. He was close to Obama's age and he too ran for President at a time when the United States faced the crisis of war. His candidacy was also grounded in the idea of fundamental change.

His name was Abraham Lincoln and you can go visit his likeness at the Lincoln Monument. His is often considered one of the greatest, if not the best, Presidencies that this country has had.
#1 We have had enough of Clinton Politics
#2 We have had enough negative campaigning
#3 It is time for Hillary and Bill to realize self interests are not the best interest of the Country

Go Obama  We are with you all the way
If Hillary's complete mismanagement of her campaign is any indication of her readiness Day 1, we are in trouble. It portends many of the insider inadequacies reflective of our current administration....inept advisors, stubborn loyalties, poor decisions, and overspending. Her flaunting of 35 years of experience is ridiculous and includes failed healthcare reform and unacceptable judgment (and subsequent failure to admit such) with respect to authorize the war in Iraq. She has no political courage...her decisions reflect political expediency. It's time to end to the Bush-Clinton dynasty. We desperately need new leadership. Her recent antics to sling mud to see what sticks is unfortunate and unbecoming. She speaks from both sides of her mouth claiming plagiarism in the same debate that she invokes it. Her little moment at the end of Thursday's debate came right of Senator Edward's play book nearly verbatim. She does not set an example that I would hold up to my young daughters.

Texas will decide Hillary's fate only if she loses. If she wins, even if she wins big, she only takes a first step toward cutting Obama's lead in pledged delegates.

Bill wants this to be a winner take all event. It isn't. Its a contest Hillary has to win big just to maintain a mathematical possibility. Its a contest Obama can afford to lose badly.

Same for Ohio.

And given that Obama is running well in Texas, and seems to have the inside track on delegates because of where each has support (Obama could lose the popular vote and still win the delegate race in Texas), and polls have Ohio down to single digits, its not looking good for Clinton.

Thus we're seeing more and more calls for Hillary to step down. A new one today in Newsweek, and in the Washington Post we have Novak wondering who can "bell the cat" (a phrase for who among the Republicans could be the one to tell Nixon time was up).
"If Hillary isn't nominated, I'll vote for Nader. I don't need no freakin' issues to help me determine that. I don't care about a right wing Supreme Court or an endless tragic war. I'll vote for Nader." We all need to give Hillary some credit. She certainly has corralled up a significant majority of the uneducated vote.
Maybe not for the country's sake, but at least a few people are desperately hoping Senator Clinton does well enough to continue fund raising.

Small Vendors Feel Pinch of Clinton’s Money Troubles

It was just $2,492.63, a pittance, really, alongside million-dollar television buys and direct mail drops.

But with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s bid for the Democratic presidential nomination enduring a rough patch, Peter Semetis, the owner of a deli and catering business in Lower Manhattan, had been following the news and growing increasingly worried that he was not going to be paid for the assorted breakfast trays, coffee, tea and orange juice he had provided the campaign for an event in mid-December.

“I’m afraid of her dropping out of the campaign and me becoming a casualty,” Mr. Semetis said.

So on Thursday, he went to small claims court and filed suit. Mr. Semetis, 53, said he was hardly a political pundit but like others across the country, he had become caught up in the election in the last year and was able to offer some analysis. “There is potential for her to lose Texas,” he said — an assessment not at odds with the polls — “which would pretty much force her to quit.”

  Mr. Semetis, however, is not the only one who has been having trouble lately collecting money from the Clinton campaign. The Hotel Ottumwa, a family-owned hotel in Ottumwa, Iowa, played host to an event attended by former President Bill Clinton on New Year’s Eve for several hundred people and had been trying for almost a month and a half to get paid.

The hotel had initially asked for payment of the $9,125 bill up front but kept being put off. But the owners figured that if any political campaign was good for it, Mrs. Clinton’s would be.

“People were a little more comfortable with Clinton because they’ve got money,” said Kay Whittington, one of the hotel owners.

Last week, the owners heard about an item on the local news about a Des Moines cleaning company, Top Job Services Cleaning, which had been trying unsuccessfully to recoup $7,500 from the Clinton campaign.

Hotel Ottumwa’s owners contacted the television station, which broadcast the hotel’s story right away. Both businesses were paid last week.


http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/nyregion/23owe.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

 


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