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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 Political Researcher



Bill's role with TX's prima-caucus

Posted: Monday, March 03, 2008 10:38 AM by Mark Murray

From NBC's John Yang and NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
Late last week, Texas newspapers suggested that the Clinton campaign was threatening legal action against the Texas "Two-Step" prima-caucus, the state's combo primary-caucus contest on Tuesday. The Clinton campaign strenuously denied the reports. But one thing is for certain: Bill Clinton doesn't care for the system.

Here's a quote from him campaigning in Odessa late last month: "Now look, this system was set up years ago when Texas was late, late in the primary process. No one ever thought that the votes would determine the nominee of the party. And frankly, the party leaders set this up, so they could go in. They knew nobody else would go to these conventions, and they could make sure they had a fair share of the folks that went to the national convention. It was never intended to basically reverse the results of a popular election in the daytime, but it could happen."

Yet given that criticism, it's worth noting that, according to Texas Democratic Party attorneys NBC spoke with in the last few days, Bill Clinton's campaign helped write those rules for 1992, and Bill Clinton twice won the Texas primary using those rules.

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This Clinton stuff is stale. Yet another attempt to change the rules when you don't like them. Hillary campaigns like W--like a rough rugby game--take no prisoners and damn the consequences. I (a white "older" women) don't like it. Texas two-step, indeed. Wake up, Texas! As the campaign goes, so goes the presidency.
Note to all activist:
Be careful of the By-Laws that you write.  You may get what you wrote for.
Translation - "WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"
Leave it to Bubba to be a hypocrite yet again. Must be nice to conveniently pick and choose which way to twist a story to suit his wife's desperate struggle to win the nomination.
That's right... keep moving the goal posts...
EVER VOTER SHOULD HEAR THIS PHONE CALL, JUST GO TO hillaryclinton.com. Just do it, no madder who you are for, this is that important. Just do it now !
Come to your senses and block them for good!

“Read my lips!” As a nation, do we really need 28 years of Bush-Clinton dynasty crap before we figure out we have been totally duped?  Are we still in need of our false-sense-of-security blankets? When will we finally cast them aside and walk upright? I say enough is enough; the time is now!

From “silver-spoon, poor George” Bush 41’s “no new taxes” to the Clinton family soap opera saga, back to cowboy, baby George 43’s “I’ll-show-my-daddy-I’m-all grown-up-now” unilateralist, imperialism, and now more of “Ready-on-Day-1” Hillary, who ‘shoulda-coulda-woulda-outta,’ but didn’t  reign in her own hubby; yet boasts now she: “will do everything to win” this one, so she can continue to fight for us; …Must we continue to feed on lies and distractions; milking moments and denials; revisionist history and dehumanizing attacks.? Are we this insecure? When will we grow up, change the channel, move on, and stop being fooled?  

Like the TV ad that shows a parent telling those savory characters, “I am going to have to block you from our home, as you are too violent, and it’s affecting the children;” when will we block this senseless continuation of divisive politics from our TV screens, our culture, and our memories once and for all?  For our kids’ sake, we better start focusing and investing our attention on leaders and role models who can past the real character fitness test—the ones who will live and exemplify the values we really do cherish.  Before we can accomplish this, however, we must have a personal, private conversation with ourselves as to what it is we truly do value in this life.

Then ask seriously, do we rally need more “pants-down-then-denial” soap operas, or more of the “madness of King George, or more fading, old warriors and Bible-thumping, naysayer prophets, or do we more of the Hillary “not so ready for prime time players” in the White House?  Is it all national security or experience or judgment?  What about our own security and peace of mind, and that of our kids and grandkids?  What is it we truly value and want to pass on?  Go from there, and move on to a brighter future of better possibilities!



. Barack Obama has more foreign policy experience than Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton had before they took office.

Wolf was without a comeback question.

But, there is an even larger question, not about Barack Obama's experience but Hillary's suggestion just by airing this ad is that she has had to answer the red phone in a real foreign policy crisis moment.

How could she? She never even had a national security clearance. Hence, not only could she not have been involved in national security discussions, she could not even have been in the room when they were being considered.

Why was it that Hillary Clinton did not have a national security clearance for the entire time she was in the White House? And, why do the media not ask Senator Clinton about that?
First Read...tell us about the Clinton Caucus manual...Dallas Morning News reports problems with it. Can you get us more?
Well that was back when Hope was a good thing. Times change.

"If one candidate is trying to scare you and the other one is try get you to think, if one candidate is appealing to your fears and the other one is appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope." Bill Clinton
If you are an OHIO Obama supporter I urge you to find Bill Clinton at a public press rally and display a large white sign with black letters which reads "SHOW US YOUR TAX RETURNS" and heckle the former president in the most polite way - "If you want our vote why doesn't the candidate release her tax records" and "promise the voters right here and now that your tax records will not reveal anything which fair minded Ohioans deserve to know before the election.  This will have the potential to frame the evening news cycle and bring Clintons biggest negative back to the voters minds - EXACTLY WHO ARE THEY VOTING FOR AND WHAT IS BILL GOING TO BE DOING MOST AFTERNOONS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
This is just another example of how the Clinton's feel that they "deserve" to win and are "owed" the nomination. They try to change the rules wherever the polls or primaries/caucuses don't go their way, and then complain to try to downplay how terribly their campaign is going. Also, interesting how President Clinton thinks that these Texas rules might overturn the popular vote- funny, Obama is currently winning in that department.....
Is America Really Ready for another 4 years of Clinton Scandals?

Hillary and Bill already own all of the records for scandal from their first stint in office- the infamous Clinton Culture of Corruption Years:


* Number close to the Clinton machine who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to crimes: 44
* Number of convictions during his administration: 33
* Number of indictments/misdemeanor charges: 61
* Number of imprisonments: 14
* Number of presidential impeachments: 1
* Number of independent counsel investigations: 7
* Number of congressional witnesses pleading the 5th Amendment: 72
* Number of witnesses fleeing the country to avoid testifying: 17
* Number of foreign witnesses who have declined interviews by investigative bodies: 19

The Clinton machine now holds the record for the administration with:

* The most number of convictions and guilty pleas
* The most number of cabinet members to come under criminal investigation
* The most number of witnesses to flee the country or refuse to testify
* The most number of key witnesses to die suddenly
* The greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions
* The greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions from abroad.

Clinton supporters, do you really think she will accomplish ANYTHING if elected???  I don't.  With all of the baggage that she brings with her, how anybody can even fathom voting for her is beyond me.
    Hey Chuck, how come no mention of Obama's misstatement about one of his supporters when he was railing again about Hillary's vote on the Iraq war.  He said Sen. Jay Rockefeller was the chair of the Senate Intelligence committee at the time of the vote and not only that he said Rockefeller voted against the war resolution.  The truth is that Rockefeller was NOT the chairman at the time, it was Sen. Bob Graham of Florida, and another fact was that Sen. Rockefeller actually voted FOR the war resolution, NOT against it.  Obama can't even get his facts straight about what his supporters did and didn't do.  Is this the guy we want taking that 3 A.M. phone call.  I don't think so.  Of course Obama will come up with some half-baked excuse that the press will buy and MSNBC will profusely praise him for.  Why is it we have to go to CNN, FOX News, or ABC News to get the real facts about what's going on in this election.  Just another example of the pro-Obama reporting of MSNBC.      
Well if its such a good system why not use it for the general election.ONE VOTE ONE PERSON in secret without intimidation.
how long will it take for clinton supporters to realize that her campaign is based entirely on the assumption that everyone who supports her is stupid? enough with moving the goal posts and enough with changing the rules you wrote because they don't happen to work for you now
The Clinton's cut their politcal teath in Texas and help write the rules then when they do not work in their favor it is not fair.  If the Democratic party annoits Ms. Clinton the candidate then all the devisive politics will be played out tenfold in the general.  Mr. McCain is shrewed in his attacking of the right wing press to look like a centrist choice. While the Clintons provides the template and the first salvo's for the Republican's if Mr. Obama wins the nomination.  No way will the majoruty of Obama voters  embrace the Clinton's. Self interest and self importance and a divine right of the Presidency  by the Clinton's will ruin the party.  Thanks Bill.  
The Clinton's cut their politcal teath in Texas and help write the rules then when they do not work in their favor it is not fair.  If the Democratic party annoits Ms. Clinton the candidate then all the devisive politics will be played out tenfold in the general.  Mr. McCain is shrewed in his attacking of the right wing press to look like a centrist choice. While the Clintons provides the template and the first salvo's for the Republican's if Mr. Obama wins the nomination.  No way will the majoruty of Obama voters  embrace the Clinton's. Self interest and self importance and a divine right of the Presidency  by the Clinton's will ruin the party.  Thanks Bill.  
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Democrats-NAFTA.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

Obama nailed on NAFTA-gate!!
CNN is reporting on this now - but don't expect anything from pro-Obama MSNBC!

Obama has LIED about this from the gitgo - and apparently doesn't know the difference between an embassy and a consulate.
The Clinton campaign has said nothing about a lawsuit!
Just more twisting Fox News type analysis from MSNBC!!
Well, it can help or hurt both candidates now-it becomes a question of who can motivate voters to vote and caucus.  I think Mr. Clinton is concerned because Barack seems to have a better ground game which will help.
"It was never intended to basically reverse the results of a popular election in the daytime, but it could happen."

I agree with this statement made by Bill Clinton.  If the caucusing process reversed the popular vote, I could see it being a REAL problem.  After all, Obama has said many times that the candidate should reflect the "will of the people".  The popular vote is the only thing that actually reflects the "will of the people", in my humble opinion.
And almost 50% of the Democrats still want a sleazy politician like this back in the White House?  The Texas rules were fine when they worked for Bill, there was no complaint then was there?  But the same rules need to be challenged if they are going to work against Hillary.  The Clintons' style of politics is not all that different than the sleazy Republicans, who will steal an election any way they can.
Clearly, the media wants this contest to continue - I guess it's good for business. Notice that for the last couple of days this website has been focused on Clinton, so has MSNBC news. This morning they are running Hillary's new deceptive ads on a LOOP (again) and they are reintroducing the Tony Rezco connection to Barack Obama, a story that has been thoroughly examined by the Chicago newspapers...the newspapers' investigations AND others have found NO illigal activity - this is ridiculous and WEAK.

To be honest, I think the networks are focusing so much positive press on Hillary NOW because they want to keep this story alive and if she loses both tomorrow, the story goes away. Like I said, it is good business. Before this weekend and Obama's surge in support in Texas, I would agree that most of the positive press went to Obama. This is ridiculous and embarrassing.
Bill Clinton won Texas using this same "Primacaucus" system, as well as playing a part in setting the process up. There is also the video out on You Tube in which Bill Clinton is basically making the argument for HOPE versus FEAR. As an Ohio voter, I have been paying very close attention to this election and have to say that I am very "Clinton weary". You can't have it both ways, and yet time and time again, this seems to be the major theme of Sen. Clinton's campaign. Also, just an aside, I have been speaking to many voters here lately, and one thought continues to permeate the conversation. Thinking back to the first Clinton Presidency, his first 100 days were such a huge disappointment and he failed to deliver on so many of his campaign promises. I have 2 children and believe that it is time to move forward in the Democratic party to secure a future for my son and daughter.
Cant wait for all us stupid hilliary backers to get behind our man OBAMA.I mean the way this effort has been run by the I HATE HILLIARY AND HER STUPID FOLLOWERS we ought to UNITE just fine .I feel accepted even though I want a loser like hilliary ,WARMONGER,little GWB,thanks for pointing out how stupid we are .SEE you in the general MACAIN 08."I can get her people (STUPID) to vote for me ,but she cant get my people (BLACKS) to vote for her "SOUNDS UNIFIED TO ME>SAy something nice about the repuckers BUS IN THE DITCH wont make them feel to good about being idiots .WE ARE ALL WRONG AND OBAMA IS ALRIGHT
It truely amazes me how the media continues to shove a mic in the face of this idiot!! Look, he ran his game on us twice and true enough, we took the bait.  But now, his game is so lame.  Can we please turn the page, I'm tired of his whining.  Nothing is ever to his liking, and everything is unfair.  Nevermind the fact that he helped to write the rules.
Hey MSNBC, I expect heavy Clinton bias on CNN -- I have grown accustomed to more balanced coverage on MSNBC, however, there are five pieces -- mostly positive on the Clintons and none on Obama. You would think that the front runner would receive more coverage than the tired old challenger -- especially after 11 straight losses. Are you pro-Clinton? Owe some favors? Parent company expecting some rewards from the Clinton dynasty?
How about you report about the sham of "experience" Hillary keeps throwing up. How about pointing out that everything she champions (including this campaign) goes down in miserable failure. How about pointing out how ridiculous it is for feminists to pin their hopes on an oportunist who has ridden the coat-tails of her husband the entire way? Great role model for little girls there. Ignore his philandering, so long as he can get you somewhere. Disgusting.
How about you quit listening to Clinton's claims of media bias and actually report the campaign like it should be. Obama is winning. He has more support. He should be getting equal or better coverage.

Thanks,
-Aaron
Hillary will win in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island..and the race will continue until she wins. Obamas baggage is starting to fall out of the closet.Finally this con artist will be revealed.
I am 44 years old. In my entire lifetime, I have never gone into the election booth without either a Bush or a Clinton on the ticket. We've seen from Se. Clinton's campaign that it's the same cast of characters that have been involved forever.  America is ready for new leadership.  Obama '08.
Nearly 20 years ago so what. Times change and so do the realities of political life and we need to change with the times. Maybe the obama supoters are afraid of CHANGE when it may adversly affect their chosen canidate.

Be Smart and Vote for Hilliary.

PS you can always spot the paid obama staffers that monitor and respond on First Read, they just do not have the guts to tell you that they are spreading misinformation put out by the Obama camp.

Hilliary 08 Please
once obama has won the nomination all the $hit will come out.Gee---it will be too late then ---way to go obamanoids.Lied aboutNafta,lies about Rockefeller,lied about Rezko,lied about Farrakhan and Rev.Wright.And he is not even the president yet.Msnbc has snoozed and we loose.
I like it why don't we caucus in the general elections,that way we could intimidate all the people we know into voting for the person the biggest bully likes.A great fair system resulting in a predetermined outcome.AMERICA THE >>>CONFUSED
Please OH and TX, make this stop. It's the same old thing with "THE CLINTONS". You can't believe a thing they say. So sad the race is turning out to be harder than they thought but that doesn't mean they can change all the rules in the middle of the game to suit themselves.

We have a huge opportunity to make a choice for change. Don't screw it up. Hillary has never handled a crisis at all and frankly, I don't think she has the temperment for it. Her experience is the fact that she's old and has been  around politics for a long time. Big Deal. She's made a mess of her own campaign so how is she supposed to run a country?

Obama can make things happen. He's doing it right now in historic proportions. The cutting edge minds out there are already behind him. The rest of you just need to let go of your pointless, disproven fears and let's do this thing.
If it very obvious that Hillary Clinton doesn't care about the Democratic party. It is all about her and winning at all costs. She sould get out of the race now. She is giving the republicans ammo and has hurt her husband's legacy. I hope she gets creamed in OHio and Texas so that we do not have to hear her self serving negative talk anymore and get on with winning the election in November. The record number of voters is because of Obama...not because of her.
Yet another reason why Texas should send the Clintons packing. After voting for Bill twice, I'm beginning to wonder if the right-wing didn't have it right about them all along.
I'm sure this won't get posted -mine never do- but how did the DNC make all of these undemocratic practices pass through the democrate party- I never even heard of them until this year and I am 50 and have voted since I was 18
Bill Clinton was fine with the system when he ran in the 90s.  It's just that it doesn't' favor Hillary this time around...so now he's against it.
Bill, I voted for you twice, but...please, stop insulting the American people.

http://www.obamastraws.blogspot.com
As a former Air Force officer, here are a few things I remember about the Clintons:
- The arrogant and contemptuous way they treated military personnel on their staff.
- Cutting the U.S. military in half, which has contributed to some of the problems we face today.
- Not going after Bin Laden aggressively when they had the chance.
- Helping to create an intelligence community in which it was impossible to "connect the dots" and accurately determine threats against the U.S.
Hillary doesn't address any of these things when she talks about her vast foreign policy, national security, and leadership experience.  Like Bill, she has selective memory and will only take credit - not responsibility.  
You notice how you have gotten rid of a majority of Hilliary supporters.I wonder if the ratings have moved in either direction.Pick a side  and as a friend used to say half the people will dislike you for the choice and half will love you ,what happens if you want as many people as possible watching.Is it a good idea for your shareholders that you are turning you back on all the hilliary supporters with your BIASED reporting ie: shuster suspended MATHEWS apology,and the cast of hilliary haters WILLIE MIKA JOE,TUCKER<OBERMAN,and mathews ,fineman,alter AWESOME.CHECK THE RATINGS,hit them where they make thier money and they will become a little less BIASED look at MATHEWS trying hard now to be tough on OBAMA too little too late.
That's Billary, changing the rules when you don't like them. We had a president who changed the rules for seven years now - I rather have a candidate who knows and obeys the constitution (and not an already impeached and stained 'royal' family)
Go to worldnetdaily.com and search the words clinton, lawsuit, and you will find information about the pending multi-million lawsuit against them.  The court date may be in October.

MSNBC, please report this.
straight talk  i think that is over the line.Do you know someone could get hurt if your people stir up heckling?
That is the most stupid thing i have heard but it sure shows us to what length Obama people will go to.Anything to win they whine than send hecklers my God what are you people thinking.I could throw up how pathetic well at least it is open now
nice spin, margaret.  how does that nafta article indicate obama has "lied about this from the gitgo?"

the story seems pretty clear.  one of obama's advisors met with the cannucks, indicated obama was concerned about free trade agreements that were lacking on envirnomnental and labor standards, but also didn't want to convey the message that obama was a protectionist.  the guy writing the memo communicated his own take on the conversation and hinted at the "wink wink" thing, but does not directly quote the obama advisor.  the obama advisor denies that and says the guy got the story wrong.  end of story.  where's the controversy?

talk about grasping for straws....

just add this to the lame list of manufactured "controversies" about obama, along with rezko, obama's christian faith, the pledge of allegiance and lapel pin, false rumors about him putting his hand on the koran instead of the bible, somali/kenyan clothing, etc. etc.

compare that list to the list of actual controversies involving clinton and you see why, at the end of the day, democrats will thank their lucky stars they nominated obama over hillary.
so, if hillary presses forward with a lawsuit, does this mean she will be sueing her husband?
Barack Obama will be your next President

Barack Obama is inevitable

Come visit Obama's web site

Lookee here !! Obama '08 !


HA HA            [;-0 >
Just like the Clintons to want to keep changing the rules.  Whenever things don't work in favor of the Clintons, it's always someone else to blame.

Democratic party leaders should be very careful. If this goes on much longer, the party will lose the senate and house (just like 1992).
Too bad that the two Boomer  Presidents (Clinton and W ) are such a disappointment. I just CAN'T vote for HILLARY as a representative of how women should lead. I wish the candidate roles were reversed and they could easily have been--Hillary without the Clintonian dirty tricks and with a powerful message of hope would have been unstoppable. Too bad; too late. She is campaigning in the past and we have to look forward. McCain is right in that HOW we got into Iraq is less important than how we get out...
by the way where are Obamas 2005 and 2006 earmark reports he was supposed to hand over.Is he going to back out of his own proposalof public Financing?? par for the course for him.Tell them what they want to hear than boogie


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