Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

jerry/corpus christi texas — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:30:43 GMT

People scream and scream for universal health insurance are going to be awfully disappointed. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink it. If someone does not want health insurance, they should not be forced at gunpoint to take it. That being said, if you do not want health insurance, you should have to pay full price if you end up in the hospital. If the premiums are so high, then you will have a bunch of nit-pickers screaming about the cost. It is a no win situation. Anybody who thinks they are going to get free health insurance probably also wish for the Miami Dolphins to make the playoffs this year as well.

The mixed reception of the Clinton White House is a far cry from four years ago, when the Democratic presidential candidates regularly cited the budget surplus, job growth and relative global peace the Clinton administration left behind after eight years in office."

Duh? That was a long time ago, and the main reason people don't want to see another Clinton is that it was bad enough Clinton brought dishonor to the Oval Office with his sexcapades, one has to wonder if Americans are ready for more sleazy politics with Hillary Clinton.

If all Richardson is talking about is Iraq, no wonder he is at on the second tier of candidates.....

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

jerry/corpus christi texas — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:51:41 GMT

Don't miss this Washington Post profile of major Clinton bundler Alonzo Cantu, who hails from South Texas.

From the story you get two things.....

One, is that if you cross Alonzo Cantu, you might not get your house built....

Two, he is no different then the other Clinton bundlers who have caused problems for Hillary......

"When Alonzo comes through the door, you want to give to him," said Gerardo J. Reyna, Cantu's brother-in-law. Reyna owns McAllen Carpet & Interiors, a company that provides close to 90 percent of the floor coverings in Cantu-built homes and offices. "The last thing you want to do is get on Alonzo's bad side," he said with a smile. Reyna donated $1,000 to Clinton.

Translation: You want to do business with Alonzo, you better give money to Hillary Clinton....

How sweet, no different then the shakedowns the mafia did back in the old days and still doing it today....

Bill Clinton coming to McAllen.......
right across from the city of Reynosa.........
famous for Boys Town.........
Nuff said........

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

mikeeg,abdn,wa — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:03:34 GMT

hillary and obama, obama and hillary, why not?

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

diane — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:04:34 GMT

As Chris Dodd says, anyone who claims they can walk in the job and go from day one is lying.
It's a unique job, president, and no one can be prepared or experienced for it. Nothing gives you the experience just the familiarity.
the qualities of the candidate is what counts. Are they curious, aware, in touch with reality, has a good temperment, good judgment and is willing to listen and concider various views of issues.
So, this claim of Hillary's is false and people need to realize that no one is ready to go from day one.
And since she has only more experience than Edwards (we don't know what she did in the white house as Bill and Hill have that locked up, so it doesn't count). obama has 8 in the state and 3 in the US. Hillary has 7. So, if what you are really wanting is experience, then, Dodd, Biden or Richardson are the ones people should be looking at and not the next to last person with legislative experience.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Daniel, NY — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:27:36 GMT

There were two general election polls this week-end (New Mexico and Kentucky), and both had Clinton running significantly stronger than Obama, especially in the Kentucky poll in which she beat all four Republicans: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2007/11/morning-polls-clinton-leading-in-yet.html

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Sharon — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:37:12 GMT

Clinton's plan to mandate health insurance is unenforceable and unattainable. In addition, the health insurance industry stands to profit from her plan, which is probably why they are donating so much money to her campaign. Those who work in the healthcare industry realize that there are health insurance plans that only provide "catastrophic" coverage, and they have very high deductables and copays (and don't cover routine care). These factors would not prevent individuals from falling victim to extremely high medical bills and bankruptcy.

In spite of all of these pitfalls, Hillary Clinton says that she will not be able to have her plan ready to go until the end of her second term. This is unacceptable.

Barack Obama's plan is more realistic, only mandates care for children (which is completely feasable with the SCHIP program, and the ability to enforce via school enrollment), and can be obtained before the end of his first term in office. He has committed to finding new solutions if it is found that there are remaining uninsured Americans.

Let's not go back to the disaster of the early 90's which would mean that we are still talking about this in nine years. Obama's plan will work, and he owes the health insurance/pharmaceutical industries nothing.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Bee — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:38:21 GMT

The word "mandate" is going to be Hillary's fiasco. Mandate without affordability cannot solve the problem of Health Care. I think Clinton is going to loose this argument again and it seems she hasn't learn from her lesson of the '90s.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

modernwoman, Anytown,USA — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:43:03 GMT

Poor Joe Biden, why exactly would the press want him to talk about his personal tragedy? Anything for a headline. Leave him alone, you vultures!!

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

greg opelika alabama — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:59:10 GMT

obama what a name sounds like a terriost , i beleive he is a terriost . he looks like a terriost and sounds like a terriost .every body thinks so too.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

--NSMSNBC — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:04:53 GMT

"If Mr. Obama simply needs to clear an experience threshold — rather than exceeding Mrs. Clinton on that benchmark outright ..."

I think the same can really be said about Clinton's change message. She doesn't have to exceed Mr. Obama on the benchmark outright, only clear the change threshold (which is easy if all she has to do is contrast with Bush).

I have not been one to 'pile on' Clinton too hard about her Iraq/Iran withdrawal, because the rhetoric seemed to stretch the truth, but here's what she said this weekend: "Clinton suggested the move to call the country's army a terrorist organization may have led it to start 'backing off' in Iraq. 'It may not be cause and effect,' she said" (but went on to imply strongly).

So she's taking partial credit for the 'success' in Iraq, well, the violence falling to pre-surge levels. What's more troubling to me is that Clinton here is basically defending our extended tenure in Iraq. That sounds much more neocon than change to me.

I'm going to side with Obama on the healthcare fight and not just because I like him as a candidate better. To paraphrase Obama, I don't think that the problem with health insurance is that people aren't forced to buy it, it's that it's not affordable. That said, a free-market solution would help make it more affordable.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Dot, Illinois — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:17:59 GMT

Senator Biden was elected to Congress at the age of 29, and is now 65, and Senators Clinton and Obama are touting THEIR experience?

Greg opelika alabama

I still disagree with your statement that everybody thinks Senator Obama is a terrorist. Frankly, your comment is getting old.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

JJ Jax FL — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:24:12 GMT

Hey Greg Opelika, I think you're looking for the white supremacist 'first read' website.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Dot, Illinois — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:28:18 GMT

If this a duplication of an earlier post, I apologize. Computer problems! Senator Biden was first elected to Congress at the age of 29 and he is now 65. And Senators Clinton and Obama are touting THEIR experience?

Greg Opelika Alabama

Your comment about Senator Obama is still wrong and is frankly, getting a bit old.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

CitizenJ — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:30:30 GMT

Hillary's healthcare plan doesn't make sense, and here is the reason:

She says her plan covers everybody, but when you actually read the plan (which she is banking on people NOT doing), you see that it just isn't possible. Simply requiring that everyone get insurance doesn't mean that they will.

Her plan provides refundable, income-related tax credits to people who can't afford insurance. Unless she requires that this tax credit be spent on insurance, then how can she say that people will use it for insurance? What do people do when they get their tax refund? They go buy plasma screen TVs, or a refrigerator to replace their busted one, or new carpet. Not insurance. People who can't afford insurance have lots of other concerns besides health insurance.

And how will she enforce this mandate? Have a cop write them a ticket when they are in the emergency room without insurance?

According to her plan, everone has a choice between private plans, or a public plan similar to Medicare. So basically, if you can't afford health insurance now, you will be using the public plan because you still won't be able to afford the private plans. And she says in her plan,

"In addition to the array of private insurance choices
offered, the Health Choices Menu will also provide Americans with a choice of a public plan
option, which could be modeled on the traditional Medicare program, but would cover the
same benefits as guaranteed in private plan options in the Health Choices Menu without
creating a new bureaucracy. The alternative will compete on a level playing field with
traditional private insurance plans. It will provide a more affordable option, in part through
greater administrative savings. It will not be funded through the Medicare trust fund."

She is for fiscal responsibility, zero tax increases, tax credits for those who can't afford insurance, and her public plan will not be funded through the Medicare trust fund. So where is this money coming from? The Hillraisers?

One more thing: She said she won't create any new bureaucracy, so how is she making sure that the insurance companies are actually doing what her plan mandates?

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

jerry/corpus christi texas — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:31:08 GMT

Poor Joe Biden, why exactly would the press want him to talk about his personal tragedy? Anything for a headline. Leave him alone, you vultures!!

modernwoman, Anytown,USA (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 10:43 AM)

You want to run for president, you better be prepared to discuss EVERYTHING in your life....

At least he doesn't brag about his troubles like Elizabeth Edwards......

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

cms — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:33:59 GMT

The whole notion of a mandate being the answer to "universal" healthcare has always been absurd to me. Edwards and Clinton feel like they can claim "universality" because they'll include a mandate -- oh, OK, well, if you mandate it, surely that will make all the difference in the world.

And why do I carry un-insured motorist insurance again?

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Freeman Female, Dallas, TX — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:35:50 GMT

John Kennedy will be controlled by the Pope.
Obama will be controlled by the Muslims.
Martin Luther King is a communist.
Saddam has weapons of mass destruction.
Iran has nuclear weapons.

Sounds familiar??????
Old Tactics to put fear in people. No fear for me though. I am going for Obama.
Time for a new deal.

Greg, I am from Alabama originally, your little scare tactics do not work. Educated people can think and research for themselves. I cannot say the same for you.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

AB — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:39:35 GMT

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Bee — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:57:38 GMT

For health care argument Hillary WILL NOT LOOSE on that. Read the plan of hers and Obama's. You just can't say that because you like Obama. The guy NEEDS MORE REAL TIME EXPERINCE, no more speech, real stuff please.
AB

----------Hillary care sounds like a mandate to me. I want my choice with affordability, period.---------------------------------------

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

jerry/corpus christi texas — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:58:50 GMT

CitizenJ hit right on the money.....

You libs out there that is all for this universal health care nonsense are really going to be steamed up when you open your bills and find out your bills are going sky high.

Hillary Clinton only cares about Hillary Clinton
she could care less about seniors and health care

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

MK,MO — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:05:24 GMT

AB / 'For health care argument Hillary WILL NOT LOOSE on that. Read the plan of hers and Obama's. You just can't say that because you like Obama. The guy NEEDS MORE REAL TIME EXPERINCE, no more speech, real stuff please.'

actually edwards has the most logical healthcare plan, the main difference is edwards plan was written to help the consumer, hillary's helps the insurance and pharmaceutical companies, look for yourself, and note hillary's plan is vague and incomplete, edwards is well defined, a fact the media keeps well hidden

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Sierra, SF — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:16:41 GMT

greg opelika alabama: '...obama what a name sounds like a terriost , i beleive he is a terriost . he looks like a terriost and sounds like a terriost .every body thinks so too...'

Gee, greg.....
You'd see better if you took off that hood....
Why don't you put down that noose, too ?

Are you 'real' or are you a Clintonista trying to highlight racial ignorance in this country ?

Are you just trying to 'prove' that Obama is unelectable and Clinton is our only choice ?

Either way, NO DICE
Ignorance (like violence) is as American as apple pie
Don't give in to either
Get well soon, greg

Obama/Edwards '08
Honesty and integrity count

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Ron, TX — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:47:27 GMT

Obama once again proves he has superior judgment and reasoning skills. Hillary Clinton wants to "mandate" (FORCE) people to have health care. That's just absurd. Like we are learning in Massachussetts, it's not a matter of FORCING people to get health care. Hillary Clinton WILL lose that debate if she really wants to push it. The idea of a government FORCING its people to get universal health care is rediculous and implausable. Obama offers the OPTION of getting health care. But who is the government to force it on someone? And how on earth is that force going to work? Massachussetts is proving that it won't.

Once again, Obama proves that he's superior to Clinton. He didn't just get Iraq right when she got it wrong, it appears that he is ALSO getting health care right, when she's getting it wrong.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Katie, Oakland, CA — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:51:55 GMT

Experience and being ready on the first day of the job citations by Hillary is an indirect hint to tell voters: "if you liked Bill vote for me, that way you get Bill to run the country again.". Hillary is hoping that she can garner some extra votes meant for Bill that way. But the truth of the matter is, we all know it has backfired on Hillary. People are equting her claim of experience to her failed healthcare initiative as well as her experience in decorating the white house. That is not foregin policy. Going to attend dinners in foreign countries and rubbing elbows with the heads of state with phony smiles also does not count as foreign policy. Bill had his chance at the White House. Our constitution does not allow a thrid term for him. It was tough enough to get rid of him during the Monicagate. Let's not get him back to ruin the first lady position also.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Katie, Oakland, CA — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 18:08:33 GMT

What a comment about Obama by Greg Opelika above. If it is Obama's name sounds like a terrorist name to greg, greg's last name Opelika does not have a good ring to it either. Isn't Opelika the name of a suicide bomber?

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Julie, Denver, CO — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:08:46 GMT

It sure seems silly that we're actually responding to Greg Opelika's comment. It's obvious he's an ignorant moron....he can't even spell "terroRist" correctly (he spells it "terroist" three times).

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

JoeD — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 20:38:06 GMT

Is it me or is it rather ridiculous that nobody picked up on Tim Russert's "gotcha" on the 'Meet the Press' two week ago. Talking about how Senator Obama would have voted on the '02 authorization, Mr. Russert flashed a quote from then-State Senator Obama on the screen that said: "I'm not privy to Senate intelligence reports. What would I have done? I don't know." In response, Senator Obama said it was probably the wrong time for him to speak out on the war. Wait a sec. I thought this guy opposed the war from the beginning? Doesn't sound like that to me. Doesn't that make his entire campaign moot? There's more.
Mr. Russert also reminded Senator Obama about this comment he made in July of 2004: "There's not much of a difference between my position on Iraq and George Bush's position at this stage." Whhhhhaaaaat? This is the guy who wants people to believe he has shown us his leadership by opposing and being against the war from the beginning? So did he call a "timeout" when he agreed with George Bush. This guy's ridiculous. God Bless the USA, we'll need it come '08 with this cast of characters.

Sen. Obama now likes to say that people shouldn't act like George Bush on national security. It's one thing to keep quiet about the war during a convention, it's quite another to say you support what George Bush is doing.

All the Democratic candidates for president say they are for ending the war in Iraq. That is a welcome development. But, as LBJ said, it's easy to get into a war, but hard as hell to get out of one.

I'm not interested in who was "first" to oppose this awful war. I'm more interested in what's next.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Chris- Des Moines, IA — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:40:16 GMT

This stuff is all about momemntum. People are tired of the top 3 Democratic candidates. None of them will get elected in the general election and don't have what it takes to lead this country through the tough times ahead. Joe Biden is. He can and will win the general election. Hillary has been known around the world since '92 and can't garner more poll points than the 20's and 30's. There is an inherent bias in polls when the candidates pay for them. Right now its about celebrity status. Joe Biden is the most qualified without a doubt. He is ready from day one to deal with Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Al Quaeda, the economy, healthcare, etc. He has detailed plans with budgest for all of them. Its great to have ideas but they won't work without budgets. Joe Biden will exceed expectations in Iowa and end up winning the nomination because of his momemntum. Obama and Edwards won't be in the race that long and it will be Biden vs. Hillary. Joe Biden will be our next President, mark my words.
www.joebiden.com
www.planforiraq.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OhPG7mk8yQ

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

eSPO — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 21:47:51 GMT

There was no "Gotcha" by Russert. When someone asks you "what you would have done if ..? How can you give an honest answer ? You can say what you might have done but the honest answer is "I don`t know" its a hypothetical question. What were Bushes policies at the time ? since Obama says tthere is a difference what were they ? You can play word games all you want. The truth is tha Barack Obama was outspoken and came out against the war when it was potentially very costly for his career. Did he care ? Did he flip flop ? No ! he stood by his guns
and he was right.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Truth789 , Downtown Long Beach California — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 22:36:57 GMT

Hillary and Wesley Clark. The Winning Ticket!

Obama is a typical politician...Oprah going for him should not help too much if Americans have minds of their own.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

Kentucky — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:02:47 GMT

Barack Obama is a TERRIBLE CANDIDATE. Mary Matalin was on Meet the Press and practically beamed at the thought of running against him. (Just wait for the rebut about why we should not consider Mary Matalin instead of something about Obama policy superiority.) On paper, he lacks serious credentials and presents serious electability charges. The truth that people don't want to hear is that if he were not black, he would not be given the consideration that he is. What are his credentials? I was opposed to the Iraq war from the start. Given this should I be considered for president?

Now, this is interesting. Read the posts in support of Obama throughout the blogosphere. For the most part, these posts sound like they were written by Barack Obama High School cheerleaders. Notably absent is substance from the posters on why they support him on the issues.

I live in Kentucky, and I can tell you that the KY poll noted above rings true. There is alot of Clinton nostalgia here. Experience really seems to matter here and Dodd or Biden would have a shot here too.

Listen Dems, if you don't want Clinton try Biden, Dood, or Richardson. This election is too important to chance to the UNELECTABLE BARACK OBAMA.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

jds — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:41:24 GMT

Kentucky, "the Unelectable barack Obama?"

OBAMA IS TOP PREZ CANDIDATE NATIONALLY

MOST RECENT ANGUS REID POLL.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/29168/obama_leads_four_gop_candidates_in_us_race

CLINTON LOSES TO REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS.

Oh-eight (D): Clinton vs. Obama

George A. Wojtowycz — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 06:34:43 GMT

Hey, how about the fact that back in 2002, a true blue Dem like me was still too angry about 9/11 to seriously oppose any war in the Middle East? i was ready to lash out at anyone east of Egypt! By calling into question the character of anyone who felt compelled to vote for the war, Mr. Obama is taking a person swipe at me!