Clinton's Calculated Cackle Or Hillary Goes Dean

Last Sunday, September 23, 2007, Hillary appeared on all five of the major morning talk shows. During each appearance she let loose a demented sounding cackle.



The New York Times' Patrick Healy reports that Hillary's cackle is a reaction to pressure:

And then, less often but more notably, she copes with the pressure by using The Cackle. At Wednesday’s Democratic debate, for instance, former Senator Mike Gravel complained about her vote on an Iran resolution and said he was “ashamed” of her. Asked to respond, Mrs. Clinton laughed before responding, as if to minimize the matter.

I disagree. I find the Clinton Cackle, like her feigned twang, to be just another one of her politically calculated staged behaviors.

Hearing the Clinton cackle, I can't help thinking of Howard Dean's yowl. That yowl forever pegged Dean as a raging lunatic.

Will Clinton's calculated cackle have a similar result? There are already at least six YouTube videos of Hillary's cackle. The most viewed video highlights Hillary laughing off Senator Mike Gravel's complaint.

Gingrich Won't Run

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has decided not to run for president.

Gingrich recently said he would run if at least $30 million was contributed to his campaign by October 21.

Gingrich, 64, has hinted for months that he would join the 2008 presidential race if he determined no other candidate appeared able to take on the Democrats in 2008. I guess Newt didn't get that $30 million.

McCain On Bomb Bomb Iran Video

John McCain talks to WNYC's Brian Lehrer about his "Bomb Iran" remark.



If you haven't seen it, here is the video of McCain's "Bomb Iran" remark.

Hillary, Obama Diminish Dems' Enthusiasm

An August survey conducted by Democratic pollster Celinda Lake finds Hillary and Obama trailing former New York mayor Giuliani in the 31 Democratic-held House districts regarded as most imperiled in 2008:

Giuliani takes 49 percent to Clinton's 39 percent, while the former mayor's lead over Obama is far smaller, 41 percent to 40 percent. "Despite Obama's relative advantage over Clinton, both candidates are significantly underperforming against the generic Democratic edge in the presidential and even against party identification," Lake and Gotoff wrote.

The survey shows that those Democratic lawmakers' reelection chances are hurt if the Democratic nominee is Hillary or Obama:

While the average lead of Democratic House members stands at 19 percentage points in the 31 vulnerable districts -- all but two of which are part of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's incumbent-protection program known as Frontline -- that number sinks considerably when the lawmakers are linked to either front-runner.

[. . .]

Whether the question named Clinton or Obama, the Democratic incumbent's lead shrank to an average of six points: 47 percent to 41 percent with Clinton leading the ticket, 44 percent to 38 percent with Obama as the nominee.

So much for the conventional wisdom that Democratic voters are excited about Hillary or Obama becoming the Democratic presidential nominee and that the Republicans cannot regain control of the House.

Happy Biden Withdrawal Day

On September 23, 1987, Delaware Senator Joseph Biden withdrew from the Democratic presidential race following questions about his use of borrowed quotations and the portrayal of his academic record.

When will Biden withdraw from the 2008 presidential campaign?

Hillary: I'm Not A Lesbian

Hillary Clinton officially declared she's not a lesbian:

"It's not true, but it is something that I have no control over. People will say what they want to say."

That's how Hillary responded when asked by an editor of a gay magazine, "How do you respond to the occasional rumor that you're a lesbian?"

Now we know.

Wesley Clark Endorses Hillary

Retired U.S. Army General Wesley Clark, who sought the sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, was considered a 2008 presidential wannabee, and continues to run his WESpac political action committee, has endorsed Hillary:

Clark, the former supreme allied commander of NATO, praised the New York senator as "a remarkable person" with the skills and experience to be president.

"She will be a great leader for the United States of America and a great commander in chief for the men and women in uniform," Clark told reporters in a conference call with the former first lady.

It's nice to see Hillary get an endorsement from someone who isn't a political adulterer, an impeached judge, or whose endorsement otherwise raises ethical concerns.

Support Victory In Iraq

If you believe it is more important to win the war than to end the war, sign this petition to tell Congress that the American public wants to win.

Hillary's Fugitive Fundraiser A Fugitive Again

Hillary's fugitive fundraiser failed to appear for his bail hearing on a grand theft charge. No, not 15 years ago, but again today:

A warrant was issued this morning for Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu, who failed to appear for a bail hearing on a 15-year-old grand theft charge.

San Mateo County Superior Court Judge Robert D. Foiles ordered Hsu, Hillary's felonious fugitive fundraiser, held without bail.

Hsu, a fugitive from justice since 1992, was jailed Friday after a judge ordered him to post $2 million bail. Hsu, turned himself in after first news accounts, then his lawyer, identified the Democratic fundraiser as a fugitive.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Hsu's attorney, James Brosnahan, explained that he had lost contact with Hsu and that the financier had failed to deliver his passport as promised:

"Mr. Hsu is not here and we don't know where he is," Brosnahan said outside court. "We expected him to be here."

Brosnahan told Foiles that a legal assistant for his law firm went to Hsu's New York City condominium last week and spent 90 minutes searching for Hsu's passport.

[. . .]

"We don't know if he has his passport," Deputy Atty. Gen. Ralph Sevilla said. "What we do know is that a bench warrant has been issued."

Back in 1992, before becoming one of the Democrats' go to bag men, Hsu disappeared after pleading no contest and agreeing to serve up to three years in prison for defrauding investors in a Ponzi scheme.

This is all sounding strangely familiar. We have seen unusual Clinton campaign contribution scandals before. The 1996 scandal saw 120 people connected to the Clinton fundraising efforts either flee the country to avoid questioning or plead the Fifth Amendment.

Clinton campaigns need to be scrutinized closely. The 1996 Clinton campaign wasn't and we had a situation which may have compromised American national security - the Chinese tried to influence our election.

Clintonites should have learned from 1996. The same people who worked in the 1996 Clinton campaign are running Hillary's presidential campaign, Terry McAuliffe, for example.

Hillary now says she is going to give some of Hsu's tainted money to charity. But why only two percent?

Clinton campaign contribution scandals don't start or end with Hsu. The George Soros-funded group, Americans Coming Together, headed up by a Clinton confidant and Hillary presidential campaign advisor, Harold Ickes, signed a settlement agreement with the Federal Election Commission to pay a $755,000 fine for campaign finance law violations. That fine was levied because over $137 million was improperly spent on Kerry's presidential campaign. This settlement was the third largest penalty ever paid to the FEC. The FEC released details of the agreement on August 29.

The Hsu campaign fundraising scandal goes beyond Hillary. Hillary's felonious fugitive fundraiser also contributed to Californicators, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, just to name a few.

More Californication

W.C. Varones has the goods on the continuing fallout from San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's Californication.

I continue to ask why Hillary associates herself with political adulterers?

Four Considered For Attorney General

The White House has narrowed the search for a new Attorney General to four men:

Aides called around, asking about four candidates: former deputy attorney general Larry Thompson (who would be the first African-American A.G.), former solicitor general Ted Olson, former deputy A.G. George Terwilliger, and current Solicitor General Paul Clement (the acting A.G. once Gonzales leaves).

I'm rooting for Thompson.

According to Newsweek's Michael Isikoff and Richard Wolffe, Gonzales told friends he resigned last week at the urging of his wife. Perhaps a more important reason was concern over the possibility that Gonzales had lied to Congress. Concern over such allegations led to a collapse in White House support for the embattled Attorney General.

President Bush Visits Iraq

President Bush arrived at Asad air base in Anbar province Monday to meet with top military commanders, the U.S. ambassador, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and provincial tribal leaders:

The president stopped in Iraq en route to an economic summit in Australia and ahead of a briefing in Washington September 15 by the top U.S. commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker.

The president was spirited out of the White House late Sunday and driven to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Sixteen hours before he was scheduled to leave for the summit, Bush boarded Air Force One as it sat in a hanger and the aircraft departed after dark.

This is the President's third visit to Iraq. He also went to Iraq at Thanksgiving 2003 and in June 2006.

According to Reuters President Bush is accompanied by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Adviser Steven Hadley, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates:

The President's visit to Anbar province can only highlight the remarkable success of U.S. efforts in Iraq's largest province. Only a year ago Anbar was seen as a lost cause.

The Washington Post reports National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley said President felt he had to make this visit "in order to put himself in a position to make some important decisions."

President Bush plans to eat dinner with U.S. troops.

Obama, Edwards Join Democratic Boycott Of Rogue Primaries

Barack Obama and John Edwards join three other Democratic presidential wannabees in pledging to boycott states that break party rules by holding early primaries

In signing the pledge, the five candidates promise not to campaign in states holding rouge primaries:

I shall not campaign or participate in any state which schedules a presidential election primary or caucus before Feb. 5, 2008, except for the states of Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, as "campaigning" is defined by the rules and regulations of the DNC. It does not include activities specifically related to raising campaign resources such as fundraising events or the hiring of fundraising staff.

Their pledge leaves Hillary as the only Democratic candidate planning to compete in Florida and Michigan.

A pact to ignore tens of millions of diverse Americans by a selfish, four-state alliance of party insiders.

That's the reaction of Florida Democratic Party chairwoman, Karen Thurman.

A week ago, Democratic Party officials decided to disenfranchise Florida voters, unless the state party agrees to hold its primary later in the 2008 election calendar.

Democrats Boycott Rogue Primaries

Democratic presidential wannabees Joe Biden, Chris Dodd, and Bill Richardson pledge not to campaign in states that hold early nominating contests in violation of party rules.

The three signed onto a pledge circulated by Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina, which have the Democratic Party's blessing to hold early primaries. The pledge says they will avoid competing in any other states that vote before February 5.

A week ago, Democratic Party officials decided to disenfranchise Florida voters, unless the state party agrees to hold its primary later in the 2008 election calendar.

The Democrats' boycott won't amount to much if the frontrunners don't participate.

Vice President Franks?

In today's Washington Times "Inside The Ring" column Bill Gertz reports three Republican presidential candidates are considering retired Army General Tommy Franks as a vice presidential running mate.

General Franks, commander of U.S. Central Command from June 2000 until he retired in 2003, led American and Coalition troops in two strategically unprecedented campaigns in two years – Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq.

Franks would boost Republican prospects in the South and provide an articulate spokesman for winning the global war against Islamist extremism and a counter to the Democrats' current defeatism:

All Democratic candidates overtly oppose the Iraq war and most favor ending the Bush administration's military and paramilitary emphasis on fighting global terrorism. A Democratic administration in 2009 likely would restore the approach of the Clinton administration, which favored law enforcement and diplomacy over military action.

Reviving those failed Clinton policies will only bring us more terrorist attacks such as the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center; the 1995 bombing of U.S. military headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; the 1996 bobming of Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia; the 1998 bombing of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania; the 2000 attack against the USS Cole in Yemen, and 9/11.

Fred Almost Makes It Official

There were lots of rumors today that Fred Thompson was going to make his long awaited "presidential announcement."

In the end, Fred spoke to certain supporters and pre-announced the formal announcement.

Fred will "formally" announce his candidacy via a video on September 6. I know, it was just three days ago that I posted Fred would announce on the 6th. As I posted then, the delay doesn't bothers me. What bothers me is the constant shifting of the date, which makes the campaign look second-rate.

After the release of the announcement video, Fred's campaign launch festivities include a tour of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida.

What About The Other $977,000?

Democratic presidential wannabee, Hillary Clinton, will donate to charity $23,000 of the contributions she has received from her fugitive fundraiser.

Why only $23,000? The Wall Street Journal [subscription required] reports that Hillary's fugitive fundraiser, also known as Norman Hsu, has raised over $1 million for Hillary's Presidential campaign:

Beyond his $23,000 in personal contributions to Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Hsu had raised well over $1 million for the New York senator's presidential campaign, making him one of her top 20 "bundlers.

As recently as Tuesday, Hillary's campaign was touting Hsu's integrity saying, "there has been no question about his integrity or his commitment to playing by the rules, and we have absolutely no reason to call his contributions into question."

After the Los Angeles Times reported that Hsu pleaded no contest to a grand theft charge, agreed to accept up to three years in prison, failed to show up for a sentencing hearing, and then disappeared, Hillary changed her tune. At least she changed her tune for 2 percent of the money Hsu raised for Hillary.

I don't get it. All of the money raised by Hillary's fugitive fundraiser is equally tainted. The entire $1 million should be given to charity, not just 2 percent of the funds raised by Hsu. Maybe Hillary is consulting with Al Gore, who remains unaware of any controlling legal authority.

Hillary's Fugitive Fundraiser

The Los Angeles Times reports California authorities have been trying Norman Hsu for 15 years. Hsu "pleaded no contest to grand theft, agreed to serve up to three years in prison and then seemed to vanish:

"He is a fugitive," Ronald Smetana, who handled the case for the state attorney general, said in an interview. "Do you know where he is?"

According to the Times, Hsu has been hiding in plain sight:

Since 2004, one Norman Hsu has been carving out a prominent place of honor among Democratic fundraisers. He has funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions into party coffers, much of it earmarked for presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

Hsu earned a place in the Clinton campaign's "HillRaiser" group by pledging to raise more than $100,000 for her presidential bid.

Tuesday The Wall Street Journal reported Clinton campaign spokesman, Howard Wolfson, said in an email:

Norman Hsu is a longtime and generous supporter of the Democratic party and its candidates, including Senator Clinton. During Mr. Hsu's many years of active participation in the political process, there has been no question about his integrity or his commitment to playing by the rules, and we have absolutely no reason to call his contributions into question.

But Kent Cooper, a former disclosure official with the Federal Election Commission, sees it differently. According to Cooper, the two-year pattern of donations justifies a probe of possible violations of campaign-finance law, which forbid one person from reimbursing another to make contributions:

"There are red lights all over this one," Mr. Cooper said

.The Times makes it clear that this isn't a case of mistaken identity:

On Tuesday, E. Lawrence Barcella Jr. -- a Washington lawyer who represents the Democratic fundraiser -- confirmed that Hsu was the same man who was involved in the California case. Barcella said his client did not remember pleading to a criminal charge and facing the prospect of jail time.

I'm sorry, does anyone truly believe Hsu would forget the possibility of going to jail? Nor am I impressed with attorney Barcella implication that Hsu is being picked on because of his "name." Yesterday's Wall Street Journal quoted Barcella:

You are barking up the wrong tree. There is no factual support for this story and if Mr. Hsu's name was Smith or Jones, I don't believe it would be a story.

Attorney Barcella doth protest too much. Hsu's attorney acknoewledged Hsu's California legal troubles. I'm inclined to think where there is smoke there is fire.

It's not just Hillary who is connected to Hsu. He is also coonected to Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell; New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine; Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy; California Sen. Dianne Feinstein; Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, California Rep. Mike Honda; and Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island

Hillary and the rest of the money hungry Democrats should be distancing themselves from such questionable folks, not singing Hsu's praises as Hillary campaign spokesman Wolfson did yesterday.

Most Americans Say Iraq War Not Lost

A new UPI/Zogby poll finds a majority of Americans - 54% - believe the United States has not lost the war in Iraq.

As usual there is a huge partisan divide on this question:

While two in three Democrats (66%) said the war effort has already failed, just 9% of Republicans say the same.

This Democratic defeatism echoes that of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who said in April that he believed that "this war is lost and that the surge is not accomplishing anything."

While the President's approval for his handling of the war improved, up to 27% from 24% in July, Congress remains stuck at a 3% approval rating for its handling of the war. Nearly all Democrats -95% are dissatisfied with the way the Democratic Congress has handled the war. Perhaps Democrats would hold a higher opinion of Congress if Democratic leaders advocate victory rather than retreat. If Democrats would join in the call for Reids resignation over his moral support for our enemies, other Democrats in Congress would realize Americans want to win the war.

Americans are also split over which party, if elected in 2008, would be more likely to bring the war to a successful conclusion - 39% say a Republican president, while 36% say a Democratic president.

Asked which of the 2008 presidential candidates would best handle the war in Iraq, respondents preferred Rudy Giuliani - 14%, followed by Fred Thompson - 11%; Hillary Clinton - 10%; Barack Obama 9%; John McCain and Joe Biden - 7%; John Edwards - 5%,;Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Bill Richardson, and Dennis Kucinich - 4%. But more Americans said they were unsure (15%).

The poll was conducted August 17-20, and has a margin of error of +/- 1.2 percent.

Castro's Choice - Hillary/Obama

Cuba's Fidel Castro tells Democrats the winning ticket is Hillary Clinton and Obama:

"The word today is that an apparently unbeatable ticket could be Hillary for president and Obama as her running mate," he wrote in an editorial column on U.S. presidents published on Tuesday by Cuba's Communist Party newspaper, Granma.

Castro also had kind words for former President Bill Clinton, saying Clinton was "really kind" when the two men shook hands at the U.N. in 2000:

He also praised Clinton for sending elite police to "rescue" shipwrecked Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez from the home of his Miami relatives in 2000 to end an international custody battle.

Castro's favorite U.S. president is Democrat Jimmy Carter.