Re : Hillary (Hardball) Clinton ...

Hillary plays hardball

The first sign of friction in the Obama camp as Mrs Clinton demands - and gets - a purge of her critics before accepting Secretary of State role

By Leonard Doyle in Washington - Sunday, 23 November 2008

Hillary Clinton insisted on direct access to the President

Before Hillary Clinton has been formally offered the job as Secretary of State, a purge of Barack Obama's top foreign policy team has begun.

The advisers who helped trash the former First Lady's foreign policy credentials on the campaign trail are being brutally shunted aside, as the price of her accepting the job of being the public face of America to the world.

In negotiations with Mr Obama this week before agreeing to take the job, she demanded and received assurances that she alone should appoint staff to the State Department.

She also got assurances that she will have direct access to the President and will not have to go through his foreign policy advisers on the National Security Council, which is where many of her critics in the Obama team are expected to end up.

Aha!

Hath hell no fury, Hillary?

Read the rest this rather revealing report right here.



*(Cross posted across at 'appletree')

Her Royal Majesty Hillary Regrets ... Apparently

Being abroad again, and all, we're sorta semi out 'of the loop' (US and UK wise) of late, but we're still managing to periodically peruse some of our best blogger buddies' blogs; one of them belonging to another old(ish) Brit, named R.J. Adams.

For what it's worth, R.J. has lived in the US for some several years now.

Here's one of said old pal's latest posts. This one certainly struck a chord with us. Perhaps it will, or rather should, with you too.

Particularly if you're one of our loyal, friendly American readers.

Looks Like The Queen Has Abdicated

If ever any political party deserved to lose an election, it has to be the Democrats in 2008. If ever any Democratic politician needed to prove their worthiness to the party, it’s Hillary Clinton now her race for the presidential nomination has ended.

Where is Hillary Clinton? At a time when her party needs her more than ever, it appears Clinton has taken a vacation. Does this indicate a serious case of sour grapes?

Read the rest across at R.J.A.'s very own "Sparrow Chat".


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Obama, Clinton, Elections, Selections, Smoke, Mirrors, Vote Rigging Counting and Similar Shady Stuff

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Ah, well.

Certain US folk are strongly suggesting everything's over, already.

Most of the same sages are also claiming Clinton's in and Obama's out.

In other words, they're saying: "The fix is in."

Honestly. Sincerely. Seriously.

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A Bit About Some of the Amazing 'Money Mysteries' Of American Politics ...

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Funny old world ain't it?

Isn't it interesting (wacky, weird and wonderful even), the way so many things 'wealth-wise' work out and all?

Or don't.

Especially, across in the States.

And isn't it simply astonishingly surprising, how so many of those people least able to afford to, so often seem set on needlessly losing themselves (still more), money by blindly buying into so many politician's (so often so patently), phony packaging, posturing, promises, premisses, philosophies, and ....

Oh, never mind .....

Clintons made nearly $109M since 2000

WASHINGTON - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and former President Clinton made nearly $109 million since they left the White House, capitalizing on the world's interest in the former first couple and lucrative business ventures.

Money magazine estimates John McCain's net worth at $40 million.

If the media were to apply the same standards to John McCain that they applied to John Edwards and Hillary Clinton, they would report (endlessly) that John McCain, a very rich man, is embracing tax cuts that even John McCain has said unfairly benefit the very rich. And they would be demanding that he release his tax returns so voters could see how much money John McCain would...

Measuring Wealth of the '08Candidates

Perhaps only one word can be used to describe all of the leading presidential contenders: multimillionaire.

Not only that. With one exception among the three leading Republicans and three leading Democrats, the contenders each appear to be worth tens of millions.

The exception: Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

Huge Job Losses Set Off Recession Alarms

WASHINGTON

It's no longer a question of recession or not.

Now it's how deep and how long.

We wonder which of the presidential candidates pictured will eventually be elected as the one most wanted to move into the White House this time? Elected by hundreds of millions of Americans, in the belief that 'that' particular person is much more likely (than either of the other two), to do the right thing by them - and the best thing for them - and for their families of course. Eh?

Well, we certainly know which contender we're (completely), convinced will. And their name definitely doesn't begin with an M. Nor does it start with a C.

But as we said at the outset, isn't it interesting, wacky, weird ...

*(Cross posted at appletree)

An Auld Irish Fairy Tale : As Told By Hillary Clinton ...

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Awh, bejabuz and begorrah, a top a de mornin' to yiz all.

'Tis nice t'see yiz all again. Honest t'God, so it is.



And as our own dearly beloved departed, sainted auld mother Riley granny - God rest her soul - used t'say t'we wee childer: "Now sit yizselves down an' behave yizselves while I tell yiz all a story. Tiz a special true auld Irish fairy tale. An' before I go any further, Richard me laddo, if yer don't shurrup, sit still and stop fidgetin' - y'll get d'back a me hand.

But Holy mother a' Mary, who ever'da tought dat posh snooty American woman, Mrs whatzername Clinton - good God in heaven forgive her - could spin 'em as good as d'rest of us? Don't yiz tink, now?

Okay, don't worry, we've not finally flipped our lids altogether. And profuse sincere apologies to our Irish readers - of whom we know for sure, there are several - but as only second generation British scousers with our roots firmly set somewhere on the Southwest coast of the old emerald isle, we're sure you'll take our well meant attempts at good humour in the good natured spirit they're intended.

Anyway, for those without a clue as to what the hell we're waffling on like eejuts about, here IS a clue. (And incidentally, isn't it amazing how far flung Hillary's fame as a flipping big fibber is already?)

A misrepresented meeting

Clinton also makes major claims to have helped broker the Northern Ireland peace process.

Actually, I was in Belfast when the Clintons came calling in December 1995. Hillary had tea with some very nice women from groups helping single mothers and deprived young people.

She so admired the ordinary British cafe stainless steel teapot that one of the ladies gave it to her as a gift.

It was not a significant event; I cannot even remember whether I included it in my report on the presidential visit.

But 14 years later, out on the campaign trail, Clinton grossly misrepresented the meeting as a pivotal moment in the peace process, in which she "brought together for the first time" people from Protestant and Catholic communities who agreed to work for peace.

The actual participants in the peace process, including John Hume and David Trimble, say Hillary had no input in their negotiations.

Now, if yiz don't want us tell yer mams, dads, teachers, and Father O'Thingee, then y'all better behave yizselves and read the rest right here.



Sorry, we've suddenly got to sod off straight away and get ourselves to the air raid shelter as soon as poss, since the sirens have started, the barrage balloons are up and the searchlights are switched back on.

We kid you not. Really and truly. Honest t'God. The ak-ak guns are going.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph! The Germans are coming again.

*(Cross posted at appletree)

War, Peace, Illegal Invasions, Ensuing Occupations, Poxy Politicians, Suffering Soldiers, Innocent Civilians, Lies, Lives, Deaths, Bloody Body Bags...

Honesty is the best policy. Hand on heart and hope to die. Honest to God. Unto thine own self be true. Tell the truth and shame the devil. Cheats never prosper.

Right? Remember?

Well, we don't know about you but they're just a few examples of the things we, when we were kids, regularly had hammered home to us by our 'elders and betters'.

Ha. Father Christmas climbing down our chimney, the Tooth Fairy peekin' under our pillow, Jesus wanting us to be one of his personal sunbeams.

Scoffing stale bread crusts, so as to best try sprouting some Shirley Temple type curls. Pick your nose and you won't be taken to the Sunday School 'Treat'. If you're squinting your eyes when the wind changes suddenly, your cheeky little freckled face will flippin' well stay that way - for certain - for ever.

Clouds with siver sodding linings, raining perishing pennies from heaven, ruddy great gargantuan rainbows - resting on our skinny shoulders? With bleedin' big pots of gold at the end of 'em, to boot?

Etc, etc, etc.



Oy, vey. O.M.G. 'Strewth! And, W.T.F?

Sheesh. The stupid stuff we swallow when we're bright eyed, bushy-tailed simpletons innocent youngsters.

By the way, before anybody begins berating us for our serial sarcasm, we strongly suggest first sussing out how a certain other old Brit blogging buddy, sees barefaced shameless bullshit.

But (even if it was for the very first time in his low-life), Dick Cheney wasn't lying when showing his (sincere) complete contempt for 4,000 slain US soldiers -- by almost sneeringly saying - So? They all volunteered!

And don't ever forget Barbara Bush, both wife and mother to US presidents. She was being honest when she made no attempt to stop herself saying (totally truthfully), how she sees things -- when, very early on in her braindead brat's illegal war, she came straight out with this sickening shocker ...



Remember?

Which reminds us. There's something we've been meaning to mention to big bad Babs for ages.

Hey, you, witch!

Here's why you/we/everyone should hear about body bags -- and here's how and why body bags most definitely are bloody relevant.



See what we're saying, you stupid sick old sow?

So sodding often, for so many sad souls, body bags are the only bloody thing that is relevant.

Understand what we're saying, you cretinous old crow? Comprendo, cow?

Those remains are American. And, thanks to your lying, sleazeball, scumbag, sociopathic son's entirely inexcusable and completely uncalled for illegal war -what we see above is all that was left of some other US mother's, far less fortunate, son - after dying while fighting your fat-cat family's filthy-lucre inspired, fucking war for you.

Beautiful mind? Barf!

Listen missus, you'd be better if you blew it away.

As most of the rest of us would be ... if you did ... we dare say ... if we were honest ... and telling the truth

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US Democratic Presidential Candidates : Who Stands For Small Change And Who Stands For A Chance For Real Change?

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Duh!



Yep. We know. After all these years, who doesn't?

So, see and hear a few home truths.



Rumours are rapidly reaching Britain's shores that there are still some American Democrats saying they're seeking "change," but still don't understand the real meaning of the word.



Nor does said certain section of self deluding (though well meaning), Democrat dudes seem even close to comprehending the (self evident), concept of 'Same old, same old'.



And that's such a crying shame.



We mean, shouldn't someone stand up and say something about the last several years of the United States' serial, political charades?



Surely, given half a proper chance, the people would want to be wised up.

Well, wouldn't they?



After all, nobody likes the last laugh being on themselves.

Well, do they?



And who among us ever enjoys the joke being on 'us'? Unless of course it's still true today that there's one born every minute?

Well, whatever.

We sincerely & firmly believe that at the end of the day, the American public will prove to the wider world at large that they are NOT ALL plonkers. And, that they'll prove it - by realising before it's too late that there truly is a genuine chance for change.

And, that chance for change - is Senator Barack Obama.



[As for the old Republican lag, McCain ... in Britain, McCain (in the main), makes oven chips.]

*(Cross posted at Appletree)

Special Sunday US Unisex Politics Supplement : Our Own Current Presidential Candidates Quick Quiz ...

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Awrh, shoot!

Ain't it so aggravatingly awful how easily and how often one can suddenly suffer so many silly, stupid, excruciatingly embarrassing memory lapses as one ages?



Now, then ...

... erm ... can some kind soul remind us ... where were we?

What and who the hell was it that we were wanting to write about?



Oh, yeah. Now we remember. We were wanting to set a little quiz.

You know. Sort of short, sweet and simple.

So, here's said quiz question.

Which US politician was it who said:

"If one candidate’s trying to scare you and the other one’s trying to get you to think, if one candidate’s appealing to your fears and the other one’s appealing to your hopes, you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope.”

Here's your answer -- in the article's very last sentence.



Good night. And good luck.

And don't forget.

*(Cross posted at Appletree)

Clinton/Obama Photo Furore: Seriously Hilarious Or Sickeningly Serious?

Surely, this whole sordid slagging-fest's just a sick joke.

Right?

Right??

Clinton Fury Over Obama Photo Claims

At least mad old McCain's got a good excuse -- senile decay started setting in some time ago.

And as for ....



... oh, never mind.

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Obama, Clinton And McCain: All You Ever Wanted To Know But Were Way Too Scared To Ask

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Tonight we're shooting straight from the hip - so what's new? - and at the same time we're sticking with our 'sick' theme



We are sick, sick sick - and tired, tired, tired of seeing and hearing all of the hype, spin and so on that is still surrounding all of the above.

Hence, it came as such a welcome and refreshing change to find such original takes on the three US Presidential hopefuls pictured above, as were recently presented by regular reader, lovely lady and fellow (ex-pat) ageless Brit, 'Twilight'. Who, incidentally, we've increasingly come to think of as our very own, resident astrological expert.

So ...

Start by seeing Twilight's 'take-with-a-twist' on Hillary Clinton

Then there's this unique offering relating to Barack Obama.

Followed by a similarly specialist and interesting insight into John McCain.

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