I want to emphasize beforehand that I do not hate Hillary Clinton. Got that? Do. Not. Hate.

BUT...

She makes it excruciatingly hard for me to muster any warm feelings about her candidacy when these cute, too-clever-by-half tactics and statements leave me with a sneaking suspicion that she thinks I'm an absolute moron.

prim, I don't actually hate Hillary either. (I just feel very, very strongly that she would be a disastrous candidate and a terrible president. I like my own congressman just fine, but that doesn't mean I want him to be president.)

But there's nothing to be suspicious about. She clearly does think all Democrats are absolute morons. Her explanation of her Iraq votes (both for the president's force resolution and against the Democratic ultimatum resolution), for example, only makes sense if she's illiterate or if she believes we're morons. She clearly can read, so it must be the latter.

Was there any doubt that it was  a campaign tactic? But so what? Isn't that what all this navel-gazing is about? Gotta have something going all the time for endless "news" cycle.

I have never admired Hillary more than I do now. I'm sending her some money!

In any case, it doesn't matter what Clinton does today. The big politics story is Mitt. She could walk around naked and kiss Obama on the lips, and it wouldn't be covered.

I don't see the huge evidence in favor of this claim.

As I remember the story, Hillary donated to her own campaign back at the end of Jan, before Super Tuesday was coming up, and Obama was riding high on his horse of change. Back then they might have believed that they might be in for a bit of a defeat (what with the overwhelming Obama support from the press and the various endorsements.)

Certainly, if the campaign that was once proclaimed an unstoppable financial juggernaut was having to loan itself money, the picture had changed. This prompted the solidly-loyal Solis-Doyle and others to jump the shark and go for broke. The main narrative of this is that the sudden surge of fundraising for Hillary is a bit of a surprise for them, although they don't want to show weakness by admitting it, what with all the voices crying about Obama's financial surplus as evidence of his superiority as a candidate. (Who would of thought the supporters of the "insurgent candidate" would be touting his wealth?)

Another dirty trick? I would encourage the readers of this once supposedly objective magazine to start trying to see the other side of all the pro-bama spin coming through this new blogged-out TNR. The crazed electoral season may decide the presidency, but don't let it make up your mind for you.

And of course.

Sen. Clinton's every utterance must be some kind of ruse or trick. Surprising she did not spurt forth a tear or two when mentioning the $5 million so as to garner an extra million over the internet from the faithful.

"Who would of thought the supporters of the 'insurgent candidate' would be touting his wealth?"

Anyone would have, since (1) Obama didn't get his money from lobbyists, and (2) Hillary was the "inevitable candidate" in part because she had tons of money.

Nice try, though.

Are you suggesting that Hillary is an extremely calculating person? Nawww

The Clintons have earned every suspicion that comes their (her) way. The old fashioned way. Lots of hard work went in to compiling those manipulative bona fides. You reap what you sow. I'll not listen to a scold on such account. I could be wrong......but I doubt it.

When was the last time anyone talked about what was going on in Iraq?  Trends in violent crime?  Infrastructure?  My Lord, I know the primaries are very important, but the minutia we obsess about rather than the substantive differences (there's been a little discussion here on health care, that's about it).  When was the last time anyone even mentioned Darfur and the Chinese Olympics?  Can America's only officially declared genocide since the holocaust get some attention from the Plank/Stump, or are they backed up with stories like this?

Also, what is the difference between the Plank and the Stump -- I thought election coverage was going to be pushed to the latter percisely so we could talk about other things in the former.

lymon, lymon, lymon, there was a couple of articles about China, shanghai for one, and the chinese stock market for another. I don't recall seeing you on those threads. And God knows Iraq is talked to death. I list Iraq as the main reason I would vote for McCain. And Marty has talked and talked about Darfur, and at this point what is left to be said?

I got you about the plank and stump, but this was Supertuesday after all, almost half of the states voted and I can see why Plank regulars would want to discuss it.