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Bowling for delegates

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor April 1, 2008 12:59 PM

Hillary Clinton just offered her April Fool's joke -- bowling for delegates, maybe even the entire Democratic nomination.

"I am challenging Senator Obama to a bowl-off," she told reporters in Pennsylvania.

She even magnanimously agreed to spot Barack Obama two frames. But even that might not be enough for a close contest.

Obama has been savaged by pundits for his bowling ability -- or lack thereof -- that he displayed in Altoona, Penn., on Saturday night. (Joe Scarborough said Monday on MSNBC that his 4-year-old daughter could do better.)

Obama totaled 37 in seven frames (a perfect score is 300 over 10 frames). His excuse: He hadn't bowled since the 1970s.

"My economic plan is better than my bowling," he said, according to press accounts.

"It has to be," a man called out.

Clinton, who grew up in the Chicago suburbs but apparently isn't a big bowler either, proposed a winner-take-all contest.

"It's time for his campaign to get out of the gutter," she said.

She wasn't done yet.

She said that when the phone rings at 3 a.m. in the White House, she would be ready to go bowling, declaring herself a president "ready to bowl on Day One."

39 comments so far...
  1. "'It's time for this campaign to get out the the gutter,' she said"... April fools!

    Posted by Andy in Brooklyn April 1, 08 01:10 PM
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  1. I have been searching the news today for someone saying nice things about Hillary. The press is so biased against her. If Obama is the nominee he will
    lose to McCain. He and his campaigne are full of hate for America. I wish
    people would take the blinders off.

    Posted by rose dagostino April 1, 08 01:30 PM
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  1. echh. makes me want to puke

    Posted by anon April 1, 08 01:33 PM
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  1. Hey Hillary- I guess desperate time really do call for desperate measures.

    Posted by Lloyd Dunhill April 1, 08 01:43 PM
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  1. Seems that if the Democrats were forbidden to talk about their opponents, they'd have nothing to say.. Many times my Mother would say, "Small things excite small minds!".. how true..

    Posted by PH in NH April 1, 08 01:46 PM
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  1. I admire Hillary for she's a strong, educated, focused woman but we cannot deny the fact that Obama is more suitable to be the President of America... His policies and plans are better, more realistic and he inspires young people who are the future of our nation...

    We are the future of America! Yes we can! Yes we can bowl and yes we can change this world!

    Posted by Tania Gaby April 1, 08 01:47 PM
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  1. "I wish people would take the blinders off." -- rose dagostino

    I'm impressed by how much this primary campaign is a Rorschach ink blot test. I look at Obama and see "hope"; Ms. Dagostino looks at Obama and sees "hate." I expect she looks at Clinton and sees... what? I look at Clinton and see a candidate who will "say and do anything to win."

    Interestingly, I also look at Hillary Clinton and sort of feel sorry for her, because she is running a campaign from Bill Clinton's playbook but it doesn't really suit her. I think Hillary Clinton is less of an attack dog and more genuine and sympathetic than Bill is.

    Oh yeah... bowling: I expect that if you gave Obama a week to practice, his natural athletic skill would take over and he'd do decently against Clinton in the lanes. Maybe if you painted little pictures of Bill on the pins BOTH candidates would roll nothin' but strikes.

    Posted by egc52556 April 1, 08 01:52 PM
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  1. Really Ms. Da'gostino?

    Is it Mr. Obama's record of fighting for people in inner city chicago to achieve the american dream, offering health insurance to the americans who need it, empathy for those who share an opposing view or is his desire to foster diplomacy with the rest of the world that make his campaign "full of hate for America". Please tell me that your thoughts about this man are based in fact instead of predjudice please!

    What is so great about our country is that there is room for different ideas! Let's be smart about them! Insult the policy and not feed into rumours!

    Posted by nursefor hope April 1, 08 01:52 PM
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  1. Its iether Clinton or Mc cain you have a choice.

    Posted by pat guinan April 1, 08 01:55 PM
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  1. Oh, spare me:)

    Posted by jane April 1, 08 02:01 PM
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  1. Its more like if Hill wins the nomination McCain wins the presidency, don't you people pay any attention to the Gallup polls? And BTW doesn't Hill have any other dirt she can fling, much like the kitchen sink and still barely scratch Obama? I guess if not she should run for cover with her head down in Bosnia cause the little flower girl is a sniper in disguise. And her universal health care is a joke, making people who can't afford it pay for it anyways one way or the other. What happened when Bill was in the White House, didn't she try her "health care plan" and didn't it fail miserably? Maybe she should discuss the Lewinsky scandal in more depth and explain why if she can't put the axe to Bill how she would put the axe to others that cause us harm. The Clinton's have been scandalous and liars in all their political years and prefer to hide under the cloak of "I'm a woman be nice to me" while playing to the tune of "Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned". She has unanswered questions that I prefer she would explain, otherwise she is a female Bush in disguise...

    Posted by J April 1, 08 02:03 PM
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  1. lighten up folks - that was funny

    Posted by Mich Indie April 1, 08 02:07 PM
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  1. I like it... Bowling for Delegates!

    Isn't that what's going on anyway...?

    Let me see, Barack achieved a score of ... "37" ... :-)

    I got my money on Hillary and I'll give you an additional 37 pins.

    Obama - 74 ... Any takers? ROTFLMAO!


    H

    Posted by Randy April 1, 08 02:10 PM
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  1. voters Please say no to Senator Clinton socialized Medicine

    The first thing to realize is that free public medicine isn't really free What the consumer doesn't pay, the taxpayer does. socialized medicine, although of poor quality, is very expensive

    Government controls also have caused misallocations of resources. While doctors are in short supply in remote regions, hospital beds are scarce mainly in urban centers.

    hospital emergency rooms have become their primary doctor,
    Patients lie in temporary beds in emergency rooms, sometimes for days

    you can be relatively sure not to wait six hours with your sick child in an emergency. room if you know how to talk to the hospital director, or if one of your old classmates is a doctor, or if your children attend the same exclusive private school as your pediatrician's children

    Single-payer systems — confronting dirty hospitals, long waiting lists and substandard treatment

    children often wait many hours before they can see a doctor

    patients are now having to wait more than eight months for treatment, during which time many of their cancers become incurable."


    Surgery candidates face long waiting lists

    it can take six months to have a cataract removed.

    Heart surgeons report patients dying on their waiting lists. But then, it's free.

    Posted by alma ludivina April 1, 08 02:22 PM
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  1. You know, I'm not sure I want a President that bowled a "37"

    Is he really an American?

    Posted by Sylvia April 1, 08 02:22 PM
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  1. Nursefor Hope,
    The "American dream" as we have come to realize is that Mr. Obama's acts of altruism and utilitarianism occurred during a dream. The vague 'blue sky' commentary coming from his speech writers belie the fact that he has really done very little on the national or local stage to warrant any concious belief that he could in fact lead this country to the 'promised land'. There are no specific policy statements to analyze when it comes to Mr. Obama, just promises of "hope" and "unity".

    As we have seen throughtout this Primary campaign, the media, pundits and Obamaphants will pound on rumour incessantly in the hope that they can convert as many 'non-believers' as possible. The sense being that if you repeat an untruth or myth often enough the general concensus will shift and consider that same myth as fact and truth.

    Posted by Greg Miyada April 1, 08 02:24 PM
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  1. Its iether Obama or Mc cain you have a choice.

    Posted by guinan pat April 1, 08 02:25 PM
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  1. Why are you still treating Clinton as a serious candidate?

    She has as much chance as Ron Paul of being her party's nominee.

    Posted by Dave April 1, 08 02:27 PM
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  1. Obamatruth.org

    All the candidates stink.

    Posted by All The Candidates Stink April 1, 08 02:34 PM
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  1. Obama sucks at bowling because the ball is to heavy for him. Between his wife and preacher they have as much hate for America as osama. They are not used to the public eye of America Obama is that's why he doesn't say how he feels about America.

    Posted by Gonzales April 1, 08 02:48 PM
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  1. Okay, I'm a full-on Obama supporter but c'mon, that was *funny*! It won't kill us to laugh a little.

    Just for the record, I probably couldn't bowl even as well as Obama, so I can't say it'll influence my vote any. :)

    Posted by SandraL April 1, 08 02:49 PM
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  1. Has the Obama bubble burst yet? I actually think his bowling is better than his economic plan. He has no economic plan, other than a copy of Hillary's.

    Posted by jim April 1, 08 03:13 PM
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  1. How About Bowling For Tax Returns?

    It took a lawsuit to release the white house papers which solidly disproved her claims of being substantively involved in foreign affairs such as a. Bringing peace to Northern Ireland (the man who won the Nobel Peace prize for the effort said she had nothing to do with it, b. Opening Macedonian borders (happened two days before she even arrived) and of course her infamous c. Dodging of Bosnian sniper fire (well, you've seen the video of course. She claims to have "misspoke" but she said it multiple times, all on video, and all from carefully prepared remarks.

    So where are the tax returns? She says she'll release them after April 15, but of course since we're calling for the release of all the tax returns since they were in office, they are already completed and could be released at any time.

    And trust me (not her) she'll stall until after the Pennsylvania Primary.

    Because the Clinton's have amassed a personal fortune from Bill consulting to foreign governments like Dubai and Saudi Arabia, totally in the tens of millions of dollars.

    And they don't want you to realize that the person answering the phone at 3:00 AM could be a woman who owes her two five million dollar mansions to Saudi Sheiks and other foreign leaders whose interests are certainly not your interests or my interests.

    She lies when she doesn't even have to. She only tells the truth when you confront her with video. She doesn't even tell the truth about having lied, or "misspoke" as she falsely claims. Misspeaking is a slip of the toungue, not a lie written down in a speech and told over and over.

    The Clintons serve foreign governments, why do you think THEY (as proven by her White House papers) fought so hard to pass NAFTA?

    Posted by cathryn April 1, 08 03:17 PM
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  1. With supporters like Cleaver and McGovern, Hillary doesn't need any enemies. I'm beginning to think they are right - she can't win as long as she's a woman. Here's a good thread about that:
    http://digits.hrblock.com/ssDigits/digits.php?rType=1&sPath=1839&sNode=1839&uId=289

    Posted by GHarri April 1, 08 03:37 PM
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  1. Why is it we can't afford universal health care when we already spend twice that of any other industrialized country on a per capita basis but typically experience a shorter life span?
    Can anyone point to one major problem that our politicians have solved over the past 3 decades? Healthcare, Social Security, Immigration reform, illegal drugs, energy policy, education--Have any of these issues been resolved? We throw billions at them and nothing is accomplished. Our politicians hope that we will continue to accept their sound bites in lieu of real policy and never start asking tough questions and demanding results.

    Posted by political cynic April 1, 08 03:40 PM
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  1. Obama is a fraud!!! He had me for a while. Go McCain!!

    Posted by Mark carter April 1, 08 04:15 PM
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  1. SOME ARE BLIND BUT THEY SMELL OBOMAS BLOOD AS WHITE AND HE,S POLICY GREEN FOR THE AMERICAN,S AND THEY WORLD/

    Posted by uche okeke April 1, 08 04:27 PM
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  1. Polititicians, politicians, politicians. I read earlier today that Congress is "investigating" and demanding that the oil companies "justify" their huge profits....... if I were the oil companies I would ask the same of the politicians in regard to their salaries and benefits.

    It is disgusting that politicians from all parties spew out lie after lie after lie and the only recourse we as citizens seem to have is to "not vote" or vote for the best liar.

    Let's face it.... it's all about the money.... and just like the price of gas..... it would go down if we got off our fat butts and walked....... politicians might even do something if we decided to march against them until they actually delivered something to us.

    I don't beleive that this will happen by the way.

    It's sort of like all the "fat" people who want to lose weight but prefer also to eat and to avoid exercise.... it's odd to me that Americans complain about ANYTHING.

    We are the richest country in the world and complain about paying the lowest fuel costs.

    We get fat and lazy and can't figure out why we're fat and lazy.

    We go to church on Sunday and steal, lie, cheat, hate and hurt others Mon - Sat

    John McCain, Hillary Clinton and/or Borak Obama are not the answer to any of your troubles...... you are. Improve your mind and body - help others and the world will respond in a more favorable way toward you.

    Try to imagine a world where politicians are not required..... ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.

    Posted by Michael Trainor April 1, 08 04:29 PM
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  1. Wow...even her jokes are scary. (Notice how the press stopped laughing after the first two sentences?) She has all the comedic talent of Leonid Brezhnev. And because she doesn't have a genuine bone in her body, there was no contrast in presentation between her joking "lie" and her everyday press availability lies.

    Thud.

    Posted by joe johnson April 1, 08 04:30 PM
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  1. Must ......avoid......balls joke .................................aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

    Posted by BG66 April 1, 08 04:45 PM
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  1. I'm with Mitch...lighten up. They are both caring individuals who really do want to make our country better...this was meant to be fun and lighthearted.

    Posted by LHaynes48 April 1, 08 05:05 PM
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  1. “Why do I have to keep proving to people that I am not a liar?!”
    -Hillary Rodham Clinton, 2000

    Show me a liar and I will show thee a thief, says the old adage. No truer words were ever spoken. But lying on a grand scale, for political gain runs the gamut. To this day, many believe FDR orchestrated Pearl Harbor; or, that if he hadn't he should have. Yes, Hillary Clinton is a manifest liar. And, Hillary will continue to lie. But thank goodness for that. “Chill out” and let this woman go bowling, she's got balls. She's going to get caught; just you wait and see: http://theseedsof9-11.com

    Posted by Peggy McGilligan April 1, 08 05:09 PM
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  1. I'm for Obama, but Hillary was funny there.

    Can't some of you people ever stop and have some fun?

    Posted by Max April 1, 08 06:20 PM
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  1. YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

    If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

    You Might Be An Idiot!

    If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

    You Might Be An Idiot!

    If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

    You Might Be An Idiot!

    If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

    You Might Be An Idiot!

    If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

    You Might Be An Idiot!

    If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

    You Might Be An Idiot!

    If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

    You Might Be An Idiot!

    If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

    You Might Be An Idiot!

    If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

    Best regards

    jacksmith...

    Posted by jacksmith April 1, 08 06:47 PM
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  1. DON'T BE DUPED !!!

    Large numbers of Republicans have been voting for Barack Obama in the DEMOCRATIC primaries, and caucuses from early on. Because they feel he would be a weaker opponent against John McCain. And because they feel that a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket would be unbeatable. And also because with a Clinton and Obama ticket you are almost 100% certain to get quality, affordable universal health care very soon.

    But first, all of you have to make certain that Hillary Clinton takes the democratic nomination and then the Whitehouse. NOW! is the time. THIS! is the moment you have all been working, and waiting for. You can do this America. “Carpe diem” (harvest the day).

    I think Hillary Clinton see’s a beautiful world of plenty for all. She is a woman, and a mother. And it’s time America. Do this for your-selves, and your children’s future. You will have to work together on this and be aggressive, relentless, and creative. Americans face an even worse catastrophe ahead than the one you are living through now.

    You see, the medical and insurance industry mostly support the republicans with the money they ripped off from you. And they don’t want you to have quality, affordable universal health care. They want to be able to continue to rip you off, and kill you and your children by continuing to deny you life saving medical care that you have already paid for. So they can continue to make more immoral profits for them-selves.

    Hillary Clinton has actually won by much larger margins than the vote totals showed. And lost by much smaller vote margins than the vote totals showed. Her delegate count is actually much higher than it shows. And higher than Obama’s. She also leads in the electoral college numbers that you must win to become President in the November national election. HILLARY CLINTON IS ALREADY THE TRUE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!

    As much as 30% of Obama's primary, and caucus votes are Republicans trying to choose the weakest democratic candidate for McCain to run against. These Republicans have been gaming the caucuses where it is easier to vote cheat. This is why Obama has not been able to win the BIG! states primaries. Even with Republican vote cheating help.

    Hillary Clinton has been out manned, out gunned, and out spent 4 and 5 to 1. Yet Obama has only been able to manage a very tenuous, and questionable tie with Hillary Clinton.

    If Obama is the democratic nominee for the national election in November he will be slaughtered. Because the Republican vote cheating help will suddenly evaporate. All of this vote fraud and republican manipulation has made Obama falsely look like a much stronger candidate than he really is. YOUNG PEOPLE. DON’T BE DUPED! Think about it. You have the most to lose.

    The democratic party needs to fix this outrage. I suggest a Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama ticket. Everyone needs to throw all your support to Hillary Clinton NOW! So you can end this outrage against YOU the voter, and against democracy.

    I think Barack Obama has a once in a life time chance to make the ultimate historic gesture for unity, and change in America by accepting Hillary Clinton’s offer as running mate. Such an act now would for ever seal Barack Obama’s place at the top of the list of Americas all time great leaders, and unifiers for all of history.

    The democratic party, and the super-delegates have a decision to make. Are the democrats, and the democratic party going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee to fight for the American people. Or are the republicans going to choose the DEMOCRATIC party nominee through vote fraud, and gaming the DEMOCRATIC party primaries, and caucuses.

    Fortunately the Clinton’s have been able to hold on against this fraudulent outrage with those repeated dramatic comebacks of Hillary Clinton’s. Only the Clinton’s are that resourceful, and strong. Hillary Clinton is your NOMINEE. They are the best I have ever seen.

    “This is not a game” (Hillary Clinton)

    Sincerely

    jacksmith...

    Posted by jacksmith April 1, 08 06:54 PM
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  1. Icertainly do not trust that Obama guy having that america hating minister for 20 years and yet no one realizes that and his wife saying she's finally proud of her country because her husband is running for president of the USA. Well, that proves it, he's not to be trusted with our coubtry just like all those democrats.


    Go Mccain, Go!!!!!!!!

    Posted by Fabiola Crespo April 1, 08 07:54 PM
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  1. the white house transcripts showed clintons so called 35 years of experience was another lie..Clinton since the papers were released..has not talked about her 35 years at all..why is that..i am a registered republican..the last time i voted was for Reagan,,have not voted since..but..i will vote for obama this year..i now know why my father talked about Kennedy all the time..in these times we are all worried about jobs and our economy..we need a president who will work for us as Americans..someone who will talk to our foreign enemies..instead of always trying to bomb first and ask questions later..someone who will lift us up..instead of bringing us down..

    Posted by tom April 1, 08 09:49 PM
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  1. I am 37 years old and for my entire eligible voting years there's never been a President of the United States with a last name other than Bush or Clinton!

    Can McCain represent my interests at age 72? Sorry I do not beleive the answer is yes......we would all be better off today if McCain had gotten the nomination 8 years ago over a man who is easily the worst president during my lifetime. That being said, I'll vote for him if Hillary is the alternative.

    "I wish people would take the blinders off." -- rose dagostino
    Let me guess, Rose is one of those elderly voters for Hillary Clinton because she thinks Hillary is strong. Well, I'll only say this......if she was as competent as she is greedy then I might vote for her. I question anyone who wants to go back to the White House after what went on while she was there with her husband, Bill. When you look up typical politician in the dictionary there should a picture of her. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree either, the Clintons owe too many favors and Hillary will do whatever gets her the prize. More importantly, I just don't like her and I'm not alone. I have no problems with a female president, just not her. No one focuses on the fact that she screwed up on the universal health care thing once already.....bascially because she pissed people off. She is also poor role model for my daughter...i.e. a woman should have more self-respect for herself, I'd actually consider Hillary if she had dumped the pervert instead of try to use the power of her husband to further her own aspirations.

    Then we come to final and most obvious choice. If you want experience, take a good long review of the last 8 years....plenty of experience in the Bush administration, what happened? Would love to hear any excuses for this current president. If you want someone fresh, someone that makes sense (whether you think he can accomplish everything or not) Obama is the clear choice. Does it really matter anymore whether it's Rep or Dem.....Based on last 8 years, I'll settle for someone that at least sounds good...both literally and gramatically. Someone who is not an embarrassment overseas. I take some with less experience because maybe it will force them to think instead of what we have gotten lately. I'll take someone likeable so that maybe the US's image can begin to be repaired around the world. And yes, I'm white and I think a black man as president might be good for this country....so yes, race is a factor and I'll take the black guy, he is the ultimate American, the perfect underdog.....one last thing, this man's pastor is offensive? please, controversial comments for sure but there really isn't anything he said that wasn't true and I'm far less scared of a black preacher than the bible beaters that have Bush's ear

    Obama has Clinton beat in all the numbers that matter and it ain't changing. Hillary can drag it out but she is only hurting her own legacy. Obama is our next president....get used to it

    Posted by Lance April 1, 08 09:53 PM
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  1. Most of the people on this post are stupid. Okay, I can't stand Hillary any more than the next person, but lighten up. Yes, she annoys the crap out of all of us. Still, that was kind of funny. Even if it was a political pitch in disguise...

    Posted by OhioGuywowthisstateissobackards April 1, 08 10:35 PM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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