It Wasn’t Hillary’s Finest Night


Front-runner Hillary Clinton finally started getting some pointed challenges from her opponents in a televised New Hampshire debate Wednesday night.

Clinton stoically ignored the swipes, but the evening marked a sharpening of the dialogue in the Democratic nominating contest. It reflects the fact her poll numbers have started to climb and if the others want any chance of overtaking her, they need to keep that lead from getting larger.

It wasn't a good night for Clinton. Her weakest moment in the debate was when she repeatedly ducked the sensitive question of just how she'd make Social Security sound and Joseph Biden pounced: "Presidents are supposed to lead," he said as he looked at her. Some of the other candidates said they'd raise the Social Security taxes paid by wealthier Americans.

She also took criticism from her opponents for voting for legislation several of them said could be interpreted as giving President Bush license to go to war with Iran.

John Edwards noted that he, like Clinton, voted for the war in Iraq and came to regret it because of how Bush used that legislation to go to war. "We learned a very different lesson," Edwards said.
Biden also said getting a health care bill approved would be more difficult for Clinton because of her failure do get it done when she was first lady and because of "a lot of the old stuff" people associate with the Clinton presidency.

He then pointedly said he was talking about "policy, policy" issues, which had the same effect of injecting former President Clinton's Oval Office dalliance with Monica Lewinsky.
Christopher Dodd was challenged on a statement he made the other day quoting Bush as saying he expected Clinton to be the Democratic nominee.
Dodd said he was just noting Bush is a bad prognosticator but it had the effect of telegraphing that Clinton might be a loser for Democrats in a national election if she is the nominee.

Some of her foes also said Clinton should have pressed harder to get a national health care bill passed in 1993.

Edwards, too, took a swipe at the Clinton era, saying the administration "gave up" on health care and instead "we got NAFTA," the North American Free Trade Agreement that is increasingly unpopular with organized labor.

Clinton's best moment came when moderator Tim Russert pointed out she disagreed with a position taken by her husband, former President Clinton, on the issue of torture.
She made clear she'd be her own boss as the nation's chief executive by replying: "Well, he's not standing here right now."
Pressed about the difference, Clinton smiled and said: "Well, I'll talk to him later."
While the evening couldn't have been pleasant for Clinton, it opened a necessary discussion Democrats must have: If they don't probe her weaknesses, the Republicans will.

I don't know how many people watched the debates last night but Hillary sold out her antiwar supporters.

So ted Kennedy is pondering over a name for his new book!

NEW YORK – Sen. Edward Kennedy has held preliminary discussions with publishers about writing a book on his career, an adviser to the senator told The Associated Press on Saturday. (Snip) “After many years of being requested to do so, and after writing several other books in recent years, Sen. Kennedy has decided to consider the possibility of writing a book about his career and his views

It seems like a no brainer to me.

How about, "Splash"...... Or "One For The Road"

Police Call O.J. a Suspect in Break-In

LAS VEGAS (Sept. 14) - Investigators questioned O.J. Simpson and named him a suspect Friday in a confrontation at a casino hotel room involving sports memorabilia. The former football star said he went to the room to retrieve property he said was stolen from him but denied breaking in.

Simpson told The Associated Press auction house owner Tom Riccio called him several weeks ago to say some collectors "have a lot of your stuff and they don't want anyone to know they are selling it."

Simpson, who was in Las Vegas for a friend's wedding, said he arranged to meet Riccio at the hotel and conducted a "sting operation."

"Everybody knows this is stolen stuff," Simpson said. "Not only wasn't there a break-in, but Riccio came to the lobby and escorted us up to the room. In any event, it's stolen stuff that's mine. Nobody was roughed up."

A message left for Riccio was not immediately returned.

Investigators were reviewing a complaint of a break-in at the hotel late Thursday night, police spokesman Jose Montoya said.

May God Bless All the victims of 9/11/01.

I did not know any of you who gave their lifes on that Sept Day. But I feel as if I have lost family. God Bless you all and may your soul find peace. We as Americans will never fold in the face of evil. WE WILL NEVER FORGET

President Bush's remarks to U.S. troops at Al-Asad Air Base in Iraq

Thank you all. General, thank you very much. It's an honor to be with you.As you know, today is Labor Day back home so I thought I'd come by to thank you for all your hard work. Every day - every day - you show bravery under incredibly difficult circumstances.

It was an awesome speech and I loved the surprise visit - well done! Can you imagine Hitlery getting this sort of reception from the troops? What a perfect place to be on Labor Day. They aren't getting a day off for bar-b-que or shopping and it's good for him to remind the American people of who fights so that we can enjoy holidays like this and every day of freedom.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BUSH_TEXT_TROOPS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US