Iowa Presidential Watch
Holding the Democrats accountable

Q U O T A B L E S

February 27, 2006

“She is the dominant player on their side of the slate,” Rove said of Clinton. “Anybody who thinks that she’s not going to be the candidate is kidding themselves.”

"For somebody who is philosophically very liberal," White House Advisor Karl Rove said Hillary Clinton will be "a very cautious candidate at times. That cautiousness will serve her well a lot of times - not always, but a lot of times."

Asked to describe Clinton’s weaknesses, Rove said, “her personal philosophy and her brittleness about her.”

"They fear, Hillary, that you would doom Democrats to impotence for decades." -- Tampa Tribune editorial.

 

J U S T   P O L I T I C S

 

Bush and Rove comment on Hillary 2008

In an exclusive for DRUDGE, the story is out about the new book by Bill Sammon which includes on the record comments from George W. Bush and Karl Rove about Hillary Clinton:

Reporter Bill Sammon, who joins the WASHINGTON EXAMINER as Senior White House Correspondent, is set to launch his new book, STRATEGERY.

In the Book, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned, Rove is quoted on the-record and is unleashed on Hillary:

There is a “brittleness about her” that could prove a weakness in November 2008.

But Rove added that the “hard-driving” Clinton will easily vanquish Democratic primary rivals like New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner, who are merely “preening for the vice presidential slot.”

President Bush cautioned that Hillary Clinton should not be underestimated.

“She is a smart person, and obviously has got a lot of experience,” the president said in an exclusive interview for the book STRATEGERY, which is being published Monday. “It is helpful, to a certain extent, to have seen the presidency and presidential campaigns firsthand.”

Angry Hillary reacts

Angry Hillary went into reaction mode today attempting to counter already published comments made by Karl Rove regarding a 2008 Hillary Clinton presidential run [see DRUDGEREPORT], Her Liberalness told WROW-AM radio in Albany, NY, that Karl Rove "spends a lot of time obsessing about me."

The AP article, carried by Breitbart.com, gives further comments from Hillary:

"He [Rove] spends more time thinking about my political future than I do," Clinton said

"Karl Rove is a brilliant strategist. So, if I were thinking about this," Clinton told WROW-AM radio in Albany, "I'd say why are they spending so much time talking about me?"

"What they're hoping is that all of their missteps, which are now numbering in the hundreds, are going to somehow be overlooked because people, instead of focusing on the '06 election, will jump ahead and think about the next one," Clinton said.

 

Florida editorial: Hillary don't run

Hillary Clinton, in Tampa for a fundraiser, has been met with an editorial in the Tampa Tribune that states simply... Dear Hillary Clinton: don't run.

Excerpts:

We expect that after your re-election this fall as junior senator from New York, you will dedicate yourself to seeking a higher office. But you're a pragmatist, Hillary, so we urge you to be satisfied with the Senate.

If you run for president, chances are good that you'll secure your party's nomination. But realistically, how do you think you can win the White House? You are the most polarizing figure in the Democratic Party, and your negatives among likely voters are prohibitively high. Many people simply don't trust you. You may share your husband's name, but what people liked about him is not transferable to you....

They fear, Hillary, that you would doom Democrats to impotence for decades.

But even if you moderate your positions, you do so at some political risk. When you suddenly support a constitutional amendment to ban flag-burning, your changing position seems superficial and self-serving. Hillary the "moderate progressive" candidate would be a hard sell.

Think, Hillary, not about what you want, but what's best for your party and country.

Please, don't run.

Governors in D.C.

Much of the media is covering the Governors Meeting in Washington, D.C. Dan Balz of the Washington Post reports on the political nature of the meeting with Democrats salivating over putting a majority of the 50 states in the Democrat column:

Republicans hold a 28 to 22 advantage among the governors, but they begin the campaign year on the defensive. Thirty-six states will elect governors in November, and the GOP must protect 22 of them to the Democrats' 14. Of the nine states where the incumbent governor is either term-limited or retiring, eight are held by Republicans.

Iowa is in the top tier of best opportunities for Republicans to win a former Democrat seat. The latest move of Jim Nussle picking up his conservative primary opponent Bob Vander Platts as his running mate will make for even more Republican wanna-be presidents to visit Iowa.

Edwards misleading

Former Democrat V.P. Candidate John Edwards was in Iowa City recently and the Des Moines Register in covering his visit said that he made misleading statements. However, the news article didn’t offer any proof or evidence of the accusation:

"The legitimate concern of most Americans is that our ports aren't being provided with the security they need now," Edwards said shortly before addressing a rally at a restaurant in downtown Iowa City. "Only 5 percent of the packages are being screened. We aren't doing what we need to do. This a place where we are vulnerable.

"The president says that one of the few nations that officially recognized the Taliban in Afghanistan should be in charge of security at those ports," Edwards added.

Some of Edwards' comments were inaccurate or misleading.

Edwards appears to be keeping more than his options open in seeking the Democrat presidential nomination in his recent visit to Iowa.

U.N. abuses to continue

CNSNews reports that the United Nation's efforts at reforming its Human Rights Commission (which allowed for murder and rape by its peace keepers) will not succeed. One of the major sticking points is that the commission would allow for those people who were creating the greatest atrocities to continue to chair the committee, as has been the case in the past:

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan wants the world body this week to approve plans for a new U.N. human rights council, but critics say the reform proposal has been watered down to the point where it should be rejected.

The United States is at the center of a growing tussle between those who argue that the proposal for a new human rights council is an improvement on the discredited Commission on Human Rights and should be embraced; and others who say accepting the proposal as it stands would squander the biggest U.N. reform opportunity in decades.

Annan has been joined by some governments, human rights groups and a dozen Nobel peace prize laureates in urging the U.S. and other governments to accept the plan for a new-look council.

But U.S. ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton questioned whether the proposal released late last week would bar notorious rights violators -- a key factor in the decision to scrap the Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) in the first place.

Former President Jimmy Carter supports the enabling of further torture and murder of these fascist states.

Frist leadership on ports

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist sent the following to those who might help him be president:

Americans are concerned about plans to allow Dubai Ports World to manage operations at six major American ports. Indeed, over 1,500 individuals posted their thoughts on the deal on my blog, and I know many Congressional offices were flooded with calls and emails.

I called for a delay to further review this deal. There's no such thing as being 'too careful' when it comes to matters of national security, because decisions of this consequence warrant open and extensive debate.

Over the last week, I have heard from Americans on both sides of the issue…and regardless of where each stood, security was foremost on their minds…and each wanted something constructive to come from the debate.

After discussions with the White House and with DP World, I feel confident that an exhaustive, transparent 45-day review of the national security implications of this deal will be undertaken by the Committee on Foreign Investments in the United States (CFIUS). I also expect that relevant Senate committees will vigorously investigate not only the deal with DP World, but also the question of how best to reform the CFIUS process.

I believe the ongoing debate over this deal has brought a much-needed public focus on port security. And I will continue to ensure that the Senate supports the President and helps secure America.

Unfortunately, the debate has also brought on overheated demagoguery from Democrats willing to use anything to attack President Bush and to hide their weakness on national security.

The Party that FDR led is a fading memory…and the Democrats of today, led by Senators Clinton, Kerry and Reid continue to show us why they are unable to lead America forward during these challenging times…so while the Democrats continue to bluster, we will act to secure American ports and borders.

I encourage everyone to continue to discuss this issue at home, at work and among friends…because when we focus our attention on national security everyone wins.

Gingrich and Hannity draw large GOP crowd

The Republican Party of Iowa has a problem of not having enough seating room for this year's annual Iowa Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner on April 29. What's the big deal? It's the double-header winner of Newt Gingrich and Sean Hannity, both tapped to headline the event.

Solution? Two more rooms have been added to the location, equipped with big screens to accommodate the overflow crowd. Because there are only 750 tickets for sale at $100, large contributors of $1000 or more are being asked to go just to the reception so that the party can sell their tickets. Here are the latest details of the event and you can order tickets by calling 515-282-8105:

Saturday, April 29th, 2006
Embassy Suites Hotel
101 E. Locust Street
Des Moines, Iowa

Host Reception: 5:00pm at Bill Van Orsdel's Sugar Shack Guest Residence
General Reception: 6pm at Embassy Suites Hotel
Dinner: 7pm
Host: Buy or sell $1,000 table of ten, Host reception for two and photo.
Individuals: $100, Dinner and General Reception.

 

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