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Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much

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Jessi Ramsey
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
Whoever decided that Arianna Huffington is a good substitute for Rachel Maddow needs to be fired.
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
11/17/08

@Jessi Ramsey: Word to the mutha! I don't mind her accent, I mind her skipping articles and prepositions that I KNOW are written on the teleprompter!
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Brigit
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
I can't even finish reading to say that I'm mesmerized by how 'at ease' he seems. I love his body language, if he had a coach he should totally send me his email.
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TwoScoops
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
Gay fascism sounds kind of...hot. Is that wrong?
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eatsshootsleaves
11/17/08

@TwoScoops: It sounds like Jonah Goldberg's next book, to me. I keep picturing fabulous Nazis.
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Brigit
11/17/08

@TwoScoops: something tells me that if it'd be made into erotica I might buy the book.

The story should include very well-cut uniforms. *sigh* I'd fucking set my house on fire. Or shove my kittehs up in a tree.
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anonymiss
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
aaaand the top story on CNN

Bill Clinton could pose Cabinet problem
Former President Bill Clinton's international business dealings, global foundation and penchant for going off script could present a significant obstacle to Hillary Clinton becoming secretary of state, observers say. Two officials with President-elect Barack Obama's transition team confirm to CNN that it is investigating Bill Clinton's post-presidential dealings.

*gags*
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Penny_Esq
11/17/08

@anonymiss: I read an NYT article this morning that suggested there was some connection between the foundation's funding and the totalitarian ruler of Kazakhstan, as well as some other unsavory middle eastern characters. I would like this not to interfere with Hillary being SecState, because I think she would be phenomenal. But the rumblings of shadiness are concerning.

[www.nytimes.com]
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

@Penny_Esq: YES WE DID!!!: That story was floated out by the Times late last year and when it gained no traction...they're putting it out there again.

@anonymiss: And that story is sourced to the original politico article. Blergh.
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
11/17/08

@anonymiss: I love how Hillary is being raked over the coals for Bill's actions.
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

@Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith: And his actions are a charitable foundation!
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shouldbestudying - med school edition
11/17/08

@Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith: Deja vu all over again. That's kind of the MO for dealing with Hillary, no? "Bill cheated, what a bitch for not leaving..." You get the drift.
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eatsshootsleaves
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: I really want Clinton to become SoS, but if there are legitimate conflicts of interest (and Bill's foundation is one of many possible conflicts of interest), I obviously want them, at the least, out in the open. Let's not whitewash some potentially unethical things going on here.

[www.vanityfair.com]

I certainly hope nothing disqualifies Hillary from getting the job, since she is absolutely the best candidate for it; however, the Clintons have done very little to get rid of even the mere appearance of impropriety, and that is, ultimately, their own fault.

I'm sure everything will be cleared up soon, though, and all of this handwringing will be for nothing.
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
11/17/08

@all: Pretty much the gist of all arguments is that she has to be kept out of power because of her husband's actions. Or something. I hate when people accuse the Clinton's of nepotism though; both Hillary and Bill worked damn fucking hard to get where they are, not because they relied on their parents' credentials or connections.
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
11/17/08

@shouldbestudying: Usually the bitch-calling preempts the cheating; that way, they can say she got her just desserts. but of course all marriages are based on public opinion, and if the public feels sorry for her, then she should divorce Bill and stay out of politics. Argh!
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shouldbestudying - med school edition
11/17/08

@Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith: Makes your brain hurt, don't it?
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
11/17/08

@shouldbestudying: And my fighting hands itch.
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Crabby Cakes
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
Ah, Newt Gingrich. You keep spewing the crazy so we won't have to hear from you in 2012.
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
11/17/08

@Crabby Cakes wants some Dance Biscuits.: Isn't his sister a gay rights activist? What a tool!
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eatsshootsleaves
11/17/08

@Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith: I think Wonkette put it best:

Newt loves "traditional religion" and its values so very much. You know, Ten Commandments and the like! Such as, say, leaving your wife for a mistress while impeaching someone who got a BJ.
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
11/17/08

@eatsshootsleaves: Such an arsehole. I always seem to get him confused with Milton Friedman, for God knows what reason, but at least Freidman gave the world PAYE! Gingrich is like one of those pimples you get every time you get your period; no matter how often you squeeze it, it always pops up again, toxic as ever.
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Crabby Cakes
11/17/08

@eatsshootsleaves: OH GOD, I forgot that all happened at the same time. how is this man ever marginally relevant anymore?
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
The Guardian says Hillary accepted the SOS job.

[www.guardian.co.uk]
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Penny_Esq
11/17/08

@brendastarlet: How does a British paper break this story?
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

@Penny_Esq: YES WE DID!!!:They're smarter than us. ;(
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: I wondered that, too, but I love the Guardian, so they can have the scoop.
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

@brendastarlet: And that's like a real paper too! Not like that rag the NY Post or anything!
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: I love hearing Guardian people on the BBC World Service at night. It lulls me to sleep with civility.
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Penny_Esq
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: Can't argue with that.

@brendastarlet: I also love the Guardian, I'm glad it's them and not the Telegraph or the Times.
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
Also, see this:

[www.observer.com]

Politico is spreading gossip and if you read the article it's from anonymous sources none of which purport to be from Obama's actual transition team. Our president-elect I'm sure thought about the pros and cons of Hillary in the Cabinet and who her husband is and what he does. Obama is not stupid. Far from it. He's brilliant. Let's not act like he doesn't know what he's doing and like his team isn't on top of everything.

Also, FYI, Bill's foundation is a non-profit that amongst other things promotes micro-financing and massive amounts of money towards fighting AIDS in Africa. How horrid, lurid and shady! Or not.
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Penny
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: I seriously love you. I am no longer afraid to admit this.
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

@Archetype: I love you right back sweets!!

Allen over at politico is known to sometimes spread rumors with no actual facts or sources behind them. Anonymous sources not connected to Obama's transition team do not count as sources. Especially when Obama's team is all about NO drama and they say that the Clintons have been wonderfully professional. So I figure we should squash things that are false before they turn into a raging wildfire of gossip based on no actual facts.
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dancerevolution
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge:

The MSM are so gossipy about the supposed Hillary-Obama feud. I can just see the unwritten stories in their wide eyes: "Obama and Clinton bash heads- (again!) over Pakistan." It's soo UsWeekly.
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@Archetype: if it's true that she's accepted the job, then the onus will be on her to control Bill. Now it really counts -- a misstep by him can get not only her in trouble, but affect our foreign policy. It's one thing to be one of 100 senators or even a presidential candidate and have him say something, but this will have an impact on her ability to lead the department.

I think it's going to be as entertaining as all get out, and I hope I get invited to the DOS Dining Room some evening for a big fancy dinner.
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

@dancerevolution: I know! Shit. And they actually seem to like each other quite a bit now! It seems that after the primaries they really did find a deep respect for each other--as rivals and as fellow Democrats. Every time I saw them together they seemed so genuine with each other no? He was smiling she was happy. I dunno. I think the only ones perpetuating this feud are those in the media that need to sell papers.
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: Yep, the gossipy tone over there turned me off about 2 months ago. Most of the stories are long on hearsay and short on substance.
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

@brendastarlet: I think Bill will do whatever Hillary tells him to. Stick to his charitable foundation.
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: can you imagine the coverage this will get overseas? The Obamas -- and the Clintons? Imagine the state visit when the Obamas go to Paris with the Clintons to see the Sarkozys. Paris Match won't be able to keep issues on the news stand.
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

@ceejeemcbeegee: yeah they're not exactly digging deep or for facts ya know? It annoys me so much because I feel like after being a Hillary partisan forever...and still loving her immensely and now loving Obama just as much and being SO excited by the prospect of both of them and Biden and a Democratic majority...why do they try to ruin it with gossip and false stories??? They seem to like each other just fine...in fact, it seems to me they like each other quite a bit.
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Maritsa
11/17/08

@dancerevolution: American flag pin: WHO WORE IT BETTER?
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Political Party Girl
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: I can't help but wonder if this is a political move -- that Obama offered HRC the position and leaked it because he got such criticism for not really considering her for VP, but he's counting on all of these rumors of Bill's "shady dealings" to force HRC to turn down the position. Then he could come out still smelling like a rose.

Maybe I'm too cynical or I've been in politics too long. (Is 5 years too long?) Lord knows I don't want it to be true, and I want Obama to be a different kind of politician, but I still have this niggling doubt because even a "different" kind of politician is still a politician.
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@Political Party Girl: I think she'd accept. I also think he's a politician -- but a savvy one. Read the David Remnick piece in the New Yorker, if you haven't yet.
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Political Party Girl
11/17/08

@Political Party Girl: That said, I hope she takes the position since Reid will stay Majority Leader and Teddy is (hopefully!) back and taking up the mantle of health care again, and he doesn't particularly want to share the glory. She's too junior to be a committee chair, so I think she should put in a seat-warmer for 4 or 5 years and take the world by storm. Even if Bill had some shady dealings, the Senate does cabinet confirmations, and I'd bet she's got the votes.
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eatsshootsleaves
11/17/08

@Political Party Girl: I would think this, too, except that it doesn't really make sense. First of all, there are no PUMAs to placate anymore, so offering her the position without really being serious about her taking it seems useless -- it creates a bunch of drama and anticipation without any payoff. The result of this is that if he ends up picking Bill Richardson or Richard Holbrooke after this, it's kind of a let down. I have to think that's not what he intends. In fact, I think that the leak came from someone on the Clinton side; if Obama ends up not giving her the position, doesn't that make him look bad?
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STICKSnSCONES
11/17/08

@Political Party Girl: Obama's popularity on the heels of the elction is ridiculously high. Why sully is reputation by inciting drama with a false offer of an important job to a formidable political force like HRC? It's not like he needs the press.

It would be a dumb move to play silly inter-party politics at a time like this. Frankly, he seems smarter than that and genuinely interested in seeing things go smoothly.
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STICKSnSCONES
11/17/08

@SinisterRouge: To borrow from Heavy D: I got nuttin but love for you baby!

And, ditto on everything you just said. Hillary will be an awesome SOS if that's what she wants. And Bill's non-profit can't be too shady- she was aiming to be POTUS. Pretty sure they expected his foundation to pass muster in that vetting process, why would it fail now??? It wouldn't. It won't. Everything is so much finer than some folks would have us believe.
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
11/17/08

@Political Party Girl: You're WAY to cynical. Obama is smart and methodical, but not calculating like that. The Bill's shady dealings thing is pretty much BS. HRC's got the job if she wants it, Bill be damned.
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SinisterRouge
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
Actually, Megan, those "shady dealings" that you're referring to are not even an issue for Obama. They are vetting Bill and HIlls just like they've already been vetted many times before. And as per Obama's team:

People close to the Obama transition say they understand all this -- they understood all this last week --- and that there's been no delaying, there's been no acrimony, and that Clinton and her team have acted professionally and appropriately
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ihateemo
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
If Obama shuts down Guantanamo and does nothing else, I will be a happy camper.

I would be more happy if we kept it open and sent Dick Cheney there though.
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Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith
11/17/08

@ihateemo: Sandra Day O'Connor was a guest lecturer at my university earlier this year, speaking about Guantanamo. It absolutely sickens me that they opened it in the first place, not to mention the flagrant refusal to afford its occupants even the most basic of human and civil rights; most especially the children. It's places like this and Abu Ghraib that really make me cringe for humanity.
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Penny
11/17/08

In reply to Obama Talking, But Still Not Saying Much
I'd go to jail for a year to get close to Obama. My friend touched his arm at recording of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me a few years back.

Anyone watch 60 Minutes last night?
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descent
11/17/08

@Archetype: I found myself getting those strange, hard to define Maddow-like feelings for Michelle. And not just because I wanted to pounce on her and steal her entire outfit.
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@Archetype: I Tivo'd it, but the Tivo shut off before the end (the football game ran long.) So I missed everything after he teased Michelle about asking him if he'd drive the kids to school.
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Crabby Cakes
11/17/08

@Archetype: Mr. Crabby MET Obama when Obama was campaigning in Chicago for the Senate a few years back.

MET HIM.

SHOOK HIS HAND.
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RisaPlata
11/17/08

@Crabby Cakes wants some Dance Biscuits.: Clearly, you must marry him.

But you don't have to tell him that yet if you don't want to.
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@Crabby Cakes wants some Dance Biscuits.: I've stood in front of Casa Obama in Hyde Park. That's pretty good Obama vibe.
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sportz.star
11/17/08

@Archetype: I was lucky enough to have 1.5 years in law school while he was still wandering the halls and to attend the first fundraiser for his senate run. Sat in on his classes. Handshake. Who knew law school could be such a rewarding experience?
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Liz11685
11/17/08

@Archetype: Caught the first half hour, but stopped after that to watch "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" with the boyfriend. Its on the DVR, though so tomorrow we'll finish the last half I suppose.
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@girlz.like.sportz: that's very cool. I'll bet we know some folks in common.
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MissKittyFantastico
11/17/08

@brendastarlet: This conversation makes me throw my Obama trump card, which is the hug I got from FPOTUS Obama on caucus night. I'm fairly convinced that I've mentioned it half a dozen times on this site, yet I never get tired of telling this story. For some reason, I doubt that I ever will.
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brendastarlet is on it
11/17/08

@MissKittyFantastico: you are allowed to tell it as many times as you want!
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