The crowd was ready.
They cheered as she came in.
Rendell spoke, then Ravenstahl, then Onorato introduced her.
Then Hillary -- after she finally got the audience to sit
I didn't see any monsters.
The crowd rose to their feet cheering many times.
Afterwards she posed for pictures.
She signed books and posters.
And even a baseball (?).
No one wanted to leave.
A great time was had by all.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article on the rally can be found here.
You can watch uncut KDKA video of the rally here.
.
Glad you had a good time. Those are nice pictures. Has your opinion of the Mayor changed?
ReplyDeleteObama's still the better candidate. The good news: Bush wasn't filling up Soldiers and Sailors until October of 2000. Hopefully these people stick with the party if (when) Obama wins the nomination.
My opinion of the mayor hasn't changed at all.
ReplyDeleteDid she explain why she took credit for SCHIPS, even though the facts tell otherwise.
ReplyDeleteHow bout all of her claims to foreign relations experience, which have been shown to be laughably inflated? Ireland? Kosovo?
Where did this leave her with her "readiness from day one" claim?
Did she open herself to questions about the 3 AM ad--you know, about its fear-mongering and race-baiting?
The horrid tone and mismanagement of her campaign?
The tax returns and presidential library tapes? Their relation to last-minute pardons?
And, in the light of all of the above, what was the excuse for her continued candidacy?
Read what wikipedia has to say about S-CHIP here.
ReplyDeleteAnd
Associated Press:
"The children's health program wouldn't be in existence today if we didn't have Hillary pushing for it from the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue," Kennedy told The Associated Press.
President Clinton signed the bill in August 1997.
While Kennedy is widely viewed as the driving force behind the program, by all accounts the former first lady's pressure was crucial.
"She wasn't a legislator, she didn't write the law, and she wasn't the president, so she didn't make the decisions," says Nick Littlefield, then a senior health adviser to Kennedy. "But we relied on her, worked with her and she was pivotal in encouraging the White House to do it."
___
Associated Press Writer Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Ark., contributed to this report.
© 2007 Associated Press.
__________________________
Glad to know that you watched Tweety tonight so you could only now know to think that only now that the 3 AM ad was "race-baiting."
The fact that Tweety thought it was about some black guy doing a home invasion says more about Tweety than it says about the ad.
It was not Tweety that I watched, Maria.
ReplyDeleteYou cannot deflect legit. charges by pinning them on talking heads you do not like.
This is a tactic of conservatives with the NYT.
You know what's funny about that 3 AM ad? It uses stock footage from a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteThe little girl? She's like 18 now and a BIG Obama supporter.
Questions raised about that ad did not start with "Tweety." But I think if the Clinton camp is going to argue that every image of a couple looking over bills in an ad is "Harry & Louise" redux, then it's probably fair to consider whether or not this ad is racebaiting or a "dog whistle."
What lends credence to that is that there has now been a consistent "dog whistle" campaign by the Clinton camp going back to before Iowa. Such disgusting tactics usually come by way of surrogates, which is the easiest way to trace this thing back.
There was that degenerate Bill Shaheen in NH who suggested that Obama might have been a drug dealer. I don't think he would have made that statement if Obama was white.
Bob Kerrey conveniently made references to his middle name and made sure to drop the word "madrassa." Though it was veiled with pleasantless, the purpose was the same as Rendell's off-hand remarks - you get the topic out there.
And, of course, Geraldine Ferraro. What a moron. How Clinton supporters can fail to see how offensive it is to reduce Barack Obama's candidacy to a simple infatuation with the black guy is ridiculous. To hear a Democrat suggest that Obama is somehow the "affirmative action" candidate is appalling.
It's almost as appalling as Hillary stating that McCain was more qualified to be President than Obama. Does Hillary want a Democrat in the White House?
During her speech, she talked about student loan debt and referred to our own fresh-faced mayor. If I remember correctly (I was an undergrad at the time) (and correct me if I'm wrong), it was Bill Clinton who revamped student aid programs making it easier for students to get loans and more difficult of students to get actual aid in the form of Pell grants. He presented all of this as a reform that would make it easier for more people to go to college. What he didn't mention was the massive amount of individual debt that it would create, debt that many are still dealing with today. It may be wrong to lump her in with her husband, but is it really any great surprise how warmly she has been embraced by the PA Democratic party machinery? Like Rendell, Onorato, and Ravenstahl, she's just one of the good ol' boys. Luke proved that you can be young and be a good ol' boy; she proves that you can be a woman and be one.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought the mayor was going to wait and see both candidates?
ReplyDeleteYou would think his P.R. department would at least urge him to declare his suport on a day other the Uncle Dan's?
I know,it does not matter. Quite the opposite, in fact. PGH loves to live vicariously through its young nephew Luke...
Talk about a diverse crowd - that looks like a gathering of Republicans. Maria - are you proud to be supporting the candidate who's appeal is limited to the same demographic that thinks Luke Ravenstahl is a great mayor?
ReplyDeleteLooks like Fitz managed to get all his daughters in pics with Hillary. My guess is that he's no longer playing it neutral. Dan said I'm for Hillary, Rich said me, too.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what people think of her campaign trying to steal Senator Obama's delegates in Iowa -- although they deny it. Senator Clinton's campaign says that they called delegates this week to "identify" them as to who they supported. The Iowa Democratic party said that the list (they gave to both candidates) already did that identification.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/03/14/the-battle-for-iowa-continues.aspx
Personally, I don't like this kind of politics, whether it is practiced by a man or a woman. I have longed for a day when dignity and civility could once again be part of our public discourse. Senator Clinton, unfortunately for me since I'd love to see a woman President, just doesn't do this. Senator Obama does.
I don't know if some people think this is just fine, but then why do we bother to vote at all? Why not just let the party big-wigs preselect a candidate?
Kim
From that same article:
ReplyDeleteUPDATE, 7:12 p.m.: Here's a more detailed description of the call from another Obama delegate:
"This is the Hillary Clinton campaign. We are calling you because you are a delegate or an alternate to the county convention." (Some 30-45 seconds of talking points). "If you are supporting Hillary Clinton at the county convention, press 1." I listened to the last question and did not press 1. The same question was repeated two more times. At no time was there an option to press for any other candidate.
According to someone who would know, the Clinton campaign had concerns about the accuracy of the delegates that were identified, so they robocalled all the listed delegates to ensure that everyone knew about the convention.
That explanation is totally reasonable, especially in light of the "press 1" option. But from the description of the call--especially the 30-45 seconds of talking points, which have nothing to do with ID'ing supporters--it seems like the whole thing could work another way, too. Keep track of how many delegates you have and, by getting your message out, maybe pick up a few. If this is "delegate poaching"--which, I remind you, is totally legit--it's the mildest, most passive form imaginable. Stay tuned to see if these "identification with benefits" robocalls reappear in the run-up to the convention.
Maria,
ReplyDeleteYou are going to be left in the end telling us how the destruction of the Democratic party was a principled necessity, as the country has to understand that you don't f**k with Hillary Clinton.
And the 4 years with McCain (if he does not militarily obliterate the world entire)will be our learning lesson.
You are scaring me lately.
You must have looked at the pictures too quick. There was a monster, she was signing a baseball.
ReplyDelete"To All The Stupid People" eight great years with Bill, we need eight great years with Hill, stupid people who don't read vote for Obama cause the package is pretty, well wait till the get there hands on him, he is being investigated as we speak, an as the man who claims so much about the war he supported LiebermanObama rallies state Democrats, throws support behind Lieberman Associated Press U.S. Sen. Barack Obama rallied Connecticut Democrats at their annual dinner Thursday night, throwing his support behind mentor and Senate colleague Joe Lieberman. Stephanie Reitz March 31, 2006
ReplyDeleteThe Associated Press
Obama rallies state Democrats, throws support behind Lieberman
By Stephanie Reitz, Associated Press Writer | March 31, 2006
HARTFORD, Conn. --U.S. Sen. Barack Obama rallied Connecticut Democrats at their annual dinner Thursday night, throwing his support behind mentor and Senate colleague Joe Lieberman.
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Obama, an Illinois Democrat who is considered a rising star in the party, was the keynote speaker at the annual Jefferson Jackson Bailey Dinner.
Lieberman, Connecticut's junior senator, is under fire from some liberal Democrats for his support of the Iraq War. He was key in booking Obama, who routinely receives more than 200 speaking invitations each week.
Some at Thursday's dinner said that while they were pleased with Lieberman's success in bringing Obama to Connecticut, they still consider Lieberman uncomfortably tolerant of the Bush administration.
Obama wasted little time getting to that point, calling it the "elephant in the room" but praising Lieberman's intellect, character and qualifications.
"The fact of the matter is, I know some in the party have differences with Joe. I'm going to go ahead and say it," Obama told the 1,700-plus party members who gathered in a ballroom at the Connecticut Convention Center for the $175-per-head fundraiser.
"I am absolutely certain Connecticut is going to have the good sense to send Joe Lieberman back to the U.S. Senate so he can continue to serve on our behalf," he said.
Obama received widespread attention for his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, delivered while he was still a state senator.
Lieberman became Obama's mentor when Obama was sworn into the Senate in 2005. They stayed close at Thursday night's event, too, entering the room together and working the crowd in tandem.
Despite the camaraderie between the two, the crowd was clearly more receptive to Obama's remarks than Lieberman's speech about party unity and the potential for Democratic victories at the ballot box this fall.
In fact, scattered boos greeted Lieberman when he took the podium, and he had to stop three times during his remarks to shush the crowd so he could deliver key points.
Ned Lamont, a Democratic activist and anti-war candidate from Greenwich, is challenging Lieberman for the party's nomination this year. Legions of supporters of Lieberman and Lamont both attended the dinner.
Lieberman, who is seeking a fourth term, also faces an Election Day challenge from Paul Streitz of Darien, who is trying to win the Republican nomination.
Some Democrats at Thursday's event said Lieberman's support of the Iraq War is still a sore point with them. In fact, the Democratic town committees in Windsor and Manchester both recently passed resolutions condemning Lieberman's stance.
"Those of us who've been on the shooting end of the war gallery aren't happy at all about what's going on," said Warren Packer, a Manchester Democratic Town Committee member and military veteran. "I think he's done some good things for the state, but he has to answer for the war."
But that view was not shared throughout the ballroom.
Former Connecticut Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Maloney, who voted against the launch of the war while he served in the House, said he thinks Lieberman's other accomplishments will overshadow the concerns about his stance on the Iraq War.
"I'm still confident my position was correct, but I just as strongly believe that Sen. Lieberman voted his conscience," Maloney said. "Even those of us who don't agree with him on that one issue have to credit him for doing what he thinks is the right thing."
© Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
"GO HILLARY GO"