Queen Hillary's Been Bzzzzzy

In last week's Democratic presidential debate, when her opponents questioned Hillary Clinton's record, she used her most-punishing imperial disdain to accuse them of "throwing mud."

Well, she should know.

The Saturday Robert Novak column carried this tidbit, "Agents of Sen. Hillary Clinton are spreading the word in Democratic circles that she has scandalous information about her principal opponent for the party's presidential nomination, Sen. Barack Obama, but has decided not to use it. The nature of the alleged scandal was not disclosed."

Talk about mud-slinging.... from ambush with unidentified sources, even an unidentified "scandal."

Of course, Novak.... who readily lent his column to the GOP outing of CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame whose husband tried to shine light on the Bush administration's murky slog toward the invasion of Iraq.... has shed any pretence of being a journalist, and is willing to be used as a plant, no matter the cost.

So we can dismiss Novak's implied "scandal," but should take seriously the skulduggery coming from the Clinton hive.

In the same underhanded, mud-slinging vein, "Truth Hunter" was push-polled Sunday.

That is the polling technique whereby among the political polling questions being asked are ones designed to throw a negative light on a candidate. In this instance after being asked a lot of leading questions about the adverse impact of trade agreements and corporate favoritism on our economy, there came this ringer, "Did you know that Barack Obama voted for a trade agreement this year...."

I can think of only one campaign that would feel a need to conduct a negative push-poll against Obama.... Queen Hillary and her busy bee operatives.

Well, Queen Hillary, here's the latest buzz. While you may be hurting Obama, you're hurting yourself more. You're reminding us of the eight nation-rending "scandalous" Clinton years, which were followed up by seven more destructive and divisive years presided over by "the ends justify the means" Bush administration.

Really, we've had enough. Enough slick campaigns with an army of handlers, planted questions and dirty tricks. Enough special-interests bought-and-sold, business-as-usual candidates.

In Iowa next January 3, Queen Hillary may feel the caucus-goers' sting.

GOP Splinters

Are the Senate Republicans stalled, their leadership sails slack as they bob about in the legislative doldrums?

So says Robert D. Novak in his "McConnell's Immigration Failure." (WaPo)

While Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-NV) was up to his elbows in dirty deeds, convoluting the rules of procedure and twisting arms trying to pass The Decider's amnesty for illegal aliens bill, Bush's Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell (KY) was not only above the fray.... he ended up voting against it, and "abandoned his post, staying off the floor during final stages of the debate."

As it turns out, the fury of the switchboard-crashing number of calls coming into the Senate, threatening to never again vote for anyone supporting "amnesty," changed the minds of some GOP senators facing reelection, like McConnell.

So it seems McConnell faced the music and voted against the bill.... music conservative columnist Novak sees as a sour note, "It is difficult to exaggerate the pessimism about the immediate political future voiced by Republicans in Congress when not on the record."

Seems like Novak needs to quit talking only to Bushistas, and instead listen to Republican senators like Jim DeMint (SC) who didn't support the legislation and exulted in an email to supporters.... "We did it."

Even Republican former House speaker Newt Gingrich, who may yet throw his hat into the presidential ring, told contributors that the vote was "a soaring victory for the American people" in the defeat of the "Bush-Kennedy-McCain bill."

These are strange times, unexplored waters for many GOP politicians.... the party of political discipline that heeded President Reagan's admonition to speak no ill of another Republican.... an open break with their party leader and president.

It will be interesting to see if GOP supporters of the legislation who didn't change their vote despite the loud and intense pressure of their constituents... Lindsey Graham (SC) who is up for reelection, and presidential candidate John McCain (AZ).... will pay the price in 2008. One can only hope so.

The U.S. voters should find joy, not the reflected dejection of Novak or the gloomy outlook of McConnell who tried to have it both ways by trying to appease Bush while justifying his defection.... "This isn't a day to celebrate.... It wasn't the people's will. And they were heard."

You bet we were heard!

Let freedom ring