Hillary 2012: Remember, you heard it here first

Sort of.

I’m calling it: Hillary 2012

I said several times back in 2012 that the best choice between Obama, Clinton and McCain may well have been Hillary Clinton.  Not because I can support her, or her politics.  But of the three she may have been the most qualified and ~gulp~ the most rational of the choices.

And, I think she’ll be the Democratic nominee in 2012.

Pete DuPont thinks I might be right (or I think Pete DuPont might be right): 

Hillary Clinton for President
The secretary of state could mount a formidable challenge to Obama.
Pete Du Pont in The Wall Street Journal

First, as Peggy Noonan wrote earlier this month, the conclusion one hears from most “normal” American people is that the president “is in over his head, and out of his depth.” Even most progressives agree that “the Obama presidency has been a big disappointment,” according to Eric Alterman of The Nation. That means there’s a big opportunity for Mrs. Clinton.

Read more.

Liberals Say the Darnedest Things

So, while the President and his media bridesmaids are all trying to tell you how hateful, how violent, how racist the Tea Parties are, let’s take a stroll down memory lane with just a few fine examples of how the left likes to raise the level of discourse.

“I need you to go out and talk to your friends and talk to your neighbors. I want you to talk to them whether they are independent or whether they are Republican. Iwant you to argue with them and get in their face”
~ Candidate Barack Obama, September, 2008

“I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you’re not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration.”
~ Senator Hillary Clinton, 2003

“If we were living in another country, what we, all of us together, would go down to Washington and stone Henry Hyde to death, stone him to death, stone him to death! Then we would go to their house and we’d kill the family, kill the children.”
~ Actor Alec Baldwin on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” 1998

“the type of female that does like Rush Limbaugh is the same type of woman that falls in love with prisoners. Eva Braun, Hitler’s girlfriend. That is exactly the type of woman that responds really well to Rush.”
~ Janeane Garofalo , April 2009

“Rush Limbaugh said he hopes this administration fails. You know, so you are saying, I hope America fails. You are like, I don’t care about people losing their homes or jobs or our soldiers in Iraq. He just wants the country to fail. To me, that’s treason. He is not saying anything different than what Osama Bin Laden is saying. Rush Limbaugh! I hope the country fails? I hope his kidneys fail; how about that?
~ Wanda Sykes , May 9, 2009

“Well, I really think that President George Bush shatters the myth of white supremacy once and for all; it shows that, in this great country, anybody can become president.”
~ Charlie Rangel , April 4, 2005

“A spoiled child is telling us our Social Security isn’t safe anymore, so he isgoing to fix it for us. Well, here’s your answer, you ungrateful whelp: [audiosound of 4 gunshots being fired.] Just try it, you little bastard. http://of%20gun%20being%20cocked.”
~ Failed Air America Radio Host Randi Rhodes, April, 2005

Al Gore called Oliver North “the colonel of untruth” and said Mr. North was counting on political contributions from “the extra-chromosome right wing.”
Virginia Senate Campaign, 1994

“If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun,”
Candidate Barack Obama, June 2008

Real Clear Politics: Obama Criticized Clinton For Proposing Health Care Mandate

Don’t take our word for it. See the video at Real Clear Politics: Flashback: Obama Criticized Clinton For Proposing Health Care Mandate

President Obama acknowledges the 70th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Poland…

 
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…by cancelling the missile defense in Eastern Europe.

Danger Room What’s Next in National Security Dear Poland, Happy Soviet Invasion Day. Love, Uncle Sam
Wired
President Barack Obama has made it official: The previous administration’s plans to station missile defense assets in Eastern Europe are going out the window. In a statement issued this morning, the president said that plans to emplace ground-based interceptors in Poland and an X-band radar in the Czech Republic would be dropped in favor of a “phased approach” that will focus on deployment of theater missile defenses.

Remember the Tour de Farce when thousands of screaming Europeans fell at the feet of Barack Obama?  Remember how he was supposed to make the world love us more?

It’s 3:00 a.m. and the White House phone is dialing…

Polish PM wouldn’t take U.S. calls
Politico
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed today that he declined last night to take a call from the U.S. informing him of the decision to scrap planned missile-defense bases in his country…Two U.S.-based sources close to the Polish government said Thursday that Tusk also rejected a call from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton…

Dismay in Europe as Obama ditches missile defence
The London Times
President Obama dismayed America’s allies in Europe and angered his political opponents at home today when he formally ditched plans to set up a missile defence shield in Poland and the Czech Republic.

In a totally “not related” (nudge, nudge, wink, wink) Iran may now have the capability to assemble a nuclear bomb.

AP NewsBreak: Nuke agency says Iran can make bomb
Associated Press via Google
VIENNA — Experts at the world’s top atomic watchdog are in agreement that Tehran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is on the way to developing a missile system able to carry an atomic warhead, according to a secret report seen by The Associated Press.

Feel safer yet?

Governor Clinton?

Doug at Below the Beltway passes on the rumor that The Weekly Standard is apparently passing along.

Hillary Clinton for Governor?

The boss hears from two sources that Hillary Clinton is considering stepping down as Secretary of State this fall in order to run for Governor of New York.

Doug thinks maybe it’s a prelude to another run for the White House.

I’m not so sure. 

Would Hillary challenge Barack Obama in 2012?  Even with his numbers plummeting daily, he’s going to recover somewhat and will likely be the Democratic nominee in 2012.  As an aside, I don’t think it will be an Obama/Biden ticket in 2012.

So that means Hillary’s next shot would be 2016.  She would be 69 years old.

For the most part, Democratic candidates in the last few decades have been young and energetic.  And we know the success the Republicans have had with older white men.

At almost 70, would Hillary be considered too old?

Hillary Gets Snippy About It

So much for “We are the President.”

Sweet Caroline

Kennedy Qualified and Palin Unqualified? That’s Just Plain Snobbery
Mary Grabar, Pajamas Media
But with her [Kathleen Parker] latest column comparing her own criticism of Palin with concerns about Caroline Kennedy’s lack of experience as she vies for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, I have to conclude that Parker just has it in for Palin. Weighing, among other criteria, relative “erudition,” Parker concludes that Kennedy is more qualified to be senator than Palin was to be vice president. What evidence does she present? Read more.

Kennedy won’t disclose details of finances unless she’s chosen
Associated Press via Globe and Mail
By all accounts a very wealthy woman who could be worth as much as $400-million (U.S.), Ms. Kennedy has said she will not release details of her finances unless Democratic Governor David Paterson picks her for the Senate seat that will open up if Ms. Clinton is confirmed as secretary of state. Read more.

Shel Shocker: Beware Caroline, He Warns Gov
New York Post
ALBANY – Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver yesterday strongly suggested that Gov. Paterson reject Caroline Kennedy as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s replacement – because she might be more loyal to Mayor Bloomberg than to the governor. Read more.

Don’t Give Caroline Kennedy a “Bailout”
Matt Towery, TownHall
Let me give you the real lowdown on why the forever super-private Ms. Kennedy suddenly believes this seat should be hers. She thinks it is indirect payback time. Read more.

Princess Caroline Wants to Be Anointed
Charles Krauthammer, TownHall
The problem with Caroline Kennedy’s presumption to Hillary Clinton’s soon-to-be-vacated Senate seat is not lack of qualification or experience. The Senate houses lots of inexperienced rookies — wealthy businessmen, sports stars, even the occasional actor. The problem is Kennedy’s sense of entitlement. Given her rather modest achievements, she is trading entirely on pedigree. Read more.

Lack of donations to city, state Dems may hurt Caroline Kennedy’s bid for Senate
New York Daily News
This decade, other than a $1,000 donation to City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, the Camelot heiress has not financially supported any Democrat seeking city or state office in New York, records reveal. Read more.

Caroline Kennedy: I can see Long Island from my house…

Caroline Kennedy seeks Clinton’s Senate seat
Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of slain President John F. Kennedy, is pursuing the Senate seat of Sen. Hillary Clinton, who has been nominated Secretary of State, civil rights activist Al Sharpton said on Monday. Read more.

And she’s qualified…how exactly?

Résumé Long on Politics, but Short on Public Office
The New York Times
Representative Gary Ackerman, a Queens Democrat, told a radio host on Wednesday that he did not know what Ms. Kennedy’s qualifications were, “except that she has name recognition — but so does J. Lo.” Read more.

Is Caroline Kennedy Ready for the Senate?
Time
Caroline Kennedy once seemed to be just about the only member of the Kennedy clan who was immune to the lure of politics, choosing to make her mark instead by writing and through a number of charitable endeavors. Read more.

Is Caroline Kennedy the right replacement for Hillary Clinton?
NewsDay.com
“She has not made the case that her record matches the other prospects,” said Democratic national committeeman Robert Zimmerman of Great Neck, a top Clinton fundraiser. Read more.

Okay, New York can do whatever they want.  We couldn’t stop ’em from electing Hillary.  And, truth be told, Caroline Kennedy has certainly spent most of her life in the public arena.

But, in my humble opinion, we need to end the political dynasties.

For my money, nobody else with the last name Kennedy, Clinton or Bush should be allowed in public office.  Feel free to add your own names to the list.

The National Security Team: Things you should read

President-Elect Obama announced his National Security Team today.  Here are some reactions:

With Appointments, Obama Moves On From the Campaign
The New York Times
Introducing a national security team anchored by Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state, Mr. Obama said a new strategic agreement with Baghdad put the United States “on a glide path to reduce our forces in Iraq.” But while he reaffirmed his desire to pull out combat brigades within 16 months, Mr. Obama emphasized his willingness to consider options put forth by the military. Read more.

They’re Ba-a-ack:  Obama Hires Hill – and Bill
Kirsten Powers, The New York Post
IN a recent Saturday Night Live skit, a lip-biting Bill Clinton (Darrell Hammond) told the audience, “I’m here to make a very important announcement. After the holiday, Barack Obama will officially appoint me the husband to the secretary of state.” Read more.

Obama admits: I was just a random campaign quote generator
Michelle Malkin
Here’s your quote of the day in case you missed the press conference this morning. Responding to reporter Peter Baker’s question about his mockery of Hillary Clinton’s tea-sipping foreign policy inexperience during the campaign, Barack Obama basically admits that his words were, well, just words. Read more.

An Obama National Security Pick More Important than Hillary
David Corn
All the talk is Hillary, Hillary, Hillary. As President-elect Barack Obama announced his national security team on Monday morning, the headliner was indeed the junior senator from New York State. While this move remains a surprise and perhaps even a gamble–I’ve had my say on this–it could be that the more important pick of the day is retired General James Jones to be Barack Obama’s national security adviser. Read more.

Hillary Clinton’s test at State: How she’ll work with Obama
Susan Page, USAToday
The question for Hillary Rodham Clinton, nominated for secretary of State on Monday by President-elect Barack Obama, is whether she can forge the sort of close relationship with a former rival that is crucial to giving the nation’s top diplomat the credibility to get things done. Read more.

The Obama And Hillary Show: Now Playing Worldwide
Below the Beltway
Put simply, picking Clinton shows Obama’s bigness — that his pledge to bring in the best and brightest regardless of their past political entanglements is more than just lip service. Read more.

The President-elect’s Foreign Policy Team
Hugh Hewitt
Conservatives should acknowledge that this is as strong a team as they have a right to expect having lost the election.  Read more.

I have to agree with Hugh.  Having Barack Obama in the White House and having a Congress controlled by Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi could be a complete national security nightmare.  But I think the President-elect’s selections now tend to indicate otherwise.  Perhaps the pre-election impression of him was at least partially incorrect.  Perhaps, as I suggested to a friend today, after he had his first briefing the President-elect had an “Oh snap!” moment and began to see things differently.

Ideally for conservatives, Democrats wouldn’t be in charge.  But since the Republican party was judged on its own ineptitude over the last 12 years, we have to acknowledged that this is not as bad as it could have been.

As much as I did not want Barack Obama to win the election, I do hope he succeeds, particularly in the area of national security.  There are things more important than partisan differences.