The Field Narrows
At least these two gentlemen got the memo. Senatos Chris Dodd and Joe Biden have called it quits when it comes to presidential politics:
Veteran U.S. Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd dropped out of the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday after placing a distant fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Iowa caucuses.
Biden of Delaware and Dodd of Connecticut offered perhaps the most experience among the Democratic contenders, having each served in Congress for more than a quarter century. Both chaired powerful committees.
But they came up far short in the race for the White House with polls showing Americans demanding change.
"This evening Democrats sent a clear message that this party is united in our belief that our nation needs change to restore our security, our middle class and all that makes this country great," Dodd, 63, told supporters in conceding defeat.
Biden, 65 -- buoyed in recent days by big crowds and an increase in campaign donations -- said earlier he intended to stick in the race at least until the end of the month. But after the Iowa votes were in, he was out.
Let us be candid in our response to this. Neither man had a real shot at the nomination unless they were counting on the big three in front to stumble and fall down a flight of steps. They should have bowed out around the time that Tom Vilsack dropped out. Now both men can return to the Senate, and continue their ineffectual careers there.
Senator Biden is not done with elections yet. He is up for reelection this year for his Senate seat. Chances are his seat will stay safely in Democrat hands. Delaware did go for John Kerry in 2004, and it has not shown any signs of changing over the last two years. So while we bid adieu to these two men, we still have three numbskulls in the lead right now.
The Clinton camp did issue a statement after last night's paltry third place finish:
A Clinton supporter forwards the talking points the campaign dispatched to surrogates around the country, which focus on process — that the race is a "marathon" and that she started behind in Iowa — and include just one line of substance, a clear signal that the card she has left to play is the one she rolled out in recent weeks: security and risk.
"We’re going to continue to make the case that, in these serious times when America faces big challenges, it will take a leader with Hillary’s strength and experience to deliver real change," the talking points say.
She is using what many Democrats claim Republicans use -- the politics of fear. But the difference is that we do not use it constantly, and when we use it it is a reminder of the serious times we live in; a reminder of the war we are in. Senator Clinton cannot take this high ground in the campaign as she already assured voters that troops would come home. That is not meeting challenges. That is simply retreat.
As for her "experience," could someone please forward to us that "thirty-five years of experience" she keeps hyping? We seem to be unable to locate any serious sort of experience she has, unless you count the hairy landing for a USO show. If co, then we see that embellishment is not just for her husband, as others have stepped forward to challenge her on the events of that day.
We only wish that she had received the memo that Senators Biden and Dodd received. It would spare the nation from having to listen to her for the next eleven months.
Marcie
Veteran U.S. Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd dropped out of the race for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday after placing a distant fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Iowa caucuses.
Biden of Delaware and Dodd of Connecticut offered perhaps the most experience among the Democratic contenders, having each served in Congress for more than a quarter century. Both chaired powerful committees.
But they came up far short in the race for the White House with polls showing Americans demanding change.
"This evening Democrats sent a clear message that this party is united in our belief that our nation needs change to restore our security, our middle class and all that makes this country great," Dodd, 63, told supporters in conceding defeat.
Biden, 65 -- buoyed in recent days by big crowds and an increase in campaign donations -- said earlier he intended to stick in the race at least until the end of the month. But after the Iowa votes were in, he was out.
Let us be candid in our response to this. Neither man had a real shot at the nomination unless they were counting on the big three in front to stumble and fall down a flight of steps. They should have bowed out around the time that Tom Vilsack dropped out. Now both men can return to the Senate, and continue their ineffectual careers there.
Senator Biden is not done with elections yet. He is up for reelection this year for his Senate seat. Chances are his seat will stay safely in Democrat hands. Delaware did go for John Kerry in 2004, and it has not shown any signs of changing over the last two years. So while we bid adieu to these two men, we still have three numbskulls in the lead right now.
The Clinton camp did issue a statement after last night's paltry third place finish:
A Clinton supporter forwards the talking points the campaign dispatched to surrogates around the country, which focus on process — that the race is a "marathon" and that she started behind in Iowa — and include just one line of substance, a clear signal that the card she has left to play is the one she rolled out in recent weeks: security and risk.
"We’re going to continue to make the case that, in these serious times when America faces big challenges, it will take a leader with Hillary’s strength and experience to deliver real change," the talking points say.
She is using what many Democrats claim Republicans use -- the politics of fear. But the difference is that we do not use it constantly, and when we use it it is a reminder of the serious times we live in; a reminder of the war we are in. Senator Clinton cannot take this high ground in the campaign as she already assured voters that troops would come home. That is not meeting challenges. That is simply retreat.
As for her "experience," could someone please forward to us that "thirty-five years of experience" she keeps hyping? We seem to be unable to locate any serious sort of experience she has, unless you count the hairy landing for a USO show. If co, then we see that embellishment is not just for her husband, as others have stepped forward to challenge her on the events of that day.
We only wish that she had received the memo that Senators Biden and Dodd received. It would spare the nation from having to listen to her for the next eleven months.
Marcie
posted by Syd And Vaughn | 4:02 PM
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