By: Ben Smith
February 8, 2007 10:25 AM EST
Hillary Rodham Clinton continued to walk the fine line Wednesday between flexing her political muscle and lowering fundraising expectations for her campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. The New York senator called together the leaders of the biggest fundraising machine in the history of American politics and told them that she aims to raise $15 million in the first three months of 2007 and between $70 million and $75 million for the year.
The dollar figures — $15 million is twice what the top Democrat, John Edwards of North Carolina, raised in the same period four years ago — were widely seen as lowball numbers for a campaign rooted in the national fundraising apparatus Bill Clinton started building decades ago. Some donors let their excitement overwhelm the official modesty.
“She’s going to raise more money than all the other candidates put together,” said John Catsimatidis, a New York supermarket magnate, who said he was speaking of the first six months of this year.
So, I was sitting around relaxing with the Wife last night watching movies with nary a thought of the blogosphere in my head. We’d had a long day of dragging the kids around the park in their sleds (Thank you Mr. Washington and Mr. Lincoln), and we decided to watch one of the movies we’d rented that should have been returned who knows how many days ago, The Science of Sleep. Altogether it was a good movie, but what caught me was a particular phrase, “Goat on a Cliff.â€
The “Goat on a Cliff†refers to a sexual position where one’s partner is half off the bed. Of course, being male and all, my ears perked up at this. But after reading Matt Stoller’s post from yesterday, Stop the Fearmongering, it came to mind that anyone seeking to see a viable Presidential candidate that has political leanings left of center (and just where the fuck is center these days) would find themselves in a similar position after taking into consideration the money Hillary Clinton has raised all ready.
To me it seems the narratives have already been set. The Chimp in Chief will keep our troops over in Iraq for as long he can (which will be until he leaves office). Clinton, being the best politician money can buy, will assume her throne. She’ll bring the troops home, be vilified for doing so, which in turn will unite the Left in her defense. Maybe she’ll launch a little expedition to Darfur à la Yugoslavia. But what about Healthcare/Education/Energy? What do the interests who fund her candidacy have to say about those issues? Regardless, the cycles we’ve seen thusfar will continue as long as there is a nine figure price tag on the Presidency.
Take it away, Mr. Carlin…
Update: Related
17 Comments
Damn. After reading and watching all that, I just moved into the depressed column of the pyramid.
Ya, I’ve been thinking about giving writing a break. Doesn’t do any good to spread the malaise.
Your narrative sounds like an inescapable destiny, having little to do with the choices of the people who are allegedly the “freest” on earth. What is even more disturbing is that it seems true.
You fought for our “freedom,” Fred,(I’m grateful for your dedication to our country). I imagine you must, at times, wake up in the middle of the night and ask yourself, “what freedom?” It is what has driven you to write.
Only a powerful vision that convinces others that there is great value for themselves within that vision – along with a commitment by many to taking action – whatever small part they can commit – will change ever our circumstances.
You have the vision, even if it gets tough to believe in sometimes. I’m hoping that you keep on testifying, my brother.
I’m going to go and rent that movie.
it does seem like we are fucked huh
Damnit Graeme, now your convincing me that I really should take a break for a bit…
Doesn’t do any good to spread the malaise.
Painful truth is a malaise worth spreading. Gotta comprehensively diagnose the problems before prescribing the right cures. Miss any of the disturbing nuances and you’ll be taking penicillin to close a chest wound while wondering why you still feel light-headed.
“It’s called the American Dream ’cause you have to be asleep to believe it.”
“What we have to do is build a large pool of hopeless people.”
Awesome. Funny you should post this; Carlin & Zappa occupy adjoining rooms in my mind.
It all smacks of history repeating.
Nixon ran on a get the troops home platform too.
Much how Hilary is running around saying “if the troops aren’t home by 2009 and by golly if I’m President, I’ll bring them home.”
Yeah, ok that’s over 2 years away. 2009 will come, she might be President and we’ll probably get some bullshit 2 to 4 year “peace with honor” withdrawl.
Nixon became President in 1969. We didn’t leave Vietnam until what, 1975?
It’s all about the bling to these fuckers. On both sides of the aisle, so much money is being made directly and indirectly.
Whether its war profiteers funneling lobbying dollars to Congression relection confers or Senators and Reps goint to their home states and districts that have business operations profiting from occupation of Iraq.
There’s so much money floating around (Ironic, since it’s all borrowed from China) they they are very reluctant to give it up.
We’re back to a war time economy. About the only peace time economy we’ve had was during Bill Clinton’s tenure. Before that was the cold war, Vietnam, Korean War, WW2, WW1 etc.
War Profiteers simply won’t allow a peace time economy.
Ugh. I just can’t vote for Hillary. If she’s the nominee I’m going 3rd party. Now I’m depressed. I need to watch some TV!
Hillary is not a done deal. We on the net have made an impact and will continue to do so. We just have to keep our efforts focused on the candidates that will return the biggest return on our investment. We don’t have to elect Mr. or Mrs. Perfect just Mr. or Mrs. Best. We may not get everything we want but whatever we get will be more than we have now.
There is not much to debate between the top candidates of both parties.
You can’t take a break! Then the rest of us that feel exactly like you feel will be even more depressed and lonely.
What is worse than feeling this way is feeling like you are the only one that feels this way.
No break! Cowboy the fuck up! Bruce Willis said that in a movie…hehe.
I thought Reynolds was a big time liberal elite now getting paid by and writing/posting exclusively for Salon? Why is he still doing the instapundit thing?
Which reminds me I need to update by blogroll
I think your thinking of Glenn Greenwald. Please tell me Glenn Reynolds hasn’t been given such a platform.
Hi Fred, sorry…
Not only did I post my comment on the wrong post but I confused Reynolds with Greenwald. Ouch!
As for the education part of Carlin’s piece, I would say that I would have been happy to have books that weren’t falling apart. However, my US History book was moldy, so maybe it was a bit appropriate.
Polishifter said “It’s all about the bling to these fuckers. On both sides of the aisle, so much money is being made directly and indirectly.”
Now ain’t THAT the crux of the biscuit.
Great, thought-provking post.