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I had the pleasure to attend my sister's college graduation today at WVU. The person chosen to speak at her commencement was Bill Clinton. No doubt this was exciting; I had only had one opportunity before this to hear him speak and at that time he was stumping for his wife on the campaign trail.
Normally my diaries will consist of newsworthy subject matter, a lot pertaining to my home state of West Virginia. This time, however, I wanted to focus on something the former president used as the crux of his speech to outgoing class of 2010 graduates.
Bill Clinton is a great humanitarian and I admire him greatly. Something he said during his speech referred to the human genome. How we, as people, were not that much different from one another. Most of the time you hear speakers, or just people in general, emphasizing an individual's differences that make them special and unique. This was different. Clinton accentuated that we, as people, are really not that much different. Initially, I wondered where he was going with this point, but then it clicked for me.
We, as Americans, are very very fortunate and blessed to be living in such a diverse and opportunistic society. The opportunities to receive a higher education are immense and the potential for success in our country is greater than any other in this world.
Clearly, this is not the case in other countries (especially in Africa). As physical human beings, we possess many inherent similarities with those who live in other nations, even the most remote and under-developed ones.
Instead of focusing on the characteristics of us, as Americans, that make us unique Clinton claimed that we are all essentially one. We, as human beings, are inherently similar and thus metaphorically brothers and sisters of one another.
I know this sounds like a strange diary but focus on the message and just think about it. Maybe we aren't that much different from people living in rural Africa, or anyone else in this world. Focus on the similarities between us instead of the differences. We are all brothers and sisters, so wouldn't you help them out if they were in trouble? Progress as people and help one another. We are all equals and all one. If we work together, our society as a whole will progress as well as others. This sounds incredibly cliche but hear me out a bit.
Just some food for thought. I really liked the speech Bill Clinton gave. Although relatively brief (especially for a long-winded Clinton speech) it really struck a chord with me.
Good afternoon, West Virginia Blue readers. This is your afternoon open thread to discuss all things Hill-related. Use this thread to praise or bash Congresscritters, share a juicy tip, ask questions, offer critiques and suggestions, or post manifestos. We'll be here all weekend.
Some of the Hill news that's fit to blog is over the fold...
********
Bill Clinton hospitalized with chest pains.
Clinton, 63, was transported to Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan for a condition related to his heart.
ABC News' chief political correspondent George Stephanopoulos reported that sources said he was taken to the hospital "likely for a stent procedure."
Sources on Capital Hill tell ABC News that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was seen leaving the Oval Office a short time ago and did not seem "too concerned" or "in a rush."
It took about 12 hours for the right to diss Rep. Murtha after his death on twitter so the count down for it to begin against Pres. Clinton is over.
President Bill Clinton to Visit Beckley on Saturday
BECKLEY, WV - The Obama-Biden campaign announced Thursday that President Bill Clinton will visit Beckley, WV on Saturday, November 1st. President Clinton's visit to the Mountain State will focus on Barack Obama's commitment to bring the change West Virginia families need, create jobs, and turn around the economy.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1st
Beckley, WV
CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
Word Memorial Park
corner of Neville Street and Leslie Gates Place (downtown Beckley)
Beckley, WV 25801
Media Pre-set: 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM (Equipment must be dropped at the site by 7:00 AM; media will not have access to their equipment from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM).
Media Access: 9:00 AM
Doors Open: 9:00 AM
Throw: 50 ft
Cable Run: 200 ft
Live truck parking: Word Park parking lot, exact spaces directed on site
Press Entrance: Word Park parking lot, vehicle exit
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP please visit http://wv.barackobama.com/Beck...
Parking is very limited, please carpool if possible. For more information please contact the Beckley West Virgina Obama-Biden HQ at 304-881-6514.
Media Coverage: The event is open to the press. For credentials, please visit www.barackobama.com/mediarsvp.
***For security reasons do not bring bags or umbrellas and please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.***
We've got Big Daddy Byrd and Big Dawg Clinton campaigning for Barack Obama in West Virginia. This is an autumn to remember.
President Bill Clinton to Visit Beckley on Saturday
BECKLEY, WV - The Obama-Biden campaign today released details about President Bill Clinton's visit to Beckley, WV on Saturday, November 1st. President Clinton's visit to the Mountain State will focus on Barack Obama's commitment to bring the change West Virginia families need, create jobs, and turn around the economy.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1st
Beckley, WV
CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
Word Memorial Park
corner of Neville Street and Leslie Gates Place (downtown Beckley)
Beckley, WV 25801
Doors Open: 9:00 AM
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP please visit http://wv.barackobama.com/Beck...
Parking is very limited, please carpool if possible. For more information please contact the Beckley West Virginia Campaign for Change HQ at 304-881-6514.
BECKLEY, WV - The Obama-Biden campaign today announced that President Bill Clinton's visit to Beckley, WV will now occur on Saturday, November 1st. President Clinton's visit to the Mountain State will focus on Barack Obama's commitment to bring the change West Virginia families need, create jobs, and turn around the economy.
I've said the best surrogates for Barack Obama in West Virginia would be Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton. Senator Clinton spoke on Obama's behalf while stumping for Anne Barth in Charleston.
Now we've got the Big Dawg set loose on West Virginia.
From an email:
BECKLEY, WV - The Obama-Biden campaign today announced that President Bill Clinton will visit Beckley, WV, on Thursday, October 30th. President Clinton's visit to the Mountain State will focus on Barack Obama's commitment to bring the change West Virginia families need, create jobs, and turn around the economy.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 30TH
Beckley, WV
CHANGE WE NEED RALLY WITH PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON
Word Memorial Park
corner of Neville Street and First Ave (downtown Beckley)
Beckley, WV 25801
Media Pre-set: 6:00 AM to 8:30 AM (Equipment must be dropped at the site by 8:30 AM; media will not have access to their equipment from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM).
Media Access: 9:30 AM
Doors Open: 10:00 AM
Throw: 60 ft
Cable Run: 200 ft
Live truck parking: Word Park parking lot, exact spaces directed on site
Press Entrance: Word Park parking lot, vehicle exit
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP please visit http://wv.barackobama.com/Beck...
Parking is very limited, please carpool if possible. For more information please contact the Beckley West Virgina Obama-Biden HQ at 304 341 0205
Media Coverage: The event is open to the press. For credentials, please visit www.barackobama.com/mediarsvp.
***For security reasons do not bring bags or umbrellas and please limit personal items. No signs or banners allowed.***
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Obama campaign doesn't need West Virginia's 5 electoral votes. But they WANT them. Who has Joe McCain sent here to stump for him other than his foul-mouthed brother? They were going to send Sarah Palin here - and then immediately changed their minds and blew off the state.
We've had Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and now we're getting Bill Clinton himself in Beckley. This is a campaign that is fighting to win this state and clearly believes they can win it.
Yesterday at a Fayetteville,WV rally for Hillary, Bill Clinton argued Hillary and health care with a voter. From CBS News. HT The Huffington Post. Short ad is shown at the start.
He had a very busy day as was evidenced by the fact that he arrived at Concord University in Athens an hour and a half late. I was not able to attend, but a friend who did thought it was worth the time she waited to see him in person and listen to him speak.
George Bush has been, without question, the most ethically handicapped President in my lifetime, and perhaps ever. From the top to the bottom of his administration, we have witnessed rampant and widespread criminality, cronyism, and incompetence of an unparalleled nature, and again, this has been from the top to the bottom of his administration. George Bush is responsible for the smoldering wreckage that is the current DOJ. George Bush is responsible for the disaster in Iraq. George Bush is responsible for the fact that the federal government has served as an affirmative action program for unqualified hacks from Regents University. George Bush is responsible for illegal surveillance of American citizens. And on and on and on.
On the day that the Yoo memo is finally coming to light, detailing how George Bush's handpicked crew of war criminals orchestrated a regime of torture, and on the day that we learn the Inspector General is investigating whether qualified DOJ lawyers were fired because of their sexual orientation, it is particularly offensive to be told that George Bush, the man responsible for all of this and who knows what else, is a man of higher integrity than Clinton.
While I definitely agree with the premise that Obama will be a better choice than another Clinton administration, with all the luggage they bring, attempting to claim George Bush is a man of personal integrity while Bill Clinton is an ethical piker should be something that offends all conservatives and all Americans. Bill Clinton got a blow-job and lied about it under oath. George Bush, while violating every conservative principle imaginable, also oversaw the brutal rape of this nation's most cherished principles, all while sneering and bullying those who tried to stop him.
No matter how much of a miserable failure George W. Bush is, he'll always have a fan in rightwing Republican Shelley Moore Capito, whose behavior around him is positively sycophantic and embarrassing:
By 3 p.m. Monday, before a security sweep was done and six hours before the State of the Union address was scheduled to begin, all the prized seats - the aisle seats - were taken.
snip
"On the way in, I always like to wish the president luck, or I say, 'Go get 'em,'" Capito said. "On the way out, it's always, 'Great speech.'"
snip
Capito spends the time getting a jump on the week's work, reading legislation and signing paperwork.
If Capito has to walk away, she always leaves the stack of paperwork on her seat, a signal to her colleagues that someone has already reserved that spot - or if she has to go far or use the facilities, she has Ros-Lehtinen hold her place for her.
Capito calls herself "independent." She's walked hand in hand with Bush. Capito came in with Bush and she needs to go when he leaves office too.
Former President Bill Clinton campaigns for his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., in Chesapeake, W.Va. Wednesday, March 26, 2008.(AP Photo/Bob Bird)
Bill Clinton was in West Virginia earlier this week. Here's a quick round-up of press coverage.
With West Virginia among eight remaining primary contests, former President Bill Clinton blasted critics who say his wife should quit the race for party unity.
Clinton told crowds in Parkersburg, Chesapeake and Beckley that complaints about the divisiveness of the Democrats' long-running primary contest are overblown.
"Let's saddle up and have an argument," he told an audience of hundreds in Parkersburg. "What's wrong with that?"
[snip]
Bill Clinton, the last Democrat to win West Virginia's electoral votes in a presidential contest, played on the crowds' blue collar sympathies by calling his wife's critics in the party "glitterati" and "elites."
[snip]
"When Hillary's gaining on him, they say, Oh, let's shut this down, let's not be divided," he said. "Don't you think your vote ought to count as much as the votes of people in Iowa?"
Obama holds a 1,603-to-1,497 lead in overall delegates for the nomination. The race is so close that the party's "superdelegates" -- hundreds of high-ranking Democrats assured a vote at the convention -- could swing the nomination to either candidate.
[snip]
But Clinton told crowds they shouldn't vote for his wife based on his administration, but should take into account her plans for the country.
"It's not just my record, it's Hillary's conviction," he said.
Clinton touted his wife's proposals on the economy, health care, education and the war in Iraq. With coal trucks driving by outside his Chesapeake stop, he made the same pitch for developing clean coal technology that he made in Parkersburg and Beckley.
Saying clean coal technology could be exported to major coal-burning countries like China and India, Clinton insisted he makes the same pitch in non-coal states like California.
"This is a way we can save the planet and bring good jobs back to West Virginia," he told a cheering Beckley audience.
It was standing room only inside the Chesapeake Community Center as hundreds gathered to get up close and personal with a former President.
"Folks I like West Virginia and I'm glad to be back. I want to begin by saying how grateful I am to the people of this state for giving me a chance to serve as President in 1992 and 1996. Thank you for voting for me," said Clinton just after he reached the podium.
[snip]
Most of his message centered on senior citizens - the fastest growing segment of the country's population.
"Hillary will support policies to help more and more of our seniors to live independently including having someone come in and help them a few hours a day," Clinton told the crowd.
[snip]
In a small town like Chesapeake, visits from former Presidents are certainly few and far between and for some, Bill Clinton's stop here created memories that will last a lifetime.
Former President Bill Clinton found a supportive crowd at Chesapeake's senior center on Wednesday, telling a packed house his wife can defeat Republican John McCain and she can change the health-care system.
"She will be the next president of the United States if you nominate her," the former president said during one of his three stops in West Virginia on Wednesday, campaigning for his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in her presidential effort.
[snip]
"This thing is a long way from over," he said.
[snip]
"The political elite have danced on her grave already two or three times," Clinton said to the crowd of about 600 people inside the center.
While there were earlier calls for her to abandon race, the former president said no one should expect that.
"My family's not big on quitting, you probably noticed that," he said.
Clinton also said his wife will take on big drug companies and ensure health care for every person.
"This is the only rich country on the face of the earth that hasn't figured out how to do it," he noted.
Update: In a nearby region of Pa. Bill Clinton had this to say in a visit yesterday:
In a brief speech outside St. Joseph Catholic Church, Clinton told the throngs that his wife supports investments in clean-coal technology in hard-hit coal states like Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia.
Like many towns in the coal region, Girardville, population 1,800, has struggled to recover economically from the demise of widescale anthracite mining.
"If we led the world to the moon, we ought to be able to lead the world to clean coal," Clinton said. "I know a certain candidate who is absolutely committed to that."
I think it's safe to say that Hillary and Obama are going to be competing in Pa. and W.Va. over who is more pro-coal, not who is more firmly grounded in reality.
I apologize for any typos or other errors in advance.
I believe that most people who view Modern America, or know me personally, would assume that I am a supporter of John Edwards. While I admire Senator Edwards, I am a fan of Hillary Clinton. I am confident in the experience that Hillary has, and I firmly believe that Hillary Clinton would surround herself with competent and intelligent appointees if given the opportunity to be president of the United States; given these conditions I'm confident in her leadership. Needless to say, after watching the Iowa caucuses unfold and keeping up with recent polling trends leading into the New Hampshire primary, I have some advice for Senator Clinton.
Given the impossible scenario of Brandon Brewster advising Senator Clinton , he would recommend three tactics to help advance her in the Democratic primary.
One: Barack Obama has did an excellent to near perfect job of getting the mainstream media to adopt his message. David Axelrod, Obama's media consultant, must have assembled one hell of a media spin department, and a quick of study of both Carville and Begala's tactics will tell you that framing the debate is everything. (Change vs. More of the Same?) Obama has successfully framed the debate in such a way that nearly every candidate from Republican to Democrat have adopted the 'change' philosophy in their message. Now, granted Edwards has been preaching the class-warfare, change the corporate greed in Washington theme for quite sometime, he in no way made the practice of using it popular during this campaign, Obama did this when he dramatically increased in the Iowa polls. Huckabee jumped on this 'change' bandwagon early and this led to both Obama and Huckabee gaining an 'originality' boost in support, esp. from those young liberals and hungry-youthful Republicans whom have been burnt by the current Republican establishment. This 'change' tactic forced many caucus goers against these well-financed, entrenched machines that both Romney and Hillary Clinton had. (Conservative Christians played a role in the Romney revolt as well) You won't see this often, but I have to give it to Dick Morris, he called it pretty early: Democrats should not run on static platforms, and they should never run on experience; Democrats and in particular the liberal wing of the party, love CHANGE. Hillary by simply running on experience alienated herself from the liberal wing of the Democrat Party whom traditionally wants to change the status quo, she also failed to calculate the fact that during times of very unpopular wars the independent voters tend to reach out and embrace fringe elements of either political party. What can she do to correct her message mistake and slow Obama down? She needs to be more specific on how her experience has been linked to change in Washington. It's not enough to state that experience is a vehicle for change, she needs to be the candidate that can honestly state a proven record of change, unlike her rival. I would drive it through the heads of voters that change has already occurred during Clinton leadership. So many years of experience is no good unless you can highlight what you've did during that time. Not to take anything away from President Bill Clinton, but I would advise Hillary to reach back to those eight prosperous years and take credit for those positive ( The economy, foreign policy accomplishments, welfare reform, smaller government, the containment of anti-Americanism, etc) things that came out of Washington during that time, and leave the negative (NAFTA, Free Trade with China, Waco, etc.) for Bill to clean up. President Bill Clinton is at a point where Hillary can use his record in both negative and positive ways without affecting public opinion in relation to their feelings toward him; to sum up that point, people have made up their minds about Bill. Hillary needs to merge both experience and change; my message new message for Hillary would be: Proven Experience. Proven Change.
Two: Now that Hillary has as a 'proven record of change ' she needs to attack Obama on his message of hope and change. Obama has consistently said that when he gets to Washington things are going to change for the better, and that his policies will right the wrongs of the Bush administration and correct the problems that had existed even before Mr. Bush came to Washington. This is where Hillary needs to attack; she needs to make pointed attacks in her stump speeches, and direct her communications department to drive through this message " Barack Obama has consistently referred to changing Washington, yet he has failed to provide the public with any comprehensive details of these proposed changes." Regardless of whether or not these details exist, she needs to bait Obama into a discussion of proposed policies, once this has been accomplished she needs to go in for the kill. I believe that Hillary has far superior policy advisors and she has spent more time networking with individuals whom could really pick apart any proposed policy that Obama would provide details on, this would allow for Hillary to run attack ads (Now that we're out of Iowa) on the policies that Obama would propose. This would give her the ability to claim the political high ground; she made no open personal attacks, she did not attack his previous voting record, and she is simply comparing and contrasting opposing policies. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I do not believe Obama nor Hillary have engaged in these types of advertisements at this point, and it would provide an opening for Hillary to seize the 'change' philosophy. Her theme: lack of experience equals inadequate policies.
Three: I certainly believe that there is a media bias at work; I've given credit to Obama's communications team, they're good, but not that good. From mainstream networks to individuals blogs, everyone seems to be on board with the Hillary bashing. The most liberal bloggers of our party seem to regard her as an intolerable evil, comparable to Roger Ailes and Lee 'Darth Vader' Atwater. The mainstream media seem to love the fact that the presumed invincibility of the Clinton machine is now meeting its demise by political new-comers whom have just stepped up to the plate. Whatever the case I've been trying to realistically analyze why these overwhelming and misguided views exist. For example, a common phrase that you might here is that "Hillary Clinton is the establishment candidate." Honestly, that statement isn't entirely true; the Democratic Party is a very diverse party in which many constituents struggle for control, it just so happens that the constituency that Hillary Clinton represents is a minority in the Democratic Party, the corporate Democrats. Bill confounded and headed the organization known as the Democratic Leadership Council (they also drafted the 'Super Tuesday' to balance the liberal sway over the Democratic Presidential primary system during the 80's) which advocated the abandonment of populism, in favor of a more corporate, pro-business philosophy for the Democratic Party. Democrats whom adopt this banner go by the title 'New Democrat' (Governor Manchin is a New Democrat), and they are a minority in our party, don't believe me? The DLC has had a very difficult time winning and recruiting influence within the Democratic Party, for example, the DLC hand picked (with the Clinton machine) Wesley Clark (who I think would be an excellent running mate for Hillary if nominated) as their candidate in 2004 to defeat George W Bush, but there was one problem, he couldn't get through the Democratic primary. By all means Wesley Clark is an appealing Democrat, whom I think could have beaten Bush in 2004 despite what some say. Retired four-star military general, former Nixon Republican (a nice time to deploy "I didn't leave the Republican Party, the Republican Party left me." Could still be used by Senator Webb of Virginia?), proven leadership abilities, a Clinton machine directed by the DLC, and well versed in policy issues by the Progressive Policy Institute (The sister organization to the DLC, founded by Clinton White House staffer John Podesta), yet he could not defeat Senator Kerry. Want another example? Here's one, Harold Ickes (now a political strategist for Hillary's campaign) whom served in the White House as a deputy chief of staff for President Bill Clinton was the DLC's hand picked candidate for the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, however we all know he was defeated by newcomer Howard Dean, of whom was backed by liberal interests within the party who despise the DLC and hate triangulation.
So, is Hillary Clinton the establishment candidate? No. She may have been the mainstream candidate who was predicted to win big in 2008, but clearly she is not the 'Democratic Party's' hand picked candidate. So why is the media, who clearly knows the truth continuing to drive falsehoods? I do not know; perhaps the mainstream media is being sold this anti-Clintonism by liberal bloggers and well financed political action committees whom hate the New Democrats? Is it the underdog effect on a whole new level? (We all know why Fox News has Dick Morris and other pundits attacking Hillary day in and day out) For sometime now Ann Coulter and other Conservative spinsters have stated that the mainstream media has a liberal bias, perhaps this liberal bias that is supposed to inherently exist in the media is turning against Hillary for the injustices that her husband committed while in office?
I do not know, but what I do know is that Hillary needs to go on the offensive. She needs to move massive amounts of political capital through back-channel type connections to drive forward the fact that the media is sheltering Barack Obama. It would be politically unhealthy for her to appear as a victim, she needs to make it appear that the media is clearly neglecting their responsibility to ask the tough questions of Obama, and are deliberately sheltering him from critical points that question the durability of his leadership, and most clearly, his electability during a general election. She could win this fight, but she needs to do it strategically and quickly, behind the scenes and most likely over the internet where she can unleash this spawn without a connection to her campaign. Publicly she can point out that the media, will only begin to ask these much needed questions of electability after the nomination process is over, which is wrong. These questions need to be raised and asked now as a mechanism to determine whom the best candidate is going into the general election to face whomever the Republican nominee is. The only thing left to determine is whether or not there is enough time for implementation? Although the hour is late, I believe that she could implement my three point plan and hope for the best; a loss in both Iowa and New Hampshire is not the end, nor is a loss in South Carolina, but beyond that she needs to draw a very thick line in the sand.
Bill Clinton gave a great speech at the JJ Dinner in Charleston last night. I really wasn't in a position to take notes, but Lawrence Messina with the Associated Press was, and his article on Bill Clinton can be read here.
CHARLESTON — The United States could match the new jobs it added to mobilize for World War II if it takes seriously the threat posed by climate change, former President Bill Clinton told a West Virginia crowd Saturday.
“It has to be at the heart of our economic strategy,” Clinton said. “We could save the planet and revive the economy.”
Developing new energy sources, increasing the efficiency of existing ones and arresting greenhouse emissions could provide the influx of new jobs that the national economy requires every five to eight years, Clinton said.
Lauding former Vice President Al Gore for his recent Nobel Peace Prize win in this area, Clinton also said West Virginia coal could play a part through clean-emission technology.
“This creates jobs for people at every education level, every skill level,” Clinton said. Without such a source of new jobs, Clinton said, “the middle class is going to get the squeeze.”
I'm not so sure about coal playing a part in "clean-emission technology", but he was supporting West Virginia Democrats like his good friend Governor Joe Manchin who is pushing the Coal to Liquid program to the hilt. We all know how Al Gore feels about CTL, and it isn't something he believes in.
President Clinton also had some strong comments on the SCHIP legislation vetoed by pResident Bush....
He singled out their attacks on Graeme Frost, the 12-year-old Baltimore boy who suffered severe brain damage in a car accident three years ago. Frost and his family have become the human face of the vetoed bill to expand the state Children’s Health Insurance Program system.
Clinton defended CHIP, created in 1997 during his administration, and the bill’s push to enlarge its rolls.
“It was set up for people who weren’t poor,” he said, citing the Medicaid program for that segment of the population. “Everybody knows that the health care system doesn’t work for households of modest income.”
Clinton said voters also want to know why the number of uninsured has grown despite the spending of $700 billion a year on health care.
He also very correctly identified the modus operandi of Republicans...
“America turns to us when they need something done,” Clinton said. “When they want someone who will hyperventilate and demonize, we’re just not as good as doing that as Republicans are.”
We had been told earlier that the former President wasn't going to be available for photos and autographs... but he was. It is obvious he felt at home here in West Virginia a state that Governor Joe Manchin in his introductory remarks likened to President Clinton's home state of Arkansas. He seemed to enjoy the crowd every bit as much as they enjoyed him.
More pictures and comments can be seen below the fold.
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