This piece does not seem to have any purpose.
457
This, after Ms. Dowd gave a forum to Don the Con's "thunderbolts" yesterday. Florence Reese need not ask of Ms. Dowd "which side are you on?" It's more than obvious.
229
There's something annoying to the point of being offensive about this column. I think it's Ms. Dowd's rhetorical strategy of citing language used in the midst of political campaigns, and then striking a pose of being offended when, lo and behold, years later things seem to have changed...and, more generally, by her puritanical distaste of politics. Oh, horrors, politics involves compromise! Allying yourself with people you don't like or don't agree wth! Figuring out how to backtrack on campaign language from 8 years ago! I'm a lefty, idealistic, Sanders had great appeal for me and I'm sorry he's out, yes, Clinton and Obama are all ensnared in the same web of American politics and influence and money and instant media overload, circa 2016. But Dowd comes off as an offended innocent (I don't buy it for a second) and falsely puritanical. Please don't insult our intelligence!
437
After reading Maureen's considerations and comment today, I suspect she is going to abstain.
40
Thank you for your cynicism Maureen. After all. it's just a game of thrones'
74
Gee, Maureen, after reading your column one would think that President Obama cavalierly abandoned his deeply intelligent optimism and endorsed Hillary Clinton out of calculated, cold-hearted expediency, with little thought for principle. But that's your story, isn't it?
This man was treated like no other President in our history. The GOP tossed aside all decency because he had the audacity to be black while President. That he is where he is after the 8 years he served is hardly surprising, given what he had to deal with. Still reminding us of our better angels, but understanding what we need now.
I find it amusing when the pundits make the observation that 60% of the American people are unhappy with the direction of the country, they seem to draw a line to the apparent success of Trump. Have they forgotten how deeply, deeply unpopular Congress is? With approval ratings in the teens (and I might add, with Obama's in the 50's) that 60% includes a lot of people who are thoroughly disgusted with the pouting, well-paid, insured and pensioned GOP members of Congress, who have blithely ignored the clear mandate we gave Obama in 2, count 'em, 2 national elections. Trump supporters aren't the only ones who are fighting mad, and we definitely don't see him as the savior he thinks we have been waiting for.
So go ahead. Use your cynical talent to continue to skewer Obama and Clinton. Those of us who want to stay on their side of history are going to do what we have to do.
This man was treated like no other President in our history. The GOP tossed aside all decency because he had the audacity to be black while President. That he is where he is after the 8 years he served is hardly surprising, given what he had to deal with. Still reminding us of our better angels, but understanding what we need now.
I find it amusing when the pundits make the observation that 60% of the American people are unhappy with the direction of the country, they seem to draw a line to the apparent success of Trump. Have they forgotten how deeply, deeply unpopular Congress is? With approval ratings in the teens (and I might add, with Obama's in the 50's) that 60% includes a lot of people who are thoroughly disgusted with the pouting, well-paid, insured and pensioned GOP members of Congress, who have blithely ignored the clear mandate we gave Obama in 2, count 'em, 2 national elections. Trump supporters aren't the only ones who are fighting mad, and we definitely don't see him as the savior he thinks we have been waiting for.
So go ahead. Use your cynical talent to continue to skewer Obama and Clinton. Those of us who want to stay on their side of history are going to do what we have to do.
566
What's most unfortunate about Clinton Inc.'s chokehold on the Democratic Party apparatus is that a younger generation of women has been intimidated from reaching for the top rung -- and denied the financial resources -- until one last boomer fulfills her lifelong obsession.
If there ever is such a thing as a post-Clinton era (Who knows? She may get the Twenty-second Amendment repealed), the party needs to nurture a range of candidates, stop stifling meaningful competition and get out of the business of anointing. Why, for instance, should there be only one woman running at a time?
If there ever is such a thing as a post-Clinton era (Who knows? She may get the Twenty-second Amendment repealed), the party needs to nurture a range of candidates, stop stifling meaningful competition and get out of the business of anointing. Why, for instance, should there be only one woman running at a time?
57
Maureen, actually, he just got to know her. Started when they were debating each other, he got some respect for her niceness than, whatever others heard, he actually listened. It was pretty clear for a long time that they like each other and that Michelle likes Hillary, those two are rather similar, squares, moms, people who believe in public service and working hard, fair minded liberals. The fact that Obama's fbi director tried to portray Hillary as reckless using his own opinion before asking State if what he thought something meant really meant that was true, FBI completes with state, so that ended with no evidence that favored the opinions he offered. But he didn't say untruthful, that's you saying that.
And she wasn't untruthful, at least according to the facts.
Bring out Beau's death bed smear again, why don't you? And how would Beau know, from the newspapers? Have a little respect for Biden, his son Beau did fight in the war, hasn't Biden suffered enough from the column you wrote about it?
Really Maureen, think?
And she wasn't untruthful, at least according to the facts.
Bring out Beau's death bed smear again, why don't you? And how would Beau know, from the newspapers? Have a little respect for Biden, his son Beau did fight in the war, hasn't Biden suffered enough from the column you wrote about it?
Really Maureen, think?
270
In recent years I didn't think I would be saying this, but Maureen, this is a really good column.
It is a very clear-eyed view of how it came to be that Hillary was shoved down our throats. I just wonder how early on the NYT, except for you, was given the marching orders. Must of been from the get go, because no news or opinion writer ever really acknowledged there were any other Democratic candidates, and then when they had to, it was with disparagement.
Democracy? Not a whiff of it.
It is a very clear-eyed view of how it came to be that Hillary was shoved down our throats. I just wonder how early on the NYT, except for you, was given the marching orders. Must of been from the get go, because no news or opinion writer ever really acknowledged there were any other Democratic candidates, and then when they had to, it was with disparagement.
Democracy? Not a whiff of it.
87
It always amazes me to read the comments trashing Dowd. I guess liberal readers of the NY Times would rather be flattered and soothed than hear what Ms. Dowd has been saying for years -- that Obama, and now Clinton, are tepid centrists at best.
Trump, however -- that vulgar orange fraud -- is infinitely worse than any tepid centrist.
So I will be voting for Clinton. But the most I expect from her is the appointment of pretty good federal judges. And maybe there'll be a bit of arm-waving about gun control. For the next four years I will be reading Ms. Dowd with gratitude for her clear thinking and clear writing. And if she offends Clinton patsies, so much the worse for them. Thank you, Maureen!
Trump, however -- that vulgar orange fraud -- is infinitely worse than any tepid centrist.
So I will be voting for Clinton. But the most I expect from her is the appointment of pretty good federal judges. And maybe there'll be a bit of arm-waving about gun control. For the next four years I will be reading Ms. Dowd with gratitude for her clear thinking and clear writing. And if she offends Clinton patsies, so much the worse for them. Thank you, Maureen!
76
Obama may not have "overthrown" the Clinton Machine. But the important question is to what degree did he (and Bernie Sanders) change its course. What are the qualitative differences in its platform-- 2008 vs 2016? It certainly has moved more to the left of center and it shouldn't be difficult to compare Hillary Clinton's 2008 agenda with what she proposes for 2016. Political pundits have predicted that once nominated, Trump would shift towards the middle. That hasn't happened yet. If anything, Trump has remained mired in the far right wing of his party. That, among other things, may prove to be the Democrats' saving grace. We can only hope!
44
In a White House that survived Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, selling weapons to Iran, George H.W. Bush, who spearheaded NAFTA, gave us Gov. Jeb, who signed the Florida gun laws written by the NRA and Pres. W. who was drunk until he was 40 couldn't hold a job until Poppy pulled every string he had to make him Gov. of Texas until Jeb helped him and Cheney steal the 2000 election. We all know where that got us...9/11, 3000 dead, Bin Laden family protected, Hurricane Katrina, 1600 dead; lied us into Iraq, thousands of American soldiers dead, hundreds of thousands Iraqi civilians dead and displaced. Blackwater and Halliburton got rich in the process. The Middle East devastated with ISIS to show for it. Sold out America in any way they could think of and then crashed the economy devastating the lives of millions of people here and around the world. And you, Maureen Dowd, have the gall to question Pres. Obama and the Clintons? Lets see what Trump does with the security briefings he will be given being that he and Paul Manifort seem to have such a friendly relationship with Putin. Lets see if Donald Trump turns out to be the Trojan horse. Ms. Dowd, you have some nerve.
276
As overdue as we are for a woman as president, there's initial regret -- probably to be followed by buyer's remorse -- that what appears to be the first one couldn't reflect high character, core principle and the ability to lift or our collective spirit. Next thing you know, the American eagle will be replaced by a chameleon or a pander bear. "What do I stand for? Anything that'll get your vote."
59
Incredible that this article doesn't mention that Obama learned, in the face of 8 years of implacable opposition, that what is needed to make progress these days is a tough-minded pragmatist who can speak to the other side and look for gains where they can be made. That's Hillary Clinton to a T.
252
It surprises me that someone as savvy as Dowd could purport to find this about-face in any way remarkable. This is, after all, politics. But thanks for noticing, hey, we did too, and if we want more on this, there's always Google. It's fair to point all this out, and we've become very familiar with how you feel about the Clintons. But I think this rapier wit would serve readers better if it were focused on Trump.
96
Maureen Dowd is by far and away the best writer among Times columnists, with an impressive economy of style, and she provides a very needed counterpoint to the Clinton adulation that prevails elsewhere in its pages. My anticipation is that Hillary will trounce Trump (apart from the scenario of an October release of Clinton server emails by Russia via Wikileaks) and then we will see troubling developments over time as the Clintons bring back the wash of money and calculation to the White House. We will need Dowd's acidity then more than ever.
57
Having been a subscriber to the Times since the mid eighties, I have read Dowd's columns for many years and have come to conclude that her worldview includes the following: 1) Grudges shall remain permanent; 2) opponents can never really reconcile nor people have personal transformations; 3) external statements by public figures always mask some insidious hidden motives.
This latest cynical column completely contradicts the very positive and inspiring vision of American and our future presented at the Democratic convention, in particular by President Obama and, yes, Hillary--in sharp contrast to the doomsday narrative and stereotyping that dominated the Republican convention.
I'm sure Dowd would find people like me to be naively hopeful and positive, but that's a much more positive way to navigate the world than her incessant cynicism and negativity (except, ironically, when she's talking about Trump--go figure).
This latest cynical column completely contradicts the very positive and inspiring vision of American and our future presented at the Democratic convention, in particular by President Obama and, yes, Hillary--in sharp contrast to the doomsday narrative and stereotyping that dominated the Republican convention.
I'm sure Dowd would find people like me to be naively hopeful and positive, but that's a much more positive way to navigate the world than her incessant cynicism and negativity (except, ironically, when she's talking about Trump--go figure).
207
Gosh, Maureen, Lyndon Johnson, who is credited with saving the Civil Rights Act before signing it into law, was a conniving, lying, insecure, power-hungry, megalomaniacal racist -- and an unfaithful husband and lousy father to boot -- who also escalated the Vietnam war.
I just don't get why Obama has earned a level of venom and character assassination more suited to an LBJ.
I just don't get why Obama has earned a level of venom and character assassination more suited to an LBJ.
156
To my mind Maureen Dowd is the best writer in the NY Times today. The superior NYT journalist, but one who almost uniquely exhibits no sense of I told you so like P.Krugman et al.
36
So what's your point, Maureen? Voting for Trump?
148
Maureen Dowd doesn't make the case that Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden would have been viable alternatives to Hillary Clinton.
Both gentlemen have competed against Mrs. Clinton in past primaries and lost. So, maybe it wasn't only President Obama who had misgivings about their ability to defeat the Republican nominee.
Both gentlemen have competed against Mrs. Clinton in past primaries and lost. So, maybe it wasn't only President Obama who had misgivings about their ability to defeat the Republican nominee.
61
Boy, Ms Dowd really does not like the Clintons and apparently anyone who says anything nice about them.
150
Ms. Dowd: Are you that comfortable with the concept of a Trump presidency? If so, why don't you explain exactly why you wish to see Donald Trump in the White House?
Your affection for Donald is such a non-sequitur given your over-arching themes. Where does this come from?
Hillary may become the first woman president of this country; Donald Trump presents the very real possibility that he could be the last president of this country.
Don't worry, though--it's just politics.
Your affection for Donald is such a non-sequitur given your over-arching themes. Where does this come from?
Hillary may become the first woman president of this country; Donald Trump presents the very real possibility that he could be the last president of this country.
Don't worry, though--it's just politics.
175
The best part of Ms. Dowd's columns is reading the comments about Clinton lovers who despise Ms. Dowd for showing them that the emperor has no clothes. Of course, I'm certain that these are the same people who loved Ms. Dowd when she was upbraiding W. every Sunday.
Sometimes you just can't win for losing...
Sometimes you just can't win for losing...
55
Wow! Ms. Dowd continues to astonish and puzzle us with her bitter and unceasing contempt for a President who has done a very decent job under extraordinarily difficult circumstances. It certainly contrasts with the worshipful, unquestioning support she gave President Bush post-9/11.
227
Obama has been many things when convenient for many different people, ranging from "apes" to "trailblazer". Regardless of loadenness or racism in these titles, the president has always had to be a billboard for, to, and of something! But I guess these things he had to be.
And now the label of "fairy tail"? Do we really wish to belittle our president as such?
Howsoever, he has achieved much against the odds, so I simply call him the first black president of (all) the United States of America. Don't us let all those grey hairs he's acquired go in vain.
For this reason, I disagree with the present argument, that "the Audacity of Hope has downshifted to the Banality of Practicality." At least to myself, though I imagine to many others as well, Obama is neither embodiment of a needed "fairy tail " nor a "self-declared saviour."
He was and is a real life hero for many, up against much opposition for politics of government, character, history and sovereignty alike.
And now the label of "fairy tail"? Do we really wish to belittle our president as such?
Howsoever, he has achieved much against the odds, so I simply call him the first black president of (all) the United States of America. Don't us let all those grey hairs he's acquired go in vain.
For this reason, I disagree with the present argument, that "the Audacity of Hope has downshifted to the Banality of Practicality." At least to myself, though I imagine to many others as well, Obama is neither embodiment of a needed "fairy tail " nor a "self-declared saviour."
He was and is a real life hero for many, up against much opposition for politics of government, character, history and sovereignty alike.
55
O, come on. You make politics sound like an old Dashiell Hammett novel, and the big political characters like carton villains and heroes. Sure, there is much dealing and wheeling in politics, but your own cynicism too much reflects the words you write. Obama as a savior was in many parts created by the media - and some of his followers - the man himself got more and more cautious about over promising on the campaign trail in 2008. Maybe Obama just thinks Clinton is the best suited candidate? And that Sanders really wasn't up to the job, but had some good ideas? Nobody doubts Hillary Clintons competence, and president Obama has seen her in action.
73
Perhaps Obama gave Hillary the chance to mature....if she had won in 2008, she would probably have rushed headlong into Syria (as she advocated for Libya), and plunged us deeper into the Mideast miasma. With the hard lesson she learned in Libya, perhaps now she will be more cautious. Also, Bernie Sanders' message perhaps will influence her more than one might think. Notwithstanding all this theorizing, it's important at ALL costs to prevent Trump from ascending to power. Everything else is mental floss.
51
I read literally everything; I am a danger to my own rest, the amount I read (on blogs, on major news outlets like NYT and WaPo, on facebook for goodness sake). But I read this by Maureen Dowd and I literally and sincerely have no idea where the vitriol is coming from. Do us a favor, Maureen. Learn how to send personal letters or us SMS. You are exhausting.
118
"Yes we can -- incrementally!"
There is nothing wrong with slow change. In fact, I think it's more healthy. What's the converse? Yes we can -- drastically and suddenly! Obama has led us well. Patient, plodding, relentless, determined, thank goodness for his incremental change. Not much you can do when given a Great Recession to play with, right? You want yes we can rapid-fire change after being dealt an illegal war in the Middle East? You ask for big change when the G.O.P. is threatening to shutdown the government every chance it gets? No, of course not, Obama led very well, despite all the haters gonna hate hate hate.
And Hillary will do the same -- change incrementally. It's a good thing. She will wait out the cry baby Republicans. Like Obama, she will find a way to navigate. If anything, Dowd should be aiming her vitriol at McConnell and Ryan and all those good ole boys... sending seditious letters to Iran, shaking their heads at the Cuba deal, putting our economy at risk by threatening to shut down the government, heckling Obama during a formal speech, wasting tax dollars and time staging Hillary witch hunts. Let's attack the real dysfunction in government. It has not been Obama and Clinton.
There is nothing wrong with slow change. In fact, I think it's more healthy. What's the converse? Yes we can -- drastically and suddenly! Obama has led us well. Patient, plodding, relentless, determined, thank goodness for his incremental change. Not much you can do when given a Great Recession to play with, right? You want yes we can rapid-fire change after being dealt an illegal war in the Middle East? You ask for big change when the G.O.P. is threatening to shutdown the government every chance it gets? No, of course not, Obama led very well, despite all the haters gonna hate hate hate.
And Hillary will do the same -- change incrementally. It's a good thing. She will wait out the cry baby Republicans. Like Obama, she will find a way to navigate. If anything, Dowd should be aiming her vitriol at McConnell and Ryan and all those good ole boys... sending seditious letters to Iran, shaking their heads at the Cuba deal, putting our economy at risk by threatening to shut down the government, heckling Obama during a formal speech, wasting tax dollars and time staging Hillary witch hunts. Let's attack the real dysfunction in government. It has not been Obama and Clinton.
614
Obama has been many things when convenient for many different people, ranging from "apes" to "trailblazer". Regardless of leadenness or racism in these titles, the president has always had to be a billboard for, to, and of something!
However he has achieved much against the odds, so I simply call him the first black president of (all) the United States of America.
For this reason, I disagree with the present argument, that "the Audacity of Hope has downshifted to the Banality of Practicality." At least to myself, though I imagine to many others as well, Obama is neither embodiment of a needed "fairy tail " nor a "self-declared saviour."
He was and is a real life hero for many, up against much opposition for politics of government, character, history and sovereignty alike.
However he has achieved much against the odds, so I simply call him the first black president of (all) the United States of America.
For this reason, I disagree with the present argument, that "the Audacity of Hope has downshifted to the Banality of Practicality." At least to myself, though I imagine to many others as well, Obama is neither embodiment of a needed "fairy tail " nor a "self-declared saviour."
He was and is a real life hero for many, up against much opposition for politics of government, character, history and sovereignty alike.
29
Obama let everyone down but his donors. Yes, he played the part well, but only the 1% reaped any of the Change. The rest of the nation got the Hope and lots of 'failed attempts'.
Why people can't support Hillary is she is even less believable than O. She is even more untrustworthy and beholden to donors and corporates. If she cast out the moneylenders and relied on public donations - then she would reap our trust.
Why people can't support Hillary is she is even less believable than O. She is even more untrustworthy and beholden to donors and corporates. If she cast out the moneylenders and relied on public donations - then she would reap our trust.
34
Maureen, while you indulge in your fantasy of some alternate universe in which Hillary is not the nominee, or maybe Biden is the nominee, or that Obama endorsed some other nominee, let me say this to you s-l-o-w-l-y:
B-e-r-n-i-e L-O-S-T. He lost on every front: the popular vote, the number of states, the delegate vote.
Which means, a progressive candidate with a Soul (as you put it) DID exist, he was called Sanders, but a clear majority of Democrats preferred the "soulless" Hillary to him.
So, what exactly are you saying? Black voters, particularly Black women voters have no Soul? College educated voters have no Soul? Moderate Democrats have no Soul? Obama has no Soul because he had the audacity to endorse the candidate his party actually voted for?
B-e-r-n-i-e L-O-S-T. He lost on every front: the popular vote, the number of states, the delegate vote.
Which means, a progressive candidate with a Soul (as you put it) DID exist, he was called Sanders, but a clear majority of Democrats preferred the "soulless" Hillary to him.
So, what exactly are you saying? Black voters, particularly Black women voters have no Soul? College educated voters have no Soul? Moderate Democrats have no Soul? Obama has no Soul because he had the audacity to endorse the candidate his party actually voted for?
115
Yup, the Clintons are messy.
Are they messier than Donald Trump?
Are they as messy as George W Bush and 4,000 dead Americans?
It is especially comforting that W did not wear that absurd, ridicule-inducing clothing that sunk Al Gore.
Are they messier than Donald Trump?
Are they as messy as George W Bush and 4,000 dead Americans?
It is especially comforting that W did not wear that absurd, ridicule-inducing clothing that sunk Al Gore.
34
Ms Dowd,
That is a pretty obvious conclusion you have reached there. It makes me wonder why you spend so much time intensifying all the apparent contradictions candidates and politicians make. I suppose the people deserve to know, so you get kudos for your "public service." But I imagine most of your Times readers get it already, which makes me think you might want to spend less time pretending you are breaking scandal after scandal, and more time taking on fundementally important issues that can't be categorized simply as politics. If you care so much, go after campaign finance reform, for example.
That is a pretty obvious conclusion you have reached there. It makes me wonder why you spend so much time intensifying all the apparent contradictions candidates and politicians make. I suppose the people deserve to know, so you get kudos for your "public service." But I imagine most of your Times readers get it already, which makes me think you might want to spend less time pretending you are breaking scandal after scandal, and more time taking on fundementally important issues that can't be categorized simply as politics. If you care so much, go after campaign finance reform, for example.
45
Once again, the comments surpass the worth of reading a Dowd op-ed.
108
Yeah, I'm sick of Hillary, too. I may even vote for her. Maybe triangulation is the new democracy. Find the current gestalt. The current sentiment.
So, HRC voted for the Iraq war. The Senator from New York voted for payback. I demonstrated against that war. At least before the invasion. But, not after. A gallop poll showed that 3 out of 4 americans were fine with it. She was with us. Even though we were wrong.
I am not afraid of Hillary. I am afraid of us. Of our oblivious anger. Of how that anger feeds the King of Trolls.
So, HRC voted for the Iraq war. The Senator from New York voted for payback. I demonstrated against that war. At least before the invasion. But, not after. A gallop poll showed that 3 out of 4 americans were fine with it. She was with us. Even though we were wrong.
I am not afraid of Hillary. I am afraid of us. Of our oblivious anger. Of how that anger feeds the King of Trolls.
68
Thanks Maureen for having the courage to continue to tell the truth about Hillary Clinton and about Obama. Obama was a huge disappointment - not just because he let down all the progressives who supported him, but because he has foisted Hillary Clinton on us just to protect his own legacy. We are presented with yet another "lesser of two evils" election. We are not allowed to say "none of the above." Like taking an infuriating multiple choice test where none of the answers are correct. We are told by the media and Clinton supporters that we just have to vote for Clinton because Trump is so bad. But Clinton is also so bad. Cornel West recently said what if the choice were between Donald Trump or David Duke? So for all you Hillary supporters, suppose Clinton didn't win the nomination and our choices were between David Duke and Donald Trump. Would you insist we all have to choose one or the other? Which one would you choose then?
39
If Trump wins the election, we can be certain that an impenetrable wall will be built to prevent illegal immigration -- by Canada.
45
Dear Maureen,
This article is one of your finest.
After the surreal and slick Democratic info-mercial that was the prelude to Hil-liar-y Clinton's long awaited coronation, I'm utterly depressed by the stupidity of a vast majority of the electorate.
As unfortunate a choice as Donald Trump is on the right, sending the Clintons back to the White House would be a far worse choice.
Obama sold us all out...the hypocrisy is breathtaking.
At least Bill Clinton uttered one truth (who knew?) when he said Obama's inspirational message of hope and change was 'the biggest fairy tale I ever heard'.
Obama is a slicker politician than even Slick Willy himself.
This article is one of your finest.
After the surreal and slick Democratic info-mercial that was the prelude to Hil-liar-y Clinton's long awaited coronation, I'm utterly depressed by the stupidity of a vast majority of the electorate.
As unfortunate a choice as Donald Trump is on the right, sending the Clintons back to the White House would be a far worse choice.
Obama sold us all out...the hypocrisy is breathtaking.
At least Bill Clinton uttered one truth (who knew?) when he said Obama's inspirational message of hope and change was 'the biggest fairy tale I ever heard'.
Obama is a slicker politician than even Slick Willy himself.
35
The idea of supporting a particular candidate over another, as I see it, is not to look endlessly for perfection. Three hundred million of us have three hundred million ideas of what that looks like.
38
A man who has spent the last eight years as President holds different ideas now about what is required to hold the office, and who among his inner circle he trusts the most, than he did before he became President. Shocking.
69
So, if I'm parsing this correctly, Dowd is saying we shouldn't vote for Hillary in 2016, because Obama had some criticisms of her in 2008, and people voted for him and against her then, but then he didn't fulfill all those promises. Or something like that.
70
Instead of trashing Clinton and Obama, how about making the case for Trump? He's the only remaining option. Softball interview columns don't count.
35
This column as so good it made me consider subscribing to the Times. But no, the reporters are so biased in favor of Clinton that I will never subscribe again.
31
Maureen,
The only thing missing from your columns is a picture of you standing behind Trump...like Chris Christie.
Sincerely,
The only thing missing from your columns is a picture of you standing behind Trump...like Chris Christie.
Sincerely,
105
I skip reading her columns any more and just read the comments. Much more edifying.
114
I'm sorry but this column is just ridiculous. We're staring at Trump, a man who doesn't have a clue about how many articles there are in the constitution, and yet Ms. Dowd gives him a pass in her columns. In the meanwhile she saves her sharp tongue trained on President Obama, by far the best president in my lifetime. It's disappointing to say the least but consistent with her hate for anything Clinton or Obama.
120
"Yes we can -- incrementally!"
It doesn't make a great slogan but it does throw flames on everything: "lock her up" "built the wall," "investigate all the Muslims."
I would rather have "Yes we can" especially if it is thoughtful like the leadership of the President Obama.
The only question that I have is who are you going to vote for? Trump is an acquaintance or a friend but you know that he is not fully sane.
It doesn't make a great slogan but it does throw flames on everything: "lock her up" "built the wall," "investigate all the Muslims."
I would rather have "Yes we can" especially if it is thoughtful like the leadership of the President Obama.
The only question that I have is who are you going to vote for? Trump is an acquaintance or a friend but you know that he is not fully sane.
46
Occasionally, one gets the impression that the personal image Maureen Dowd entertains of the Clintons is not entirely positive.
Give Hillary this, though:
Whereas Bill has always been the folksy speech-maker, able to lull even the most determined to resist him into confidence, and probably remains the ever snappy press-conference answering machine (watching him on his feet under a hail of questions is like watching an old-time buck dancer)
Whereas he does have discipline and attention-span problems, not to mention difficulty in mastering his drives, often at critical moments...
Yet, since they moved in together at Yale (1970!), it has likewise always been obvious that the big political locomotive in the couple is Hillary. Uncomfortable on stage, no great orator, forced tone and smile, hates press coferences, forgets that appointed and elected public servants MUST show their hand. But she is the driving force.
However, enough about that. Here's what stood out most saliently from the general warp and weft of this column, for me:
"...in this election, Bernie Sanders’s idealistic young people were cast as unrealistic dreamers who wanted free stuff or, according to Gloria Steinem, dates."
I have appreciated Gloria's contributions to the Women's movement since the 1970's. But she does seem to have had a lifelong struggle wtih (what often seems to be her lack of) a good sense of humour.
She said this? It makes me smile. At least she tried!
Give Hillary this, though:
Whereas Bill has always been the folksy speech-maker, able to lull even the most determined to resist him into confidence, and probably remains the ever snappy press-conference answering machine (watching him on his feet under a hail of questions is like watching an old-time buck dancer)
Whereas he does have discipline and attention-span problems, not to mention difficulty in mastering his drives, often at critical moments...
Yet, since they moved in together at Yale (1970!), it has likewise always been obvious that the big political locomotive in the couple is Hillary. Uncomfortable on stage, no great orator, forced tone and smile, hates press coferences, forgets that appointed and elected public servants MUST show their hand. But she is the driving force.
However, enough about that. Here's what stood out most saliently from the general warp and weft of this column, for me:
"...in this election, Bernie Sanders’s idealistic young people were cast as unrealistic dreamers who wanted free stuff or, according to Gloria Steinem, dates."
I have appreciated Gloria's contributions to the Women's movement since the 1970's. But she does seem to have had a lifelong struggle wtih (what often seems to be her lack of) a good sense of humour.
She said this? It makes me smile. At least she tried!
11
It is appalling that a guy with O's talent and intelligence, whether you voted for him or not, would,subject us to a reprise,of the absolutely vicious Clinton machine. BTW, I think Bill is like the Captain in F Troop. Old TV show. Just sorta riding his horse backward. It's all rear view mirror.
22
Obama legacy HOPE GONE NO CHANGE poor poor obama another sellout.Please bernie do not sellout do to Hillary what she did to you sabotage sabotage her run.You are a brooklyn boy payback payback Do not give that woman another chance to start another needless war and get more american boys and now girls killed
23
Fascism is knocking at our door Ms. Dowd via Trump and you still can't help yourself with your silly and banal comments about President Obama, let alone our only chance to stop fascism, Secretary Clinton.
70
I feel like I just read something the high school bully wrote.
96
I believe that Trump represents an important and authentic part of American people. It can be called as a tribal, national, or weaker people's egoism. But nonetheless it'a an authentic part of America, against which many people in the third world have been angry. It has always been an essential part of America. To many people, America has been a bully in a way. Ask about it to American indians who lived long ago...
Of course, all nations have this egoism and cruelty. But the sin is in the power.
America has been reluctant to introduce his lesser and troublesome son to other people. Look around in a clean food market such as Whole Food. There is no fish head or no chicken head. People don't want to see those. People don't want to show those.
These troublesome sons of America want to be heard and shown through Trump. I think it's important and healthy for their opinions and feelings to be heard.
Of course, all nations have this egoism and cruelty. But the sin is in the power.
America has been reluctant to introduce his lesser and troublesome son to other people. Look around in a clean food market such as Whole Food. There is no fish head or no chicken head. People don't want to see those. People don't want to show those.
These troublesome sons of America want to be heard and shown through Trump. I think it's important and healthy for their opinions and feelings to be heard.
9
What is it that you want , Maureen?
Are you trying to dissuade people from voting because no flawless choice exists. Are you so bogged down with your list of criticisms & past grievances that you're willing to sacrifice the forest for the trees.
Do you propose Trump is less dangerous when he allows you to interview & soft-sell answers to your questions?
If it's all just politics with history repeating itself, whose side are you on?
Are you trying to dissuade people from voting because no flawless choice exists. Are you so bogged down with your list of criticisms & past grievances that you're willing to sacrifice the forest for the trees.
Do you propose Trump is less dangerous when he allows you to interview & soft-sell answers to your questions?
If it's all just politics with history repeating itself, whose side are you on?
67
One of the social circles in which I move was filled, in 2008, with McCain supporters because they could not fathom that someone named Barack Hussein Obama was not a Muslim. I was, back then, confident that after 8 years, they would change their minds, but they did not, and now that circle is filled with Trump supporters. Back then, I shared all Ms. Dowd's thoughts about the Clintons and was happy that she would not be the Democratic nominee. I still share Ms. Dowd's doubts about the Clintons, but now I find myself reluctantly supporting her against the Republican nominee, who is surely the worst Republican candidate for president ever, and that includes the disgraceful and shameless Richard Nixon,
I have long felt that Hillary Clinton has a lot in common with Richard Nixon, including a willingness to do whatever it takes to win an election, whether it is shifting political positions, or much worse. Like Hillary, Nixon had to wait 8 years after his first defeat for the presidency, but his persistence put him in the White House and got him re-elected. His hunger for the presidency, and his paranoia, put him out of the White House short of 8 years. Hillary learned from her time as a junior lawyer in the Watergate prosecution that if you deny, deny, deny, and don't have the tapes to disprove your denials, you can get away with anything. She had her own e-mail server to be sure she could keep the "21st century tapes" out of hostile hands.
But now I must vote for her.
I have long felt that Hillary Clinton has a lot in common with Richard Nixon, including a willingness to do whatever it takes to win an election, whether it is shifting political positions, or much worse. Like Hillary, Nixon had to wait 8 years after his first defeat for the presidency, but his persistence put him in the White House and got him re-elected. His hunger for the presidency, and his paranoia, put him out of the White House short of 8 years. Hillary learned from her time as a junior lawyer in the Watergate prosecution that if you deny, deny, deny, and don't have the tapes to disprove your denials, you can get away with anything. She had her own e-mail server to be sure she could keep the "21st century tapes" out of hostile hands.
But now I must vote for her.
17
Another special moment to mock the president and, without missing a beat, sling a little more mud at Hillary. I have little doubt that Donald Trump is your personal 'fantasy football', Ms. Dowd. Grab another lunch together next campaign stop--clearly you can see into his soul...something most of us have missed in the tweet of the night.
64
The Obama-Clinton alliance/friendship is politically pragmatic and thereby quite genuine. What's so hard to believe about that?
Obama paid off the Clinton Campaign's debt in 2008; Hillary was invited to serve as Obama's secretary of state; Bill gave the greatest speech of his life at the 2012 DNC, which basically ensured Obama's second term; and Obama is working to get Hillary elected. If they didn't genuinely like each other, they wouldn't be as effective and formidable as the team they are.
But even if the reverse is true, what's the point of Ms. Dowd's cynicism here? Don't vote for Hillary, and therby help the alternative emerge triumphant? That Obama is insincere and deceptive because he wants Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump, to succeed him? That Presidents Carter and Ford weren't good friends, either?
Give us a break, Maureen. You will never be in a position to fully understand or appreciate that Presidents and former Presidents are an exclusive members-only club. Just accept that, and get back to objective analysis of the issues.
Obama paid off the Clinton Campaign's debt in 2008; Hillary was invited to serve as Obama's secretary of state; Bill gave the greatest speech of his life at the 2012 DNC, which basically ensured Obama's second term; and Obama is working to get Hillary elected. If they didn't genuinely like each other, they wouldn't be as effective and formidable as the team they are.
But even if the reverse is true, what's the point of Ms. Dowd's cynicism here? Don't vote for Hillary, and therby help the alternative emerge triumphant? That Obama is insincere and deceptive because he wants Hillary Clinton, not Donald Trump, to succeed him? That Presidents Carter and Ford weren't good friends, either?
Give us a break, Maureen. You will never be in a position to fully understand or appreciate that Presidents and former Presidents are an exclusive members-only club. Just accept that, and get back to objective analysis of the issues.
49
This is a confused and confusing column. The one idea that comes through is that Dowd hates Hillary Clinton. So what else is new?
78
Once again, Ms. Dowd proves her overly refined role of poison pen writer no matter what Barrack or Hillary do. Perhaps if she focused her dull rapier on a target more worthy of her abilities (#Baby Donald), she might regain some respect and sharpen her sword.
59
The fact that Mrs. Clinton alienated so many young idealists -- the long-term future of our country -- in 2008 as well as 2016, against both a young opponent and an old one, speaks more than anything else to the underlying cynicism of her permanent campaign and the relentless Clinton Inc. machine that powers it. Gender politics aside, if there's one thing that cynicism isn't, it's inspiring.
75
I'm a little surprised that the president would trust Hillary Clinton with his legacy. According to the pollsters, HRC is not considered very trustworthy and, considering the political scores that the Clintons inevitably settle when able, what she actually does may be a lot different than what she says now.
17
I see Ms. Dowd is back in form. Her points might be easier to embrace if they weren't sprinkled with snark and innuendo. No wonder she seems to tolerate Trump so well. How did I miss the news that Beau Biden was thinking about the Clintons on his deathbed until now?
As for the Obama's abandonment of his hope and change and doing a 180 on incrementalism, is it possible that after 8 years dealing eith intransigent GOP, he has legitimately changed his mind?
Who wrote the title for this column which suuckered me in? I thought it might be a column saying thank you for a scandal - free White House. Thank you for making the decision to kill OBL. Thank you for your service. Nope.
As for the Obama's abandonment of his hope and change and doing a 180 on incrementalism, is it possible that after 8 years dealing eith intransigent GOP, he has legitimately changed his mind?
Who wrote the title for this column which suuckered me in? I thought it might be a column saying thank you for a scandal - free White House. Thank you for making the decision to kill OBL. Thank you for your service. Nope.
71
All of this inside-the-beltway baloney about Obama being such a powerful kingmaker that he could force Biden from running and help Hillary defeat Bernie, etc... is a bit too much to bear, Maureen. It sounds as insane as the Fox News narrative of Obama being supremely incompetent and out of his depth when it comes to governing, but being a brilliantly successful man when it comes to doing horrible things to the Republicans, the Constitution and the American public. Enough with the nonsense, please.
Obama is supporting Hillary because she won the primaries with large majorities which helped her put Bernie away. If other candidates of some stature had run. If the party donors had had the integrity to fund their campaigns, Hillary would have been tested a lot more and would probably have crashed and burned under scrutiny of the private server and classified emails and the insecure Blackberry devices she had used. But Bernie was the only one who showed any spine or integrity and the media was lockstep with the Clinton machine and belittled Bernie's ideas and sincerity. Surprise, surprise, the party platform is mostly Bernie's ideas and promises, being offered instead to provide Mrs. Clinton a progressive patina.
Obama is doing what he has to do. If the population at large is too chicken for real change, what is the point in his suggesting otherwise. He has kept his promises, like no other president in recent times. He need not care what you idle gossip mongers and agents say.
Obama is supporting Hillary because she won the primaries with large majorities which helped her put Bernie away. If other candidates of some stature had run. If the party donors had had the integrity to fund their campaigns, Hillary would have been tested a lot more and would probably have crashed and burned under scrutiny of the private server and classified emails and the insecure Blackberry devices she had used. But Bernie was the only one who showed any spine or integrity and the media was lockstep with the Clinton machine and belittled Bernie's ideas and sincerity. Surprise, surprise, the party platform is mostly Bernie's ideas and promises, being offered instead to provide Mrs. Clinton a progressive patina.
Obama is doing what he has to do. If the population at large is too chicken for real change, what is the point in his suggesting otherwise. He has kept his promises, like no other president in recent times. He need not care what you idle gossip mongers and agents say.
37
"It's just politics, man" ??? What are you saying here?
I greatly admire what Mr. Obama has done for this country, and in this case, he is doing what he can to make sure Mr. Trump does NOT get into the White House and undoing the last 8 years and worse; and that obviously means endorsing Hillary as the best bet. What's so cynical about that? You, as the cynic, are implying he should be true to his ideals, and endorse Mr. Sanders?? Then we get Mr. Trump. Period. Ms. Dowd, you've lost me on this one...
I greatly admire what Mr. Obama has done for this country, and in this case, he is doing what he can to make sure Mr. Trump does NOT get into the White House and undoing the last 8 years and worse; and that obviously means endorsing Hillary as the best bet. What's so cynical about that? You, as the cynic, are implying he should be true to his ideals, and endorse Mr. Sanders?? Then we get Mr. Trump. Period. Ms. Dowd, you've lost me on this one...
56
Thank you, Maureen. You are a breath of fresh air at a news paper that has been nothing but a machine to promote Clinton at any cost.
27
Hear, hear! Maureen Dowd, supporter of Donald Trump. Your support for Donald Trump makes your criticism of Obama (and Hillary) vacuous. Obama's dignity makes Donald Trump look like a mad man. If you are going to criticize, you need to be standing on a better place. Your most recent piece simply quoted Trump's ugly sentiments, without any comment, so that the Donald may not think that you treat him badly. Why should you treat the Donald badly when you have Obama and Hillary? Strange.
44
You seem to be stuck in a 2008 time warp, Maureen. You seem to take little account of what has transpired during President Obama's tenure, the evolution of the Democratic Party as a result, and the resolution of the Democrats' debate during their remarkable primary campaign and convention. President Obama, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are very much on the same page now because they share the same humanistic values, have worked out a platform that embodies them, and express an empathy for the American people that may well inspire voters to support their goals. This campaign is not only about the soul of America, but also the basic intelligence.
545
No you are completely wrong about this one:
'The same Obama who sparked a revolution has now NOT made it his mission to preserve the establishment for Hillary.'
He HAS to make sure that NO INSANE RACIST BIRTHER becomes the American President.
That is the absolut priority which even a (female) 'BernieBro' like me HAS to accept.
And with your type of silly diversion you are no help.
NO help at all!
'The same Obama who sparked a revolution has now NOT made it his mission to preserve the establishment for Hillary.'
He HAS to make sure that NO INSANE RACIST BIRTHER becomes the American President.
That is the absolut priority which even a (female) 'BernieBro' like me HAS to accept.
And with your type of silly diversion you are no help.
NO help at all!
80
The Time magazine article last week should give all of us pause. "Hillary Clinton is becoming increasingly paranoid and Nixon like". Is this really the legacy President Obama wants to leave the nation and his party? Trump is clearly an unacceptable alternative but the Johnson Weld libertarian candidates may be a viable option---two former moderate bipartisan governors might be worth a look.
11
Maureen Dowd nails it again: "Maybe Obama felt he owed Hillary..." And so it does appear, first making her Secretary of State, then enabling her rise (after him) to the Presidency. She couldn't have done it without him. I can already hear the HIllary supporters, complaining about Maureen Dowd...Now why is it Maureen, you can't just go with the flow??? PLEASE continue "not going with the flow"!
19
The folks who know Barack Obama best warned us about his true nature.
"He is a politician" Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. on then candidate Senator Obama.
During the Vietnam War era Reverend Wright volunteered to serve three 2 year terms as USMC/USN medical corpsman. Reverend Wright pastored the first and largest black church in what was and still is a predominantly white faith the United Church of Christ. Barack and Michelle Obama were once members of the Afrocentric black elite congregation known as Trinity United Church of Christ on the far South Side of Chicago. "The Audacity of Hope" was the name of a Wright sermon that inspired Obama to write a book.
"He talks down to black people. I am going to cut his "testicles" off." Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. on candidate Senator Obama.
In order to win the White House, Bill Clinton imitated and absorbed Reaganism. An echo rather than a third way or an alternative. Bill and Barry are well to the political right of FDR and LBJ as expected but Ike and Nixon as well. Clinton was not the first black President. Hillary will not be the second. Barack was the first half-white President by biologal nature with an all white cultural nurture. And thus there are normally more blacks in prison, on welfare and unemployed than ever before.
See Michelle Alexander, Eddie Glaude, Jr. and Ta-Nehisi Coates on the cynical hypocritical socioeconomic political fraud of Bill and Barry and Hillary.
"He is a politician" Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. on then candidate Senator Obama.
During the Vietnam War era Reverend Wright volunteered to serve three 2 year terms as USMC/USN medical corpsman. Reverend Wright pastored the first and largest black church in what was and still is a predominantly white faith the United Church of Christ. Barack and Michelle Obama were once members of the Afrocentric black elite congregation known as Trinity United Church of Christ on the far South Side of Chicago. "The Audacity of Hope" was the name of a Wright sermon that inspired Obama to write a book.
"He talks down to black people. I am going to cut his "testicles" off." Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. on candidate Senator Obama.
In order to win the White House, Bill Clinton imitated and absorbed Reaganism. An echo rather than a third way or an alternative. Bill and Barry are well to the political right of FDR and LBJ as expected but Ike and Nixon as well. Clinton was not the first black President. Hillary will not be the second. Barack was the first half-white President by biologal nature with an all white cultural nurture. And thus there are normally more blacks in prison, on welfare and unemployed than ever before.
See Michelle Alexander, Eddie Glaude, Jr. and Ta-Nehisi Coates on the cynical hypocritical socioeconomic political fraud of Bill and Barry and Hillary.
13
Well, Maureen has summarized a few of the arguments Trump could use against Hillary. Maybe Maureen could balance her cynicism with a few of Hillary's good points brought out during the Convention? Then she might say that Hillary probably will make a few wrong calls, but she'll make more than just a few good ones too.
Given his history of double dealing, grasp of complexity, name calling, misperceptions, and Twitter one-line solutions, Trump will make good calls mainly by accident, not because of thought or empathy.
Given his history of double dealing, grasp of complexity, name calling, misperceptions, and Twitter one-line solutions, Trump will make good calls mainly by accident, not because of thought or empathy.
21
Enough with bashing Ms. Dowd.
She writes what she feels, and the mighty NY Time s pays her to do so.
The progressives will never vote for anyone not tagged a donkey.
The Clintons have run the course. Enough with this so called dynasty.
Can we do no better than elect two leaders named Bush and two
named Clinton, all within 28 years?
Hillary is a failed candidate.
She was nothing to write home about as a senator, and quite simply,
a lousy secretary of state.
Bernie had it right when he said that she is not qualified to be president.
Her shortcoming and mistakes are too many to count.
And she will say what ever it will take to get elected.
Eight years in the white house as a first lady is enough.
And eight years in the white house for Mr. Bill is enough as well.
Unless America has lost its mind all together, sending the Clintons
to double the eight years is insane.
It should have been Bernie. Yes indeed.
She writes what she feels, and the mighty NY Time s pays her to do so.
The progressives will never vote for anyone not tagged a donkey.
The Clintons have run the course. Enough with this so called dynasty.
Can we do no better than elect two leaders named Bush and two
named Clinton, all within 28 years?
Hillary is a failed candidate.
She was nothing to write home about as a senator, and quite simply,
a lousy secretary of state.
Bernie had it right when he said that she is not qualified to be president.
Her shortcoming and mistakes are too many to count.
And she will say what ever it will take to get elected.
Eight years in the white house as a first lady is enough.
And eight years in the white house for Mr. Bill is enough as well.
Unless America has lost its mind all together, sending the Clintons
to double the eight years is insane.
It should have been Bernie. Yes indeed.
17
Wow, who knew that Maureen Dowd would rise from the swamp and seem fresh again? I guess it makes sense. As we slide toward banana republic (with nukes) status, we are trapped in nostalgia, including for cynical op-ed columnists.
Would that qualify as a back-handed compliment? Nice hit, Maureen. I never would've guessed.
Would that qualify as a back-handed compliment? Nice hit, Maureen. I never would've guessed.
10
The choice in this Presidential election, like it or not, is a choice between Hillary and Donald. Period.
Think about this:
1968 Nixon or Humphrey
1984 Mondale or Reagan
2000 Bush or Gore
2016 Clinton or Trump
We can focus on the irritations of each candidate. We can go in that direction as a country.
I prefer to think what our country would look like if the above elections had different victors that those who ultimately won.
This election in terms of importance is greater than any before. It really is. I just wish we had a higher standard of political discourse and columnists like Mary McGrory and David Broder to cover this terrible nightmare of an election.
The art of politics is compromise. My wish is for the media to remind the masses what courageous public service can accomplish when we focus on strengthening our country at home and around the world.
Let's report the seriousness of this election and terrible future that a Trump Presidency will do to our position around the globe and at home.
This is really important. Let's raise the bar and enlighten the masses what the country can do when we work together with dedicated life long public servants improving the lives of their fellow countrymen.
Mr. Trump, you are an embarrassment to your party and our country.
Think about this:
1968 Nixon or Humphrey
1984 Mondale or Reagan
2000 Bush or Gore
2016 Clinton or Trump
We can focus on the irritations of each candidate. We can go in that direction as a country.
I prefer to think what our country would look like if the above elections had different victors that those who ultimately won.
This election in terms of importance is greater than any before. It really is. I just wish we had a higher standard of political discourse and columnists like Mary McGrory and David Broder to cover this terrible nightmare of an election.
The art of politics is compromise. My wish is for the media to remind the masses what courageous public service can accomplish when we focus on strengthening our country at home and around the world.
Let's report the seriousness of this election and terrible future that a Trump Presidency will do to our position around the globe and at home.
This is really important. Let's raise the bar and enlighten the masses what the country can do when we work together with dedicated life long public servants improving the lives of their fellow countrymen.
Mr. Trump, you are an embarrassment to your party and our country.
52
Isn't it possible that Obama's initial impression of Hillary, given that he did not personally know her, was formed largely by the extremely negative press she has received for years, and that after working closely with her for a number of years through national crises he has genuinely revised his initial opinion? Intelligent, open-minded people do that, and it's not just politics.
61
Nice piece Ms. Dowd, but you paint the President a bit unfairly by claiming his motivations are driven by personality.
Hillary has shifted to the left and is a noticeably different candidate than she was in 2008--thanks to a changing Democratic electorate, which the Sanders campaign helped crystallize.
Obama had to support her as she had the most votes.
I think it is much simpler than you make it out to be.
Hillary has shifted to the left and is a noticeably different candidate than she was in 2008--thanks to a changing Democratic electorate, which the Sanders campaign helped crystallize.
Obama had to support her as she had the most votes.
I think it is much simpler than you make it out to be.
28
Words are plentiful in speeches but the truth is about facts. Twice as many people on welfare food stamps ,twice the numbers unemployed each sector growing incrementally. Violent crime is up 500 percent right in the inner city with no abatement or cure. Now Ms . Clinton has to match these numbers and play golf more than 200 times per year and take several hundred million dollar vacations while matching one of the greatest failures in the history of this nation.
13
It’s just Maureen, man. Another attack on Clinton.
75
Waiting for one Dowd article that moves the country forward, rather than empowering forces that would move it tragically backwards.
Maybe next week? Or, not.
Maybe next week? Or, not.
69
Congratulations to the president for his enthusiastic support of Hillary's candidacy. She has the experience, knowledge, and leadership qualities to be an outstanding president. Her misdeeds in the distant past are either GOP fabrications or relatively inconsequential. In contrast, the prospect of a Trump presidency is frightening.
42
gee Mo, there must be an entire mafia on anti-yous just waiting for your Sun column Sat nite to kvetch, moan and complain. quit giving them ammunition would ya?
I partly agree you dont Obama enough credit. I disagree with him 30% of the time but the sadly effective repub strategy "block everything" has kept him from accomplishing alot. so sad for the country gop'ers care more about naked power than they do their country. they have more in common with clinton than they realize. O will go down as top 10 president in history and not just b/c he followed the worst ever. yes he's a Chicago politician with all its questionable morals (that he stays above) but had to pick a horse to ride to guarantee HIS legacy and for the country. and war horse slick hilly is the best we have to offer (cue Bronx cheer).
so dont doubt if his heart is in it. its not. he's just settling for best old Mother Hubbard had in the cupboard. like Bill Maher joked, if trump and hillary were on a boat and it sank, who wins? the country.
I suggest that if trump and slick agree to go away forever, we'll cancel the disgusting election season starting to congeal/rot/putrefy and appoint Michelle Obama the next President. she would be; 1st female President, the 2nd black one (like that matters) and 3rd one in a family. as it is, slick will go down in history as second coming of James Earl Carter III, minus the morals and blind ambition. the repubs will twist her in knots. and she could cancel the moving van.
I partly agree you dont Obama enough credit. I disagree with him 30% of the time but the sadly effective repub strategy "block everything" has kept him from accomplishing alot. so sad for the country gop'ers care more about naked power than they do their country. they have more in common with clinton than they realize. O will go down as top 10 president in history and not just b/c he followed the worst ever. yes he's a Chicago politician with all its questionable morals (that he stays above) but had to pick a horse to ride to guarantee HIS legacy and for the country. and war horse slick hilly is the best we have to offer (cue Bronx cheer).
so dont doubt if his heart is in it. its not. he's just settling for best old Mother Hubbard had in the cupboard. like Bill Maher joked, if trump and hillary were on a boat and it sank, who wins? the country.
I suggest that if trump and slick agree to go away forever, we'll cancel the disgusting election season starting to congeal/rot/putrefy and appoint Michelle Obama the next President. she would be; 1st female President, the 2nd black one (like that matters) and 3rd one in a family. as it is, slick will go down in history as second coming of James Earl Carter III, minus the morals and blind ambition. the repubs will twist her in knots. and she could cancel the moving van.
4
Maureen Dowd concludes her column:
"In the end, Obama didn’t overthrow the Clinton machine. He enabled it.
It turns out, who we choose is not really about our souls. It’s just politics, man."
Bill Clinton is considered one of our most successful post war president.Hillary Clinton is widely admired for her intelligence, work ethic, knowledge and being well qualified to be president.
Most people feel that Trump is unfit to be president and would be a danger to our country. That is why many in the GOP have refused to endorse him. Yet Maureen Dowd thinks that Obama supporting Hillary Clinton is just politics. She does not seem to realize that Obama is performing a public service by endorsing Hillary and trying to prevent an unfit man to be president of the United States. Obviously she does not regard Trump as a threat to our national survival the way most knowledgeable people do.
"In the end, Obama didn’t overthrow the Clinton machine. He enabled it.
It turns out, who we choose is not really about our souls. It’s just politics, man."
Bill Clinton is considered one of our most successful post war president.Hillary Clinton is widely admired for her intelligence, work ethic, knowledge and being well qualified to be president.
Most people feel that Trump is unfit to be president and would be a danger to our country. That is why many in the GOP have refused to endorse him. Yet Maureen Dowd thinks that Obama supporting Hillary Clinton is just politics. She does not seem to realize that Obama is performing a public service by endorsing Hillary and trying to prevent an unfit man to be president of the United States. Obviously she does not regard Trump as a threat to our national survival the way most knowledgeable people do.
84
Just when you humanized Trump for me with New York style Thunderbolts, you dehumanized yourself again with splenetic poison re: President Obama, and our next President, Hillary Clinton. I enjoy more your English major tropes, which sometimes show wit and imagination. This is low.
41
Ms. Dowd, you are so out of touch.
64
This is how Obama got the nomination in 2008: He got the votes of more liberal Democrats, today's Bernie supporters, because he effectively projected a liberal image (which, as explained below, was a lie). He added to the votes of Bernie supporters, the votes of Blacks, who voted for him because he looked like them. Wala, he won. It's as simple as that.
As an ardent Bernie supporter, I generally deplore neo liberals like Bill Clinton. However, Bill was right on the money when he said the entire Obama movement was a "fairytale."
Obama's 2008 campaign was buttressed and buoyed by heaps and heaps of baloney. He continually said that he took no money from lobbyists. Yes, he did not take money from lobbyists. He took money directly from major corporations, their senior employees and the very wealthy.. Obama got more money from Big Pharma than either Hillary or Mc Cain, and didn't you notice that Obamacare rejected the progressive idea that Medicare should negotiate prices with drug companies. In March 2009, his solution to the troubled assets of the meltdown was made to order by and for Goldman Sachs. Yes, he "bailed out" the auto industry, but the govt. was only given NON voting stock for its efforts. I could cite so many other examples of his contrivances and compromises with ruling elites, but really, what's the point. With the defeat of Bernie, it all seems rather hopeless. I think I'll follow the advice of Justice Greenberg and go to New Zealand.
As an ardent Bernie supporter, I generally deplore neo liberals like Bill Clinton. However, Bill was right on the money when he said the entire Obama movement was a "fairytale."
Obama's 2008 campaign was buttressed and buoyed by heaps and heaps of baloney. He continually said that he took no money from lobbyists. Yes, he did not take money from lobbyists. He took money directly from major corporations, their senior employees and the very wealthy.. Obama got more money from Big Pharma than either Hillary or Mc Cain, and didn't you notice that Obamacare rejected the progressive idea that Medicare should negotiate prices with drug companies. In March 2009, his solution to the troubled assets of the meltdown was made to order by and for Goldman Sachs. Yes, he "bailed out" the auto industry, but the govt. was only given NON voting stock for its efforts. I could cite so many other examples of his contrivances and compromises with ruling elites, but really, what's the point. With the defeat of Bernie, it all seems rather hopeless. I think I'll follow the advice of Justice Greenberg and go to New Zealand.
17
Ms. Dowd, I race down the walk and open to Op-Ed in the hope that I can find fresh insight from you (as I so often have over the years) but you never go off-book when it comes to a great president who has endured unique obstacles and a woman who subordinated her great political potential to her flawed husband. He (not unlike King David) was highly able -- but by no means perfect -- at governing. She has made mistakes but I think it is shallow and beneath your better skills to conflate her very different different gifts and flaws with his. You would never do that if they had divorced. Her skills at keeping a difficult marriage alive, and at surviving decades of right wing slime, when combined with her deep understanding of govering, will serve this country's future well on all fronts. We deserve better than petty, superficial stone throwing .... leave that to right wing television and radio, not to mention one half of social media.
You remain wrong on our current president, but it no longer really matters.
You remain wrong on our current president, but it no longer really matters.
122
I would say that Maureen hit the target with this column. She snared Obama for his hypocrisy and his hubris, his lack of candor (to put it mildly) and his obsession with his legacy. It is difficult to accept that the Clintons are on the road to occupation of the White House once more, after their last stint proved to be such a catastrophe. I have seen the Democrats pull some boners, but trying to engineer a coup for Hillary and Bill by stealing an election and gaining a nomination by super delegates is the lowest yet. My bet is that the Clintons will try once more to steal the election in November. After all, they have the apparatus all set up. It worked against Bernie Sanders...Donald Trump will be next.
29
So let me ask, Ms Dowd, as much as you hate the Clintons and Obama, would you prefer a deranged megalomaniac as your leader? Because that is now your choice. Every negative word you write about Obama and Hillary boosts Trump. Hillary and Obama may certainly be flawed, but Trump is seriously dangerous.
Stop focusing on the trees, and raise your view to the forest.
Stop focusing on the trees, and raise your view to the forest.
128
Thank you Maureen! And I mean that sincerely.
26
"...who we choose is not really about our souls. It’s just politics, man."
No Maureen, this election is not about politics as usual.
This election isn’t about conservative vs liberal policy positions or economic proposals. I'm a Democrat. It is unlikely that I would have voted for one of the GOP candidates, but I never doubted that the country would survive a Bush or Kasich presidency. Nor do I doubt that these men are decent human beings who would not embarrass this country or put our democracy in danger.
Trump is deeply flawed and a threat to our nation. His remarks to the parents of Capt. Human Khan are just the most recent example of a man who has no limit to how low he will stoop, how fragile his ego, or how unpredictable his responses might be in an international crisis. If he were running as a Democrat I would vote for the GOP.
History is replete with examples of popularly elected and charismatic leaders who dragged their countries into chaos. This is NOT about politics as usual. I fear Trump.
No Maureen, this election is not about politics as usual.
This election isn’t about conservative vs liberal policy positions or economic proposals. I'm a Democrat. It is unlikely that I would have voted for one of the GOP candidates, but I never doubted that the country would survive a Bush or Kasich presidency. Nor do I doubt that these men are decent human beings who would not embarrass this country or put our democracy in danger.
Trump is deeply flawed and a threat to our nation. His remarks to the parents of Capt. Human Khan are just the most recent example of a man who has no limit to how low he will stoop, how fragile his ego, or how unpredictable his responses might be in an international crisis. If he were running as a Democrat I would vote for the GOP.
History is replete with examples of popularly elected and charismatic leaders who dragged their countries into chaos. This is NOT about politics as usual. I fear Trump.
93
Why thank you Maureen for pointing out one of Obama's best attributes: he doesn't let petty personal grudges get in the way of doing what he feels is best for this country. Right now he feels the best way to prevent a Trump presidency is to back Hillary. That's called being a grownup and maturity, two things sorely lacking in this election cycle, and two things Obama has in spades.
110
I looked forward to reading the Dowd column which would follow the fairyland which was the DNC convention. The convention where the principal theme was the “chick card,” yet it was left to Hillary Clinton’s serial cheater husband with bimbos named and unnamed to, we are told, “humanize” his wife. Ms. Dowd has not disappointed.
I knew also that the knives would be out for Ms. Dowd in the comments. Ms. Dowd in no way suggests that Donald Trump, no beauty he, should win the November election. She is saying, get real about who and what Hillary Clinton is. And, she goes on, Barack Obama, now the Hillary Clinton champion, is the same Barack Obama who trashed the Clintons eight years ago. For good reason.
I am a lawyer. I remember all too well how my lawyer friends, Democrats, 20 years ago trotted out every reason they could think of to rationalize and excuse Bill Clinton’s perjury and obstruction of justice--crimes which went to the heart of the justice system, violations of federal laws that Bill Clinton, as president, had a constitutional duty to enforce. I told my friends, I have no problem if you recognize the gravity of what Bill Clinton has done but go on to say, he’s a Democrat, he’s still our man. At least be honest about why, in spite of Clinton’s contempt for and violation of the law, you still support him. Don’t pretend that what is plain as day has not happened.
The point I made then is the point Maureen Dowd is making about Hillary Clinton.
I knew also that the knives would be out for Ms. Dowd in the comments. Ms. Dowd in no way suggests that Donald Trump, no beauty he, should win the November election. She is saying, get real about who and what Hillary Clinton is. And, she goes on, Barack Obama, now the Hillary Clinton champion, is the same Barack Obama who trashed the Clintons eight years ago. For good reason.
I am a lawyer. I remember all too well how my lawyer friends, Democrats, 20 years ago trotted out every reason they could think of to rationalize and excuse Bill Clinton’s perjury and obstruction of justice--crimes which went to the heart of the justice system, violations of federal laws that Bill Clinton, as president, had a constitutional duty to enforce. I told my friends, I have no problem if you recognize the gravity of what Bill Clinton has done but go on to say, he’s a Democrat, he’s still our man. At least be honest about why, in spite of Clinton’s contempt for and violation of the law, you still support him. Don’t pretend that what is plain as day has not happened.
The point I made then is the point Maureen Dowd is making about Hillary Clinton.
31
If you stop at the title, it is fine. Nothing else is worth reading in this article.
98
Maureen prefers and wants to remain friends with Donald Trump.
96
So, she's saying, i know these people (Clinton, Trump) personally, and Clinton has a lot of political baggage, beginning with covering for Bill (lying) in the 1992 election. Her base-- big unions, minorities, and whatever deals she's cut with banks, pharma, etc, that we don't know about--don't care about this political baggage, as long as they get what they want. Likewise, Trump supporters evidently don't care about his baggage--torture (they like it), rants against minorities, being a con-man, etc. Their opposition to the ACA: it taxed the rich to pay for subsidies and gave access to care to minorities (not so much in Southern states, thanks to Roberts (pure politics, there was no legal basis that i could see, just as there was no "evidence" for cancelling the VRA, actually evidence to the contrary at the time), but all a natural for the Republican base to oppose, i.e. racists and the very rich. Also, recall that it was 2 Democrat senators that had to be won over to pass the ACA and that Lieberman, by himself, shot down single payer. The Republicans have been in control since: they can't overturn, but they have kept the Democrats from proposing needed changes such as universal single payer for medicaid and prescription drugs costing no more than Veterans for Medicare.
This is Now, and there's an election. I would appreciate someone holding Clinton's feet to the fire, as to what she's going to do, and how she's going to do it. Her coattails may be all that counts.
This is Now, and there's an election. I would appreciate someone holding Clinton's feet to the fire, as to what she's going to do, and how she's going to do it. Her coattails may be all that counts.
10
Let us call a spade a spade, Ms. Dowd! We have a con man running for POTUS that professes affection for Putin, committed treason, and trashed the Islamic mother of a muslim war hero in just the past several days! When are you going to devote any of your writings to reveal the truly despicable character of one Donald J. Trump? Do you have any sense of honor, Ms. Dowd?
129
I wondered if Maureen had buried the hatchet but no, the brief respite from her blood lust simply signaled that she was sharpening the ax for the final battle. She is determined that no one will see anything worthy in Hillary Clinton. The only conclusion one can come to is that she really does want Donald Trump to win the Presidency.
That is fine, just say so.
That is fine, just say so.
86
Maureen, if you did your job as well as Obama has done his, you would win Pulitzer's yearly. For all of the obstructionism, grounded in racism, that our president has faced the last eight years, I'd have to give him an A+ for what he's accomplished. And Hillary has the ability to accomplish more.
Ms. Dowd, splash some Perrier on your face. You need to wake up.
Ms. Dowd, splash some Perrier on your face. You need to wake up.
109
You compare the words of a candidate with a man who, 8 years later, fully grasps the machinery of DC politics, a guy who managed to make progress (yes, incremental) despite a Congress openly and proudly uncooperative? What is your point? Your coverage of this election cycle has damaged your credibility, in my eyes.
118
Deadly stuff, Maureen. It is sad, but true that American politics has become a game for the rich and their advertising and marketing companies to sell us the most-likely-to-comply candidate. Here, it is Hillary Clinton, who will finally succeed in cementing her family's legacy as an elite, wealthy power broker of the world. Their Clinton Global Initiative Slush Fund, run by daughter, Chelsea, will, for decades into the future, insure their status as arbiters of their particular vision of governance.
23
Comey never said Clinton was untruthful, he said that she did not lie to the FBI. Also, Ms.Dowd repeats her canard about Beau Biden. Last, Ms. Dowd is in the tank for Demagogue Don the Con. Her fluff piece about DD the C in which she interviewed him posing with soft ball questions with no push back on the answers is evidence that she prefers the lunatic fringe candidate.
67
I have only one response to Ms. Dowd's column: Donald Trump.
16
A great photo of President Obama and Mrs. Clinton. Politicians they may be, sometimes at odd, they make Americans look good and wish to emulate them. I feel sorry for Trump because he is being used by the Republican Party, and he appears to be increasingly off course, ready to take down the Country.
Thanking Barack Obama for his extraordinary strength and for saving America. Thanking Hillary Clinton for never surrendering. They give some of us hope and bring out the best in us during adverse times.
Thanking Barack Obama for his extraordinary strength and for saving America. Thanking Hillary Clinton for never surrendering. They give some of us hope and bring out the best in us during adverse times.
46
I read your columns almost religiously but this time I found myself wondering, is this the best time to bash Hillary Clinton?
The barbarians are at the gate, Ms. Dowd.
The barbarians are at the gate, Ms. Dowd.
73
Just a mean spirited and wrong analysis, favoring who, exactly? I am a little disappointed in Obama, because I think he could have kept his base more intact by being a little bit bolder with his agenda, and if he had done that the people who hate him, for whatever reason, would not have anything more to hate him about because they would hate him no matter what he did. The haters hated Obama from the day he was elected, and even before, mainly for being Black, but now, in their view he is both not a strong "leader" (whatever good that might do, and because he is too cerebral, as if thinking was a bad thing...) and because what he has done, they think, has been wrong. Is Obama perfect? Of course not, and it is an impossible and absurd standard. Yet his lack of perfection now seems to be the issue. On the other had Trump could easily be perfect(ly awful). Yes, if that's the choice, it's easy, four more years, please.
36
Cheap shot, Dowd bringing Beau Biden into her hate Obama and Clinton essay.
126
"It's just politics, man".
Politics is the art of the possible. A professional politician knows that as much as he or she believes their position is right and just, they may also be wrong. Pursuing what is possible is a noble pursuit. Compromise is essential us to move forward. Compromise is not a sign of weakness.
"It's just politics, man". That sounds almost cynical. In contrast, I don't believe that "politics" is not a bad word. Campaign in poetry, govern in prose. I can live with that. In many ways the economic, legal, and social constructs of the United States are the envy of the world.
For all the faults of our system, we still manage to elect a lot of very good people.
Politics is the art of the possible. A professional politician knows that as much as he or she believes their position is right and just, they may also be wrong. Pursuing what is possible is a noble pursuit. Compromise is essential us to move forward. Compromise is not a sign of weakness.
"It's just politics, man". That sounds almost cynical. In contrast, I don't believe that "politics" is not a bad word. Campaign in poetry, govern in prose. I can live with that. In many ways the economic, legal, and social constructs of the United States are the envy of the world.
For all the faults of our system, we still manage to elect a lot of very good people.
21
"The president passed the baton to Hillary, as he puts it, more than three years ago, feeling she’s the safest bet to protect his legacy... Showing his icy pragmatism, the president passed over his loyal vice president because he thought Joe Biden would not be as strong a candidate"?
This goes way beyond the usual bile into truly Trumpesque distortion, or worse...
One assumes that Ms Dowd is familiar with the US primary system, whereby a candidate, particularly one well-known for presidential ambitions, can put himself/herself forward and get votes? (And where another candidate, after 8 long years of service as VP and a terrible personal loss, decides not to run?)
Like it or not, Ms Dowd, this has nothing to do with Obama "passing the baton" or "passing over" anyone! This is a flat-out misstatement of fact!
As the saying goes, "you're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own set of facts." And one would hope that Times columnists would write about their opinions based on facts! Not invent facts to buttress their opinions!
This goes way beyond the usual bile into truly Trumpesque distortion, or worse...
One assumes that Ms Dowd is familiar with the US primary system, whereby a candidate, particularly one well-known for presidential ambitions, can put himself/herself forward and get votes? (And where another candidate, after 8 long years of service as VP and a terrible personal loss, decides not to run?)
Like it or not, Ms Dowd, this has nothing to do with Obama "passing the baton" or "passing over" anyone! This is a flat-out misstatement of fact!
As the saying goes, "you're entitled to your own opinion, but not your own set of facts." And one would hope that Times columnists would write about their opinions based on facts! Not invent facts to buttress their opinions!
56
Maureen, what you don't seem to get, or at least seem unwilling to share is this is not about personalities; yes it's about politics, but its also about ideology. Obama was not "too cool" to be President, he was a 90's era Clinton Democrat who took to heart the free market verities of the era. As you do, as well.
But the free market verities of the 90's were always a fraud, designed to protect the status-quo: the Finance Driven Capitalism of the era. The Republicans wanted workers to vote with their feet, the Democrats wanted them to go to Junior College, but both Parties accepted the same End-of History/There-is-no-Alternative settlement.
Now that settlement and Finance Capitalism generally has been revealed as casino designed to enrich the already rich at the expense of everyone else. Bill, Hill and Barack are Democratic enough to want to try and ease the pain of the middle and formerly working class, but not Democratic enough to actually do anything to change the status quo, which cannot, and will not hold much longer anyway.
And so the Democrats and the New York Times, the Neo-cons and the Neo-liberals have all made a grand bargain to ignore the real situation in order the best repel the barbarian at the gate: The Idiot, the Dictator, the Fascist, the outer borough baby with the Babylon vibe, Donald Trump.
They think the voters, the citizens, are dupes; simply pawns in this game. But I think they're wrong. This game is not going to end well, for anyone.
But the free market verities of the 90's were always a fraud, designed to protect the status-quo: the Finance Driven Capitalism of the era. The Republicans wanted workers to vote with their feet, the Democrats wanted them to go to Junior College, but both Parties accepted the same End-of History/There-is-no-Alternative settlement.
Now that settlement and Finance Capitalism generally has been revealed as casino designed to enrich the already rich at the expense of everyone else. Bill, Hill and Barack are Democratic enough to want to try and ease the pain of the middle and formerly working class, but not Democratic enough to actually do anything to change the status quo, which cannot, and will not hold much longer anyway.
And so the Democrats and the New York Times, the Neo-cons and the Neo-liberals have all made a grand bargain to ignore the real situation in order the best repel the barbarian at the gate: The Idiot, the Dictator, the Fascist, the outer borough baby with the Babylon vibe, Donald Trump.
They think the voters, the citizens, are dupes; simply pawns in this game. But I think they're wrong. This game is not going to end well, for anyone.
9
2008 I stood in line for 2 plus hours to vote for this idealistic, brilliant man. The following Sunday I walked into our local corner store in Tribeca, a lovely very proud African American man insisted on paying for my Sunday NY Times..... One must surmise that the Clinton's have used their Machiavellian bag of tricks to dupe the incumbent President; more's the pity for the joke is on us.
5
Dear Ms Dowd,
I try to step above the slime and other bad things that are part and parcel of this election, meaning, I do not look or listen to much of anything that relates to the Trump house or the Man himself. I try to show respect even when I do not think that it is due because I have an item called self respect. I would respectfully ask that you try to pick up on a bit of it.
The president's name is not "Barry" and he is not due the disrespect of being Called anything less than Mr. President or Mr. Obama. I will not join the others in totally condemning you though I think that they are justified, I would ask that the Editorial Board of the NYTimes consider the value that you bring to the reasonable dialogue that we come to expect of the best newspaper in America, I feel that you fall far short! You show a very callous disregard to some common decency, I respect your right to state badly founded statements but everyone deserves better respect than you give our Democratic leaders, especially as you leverage your national bullhorn to show your contempt.
Thank you and have a good week,
World Peace
I try to step above the slime and other bad things that are part and parcel of this election, meaning, I do not look or listen to much of anything that relates to the Trump house or the Man himself. I try to show respect even when I do not think that it is due because I have an item called self respect. I would respectfully ask that you try to pick up on a bit of it.
The president's name is not "Barry" and he is not due the disrespect of being Called anything less than Mr. President or Mr. Obama. I will not join the others in totally condemning you though I think that they are justified, I would ask that the Editorial Board of the NYTimes consider the value that you bring to the reasonable dialogue that we come to expect of the best newspaper in America, I feel that you fall far short! You show a very callous disregard to some common decency, I respect your right to state badly founded statements but everyone deserves better respect than you give our Democratic leaders, especially as you leverage your national bullhorn to show your contempt.
Thank you and have a good week,
World Peace
108
Did you really expect the President to endorse Obama over his Secretary of State? How disloyal would that have been, and would you not have made hay from that as you did from this? Joe Biden could have run against Hillary and NotFeelingTheBern in the primary, and who knows what Obama would have done or said then? One cannot help feeling that you would prefer a Trump presidency for reasons of insider coolness, without even considering how totally totally uncool that really is. Because yes, Obama is the coolest cat ever, and he draped his elegant arm around Hillary.
19
Sometimes in life you have to make the best of a bad situation, the country has painted itself in this situation by the propaganda by media such as Fox. Waiting for Maureen to write about the scandals that were going on at that organization.
30
Whoa, do u not get it. It's about idiom, syntax & semiotics. It's about nuance & subtlety. It's about discernment & maturity. Observing & making meaning of the intangibles.
It's about valuing the way mythos conveys meaning, combined w/ logos.
It's about valuing the way mythos conveys meaning, combined w/ logos.
2
I wanted Biden to run as well. So I have time to come to grips. As Joe said give Sanders people time because it does take time. Even when the choice is so obvious.
9
Really Ms. Dowd. Apparently your a columnist for the New York Times. Okay your a critic of the Clinton's, not the revenge of Ayn Rand. Your adding nothing to the discourse. Take a break and have lunch with He, Trump!
32
This column and the other one seem like gossip - no depth, and certainly no insight. Disappointing. I think the Washington Post is providing opinions with guts effort and analysis at this critical time.
53
I'm always the last one to figure these things out, but after several decades of observation, I've had my "doh" moment: It is harder for a lot of people to vote for a woman than to vote for a black.
The other, related, insight came nearly 40 years ago, as I was watching women enter the engineering profession: There is no sisterhood.
The other, related, insight came nearly 40 years ago, as I was watching women enter the engineering profession: There is no sisterhood.
22
Once again another snarky column by Ms Dowd that adds absolutely nothing to the conversation.
94
Obama, despite his significant accomplishments, has not achieved all that he came into office wanting to do. Whether Clinton can move more towards some of the unfinished goals depends hugely on the same situation that stymied Obama's goals - The Republican 'ill-led' Congress. Obama entered office with Democrat majorities in both the House and Senate, yet at every step Republican Congress members blocked and frustrated him to put party and politics ahead of compromise, Republican gamesmanship ahead of real problem-solving. Imagine how much could have been done with a Republican Congress membership like that of the 1970's or even the 1980's. Republicans, even when in the minority, who were willing to bargain and negotiate so that they could 'get some' of what they wanted, instead of blocking everything because they couldn't 'get all, or nothing'. When your prime and first goal is 'to do anything and everything' to make the president "a one term president", the ability to legislate -some- of your own ideology goes away - without compromise it is hard for a president to achieve their goals, or to move toward their goals, but compromise requires partners. That Obama got as much as he achieved is to be congratulated, and it must be recognized that he did it without *any* help from Congressional Republicans. Imagine how different things might be had there been two willing negotiating partners, two parties both willing to "show we can govern" by actually trying to do things together.
389
I was quite surprised to tune into Fox News here. First the Trump-dictated column earlier today with no analysis or opinion whatsoever in it, then this piece. I truly expect more from the NY Times.
89
Joe Biden or Tim Kaine should be the ones taking on
Trump.Either could win and would be fantastic as President Unfortunately Obama owed too many IOUs to the Clintons as Maureen rightfully points out. Her smelly baggage could yet put a psychotic fascist and his treasonous campaign manager in the White House.
President probably hoping that he or Michelle will have a palace in Hillary's administration like SCOTUS?
Trump.Either could win and would be fantastic as President Unfortunately Obama owed too many IOUs to the Clintons as Maureen rightfully points out. Her smelly baggage could yet put a psychotic fascist and his treasonous campaign manager in the White House.
President probably hoping that he or Michelle will have a palace in Hillary's administration like SCOTUS?
9
President Obama was supposed to be the president of hope and change. Well Mr. Obama we are still waiting for the hope and change you promised us during your campaign. Maybe with a miracle and a bit of luck he can achieve his goal before he leaves office. I highly doubt it and will not hold my breath. The only change he has given us is one of pessimism and fear. Our country is not as safe today and the outlook looks gloomy. Hopefully with the coming election things will finally change for the better. We can only hope.
13
The cult of personality obscures your vision. Everyone discounts the party platform but it indicates the general direction the country will be heading. Obama fundamentally (even if only for practical reasons) leads the the party in the same direction Hillary will. Sanders has influenced the platform and given Hillary leg room for policy she ideologically agrees with even though she is obviously more willing to compromise. Of course they all support each other when they are not directly competing against each other. Unfortunately, the charisma game is a sideshow that decides our future.
11
The bigger problem in this country is that neither the Republican or Democratic self interest and self righteous politicians care for the country or the people. As a result of their ideology and indifference of basics, this nation with its racism, is polarized, and on a fast track of self destruction from within. It is no longer about Obama and others who he proceeded, or those that will proceed him, it all about the needs of this nation and the people in this 21st century and the future. To that end neither Trump the con man, fraud, megalomaniac, self obsessive, yes a racist and a bigot, a real estate and reality show mafioso, or Hillary the fraud, lair, reckless, untrustworthy and with a ton of criminal complicity and culpability are fit of the job. We the people in this marred, ideologically divided country can not afford the hell Hillary or Trump will create. Obama is still suffering from 90% of republicans having no stomach for a black man as the president. As far as Bill Clinton and Trump and many others they have been and still highly prejudiced people. When Obama steam rolled over Hillary in 2008 it Bill Clinton who demeaned him as some " black boy" to big for his breaches. Fortunately we have no Hillary and Bill Clinton type scandals, where the likes of Hillary, who was not going to stand by her man just did that and blamed the 21 year old WH intern for the blatant indiscretion of her womanizing husband, who had the audacity to have sex right the oval office
9
You are reliably brave and unafraid to call out the Emperor having no clothes when that is what you see. It is entertaining - but also has enough truth to disturb those in denial.
15
Obama owes Bill Clinton for the speech the Big Dog made 4 years ago. Maybe that's why he favors Hillary. But Biden would be a GREAT president. His resume is much better than Hillary's, as are his political skills, .... I am sure he would have run if his son had not died. But an act of God (not Obama) stopped him. That's the tragedy. Luckily, during the Democratic convention, I did learn things that made me respect Hillary more. So, in the spirit of icy pragmatism, and in the increasing certainty that Trump is the worst form of human being, I'm voting for her. But Biden's the anti-Trump we need.
13
Dowd is twisting facts so well she should probably run for office. But I guess for now she'll settle for being a Trump cheerleader.
62
Hey, Maureen, why don't you try citing some facts in your hatchet pieces rather than just slinging the mud? It would be a refreshing change.
112
Ms. Dowd, please be brave enough to step forward and endorse Trump. That's a more honest thing to do.
83
Sometimes it's about our souls, and sometimes it's clear the decks we're in survival mode, man!
Incrementalism may be an important principle to a president who learned a thing or two about dreams after having run out of political capital with the health care win early in his firat term.
Practicality is to be expected from the leader of a party, more so than from a dark horse junior senator upstart with transcendent vision as his calling card. Chiding Obama for passing on Biden in favor of Clinton is plain closed-minded. Warmth and compassion, which Hillary has to mimic, is not the asset you want going up against Trump (or against the Tea Party, as we were envisioning at the time Obama was making his decision). Ice blood in the veins is what he chose, not the Clinton machine.
Finally, the Clinton-family-values theme is less of a real factor at this stage of Bill's physiological career. And wielding this theme as a cudgel against Hillary is anti-feminist as well as plain ill-mannered.
Incrementalism may be an important principle to a president who learned a thing or two about dreams after having run out of political capital with the health care win early in his firat term.
Practicality is to be expected from the leader of a party, more so than from a dark horse junior senator upstart with transcendent vision as his calling card. Chiding Obama for passing on Biden in favor of Clinton is plain closed-minded. Warmth and compassion, which Hillary has to mimic, is not the asset you want going up against Trump (or against the Tea Party, as we were envisioning at the time Obama was making his decision). Ice blood in the veins is what he chose, not the Clinton machine.
Finally, the Clinton-family-values theme is less of a real factor at this stage of Bill's physiological career. And wielding this theme as a cudgel against Hillary is anti-feminist as well as plain ill-mannered.
29
Maybe she'll surprise us. Maybe Bill will behave himself, Chelsea will sink into the lovely obscurity of motherhood never to be seen again, the Congress and Senate will go Democratic again, where Sanders and Warren and Pelosi will hold the line on progressive issues.
Maybe HRC has made enough mistakes to learn from finally, and maybe the example of steady no-drama Obama will be her guiding star.
Hey, this is America. Hope is allowed.
Maybe HRC has made enough mistakes to learn from finally, and maybe the example of steady no-drama Obama will be her guiding star.
Hey, this is America. Hope is allowed.
28
Maureen - you have always been right on target about the Clintons. You still are. But it is time to get over it. I cringed to read this after the latest Trump outrage - criticizing the Muslim mother of a slain soldier. The Republic is at stake. It's no joke and no overstatement. Yes, Hillary Clinton is cynical and wouldn't make a top 1,000 Profiles in Courage. But she is sane. Choice of evils. Let's just hold our nose and follow Bloomberg's lead.
57
I wish it were Hillary Clinton winding up two terms in the presidency and Barack Obama seeking to succeed her after a productive and highly educational career in the Senate. Hillary would have realized much sooner than Barack that nothing would be forthcoming from the Republican minority nor later majority and gotten more done by facing them down and taking necessary executive actions to counter their open-ended seven-year filibuster.
25
Maureen's political commentaries are always insightful and spot-on which is what makes them worth reading. As to the partisan NYTs readers who can't wait to pop open her column just to write huffy defenses of the status quo, they are less worth reading -- partisan arguments are never persuasive.
Trump's character may not be appreciably better than the corrupt politicians he derides, but millions of people are grateful to him for having the courage to take on important issues (like illegal immigration) straightforwardly, and also, for revealing just how forcefully & consistently the mainstream media is supporting the corruption that's ruining the country. So, I hope that helps clear the "unfathomable mystery" of Trump's success for those of you who keep marveling about it.
And by the way, Maureen Dowd is one of the few exceptions to this corporate media practice -- and for that you all attack her. Nice!
Trump's character may not be appreciably better than the corrupt politicians he derides, but millions of people are grateful to him for having the courage to take on important issues (like illegal immigration) straightforwardly, and also, for revealing just how forcefully & consistently the mainstream media is supporting the corruption that's ruining the country. So, I hope that helps clear the "unfathomable mystery" of Trump's success for those of you who keep marveling about it.
And by the way, Maureen Dowd is one of the few exceptions to this corporate media practice -- and for that you all attack her. Nice!
24
Ms. Dowd, congratulations on maintaining your integrity. Krugman, Blow, and Friedman, as well as the part timers on the Op Ed page, all appear, for some reason I can only guess, to have swallowed the Clintons' Kool Aid. Blow criticized Sanders for not speaking to Blacks explicitly, forgetting that Sanders has been arrested for demonstrating in civil rights marches, and campaigned twice for Jesse Jackson. Friedman had the gall to right a column about Hillary's "fibs". Krugman's snarkiness when addressed to Bush and Republicans was a pleasure, but smelled bad when addressed to Senator Sanders.
I agree with you about Obama selling out. It started when he let Clinton become Secretary of State. He could have done a great service to America if he had let her sink into the refuse heap of history. If Ms. Clinton had any concern for the well being of America, she would recognize that she is the only Democratic candidate who can possibly lose to Trump, and retire in favor of just about any reasonable Democratic candidate.
I agree with you about Obama selling out. It started when he let Clinton become Secretary of State. He could have done a great service to America if he had let her sink into the refuse heap of history. If Ms. Clinton had any concern for the well being of America, she would recognize that she is the only Democratic candidate who can possibly lose to Trump, and retire in favor of just about any reasonable Democratic candidate.
25
It is really depressing to read yet another unbalanced screed against President Obama and Hilary Clinton, especially from someone I used to believe was one of the most incisive journalists of her generation. And the selective support of our VP Joe Biden is curious. While he has more or less redeemed himself and become a somewhat beloved avucular figure, Joe Biden was a serial plagiarist - professionally during his 1988 presidential run and while a law student. And Ms.Dowd must surely remember the savaging of Anita Hill that then Senator Biden not only aided and abetted, but participated in during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings back in 1991. Those hearings were the most shameful proceedings I have ever witnessed. They destroyed that upstanding young professional woman, based on lying "witnesses." "A little bit nutty and a little bit slutty." And he could have stopped that despicable charade, but he chose not to. Every politician makes mistakes, and Secretary Clinton's seem rather pale in comparison. I mean, she's secretive and used a private server? She wanted to make some serious money so she gave some speeches to Wall Street? And her decades of good works? They should count for something, just as Joe Biden's do. I don't know why I keep reading Ms. Dowd's columns, old habits die hard? Hope springs eternal?
103
It seems to this reader that it's Ms. Dowd who is stuck in 2008 or perhaps 1996, not the Clintons or President Obama. If Hillary Clinton hasn't proven that she most deserves – and has done the most to earn – the Democratic nomination, who has? And, by the way, the F.B.I. director may have "painted Hillary as reckless and untruthful" in her use of a private email server, but not in her work as secretary of state or U.S, senator. People grow and change, except, it seems, at times, Ms. Dowd.
91
Why doesn't Dowd just come out and say she is voting for Trump? Her cutting adjectives in this piece, as if adjectives were nouns and facts, and her recent puff piece on Trump make that clear. I remember when she tried hard to sabotage Gore with mockery when he ran against Bush. I don't mean to be personal but she wrote once that most of her family were Republican- and sometimes she has had her Republican brother write or be interviewed in a column. Her family must be proud of her but what does she contribute to a newspaper?
85
Obama is (and always has been) a pragmatist. It was what the country needed when he took office and without help from the Right and without complete support from the Left ( and some of its press) it was his will and that pragmatism that lifted the country from the mess he inherited and moved the country progressively in many ways,
His pragmatism led to Hillary's joining his Cabinet. He learned from her and (this Ms. Dowd will be hard for you to understand) she learned from him. This is the Hillary Clinton the President and I support.
His pragmatism led to Hillary's joining his Cabinet. He learned from her and (this Ms. Dowd will be hard for you to understand) she learned from him. This is the Hillary Clinton the President and I support.
71
I've suspected for sometime that Maureen is having trouble generating ideas to write about ......when that happens she goes back to trashing Hillary......seems like it's every second column these days
82
"self-declared savior” like Donald Trump, perhaps forgetting that Obama was once hailed as such a messiah?" Oh, please, are you equating Obama with Trump now? That's a bit unhinged, don't you think?
35
I can't decide which is worse - the major party "candidates" we ended up with, or being Biden, looking at the current choices and thinking of Beau's wish.
12
It must be difficult as a prime Clinton hater to realize that the person you have hated for so many years is going to be president. But be comforted: think of all the malicious and unfounded accusations you can levy against Hillary for at least 4 and perhaps, God willing, 8 years.
59
I guess the future of our planet is less important than your old grievances against the Clintons, Maureen. Reading your verbatim quoting of Trump yesterday when he actually said some vaguely human things (which he'll probably recant tomorrow) one can only conclude that it's only your emotions that count. Trump flattered you by giving you a short interview. The Clintons have been ignoring you for years. I'm guessing that you probably fear that if you say anything bad about your "old friend" Trump he'll flatten you in a tweet. Anyone thin skinned themselves would not want to take him on.
71
Maureen, I'd love to see your life investigated over the last 25 years. Anything you'd rather not come out in public? Yes Hillary is running for President and that calls for a level of scrutiny you (and I) don't have to endure. But you are wasting column inches (and my time) by lambasting Hillary. Trump is the most unqualified Presidential candidate in my lifetime and for a few lifetimes. Spend your energy going after him for the good of the country. Or are you so in love with Trump that, like him, you simply don't care?
99
Ms. Dowd quotes President Obama as saying: "we have to make incremental changes where we can, and every once in a while you'll get a breakthrough and make the kind of big changes that are necessary." She makes fun of the statement. But, she makes no effort to explain why it is wrong.
Because the statement isn't wrong. Most of governing is moving step-by-step to a a set of goals. We need to hear the poetry to remind ourselves of the goals. But, accomplishing anything while governing requires time, patience, hard work and the ability to acknowledge that, since you seldom get everything you want, you take what you can.
Because the statement isn't wrong. Most of governing is moving step-by-step to a a set of goals. We need to hear the poetry to remind ourselves of the goals. But, accomplishing anything while governing requires time, patience, hard work and the ability to acknowledge that, since you seldom get everything you want, you take what you can.
80
Can someone please tell me what this is about ???? What's the point ??? Who cares ???
Orange, NJ
Orange, NJ
57
This is all so predictable from Ms. Dowd. Her Thanksgiving dinners with her Republican family have evidently convinced her to become a stealth Republican, pretending to represent the Democratic point of view while undermining it. But what a tragic time to make the switch. Based on her recent columns, she seems to, sort of, maybe, who-knows-I'm just-sayin' think Trump might be an acceptable alternative. As the Donald himself would say, Something is going on here, am I right? How sad for her.
115
What is missing here is context. You may not like your manipulative, micromanaging boss, but if a three-headed alien breaks down the wall of your office and tries to eat you, you naturally band together to fight it. Obama would have handed the election to the Trumpmonster on a plate if he'd been anything less than fully supportive. You also have to factor in that since the first election he has gotten to know Clinton well by working side by side night and day. That almost certainly altered his view. Life is not stasis. We learn and grow.
90
That would be "Feel the Hill." (CQ)
2
About as good and accurate a column as you have ever written, Maureen. You nailed it. Barry is rolling out the red carpet in order to "preserve", so he thinks, his "legacy". I put my money on Hillary preserving W's legacy, not Barry's. Witness Terry McAuliffe's remark about her expected about-turn on TPP. We shall see...
21
"Feel the Bern" is now "Fell the Hill." That would be Hillary and Capitol Hill. She and Congress must build bridges to move the country forward. Let's start acting like adults, Washington, D.C. This partisan warfare borders stupidity.
21
Rahm Emanuel has no credibility and hardly any constituency left in Chicago. Like Trump, he's a power unto himself and ally (tool?) of downtown real estate developers. He represents exactly the aspect of the Democratic party that progressives want to move beyond. Not Ms. Dowd, though, who this time out suggests good old Joe Biden might have been the the guy to make America great again. She likes her traditional authority figures, Maureen does.
36
Obama has always been a principled pragmatist elected by the center of the Democratic party. Anyone who looked closely at his actual policy positions could see that. The country has come to respect him because of his steady, "no drama" approach, his interest in rational compromise and his character. Too bad he is not an interesting target for pundits like you who want to cover the bloodsport. He has courageously navigated a sickening hatred and intransigence from the right since the day he entered office. Obama's revolution was about trying to overcome that. He did try, and he did not lose his soul in the process. Hillary Clinton actually has faced the same unfairness and is cut from the same cloth, more interested in progress than politics. The voters are waking up to this. Too bad you can't. We are seeing through the right wing cartoon to the real person, a good person who will try to do good in office. Maureen, you are attacking a straw man and a straw woman. Obama's speech passing the baton to Hillary was one of the most moving and convincing in memory. Your continuing cheap shots are not interesting. This lane that you are in leads rapidly to a place where no one cares what you think anymore. Really, it's tiresome. You are the critic who doesn't count. Hillary is the woman in the arena. And she is going to be one of our greatest presidents.
178
Ms. Dowd, you are not the Democratic Party nor its conscience. Your criticisms of Obama and Clinton seem to come from you view that they are not pure enough to represent the party you imagine the Democrats should be. I think it is fair to characterize your total contribution as sour grapes. Where are your constructive criticisms? What are trying to build besides your reputation or aura? I humbly suggest it is time to retire on your deserved laurels before you damage yourself irreparably. Don't be a Nixon.
99
We have been pushed to the edge, and have no option but to accept the lifeline thrown by the Clintons. Obama is a centrist politician like Clinton, despite the rhetoric. Then Obama had to protect not only his legacy, but his future prospects. He couldn't have spent rest of his days on presidential pension. The partnership will continue. Look forward to seeing Obama on the Supreme Court bench.
33
Maureen, I hope you enjoy President Trump. You are certainly doing your part to elect him. I don't want to read any whining from you when it happens.
160
There are enough frightening things in this world without Donald Trump as President. Imagine trying to get a nights sleep with his hand on the button. Obama's message hasn't changed. He does, as you put it Ms. Dowd, "make us feel good about ourselves, that we could be better, do better."
Were you not witness to what Republicans did to make life hell for Obama and the majority of Americans who wanted to move forward? Did you not witness the hate, slander and lies from the McConnells and Ryans and their army of Tea Party brown shirts? Where were you, Maureen ?
Were you not witness to what Republicans did to make life hell for Obama and the majority of Americans who wanted to move forward? Did you not witness the hate, slander and lies from the McConnells and Ryans and their army of Tea Party brown shirts? Where were you, Maureen ?
187
You can dislike Hillary as much as you want, AFTER she beats Trump. I don't care about her issues, half of which the Republicans made up anyway. I care about the make-up of the Supreme court for the next thirty years an a a sane person holding the nuclear button. You can be as bitter as you want on November 10th, or take a vacation till then, for the sake of the Republic, literally.
184
O.m.g. Did Maureen just create a convenient equivalency between Obama and Trump in order to level yet another broadside on her nemesis, Hillary? Why, yes, she did. How gauche, Maureen. Some might say unhinged.
149
Obama achieved a lot - he fixed an inherited financial armageddon from W and implemented healthcare reform (imperfect as it is), in the face of overwhelming GOP opposition and outright racism.
But he came nowhere close to being "the one" or the messiah he sold himself to be. It's a mystery to me, after being attacked by the Clinton machine so viciously in 2008, that he would hand the reigns back to them.
Obama's is still a solid legacy, if not at least somewhat hypocritical.
But he came nowhere close to being "the one" or the messiah he sold himself to be. It's a mystery to me, after being attacked by the Clinton machine so viciously in 2008, that he would hand the reigns back to them.
Obama's is still a solid legacy, if not at least somewhat hypocritical.
13
You can't quite get over it, just as the GOP couldn't get over Clinton's win in 1992 and Obama's win in 2008. "How can this be??" they asked themselves, and had no answers other than an imagined political "machine" that they themselves had perfected, but has failed time and again.
Yours is an opinion column, Ms. Dowd, and you're of course entitled to your opinion. But your position as a "Hillary Hater" is no more persuasive than that of the "Clinton haters" of late 1900s or the "Obama haters" who still spew their vile, even in the face of an increasingly popular president who most of us know will become a source of nostalgia for better days, just as the Bill Clinton days has become.
Every spiteful word you write in opposition to HRC is an encouragement to vote for a thoroughly despicable man who's unfit to run a condominium association, much less a nation. "Words have consequences", and your words encourage a thoroughly unacceptable choice in November. Do you know that? Do you care? Is your dislike for HRC so personally deep-seated as to suspend your judgment entirely?
The world wonders.
Yours is an opinion column, Ms. Dowd, and you're of course entitled to your opinion. But your position as a "Hillary Hater" is no more persuasive than that of the "Clinton haters" of late 1900s or the "Obama haters" who still spew their vile, even in the face of an increasingly popular president who most of us know will become a source of nostalgia for better days, just as the Bill Clinton days has become.
Every spiteful word you write in opposition to HRC is an encouragement to vote for a thoroughly despicable man who's unfit to run a condominium association, much less a nation. "Words have consequences", and your words encourage a thoroughly unacceptable choice in November. Do you know that? Do you care? Is your dislike for HRC so personally deep-seated as to suspend your judgment entirely?
The world wonders.
240
Ms. Dowd prefers to play the role of psychological detective, finding the loose thread of a personality and then pulling at it until the person is entirely deconstructed. Problem is, this avoids dealing with the policies that actually govern the lives of us who live in this nation.
Ms. Dowd had no trouble taking down Gore for being a bit priggish but gave GW Bush a comparatively free pass for being, quite obviously, an idiot. She is doing it again with her soft-glove treatment of Donald while scratching relentlessly away at the Clintons.
Contrary to universal disclaimers, the party platforms vividly demonstrate the core values of each party, though not every proposition makes it into law. Politicians with their dysfunctional personalities come and go, but the policies and laws they leave behind dramatically impact the daily lives of everyone (think FDR as an example). But no discussion of that here!
Hey, Ms. Dowd, we know perfectly well the failings of all these characters - and it is not that we are indifferent - but we are looking out for ourselves, and that means electing the candidate least likely to start World War III. Little details like this matter, though I would never know it from reading your columns.
Ms. Dowd had no trouble taking down Gore for being a bit priggish but gave GW Bush a comparatively free pass for being, quite obviously, an idiot. She is doing it again with her soft-glove treatment of Donald while scratching relentlessly away at the Clintons.
Contrary to universal disclaimers, the party platforms vividly demonstrate the core values of each party, though not every proposition makes it into law. Politicians with their dysfunctional personalities come and go, but the policies and laws they leave behind dramatically impact the daily lives of everyone (think FDR as an example). But no discussion of that here!
Hey, Ms. Dowd, we know perfectly well the failings of all these characters - and it is not that we are indifferent - but we are looking out for ourselves, and that means electing the candidate least likely to start World War III. Little details like this matter, though I would never know it from reading your columns.
171
Speak for yourself Maureen. I was an idealistic "old gal" and worked hard in both elections to support the Obama campaign. I have never regretted it for a second. Am I as inspired by Hillary as I was by Obama. No, but she is so far above Trump, I have no problem working and voting for her. Tell me Maureen, who are you voting for? And, if your answer is Trump, you should be ashamed of yourself.
205
The damage caused by these powerful, well-funded "columnists" has caused a world of harm. Normal people knew Obama was not what he pretended. In ten years, maybe Dowd will do a column on how they should have paid attention when the DNC and Hillary plotted to leverage antisemitism to overthrow the electorate. In the end, it's all too little too late. The lure of power is greater than the lure of truth for these "columnists".
12
Maureen, there you go again!
40
Well, it took a while, two terms to be precise, but Don Quixote de la Mancha has finally won a kingdom for his faithful friend Sancho Panza.
Smashing his Rocinante into the windmill peasants call the 22nd amendment, Don Quixote picks himself up, dusts himself off as he always does. and regales again in highest oath the glories of the forever struggle. This time with Sancho as our leader.
There, that's as far as I will take it. Here's hoping Hillary is proves the cleverer one between her and the droll but witless Sancho.
Smashing his Rocinante into the windmill peasants call the 22nd amendment, Don Quixote picks himself up, dusts himself off as he always does. and regales again in highest oath the glories of the forever struggle. This time with Sancho as our leader.
There, that's as far as I will take it. Here's hoping Hillary is proves the cleverer one between her and the droll but witless Sancho.
3
It sounds as if Ms. Dowd is grasping at straws to find reasons to diss the dems and by implication give the GOP a pass. If one is at this hour to draw comparisons it would be the evident energy and passion that was on display in Philly against the fawning hypocrisy of what was left of the RNC in Cleveland, empty seats and fear-mongering masquerading as policy. To nit-pick on Obama's support of Hillary is to reveal a lack of heart in this hour of national need. Try imagining a lame-duck Trump offering support to a former rival! The contrast between the two possible Presidents at this time could not be more disquieting. Why is Maureen wasting her time and ours fussing about minnows when there are sharks in the water??
109
So . . . 7.5 years in office can change a person.
12
Cynics are, generally speaking, idealists who've had their hearts broken.
But just as in matters of the heart, the wiser response to disappointment is to learn to leaven one's idealism with a touch of the practical. We don't need to see idealists and pragmatists in binary terms. In fact, in order to get anything done, they need each other.
The primaries seem to be the place where these two approaches are pitted against each other, their adherents aggregating to one pole or another, the press eager for blood.
In 2008, it was the "dream catcher", as Dowd puts it, vs. Old Reliable. This year it was Captain Birdman vs. Mrs Plans. One had a compelling vision of what the promised land looked like without a map to get there. The other had a 12-point plan to make it to first base, maybe second, because, you can't exactly bank on a home run – and a strike out would be catastophic.
Now the challenge in the general is for Clinton to integrate these two halves of the progressive psyche. But selling herself as "a progressive who gets things done" is only going to go so far unless she acknowledges how badly our political system needs reform (including the Dem primaries).
But there's an opportunity here in appealing to our ideals: Yes, we want a woman president. But even more than that, we want a political system we can trust. Go for it, Hillary. Demand reforms from the DNC and the do-nothing Congress. If you succeed, we'll not only trust our system again, we'll also trust you.
But just as in matters of the heart, the wiser response to disappointment is to learn to leaven one's idealism with a touch of the practical. We don't need to see idealists and pragmatists in binary terms. In fact, in order to get anything done, they need each other.
The primaries seem to be the place where these two approaches are pitted against each other, their adherents aggregating to one pole or another, the press eager for blood.
In 2008, it was the "dream catcher", as Dowd puts it, vs. Old Reliable. This year it was Captain Birdman vs. Mrs Plans. One had a compelling vision of what the promised land looked like without a map to get there. The other had a 12-point plan to make it to first base, maybe second, because, you can't exactly bank on a home run – and a strike out would be catastophic.
Now the challenge in the general is for Clinton to integrate these two halves of the progressive psyche. But selling herself as "a progressive who gets things done" is only going to go so far unless she acknowledges how badly our political system needs reform (including the Dem primaries).
But there's an opportunity here in appealing to our ideals: Yes, we want a woman president. But even more than that, we want a political system we can trust. Go for it, Hillary. Demand reforms from the DNC and the do-nothing Congress. If you succeed, we'll not only trust our system again, we'll also trust you.
508
The only people who call Barack Obama "the one" are right-wing propagandists and Maureen Dowd. The only people who ever think about presidents' "legacies" are bloviating pundits.
I would far rather have a supposedly icy pragmatist or a progressive incrementalist in the White House than a loudmouthed blowhard who fits every textbook definition of a fascist.
I would far rather have a supposedly icy pragmatist or a progressive incrementalist in the White House than a loudmouthed blowhard who fits every textbook definition of a fascist.
184
Why is Dowd stumping for Trump? Since she so values honesty and candor: Will she just be honest herself and say she thinks Hillary Clinton is a greater threat to American democracy, indeed to the peace of the world, than Donald Trump? Shall we next hear of her admiration for Vlad Putin, that charmer?
94
I wasn't going to click on Maureen (I've decided to spare myself from her columns), but the title – "Thanks, Obama – fooled me like false gold. I thought she was finally going to have something good to say abut someone. So I clicked and then immediately recognized my mistake. What was I thinking?
166
Great essay. Barack and Bernie back Beelzebub. Erstwhile messiahs reveal themselves to be nothing more than run-of-the-mill pols.
A fictional fantasyland teeming with pretend-patriots peeking through row upon row of Old Glory, hurriedly purchased by the mega-gross, allegiance unpledged.
Barack reminds us we don't want "a solipsistic and self-appointed savior who wants everything his way."
A bit rich coming from our self-styled Messiah, who would slow the rise of oceans, who ruled by diktat, who unilaterally, fraudulently & existentially made an irrational, nuke-proliferating, legacy-driven deal that Beelzebub engineered w/ insane, apocalyptic signatories whose stated goal is our annihilation.
A despot can do a lot of damage and a deluded one blinded by his/her own imagined brilliance will.
Most would assume coup d'état to remove a dangerously unfit leader is unnecessary in America, given our redundant constitutional protections. They would be wrong. Those protections require a courageous and incorruptible counterweight.
The failure to prosecute Clinton—with the fix in plain sight!—and the latest revelation about an Obama/Clinton/Kerry secret Iran side deal—ensuring a rapidly nuclearized Iran!—underscore the profound and dangerous failure of our constitutional protections. No constitution can protect against systemic corruption and cowardice.
12
There was nothing banal about successfully pushing through seminal, signature legislation such as the ACA and the Iran nuke deal, especially given the obstacles. And there was nothing prosaic about nominating Supreme Court justices who contributed mightily to finally making marriage equality a reality.
Ms. Dowd also writes about those who will vote for Hillary as if they have blinders on. I'm voting for Hillary, and I'm not wearing any blinders.
In fact, it's all pretty clear to me: Hillary has some baggage. And Trump is a Samsonite factory.
Ms. Dowd also writes about those who will vote for Hillary as if they have blinders on. I'm voting for Hillary, and I'm not wearing any blinders.
In fact, it's all pretty clear to me: Hillary has some baggage. And Trump is a Samsonite factory.
89
Look, after "No Drama Obama"...you get drama. Is it Obama's fault that Clinton co-opted the Democratic National Committee? If the DNC's greatest midterm elections loss since the 1920's wasn't sufficient to flush out the Grand Pooh-Bahs Debbie Wasserman and Donna Brazile then the DNC simply illuminated what we now know is true: non-profit corporations are equally tainted by arrogance and self-dealing as business corporations.
The fact the politicos essentially had to drag Wasserman kicking and screaming from her post was more about Wasserman. Nice try Mo Do, after all, President Obama has a country to run, he's President McCool for a reason, and while he may have had his pragmatic thumb on the selection scale, and I'm a Bernie supporter, it is what it is, warts and all, but Bernie's ideas aren't going away. We all certainly can learn from the perseverance of the many great women (and men) who fought long and hard for the right for women to vote---keep on fighting.
Just remember, Mo Do, America is not losing 4 soldiers per day in the Middle East for a war we were lied into with the aid of the national media as well. Godspeed President Barack Hussein Obama!
The fact the politicos essentially had to drag Wasserman kicking and screaming from her post was more about Wasserman. Nice try Mo Do, after all, President Obama has a country to run, he's President McCool for a reason, and while he may have had his pragmatic thumb on the selection scale, and I'm a Bernie supporter, it is what it is, warts and all, but Bernie's ideas aren't going away. We all certainly can learn from the perseverance of the many great women (and men) who fought long and hard for the right for women to vote---keep on fighting.
Just remember, Mo Do, America is not losing 4 soldiers per day in the Middle East for a war we were lied into with the aid of the national media as well. Godspeed President Barack Hussein Obama!
34
What a cynical screed! Ms Dowd has no ability to look at the Clintons with any objectivity, spinning all sorts of nefarious plots that are only backed up by exaggerations and conspiratorial suppositions . The fact that Obama, Biden and numerous other Democratic leaders (and even independents and Republicans) spoke eloquently of Hillary's integrity and dedication to progressive values only causes Dowd to diminish them rather than re-evaluate her prejudiced view of Clinton.
70
Wow. What to say.
Maybe we will ALL just pivot like Ms Dowd allowed The Donald to do and swipe the mic and say: "Thank You, President Obama!"
Maybe we will ALL just pivot like Ms Dowd allowed The Donald to do and swipe the mic and say: "Thank You, President Obama!"
14
"There's somewhere the Law stops; and just people starts-" Faulkner, The Reivers
“Then tell Wind and Fire where to stop,” returned Madame Defarge; “but don't tell me." Dickens, A Tale Of Two Cities
Ahem.
"The same Obama who sparked a revolution has now made it his mission to preserve the establishment for Hillary."
Why can the "mission" not simply be to "preserve" the Union?
The president waited, properly, until right time to show his support (and thank heaven he did!), and when he did so, it was all that was needed (as was Biden). After Cleveland, to view the re-alignment, with Clinton-Sanders-Obama, and all the different factions of the Democratic party, striving with all their might to become a unified force able to take on the juggernaut of Trump, as simply a betrayal of his philosophy by Obama, is a poor lens through which to view events.
Also. In a lot of your columns lately, you either ignore the 800,000 pound, potentially-nuclear-armed gorilla in the room, or, when you cover it, you pretend it's Bambi.
Lastly. When Hillary becomes POTUS, not too many icky FGOTUS articles, OK?
Thank you. Best.
“Then tell Wind and Fire where to stop,” returned Madame Defarge; “but don't tell me." Dickens, A Tale Of Two Cities
Ahem.
"The same Obama who sparked a revolution has now made it his mission to preserve the establishment for Hillary."
Why can the "mission" not simply be to "preserve" the Union?
The president waited, properly, until right time to show his support (and thank heaven he did!), and when he did so, it was all that was needed (as was Biden). After Cleveland, to view the re-alignment, with Clinton-Sanders-Obama, and all the different factions of the Democratic party, striving with all their might to become a unified force able to take on the juggernaut of Trump, as simply a betrayal of his philosophy by Obama, is a poor lens through which to view events.
Also. In a lot of your columns lately, you either ignore the 800,000 pound, potentially-nuclear-armed gorilla in the room, or, when you cover it, you pretend it's Bambi.
Lastly. When Hillary becomes POTUS, not too many icky FGOTUS articles, OK?
Thank you. Best.
40
Although I have voted in every election since I came of voting age in 1968, only twice have I voted for the winning candidate - in 2008 and 2012 - and then making the best $ contribution I could. I find the searing truth of this column heartbreaking.
22
So, if anyone could have come up with a better alternative than Clinton, I would listen. Ms. Dowd, can you offer up a viable candidate? Unlike the Republicans, It was not exactly a crowded field. And by a viable candidate, I mean someone, a Democrat who could have excited the party the way Obama did back in 2008?
Silence. I thought so.
Silence. I thought so.
34
I would like to see the evidence that President Obama
prevented Joe Biden from running for president this
year. If you cannot provide it, your credibility is zero.
prevented Joe Biden from running for president this
year. If you cannot provide it, your credibility is zero.
128
FBI Director said, "careless" not "untruthful" is the way I remember hearing it. Exonerated.
76
Deal with it. Hilary is a changed person and Obama is the cause of the changes. Bill is a changed and better person, and Obama is the cause of the change. Bill demonstrated this in 2012 at the convention in his speech. Now the 2016 Democratic convention has shown a way forward and a positive vision for America. Would any of this have happened but for the path laid out by Obama over the past eight years.
48
One wonders if it has occurred to Ms. Dowd that the choice other than Hillary is that fool Trump. This election is a no-brainer for the ages.
102
She's back. I knew it was too good to be true. Loved the line about old grudges.
12
Thank you, Ms. Dowd:
I would gladly have moved over to the other side of the aisle, and voted for Sanders ... but no amount of bolstering of Ms. Clinton can overcome my inability to trust her underlying motivations.
You "break it all down," quite impressively, Ms. Dowd. Not to patronize you or NYT, but your cogent and critical insights are a joy to read. When you write, people may actually have to think for themselves. Thank you.
I would gladly have moved over to the other side of the aisle, and voted for Sanders ... but no amount of bolstering of Ms. Clinton can overcome my inability to trust her underlying motivations.
You "break it all down," quite impressively, Ms. Dowd. Not to patronize you or NYT, but your cogent and critical insights are a joy to read. When you write, people may actually have to think for themselves. Thank you.
22
I am disgusted by the comparison of Obama-as-savior to Trump's claim to be so. Obama's message was of inclusion and compassion.
86
You know what, Maureen? You're right, and that's ok, indeed, that's what has to happen, to deny He who's name cannot be uttered the Presidency. Get over yourself.
37
Since my youth I had wondered how the land that gave the world Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, Bach, Brahms, and countless other creative geniuses could also visit the lurid abomination that was the Holocaust on it.
But now Ms. Down has explained it to us: It's just politics, man.
Soooo...vote for Trump and hope that something wonderful rises from the ashes of the Golden Phoenix!
But now Ms. Down has explained it to us: It's just politics, man.
Soooo...vote for Trump and hope that something wonderful rises from the ashes of the Golden Phoenix!
27
Politics ain't bean-bag, Maureen. And Pres. Obama has said that he realized when he got to Washington that you can't change it from outside. That's why he came in to fold.
I would willingly believe that the Clintons stole the primaries when someone can explain to me how 50 states can vote at different times in a presidential primary and how ONE party can run the board?
Just explain how it was done. I'm ready to believe you. But it has to make sense.
I would willingly believe that the Clintons stole the primaries when someone can explain to me how 50 states can vote at different times in a presidential primary and how ONE party can run the board?
Just explain how it was done. I'm ready to believe you. But it has to make sense.
21
No, Ms. Dowd, Hillary didn't corrupt the president into renouncing his ideals in favor of pragmatism, being dismissive of what he once asked, "'what about principles... what about a higher purpose?'"
You don't suppose Hillary has principles or a higher purpose? Bill Clinton mentioned you in his speech the other night when he said Hillary's opponents have drawn a cartoonist Hillary in vilifying her.
Here's her higher purpose: she raised a child of exception in Chelsea, as her mother, abandoned and abused as a child, raised her. Perhaps that's why Hillary fought so hard for the Children's Health Insurance Program in the nineties.
I'm disdainful of the millennial feminist who shrugs off such progress. Eyes on the prize has always been Hillary's way: ambitious, but cautious, sweating the details, solving problems by cajoling adversaries, while Donald drones on with his con of "Believe me, I, alone, can save you."
Trump's a hostage of his own cult, who doesn't want the prize, because he has no sense of history; his history warped by television and twitter. Hillary's history shaped by study and preparedness.
Her worthy principle and purpose is to be the first female president in our nation's history and to me that's a pretty dramatic change I welcome. Barry and Hillary understand absolutism and political purity, that only lead to stagnation in perpetuity. Smug progressives sitting an election out.
"The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."
You don't suppose Hillary has principles or a higher purpose? Bill Clinton mentioned you in his speech the other night when he said Hillary's opponents have drawn a cartoonist Hillary in vilifying her.
Here's her higher purpose: she raised a child of exception in Chelsea, as her mother, abandoned and abused as a child, raised her. Perhaps that's why Hillary fought so hard for the Children's Health Insurance Program in the nineties.
I'm disdainful of the millennial feminist who shrugs off such progress. Eyes on the prize has always been Hillary's way: ambitious, but cautious, sweating the details, solving problems by cajoling adversaries, while Donald drones on with his con of "Believe me, I, alone, can save you."
Trump's a hostage of his own cult, who doesn't want the prize, because he has no sense of history; his history warped by television and twitter. Hillary's history shaped by study and preparedness.
Her worthy principle and purpose is to be the first female president in our nation's history and to me that's a pretty dramatic change I welcome. Barry and Hillary understand absolutism and political purity, that only lead to stagnation in perpetuity. Smug progressives sitting an election out.
"The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice."
79
The commenters here appear to be under some kind of spell, all repeating "Hillary Clinton is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life..."
20
No, it is precisely because Obama's got soul, deep, hard-won, and so consistently and eloquently expressed, aleays steady through the storm, that we love him now and why we are already missing him. Yet, given that, I can't help but think the pains that supporting Clinton must cause him, and thus he must in some ways be grateful for Trump, because without Trump being so lousy it would have been much more difficult for him to spin a case for Hillary. I really doubt that he expects much once he leaves the Whitehouse in her hands, but what choice does he have but to support her, even if she will never be the model of beautiful character that he is? What choice does he have to support her, even if he harbors doubts about her ability to bring the parties and country closer together? I think he is certainly smart enough not to count on her be be the torch for 8 more years of progressive leadership. It's just politics man, it's I am just doing my job.
7
Maureen, you would really opt for Trump? For me this is an existential election and I'm not looking for a mad man in the oval office. I don't believe you do either, but sniping doesn't help. The "Clinton Machine" as you call it, is not optimal, but the Trump option will take us places we don't want to go. The old arguments are really not valid now - and I'm surprised you wrote this piece. The 'return ticket' is not optional but it certainly a more hopeful scenario for our country than walls along the Mexican border and exclusion of Muslim immigrants.
And, it is about our souls - Would you choose Trump or Clinton. Who more protects your soul? I vote for Obama's choice.
And, it is about our souls - Would you choose Trump or Clinton. Who more protects your soul? I vote for Obama's choice.
60
Mo for such a smart lady you don't figure things out too well sometimes.
If you look at the arc of the Philadelphia Convention it had a hybrid Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and Michelle Obama spin that was Obama Chapter Three. Hillary told it as a story and knit it together seamlessly on Thursday evening. "240 years ago our founders assembled divided and ended up united and here we are." It was language, story, metaphor, poetry. There was no mirror to what was said for four days in Cleveland the week before.
Barack Obama and Debbie Wassermann-Schultz and her team put it in the can exquisitely. It was a legacy gift to our country, the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, and the historic record.
This was missed by most journalists and pundits who understandably were a little worn by Thursday evening July 28, 2016. But for most zealots who sat out over eight nights and feasted on the different buffets, it was a rare desert. Many many people went to bed with a grin on their face Thursday night and rolled and turned in joy not really worrying about going to sleep.
If you look at the arc of the Philadelphia Convention it had a hybrid Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and Michelle Obama spin that was Obama Chapter Three. Hillary told it as a story and knit it together seamlessly on Thursday evening. "240 years ago our founders assembled divided and ended up united and here we are." It was language, story, metaphor, poetry. There was no mirror to what was said for four days in Cleveland the week before.
Barack Obama and Debbie Wassermann-Schultz and her team put it in the can exquisitely. It was a legacy gift to our country, the Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, and the historic record.
This was missed by most journalists and pundits who understandably were a little worn by Thursday evening July 28, 2016. But for most zealots who sat out over eight nights and feasted on the different buffets, it was a rare desert. Many many people went to bed with a grin on their face Thursday night and rolled and turned in joy not really worrying about going to sleep.
38
Ms. Dowd, Obama versus Clinton v.2 was 2008. This is now. Given the stakes, Obama is entirely right to pass the baton to Hillary. Originally, I would have chosen another Democrat, too. Today, however, I'm with her, warts and all, of which I too have more than my fair share.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
www.endthemadnessnow.org
62
Geez Maureen, whose really holding grudges here? I'll take pragmatism any day, and Hillary has the longevity to prove to me at least she has it.
No sense in throwing stones when you don't show a better alternative.
No sense in throwing stones when you don't show a better alternative.
53
Maureen, look on the sunny side. If Trump wins, he will become your pilgarlic for the next four years.
1
Don't you mean, "Thanks, Barry," Ms. Dowd?
Maybe Obama got all that gray hair by learning it wasn't as easy as he told us it would be, and now he thinks incremental change looks pretty darn good. Of course, America demands that our candidates promise the world, and then complains bitterly when the winner doesn't deliver it all.
Maybe Obama got all that gray hair by learning it wasn't as easy as he told us it would be, and now he thinks incremental change looks pretty darn good. Of course, America demands that our candidates promise the world, and then complains bitterly when the winner doesn't deliver it all.
35
It will be a hard 3 months of not saying bad things about the Clintons. The truth will suffer, but on the other hand there is Trump who must be defeated. This is how politics degenerates.
11
Dowd is correct that Obama's support for Clinton is deeply cynical. Welcome to the real world, there was no other candidate. Democrat women would not have supported another usurper to the crown in the form of Biden.
4
Good for you, Maureen! This is one of your best columns. I am sure it will not make you popular. Obama's cynicism in backing Hillary (from way way back) tarnishes any hope he had of legacy. I hope you can keep telling it like you see it. This is as bad a media year as it is a bad candidate year....
14
Just cutting to the chase... I love our president. He is a good man, has worked diligently to succeed despite the Republicans, and has always conducted himself with dignity, compassion and intelligence. I feel safe with him at the helm.
I love his wife, who has brought me joy with her love for children, her intellect, humor and beauty. I will sorely miss them. And I love Joe Biden, another good man who it would be a pleasure to know.
I think President Obama will, as another comment suggested, be known as one of our more esteemed leaders. I think he will be a man we proudly admire as we do Jimmy Carter.
I wish Bernie had gotten the nomination, but he didn't, and Trump is insane. I will vote for Hillary. And hope Bill keeps a low profile.
I love his wife, who has brought me joy with her love for children, her intellect, humor and beauty. I will sorely miss them. And I love Joe Biden, another good man who it would be a pleasure to know.
I think President Obama will, as another comment suggested, be known as one of our more esteemed leaders. I think he will be a man we proudly admire as we do Jimmy Carter.
I wish Bernie had gotten the nomination, but he didn't, and Trump is insane. I will vote for Hillary. And hope Bill keeps a low profile.
50
Like many Bernie supporters at the convention, tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched his speech on television. We came so close, and lost. We had such a great opportunity to effect real change in our country and we missed it. I do not expect any major changes under a Clinton administration. Corporate profits and income inequality will continue to rise. Gun-control laws won't be passed. American soldiers will probably be sent to Syria to die. For a die-hard Bernie supporter like me, the prospect of Hillary Clinton as president remained anathema. But then came President Obama's speech. And let me tell you, Maureen, this man has not lost his old magic. Thanks to him, I will not stay home on Election Day. I have felt the Bern but I don't want my country burning.
1030
All's well that ends well. Now I'm with her.
45
So Maureen, given the choice before us, are you really supporting your phone pal Trump or are you just trying to be part of the conversation?
32
Yes, Hillary and Barack fought hard back in 2008, two top competitors who upped each other's game and thrived on being the Federer and Jokovic of politics dueling with a highly skilled opponent. The end result was an adult one - an enormous respect for one another. Ms. Dowd would appear not to know the difference between fierce opponents and mortal enemies. Therefore she fails to realize that Clinton and Obama tried to defeat each other - unlike the man about whom she is ambivalent, who desires only to destroy his competition. And while I'm here, I want to add Thanks (no snarky comma) Obama.
838
Another weekend, another Obama and Clinton-bashing Maureen Dowd column. Never mind that the Obama administration has changed Washington - it's been the most scandal-free in decades, and it's often suffered politically for putting good policy over short -term gains in the news cycle.
78
Well, it's back to "fear and loathing" in Dowd City. Beyond the Obama back-stabbing scenario, we've had in President Obama a man who accomplished much, but in the end was unable either to see or change the system that produced him that needed more than a bailout and a few incremental tweaks. The "audacity of hope" worked for him, a biracial son of an immigrant father, as it has for me, the son of Jewish refugees from czarist Russia, as well, but it has not for so many who feel left out and invisible in the new global economy, and whose anger has shaken the political establishment of the Clinton-Obama era. The true messenger of the "audacity of hope" was, of course, Bernie Sanders widely attacked in these pages and successfully stabbed in the back, not by Mr. Obama, but as the hacked emails revealed by the Clinton-controlled Democratic National Committee. So, now we are faced with the false prophet of doom with his jeremiad of bigotry and hate whose remedy for anger is to build a wall to keep people of color and Muslims out, and for his bloody-thirsty mob to "Lock Her Up!" "In the end, [Bernie] didn't overthrow the Clinton machine. He was [dis]-enabled [by] it." Bernie was not going to save the President's legacy of a corporate, for-profit health care (aka Obamacare), but replace it by universal, single-payer care. And, he wasn't going to support another job destroying, wealth-gap enhancing corporate trade agreement (TPP), either. So, Thanks, Maureen, for enabling it.
11
Thanks, Dowd - I guess cleverness is more important than saving the country from Trump.
51
Thanks, PRESIDENT Obama
Can we please show some respect to the man and the office that he holds? You may not agree with his policies, but after almost 8 years as our president, he has more than earned that title and the respect it affords.
Can we please show some respect to the man and the office that he holds? You may not agree with his policies, but after almost 8 years as our president, he has more than earned that title and the respect it affords.
54
The Trump Constitution:
- Judge people not as individuals, but as religious/nationality groups.
- The losing candidate in any election should be immediately jailed.
- Murdering people in the streets (esp. 5th Ave.) is legal if you are powerful and liked enough.
- The Debt of the United States is worth...the paper it's printed on.
- The U.S. foreign policy should be based on abandoning those who have fought with us while befriending oligarchs who would destroy us.
- 11 million decent people who have contributed to our country should be rounded up by a new national police force reporting only to the Leader -- sound familiar?
- Service in the military is for fools. etc........
Seriously Maureen????
- Judge people not as individuals, but as religious/nationality groups.
- The losing candidate in any election should be immediately jailed.
- Murdering people in the streets (esp. 5th Ave.) is legal if you are powerful and liked enough.
- The Debt of the United States is worth...the paper it's printed on.
- The U.S. foreign policy should be based on abandoning those who have fought with us while befriending oligarchs who would destroy us.
- 11 million decent people who have contributed to our country should be rounded up by a new national police force reporting only to the Leader -- sound familiar?
- Service in the military is for fools. etc........
Seriously Maureen????
47
When it comes to Hallary you cannot bring yourself to be fair. You cannot bring yourself to be objective. You persistently evaluate Hillary as the "Clintons" inferring she is not a person separate from her husband. What makes the FBI director right? Perhaps he is a Republican. He did not rail against Podesta, a cabinet maker sharing federal secrets with his mistress, or "spank" him with blatant and public disregard.
Obama,s hope was naive. He never expected the racial divide. He never believed that his Presidency would result in gridlock. Gridlock announced my Mitch McConnell on day one after the first election. McConnell, from Kentucky: the South rules. You present with a sarcastic tone towards his "Audacity of Hope". Where's yours?
If the NYT were to do a fact check regarding your claimed justification for your column they might find that there is an inkling of validity but ask you to consider a more accurate representation. I am inviting you to be critical and judgemental without employing the old, very old paradigms of racial and gender bias. Can you do it?
Obama,s hope was naive. He never expected the racial divide. He never believed that his Presidency would result in gridlock. Gridlock announced my Mitch McConnell on day one after the first election. McConnell, from Kentucky: the South rules. You present with a sarcastic tone towards his "Audacity of Hope". Where's yours?
If the NYT were to do a fact check regarding your claimed justification for your column they might find that there is an inkling of validity but ask you to consider a more accurate representation. I am inviting you to be critical and judgemental without employing the old, very old paradigms of racial and gender bias. Can you do it?
34
Hill and Bill have yuuge sound brains. I guess they have seen this perfect storm of Hillary´s rapidly dwindling electability coming all along and have thrown a very ugly and worried face back at it.
The DNC is the pocket of Hill and Bill, no shill could possibly switch and turn around, unless she´d be prepared to crash and burn her own career. Even Barack and Joe are beholden, of course they´ve been thinking, but they could not act in the end, especially the woman card works against the option of them pushing for a full course correction, they find themselves unfortunately blackmailed by being men.
Now here the Supreme Court is at play, the stakes could not be higher and they are doomed to keep their feet quiet, instead of putting one in their mouth.
These are the men I pity most today.
Obama: two beautiful daughters, but having to be an onlooker while your most beloved son, your gods own country, which you almost singlehandedly saved, is yet being led to the slaughterhouse. Biden already lost a son. They wept in Newtown, in Charleston and at countless other scenes. Is their most bitter day still at hand?
So only Hill and Bill themselves could lead and carry out the rethinking. Apparently a task they could not carry past their egos. Their minds could have wrestled an alternative they could live with and force down Sanders throat. Warren/Kaine would have been one. Sanders/Warren would not have ended their wealth. History will judge them hard.
The DNC is the pocket of Hill and Bill, no shill could possibly switch and turn around, unless she´d be prepared to crash and burn her own career. Even Barack and Joe are beholden, of course they´ve been thinking, but they could not act in the end, especially the woman card works against the option of them pushing for a full course correction, they find themselves unfortunately blackmailed by being men.
Now here the Supreme Court is at play, the stakes could not be higher and they are doomed to keep their feet quiet, instead of putting one in their mouth.
These are the men I pity most today.
Obama: two beautiful daughters, but having to be an onlooker while your most beloved son, your gods own country, which you almost singlehandedly saved, is yet being led to the slaughterhouse. Biden already lost a son. They wept in Newtown, in Charleston and at countless other scenes. Is their most bitter day still at hand?
So only Hill and Bill themselves could lead and carry out the rethinking. Apparently a task they could not carry past their egos. Their minds could have wrestled an alternative they could live with and force down Sanders throat. Warren/Kaine would have been one. Sanders/Warren would not have ended their wealth. History will judge them hard.
3
I used to enjoy Dowd's columns, sprinkled with literary images and cleverly turned phrases. But the venom for Hillary has spoiled any appreciation I once had of her column. And, the day after her non-journalistic phone convo with The Donald, Dowd's attacks on the Clintons and Obama take on a misogynistic bent when she mentions Clinton's "intern/mistress." Is she only reading literary classics and skipping columns from her own paper?
On May 28, the NYTimes Jessica Bennet wrote an excellent article (ridiculously buried in the Style section) on Paula Broadwell and the double standard regarding a word that has no male equivalent: mistress. Think Broader Maureen Dowd and raise your hopes beyond merely having a president who will pick up your phone call.
On May 28, the NYTimes Jessica Bennet wrote an excellent article (ridiculously buried in the Style section) on Paula Broadwell and the double standard regarding a word that has no male equivalent: mistress. Think Broader Maureen Dowd and raise your hopes beyond merely having a president who will pick up your phone call.
52
Ms. Dowd,
The fact is, like it or not, come this November, we will have either a president Clinton or, god help us, a president Trump. I have learned from so many of your columns that your hatret toward the Clintons runs deep and I don't expect you to ever stop dispising the Clintons. But please, at some point before the election, make it clear to your readers Which of the two you want to be the next president? "Neither" is not an acceptable answer.
The fact is, like it or not, come this November, we will have either a president Clinton or, god help us, a president Trump. I have learned from so many of your columns that your hatret toward the Clintons runs deep and I don't expect you to ever stop dispising the Clintons. But please, at some point before the election, make it clear to your readers Which of the two you want to be the next president? "Neither" is not an acceptable answer.
50
One of the many things to admire about the Obama presidency is that he stridently refused to play into the petty anachronistic tropes of the capital that Dowd so admires. Dowd, as she's written dozens of times, clamors for a "daddy" president. Obama chose instead to communicate to the American people as adults. Dowd clamors for the optics of the president rubbing elbows with Congressmen, lobbyists and the press. Obama chose instead to play the long game.
Obama's pragmatism has achieved results. Granted, there's a long way to go, but much of the country has bounced back from the financial crisis, our troops aren't dying by the thousands overseas, and we live in a much more inclusive country than ever before. Obama's pragmatism has led him to see Clinton as the person to continue this progress. I'm not a fan of Clinton, but I get the reasoning behind his choice. Meanwhile, in Dowd's tired vision of DC as a continuation of high school, all she can offer is cattiness.
Obama's pragmatism has achieved results. Granted, there's a long way to go, but much of the country has bounced back from the financial crisis, our troops aren't dying by the thousands overseas, and we live in a much more inclusive country than ever before. Obama's pragmatism has led him to see Clinton as the person to continue this progress. I'm not a fan of Clinton, but I get the reasoning behind his choice. Meanwhile, in Dowd's tired vision of DC as a continuation of high school, all she can offer is cattiness.
60
Right On. “It turns out, who we choose is not really about our souls. It’s just politics, man”.
Dowd has the quark of a long memory, but so do many other who feel uninspired by tumbling balloons in Philly. But DTDTDT no choice -- does not inspire. The Clintons are a know and their Goldman Sacks staffing expected with a little polish around the fringe for a while. Oh well its just politics man. No change in sight. How sad.
Dowd has the quark of a long memory, but so do many other who feel uninspired by tumbling balloons in Philly. But DTDTDT no choice -- does not inspire. The Clintons are a know and their Goldman Sacks staffing expected with a little polish around the fringe for a while. Oh well its just politics man. No change in sight. How sad.
3
Overdue is a similar column on the foibles of The Donald. But that would fill 10 thick books.
39
Odd that Dowd fails to even mention Hillary's stint as Secretary of State, and her improved experience and readiness for the job.
Lucky for Hillary, Obama has a knack for pulling people into public service with him, even after they've treated him poorly (e.g., Biden called Obama the first "clean" African-American presidential candidate, then became VP).
In my opinion, Obama's forgiving and forward-looking attitude is something that makes Obama stand apart from the average "politics, man" candidate.
All of us would be joining him in recognizing Hillary's foreign policy experience, except the GOP has done an amazing job of completely distracting us by hounding her about a brief usage of private email--something that's supposed to be "criminal" except that other Sec. of State did the same thing...
(And one more thing, having worked as an organizer in Obama's campaign, you really do not understand how Obama won the ground game...)
Lucky for Hillary, Obama has a knack for pulling people into public service with him, even after they've treated him poorly (e.g., Biden called Obama the first "clean" African-American presidential candidate, then became VP).
In my opinion, Obama's forgiving and forward-looking attitude is something that makes Obama stand apart from the average "politics, man" candidate.
All of us would be joining him in recognizing Hillary's foreign policy experience, except the GOP has done an amazing job of completely distracting us by hounding her about a brief usage of private email--something that's supposed to be "criminal" except that other Sec. of State did the same thing...
(And one more thing, having worked as an organizer in Obama's campaign, you really do not understand how Obama won the ground game...)
53
Only old tired axes to grind in this article.
Not a word here about the historical significance of the first female candidate of a major political party in the U.S., a female 10,000 times more qualified than Dowd's friend the Donald. a female with at least a 60% probability that she will be the first female president.
Not a word here about the historical significance of the first female candidate of a major political party in the U.S., a female 10,000 times more qualified than Dowd's friend the Donald. a female with at least a 60% probability that she will be the first female president.
43
No one can strain an analogy like Ms Dowd. But, unfortunately for her thesis and demonstrably contrary to her obnoxious assertion, President Obama has never come anywhere close to being so oblivious as to make a Trump-like claim of personal indispensability to the nation for himself. Better luck next time.
48
Ms. Dowd: You slam President Obama for endorsing the Dem nominee but at the same time you let Trump's idiotic statement on the Khan family go unchalleneged? What planet are you living on?
Snap out of the Trump fever, please. We all get that you don't like Hillary, but the alternative is unbearable.
Snap out of the Trump fever, please. We all get that you don't like Hillary, but the alternative is unbearable.
100
I like the photograph but it should have been titled, "This happy couple has been brought to you through the generosity of Goldman Sachs."
12
Alas, I agree with Maureen Dowd when she writes that, "In the end, Obama didn’t overthrow the Clinton machine. He enabled it." I worked hard for Obama in 2008--in large part to stop the possibility of the Clintons returning to the White House, and now he is openly campaigning for exactly that! After Obama was elected, I watched in dismay as he took the wind out of the sails of his own movement in his inaugural speech--the worst speech I can ever recall from his gifted orator--in which he failed to use his extraordinary political capital and Americans' goodwill to tackle the financial crisis head-on. Then he foolishly spent months trying to "compromise" with Republicans on healthcare, while the Tea Party gathered momentum. As Jon Stewart pointed out, the inspiring Obama of 2008, once in office, basically governed like Tip O'Neill. I voted for Obama again in 2012--with great affection for him, but with no enthusiasm or "hope." I still feel that affection, and consider him the best president of my lifetime. But I am deeply saddened by the lost opportunities and what might have been. And I am downright angry that he has lent his name and his efforts to propping up the Democratic Party's establishment. The President should have recognized that Bernie Sanders is the true heir of Obama '08. But, as it turns out, he has abandoned poetry for prose, and hope has been replaced by politics as usual. I cannot find words to express my disappointment.
206
I'm pretty sure you meant to say, "Thanks, twice-elected President of the United States Barack Obama," yes?
This column is yet another "icy" contrast to the underwhelming softballs you consistently lob at Trump, enabling his dangerous candidacy — when you should be raking that autocratic bigot over the coals.
This column is yet another "icy" contrast to the underwhelming softballs you consistently lob at Trump, enabling his dangerous candidacy — when you should be raking that autocratic bigot over the coals.
68
When I read Maureen Dowd's column title, I said to myself, "Wow, she's finally figured out that Obama isn't as bad as she's tried to make him out to be during the last nearly eight years." I was wrong. I have grown so tired of reading her columns that continually attempt to portray this incredible man as something of a failure, as lacking a personal touch to his politics, to being "ice". Give me a break, Maureen. We should consider ourselves beyond lucky to have lived to witness a man such as Obama grace the White House and lead our country with the integrity, intelligence, competency, and grace that he has. I can only imagine how much we will miss him, and I can hardly wait for Ms. Dowd to realize you don't know what you've got 'till its gone. Wake up and celebrate President Obama for all he is while you've still got him.
69
And so it was that after years sojourning in the Great Big World, the veteran Times columnist, eyes clouded by big words and even bigger adverbs, pierced the veil of politics to discover that, at long last, it is really all about politics.
15
Ms. Dowd, how can you be so blind, so vindictive? Don't you see the danger of Trump? What's the point of rehashing all these old scandals associated with Bill and Hillary? Look at the BIG picture; after all, you write for the New York Times, not for the National Enquirer! One expects from someone of your intelligence and erudition to be able to read a sophisticated book and admire it for its content, not get carried away and angered when a few typos are found here and there. You seem to not understand the book at all; instead you keep throwing temper tantrums each time you discover a misspelled word.
55
It may not be about our souls and just politics, but politics has deep consequences for the shape of our country, our livelihoods and security. If you do not see by now that it is vitally important who is on the Supreme Court you have lost your barings. In our country politics is really not about personalities though we try to make it so. It is about the shape of our health care system, whether we will have a clean environment or can afford a decent education among so many issues. Trump says he will make us into an armed camp. Hillary says she will support the the Progressive agenda and calls on us to create it. we must take them at their word then push toward those goals through our only means politics. the choice you make does reflect your personality, but in the end it is the actions you take that make things happen.. So I choose Hillary Clinton not because of her personality or oppose Trump for that reason, but because of their potential to create a better society that I can believe will be better for us and our world.
31
Maureen, you sure see though a glass darkly.
Please update your glass! If the country elects Trump it will get a glass of poison and anti-American retribution everywhere.
Hillary Clinton is no longer the spiteful woman you claim her to be, and our President has the vision to see the progress that she has the energy, skill, and potential to enact.
Please update your glass! If the country elects Trump it will get a glass of poison and anti-American retribution everywhere.
Hillary Clinton is no longer the spiteful woman you claim her to be, and our President has the vision to see the progress that she has the energy, skill, and potential to enact.
35
This is ridiculous. There's no substance. Just allusions to "scandals" and slaps at Hilary's character. Of course Obama is going to change his tone compared to 2008. She became his Secretary of State! All HRC has ever done is work hard and all she gets is negative press. Emails, Monica, mercenaries? What does it say about her character? Nothing. We do need measured and smart tactics. That's how we got health care. Obama wants things to get accomplished and believes Hilary can do it. A president needs to do more than stand for things.
43
Dowd does not seem to consider the possibility that Obama has learned and grown over almost eight years of trying to get things done in Washington. Hope and Change don't go very far with a majority in Congress blocking every initiative. Even with a majority on his side, Obama discovered that incrementalism was the only way to move forward -- that's why "Obamacare" is such a weak, cobbled-together mess. So, maybe he has realized that Hillary's approach and dirty deal-making might be the only practical way to advance the agenda, an inch at a time. And, of course, as other commenters point out, the alternative to Hillary is a man with the ethics, humanity, and demeanor of a Russian mobster.
34
Is it possible that after having worked side by side with Secretary Clinton for four years, President Obama has a more educated view? Apparently not according to the cynical and bitter Maureen Dowd.
42
Molly Ivins wrote that she had frequently voted for candidates who were "teeth-grindingly bad" simply because they were a whisker's width better than their opponents. If I can find a big enough barf bag that I can hold in one hand I may have to vote for Hillary with the other.
4
Well said, Maureen.
I'm registered in Maryland so the power of my vote is limited, and it's a very Blue state that will inescapably go to Clinton. But I'm going to vote either for the third-party Liberatarians, Johnson-Weld - - or write in Joe Biden.
I voted for Bernie here in the Democratic Primary for Maryland in April. Then, I walked over with my 7-year old and switched my party registration from Democrat to... Independent.
When I first registered to vote 40 years ago, there were only about 12-15% registered Independent. Now, today, that number is 45% of the electorate.
We need "open" ... "jungle primaryies" - - not party primarys for the flawed and corriupt, embalmed two parties - - so that we actually get access and allow capable candidates to arise freely from the citizenry.
No more Two Party Primaries paid for by our citizen. They gave us Trump and Hillary to pick from - - how deeply flawed a system is that?
Johnson-Weld or Joe Biden in 2016! SF
I'm registered in Maryland so the power of my vote is limited, and it's a very Blue state that will inescapably go to Clinton. But I'm going to vote either for the third-party Liberatarians, Johnson-Weld - - or write in Joe Biden.
I voted for Bernie here in the Democratic Primary for Maryland in April. Then, I walked over with my 7-year old and switched my party registration from Democrat to... Independent.
When I first registered to vote 40 years ago, there were only about 12-15% registered Independent. Now, today, that number is 45% of the electorate.
We need "open" ... "jungle primaryies" - - not party primarys for the flawed and corriupt, embalmed two parties - - so that we actually get access and allow capable candidates to arise freely from the citizenry.
No more Two Party Primaries paid for by our citizen. They gave us Trump and Hillary to pick from - - how deeply flawed a system is that?
Johnson-Weld or Joe Biden in 2016! SF
8
Hey Maureen, remember back in 2000 when you mocked Al Gore relentlessly for being stiff and unrelatable? And how he was too close to the Clintons? Apparently, back then it didn't matter that Gore was a serious candidate with good ideas, you just mercilessly ridiculed him for his stiff awkwardness. So what did we get instead? George W. Bush. And now you're at it again with your deranged Clinton-hatred. But this time, the stakes are so much higher with the Republican candidate as a demagogic racist and misogynist who asks former soviets to spy on his enemies. And yet you just can't stop with your bitter and childish peevishness. Thanks a lot Maureen!
96
Well, we may never know what Obama truly believes, but he’s done some good at least, if not what he seemed to promise us.
Dowd says---but “what about principles, he asked, what about a higher purpose?”
I’m so curious after these decades of Dowd---what are her principles, higher purposes, ideals---if any? Not 1 column ever gave a clue---since most of them are People’s Mag political celebrity take downs, designed to attest to Dowd’s faux ‘insider’ status. Like her piece yesterday on Trumpf. Perfect match, these 2. The Times featured her write up very prominently, but there was no content there.
Click bait, like ‘tweet bait’ for the Times.
I’m wondering--- who will replace the current generation of NYT columnists, now nearing retirement age? Maybe a few new ones for 2020 to represent the younger generation, who seem to combine some principles and ideals with realism. Look at Sanders poll numbers among under 45s. They will support the new progressives. Hillary had to deal with that.
Dowd says---but “what about principles, he asked, what about a higher purpose?”
I’m so curious after these decades of Dowd---what are her principles, higher purposes, ideals---if any? Not 1 column ever gave a clue---since most of them are People’s Mag political celebrity take downs, designed to attest to Dowd’s faux ‘insider’ status. Like her piece yesterday on Trumpf. Perfect match, these 2. The Times featured her write up very prominently, but there was no content there.
Click bait, like ‘tweet bait’ for the Times.
I’m wondering--- who will replace the current generation of NYT columnists, now nearing retirement age? Maybe a few new ones for 2020 to represent the younger generation, who seem to combine some principles and ideals with realism. Look at Sanders poll numbers among under 45s. They will support the new progressives. Hillary had to deal with that.
26
Yes, change happens incrementally, with an occasional breakthrough. Barack Obama did not sell out. He learned. He ran into the realities of the separation of power and limited powers of the executive branch. The Clintons learned this lesson back in the 1990s. One lesson they learned was that their personal lives were no longer private, and that people like Maureen Dowd would piggyback on unscrupulous Republicans to make points on alleged moral, ethical, legal, or Constituional grounds that were actually political or, in Dowd's case, reflected personal animosity.
Dowd in a single column trashes both the President and Secretary Clinton. In reality, the two have drawn closer together because they faced common adversaries both at home and abroad and discovered that they actually had the same goals. It is clear that Hillary Clinton has always had progressive objectives, just as has Barack Obama. Yet Obama has learned much about politics that he did not know before, while Clinton has seen that it is possible to take the high road and still govern.
Most of us who began life with high ideals have by middle-age come to understand that compromise and incrementalism are inevitable. I supported Bernie to ensure that the standard remained high and those ideals were not sacrificed too easily. Yet I am a grown up. Apparently, Dowd is either not a grown-up, or hates the Clintons so much that she is willing to smear Barack Obama to take a yet another shot at Bill and Hillary.
Dowd in a single column trashes both the President and Secretary Clinton. In reality, the two have drawn closer together because they faced common adversaries both at home and abroad and discovered that they actually had the same goals. It is clear that Hillary Clinton has always had progressive objectives, just as has Barack Obama. Yet Obama has learned much about politics that he did not know before, while Clinton has seen that it is possible to take the high road and still govern.
Most of us who began life with high ideals have by middle-age come to understand that compromise and incrementalism are inevitable. I supported Bernie to ensure that the standard remained high and those ideals were not sacrificed too easily. Yet I am a grown up. Apparently, Dowd is either not a grown-up, or hates the Clintons so much that she is willing to smear Barack Obama to take a yet another shot at Bill and Hillary.
77
Nice, the long view of 16 years of progressive leadership is just what we need. America got hammered under Republican rule. Idealism gets you in once you are ruling you do need pragmatism, you are doing the work and trying to make it stick. If Sanders could have won the black vote he would have been a true contender, but it was Hillary who captured the South and places like Nevada (hispanic women). Hillary appeals to diversity. Trump is not going to win because he is betting against diversity. There is idealism taking the long view. My issue with the people who wanted a revolution, is they had no idea what a revolution really is. A revolution means tossing the baby out with the bathwater and frankly the "baby" of our American experiment with self government is pretty precious. What the Dems did in Philly was renew our covenant with the ideal of self-government and demonstrate the power of coming together. There will be disaffected voters, voters who for their own reasons will not move along with the rest of the crowd no matter what, not even if it is a good way to move the needle forward. Lucky the crowd already knows that we can do good things this way, even if it is flawed. This way works, so yes without irony, thank you Obama for your embrace of Hillary both in 2009 and again last week.
675
I think it was the voters who chose Clinton, not the President. However, I think it's fair to say, yes, the President would much rather have a conventional Democrat succeed him than the outrageously unqualified Trump.
26
"In the end, Obama didn’t overthrow the Clinton machine. He enabled it."
Exactly!
BRAVO!!!! Great piece from Maureen Dowd. As much as I may dislike certain aspects of Trump, I feel he never stooped to the level of HYPOCRISY that many of his rival politicians have.....
Exactly!
BRAVO!!!! Great piece from Maureen Dowd. As much as I may dislike certain aspects of Trump, I feel he never stooped to the level of HYPOCRISY that many of his rival politicians have.....
6
“Just politics” should not be sneered at so contemptuously by Ms. Dowd. The last eight years have taught us that politics is neither the art of the possible nor the art of making the impossible possible. It is a gut-twisting, dirty, underhanded knife and hatchet fight between those who want to help the American People and those who will stand against all human progress. President Obama came into office believing he could work with the loyal opposition. He leaves office having recognized that his opposition is determined, devious and disloyal. Perhaps he has come to realize that Mrs. Clinton is tough enough, smart enough and seasoned enough to get the job the done.
24
Well, what did you expect?
Barring Obama being allowed to run another 4 or George Clooney suddenly enamored with wanting to be President, we are back with The Clinton Mob.
Maybe her work ethic will kill the tainted smell, maybe we'll get 8 more years of Old Man Bill wagging his finger in our face.
Bottom line: She never did answer why she wanted to be president and the cackle wins.
Barring Obama being allowed to run another 4 or George Clooney suddenly enamored with wanting to be President, we are back with The Clinton Mob.
Maybe her work ethic will kill the tainted smell, maybe we'll get 8 more years of Old Man Bill wagging his finger in our face.
Bottom line: She never did answer why she wanted to be president and the cackle wins.
5
In classic Fox News style, Ms Dowd is now being slightly more respectful of President Obama (no more snide "Barry"), while turning her guns full blast on Hillary. The lies and half truths sound familiar. For example, Obama didn't "pass over Joe Biden"--the vice president's son died, and Biden said he didn't have the heart to campaign.
After her PR flack "column" on Trump, Ms Dowd follows up with a thorough bashing of his opponent. If she weren't afraid of blowing her cover and possibly losing her column space, I imagine she'd love to show her true colors and endorse her obvious, bad boy crush: Donald Trump.
www.newyorkgritty.net
After her PR flack "column" on Trump, Ms Dowd follows up with a thorough bashing of his opponent. If she weren't afraid of blowing her cover and possibly losing her column space, I imagine she'd love to show her true colors and endorse her obvious, bad boy crush: Donald Trump.
www.newyorkgritty.net
45
You are being dishonest when you say, "The president made his vote-for-Hillary-or-face-doom convention speech only 22 days after his F.B.I. director painted Hillary as reckless and untruthful." The F.B.I. director was not making a broad, sweeping or general statement about Hillary's character, as you would have us believe. No, the F.B.I. director was talking about a specific situation involving Hillary's mistake in not using the established office procedure on emails. Your misuse of his quote reveals more about your inability to be objective and fair rather than Hillary's character.
37
Joe Biden as Bernie Sanders would never get elected to the top post. You don't need anyone to tell you that. You know that.
We knew in 2007 how it was going to be. Barack first, then Hillary. When I say we I mean the volunteers and staff in the Obama camp, before the primaries had taken place out there in Iowa.
The standard and excellence of Barack the candidate and his operation was exceedingly clear to us regular folks who did put up a pretty good effort. He won the first state, very White Iowa. He got a little cocky with that victory, Hillary shed some tears in New Hampshire and he lost the second round. After that it was pure hunker down. Barack was not going to be denied. And he won.
Rahm Emanuel? How about Anthony Weiner? Now there's another name you could put up as a valid candidate. (not!)
Nobody got thrown under the bus like you say. There you go again, embellishing the only way you know. There is no singular Clinton Machine. Go after money? Go after Darrell Issa, huh? It will be two different people as president. Hillary also gets the best advice in the world not from Bill but from Barack, thank goodness. Hillary is going to surpass Bill as president, by the way.
Barack is now and for even some time while he's out, he'll be the leader of the Democratic Party. Partly because he may want the job but mostly because everyone else wants him to do that job, of guiding a direction as he did during his terms.
American politics. Not corrupt, just messy ole politics
We knew in 2007 how it was going to be. Barack first, then Hillary. When I say we I mean the volunteers and staff in the Obama camp, before the primaries had taken place out there in Iowa.
The standard and excellence of Barack the candidate and his operation was exceedingly clear to us regular folks who did put up a pretty good effort. He won the first state, very White Iowa. He got a little cocky with that victory, Hillary shed some tears in New Hampshire and he lost the second round. After that it was pure hunker down. Barack was not going to be denied. And he won.
Rahm Emanuel? How about Anthony Weiner? Now there's another name you could put up as a valid candidate. (not!)
Nobody got thrown under the bus like you say. There you go again, embellishing the only way you know. There is no singular Clinton Machine. Go after money? Go after Darrell Issa, huh? It will be two different people as president. Hillary also gets the best advice in the world not from Bill but from Barack, thank goodness. Hillary is going to surpass Bill as president, by the way.
Barack is now and for even some time while he's out, he'll be the leader of the Democratic Party. Partly because he may want the job but mostly because everyone else wants him to do that job, of guiding a direction as he did during his terms.
American politics. Not corrupt, just messy ole politics
18
Remember, she's a Trump supporter now. A Republican like the brother she let take over her column one time. She always disrespected Obama, whom she called Barry. She always hated Hillary. But all of our leaders are flawed and yet we always do better financially with Democrats in office. Obama is a savior for 20 million people who now have health care and didn't before. He also helped save the economy and the auto industry. If he were more like Bernie, he might have reached out to homeowners who were underwater, but if you watched or read The Big Short you realize that was a difficult can of worms. Republicans could and have built America up--think of Eisenhower creating millions of jobs and a freeway system that did not exist. Nixon opened up our connection to China and created the EPA so people could occasionally drink clean water and breath clean air. George Bush did great work against AIDS in Africa and here, but unfortunately we will mostly remember Iraq. All have mixed records. Obama may end up seen as one of the greatest. But that's for history to decide. Meanwhile, Clinton at least knows the people she will be working with and likes working with them and sweating the details. It's going to be a good four years. After that, maybe the Republicans can come up with someone more like Lincoln. I'd vote for that.
26
I have always been puzzled by Ms. Dowd's deep disappointment in President Obama. Surely, what a person says and aspires to during a campaign is much different then what is said and done after eight years in perhaps the most complex and difficult job in the world. Who wouldn't have their thoughts, perceptions, and opinions on people or places change through such an experience?
What didn't change is Obama's core values. We had eight years without a substantial White House scandal or major personnel drama. We were led by a flawed human, like us all, but who still inspired us to see and act upon our better angels. Besides, a candidate wins a nomination by getting the votes, not by the endorsement of a sitting president.
What didn't change is Obama's core values. We had eight years without a substantial White House scandal or major personnel drama. We were led by a flawed human, like us all, but who still inspired us to see and act upon our better angels. Besides, a candidate wins a nomination by getting the votes, not by the endorsement of a sitting president.
32
Maureen, you're forgetting a very important IOU. On the penultimate night of the 2012 DN Convention, Bill Clinton closed. He spoke for 50 minutes. At speech end, David Frumm said, "Clinton just drove a Mack Truck through the GOP platform." Clinton demolished the Romney/Ryan proposals for taxation, social security and health care.
It was the campaign turning point. Obama came on stage and, before he embraced Bill, bowed to him. Obama has held office for another 4 years and America and the world have been the better for it. That IOU is not only Obama's, its ours.
It was the campaign turning point. Obama came on stage and, before he embraced Bill, bowed to him. Obama has held office for another 4 years and America and the world have been the better for it. That IOU is not only Obama's, its ours.
34
Your closeness to Trump has blinded your judgement.
37
I fear that this change in Obama may be experience: the experience of trying to effect change when kneecapped by Congress and their signature intransigence. We have the healthcare he could manage, we have the tax revenue Congress dictates. I think he could see Sanders as his heir in hope and aspiration, but now acknowledges the futility.
The newly pragmatic Obama tells us to take up Clinton: she is not the choice of our dreams, but she is the best option for our needs.
The newly pragmatic Obama tells us to take up Clinton: she is not the choice of our dreams, but she is the best option for our needs.
25
If I had to vote based on record and this week's convention speeches, I'd go for a hybrid of Biden/Michelle/Bloomberg ticket. They nailed it.
9
Yes, Maureen, I think that's about what it boils down to -- as far as it goes. There was never much difference between Obama and the Clintons, although even they may not have fully realized how little difference there was. But if Trump makes it in, the election will be very much "about our souls."
10
Maureen you radiate such affection for Trump. Maybe he is not so threatening to your own self esteem as the brilliant, high achievers you love to skewer here.
Politics to you seems to be comprised of nothing but ambition- you tend to have a very cynical view of every politician you write about, delving into presumed and purely self-centered motives instead of ever discussing actual policy or the possibility that a flawed human may also be drawn by mostly positive motives when entering the political arena.
What is your purpose, exactly? Will we all be improved with a more honed sense of cynicism?
Politics to you seems to be comprised of nothing but ambition- you tend to have a very cynical view of every politician you write about, delving into presumed and purely self-centered motives instead of ever discussing actual policy or the possibility that a flawed human may also be drawn by mostly positive motives when entering the political arena.
What is your purpose, exactly? Will we all be improved with a more honed sense of cynicism?
48
@alan haigh, my thoughts exactly. Dowd is so tired and offers us nothing, and at a really important moment too.
4
I enjoyed this column. I was unaware Obama had ice running through his veins. Very impressive. It must have been a tough decision letting Joe down. Who said he's not tough? Great honest reporting. Thank you.
6
It will be interesting to see the end of Dowd's love affair with Trump. Since it's completely one-sided, I suppose Trump will just stop returning her calls. If we're lucky, we will get a series of nasty tweets.
Joe Biden has been a politician for more than 40 years. He served six terms in the senate. The death of his son, barely a year ago, was devastating. He's a grown man, he did not need Obama's blessing to run for president.
Rahm Emanuel is getting run over by a fleet of buses, all named Chicago. Obama stating that he overrode the objections of his chief of staff is hardly throwing him under the bus.
Hillary Clinton, who has done some amazingly positive things for this country, can do nothing right in Maureen's eyes. And Trump, who may actually be the spawn of Satan, if not the Evil One himself, can do no wrong.
Maybe there's a Pulitzer to be had for finding some dirt on Trump; but let's stick to hating the Clintons. Cuz, Donald just may ask Maureen to the prom is she keeps being nice.
Joe Biden has been a politician for more than 40 years. He served six terms in the senate. The death of his son, barely a year ago, was devastating. He's a grown man, he did not need Obama's blessing to run for president.
Rahm Emanuel is getting run over by a fleet of buses, all named Chicago. Obama stating that he overrode the objections of his chief of staff is hardly throwing him under the bus.
Hillary Clinton, who has done some amazingly positive things for this country, can do nothing right in Maureen's eyes. And Trump, who may actually be the spawn of Satan, if not the Evil One himself, can do no wrong.
Maybe there's a Pulitzer to be had for finding some dirt on Trump; but let's stick to hating the Clintons. Cuz, Donald just may ask Maureen to the prom is she keeps being nice.
57
Maureen:
Would you for ONCE please refer to him as PRESIDENT OBAMA? Not Barry, not Barack, not even Barack Obama. Use his title once in a while and show some respect for the office, even if not for him.
And to fast forward a few months, that goes for PRESIDENT CLINTON, or MADAM PRESIDENT, too.
Thank you, Ms. Dowd.
Would you for ONCE please refer to him as PRESIDENT OBAMA? Not Barry, not Barack, not even Barack Obama. Use his title once in a while and show some respect for the office, even if not for him.
And to fast forward a few months, that goes for PRESIDENT CLINTON, or MADAM PRESIDENT, too.
Thank you, Ms. Dowd.
68
This column ignores the most important fact: for all of President Obama's hope and change and elevating Washington to a new plateau, what we've actually gotten is incremental change on domestic issues, many vulnerable to a simple change in executive order, a Supreme Court slightly more to the left, and very incremental change internationally (we're still fighting a war in Afghanistan, GITMO is still open for business, and the President still hasn't earned that Nobel Peace Prize he got for not being President George W. Bush).
Our political culture has gotten worse, government doesn't work very well, when it works at all, and partisanship has only increased. Is this President Obama's fault? No, for the most part it isn't. But what 2016 Obama knows that 2008 Obama didn't is that nice words alone don't make the world different and that change in this political climate is incremental and extremely hard fought.
President Obama hasn't betrayed his ideals, he's come to see that in the real world the 2008 Clinton critique of him had a point. You can see it in the color of his hair.
Our political culture has gotten worse, government doesn't work very well, when it works at all, and partisanship has only increased. Is this President Obama's fault? No, for the most part it isn't. But what 2016 Obama knows that 2008 Obama didn't is that nice words alone don't make the world different and that change in this political climate is incremental and extremely hard fought.
President Obama hasn't betrayed his ideals, he's come to see that in the real world the 2008 Clinton critique of him had a point. You can see it in the color of his hair.
17
When I was a teenager living with my parents, I can recall my mom cutting out particularly pointed Maureen Dowd columns and slapping them on our refrigerator for all to enjoy. So I was well inclined to appreciate Dowd's perspectives UNTIL she began to use her columns to belittle and blatantly insult Hilary Clinton. Several years ago, I seriously considered cancelling my subscription to the NYTimes due to Dowd's seemingly unconsidered and personally invested diatribes against then Secretary Clinton. But, I took a more considered route of protest, as did many of my female friends who find Dowd's treatment of Clinton offensive and misogynistic. We have learned to warn each other when not to look at Dowd's columns about Hilary Clinton. I suggest my brethren, other fair minded NYTime's readers who are insulted by her obvious personal bias do the same. But the deeper concern remains, why the ugliness Maureen?
79
In his heart, Obama is a wonk's wonk. He also has said about kajillion times that he was more of an incrementalist and pragmatist than people thought he was. So why is picking somebody who is also a wonk's wonk and an avowed believer in pragmatism and incrementalism that much of a stretch? Keep in mind too that Bernie's campaign was in it's way a critique of Obama's Presidency because he supposedly wasn't able to usher in the Great Worker's Paradise so why would he even consider Bernie?
You could also factor in the fact that Obama said all those things about Hillary in 2008 before they worked together. It is entirely possible that after accepting his offer to be Secretary of State (an act of grace on both parts), he found himself deeply respecting her and admiring her.
PS- where did all that behind the scenes fan-fic come from? Is somebody watching too much "House of Cards?"
You could also factor in the fact that Obama said all those things about Hillary in 2008 before they worked together. It is entirely possible that after accepting his offer to be Secretary of State (an act of grace on both parts), he found himself deeply respecting her and admiring her.
PS- where did all that behind the scenes fan-fic come from? Is somebody watching too much "House of Cards?"
33
I fail to see how the Clintons's vindictiveness and Obama's supposed throwing of Joe Biden "under the bus" are relevant right now. Possibly there is another way to look at this, albeit without the kind of personal information Ms. Dowd undoubtedly relies on to reformulate yet another anger piece against the horrible Clintons, which that pragmatism is life. Obama's choice to support Hillary can be seen also as an assessment by an astute, two-term president about who can win. Obama has credibility here because by beating the Clintons in 2008, he established that he knows what it takes to win. All of this personal stuff about scuppering the aspirations of other political animals -- as if Rahm Emmanuel and Joe Biden were somehow above all that rough-and-tumble -- is a bit rich.
The point is that someone needs to beat Donald Trump in November. Who knows the bloody mess that would have bean created by the Sanders chorus if either became a candidate.
Obama's bet seems to be "better the devil we know".
The point is that someone needs to beat Donald Trump in November. Who knows the bloody mess that would have bean created by the Sanders chorus if either became a candidate.
Obama's bet seems to be "better the devil we know".
22
Maureen, you write as if you had no knowledge of the legislative process. Leaders lay out plans and ideas and then work hard to get what they can get.
Obama inherited the wars and the economy and a party determined to say no to just about anything the President put forward. You make it sound like he could have gotten anything he wanted without consideration of the environment he was in, and that he operated in a static rather than a dynamic high stakes battle against an assortment of pressing issues.
That thought process sounds as naive as Mr. Trump's campaign speeches.
But then again, maybe you have found your guy given that he also likes to pop off at the drop of a hat.
Obama inherited the wars and the economy and a party determined to say no to just about anything the President put forward. You make it sound like he could have gotten anything he wanted without consideration of the environment he was in, and that he operated in a static rather than a dynamic high stakes battle against an assortment of pressing issues.
That thought process sounds as naive as Mr. Trump's campaign speeches.
But then again, maybe you have found your guy given that he also likes to pop off at the drop of a hat.
56
Your piece does a clear job of isolating the situation -- President Obama was to lead us on the new path. In the end, we somehow ended up circling back to the old path we broke away from in 2007.
6
I supported Hillary 8 years ago because I thought brilliant, idealistic, Barack Obama didn't have her experience; most importantly he didn't have the connections in Congress. He proved, however, to grow in the job. I do not believe he has sold out; I think he now knows that change really is incremental. Mrs. Clinton is the most qualified candidate to ever run for the Presidency. The Supreme Court appointments are critical to support the continuation of the progressive agenda. With the dissolution of the GOP came the candidacy of Donald Trump. There is a reasonable chance that the Senate will have a Democrat majority. The Republican House may be shaky. My beloved mother (born in 1916 - two years before women were granted the right to vote) was a great student of history. She made the point that successful political leaders needed to be Machiavellian- or at least somewhat crafty and able to shape shift. I would give a lot to know how Maureen is going to vote. I think I know.
35
Maureen: You've done a splendid job besmirching Obama for backpedaling on his yes we can mantra, and for the umpteenth time, the Clintons, for all their arrogance. My question: As much as you have made it clear you are revulsed by the Clintons, can you ever bring yourself to vote for her opponent? And if the answer is no, those of us who are scared to death at the prospect of a Trump presidency would appreciate your easing off the pedal regarding your assaults on the Clintons. We know about all the ethical issues, as you have stated in seemingly hundreds of your columns.
49
Exactly my thoughts while reading Ms.Dow's column. Why is she wasting space espousing her disdain for the Clintons and rehashing news none of us will ever forget and leaning down on the President with mocking sarcasm.
3
I remember Biden saying, during the 2008 election, that he would not be a candidate for president in eight years. I thought that was part of his charm in Obama's calculations. Rahm screwed up royally in Chicago and is no longer an asset to anyone. Why should the Obamas pretend otherwise? If Rahm had not hidden that infamous video, he would be a former mayor now. He has no bike tread on his back. He's not a kind man and should not complain when he has to pay the consequences.
26
Goodness, Maureen, even you can see that, while other people branded Obama as "The One," Trump has branded himself as the savior. That's a pretty important distinction.
45
Remember, Obama did not endorse until the primary results were in. If Bernie had won, I am sure he would have embraced him instead. He firmly believes that a glimmer of liberalism is better than none. And the alternative is too horrible to address.
Maureen Dowd's right wing family has over the years had her swinging their way. Though she has always detested the Clintons. Like a good republican, come to think of it.
Maureen Dowd's right wing family has over the years had her swinging their way. Though she has always detested the Clintons. Like a good republican, come to think of it.
33
One can only imagine what Dowd's columns would have been like these past eight years had she been able to establish the flirty, pals-y rapport with president Obama that she's got going with Donald trump.
50
Wish that the Clintons would get rid of some of their tribe. Oh Debbie Wasserman Schultz, David Brock and even Huma's husband with the red pants, Congressman Anthony Weiner. It's sort of embarrassing and honestly, who trusts these people. A lot of the old guard Democrats are looking pretty faded and corrupt. I think that Maureen has been bringing forward some important points in a polite and amusing way. But these characterizations are true. These are things that voters see and it just doesn't sit well when talking about entering The White House. It's not looking good.
5
Amazing. First let Trump charm you into being his mouthpiece, then discredit a genuinely heroic person for making a reasonable choice. No Obama isn't perfect -- far from it. But I am grateful to him and anxious that Clinton win. The fact that they're under such relentless and unreasonable attack is no reason for you to join in.
65
When it comes to this election, I see myself as a "sister from a different planet". While Hillary has done some stupid things, perhaps in her life, I just don't get the hatred towards her. When compared to Trump there just is no comparison in my mind. At the end of the day, whether she's is warm and fuzzy or devious and calculating, Hillary is so much better a choice than Trump. In every, every respect Trump has demonstrated his impulsive, and frankly awful, awful flawed character. Add to that his penchant for cozying up to dictators and it terrifies me to think of him as president. My greatest hope is that voters will come to realize that Hillary is clearly not perfect but she is more than good enough to be our next president.
63
You are so right! Obama's support of Hillary marks him as a bigger con man than Trump! Hillary hasn't changed but he can rely on her to finish up the promises he made to the big banks, big Pharma, big food and big business generally. He can rely on her to move forward with the TPP or to support its passage in the lame duck. He betrayed everyone of us who voted for him and now he has doubled down on that betrayal but telling us..you know what I said 8 years ago....well you know people will say and do anything to get elected!
4
In the past 2 presidential elections, you didn't have anyone else to vote for - don't blame Obama for that; nor should Obama be blamed for the Repubs who stubbornly refused to comprise on anything.
4
Obama beat Hillary, yes, but by a narrower margin than Hillary just beat Sanders by. After her defeat by Obama, she graciously endorsed him. He then made her his Secretary of State. Why? Because they are Democrats.
Sanders lost to Hillary; he did eventually endorse her, even though he's not technically a Democrat.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
Now our liberal progressive task is to work with Sanders and Obama to defeat the enemy: the new Know Nothing Party and Donald Crazy Trump.
Sanders lost to Hillary; he did eventually endorse her, even though he's not technically a Democrat.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
Now our liberal progressive task is to work with Sanders and Obama to defeat the enemy: the new Know Nothing Party and Donald Crazy Trump.
54
you know what Ms Dowd? The young Senator from Chicago PROVED that the White House CAN be a citadel of integrity and ethics and exemplary family life. I'm so grateful to Mr Obama.
Obama TRIED to lift DC, but intransigent repubs did not play along. To this day, the refuse to hold Supreme Court Justice nominee's hearings.
Obama did his job. Repubs did not.
Do you seriously think Mr Obama would now be doing what he can for Hillary if DJT were not a candidate? Please!
Place the criticism (and blame, if you must) where it belongs - repubs and their nominee.
Obama TRIED to lift DC, but intransigent repubs did not play along. To this day, the refuse to hold Supreme Court Justice nominee's hearings.
Obama did his job. Repubs did not.
Do you seriously think Mr Obama would now be doing what he can for Hillary if DJT were not a candidate? Please!
Place the criticism (and blame, if you must) where it belongs - repubs and their nominee.
75
Thank you. I am 63 years old and my husband agrees with me that Obama has been the best president of our lifetimes. Squeaky clean, nobody in his administration headed to the pokey as they did in say, Reagan's or GHW Bush's administration... Beautiful family, no daughters parading around pregnant, ahem, like the McCain-Palin abomination....
7
This election is show, performance. Donald Trump is not and never was a real candidate. His role in the performance has been to be as outrageous as one could possibly imagine, so outrageous that he has reasonably been compared to historic despots and tyrants. He says things and does things that are shocking beyond belief. It is the CONTRAST between his beyond the pale outrageousness and Hillary (and Bill's) flaws that make those flaws seem petty, insignificant, or at least, not so bad, after all. Since Trump, the Clintons are "gold, Jerry, gold" and the casting, set, scene, and actors have all done their job. All the oligarchs get on stages and tell stories, point, smile and nod, look pretty, remind us of royalty, quote inspiring poets and patriots and we smile and nod and cheer. Then the curtain will close and we will all go home to await the next performance when we will again laugh! cry! feel! Then bow down, kowtow, send money and line up on our sides and shout to the other side, as if there ARE "sides" in a circle of oligarchs, keeping the suckers inside a tighter and tighter corral.
9
how well the Clinton machine survives her presidency is an interesting question. Maybe while she is busy running the country mr. Obama can get down to the seriusnbusiness of reshaping the Democratic Party in his own image, cultivating the next generation of leaders and keeping the deomcrats from falling asleep during the run up to the mid term elections, preventing a GOP come back.
9
Thanks, Maureen. For nothing.
Of course it's just politics. It always has been. Always will be. But this election year, the difference in the politics is -- to borrow a phrase from a really crooked politician -- "perfectly clear."
Trump offers us more "voodoo economics" and the assurance that he'll run the country like he runs his businesses. No thanks. When it comes to foreign relations, he's even more incoherent; although he has made it clear that he'll play nice with the Russians (oligarchs have got to stick together!), bar Muslims from entering the country, torture terrorists and murder their families, build a wall and screw our NATO allies. None of which is exactly politics as usual in the good ol USA, huh Maureen?
Clinton-haters like Ms. Dowd want us voters to buy into the Clinton caricature created by the Republicans for decades. They prefer that we ignore that HRC won the primaries by 4 million votes, listened to Bernie Sanders (my personal favorite!) and moved the party's platform to the left (yea, so she has a shot at winning the presidential election!) and layed out a vision for America at the DNC that would give my children and grandchildren a decent shot at pursuing their dreams. Not to mention that the next president gets to impact the SCOTUS for the rest of my life.
It's may be just politics, but it's not even close.
This Bernie bro is now with Her. Go Hillary!
Of course it's just politics. It always has been. Always will be. But this election year, the difference in the politics is -- to borrow a phrase from a really crooked politician -- "perfectly clear."
Trump offers us more "voodoo economics" and the assurance that he'll run the country like he runs his businesses. No thanks. When it comes to foreign relations, he's even more incoherent; although he has made it clear that he'll play nice with the Russians (oligarchs have got to stick together!), bar Muslims from entering the country, torture terrorists and murder their families, build a wall and screw our NATO allies. None of which is exactly politics as usual in the good ol USA, huh Maureen?
Clinton-haters like Ms. Dowd want us voters to buy into the Clinton caricature created by the Republicans for decades. They prefer that we ignore that HRC won the primaries by 4 million votes, listened to Bernie Sanders (my personal favorite!) and moved the party's platform to the left (yea, so she has a shot at winning the presidential election!) and layed out a vision for America at the DNC that would give my children and grandchildren a decent shot at pursuing their dreams. Not to mention that the next president gets to impact the SCOTUS for the rest of my life.
It's may be just politics, but it's not even close.
This Bernie bro is now with Her. Go Hillary!
95
The Hillary/Trump choices are similar to being asked if you want to be hung or shot.I've followed the Clintons for 25 years and was initially impressed by their promises.Sitting here now,I reflect on Hillarycare,Filegate,Travelgate,Monicagate,Impeachment,Disbarment,Benghazi,millions of dollars in speaking fees,,the e mail server fiasco,FBI Director's statement,etc.I just cannot vote for Hillary.I do not trust her or believe anything she promises.Voting Trump will give me immense heartburn but Hillary just is not the person I want in the Oval Office.
7
Have you included Supreme Court judges in your calculations? I have - HRC, no contest.
7
Yes, vote for the man who will valiantly defend the 12th amendment for you and make sure that Tim Kean who messed up so badly in New Jersey won't become vice president... or was it Tom Kaine - whatever, you know what I mean.
3
Most of those stupid 'scandals' that have been pursued so doggedly over the years were just a waste of time and taxpayer money. Ken Starr spent $70 million taxpayer dollars delving into a sex scandal! Trey Gowdy's Benghazi committee spent $7 million, after how many other investigations? Enough is enough!!!!!!
7
The Founders set it up to always be about politics. The Clintons are good at politics; that's why they are where they are.
What is going to change in 2017 if Hillary Clinton is elected? Most likely much less than people think. There will be nothing comparable to the Affordable Care act or Dodd-Franck on financial regulation or as substantial as the partial rollback of the Bush tax cuts. It will mostly be small bore stuff because the Congress is going to look like the deer in the headlights; terrified to go in any new direction. And Hillary Clinton will most likely play small-bore clientelist politics, paying off supporting groups.
Plenty of room for more snarky commentary. Urghh!
What is going to change in 2017 if Hillary Clinton is elected? Most likely much less than people think. There will be nothing comparable to the Affordable Care act or Dodd-Franck on financial regulation or as substantial as the partial rollback of the Bush tax cuts. It will mostly be small bore stuff because the Congress is going to look like the deer in the headlights; terrified to go in any new direction. And Hillary Clinton will most likely play small-bore clientelist politics, paying off supporting groups.
Plenty of room for more snarky commentary. Urghh!
7
It would be nice to have a sane President in office, one that knows the ropes, rather than Deranged Donald, don't you think?
4
This column, taken together with Dowd's previous "Thunderbolt" column, make her political stance pellucidly obvious. She endorses Trump and despises Clinton.
You may take this as a hint when calibrating your critical compass when reading her "analyses".
You may take this as a hint when calibrating your critical compass when reading her "analyses".
34
what is it about Maureen that she has become such a bitter opponent of Hillary and now even Obama --what is in her soul and heart???
30
We get it. You don't like the Clintons. (Some day tell us how they slighted you). But "voracious Clinton machine"? Effective politics is a machine. That was on display last week at the democratic convention. It was the explicit message and the implicit one. The Clintons have had substantial influence over that machine but Barack Obama puts the lie to the idea that they're pulling all the strings. And if there were ever an effective political machine it's been the one that got Obama elected president twice. So give the Machiavellian insinuations a rest.
Meanwhile it's down to a one woman one con artist race. I pray that the Clinton machine is invincible.
Meanwhile it's down to a one woman one con artist race. I pray that the Clinton machine is invincible.
35
Maureen are you sure that Obama "Obama sent his former strategist David Plouffe to break the bad news" to Biden?
As Obama mentioned in his speech, as of now, Hillary is the most experienced of the candidates, because of her resume as senator and cabinet member, previously first lady, Arkansas, First Lady, USA. Hillary at this time is more experienced than both Obama and Bill Clinton when they ran for President.
Somewhere along his first tenure itself, Obama must have realized that all his promises were distant, because of the vow by republicans to oppose him, come what may. Neither did his own party, the democrats, give Obama the support he so badly needed. Meanwhile they set up Hillary Victory Fund and bought the loyalties of 40 state democratic parties. The fix was in. Obama enabled it, as he went around fundraising for the party, raising millions of dollars. Obama had sold his soul and become a true clog in the wheel of the Clinton Democratic wheel. All his advisors Plouffe and Axelrod became hamsters turning the Clinton machine wheel.
As Obama mentioned in his speech, as of now, Hillary is the most experienced of the candidates, because of her resume as senator and cabinet member, previously first lady, Arkansas, First Lady, USA. Hillary at this time is more experienced than both Obama and Bill Clinton when they ran for President.
Somewhere along his first tenure itself, Obama must have realized that all his promises were distant, because of the vow by republicans to oppose him, come what may. Neither did his own party, the democrats, give Obama the support he so badly needed. Meanwhile they set up Hillary Victory Fund and bought the loyalties of 40 state democratic parties. The fix was in. Obama enabled it, as he went around fundraising for the party, raising millions of dollars. Obama had sold his soul and become a true clog in the wheel of the Clinton Democratic wheel. All his advisors Plouffe and Axelrod became hamsters turning the Clinton machine wheel.
4
Oh my Maureen you have discovered that politics is, how shall I say it...politics? Incremental change forced upon the President by a politically paralyzed legislature, a legislature determined to make him a one term President is scorned by you. Did you fight the fights, twist the arms? Sacrifice anything during the struggle to give 20 mln Americans health care?
Sorry your animas towards the Clinton"s goes back a long ways, and comes through loud and clear. Bernie or Bust? Democracy or Dictatorship, I choose democracy.
Eric N.
Sorry your animas towards the Clinton"s goes back a long ways, and comes through loud and clear. Bernie or Bust? Democracy or Dictatorship, I choose democracy.
Eric N.
26
Ms. Dowd - since you are no more a confidant to president Obama or ms Clinton than I am - your stories and narratives are based on your opinions and those who come to you quite possibly with their own axe to grind. And for every negative jab you take - I can give you two positive ones that politicians out here in California tell about the clintons. i am a grown up - so I get the world is complicated and full of gray. And I understand nobody is perfect and compromise isn't weakness or a lack of values - it's how things get done.
37
Some of us would have preferred to see a Sanders-Trump race, but, alas, it is not to be.
That said, if Hillary does defeat Trump in November with the president's help, a lot of us would be saying, "thanks, Obama!"
No, it's not just politics. It's about making a better choice for the country.
That said, if Hillary does defeat Trump in November with the president's help, a lot of us would be saying, "thanks, Obama!"
No, it's not just politics. It's about making a better choice for the country.
33
Dowd insists on portraying politics as if it were a corrupt version of a morality play. Obama and Clinton, although people of integrity, treat politics as an arena of conflict and struggle, and they adopt tactics that reflect that view. Like any gossip columnist, Dowd declares that she is shocked, shocked! by such behavior, all the while thoroughly enjoying the gritty reality of democratic politics.
Perhaps she should reflect that matters could be much worse. She might live in the dystopian political world of "Scandal," where the metaphorical guns and knives of political combat are real instruments of destruction, and where the phrase, to throw someone under the bus, describes a literal act.
Perhaps she should reflect that matters could be much worse. She might live in the dystopian political world of "Scandal," where the metaphorical guns and knives of political combat are real instruments of destruction, and where the phrase, to throw someone under the bus, describes a literal act.
17
I see that Ms. Dowd has dispensed with her demeaning attitude towards Pres. Obama. He no longer "Obambi," the feckless metrosexual, but rather a Machiavellian mastermind who throws young idealists like Rahm Emanuel (this is a joke, yes?) under the bus. This total turnabout is not an inconsistency, however, as it is for the same cause as every single column she writes: the destruction of the Clintons.
Sorry, MoDo: Hillary will win and be a fine president, and your boyfriend Trump will only be remembered as a dodged bullet.
Sorry, MoDo: Hillary will win and be a fine president, and your boyfriend Trump will only be remembered as a dodged bullet.
40
Ms. Dowd wistfully concludes, “It turns out, who we choose is not really about our souls. It’s just politics, man.”
Of course, it is! Ms. Dowd and Mr. Trump have been pals for decades. Ms. Dowd and the Clintons have been enemies for decades. So who do you think Ms. Dowd would rather see in the White House?
Of course, it is! Ms. Dowd and Mr. Trump have been pals for decades. Ms. Dowd and the Clintons have been enemies for decades. So who do you think Ms. Dowd would rather see in the White House?
30
hillary, she's myopic on Hillary but she isn't crazy.
Maureen is always right and right on.
How quickly the polity forgets the Bill and Hill show-media circus. There's no doubt President Obama, who people are just now appreciating for a thoughtful, classy tenure, would have rooted for any top-vote-getting nominee in hopes of keeping the Democrats in power.
How quickly the polity forgets the Bill and Hill show-media circus. There's no doubt President Obama, who people are just now appreciating for a thoughtful, classy tenure, would have rooted for any top-vote-getting nominee in hopes of keeping the Democrats in power.
8
As as Obama supporter, I have to say, when Obama stands by you, it is not always a good thing.
Remember when he supported those opposing Netanyahu ?
Or, when he supported those fighting Brexit ?
Or, when he supported illegal immigrants through executive order ?
As a Trump supporter, I say - Thanks Obama, for standing by Hillary.
Remember when he supported those opposing Netanyahu ?
Or, when he supported those fighting Brexit ?
Or, when he supported illegal immigrants through executive order ?
As a Trump supporter, I say - Thanks Obama, for standing by Hillary.
3
In another OP-ED today in the Times, Timothy Egan has a brilliant line that perfectly illustrates why this Maureen Dowd piece is so precious.
Egan writes. "Ho-hum. To make the plot work, reporters have to take the bait. On cue, they decry the fact that politics is going on inside a major political party."
The truth is that there is nothing shocking about Obama backing his SOS and safeguarding both his legacy and the Democratic Party. And let's get something straight right now. Anybody in politics is a politician. That includes Trump and Sanders in 2016 and Obama in 2008. When somebody runs for president or any political office and sells themselves as the non-politician don't believe them. And if you do then naïveté is your friend.
What a breath of fresh air it was then when Hillary admitted to all on Thursday that she has been around a long time and by association she actually is a politician. A public servant with a long record that you either like or loathe. Finally somebody tells the truth and astonishingly it was Clinton.
Egan writes. "Ho-hum. To make the plot work, reporters have to take the bait. On cue, they decry the fact that politics is going on inside a major political party."
The truth is that there is nothing shocking about Obama backing his SOS and safeguarding both his legacy and the Democratic Party. And let's get something straight right now. Anybody in politics is a politician. That includes Trump and Sanders in 2016 and Obama in 2008. When somebody runs for president or any political office and sells themselves as the non-politician don't believe them. And if you do then naïveté is your friend.
What a breath of fresh air it was then when Hillary admitted to all on Thursday that she has been around a long time and by association she actually is a politician. A public servant with a long record that you either like or loathe. Finally somebody tells the truth and astonishingly it was Clinton.
54
Several sentences at the end of this column prove that cynicism has overwhelmed your ability to tell right from wrong.
"The president made his vote-for-Hillary-or-face-doom ... speech ... after his F.B.I. director painted Hillary as reckless and untruthful."
-- The FBI director didn't "paint" Clinton as anything. He gave his findings and his opinion about them. You are the one doing the embellishing.
"He argued that there is no choice but to support Hillary against a “self-declared savior” like Donald Trump, perhaps forgetting that Obama was once hailed as such . . ."
-- You don't see a difference between Trump declaring "I alone" and Oprah Winfrey declaring Obama "the one"? Really? Because its a big difference -- as big as the difference between JFK and Hitler.
"In the end, Obama didn’t overthrow the Clinton machine. He enabled it."
--Obama fought against dark forces in Congress and this nation to improve the lives of all Americans. He emerged with his integrity in tact having created a better nation than he inherited. Endorsing Clinton isn't about enabling "the Clinton Machine" it is about protecting the nation against the forces allied with Trump.
"It turns out, who we choose is not really about our souls. It’s just politics, man."
-- The smug sneer in that sentence is sickeningly palpable, but there is nothing business as usual about this election. The stakes this year are no less than the "soul" and future of the nation.
And, that ain't just politics.
"The president made his vote-for-Hillary-or-face-doom ... speech ... after his F.B.I. director painted Hillary as reckless and untruthful."
-- The FBI director didn't "paint" Clinton as anything. He gave his findings and his opinion about them. You are the one doing the embellishing.
"He argued that there is no choice but to support Hillary against a “self-declared savior” like Donald Trump, perhaps forgetting that Obama was once hailed as such . . ."
-- You don't see a difference between Trump declaring "I alone" and Oprah Winfrey declaring Obama "the one"? Really? Because its a big difference -- as big as the difference between JFK and Hitler.
"In the end, Obama didn’t overthrow the Clinton machine. He enabled it."
--Obama fought against dark forces in Congress and this nation to improve the lives of all Americans. He emerged with his integrity in tact having created a better nation than he inherited. Endorsing Clinton isn't about enabling "the Clinton Machine" it is about protecting the nation against the forces allied with Trump.
"It turns out, who we choose is not really about our souls. It’s just politics, man."
-- The smug sneer in that sentence is sickeningly palpable, but there is nothing business as usual about this election. The stakes this year are no less than the "soul" and future of the nation.
And, that ain't just politics.
63
I am not a big fan of Ms Dowd's but in this column she actually hit the nail right on the head. President Obama came in as an idealist, but 8 years later he is now part of the very establishment he once railed again.
If President Obama really believed in hope and change then he would have supported Bernie Sanders. If he really wanted to be remembered as "Reagan of the left" he would have supported Bernie Sanders.
Instead he backs the establishment candidate, a corrupt war-mongering Republican in Democratic clothes. Come to think of it, if you leave off the "corrupt" part that phrase also perfectly describes President Obama.
Throw in Debbie Wasserman Schultz turning the DNC into an arm of the Clinton campaign poor Bernie never stood a chance.
After suffering from Reaganomics for 50 years it now high time to drastically move to the left. The nation is discontented and looking for change right now so now would be the best time to embrace change.
The left needs fresh blood, Bernie could have brought in a lot of high energy young people into the Democratic Party but President Obama blew it big time by supporting Clinton.
After being a loyal Democrat for almost 40 years I finally left the Party. If I wanted to support a corrupt party who cares more about Wall Street instead of Main Street I would vote Republican.
"Hillary's Enabler" perfectly sums it up. At this rate President Obama will only be remembered as the Black guy who was President before Donald Trump.
If President Obama really believed in hope and change then he would have supported Bernie Sanders. If he really wanted to be remembered as "Reagan of the left" he would have supported Bernie Sanders.
Instead he backs the establishment candidate, a corrupt war-mongering Republican in Democratic clothes. Come to think of it, if you leave off the "corrupt" part that phrase also perfectly describes President Obama.
Throw in Debbie Wasserman Schultz turning the DNC into an arm of the Clinton campaign poor Bernie never stood a chance.
After suffering from Reaganomics for 50 years it now high time to drastically move to the left. The nation is discontented and looking for change right now so now would be the best time to embrace change.
The left needs fresh blood, Bernie could have brought in a lot of high energy young people into the Democratic Party but President Obama blew it big time by supporting Clinton.
After being a loyal Democrat for almost 40 years I finally left the Party. If I wanted to support a corrupt party who cares more about Wall Street instead of Main Street I would vote Republican.
"Hillary's Enabler" perfectly sums it up. At this rate President Obama will only be remembered as the Black guy who was President before Donald Trump.
4
Jeez, Maureen. Everybody fails in your eyes. Some fail big (anybody named Clinton, all the way back to DeWitt) some fail "incrementally" (Obama). Nobody measures up. Are you such an idealist? Waiting for someone to come up through our political system who has somehow remained pure and unsullied? Not gonna happen. I don't love Hills, and dynasties worry me, but she is a Rodham and her own person. She's got the brains and the guts and the experience. If the House of non-Representatives gives her a chance, I think she'll do good.
50
Yes Maureen. Trump's snark skills and shallow "knowledge" are almost cute, and Clinton's intelligence and impossible grit just blurred lines. Maureen's Dystopia indeed.
36
Is it possible that Hillary Clinton is her own person and not a caricature of her husband's presidency and even his foundation?
You fail in your assessment of Secretary Clinton by not telling her whole story serving as U.S. Senator from NY and then as Secretary of State. She is not tethered to President Clinton nor to President Obama but instead ready like no other person to assume the presidency.
You fail in your assessment of Secretary Clinton by not telling her whole story serving as U.S. Senator from NY and then as Secretary of State. She is not tethered to President Clinton nor to President Obama but instead ready like no other person to assume the presidency.
55
Your comment, "She is not tethered to President Clinton nor to President Obama but instead ready like no other person to assume the presidency" does not seem to hold water when one considers Hillary's oft-stated "You get two for one" when you elect Bill; wouldn't the converse be true? As for being tethered or not to President Obama, she has often been heard taking co-equal credit for anything accomplished in his administration and is very often saying, "When President Obama and I...." did this or that, achieved this or that. You may not want to regard her as "tethered" to them, but she has most certainly attached herself to them when it suits her purposes. Most of us would be delighted to credit her for her own record. What is it? Not just job titles and places where her plane landed, please, but accomplishments. She cited Flint, Michigan in her recent speeches. That atrocity had gone on for about two years before she learned that Rachel Maddow was getting a lot of favorable attention for her work on it; it was THEN that Clinton dropped in to Flint, cameras whirring, microphones in place, so she can now cite her "advocacy" and implied compassion in speeches. She and Bill co-opt and connive. It's just that Trump is so very much more a "horrible" that the Clintons seem tolerable. Faint praise: better than Donald Trump.
2
Hillary was appointed Secretary of State in the first Obama cabinet in 2009. Historically and by statute this post is looked upon as the most important of the President's cabinet. Clearly, the President thought highly of Hillary 8 years ago and the reversal cited as the premise for this column is a figment of Maureen Dowd's increasingly trumpist imagination.
As the columnist well knows, no man and now no woman can become the nominee of a major party without a lot of politics. What one hopes a candidate can do is to blend the unavoidable politics with a goal of a higher purpose given the importance of the job. Mr. Obama has done that although it has not been easy or flawless because of the GOP obstructionism and all those haters who still resent a black man in the White House.
Last night, Ms. Dowd's dear friend Trump was quoted as saying:" I'll give you everything. I will give you what you've been looking for for 50 years. I'm the only one." I dare anyone to find a quote made by Obama or either Clinton this narcissistic or nauseating regarding what they can do for the American people.
Obviously, Obama always thought well of HRC. Indeed, Bill gave a classic address at the 2012 convention in support of Obama. To characterize the BO-HRC alliance as a reversal is nothing more than a hatchet job.
JFK said that the burdens of the office were heavy and constant. BO learned that lesson and so endorsed Hillary.. It seems we are now at the point where columnists need fact checkers
As the columnist well knows, no man and now no woman can become the nominee of a major party without a lot of politics. What one hopes a candidate can do is to blend the unavoidable politics with a goal of a higher purpose given the importance of the job. Mr. Obama has done that although it has not been easy or flawless because of the GOP obstructionism and all those haters who still resent a black man in the White House.
Last night, Ms. Dowd's dear friend Trump was quoted as saying:" I'll give you everything. I will give you what you've been looking for for 50 years. I'm the only one." I dare anyone to find a quote made by Obama or either Clinton this narcissistic or nauseating regarding what they can do for the American people.
Obviously, Obama always thought well of HRC. Indeed, Bill gave a classic address at the 2012 convention in support of Obama. To characterize the BO-HRC alliance as a reversal is nothing more than a hatchet job.
JFK said that the burdens of the office were heavy and constant. BO learned that lesson and so endorsed Hillary.. It seems we are now at the point where columnists need fact checkers
79
Or alternatively, president Obama came to respect Clinton and believes she's the best person to complete what he started. People grow and change, Maureen, with the possible exception of yourself.
104
Bold new initiative would be to set up a boutique (albeit hard time) prison where couples could serve their sentences and country in loving togetherness. All kidding aside, Ms. Dowd's column is a refreshing contrast to most of The Times campaign coverage.
4
The reason the whole world fell in love with Obama in 2008 was because President Bush was such a disaster. He even got a Nobel Peace Prize for just getting elected! Unfortunately, Obama's image making in campaigning lost its glow in governing, and his disdain for politics resulted in the loss of Congress two years later. His rhetoric reverted to the centrist policies he always promoted and followed in the the neo-liberal footsteps of Bill Clinton the past 8 years. That is why so many citizens are angry; he never knew how to provide presidential leadership in communicating and implementing policies of hope beyond his own personality to bring about the "change you can believe in." Hillary's nomination coronation was going to follow that same centrist formula until Sanders got in the race and forced her and the Democrats to tack left. Obama has not come full circle; he never left the center. The big question is if Hillary is elected will she chart the progressive vision that Sanders promoted or revert back to the Bill-Bama neoliberal policies?
So yesterday we had a column from you showing us that Donald Trump was not such a bad guy and today you manage to nail both President Obama and Hillary Clinton as unfeeling liars in one fell swoop.
20 odd years ago your uncritical reporting, in part, convinced the nation that the idiot George Bush wasn't such a bad guy. After you elected him he started the Iraq war and bankrupted the nation. You're now deeply involved in doing the same thing for your buddy Trump. He who demonize minorities, disregards civil rights, and seeks to drive a wedge between the US and our historic allies to the benefit of his Russian investors.
Now I don't mind your humanizing folks if that's what you choose to do, but its just that you continue to have SUCH bad taste in the folks you choose....
20 odd years ago your uncritical reporting, in part, convinced the nation that the idiot George Bush wasn't such a bad guy. After you elected him he started the Iraq war and bankrupted the nation. You're now deeply involved in doing the same thing for your buddy Trump. He who demonize minorities, disregards civil rights, and seeks to drive a wedge between the US and our historic allies to the benefit of his Russian investors.
Now I don't mind your humanizing folks if that's what you choose to do, but its just that you continue to have SUCH bad taste in the folks you choose....
138
Get over it--or perhaps, yourself. Ms. Dowd is an equal opportunity destroyer and she's very good at it. She used to call W. "shrub" and called him for his faux populism, the make-believe folksiness, et al. Her takedowns of Bill and now of Hill are legendary. Ms. Dowd is real thing, a tgrowback to the great sob-sisters of tghe 30's, an ascerbic wit that's delightful to rad esp in this paper, when she's in her zone. This present article, reminding us of the facts of past history and of the hard calculations made by these pols, feeding us what they think we want to hear in order to get the one thing they need from us, our vote, and then it's "he/she doesn't write, she/he doesn't call."
I watched Bill Clinton sell his snake-oil and despite my own better judgment, I was a believer or wanted to be--for a minute--until memory came back--and human voices woke us and we drowned.
Hurray and 3 cheers for Ms. Dowd. Keep it up, Maureen!
I watched Bill Clinton sell his snake-oil and despite my own better judgment, I was a believer or wanted to be--for a minute--until memory came back--and human voices woke us and we drowned.
Hurray and 3 cheers for Ms. Dowd. Keep it up, Maureen!
1
Ms. Dowd doesn't need any defense from me, but I must say to you: au contraire, sir. It was not Dowd who "elected him", as you say, referring to George W. Bush ( and let's not forget the dark force, Cheney). It was the American people - twice - and it was actually Bill Clinton, and Hillary, who gave us "W." It was the Clintons and Bill's sordid, lewd behavior that allowed "W" to convince a tired and disgusted public, if you recall, that he would "reform", "clean up the mess" etc. He and Dick were using all manner of dirty tricks and yet the American people - and Bill Clinton - gave us Bush-Cheney, twice. The mess THEY left still steams and reeks around the world and millions have suffered and died. Obama said, effectively, "fugeddaboutit, we're moving on..." and things went on the same as they had under Bush-Cheney and Bill and Hillary came back on the stage and the same things get said about them and the American people are probably about to elect them - again. The more things change, etc. etc...
2
Maureen Dowd is doing her version of the last hurrah during the waning days of Obama's presidency. After all, Obama owes his tenure in the White House to all those fawning articles that Maureen Dowd wrote in 2008, proclaiming he was "The One." Elect Barack Obama instead of "that woman" and presto--all of our problems would be solved. Why all America and the rest of the world needed was just some conflict resolution and group therapy to straighten out every disagreement on the planet. America wavered and elected a one term neophyte junior Senator we really knew nothing about as President. Obama won simply because his last name wasn't Clinton nor Bush.
Fast forward to 2016 and things are simply dreadful. It's open season on cops. Terrorism is spreading faster than a malignant cancer. Americans absolutely detest one another. Barack Obama is totally oblivious to chaos that's erupting everywhere and he doesn't seem to care.
I totally agree with Charlton Heston's observation in Planet of the Apes when he screamed 'It's a madhouse!! A madhouse!!!"
Fast forward to 2016 and things are simply dreadful. It's open season on cops. Terrorism is spreading faster than a malignant cancer. Americans absolutely detest one another. Barack Obama is totally oblivious to chaos that's erupting everywhere and he doesn't seem to care.
I totally agree with Charlton Heston's observation in Planet of the Apes when he screamed 'It's a madhouse!! A madhouse!!!"
4
I'd suggest you are giving Ms Dowd way too much credit for President Obama's tenure in the White House. I'm pretty sure many more people who voted for President Obama don't read or even know who Ms Dowd is than do. Just saying.
7
Thanks, Maureen. Yes, it is just politics. How could it be otherwise?
It is about picking the "better" candidate and avoiding the "worse" one, not selecting the perfect candidate.
It is mostly how Aristotle and Plato analysed politics over 2,300 years ago. Technology may have changed over two millenia, but human egos really haven't changed much.
That said, we are where we are and who is the better bet?
We should rejoice in being able to participate in making the choice.
Thanks once more for bringing some well written rhyme and reason to a crazy fortnight of political kabuki.
You must be tired. I hope you can get a break.
It is about picking the "better" candidate and avoiding the "worse" one, not selecting the perfect candidate.
It is mostly how Aristotle and Plato analysed politics over 2,300 years ago. Technology may have changed over two millenia, but human egos really haven't changed much.
That said, we are where we are and who is the better bet?
We should rejoice in being able to participate in making the choice.
Thanks once more for bringing some well written rhyme and reason to a crazy fortnight of political kabuki.
You must be tired. I hope you can get a break.
7
I understand your feelings, but they seem unimportant before the choice facing our country. Obama, like Sanders, is doing an admirable job putting all the enthusiasm he can muster behind Clinton. When Hillary says the choice is clear, we can put aside cynicism which would otherwise be appropriate. This election is about so much more than politics that I feel Obama should first and foremost be applauded for his apparent change of heart.
678
Criticize Obama all you want -- about his failure to prosecute the banks and the torturers, about not closing Guantanamo, about not doing what he should have done for the middle east. (Whatever that is.) But please don't waste our time on sillyness. There is nothing here.
Mo's columns are easy-reads, zippy and light. More and more they seem to be the product of nearly no effort.
Mo's columns are easy-reads, zippy and light. More and more they seem to be the product of nearly no effort.
110
Whatever the Middle East needed - in Egypt,Yemen, and Libya - was NOT to have their leadership removed thanks to the rank amateurs running the U.S. government and then being simply abandoned to the four winds.
A real leader would NOT have simply set the Arab world up for ISIS to pop up out of a vacuum created for political purposes.
A real leader would NOT have simply set the Arab world up for ISIS to pop up out of a vacuum created for political purposes.
4
Maureen, you may be right about Hillary as President, but I think you've been doing the snide-shtick too long. Most people at that convention including Bernie Sanders, and leaders around the world are willing Hillary along against Trump and the chaos he would cause. Is HE the one you want? Your life may have been optimal in every way so far but for most people reality intrudes and we have to make choices. How about less indecent haste – pound on Hillary AFTER she gets in.
115
Correction:
After veering off course last week, Maureen's autopilot resumes its usual path with a Barry/Hillary twofer.
Thank you, auto-correct.
After veering off course last week, Maureen's autopilot resumes its usual path with a Barry/Hillary twofer.
Thank you, auto-correct.
66
Just can't help yourself, can you, Ms. Dowd? So does this mean you're for the alternative this election?
3
After veering off course last week, Maureen's autopilot resumes its unusual path with a Barry/Hillary twofer.
12
Incremental versus the revolution.
The ozone layer is recovering after 30 years of incremental effort. Reagan said 6 million would die from non-melanoma skin cancer if we did not do something about CFCs etc and he started the incremental process. It is working.
Richard Nixon started the EPA and the Clean Air Act permitted them to identify the threats and regulate them. More increments and we are living longer today because of the dozens of small steps in the right direction.
Now Obama has started down the road laid out by COP-21 in Paris in December '15. Incremental approach to climate change. First time the needle has moved since the re-coronation of Bush in 2000. (Thanks Ralph, you cost us 8 years of incremental effort on climate - all for your ego.)
Increments matter - and on climate they may be critical to the future of humanity. Stein, Trump, Inhofe - there is nothing that they would not do for ego. They will sink efforts to protect climate - Stein by demanding revolution and claiming that Trump = Hillary and Paris = failure. Trump and Inhofe by asking what does it have to do with them.
Paris is insufficient. It is an increment down a path that is much wider than the one that leads from Jill to the white house. The Paris Path can lead to protection of climate if it is trod with the same care that characterized ozone and clean air. Jill, Donald and Jim will all kill climate progress. Maybe different motives - same outcome.
Vote Hillary. Move the climate needle.
The ozone layer is recovering after 30 years of incremental effort. Reagan said 6 million would die from non-melanoma skin cancer if we did not do something about CFCs etc and he started the incremental process. It is working.
Richard Nixon started the EPA and the Clean Air Act permitted them to identify the threats and regulate them. More increments and we are living longer today because of the dozens of small steps in the right direction.
Now Obama has started down the road laid out by COP-21 in Paris in December '15. Incremental approach to climate change. First time the needle has moved since the re-coronation of Bush in 2000. (Thanks Ralph, you cost us 8 years of incremental effort on climate - all for your ego.)
Increments matter - and on climate they may be critical to the future of humanity. Stein, Trump, Inhofe - there is nothing that they would not do for ego. They will sink efforts to protect climate - Stein by demanding revolution and claiming that Trump = Hillary and Paris = failure. Trump and Inhofe by asking what does it have to do with them.
Paris is insufficient. It is an increment down a path that is much wider than the one that leads from Jill to the white house. The Paris Path can lead to protection of climate if it is trod with the same care that characterized ozone and clean air. Jill, Donald and Jim will all kill climate progress. Maybe different motives - same outcome.
Vote Hillary. Move the climate needle.
149
How would Dr. Jill Stein kill climate progress? She is the only candidate who wants to ban all fracking and drilling. Contrast that to Hillary Clinton who is, as is Kaine, beholden to the oil and fracking industry.
As Secretary Hillary Clinton forced fracking down countries' throats who didn't even want it, all so that she could make a buck.
Spouting careless slander isn't going to help Clinton get elected. Unbeknownst to you, everybody already knows all this stuff I just had to explain to you.
As Secretary Hillary Clinton forced fracking down countries' throats who didn't even want it, all so that she could make a buck.
Spouting careless slander isn't going to help Clinton get elected. Unbeknownst to you, everybody already knows all this stuff I just had to explain to you.
1
"Thanks Ralph, you cost us 8 years of incremental effort on climate - all for your ego." Let's be clear: Ralph NADER: thank you not at all; and still in denial.
3
Hillary supports fracking. Think about it. That means she also supports frack-sand mining. Both of those are environmental horrors. She refers to "coal country." Where was she when the Appalachian mountain range was being dismantled, destroyed, by "coal country" corporatists and loyal Democrats? It's called "mountain top removal" mining and, like frack sand mining, is a vile Earth-destroying activity that went virtually un-remarked by Democrats in power, including West Virginia Democrat Rockefeller! Once upon a time she (and Obama) were from Illinois. If either of them ever visited and toured they might notice the immense and growing sand mining going on in northern Illinois. Michigan is being fracked and sand-mined so extensively it is increasing looking like moonscape; that's "Pure Michigan" and Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, etc. etc. Hillary and Bill are not environmentalists. Trump will be worse. Who speaks for Earth when the likely winner supports fracking and frack sand mining and environmental destruction? Then there's Dick Cheney and the absolute evil secret deal he made to sell out the Clean Water Act to support hydraulic fracturing and Halliburton and we have BP in the Gulf and the whole Gulf and environs so horribly damaged. Has anybody changed that rotten deal? Is the Gulf all "Pure Gulf" now? Did Obama reverse Cheney's evil?
2
Bad enough that Ms. Dowd decides to pen another gratuitously malicious op/ed piece about Hillary on the heels of a successful nominating convention (thanks in big part to the contributions of Mr. and Mrs. Obama), but her devious attempt to implicate the President in what she sees as Mrs. Clinton's machinations is nothing short of disgraceful. For those who don't have the time to read the damning evidence she cites as proof that Mr. Obama was all in for Hillary as far back as three years ago, rest assured that in their joint interview with Steve Kroft the President said nothing of the kind. Whereas Mr. Kroft did try to get Mr. Obama to publicly endorse his outgoing Secretary of State as his heir apparent in the Oval Office, nether he nor Hillary took the bait. Period. Further, I don't know what may have happened between Joe Biden and David Plouffe, but Ms. Dowd introduces no evidence of the President's "decision" to have his V.P stand down in favor of Hillary and no direct quotes from anyone, not even anonymously. As for Beau Biden's allegedly hostile comments about HRC, I think it's safe to assume that Ms. Dowd was not visiting his bedside when those remarks were supposed to have been made and I can't imagine that anyone present would have relayed them to her. Shameful, Maureen!
423
Well said. I think it's safe to assume that anything Maureen Dowd writes about Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and any Democrat, for that matter, is as far from the truth as it could possibly be.
5
Shameful indeed! The Dowdy one has had it in for the nominee for a long time and is now wielding an ever-dulling knife.
5
Furthermore, Joe Biden denied Maureen's account.
7
So Maureen, when you reported that Donald told you....“I’d like to hear his wife say something.” referring to the wife of Mr. Kahn, you didn't think his caustic remarks about a grieving Muslim mother was worth a column? http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/30/opinion/trumps-thunderbolts.html
Say what you want about Hillary. It's all old news and frankly your readers are very well aware of her faults. If this was your way of showing Trump you are indeed a balanced writer so you can stay in his good graces, you failed miserably. This election is no longer about electing the lesser of 2 evils. It's about defeating evil!! After 8 years of Hillary put downs, it's time to concentrate on someone much more dangerous!
Say what you want about Hillary. It's all old news and frankly your readers are very well aware of her faults. If this was your way of showing Trump you are indeed a balanced writer so you can stay in his good graces, you failed miserably. This election is no longer about electing the lesser of 2 evils. It's about defeating evil!! After 8 years of Hillary put downs, it's time to concentrate on someone much more dangerous!
486
Mrs. Khan DID speak out, on Lawrence O'Donnell's show. As the commercial goes, "can you hear me now?"
6
After her fawning transcription of Trump’s odious thoughts Friday and this fact-challenged assault on President Obama and Secretary Clinton, at what point does The Times give this column to someone worth reading?
Mark Liebovich, another Times reporter, described attending the Saturday Night Live after party with Dowd the night that Trump hosted SNL. Dowd was, Liebovich said on David Axelrod’s podcast, ‘’welcome at the Trump family table.’’
Where you stand depends on where you sit, the old saying goes. Thanks to Liebovich, we know where Dowd sits.
Mark Liebovich, another Times reporter, described attending the Saturday Night Live after party with Dowd the night that Trump hosted SNL. Dowd was, Liebovich said on David Axelrod’s podcast, ‘’welcome at the Trump family table.’’
Where you stand depends on where you sit, the old saying goes. Thanks to Liebovich, we know where Dowd sits.
989
Should all Times columns be restricted to pro-Democrats? "All the News (and opinions) That Is Fit to Print," even if it goes agaibst your biases.
2
We also know where Hillary sits. At the Goldman Sachs, hedge fund billionaires' table.
3
Good to know. It's outrageous that the media glitterati have not been held to account for their longtime "friendships" with Mr. Trump, forged over decades of interacting and overlapping with him and his family at society fundraisers/galas.
The friendly acceptance of the unacceptable Donald Trump by media movers and shakers is, to a large extent, the reason WHY we find our country teetering on the edge of a TRUMP presidency!
The friendly acceptance of the unacceptable Donald Trump by media movers and shakers is, to a large extent, the reason WHY we find our country teetering on the edge of a TRUMP presidency!
4
I questioned whether I should read this, but decided to give Ms. Dowd another try. Lousy idea.
1927
Sadly, I have to agree, Susan.
I followed the 2000 election closely and had to conclude then that Maureen Dowd actively helped to facilitate George W. Bush's election.
I followed the 2000 election closely and had to conclude then that Maureen Dowd actively helped to facilitate George W. Bush's election.
3
Perfect!
3
Agree completely. Its the first Dowd column I have read in many years -- hooked by the headline, I guess -- and it will be the last. As I told a friend of mine recently, I learned a long time ago not to waste any more of my precious youth on Maureen Dowd.
9
I'm with President Obama on this, Ms. Dowd " Obama wants to create what he calls “a 16-year era of progressive rule” and refocus American politics as the “Reagan of the left,”. This is what America needs after the theft of so much of our wealth since Ronald Reagan was installed in the White House. This is exactly what Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton can help make happen. SHE has my grateful vote.
606
How is it possible to support Hillary while simultaneously typing the phrase, "...after the theft of so much of our wealth..." Hillary voted for the Wall Street bailout! Where do you think that money came from? It wasn't earned, it was taken from the taxpayers who had no say in the matter, and shoveled into the pockets of Wall Street and the banks who were "too big" to fail.
2
Some 16 year continuity of Obama so called legacy is just not going to happen. We as a nation that is ideologically divided, polarized and on fast track of self destruction better wake up before it is too late and there will be no point of return. More precisely put, our political and elections system and so called democracy is rotten to the core and does not work, just is it the fundamentally flowed economic system. With 90% and 60% of the people in this country having no confidence in the US Congress and US Supreme Court respectively , what we need is to dissolve this self interest and self righteous US Congress, by acclamation of the people. I am not advocating the overthrow of the Government. Once that is done we the people of this Republic : government of the people by the people, for the people and by the people appoint some 50 odd elders ( no politicians and lawyers) to rewrite a new Constitution incorporating the current one for the needs of the nation, the people and total reforms needed for the Legislative, Judicial and Executive branches of the government in this 21st century. Once that is done the new Constitution to be ratified by referendum of the people . One person one vote, which the law of the land.
Oh, that's hilarious! If she takes back any wealth, it is going right into her bank account or the Family Slush Fund.
2
Yes, Maureen, there was still a Clinton machine in the candidate barn after 2008. The Clinton foundation kept the motor in shape. They took it out for drives during then, and sometimes it ran off the road, as in the time it carried that email server.
That the Republican Party conveniently self-destructed during that time helped. The very harsh reality is that W was a failure (he wasn't even mentioned in this GOP convention).
It was time to take the Hillary car out for a drive in the primaries. It stalled in the high altitude on Mt. Bernie. The Clinton mechanics were rushed out to deal with the problem. "Bernie is unrealistic," Hillary admonished. "He has no plan," unlike the plans that Hillary didn't have. Hillary followers called white-haired men of that generation sexists. Prejudice in electing a woman president is no vice.
Steinem and Albright were funny with their chastising of young women who backed Bernie. They wanted to take them back to the '60's. With so many successful women today, it's hard to enjoy those glory days. They want to move on. Some need to run companies and are looking for talent, not melancholy.
I worked for Obama in Cleveland in 2008. I had supported Hillary. That there is no opposing party today does not help Hillary. It was tough for Obama. It means that there is no Republican leadership with which to negotiate. It's a political cartoon. They'll say to Hillary, talk with *them*, pointing to the rabble left in the streets.
That the Republican Party conveniently self-destructed during that time helped. The very harsh reality is that W was a failure (he wasn't even mentioned in this GOP convention).
It was time to take the Hillary car out for a drive in the primaries. It stalled in the high altitude on Mt. Bernie. The Clinton mechanics were rushed out to deal with the problem. "Bernie is unrealistic," Hillary admonished. "He has no plan," unlike the plans that Hillary didn't have. Hillary followers called white-haired men of that generation sexists. Prejudice in electing a woman president is no vice.
Steinem and Albright were funny with their chastising of young women who backed Bernie. They wanted to take them back to the '60's. With so many successful women today, it's hard to enjoy those glory days. They want to move on. Some need to run companies and are looking for talent, not melancholy.
I worked for Obama in Cleveland in 2008. I had supported Hillary. That there is no opposing party today does not help Hillary. It was tough for Obama. It means that there is no Republican leadership with which to negotiate. It's a political cartoon. They'll say to Hillary, talk with *them*, pointing to the rabble left in the streets.
42
Explain to me how anyone cheats in 50 state primaries. Otherwise, it's just all sour grapes.
8
Did you know that Bernie Sanders, will once again be listed as an Independent in Congress, he says he's still a Dem but we'll see, as I think it was just a' marriage' of convenience
4
Maureen, this column says more about your cynicism than about any from President Obama. The truth is that as Senators, Clinton and Obama had very aligned voting records (as did Clinton and Sanders). The truth is that Mrs. Clinton and President Obama did work closely together in his administration. The truth is that President Obama took a lot of heat for the ACA (just as Mrs. Clinton did for her early push towards healthcare reform), and it does not matter who was the bearer of bad political news. The truth is that President Obama and Hillary Clinton share very close platforms, and it only figures that he would endorse her to continue his visions. Nothing cynical in any of this.
909
You mean when voting to enable Bush to invade Iraq? Or doesn't that one matter.
1
Agreed. It is a strange world where Maureen Dowd summarizes my views on what happened over the past eight years. It is even stranger when nobody doubts it. Jon Snow, King of the Andals, the First Men, the Rhoynar, and by the Old Gods and the New, but nothing has changed. Bittersweet, indeed.
16
When we resort to fantasy (Jon Snow) to illustrate our views on reality, we are in serious trouble indeed.
2
Do we really need a column criticizing Obama right now? I know I don't.
552
Yes we do, the time is always right to tell the truth, even if it hurts to hear it
2
So, Maureen, you're supporting Trump?
772
That is blatantly obvious @Is Not a Trusted Commenter
1
Maureen, in 8 years, you have yet to give President Obama his due. From portraying him as effete, snobbish, hapless, naive, socially inept, gullible, to your opening words here, acknowledging about him as a decent person with solid values, quickly followed by a conclusion that he is a spineless sell-out and just another politician.
The truth is that President Obama is a man of integrity, which shines through both his policies and his personal character. President Obama deserves all of our thanks, no sarcasm, no asterisks.
The truth is that President Obama is a man of integrity, which shines through both his policies and his personal character. President Obama deserves all of our thanks, no sarcasm, no asterisks.
1839
Of course he has many fine attributes, as well as a few major successes. But his direction of our foreign policy and national security is a disaster--a continuation of mismanaged wars and letting the careerists run wild within the various nat. sec. agencies and the services. He has been a poor overseer of the government because of the quality of many cabinet appointees and the gross perpetuation of weak and limited advisers. The advisers never have the national interest in mind, just politics. Because of this, he has done so much to plump up Hillary's candidacy and a fairly no-change campaign. Not the president's best moment.
It's hard to mock a good man. Dowd should have figured that out after 8 years of columns that just never succeeded in effectively skewering president Obama.
5
Don;t be offended, she never gave either Clintons or Gore their due either.
3
It's politics indeed, Maureen. Why don't you deal with Trump for a change?
404
Applause. Applause. Standing ovation for the brilliant, insightful and courageous speaker of truth Maureen Dowd. As much as I have supported him and trusted him over 8+ years, President Obama has betrayed core values and rolled the dice with his legacy as the wager in embracing candidate Hillary.
It is important that someone with a resonant, articulate voice speak out on what President Obama is doing. He may regret it, someday, as much as many of his supporters and others regret it today.
It is important that someone with a resonant, articulate voice speak out on what President Obama is doing. He may regret it, someday, as much as many of his supporters and others regret it today.
49
Who was Obama to support? Bernie didn't win the primaries... Hilary did. Was he to skip the convention? Or offer a token light support?
He did what he had to do: an excellent political speech strongly supporting the candidate of his party.
We won't know for years how he really, personally felt about having to do that...
He didn't turn the ship of state, nobody can (not even the Donald), but he steered it a few degrees to the left... incremental, but significant.
He did what he had to do: an excellent political speech strongly supporting the candidate of his party.
We won't know for years how he really, personally felt about having to do that...
He didn't turn the ship of state, nobody can (not even the Donald), but he steered it a few degrees to the left... incremental, but significant.
6
Regret what? Supporting Hillary over Trump? No one is going to regret THAT!
Those who vote for Jill Stein will regret their choice if the result is a President Trump. Millennials would do well to remember that Trump could wreck their lives for the rest of their lives with just one SCOTUS justice appointment alone.
Those who vote for Jill Stein will regret their choice if the result is a President Trump. Millennials would do well to remember that Trump could wreck their lives for the rest of their lives with just one SCOTUS justice appointment alone.
8
If Hillary were running against anyone but Trump, she would get crushed.
If Trump were running against anyone but Hillary, he would get crushed.
Now, with 2/3 of the voters dissatisfied with both candidates, the polls show a tight race. It may get tighter after (1) the debates; (2) the medical insurance premium hikes coming on November 1, and (3) whatever events fate throws into the mix between now and November.
What I propose is federal legislation making ALL primaries open to ALL voters. The sane majority are being held hostage to the intense partisanship of the two major parties. The presidency is too important to be monopolized by the zealots of the left and right.
If Trump were running against anyone but Hillary, he would get crushed.
Now, with 2/3 of the voters dissatisfied with both candidates, the polls show a tight race. It may get tighter after (1) the debates; (2) the medical insurance premium hikes coming on November 1, and (3) whatever events fate throws into the mix between now and November.
What I propose is federal legislation making ALL primaries open to ALL voters. The sane majority are being held hostage to the intense partisanship of the two major parties. The presidency is too important to be monopolized by the zealots of the left and right.
53
Michigan does that. It works well. Bernie won here too.
13
If Hillary were running against anyone but Trump, she would get crushed.
Categorically false. Smell Cruz?. Any of the other giants that Orange defeated? And Kasich is Sanders, never had cannons turned on him by opposition party.
Categorically false. Smell Cruz?. Any of the other giants that Orange defeated? And Kasich is Sanders, never had cannons turned on him by opposition party.
5
Anyone else except Trump and she would get crushed, really? Whom would that be ? Cruz? Huckabee? Rubio? The people that Trump crushed? How do you figure that?
5
In the antepenultimate paragraph, Ms. Dowd equates Pres. Obama's leadership style with that of Trump's leadership. President Obama never raised the specters of violence, crime and international upheaval to scare Americans as does the republican nominee; nor did he claim, "I alone can fix it."
To make this rather false equivalence between an intelligent, thoughtful, careful president and a conman, xenophobe, misogynist, fraud, narcissist, possible sociopath and charlatan makes me want to retch.
To make this rather false equivalence between an intelligent, thoughtful, careful president and a conman, xenophobe, misogynist, fraud, narcissist, possible sociopath and charlatan makes me want to retch.
1300
antepenultimate
does that mean next to last
does that mean next to last
1
You understate it.
2
I agree with your characterization of Trump, but not with your excoriation of Dowd. You note that "President Obama never raised the specters of violence, crime...." but I think he should have done so when it comes to Chicago, for example. He sometimes calls Chicago the place where he's from. Hillary rarely mentions her Chicago or Illinois origins. If there were ever anybody who might have drawn attention to the daily and nightly crime and violence - the domestic terrorism! - that has Chicago in its grip, as well as other downstate cities also feeling the effect of Chicago-style gang violence, it would be President and Mrs. Obama! I have longed for them to propose making Chicago a pilot program, so to speak, for major school and economic reform, for family and neighborhood reform, for jobs, to make Chicago a vital, healthy place for everybody. My guy Bernie - a University of Chicago alum, Obama, Hillary, Michelle - all could join hands and minds and give Chicago some serious CPR! It's in very bad shape and neither Obama nor Hillary gives it more than passing mention or a crowd-pleasing song, "Sweet Home Chicago..." to endear themselves to a crowd. Illinois is currently in very deep fiscal/social/all kinds of trouble because of two political egos with great power, willing to destroy everything in order to "win."
The whole state is suffering mightily, including from crime and violence. I wish Obama would raise not the "specter", but discuss the daily reality of it.
The whole state is suffering mightily, including from crime and violence. I wish Obama would raise not the "specter", but discuss the daily reality of it.
1
The Clintons are notoriously flawed, and just about as gifted when it comes to public policy. But it IS just about politics. Roosevelt and Reagan are regarded by their admirers as demigods, but both were shamelessly devious in pursuit of what they saw as higher purposes. They lied, backstabbed, denied or spun the truth when they thought it necessary or expedient. That’s politics. Obama’s no saint, but he’s about as smart and steady and well-intentioned a political calculator as we’re likely to have in The White House. Realpolitik is not just a foreign policy term. Hillary doesn’t thrill me, doesn’t really inspire me either, not anymore. But in the context of the national interest and the well-being of all Americans - all of us - the choice between Trump and Clinton should be a no-brainer.
1789
Do you think that perhaps FDR did some good for America with his political machinations, and Reagan not so much?
3
You don't know much about FDR.
1
Dowd. You managed to insult Obama and smear Hillary again. Have you lost your mind? In your last column, You try to make Trump out to be a nice guy, when he is a raving, angry, maniac totally unfit for the presidency. Is it possible that you hate the Clintons more than your own skin?
1479
@N B YUP!
2
Gee, Maureen, always nice to hark back to days 8 years ago when no one could conceive that GOP'ers would spend 8 years as the ' capital on strike ' crowd that Boehner bragged about in Sept. 2011 (Google it, the speech is in the NYTimes) or be so desperate that when Scalia died, not only would they refuse to follow their oaths and hold hearings to fill the vacancy, but they would even refuse to confirm the judges THEY had nominated:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/senate-republicans-obama-judges_us_5...
The ' law and order ' party has refused for 8 years running to staff the judiciary, and all Americans can see it :(
And now the GOP'ers have placed in front of the electorate the un-hinged, unfit Oompa Loompa Drumpf !
What did you think Obama and the Dems were going to do, as a responsible party ?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/senate-republicans-obama-judges_us_5...
The ' law and order ' party has refused for 8 years running to staff the judiciary, and all Americans can see it :(
And now the GOP'ers have placed in front of the electorate the un-hinged, unfit Oompa Loompa Drumpf !
What did you think Obama and the Dems were going to do, as a responsible party ?
545
They could have nominated any one other than Hillary and locked this election up.
2
How sad and depressing that with everything that's going on in the world, Maureen consistently chooses to dwell on unflattering tidbits about Obama and the Clintons, as if they had no redeeming qualities, hadn't overcome daunting obstacles and weren't working hard to make things better for the American people. One has to wonder if anyone measures up to her standards.
1015
Herself?
1
Why yes, in fact: Donald Trump measures up to her standards. She really admires him.
4
Peas from the same pod? Ann Coulter, Maureen Dowd?
1478
I read this post too fast -- Maureen Dowd replacing Ann Coulter at Fox?
19
Amen to that.
2
Just so, the style over substance bitter as gall sisters.
4
If the wind changes, as the children's story goes, you get stuck with the face you have on at that time. With Dowd, it was a sneer.
577
Dear Arun Gupta,
The expression I saw in this column was not a sneer but one of resignation to a most abominable set of choices facing the American people, and the angst of seeing one of the few respectable politicians in the USA, President Obama, give full and unequivocal applause to one of those abominable choices.
The expression I saw in this column was not a sneer but one of resignation to a most abominable set of choices facing the American people, and the angst of seeing one of the few respectable politicians in the USA, President Obama, give full and unequivocal applause to one of those abominable choices.
3
Always a sneer.
5
Trying to compare Obama with Sanders is a bit of a reach. Listent to an Obama speach. He lays out the facts, exams the evidence, reviews the options, reflects on the problems of each possible solution, and with logic and compassion outlines a solid course of action. Sanders turns red in the face, acusses nearly everyone of being corrupt, calls any and all big business a fraud, declares the system is rigged, and demands a revolution, which with out providing a pathway to get there will somehow cure every problem. Given the success of both Sanders and Trump I can only conclude that a large number of voters never actually listen to anything the candidate actaually says.
283
W.A.
I was born in far right wing Quebec. It was as corrupt as corrupt could be. We had a Sanders revolution. We have problems but every year Quebec gets better.
I spent many of the Clinton and W. years in the Mid-west. I lived in Obama's neighbourhood and Obama was very involved in local politics and we all appreciated his intellect and demeanor. Obama has been an excellent President.
I would vote Sanders in a heartbeat the revolution is 24 years late.
I remember when we called Vermont Mississippi North not the place that educates many of America's best and brightest.
How is Arkansas doing these days?
We will vote Hillary because we are sane not because we believe we can't do better.
I was born in far right wing Quebec. It was as corrupt as corrupt could be. We had a Sanders revolution. We have problems but every year Quebec gets better.
I spent many of the Clinton and W. years in the Mid-west. I lived in Obama's neighbourhood and Obama was very involved in local politics and we all appreciated his intellect and demeanor. Obama has been an excellent President.
I would vote Sanders in a heartbeat the revolution is 24 years late.
I remember when we called Vermont Mississippi North not the place that educates many of America's best and brightest.
How is Arkansas doing these days?
We will vote Hillary because we are sane not because we believe we can't do better.
8
Couldn't agree more, Mr/Ms Spitzer! You nailed it!
2
Maureen, are you breaking news, or making up news Drumpf-style, when you say that Obama discouraged Biden from entering the race? As far as we know, Biden didn't feel that he had it in him to jump into a grueling President marathon (in which Hillary already had a substantial lead) so soon after his son's death.
I'm curious, since this is the first that I've heard of this.
As for Emanuel, and his role in convincing Obama to accept any health care bill, rather than hold out for a bill that would have been an authentic asset in the mid-terms, and every other election to come, instead of an albatross, I would have preferred that the President threw him out of Air Force One without a parachute.
Furthermore, for all the hate the Clintons receive, I have to say that the 90s were a pretty good decade, all things considered.
Quite of the number of the bills that Bill is getting hammered for today were considered smart moves by the smart people at the time. Those moves may have turned out to be wrong, but collective wisdom is always keener in hindsight.
Maureen, is it possible that our standards are impossibly high? Bill left Americans with a balance budget, a healing real estate market, and a healthy aggregate YoY appreciation in our collective stock portfolio. Honestly, I didn't hear much talk about income inequality while Bill was President - because there was less of it.
Were the Clinton years so bad? Not in my reality, but maybe in yours.
I'm curious, since this is the first that I've heard of this.
As for Emanuel, and his role in convincing Obama to accept any health care bill, rather than hold out for a bill that would have been an authentic asset in the mid-terms, and every other election to come, instead of an albatross, I would have preferred that the President threw him out of Air Force One without a parachute.
Furthermore, for all the hate the Clintons receive, I have to say that the 90s were a pretty good decade, all things considered.
Quite of the number of the bills that Bill is getting hammered for today were considered smart moves by the smart people at the time. Those moves may have turned out to be wrong, but collective wisdom is always keener in hindsight.
Maureen, is it possible that our standards are impossibly high? Bill left Americans with a balance budget, a healing real estate market, and a healthy aggregate YoY appreciation in our collective stock portfolio. Honestly, I didn't hear much talk about income inequality while Bill was President - because there was less of it.
Were the Clinton years so bad? Not in my reality, but maybe in yours.
675
Yes, people forget that Bill Clinton was constrained by healing us from Reaganonics, and we failed - again - to support him in midterms (we're good at that, not seeming to be willing to support our own people). He was a man for his time. And we also didn't give Gore our support, hence 8 years of Bush.
Vote midterms, progressives/liberals/democrats! Don't wait for a hero. Get the bums out right down to your local town and schoolboard! Overcome voter suppression and gerrymandering. Vote!
Vote midterms, progressives/liberals/democrats! Don't wait for a hero. Get the bums out right down to your local town and schoolboard! Overcome voter suppression and gerrymandering. Vote!
363
Emmanuel has been an awful mayor of Chicago. His arrogance makes it impossible to show judgment.
34
Income inequality in the Clinton years was better but only because its a structural trend that's been in play since the 1980s or so. The US president and congress can implement policies to ameliorate or exacerbate that trend, but that's all. While I agree that Bill Clinton's policies were good for the country, attributing too much of the 1990s economic prosperity to Bill Clinton is giving him way too much credit.
1
If Clinton wins and gives Treasury Secretary or any economic advisory position to a vampire from Goldman Sachs, Citigroup, or anybody else on or descended from Wall Street, she will immediately lose the support of tens of millions of Americans and disgust with her and Washington will render her presidency DOA.
She should also keep John Kerry on as Secretary of State. He seems to be the only senior person in the American diplomatic corps who has even a clue what diplomacy is. I refuse to believe that the young John Kerry who confronted Washington with their crimes in Vietnam has died, despite the more "pragmatic" man into which he has "evolved."
If Clinton pulls on the American people what her husband did -- his cabinet, his policies, his sellout of the North American working class and the poor -- next time there will not be a next time and who succeeds her will be even worse than Trump.
She should also keep John Kerry on as Secretary of State. He seems to be the only senior person in the American diplomatic corps who has even a clue what diplomacy is. I refuse to believe that the young John Kerry who confronted Washington with their crimes in Vietnam has died, despite the more "pragmatic" man into which he has "evolved."
If Clinton pulls on the American people what her husband did -- his cabinet, his policies, his sellout of the North American working class and the poor -- next time there will not be a next time and who succeeds her will be even worse than Trump.
95
Why do you wonder what she'll do? All those speeches were down payments. No one in their right mind would actually think she had something to say that she hadn't already written in one of her lame books no one read and can now be found in any used bookstore for 50 cents.
Just wait until the wheels start churning on deals in conjunction with the Clinton Foundation. Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea will end another Clinton presidency on the Forbes list of richest people in the world. If you vote for her you have to right to complain.
Just wait until the wheels start churning on deals in conjunction with the Clinton Foundation. Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea will end another Clinton presidency on the Forbes list of richest people in the world. If you vote for her you have to right to complain.
2
Are you really trying to leave out completely the rabid GOP attacks in the 1990s in your mythical accounting of the Clinton administration??? This kind of distortion is beyond the pale.
6
Mr Appledorf, you sound even worse and more left-wing than Bernie Sanders, I mean, the lurid language " a vampire from Goldman Sachs or Citi group," etc. As for John Kerry being "the only person in the diplomatic corpse who has even a clue what diplomacy is", that is a big laugh! John Kerry is the US's worst Secretary of State in the past 30 or 40 years, IMO. I cannot wait for him to get out of office, and I pray that Mrs Clinton will appoint someone else in place of this snobby, cold, ineffective, weak, clueless "diplomat"-if she doesn't, I will regret my support of her. Yes, that's right, I'm a Democrat. There are still some centrists ("moderates")too, you know, not just Bernistas-or those for whom "even" Bernie isn't pure enough!
1
Maureen, I share your distrust of the Clintons, but not for the reasons you listed. Many of us former Sanders supporters are wary of her trigger finger and her clearly insincere commitment to do something serious about global warming. The Hillary we know supports all military actions, and even now has chosen oil men to work on policy planks while mouthing the words about global warming. Those are the skeletons we need to address, not Hillary the person.
I'm also shocked that you criticize Hillary for making the correct decision to distance herself from two of the slimiest politicians in the Democratic Party: David Axelrod, who told Obama to not even talk about global warming, and Rahm Emanuel, who is joined at the hip with any corporate big shot who will pay to play. Those decisions gave us hope, and your chiding her for personal betrayals does not ring true- unless you also hang out with men like David and Rahm.
Besides, it's about time you woke up to the fact that Donald Trump is a nutty and dangerous fascist, and we need to bite our tongues and vote for him. I would hope that you are not just another journalist who has become hypnotized by the ravings of a madman, leading you to discredit his opponent.
I'm also shocked that you criticize Hillary for making the correct decision to distance herself from two of the slimiest politicians in the Democratic Party: David Axelrod, who told Obama to not even talk about global warming, and Rahm Emanuel, who is joined at the hip with any corporate big shot who will pay to play. Those decisions gave us hope, and your chiding her for personal betrayals does not ring true- unless you also hang out with men like David and Rahm.
Besides, it's about time you woke up to the fact that Donald Trump is a nutty and dangerous fascist, and we need to bite our tongues and vote for him. I would hope that you are not just another journalist who has become hypnotized by the ravings of a madman, leading you to discredit his opponent.
152
In the last paragraph of my prior comment, vote for "her", not "him", of course. Too rushed today.
44
Hillary never lied about Sanders. Sanders, particularly towards the end, lied about Hillary as did his surrogates. Sanders is no angel.
226
"we need to bite our tongues and vote for him" - I presume you meant HER?
16
Megavenom in true Maureen style,
T'will make Donald break out a smile,
How brilliant, how bold
Revenge eaten cold
Not shocking, it is Maureen's style.
No fear of what Donald will bring
Into a bleak climate changed Spring,
His rootin' and tootin'
Overtures to Putin
Should make the Maureen Dowd bells ring!
T'will make Donald break out a smile,
How brilliant, how bold
Revenge eaten cold
Not shocking, it is Maureen's style.
No fear of what Donald will bring
Into a bleak climate changed Spring,
His rootin' and tootin'
Overtures to Putin
Should make the Maureen Dowd bells ring!
760
Love it, Larry. Maureen...ever the misanthrope.
6
Larry, you can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Thank you!
4
Memo to President Hilary Clinton: Appoint Larry Eisenberg United States Poet Laureate.
1
Well, even with this historic nomination, nothing will stop you going after Hillary the way you did 8 years ago. I just think you should give this column to Donald or his wife to use any time they want.
And if Kelly does leave Fox News, you will have first dibs on her job.
If you think there was too much flip flopping for Hillary, you need to re-watch the RNC convention!!! It's called politics.
And if Kelly does leave Fox News, you will have first dibs on her job.
If you think there was too much flip flopping for Hillary, you need to re-watch the RNC convention!!! It's called politics.
580
I thought Ms. Dowd could stoop no lower than her stenography for Donald Trump earlier. But she has done so here. This poisoned stew of negativity, embodying her worst instincts for making the worst of everyone around her (not herself) demeans her even more than her targets.
Right now, "politics, man" is all we've got between ourselves and a monster, who is bent on enriching himself - mostly his overweening distorted ego - at the expense of the human race, sixth extinction and all.
Sometimes I feel guilty for hoping a Sandy-style event will interfere with our oblivious ignorance of the headlong journey to poisoning our planet's air, earth, and water that makes us willing to ignore the facts of life in favor of a popularity contest.
But today, I think earth's biggest predator deserves all its fate, even though it will take me and all my favorite people with them. It's slow (but not very slow, two decades or less should make it clear to the blindest haters amongst us) but inevitable.
Politics, man, is what allowed Obama to try to redeem his beautiful lovable ideal visions, and politics, man, is what allowed Mitch McConnell and his Republicans to ensure that as little as possible of those ideals could be realized.
And politics, man, is what married Clinton to Bernie's ideals in a way that makes many of us hope we can get real again.
And it appears that politics, man, is what makes Maureen Dowd hate with an enduring fire, the best that humanity can strive for.
Right now, "politics, man" is all we've got between ourselves and a monster, who is bent on enriching himself - mostly his overweening distorted ego - at the expense of the human race, sixth extinction and all.
Sometimes I feel guilty for hoping a Sandy-style event will interfere with our oblivious ignorance of the headlong journey to poisoning our planet's air, earth, and water that makes us willing to ignore the facts of life in favor of a popularity contest.
But today, I think earth's biggest predator deserves all its fate, even though it will take me and all my favorite people with them. It's slow (but not very slow, two decades or less should make it clear to the blindest haters amongst us) but inevitable.
Politics, man, is what allowed Obama to try to redeem his beautiful lovable ideal visions, and politics, man, is what allowed Mitch McConnell and his Republicans to ensure that as little as possible of those ideals could be realized.
And politics, man, is what married Clinton to Bernie's ideals in a way that makes many of us hope we can get real again.
And it appears that politics, man, is what makes Maureen Dowd hate with an enduring fire, the best that humanity can strive for.
1619
Exactly! Thank you.
3
Dear Susan Anderson.
I think you vision is clouded by your certainty that Mrs. Clinton is going to be a great president, while ignoring Ms. Dowd's well supported reportage of her considerable failures. Ms. Dowd is one of the few pundits that is willing to continue to report the truth about the Clinton political machine. I understand full well the horror of a Trump presidency, but please do not attack the messenger or patronize the few of us who may vote for her, in spite of our revulsion of her hubris and duplicity.
I think you vision is clouded by your certainty that Mrs. Clinton is going to be a great president, while ignoring Ms. Dowd's well supported reportage of her considerable failures. Ms. Dowd is one of the few pundits that is willing to continue to report the truth about the Clinton political machine. I understand full well the horror of a Trump presidency, but please do not attack the messenger or patronize the few of us who may vote for her, in spite of our revulsion of her hubris and duplicity.
5
Wow, Maureen, a "two-fer": I get to read a pasting of both Barack and Hillary in one column.
Interesting what you can dredge up researching lines in a Maureen Dowd column. In checking about this David Plouffe "delivering the bad news to Biden that Hillary was his choice" stuff, I stumbled across an April 15, 2015 article that actually quoted the not yet named associate campaign manager to the Sanders campaign, Tad Devine saying, "Clearly Clinton would make an excellent candidate".
My point being is, political loyalties can shift on a dime. As I recall, Biden lost his son in June of 2015, narrowing his decision time, and the President was surely privy to the impending tragedy. Moreover, the President refused to take sides until the end out of respect for Sanders, which was more circumspect than you are, Maureen.
The title of this article is "Thanks, Obama"--emphasis on the comma and an intended sneer permeating your fingers as you type your column. Frankly, I do thank this President! For his grace under pressure, his integrity, his intellect, and his stoic resolution not to give the Congressional race-baiters the satisfaction of blowing his cool. I think he will go down in the annals as one of the best Presidents this country has ever had--your snarky potshots notwithstanding.
Until then, let me ask: how can you dial up the Donald and quote his idiocies unchallenged on the same day as this one? Should I be grateful?
OK, thanks, Maureen--for nothing.
Interesting what you can dredge up researching lines in a Maureen Dowd column. In checking about this David Plouffe "delivering the bad news to Biden that Hillary was his choice" stuff, I stumbled across an April 15, 2015 article that actually quoted the not yet named associate campaign manager to the Sanders campaign, Tad Devine saying, "Clearly Clinton would make an excellent candidate".
My point being is, political loyalties can shift on a dime. As I recall, Biden lost his son in June of 2015, narrowing his decision time, and the President was surely privy to the impending tragedy. Moreover, the President refused to take sides until the end out of respect for Sanders, which was more circumspect than you are, Maureen.
The title of this article is "Thanks, Obama"--emphasis on the comma and an intended sneer permeating your fingers as you type your column. Frankly, I do thank this President! For his grace under pressure, his integrity, his intellect, and his stoic resolution not to give the Congressional race-baiters the satisfaction of blowing his cool. I think he will go down in the annals as one of the best Presidents this country has ever had--your snarky potshots notwithstanding.
Until then, let me ask: how can you dial up the Donald and quote his idiocies unchallenged on the same day as this one? Should I be grateful?
OK, thanks, Maureen--for nothing.
2664
Biden's presidential aspirations were mostly hypothetical, he is great at what he does but lacks the fire in the belly needed to get the job, even if he might be decent at it if gotten. As for Maureen's recent writings, I'm beginning to think she's given over the column to her Brother Kevin a few more times than she's admitted to. Though she's been a wee tad tougher lately on Trump, she's still hedging her bets, hoping that whoever gets in will finally invite her to that state dinner that Barry didn't. Hell hath no fury, eh Mo? And if Obama's speech was "Hillary or doom", what in the heck would she call DJT's rantings? According to him, the sky is falling, the wolf is at the door and the barn is on fire, and only he, and he alone can put it out. He makes no mention of what he'll charge to do it.
13
We all know that decent people don't hate...draw your own conclusions.
1
If you remember, I'd commented on your post a few months back that Maureen is only "threatening to pivot", as opposed to actually pivoting. She is squarely in Donald's camp, and no longer even attempting to hide it (steno work in other piece this weekend, complete lack of balance on Hillary...)
As I don't have your magical powers (the green check mark), it's frustrating to post on her articles (they dump and thus bury all the comments together on Sunday) and so I've given up doing so. Thanks for keeping up the good fight!
As I don't have your magical powers (the green check mark), it's frustrating to post on her articles (they dump and thus bury all the comments together on Sunday) and so I've given up doing so. Thanks for keeping up the good fight!
10
With a column like this, methinks Ms Dowd is close to endorsing Mrs Clinton. She even abandoned her beloved 'Barry!'
Seriously, machine or not, President Obama, President Clinton and Mrs Clinton together have more brain and heart than the so-called Republican Party which has first abdicated to the Tea Party and now Mr Trump. So why not passing the baton if that is possible?
But the American people are not passive watchers of a relay match - even though Team Dem has the best runners right now - they are active participants.
The truth of the matter is that Mr Obama has stayed neutral when Mrs Clinton and Sen Sanders were duking it out. So, he would have stayed on the sideline had VP Biden wanted to run. And why would Mr Biden listen to Mr Obama anyway, even though the latter is his boss. Had he wanted to run, surely Mr Obama would have given him time off to do so.
About Mayor Emanuel, he wanted to be the Chicago Mayor, and he got it. When he was the Chief of Staff, he enjoyed a lot of power. I see Obamacare quite the opposite in terms of the trios, him, Mr Obama and then Speaker Pelosi. I think they let him down. He gave them a free reign but they dictated it the whole way. Maybe they tried to satisfy the various factions of the Democratic Party. While it really doesn't matter since the GOP's number 1 goal is cause trouble for the president, Mr Obama's subsequent efforts in the grand bargain really shows him a middle-roader, like Mrs Clinton
Seriously, machine or not, President Obama, President Clinton and Mrs Clinton together have more brain and heart than the so-called Republican Party which has first abdicated to the Tea Party and now Mr Trump. So why not passing the baton if that is possible?
But the American people are not passive watchers of a relay match - even though Team Dem has the best runners right now - they are active participants.
The truth of the matter is that Mr Obama has stayed neutral when Mrs Clinton and Sen Sanders were duking it out. So, he would have stayed on the sideline had VP Biden wanted to run. And why would Mr Biden listen to Mr Obama anyway, even though the latter is his boss. Had he wanted to run, surely Mr Obama would have given him time off to do so.
About Mayor Emanuel, he wanted to be the Chicago Mayor, and he got it. When he was the Chief of Staff, he enjoyed a lot of power. I see Obamacare quite the opposite in terms of the trios, him, Mr Obama and then Speaker Pelosi. I think they let him down. He gave them a free reign but they dictated it the whole way. Maybe they tried to satisfy the various factions of the Democratic Party. While it really doesn't matter since the GOP's number 1 goal is cause trouble for the president, Mr Obama's subsequent efforts in the grand bargain really shows him a middle-roader, like Mrs Clinton
82
One thing Ms Dowd has passed over, which could affect the country as much as Ms Dowd's future columns, is the contrast of the two convention.
The Republican Convention is dark and stesses the individual. It was always me-me-me. The Democratic Convention is a lot brighter without being pollyanna and emphasizes on the collective us. "United we stand; divided we fall" may be cliche but is the essential truth. The baton, like that of the highway to the future, requires team effort. President Obama understands that, so does Mrs Clinton. While Mr Trump is about "me." "I alone can fix it" and "Cross me and you die," are some of his traits. He may be good at insulting on Twitter - any flame throwers or baiters can. But it remans to be seen whether he can surround himself with competent people, let alone work well with others other than kissing foreign dictators' behind! But really, judging from people like Roger Stone and others, he may be more a second coming of Roy Cohn.
So, giving the choice, I'd rather have the equivalence of "mom always likes me better" family squabble so long as America as an extended family can deal with the big stuff together
The Republican Convention is dark and stesses the individual. It was always me-me-me. The Democratic Convention is a lot brighter without being pollyanna and emphasizes on the collective us. "United we stand; divided we fall" may be cliche but is the essential truth. The baton, like that of the highway to the future, requires team effort. President Obama understands that, so does Mrs Clinton. While Mr Trump is about "me." "I alone can fix it" and "Cross me and you die," are some of his traits. He may be good at insulting on Twitter - any flame throwers or baiters can. But it remans to be seen whether he can surround himself with competent people, let alone work well with others other than kissing foreign dictators' behind! But really, judging from people like Roger Stone and others, he may be more a second coming of Roy Cohn.
So, giving the choice, I'd rather have the equivalence of "mom always likes me better" family squabble so long as America as an extended family can deal with the big stuff together
144
Like Elvis' incredible voice, your nastiness has never failed you, Maureen Dowd.
Yes, it's true that President Obama and Hillary Clinton are only slightly, imperceptibly to the left of Richard Nixon, Dwight Eisenhower and the now-extinct moderate Republican species that has since been exterminated by Grand Old Propaganda on Goebbellian steroids and Reagan-pablum-suicide-pills the last 36 years, but these pieces of democratic, 'liberal' driftwood are the only objects in the ocean holding back the mendacious maw of metastatic Greed Over People whose raison d'etre is economic rape, parasitism and the megalomaniacal worship of mammon....320 million Americans be damned to GOP Death Panels, 350:1 CEO:worker pay ratio feudalism, forced pregnancy laws and the inalienable right to be randomly slaughtered by a male mental defect in love with guns, bullets and manslaughter.
Or you can take the words of Obama's former strategist David Axelrod, who just after the struggle to pass the ACA and reform America's health care and insurance extortion industries, had a tearful exchange with President Obama.
Axelrod, whose daughter Lauren has suffered from epilepsy her whole life and (the medical bills that came with it), thanked Obama for the ACA.
The President's response to Axelrod: "That’s why we do the work".
So yes, thank you, President Obama....and thanks to a future President Hillary Clinton who will no doubt improve American lives by 'doing the work'.
D to go forward; R for reverse.
Yes, it's true that President Obama and Hillary Clinton are only slightly, imperceptibly to the left of Richard Nixon, Dwight Eisenhower and the now-extinct moderate Republican species that has since been exterminated by Grand Old Propaganda on Goebbellian steroids and Reagan-pablum-suicide-pills the last 36 years, but these pieces of democratic, 'liberal' driftwood are the only objects in the ocean holding back the mendacious maw of metastatic Greed Over People whose raison d'etre is economic rape, parasitism and the megalomaniacal worship of mammon....320 million Americans be damned to GOP Death Panels, 350:1 CEO:worker pay ratio feudalism, forced pregnancy laws and the inalienable right to be randomly slaughtered by a male mental defect in love with guns, bullets and manslaughter.
Or you can take the words of Obama's former strategist David Axelrod, who just after the struggle to pass the ACA and reform America's health care and insurance extortion industries, had a tearful exchange with President Obama.
Axelrod, whose daughter Lauren has suffered from epilepsy her whole life and (the medical bills that came with it), thanked Obama for the ACA.
The President's response to Axelrod: "That’s why we do the work".
So yes, thank you, President Obama....and thanks to a future President Hillary Clinton who will no doubt improve American lives by 'doing the work'.
D to go forward; R for reverse.
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Funny stuff bro!
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The premise of this post is not true! Anybody who could conceive and get Obama care passed is not "slightly, imperceptibly to the left of Richard Nixon".
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I get that you're angry about the rightward sprint of the GOP over the last few decades, but there's really never a time when "economic rape" is a thing. It's kind of an insulting appropriation.
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I have no interest in a president who “touches my soul”. I want one who knows how to defend American interests, who sees his or her historical challenge clearly and who works hard to meet it. I’m afraid I can’t thank President Obama for that.
His historical challenge on assuming office wasn’t a rammed healthcare transformation and a cap-and-trade he couldn’t even sell to enough Dems to pass it. It was our economy; and that should have been obvious as the global financial infrastructure still was teetering as he took his 2009 inaugural and we were losing an immense number of jobs every month. But what occupied him until AFTER he was bloodied in the 2010 mid-terms, losing the House, was healthcare and environmental concerns – in the teeth of two YEARS of strident Republican demands that he DO something about jobs. His “stimulus” focused on saving public sector jobs that were lost anyway once the money ran out, and on green boondoggles. He formed a “business advisory council” and promptly stopped going to the meetings. Since then we’ve coasted, and the latest numbers from the Commerce Dept. suggest that our growth is so anemic that we’re two-pounds-pressure from another recession.
This election is about the economy, good jobs and the failure of establishments and elites to protect them. Mrs. Clinton is missing her bet, doubling-down on a mantra of “touching the soul” of Americans. If she wants to win against Trump, she’d better start paying attention to their wallets.
His historical challenge on assuming office wasn’t a rammed healthcare transformation and a cap-and-trade he couldn’t even sell to enough Dems to pass it. It was our economy; and that should have been obvious as the global financial infrastructure still was teetering as he took his 2009 inaugural and we were losing an immense number of jobs every month. But what occupied him until AFTER he was bloodied in the 2010 mid-terms, losing the House, was healthcare and environmental concerns – in the teeth of two YEARS of strident Republican demands that he DO something about jobs. His “stimulus” focused on saving public sector jobs that were lost anyway once the money ran out, and on green boondoggles. He formed a “business advisory council” and promptly stopped going to the meetings. Since then we’ve coasted, and the latest numbers from the Commerce Dept. suggest that our growth is so anemic that we’re two-pounds-pressure from another recession.
This election is about the economy, good jobs and the failure of establishments and elites to protect them. Mrs. Clinton is missing her bet, doubling-down on a mantra of “touching the soul” of Americans. If she wants to win against Trump, she’d better start paying attention to their wallets.
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Everyone I know in this red state of Texas is better off now than when W left office, even the poorly educated old white guys. The love of all things Trump is based on racism or some delusional rapture moment that has somehow been associated with Trump. Trump has promised the evangelicals a Justice in the vein of Scalia. Back alley abortions are their preference and punishment for sex.
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His stimulus (not "stimulus") turned around the Bush economy. It was hemorrhaging 800,000 jobs per month when he took office. Within a month of the stimulus passing, that rate had been cut in half. Ten months later it broke into positive territory, where it has stayed for 76 consecutive months.
All this without a single Republican vote. Without a Republican "jobs" "plan" ever actually being introduced. With reflexive Republican opposition to anything and everything he proposed, in order to bring him down by bringing the country down.
And you want us to vote for them.
All this without a single Republican vote. Without a Republican "jobs" "plan" ever actually being introduced. With reflexive Republican opposition to anything and everything he proposed, in order to bring him down by bringing the country down.
And you want us to vote for them.
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Ok well an economy that has improved greatly under Obama and the Clinton economy of the 90's does that trick. Next topic!
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Watching the Democratic convention, hearing the soaring speeches, stung a bit by Sanders’ loss but recognizing that there was something larger at stake, I realized that democracy is bigger than the flawed people who happen to be in the limelight. It didn’t matter that the Sanders folks booed, or that Hillary had baggage, or that Obama was praising someone he'd demolished a few years back.
It turns out that voters are every bit as flawed as the people they vote for, and unsuitable candidates can sometimes charm us in dangerous ways, the way Trump has charmed some of us with his ignorance, his unjustified hubris, his adolescent insults and his deceit. Hillary used a private e-mail server. Even as a Sanders supporter I realize that there is no comparison.
We must protect ourselves not from Trump, but from people who think he’s a good idea. Our fellow citizens are ready to hand the country over to a man who brags about what he has below the belt because he has nothing above the neck.
Democrats spoke with eloquence about big issues. Trump spoke like a spoiled child who is being told he can’t play with the country as he would a toy, and one that he’s likely to break.
The Democrats did all they could to remind the country what is at stake. Our votes will determine if we’re qualified to be citizens of one of the greatest nations on earth, or if we’d rather have Donald Trump as our president.
It turns out that voters are every bit as flawed as the people they vote for, and unsuitable candidates can sometimes charm us in dangerous ways, the way Trump has charmed some of us with his ignorance, his unjustified hubris, his adolescent insults and his deceit. Hillary used a private e-mail server. Even as a Sanders supporter I realize that there is no comparison.
We must protect ourselves not from Trump, but from people who think he’s a good idea. Our fellow citizens are ready to hand the country over to a man who brags about what he has below the belt because he has nothing above the neck.
Democrats spoke with eloquence about big issues. Trump spoke like a spoiled child who is being told he can’t play with the country as he would a toy, and one that he’s likely to break.
The Democrats did all they could to remind the country what is at stake. Our votes will determine if we’re qualified to be citizens of one of the greatest nations on earth, or if we’d rather have Donald Trump as our president.
1932
Your words resonate with us.
7
So, anyone who disagrees with you is "flawed." Got it.
6
"We must protect ourselves not from Trump, but from people who think he's a good idea." Couldn't agree more. Thank you!
24
There never really was any ideological space between Clinton and Obama. He beat her (barely) by virtue of her vote for the Iraq War, his oratorical skills, his savvy marketing campaign, and the fact that he was an unknown quantity. He himself admitted to being a "blank screen" upon whom people could project their various views.
That screen was immediately filled with Clinton alumni - Larry Summers, Rahm Emanuel, Sylvia Burwell, Susan Rice, Eric Holder, Greg Craig,to name just a few - plus Bushies John Brennan (CIA) and Bob Gates ("Defense.")
We'll see many of those same faces in the Clinton restoration. AG Loretta Lynch is expected to stick around, as well as the usual suspects from what political historian Perry Anderson calls the Consilium of the Security Elite: revolving door spinners from think tanks, the Ivy League, Council on Foreign Relations, corporations, media, defense contractors, white shoe law firms, etc.
Hillary is more hawkish than Obama, who is no slouch in that department despite the Peace Prize. Seven wars, a trillion-dollar nuke upgrade, drone assassinations, expansion of NATO, "trade" deals that benefit corporations over people. The Neoliberal Project goes on, regardless of the White House occupant.
If you loved Obama, you should love Hillary (oops - I mean NotTrump) too. Just as he was bequeathed record executive power, so too will the Empress-in-Waiting reap the "free" world.
Watch out for falling shards from the shattered glass ceiling.
That screen was immediately filled with Clinton alumni - Larry Summers, Rahm Emanuel, Sylvia Burwell, Susan Rice, Eric Holder, Greg Craig,to name just a few - plus Bushies John Brennan (CIA) and Bob Gates ("Defense.")
We'll see many of those same faces in the Clinton restoration. AG Loretta Lynch is expected to stick around, as well as the usual suspects from what political historian Perry Anderson calls the Consilium of the Security Elite: revolving door spinners from think tanks, the Ivy League, Council on Foreign Relations, corporations, media, defense contractors, white shoe law firms, etc.
Hillary is more hawkish than Obama, who is no slouch in that department despite the Peace Prize. Seven wars, a trillion-dollar nuke upgrade, drone assassinations, expansion of NATO, "trade" deals that benefit corporations over people. The Neoliberal Project goes on, regardless of the White House occupant.
If you loved Obama, you should love Hillary (oops - I mean NotTrump) too. Just as he was bequeathed record executive power, so too will the Empress-in-Waiting reap the "free" world.
Watch out for falling shards from the shattered glass ceiling.
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"....despite the Peace Prize", awarded almost as he left the inauguration stage of his first term, thus simultaneously negating any meaning in that prize (awarded prospectively now, as in “we HOPE for peace”? Yes, we do!), as well as negating the meaning of "Peace" - since there was none then and has been none since. Maybe it’s officially become an ironic prize; more Orwellian, one might say, or “Morerwellian.” More importantly though was his declaration, also right after his inauguration, that there would be no investigation, no prosecution, no nothin', not no-how, to make any kind of negative judgment about what Bush-Cheney, et al. had been up to before Obama arrived - the kind of activities that have turned the world upside down, left it burning, hurting, decimated and chaotic. Peace for Bush-Cheney: maybe that's what the Peace Prize was awarded to Obama for. Oligarchs for All.
9
yes the neoliberal project goes on regardless of who is in the WH. I bet you are still in college or life has run over you. I do not think even Bernie would have been able to accomplish much unless he had democratic congress. The problem is not so much the neo liberal elites that control the WORLD but the GREED on which our country thrives on. I would suggest for you to drop the smug attitude and work towards change is easy to be a cynic. On another note the last night is so trite avoid such silly metaphors because they belittle whatever argument you may had.
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You seem to spend all your energy attacking Democrats while giving a pass to Republicans thereby weakening whichever Democrat is running.
Why don't you just stop pretending that you are a liberal and admit that you are going to vote for Trump?
Why don't you just stop pretending that you are a liberal and admit that you are going to vote for Trump?
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This looks like the other half of Dowd's conversation with Trump.
Yesterday she quoted Trump saying nice things about Obama, and I speculated on what ulterior motive that marked. Well, this seems to be it.
The motive? Obama is a nice guy, that is why we picked him over Hillary, and we were right to do so. Everything he said then is still true. What a guy, to be so right.
This has the virtue of being true.
It does not deal with the question of, "Yes, but Trump?" It does nicely turn Obama against Hillary, again, on exactly the same terms as he won against her before.
Yesterday she quoted Trump saying nice things about Obama, and I speculated on what ulterior motive that marked. Well, this seems to be it.
The motive? Obama is a nice guy, that is why we picked him over Hillary, and we were right to do so. Everything he said then is still true. What a guy, to be so right.
This has the virtue of being true.
It does not deal with the question of, "Yes, but Trump?" It does nicely turn Obama against Hillary, again, on exactly the same terms as he won against her before.
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Just as I thought sir - you confirm my growing suspicions that like Dowd, you're no progressive but are all in for Trump.
I don't have the words.
I don't have the words.
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When the opposition decides that it's going to block the president on anything and everything--in other words, that's "it's just politics, man"--then that's what it becomes. Putting party ahead of country has been the GOP's mantra since January 2009 (when the US was on the verge of economic collapse, by the way). To borrow Sean Connery's phrase from "The Untouchables," why should should Barack Obama bring a knife to a gunfight?
The key to Barack Obama's criticism of Trump is the phrase "self-declared savior." Obama never declared himself a savior in 2007. Oprah Winfrey did. Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump has insisted that he and he alone can fix our problems.
Considering the candidates, who we choose this year *is* really "about our souls"--about who we are and how we see the world. Small wonder that Maureen Dowd--who delights in painting ominous pictures of the Clinton machine and warm, fuzzy portraits of Donald Trump--wants to elide that inconvenient fact.
The key to Barack Obama's criticism of Trump is the phrase "self-declared savior." Obama never declared himself a savior in 2007. Oprah Winfrey did. Throughout his campaign, Donald Trump has insisted that he and he alone can fix our problems.
Considering the candidates, who we choose this year *is* really "about our souls"--about who we are and how we see the world. Small wonder that Maureen Dowd--who delights in painting ominous pictures of the Clinton machine and warm, fuzzy portraits of Donald Trump--wants to elide that inconvenient fact.
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Trump ran against that Party of No and defeated it.
It was that Party of No that did the crazed Messiah talk about Obama, not Trump.
Trumps problems are different from those he defeated. Yes, he's got problems. These are not his.
Clinton's machine is ominous. Then again, Trump is no warm and fuzzy either.
Don't try to sell Hillary as sweetness and light against an evil Satanic dictator in league with whoever is worst in the world today. Voters left to be persuaded won't be, not by that.
It was that Party of No that did the crazed Messiah talk about Obama, not Trump.
Trumps problems are different from those he defeated. Yes, he's got problems. These are not his.
Clinton's machine is ominous. Then again, Trump is no warm and fuzzy either.
Don't try to sell Hillary as sweetness and light against an evil Satanic dictator in league with whoever is worst in the world today. Voters left to be persuaded won't be, not by that.
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Trump defeated 16 deeply flawed candidates by stoking fear, anger, and racism. Bully for him.
Undecided voters will come to view Clinton as something other than the cartoon people like Maureen Dowd draw of her and Trump as the cartoon he draws of himself. He's got "problems"? My goodness, that's rich.
Undecided voters will come to view Clinton as something other than the cartoon people like Maureen Dowd draw of her and Trump as the cartoon he draws of himself. He's got "problems"? My goodness, that's rich.
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Except that happens to be true.
3