First Door on the Left

Never let it be said that Hillary Clinton’s folks didn’t learn a lesson or two from Karl Rove and the Republicans…

Clinton Ad Stirs Waters

HOUSTON (AP) – A stark new Hillary Rodham Clinton ad portrays her as the leader voters want on the phone when crisis occurs in the middle of the night, “while your children are safely asleep.” Barack Obama retorted that his Democratic rival already had her “red phone moment” and it helped draw the U.S. into a misbegotten war.

The ad, with its visuals of sleeping children, prompted an immediate denunciation Friday from Obama, who said it’s meant to scare people. The Obama campaign rolled out testimonials from national security supporters that the Illinois senator has the temperament and judgment for perilous times.

Clinton adviser Howard Wolfson contended the ad “speaks to what people really know in their hearts” about his candidate’s experience and, by inference, her opponent’s lack of it. “This is a legitimate matter for a presidential campaign,” he said. “We would be derelict if we didn’t raise it.”

The commercial stirred waters heading into the final weekend of the campaign for Ohio and Texas presidential primaries Tuesday that could make or break Clinton’s campaign.[..]

Obama responded that he called it right on the war, “the most important foreign policy decision of our generation, and that’s the kind of judgment I’ll show when I answer that phone in the White House as president of the United States.”

“We’ve had a red phone moment,” he added. “It was the decision to invade Iraq. And Senator Clinton gave the wrong answer.”

P.S. The “telephone in the White House” depicted in the ad rang six times before anyone picked it up. If there ever is an emergency that requires calling the President at 3 a.m., I hope someone is paying better attention.

UPDATE: Obama response ad…

Wow. That was quick.

UPDATE #2: Some are comparing the Clinton ad to Lyndon Johnson’s “Daisy” ad in 1964. Johnson’s ad aired on the networks (there were only three back then) once before it was pulled by the campaign, but it was viewed by many due to the publicity it generated…

I think a nuclear bomb exploding is just a bit more powerful an image than a telephone ringing at three o’clock in the morning.

Update #3: Video of Senator Obama’s response to the Clinton ad here.

Are you enjoying your extra day this year?

It’s Friday, and you know what that means. Friday Night Cartoons! This week, we make up for the quantity that was lacking last week. Or, it could be that John Sidney McCain III is such an easy target. Whatever. Click and enjoy…

Whew!

As always, our thanks to the talented cartoonists who, each week, help us smile through the pain.

It wasn’t so much the candidate herself as it was her questionable campaign tactics that ultimately drove me to the other side. If any part of this story turns out to be true, it really will be the last straw…

Clinton aides threatened lawsuit over Texas caucuses, officials say

AUSTIN — The Texas Democratic Party warned Thursday that election night caucuses scheduled for next Tuesday could be delayed or disrupted after aides to Hillary Clinton threatened to sue over the party’s complicated delegate selection process.

In a letter sent out late Thursday to both the Clinton and Barack Obama campaigns, Texas Democratic Party lawyer Chad Dunn warned a lawsuit could ruin the Democrats’ effort to re-energize voters just as they are turning out in record numbers.

Spokesmen for both campaigns said there were no plans to sue ahead of the March 4 election.

“It has been brought to my attention that one or both of your campaigns may already be planning or intending to pursue litigation against the Texas Democratic Party,” Dunn wrote in the letter, obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “Such action could prove to be a tragedy for a reinvigorated Democratic process.”

Democratic sources said both campaigns have made it clear that they might consider legal options over the complicated delegate selection process, which includes both a popular vote and evening caucuses. But the sources made it clear that the Clinton campaign in particular had warned of an impending lawsuit.

“Both campaigns have made it clear that they would go there if they had to, but I think the imminent threat is coming from one campaign,” said one top Democratic official, referring to the Clinton campaign. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another Democratic official who was privvy to the discussions confirmed that Clinton representatives made veiled threats in a telephone call this week.

Both Hillary Clinton and John McCain seem to believe that the rules were written for everybody except them. May be why they both remind me so much of George W. Bush and his cronies… and why I’ll never be able to cast my vote for either of them. (Unless, of course, Hillary Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee, because I am definitely voting for the Democratic nominee in November, whoever that may be.)

Also see: “Clinton May Challenge Texas Vote Rules.”