Back in the day, our 42nd president visited the forward deployed naval forces in Yokuska, Japan. His staff set up a meet and greet opportunity aboard the USS Independence and the call came for a limited number of air wing volunteers to trek down from their base in Yamato-shi for to bask in the dazzling grandeur that was Himself. This was to be in an intimate setting, space was limited. No more than a handful of personnel per squadron could be accommodated. So act now.
Before it’s too late.
(Is this thing on?)
Somewhat disturbed by the howling silence on the net that came in reply to this offer, a bevy of heavies re-emphasized that President of the Whole Frabbing United States of America was crossing the ocean sea for to visit, and by-God the US Navy in the form of Carrier Air Wing Five would be there to grip of the presidential hand and peer into the presidential visage, smiling authentically as they did so. If no volunteers were to come forward on their own accord then they would be notified of their selection.
Our CO at the time was a man who could never be mistaken for a fan of the 42nd president. Although careful never to let his true feelings show, he made it clear that we were to respect the office being held and the will of the American people, even if we did consider the current occupant to be a snake in a suit, a scoundrel, a scalawag and no kind of gentleman. Being one of those “follow me” types, he swallowed his aversion and led the charge down to Yokuska himself, returning with frank admiration for the president’s charismatic political gifts.
“He’s good,” the skipper had to admit, grudgingly. “Damn good. The guy looks you in the eye and tilts his head a bit while he’s talking and for a moment there you just know you’re the most important person in his world and it doesn’t matter what he’s saying, you just want to agree with him.”
So today we learn what you get when you extract Bubba’s oozing charm from the family brand of take-no-prisoners ambition:
ABC News has learned that the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has registered the names of two Web sites with the express goal of attacking her chief rival, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
It’s the first time this election cycle a presidential campaign has launched a Web site with the express purpose of of launching serious criticisms on a rival.
Votingpresent.com and Votingpresent.org are domains hosted by the same IP address as official Clinton Web sites, such TheHillaryIKnow.com, which was launched with much fanfare this week.
The Clinton campaign intends to use these new Web sites to paint Obama as cowardly.
Must be part of the effort to show her softer side.
Update: The Obamanon is running on a plank of binding up the nation’s wounds, but if you look at the range of folks from both the left and the right who’ve found common cause on this topic, you’ll recognize that it’s actually HRH who is the uniter.
Oh, Man!? Reminds me of something Neal Boortz said the other day. He’s met Billy Jeff and admits that B.J. is a likable guy who can charm the socks off you if you aren’t careful. Hillary, now, well, somebody throw some water on her.
Oh,also: I am minded of a State of The Union Address in which President Billy Jeff asked an AF B-2 pilot, up in the balcony, to stand up and take a bow. I may be borderline autistic but I know a phony facial expression when I see one, especially when it’s that phony. I betcha that AF officer had to see his dentist the next day to repair damage from gritting his teeth so much
I met them both during their White House days. The skipper was absolutely right about Bill. I’ve never met anyone who could turn it on so well. I went into the room absolutely ready to despise the man (while respecting the office) and was totally blown away by his abiliy to make me feel that I was the only one in the room, and that my views were more important than anything he had ever heard before. (He thanked us for our interest and advice, and then turned around and totally screwed us, but that was only to be expected.)
She, on the other hand, came across as a cold, calculating (rhymes with witch.) She despised the military, looked down her nose at the Secret Service, and clearly considered herself way above all the poor worker bees.
I’m taking more than a little pleasure seeing her sweat as the planned coronation seems to be coming off the wheels. I don’t think any of the others offer much, if any, improvement, but I enjoy seeing her discomforture.
Actually, I could get excited if Joe Lieberman decided to run, but he doesn’t seem interested.
I wonder. Did his staff steal all the monogrammed towels and bathrobes off’n Shitty Kitty like they done off’n G.W. in ‘94?
BillyBoy would probably be a good bubba to drink with (don’t leave any big bills on the bar when you go to the head) or maybe during a golf tournament (best ball)with Hooters gals serving drinks.
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Having had to do the same thing on Ike as your CO , I share his assesment of Clinton. He knows how to work a crowd.
Your quote from the CO sounds just like the opening to Primary Colors which says the same thing about Clinton and his handshakes.
Then again, “the devil can quote scripture for his purpose”.
Never did read that book, Skip. I must say that if it was anybody else lining me up behind the devil I might find room to be offended. Considering the source however, I’ll think of it as main gauche compliment
Sounds like a win-win to me. The Clintons sling dirt of Obama-boy, and we get to use her slimy tactics against her later in the general election. Kewl.
Cap’n,
All who volunteered to serve get to serve even the worst of the bunch. I had the privilege of serving in the Carter years, he makes William Jefferson Clinton (and his wife) look like conservatives.
Oh, I voted for Andre Mareau (sp?) in ‘92. Newt Gingrich was my congress critter, and I voted for him. Lately, I’ve had Porter Goss, then Cornelius McGillicuddy, er, Connie Mack.
Oh, Badbob? Billy Jeff is famous for cheating at golf, in the form of multiple mulligans.
I hadn’t been paying much attention to politics in those days. The same guy dropped by the next aircraft carrier to homeport in Yokosuka, in ‘97 IIRC. So all of us wound up standing on the flight deck in our SDBs in port, thousands of us, waiting, and waiting; for the Man Himself was two and a half hours late to visit us for his fifteen minute standard stump speech. I hadn’t been there voluntarily and it was cold and wet that day. Afterward He stuck around for ten minutes to shake people’s hands. Seems that the crowd around him looking for the handshake was much higher in rank than junior lieutenant me.
I left by a different ladder with a different opinion of the man and his staff than when I started.
Lex,
I meant Clinton, not you! Boy some guys are really touchy………………..
Clinton can quote scripture for his purpose as in smooth talking devil.
Someone wrote that they’re trying the old playbook. The problem is that while she has learned the moves, she can’t dance as naturally as he does.
As someone else wrote, I’d love for the rest of the country to tell the two of them “We’re just not that into you.”
Obviously, we are…
She wouldn’t have made it as far as she has, if some of us Americans, weren’t.
And to be quite honest, while ya’ll are sitting here bashing Hillary and Obama, might behoove you to worry about your own candidates… They aren’t looking all that great themselves, nor offering up a better alternative.
Get busy. I’m tired of hearing Republicans go on and on about what the Democrats lack, as opposed to what it is they think they have that’s better.
I’m definitely up for anything better… but when all you have is what you have… well, that’s all you got.
One more thing… I wonder if it’s worse to come away thinking, “Wow, that guy is charismatic and he’s got something,” than every soldier I spoke to that had to go see Bush II in Afghanistan… who left not quite sure why he’s President.
Probably better to come away with something positive than to find that you’ve lost even more respect for the President, than the little you had when you went in.
I think maybe you missed my point, I actually like Obama as a person and find him the most attractive Democratic candidate. So I’m not real excited about what HRH & co is doing to him.
I would love one time to be impressed – really impressed – by the field we put up on either side. Hasn’t happened in a while, and it always feels like least-worst choice gets the nod.
ArmyGal-
I’ve run into the exact opposite with folks who’ve met GW..that being said I always judge a man/woman by his actions not whether I think he/she is smooth (trial lawyers and PAOs are smooth fer instance). He took the bull by the horns after 9-11 and despite being tossed a few times he’s gotten back on and continued to ride.
Real world y’aano. I’ve gauged a few folks over my life and I ain’t much into SuperHeroes and Jack Bauer…It’s an expectations thing- Time and age will do that to ya.
Btw, when it comes to Obama I actually have to agree with Hil-Billy. He ain’t ’spear-e-inced yet..Stuffed suit, one term Senator, lawerly smooth with presence and maybe even the makings of leadership but his views are diametrically opposed to mine..’specially on You-Know-What. That ain’t bashing- that’s called critical reasoning. Hillary and Obama’ll bash each other-I call that entertainment! Skin also has nothing to do with it…back in ‘96 on AD I stood in line to compel Colin Powell to go fer it.
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