The troubles of Hillary

Or is it the trouble with Hillary?

Either way, she managed to grab some attention with her hawkish comments on Iran.  Not all of it positive on the Democratic side, for sure.  Robert Dreyfuss writes at his blog (Hillary Outflanks W. on Iran - On the Right 01/20/06):

Cynics might say it’s the latest in a long line of Hillaryspeak that positions her for her 2008 bid, protecting her right flank against charges of weakness on national defense. But I don’t think so. I think she really believes this stuff, and that her continual alliance with warmongering Sen. John McCain on issues like this (McCain also called for sanctions yesterday) is a sign that Hillary is indeed a right-leaning true believer.

Her Iraq position is virtually indistinguishable from that of Bush, and yesterday she once again railed against the idea of a Murtha-style withdrawal. “There are no quick, no easy solutions to the situation we find ourselves in today.” she said. “I do not believe that we should allow this to be an open-ended commitment without limits or end, nor do I believe that we can or should pull out of Iraq immediately.”

Molly Ivins seems pretty incensed, too: I Will Not Support Hillary Clinton for President CommonDreams.org 01/20/06.

Enough. Enough triangulation, calculation and equivocation. Enough clever straddling, enough not offending anyone This is not a Dick Morris election. Sen. Clinton is apparently incapable of taking a clear stand on the war in Iraq, and that alone is enough to disqualify her. Her failure to speak out on Terri Schiavo, not to mention that gross pandering on flag-burning, are just contemptible little dodges. ...

Bush, Cheney and Co. will continue to play the patriotic bully card just as long as you let them. I've said it before: War brings out the patriotic bullies. In World War I, they went around kicking dachshunds on the grounds that dachshunds were "German dogs." They did not, however, go around kicking German shepherds. The MINUTE  someone impugns your patriotism for opposing this war, turn on them like a snarling dog and explain what loving your country really means. That, or you could just piss on them elegantly, as Rep. John Murtha did. Or eviscerate them with wit (look up Mark Twain on the war in the Philippines). Or point out the latest in the endless "string of bad news."

Do not sit there cowering and pretending the only way to win is as Republican-lite. If the Washington-based party can't get up and fight, we'll find someone who can.