Clintons’ Frustration Shines Through

I couldn’t help but notice that the Clinton campaign uses the word “frustration” quite often. When Hillary says Rezko, what she really means is “frustration.” When Bill snaps at a reporter, what he really is saying is “frustration.”

The Free Dictionary defines “frustration as:

frustration – the feeling that accompanies an experience of being thwarted in attaining your goals

Oh, like when a Clinton feels clearly “entitled” to the most powerful job in the world and then an Obama comes along to snatch it from you. It means that the Clintons have been “thwarted in attaining their goals.” John Presta.

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I repeat, The Clintons "Never Saw it Coming"

Jan Schakowsky, an Illinois Congress woman, visited the White House with a congressional delegation, prior to the 2004 United States Senate primary election. Making her way out, she passed President Bush and the president literally jumped back on seeing “Obama” button pinned to her chest. Guessing what the president was thinking, she told him, “Mr. President, it is Obama with a “b”. Still, the president did not get it. The congresswoman briefly explained to Bush who Obama was. “Well, I don’t know him”, the president responded. Jan Schakowsky paused for a moment and then said to the president, “You will.”

The same conversation could have occurred with former President Bill Clinton and she could have responded the same way, “You will.”

The essential problem in this campaign for the Clintons is that they never, ever dreamed what a formidable opponent Barack Obama was going to be. They felt so entitled to recapture the “throne,” that it was not even conceivable to them that they could in any way be challenged.

By anybody.

And I tell you, minus Barack Obama in this race, we would be discussing Hillary Clinton’s strategy going into the General Election. I was there with Barack Obama in 2000 when he lost and deeply felt the pain of losing. I don’t ever recall taking losing so hard. I was “down in the dumps.” Yes, I was only involved with the campaign for two weeks. Two very intense weeks where we ate, drank and slept this campaign. While he lost the Congressional District, we delivered the eastern part of the 19th Ward for Obama by an overwhelming vote. Prior to March 7, 2000, nobody in the Eastern part of the 19th Ward ever heard of Obama. We spread the word quickly. The grassroots effort spread with unbelievable speed. Yet, he still lost. We could not help believing that with the right amount of time and planning, there was nothing he could not achieve.

When he ran for the United States Senate in 2004 (he actually announced in January of 2003) we believed from the beginning he would be elected the junior Senator from Illinois. We had the time and energy to spread his message of “change.” And clearly, it wasn’t just us. There were dozens of groups forming all across Chicago. Not just African-Americans, but whites, Greeks, Hispanic, Indians. It was the United Nations behind Obama. In fact, African-Americans were a little slow to get on board for a variety of reasons. Once African-Americans got on board, he had 95% support there.

The minute he won the United States Senate Democratic primary on March 16, 2004, I quickly realized that he had just catapulted onto the national stage. At his victory celebration, the national media were there in droves. CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Fox, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News. All the print guys and gals. All the radio guys and gals. All wanting to interview Obama.

That was the day, March 16, 2004, that the Clintons should have at least begin to “See it Coming.” And now I say to them, “You will.”

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"That’s It"

I recall many years ago sitting in the audience at a union arbitration proceeding, when after the plaintiff presented their woefully weak case before the arbitrator, the arbitrator said to the plaintiff’s side, “That’s it.” Such was my reaction to this petty accusation from the Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, when she said, “Rezko.” And I thought to myself, “That’s it.“

There are sincere disagreements between Barack Obama and his worthy opponents such as how to reform health care, tax policy, monetary policy, foreign policy, social security, medicare, prescription drugs for the elderly and on and on. And all Hillary Clinton can say is “Rezko.”

“That’s it.” John Presta

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Today’s Observations – January 22, 2008 – Some perfect fits

Here are some candidates to give serious consideration on Tuesday, February 5th.

Barack Obama, of course.

Mark Pera has run a highly-charged campaign against incumbent Dan Lipinski. The Reading on Walden Political Discussion Group met Mark Pera late last summer, and he impressed many of the group members. I know that Lipinski is taking this seriously keeping close tabs on the “Ward Organizations;” however, the “Ward Organizations” do not have the same influence on the electorate that they had even several years ago. And Pera is raising money, lots and lots of it, on the internet. If you wish to donate to Mark Pera, click on this. He has raised $185, 592 from 3,517 individual donors. The goal is 5,000 individual donors. As I love to quote former Illinois Senator Everett Dirksen, “A million here, a million there, pretty soon it adds up to real money.” Many members of the Reading on Walden Political Discussion Group are out there pounding the pavement for Pera. A Lipinski defeat would restore faith in the electoral process. It could happen. Good luck Mark, or should I say Congressman Pera.

Another candidate that met early on with the Reading on Walden Political Discussion Group is Matthew Podgorski, running for Cook County Commissioner of the MWRD (Metropolitan Water Reclamation District). Take a good look at this fine young man. Our group endorsed him last September. If I were an incumbent on the current Board, I would be nervous. And also check out Mariyana Spyropoulos, another good candidate for Commissioner of the MWRD.

For Cook County State’s Attorney, support our friend Larry Suffredin. He is the real deal. Sometimes you meet a person that is a perfect fit for a job. I felt that way about Senator Barack Obama. I thought, “He’s going to be President of the United States.” When I met Debra Shore it was clear she was perfect fit for MWRD and is proving us correct everyday she serves there. Alexi Giannoulias is a perfect fit as Illinois State Treasurer. Would also be a perfect fit as Governor of Illinois. And then there is Larry Suffredin. If any one was born to be Cook County State’s Attorney, with his great legal mind and background, his sense of fairness and his great intellect, it is Larry Suffredin. The crowded field and all the heavyweight endorsements, he will win this race and distinguish himself in this job, a perfect fit. The only downside to a Suffredin victory is that the Cook County Board will lose a fine member. John Presta.

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Barack Obama "Ain’t Afraid of no Clintons"

Bill and Hillary Clinton are quickly finding out that Barack Obama will not go away. They can kick, scream, throw dirt, throw a fit and make up stuff about Barack Obama, but every time they try to discredit this talented, intelligent and savvy young man, he fights back. He has “experience” with street toughness. He had to. Any one that has “experienced” Altgeld Gardens, where Obama worked as a community organizer, knows you must be tough and savvy. What makes Obama unique is that he is not only tough, but sensitive and compassionate. Indeed, a rare combination.

These are great qualities for the next President of the United States.

To paraphrase a line from the movie, The Ghostbusters, “Obama ain’t afraid of no Clintons.”

Barack Obama has learned his lessons well. The first time the Clintons “kicked, screamed, threw dirt and threw a fit” was in March of 2000 when then President Clinton drove the final nail into the Obama campaign in his race against Congressman Bobby Rush. Clinton blasted commercials non-stop for a week in praising his friend, Congressman Rush. Obama was not in a position to fight back and defend himself.

But (another movie analogy) like Rocky, came back at Apollo Creed (Clinton) with fists flying. Yes, Rocky (Obama) lost to Apollo (Clinton) the first time, but Rocky learned and trained and got mentally ready to take on the mighty Creed. And then Rocky defeated the mighty Creed.

And then Obama defeated the mighty…………..

You can almost hear the music from Rocky. John Presta.

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Today’s Observations – January 20, 2008

One year from today, Senator Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. It will go down as a proud day in history. World leaders will be excited by the “change” in leadership and confidence in the United States will be restored.

We will no longer be just the “red states” and the “blue states,” but the United States of America. It will be remembered as an exciting time as we witness the return of the mythical figure, Camelot, for that “one brief shining moment.”

The first time I met Senator Obama and spoke to him I knew he would someday become President of the United States. The moment I looked into his eyes, I knew. That was back in March of 2000.

The economy will boom once again, the dollar will strengthen again, the real estate market will get back on track and energy prices will return to normal. President Obama will take us down that “road less traveled.” The times they are a “changing.” John Presta.

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Today’s Observations – January 19, 2008

The case for Barack Obama:
Timothy Noah of Slate.com explains why Hillary’s experience doesn’t cut it and why Barack Obama experience does.

Christopher Hitchens of Slate.com writes about Hillary’s “little white lie,” that her mother named her after Sir Edmund Hillary, even though Hillary Clinton was born in 1947 and Sir Hillary’s famous climb took place in 1953. Maybe not a “little white lie.” More of a “whopper” with extra cheese. “ The story was self-evidently untrue, writes Hitchens, and doesn’t yield to fact-checking.

Senator Patrick Leahy endorses Obama for President. Compares Obama to JFK.

Colin Powell has kind things to say about Obama. Tavis Smiley tells him “You could have been Obama,” to which Powell replied “Politics wasn’t in my blood – it’s in Barack’s blood,” Exactly. And that it why it was important for Obama to run when he did. You must strike when the iron is hot. John Presta.

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From the Chicago Reader’s great blog, "Clout City" about our friend Will Burns

The prospects of Will Burns getting the Democratic nomination in the 26th District of Illinois are improving daily. I am glad to see that the Mayor Daley making a habit of endorsing candidates. He went through a phase where he basically refused to endorse any one. John Presta.

Mayor Daley knights another

by Mick Dumke on January 16th 2008 – 5:23 p.m.

Tags: Will Burns, Elga Jeffries,

Now the mayor’s tapped another candidate. Earlier today Will Burns, a candidate for state rep in the 26th district, announced that he’d won Daley’s endorsement. Burns, a former aide to state senate president Emil Jones, said he sat down with the mayor in December to tell him about his goals of working on gun control, education funding reform, and health care coverage, and Daley agreed to back him. (A call to the mayor’s press office wasn’t returned.)

Burns — who’s running against incumbent Elga Jeffries and challengers Kenny Johnson, Phillip Jackson, and Paul Chadha — once worked in Obama’s state senate office. Like the presidential candidate, he’s promising to bring fresh energy to the political process.

That message is arguably an awkward fit with an endorsement from the face of the Democratic machine. Of course, Obama’s trying to pull off the same thing. And when Burns was asked about it, he alluded to his ally Toni Preckwinkle, alderman of the Fourth Ward: “I also have the leader of the progressive caucus in the council backing me. I think that points to the fact that I’m able to build a big tent.” Only people able to build coalitions and collaborations can get anything done, Burns argued.

He added: “This campaign is about change.”

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Carol Marin: "Lipinski inherits ethical questions"

A few more reasons Mark Pera should be elected to Congress over Dan Lipinski. It is time that the Democratic party regulars stop the arrogance and the manipulation of the process. What Bill Lipinski did was despicable. Electing Mark Pera to the 3rd Congressional District will send a strong message to the Madigans and the Hynes, just like many of us did in electing Barack Obama to the United States Senate and Alexi Giannoulias to Illinois State Treasurer.

We ask the Madigans and the Hynes to open up the process and start putting up the “best” people. And stop this rewarding system of “politics as usual.” To paraphrase JFK said in his inaugural speech, “Pass the torch to a new generation.” But not immediate family please, unless they are “qualified.” John Presta.

By CAROL MARIN, Chicago Sun Times – January 16, 2008

Dan Lipinski loves his father, Bill Lipinski, and said so forcefully Tuesday at a meeting of the Sun-Times editorial board. But the question at hand is whether the family patriarch is both blessing and curse.

The congressman son succeeded his congressman father back in 2004. Now Dan, not Bill, speaks for the 3rd Congressional District, which includes Chicago’s Southwest Side, Midway Airport and the suburbs of Berwyn, Oak Lawn, Western Springs and Palos Hills.

What’s love got to do with it?

A lot.

Because not only did Bill Lipinski, a smart, wily tactician, keep his seat in Congress for 22 years, he made sure he kept it even after he left it.

Let’s remember. It was 3½ years ago that Bill ran and won in the spring primary, and only that summer when he felt the sudden urge to retire. Ward committeemen friends, familiar dynastic names like Daley, Hynes and Madigan, quickly marshaled the best man for the job.

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Mark Pera for Congress

Help our friend Mark Pera, this special from the Daily Kos

by Mark Pera

Tue Jan 15, 2008 at 04:48:16 PM PST

Dear friends,

I am so pleased to that the Netroots community – including DailyKos and many of the country’s most influential progressive political Web sites – has united again behind our campaign for change in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District.

I want to thank the people at AmericaBlog, Archpundit, Chicagoist, Crooks&Liars, FireDogLake, OpenLeft and PrairieStateBlue — and anyone else I may have missed — who are helping with the “5,000 for Pera” push.

Just to give you a quick update, so far, we’ve received about 500 contributions for more than $16,000. The coverage we’re receiving across the Internet, and the interest in our campaign, is off the charts.

• Mark Pera’s diary

If you have already given to our campaign. Thank you! If you haven’t given yet, I would urge you do join the more than 3,000 people across the country who have and contribute today.

Everyone here, including our staff and volunteers, at the campaign offices in Countryside and Chicago are so grateful for the effort you are all putting forth on our behalf.

We know that you are aware of what is at stake on Feb. 5 here in Illinois. Voters here, like voters across the country, are tired of business as usual in Washington D.C.

With your help, we can change the face of Democratic politics in Chicago and Cook County and help deliver needed change to Congress. To keep track of this fundraising effort, and for news about our campaign, visit our Web site, www.PERA08.com.

Sincerely,

Mark

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