Of all the times Chris has attacked the Clintons in the past several weeks, today's efforts were the slimiest yet. At least eight times tonight, Chris has brought up his "theory" that President Clinton is presently "misbehaving" in some sexual scandalous way. No one agrees with him, but he continues to push this slander. He's ruining otherwise interesting and useful discussions by this obsession with Bill Clinton's private actions, and has offered as "support" again and again, an outrageious article of smears and dark hints run in the Times a few weeks ago. Those who dislike the Clintons and wish ill for Hilary are free to think what they like, but I for one am sick and tired of Mr. Matthew's wierd and almost pathological hatred of them. He's ruining Hardball. It's a shane, though I suppose all the myriad HilaryHaters here and elsewhere are rabidly cheering him on. Too bad to see a once great pundit reduced to this shameful level.

The only thing I see wrong with Biden's plan is that it sets a deadline (albeit conditional) for troop withdrawls. If Ulysses Grant had a "time table" the South would have won the Civil War. I was sad to see Tom Vilsack drop out so soon. Even though I disagree with his position on the war, He seemed like a real 'stand up' guy. Maybe he'll consider running with Unity08.

The name of the game in Washington is politics. It never changes. Obama's holier than thou posturing is strictly for public consumption. Using a boxing analogy, Hillary is already infighting, landing the heavy body blows and Obama is trying to jab and dance his way out of it. It won't work.

Disagreeing with Hillary is capital offense in some democratic circles.Hillary does not get to define all the rules of the debate.Barak better start to show he can stand up to the Hillary machine or his only run will be for vp.Geffen is allowed to disagree with American royalty and put his money whereever he wants .If Barak is smart he will take the next opportunity the Clinton's make to define the debate to show her he is tough or they will steamroll over him.

DEMs more interested in getting to the White House with 'political rhetoric' they think will get them there than dealign with 'illegal immigration', 'job loss overseas', 'war on terror' (yes, Pear Harbor lead to WWII and 9/11 lead to the War on Terror as it should), etc, etc. Seems a DEM conundrum that DEMs 'avoid' talking about the issues (not politically correct or too hot) that are IMPORTANT TO THE VOTERS and will end up being a 'lame duck' Congress until 2008. Distracting the voters with DEM candidate jibberish will be the plan of 'action' rather than dealing with the issues FDR style. Look how much interest there is in the life of Ana Nicole---if you can call that a successful 'life'.

DEMs more interested in getting to the White House with 'political rhetoric' they think will get them there than dealign with 'illegal immigration', 'job loss overseas', 'war on terror' (yes, Pear Harbor lead to WWII and 9/11 lead to the War on Terror as it should), etc, etc. Seems a DEM conundrum that DEMs 'avoid' talking about the issues (not politically correct or too hot) that are IMPORTANT TO THE VOTERS and will end up being a 'lame duck' Congress until 2008. Distracting the voters with DEM candidate jibberish will be the plan of 'action' rather than dealing with the issues FDR style. Look how much interest there is in the life of Ana Nicole---if you can call that a successful 'life'.

We Democrats do not deserve to win because we are so stupid. Why are some Democrats saying in public another Democrat is not electable? For one thing, George Bush was elected TWICE so how can anyone say Hilary Clinton is unelectable. Is it genetic that we cannot resist shooting ourselves in the head every four years with backbiting that makes us look unprofessional and like losers? David Geffen behaved like a forth grade girl when he spoke to Maureen Dowd, maybe that was appropriate since most Democrats act like fourth graders during elections. You know, Joe Biden is the only Democratic candidate who has a real world, workable solution to the Iraq problem, the biggest problem facing us today and no one knows about it because the rest of the class is more interested in shooting each other with spitballs. And the media loves that, its good ratings. Our party and we need to grow up and decide the nomination on the ideas of the candidates, not by damaging every qualified and potentially electabal candidate and helping the "vast right wing conspiracy" pick off the man/woman barely left standing by pre-producing their campaign commercials. If we cannot get beyond our personal ego’s we are too stupid to win a general election and we should shut up and accept the government we are responsible for putting in power through our stupid actions.

I believe we do have a timetable. Even Pres Bush alluded to a Nov date to determine if the Iraqis wer standing up to their obligations or not. It is about time. An open ended commitment to Iraq is not in the best interest of the US or the GWOT. We need to re-focus on what the GWOT was really about. Any future big action by terrorists against our country will be orchestrated out of Afganistan/Pakistan. That is where our efforts need to be concentrated - and very soon.

I enjoy Hardball very much. For the most part it is the right combination of news and entertainment for me. I would like to see some more in depth coverage on the Iran and North Korean issues. Although the McNeil Leher hour is very informative, I find myself falling asleep during it. On Hillary, I am tired of everyone trying to get her to apologize for her vote for the war. Does no one remember what the political climate was at the time? Everyone had flags on their cars, it was a time for everyone to band together and rally around our President. I remember Bill Mahr’s show being cancelled because he suggested suicide bombs were not cowards. We were a country in shock, and we did not want to hear any criticism of our country or our President. To do so was un-American. I applaud the senators and congressman who did speak their conscience at that time. But for anyone looking to be president it would have been a suicidal move. Give her a break; the first women running for President should have some leeway. As long as she does not fall into blind stubbornness like the President. She is a very strong women and I thing she has had to be very cautious to get were she is. However, now it the time to stand up for what she believes is right and let the chips fall where they may. I think it may surprise everyone. As to Bill, I’m glad is coming out now. By the time of the election, it will be so over played to be meaning less. That also was a Clinton strategy from before. I like what I hear about Joe Biden and hope he gets enough money to stay in the race. Barrack maybe a great speaker but George W. Bush has shown us exactly what a disaster an inexperienced President can be. Our country has become the laughing stock of the world. We are a joke. I hope we are smart enough as a country to realize glamour is not the most important thing in a President and learn form our mistakes.

I think it is absolutely absurb that Biden is proposing a repeal of the 2002 Iraq War Resolution. Attempting to take back what they had already approved and voted for in the first place. How childish can you get. It is just one more indication the democrats are groping for straws rather than coming together to recommend a single strong position on Iraq. When the top dems can't even agree on a single position / proposal (i.e. Reid, Biden, Pelosi, Murtha, etc) they feed the republican position that argues the dems don't know what to do. Murtha's plan of redeploying slowly but surely makes the most sense. And the way to do that is to tell Bush the only funding he'll get will be for redeployed troops along the Iraq borders and for the troops in Afghanastan. I was planning on supportiing the dems in 2008 but unless they start getting it together I don't know who I will support. Perhaps Chuck Hagel if he runs.

The obsession with Hillary/Obama-fest is having a crushing effect on our primary process. Joe Liberman was leading the pack at this point in the 2004 cycle. If we are wise the Democrats will give the nod to the most qualfied candidate for President: Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. He offers effective solutions to many of the biggist problems we face today from Iraq, to energy independence. Bill Richardson has done the things most of the other candidates only talk about.

Hey, I have an idea. How about the media and the Dems roger up to the real Iraq news. We freed a country the size of California from a guy who had been at war with someone for nearly his entire 24 years in charge, had already attacked two neighbors, paid cash fro every Jew killed in Isreal, and blew off the UN 17 times. 95% of the country is now stable and becoming prosperous. Mistakes were made in the post-war startegy, but the majority of the problems are now limited to an area the size of San Franciso/Oakland. Most of these issues are due to Sunnis trying to retain power, shites giving payback, and Al Queda radicals stirring up the pot. They are a pain in the neck, but can not defeat us. The timetable is as Bush has always said it has been: We leave when the Iraqi government can handle the situation. Maybe actually backing Bush on one thing he has done will speed up the process. Next the Dems can pick someone who leads by conviction, doesn't bend in whatever direction the Polls go, and will make a decision even if it isn't popular.

Chris Mathews asks some insightful questions no one bothers/dares to ask. Of all the Iraq proposals, only Biden's plan seem sound. As for the lady who is weary of inexperienced candidate being elected, you must consider that Barak Obama is very smart and has ability to think before act. You should re-examine George Bush's records before comepare him with Obama

In reference to B.Knudson's comment, I must say he is quite cavalier in talking about our involvement in Iraq as being no big deal because, after all,the problems are limited to an area the size of Oakland! Is this man kidding? Is he aware of the degree of destruction, bloodshed and number of lives being lost? Does he not realize that we were brought into this quagmire under false pretenses,to search for weapons that did not exist? The Bush, Cheney crew went in for the oil and only the oil which is why they won't leave now. Is Mr. Knudson aware of the millions that have gone missing or the free for all profiteering that as been going on? Are our young people and the Iraquis supposed to die for this? There is a civil war now raging in that country and we lit the fuse by removing Sadam who, while a horrible despot, was being held in check. He, in turn, was holding Iraq in check. It should not be our mission to interfere in the politics of other nations.Any one who believes we went into that country for altruistic reasons is delusional. Anyone who believes that we weren't sold a bill of goods as far as those so called WMD are concerned is naive. Anyone who believes that we went there to fight terrorism is just not very astute. Wake up, grow up and earn your right to vote!

Neither Hillary nor Obama will win the ultimate prize of President of the USA. They both have their own set of baggage they're carrying. Hillary with her authorization of the Iraq War that she refuses to apologize for and Barack's name. Unfortunately, I don't believe that this nation is ready for a black president, especially one with a name such as his. There's an old saying...What's in a Name...alot! I am a black woman who would fully support a black candidate because it is long overdue, however, I'm pretty certain that unfortunately he can't win. I voted for Al Gore in 2000 and I would vote for him again if he were to throw his hat in the ring. May the best man win...or woman!

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