
 |
|
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
|
| |
Jewish World Review
August 10, 2005
/ 5 Av, 5765
Pirrotechnic campaign against Hillary
By
Tony Blankley
| 
|
|
|
|
http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro has declared
her candidacy for Senate in New York. She immediately took aim at the
incumbent: "I am running against Hillary Clinton ... "
As a resident of Chappaqua in Westchester County (by the way,
I'm told, very unreliably, that Chappaqua is an old Indian word for separate
teepees), Ms. Clinton already has Ms. Pirro as her county prosecutor. Now,
Ms. Pirro is about to unleash her considerable prosecuting and public
relations skills exclusively on behalf of Ms. Clinton's political demise.
This will be a campaign that should be edifying to watch (particularly if
you like World Wide Wrestling pay-for-view events).
Democrats and the Hillary folks don't appear to be worried about
re-election, while too many Republicans seem to be willing to give Hillary a
pass. They are both wrong in their judgments.
While the junior senator from New York holds an impressive
opening poll advantage of 63 percent to 29 percent over Pirro, this is a
campaign well worth vigorously fighting. Hillary R. Clinton has nowhere to
go but down in her re-election bid and how far down is yet to be
determined.
Moreover, her re-election campaign result will inevitably be
seen as either an impressive or not impressive launch of her presidential
campaign. Hillary is likely to grow to hate that 63 percent-29 percent
advantage she currently holds, because any win much under 60 percent will
likely be something of a letdown. Anything under 55 percent will be judged a
near disaster inevitably resulting in the obligatory campaign shake-up
just as she enters the 2007 presidential launch. And, of course, if
lightning strikes ...
While I have long believed (and stated) that Hillary is a
formidable candidate for president, she also has formidable dangers to
avoid. As the unquestioned leader in the race for the Democratic
presidential nomination, and as the holder of a 34 percent advantage in her
Senate re-election campaign, she will almost inevitably deploy the strategy
of "sitting on a lead." There is probably no more dangerous stratagem in
American politics.
Of course, her campaign advisers will not call it that even
to themselves. But it is damnably hard to avoid sitting on a lead when you
have a real lead. During my decades in politics (before I took to providing
color commentary for the passing parade), I had been involved in many races
in which either my candidate or our opponent sat on a lead.
When you are up by 20 points and you are planning the next day
of the campaign at 8 p.m., when someone around the table suggests making a
controversial charge the next day that may undercut the candidate if it
doesn't play out just right even the most aggressive advisors are
inclined to say "are you nuts?"
On each individual decision, the smart play for the candidate
with a big lead is to play it safe. There are always obvious, tangible
dangers in running an aggressive campaign when you are way ahead. But there
is an intangible danger to the tone and spirit of a campaign that finds
itself sitting on a lead. And understand: No campaign decides to sit on a
lead, it just sort of happens as the result of a series of seemingly
rational decisions. You could ask Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush and John F.
Kerry (who, because he only thought he was more electable, actually sat on a
non-lead.)
The campaign not only loses its own inner spirit and
enthusiasm but the public begins to see the candidate as uncommitted to
anything. It becomes boring and takes on the tone of a corporate press
release. Most of the great campaigns (Kennedy in 1960, Reagan in 1980,
Clinton in 1992) were running for dear life right up to election morning.
Hillary R. Clinton is particularly vulnerable to this process.
She is already seen as trying to move to the presumed safe center. If she
were a better politician (like her husband), she would do it without being
noticed. In her effort to please more and more interests, she will inspire
fewer and fewer voters. Playing it cynically safe in her re-election
campaign will only increase her vulnerability.
If Ms. Pirro can mount a campaign capable of gaining a
reasonable amount of attention acting as an annoying mosquito day after day
and month after month, it is likely to bring out the most unappealing
imperial manners in Ms. Clinton as Queen Hillary ignores or dismisses
each of the charges.
As her 63 percent lead dwindles to a still respectable 57
percent or 56 percent or 55 percent next summer, she and her campaign
advisers may suddenly feel the need to do something. She may take a liberal
stand on a few issues to re-build enthusiasm in her base south of 96 Street.
That may well save her re-election bid from embarrassment, but it would
undercut her eight-year presidential strategy of pretending to be moderate.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
Tony Blankley is editorial page editor of The Washington Times. Comment by clicking here.
Archives
© 2005, Creators Syndicate
|
|

Arnold Ahlert
Mitch Albom
Jay Ambrose
Michael Barone
Barrywood
Tony Blankley
Lori Borgman
Stratfor Briefing
Mona Charen
Linda Chavez
Richard Z. Chesnoff
Ann Coulter
Greg Crosby
Alan Douglas
Larry Elder
Suzanne Fields
Frank J. Gaffney
Bernie Goldberg
Jonah Goldberg
Julia Gorin
Jonathan Gurwitz
Paul Greenberg
Argus Hamilton
Victor Davis Hanson
Betsy Hart
Ron Hart
Nat Hentoff
Marybeth Hicks
David Horowitz
Jeff Jacoby
Renee James
Paul Johnson
Jack Kelly
Ed Koch
Ch. Krauthammer
Michael Ledeen
John Leo
David Limbaugh
Kathryn Lopez
Rich Lowry
Michelle Malkin
Jackie Mason
Ann McFeatters
Dale McFeatters
Dana Milbank
Jeanne Moos
Dick Morris
Jim Mullen
Deroy Murdock
Judge A. Napolitano
Bill O'Reilly
Kathleen Parker
Star Parker
Dennis Prager
Wesley Pruden
Tom Purcell
Sharon Randall
Robert Robb
Cokie & Steve Roberts
Heather Robinson
Pat Sajak
Debra J. Saunders
Martin Schram
Culture Shlock
David Shribman
Roger Simon
Michael Smerconish
Thomas Sowell
Ben Stein
Mark Steyn
John Stossel
Cal Thomas
Dan Thomasson
Bob Tyrrell
Ben Wattenberg
Diana West
Dave Weinbaum
George Will
Walter Williams
Byron York
ZeitGeist
Mort Zuckerman

Robert Arial
Chuck Asay
Baloo
Chip Bok
Dry Bones
Lisa Benson
John Branch
John Cole
J. D. Crowe
John Deering
Brian Duffy
Everything's Relative
Mallard Fillmore
Glenn Foden
Jake Fuller
Bob Gorrel
Joe Heller
David Hitch
Jerry Holbert
Lee Judge
Steve Kelley
Jeff Koterba
Dick Locher
Jimmy Margulies
Rick McKee
Michael Ramirez
Kevin Siers
Jeff Stahler
Ed Stein
Danna Summers
John Trever
Gary Varvel
Kirk Walters

Mr. Know-It-All
Dr. Peter Gott
GET A JOB! by Marty Nemko
Richard Lederer
Frugal Living
Tech Maven
On Nutrition
Bookmark These
Bruce Williams
|