According to the latest FEC filings, the Clinton campaign reported debts of $8.7 million. That report also revealed the Clinton campaign finished February in the red. All of this may explain why efforts to get some of those debts paid isn't easy:
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s cash-strapped presidential campaign has been putting off paying hundreds of bills for months — freeing up cash for critical media buys but also earning the campaign a reputation as something of a deadbeat in some small-business circles.
A pair of Ohio companies owed more than $25,000 by Clinton for staging events for her campaign are warning others in the tight-knit event production community — and anyone else who will listen — to get their cash upfront when doing business with her. Her campaign, say representatives of the two companies, has stopped returning phone calls and e-mails seeking payment of outstanding invoices. One even got no response from a certified letter.
Their cautionary tales, combined with published reports about similar difficulties faced by a New Hampshire landlord, an Iowa office cleaner and a New York caterer, highlight a less-obvious impact of Clinton’s inability to keep up with the staggering fundraising pace set by her opponent for the Democratic presidential nomination, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.
Clinton's campaign did not respond to recent, specific questions about its transactions with vendors. But Clinton spokesman Jay Carson pointed on Saturday to an earlier statement the campaign issued to Politico, asserting: "The campaign pays its bills regularly and in the normal course of business, and pays all of its bills."
There's a big difference between saying you're paying the bills and actually paying them.
And, while Team Clinton may not understand this, $25,000 is a lot of money for a small business. So is $2500 or $250 for that matter.
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President Bush just threw out the first pitch at the Nationals v Braves opening night game, and by my estimate, about 1/3 of the crowd booed him.
UPDATE: President Bush just joined announcers Joe Morgan and Jon Miller in the booth. Can you say awkward? Seriously. Bush - not good on the fly. Lots of uncomfortable silences. He did manage to loosen up a little on the flip side of the break, but I'm not sure having him hang out with the guys much longer is a smart call. There's no script. The "oh no he didn't" moment is just a matter of time.
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There have also been similar studies about the dangers of wifi, especially for children. Ten years ago when mobile phone studies first started to emerge I was curious but interested in seeing more. Today, I'm glad that I cut back on using one though wifi is another matter.
It draws on growing evidence – exclusively reported in the IoS in October – that using handsets for 10 years or more can double the risk of brain cancer. Cancers take at least a decade to develop, invalidating official safety assurances based on earlier studies which included few, if any, people who had used the phones for that long.
Earlier this year, the French government warned against the use of mobile phones, especially by children. Germany also advises its people to minimise handset use, and the European Environment Agency has called for exposures to be reduced.
Professor Khurana – a top neurosurgeon who has received 14 awards over the past 16 years, has published more than three dozen scientific papers – reviewed more than 100 studies on the effects of mobile phones.
It never ends for the insanity and proves for the millionth time that no matter how badly you fail in corporate America, you will still be handsomely rewarded. All of the so-called pay for performance talk is nothing more than bull. Corporate America continues to slash benefits not to mention trash jobs for employees but they always take care of themselves.
Worse still is that Bank of America will receive massive tax write-offs for buying the lousy company so BoA will get a nice free ride too boot. Best business environment money can buy. No wonder the US economy has been growing at a slower pace than Europe during the Bush years. It's just like a stinking third world country any more.
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I don't have a particularly creative solution for the shortage of ballots that continues to be problematic for states and precincts across the country. I do, however, suggest voting processes become a priority sooner rather than later or we're going to be in big trouble come November.
According to today's AP write, some local elections officials are planning to err on the side of caution while others don't want to print excess ballots "just in case" because it simply costs too much. And in many states, there's no rule or law requiring them to do so.
I say overestimating turnout is a risk worth taking. If you have to scrap a pile of unused ballots, then so be it. That money should be allocated no matter what. Voter turnout is a good thing. This country needs more of it - not less.
You don't invite people to your house for dinner and then turn them away when they arrive claiming you didn't expect them all to show and don't have enough food. It's a surefire way to guarantee they never come back.
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Dith is the person who first used the term "killing fields" for the genocide in Cambodia during Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge rule. Somehow he managed to survive those horrible years and eventually make it to America. Earlier this year Dith was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
His story was depicted in the award winning film The Killing Fields. Photos of what Tuel Sleng looks like today only scratch the surface of how violent the Khmer Rouge period was for people under their rule.
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Clearly, the talk about Clinton getting out of the race is getting to the Clinton campaign. After the major gaffes of the past couple weeks (the Tuzla lies and the Pelosi letter for starters), that storyline has legs, as they say. So, yesterday, the campaign asked the Washington Post to interview her so she could let us know she is NEVER getting out of the race:
"I know there are some people who want to shut this down and I think they are wrong," Clinton said in an interview during a campaign stop here Saturday. "I have no intention of stopping until we finish what we started and until we see what happens in the next 10 contests and until we resolve Florida and Michigan. And if we don't resolve it, we'll resolve it at the convention -- that's what credentials committees are for.
"We cannot go forward until Florida and Michigan are taken care of, otherwise the eventual nominee will not have the legitimacy that I think will haunt us," said the senator from New York. "I can imagine the ads the Republican Party and John McCain will run if we don't figure out how we can count the votes in Michigan and Florida."
Asked if there was a scenario in which she would drop out before the last primaries on June 3, Clinton said no. "I am committed to competing everywhere that there is an election," she said.
The Clinton campaign requested the interview Saturday to talk about how she could win and to emphasize her focus on Michigan and Florida.
Wow. This borders on scary and even a bit delusional. Challenge her and face the consequences. So, that's what Democrats wake up to today -- a commitment from Clinton that she is never getting out of the race. She's just told us she's planning on taking this fight all the way to the convention. Pretty soon, she'll be telling us she's staying in til November, then the Inauguration.
Since Hillary brought it up, she should also imagine the ads the Republican Party and John McCain will run using her words and the words of her out-of-control staff. For example, Barack Obama won't be a "legitimate" candidate when he officially gets the nomination at the convention. Nice. But, none of that really matters to Hillary Clinton. This is all about her -- and nothing will stand in her way.
It's bizarre, disturbing and, yet, weirdly fascinating to watch Clinton in action these days. She continues to make up new rules and new realities. And, the fact that she will destroy not just the Democratic nominee, but the Democratic party becomes more obvious every day. The threatening letter to Speaker Pelosi from Clinton's donors re-confirmed that.
While she using Florida and Michigan as an excuse to stay in the race, Clinton did make it clear that her real goal is superdelegates:
When asked Saturday how she could still win, Clinton immediately talked about wooing superdelegates, who she said "have a role and very important responsibility."
"We have to nominate someone who can go toe to toe with John McCain on national security and beat him on the economy," she said. "This will all be for naught if we don't win in November."
Okay, toe to toe with John McCain on national security? Well, since Hillary brought up national security and what the Republicans and John McCain will do for ads, imagine what they'll do with this:
We need an intervention. A superdelegate intervention. We need it fast. Hillary not intends to destroy Obama, she intends to destroy the Democratic party. And, she is well on her way.
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Assorted group of guests on the shows today. The head of the CIA is on with Russert. Perhaps, and I know I'm going out on a limb here, but perhaps Russert could ask him what the hell is going on Iraq. Not that we'd ever get an honest answer from anyone who works for Bush.
And, another Iraq war cheerleader is on "This Week." That would be Lieberman and he's on to cheerlead for his BFF McCain. Kerry is representing Obama. Rendell speaks for Clinton.
The CIA and Lieberman make for an unpleasant Sunday morning. Have at it:
ABC's "This Week" — Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn.; Gov. Ed Rendell, D-Pa.
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CBS' "Face the Nation" — Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M.; Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter; Democratic strategist Joe Trippi.
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NBC's "Meet the Press" — CIA Director Michael Hayden.
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CNN's "Late Edition" — Aaron Miller, former State Department adviser; Heraldo Munoz, Chilean ambassador to the United Nations; Sens. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Mel Martinez, R-Fla.; Democratic strategists James Carville and Jamal Simmons.
"Fox News Sunday" _ Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Stan Kasten, team president of the Washington Nationals.
A few years ago while driving around southern Africa, we were looking for music to play in the car since so many places are well beyond radio range and someone in South Africa suggested Mafikizolo who were quite popular at the time. For me, listening to this music reminds me of the wonderful people throughout that part of the world and the stunning countryside. Sadly, one member of the trio became a victim of the crime that many hear about around the world. That said, in our six months (and tens of thousands of kilometers of driving) never once did we experience any problems, anywhere. If you like this song, check out the others including Ndihamba Nawe.
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As much as Bush and Paulson will try and spin this as just another typical cycle when the economy turns south, they are still understating reality. They are attempting to spin this massive failure which Goldman forecasts as a $1.2 TRILLION loss as run of the mill and of cycle moment. The duo will tell us that they want to restructure the system a little, but by and large everything is fine. The lack of regulation did not just happen, it was planned and deployed this way courtesy of Wall Street and decades of lobbying Republicans in Congress. For them, it all worked out fine. They pocketed billions, probably trillions on the backs of both normal people. A few casualties, sure, but after all, Bear Chairman Cayne still pocketed a very cushy $61 million this week.
Another important issue that needs to be addressed is why should we believe Paulson and Bush when they talk about oversight? This administration has never shown interest in oversight or regulation unless there is a woman's nipple on TV. Obviously people have been calling for regulation of this wild west financial system for a while and they consistently ignored those calls. Even today, they want regulations to be mentioned, but not actually carried out because that might slow business down, so they say. Democrats have yet another opportunity to expose both the GOP and the administration on their weak response and failure to help out normal Americans. Will they seize the moment? We are in this situation because of specific GOP policy. Make them eat this dirt every day or expect the GOP to shed yet another of their failings and live another day.
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