Saturday, March 11, 2006

WATCH OUT FOR FALLING BULLSHIT

Okay. I wake up this morning, log in on the web and the first thing I see is "Hilary Clinton Quiet About Wal-Mart Ties". So I read the article, and I think "ummm....so what?" And then I think "So the campaign to derail her possible Prez bid has already started...and this is the best they can do?"

If you're not familiar with the story, it is simply the fact that Wal-Mart is being attacked about it's labor practices and wages (like THAT'S new) by Wal-Mart activists, mostly Democrats and Hillary has gone quiet about her time serving on the board (which, incidentally, ended in 1992). Here are some of the facts from the article:

Throughout the 1980s, both Bill and Hillary Clinton nurtured relationships with Walton, a conservative Republican and by far Arkansas' most influential businessman.

Among other things, Hillary Clinton sought Walton's help in 1983 for Bill Clinton's so-called Blue Ribbon Commission on Education, a major effort to improve Arkansas' troubled public schools. The overhaul became a centerpiece of Clinton's governorship.

And Wal-Mart's Made in America campaign, which for years touted the company's sales of American products in its stores, was launched after Bill Clinton persuaded Walton to help save 200 jobs at an Arkansas shirt manufacturing plant. The Made in America campaign has virtually vanished in recent years, as the company's manufacturing has gradually moved overseas - another point of criticism by many anti-Wal-Mart activists.

The Clintons also benefited financially from Wal-Mart. Hillary Clinton was paid $18,000 each year she served on the board, plus $1,500 for each meeting she attended. By 1993 she had accumulated at least $100,000 in Wal-Mart stock, according to Bill Clinton's federal financial disclosure that year. The Clintons also flew for free on Wal-Mart corporate planes 14 times in 1990 and 1991 in preparation for Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential bid.


So, my question is this... CAN WE GET SOME FUCKING PERSPECTIVE?!?! Regardless of whether you are a Clinton fan or not or a Wal-Mart fan or not - this is stupid. Is this really going to be the flashpoint issue if she runs? I want you to read the article snippet again and I want you to notice a few things: 1) Some of the language the "journalist" uses - "so-called Blue Ribbon Commission", "benefited financially" (I'm just saying). 2) It does look like Bill and Hillary attempted to use her position to do some good for the state - those bastards 3) The phrase "according to Bill Clinton's federal financial disclosure that year " - Look everybody! A politician who feels that they need to disclose something. 4) And, let's be honest, the "benefited financially" charge next to the number $18,000 just looks silly.

The article also says this: "But in recent months, as the company has become a target for Democratic activists, she has largely steered clear of any mention of Wal-Mart. And late last year, Clinton's re-election campaign returned a $5,000 contribution from Wal-Mart, citing "serious differences with current company practices." It's pretty obvious that Bill and Hillary had a relationship with Sam Walton and she is not happy with they way things have been going since he died. And they gave the money back. That shows some integrity, at least in my eyes - but I never finished college.

Hmmm... Wal-Mart - Haliburton - Wal-Mart - Haliburton - Wal-Mart - Enron COME ON!!! What the fuck?! Are they serious? The lies, the corruption, the blood, the indictments, the civil rights, the prisoners and the inaction in the face of a natural disaster - and I'm supposed to equate Clinton's time at Wal-Mart with that?!

You hear that? That's the sound of desperation. Every day that passes The Bush Administration is pulling the entire Republican party into a deep dark suck hole and they are clawing at the walls. I hope...actually I pray that I'm not overstating this. But you watch. Mark my blog. Bush will mention this stupid Wal-Mart thing as a way to deflect another question. But it's a two edged sword. In order to do that, he needs to side with those democrats who are against Wal-Mart - which, let's face it, is the preferred destination of much of his voter base. I'm not slamming Wal-Mart or their customers. But there is an undeniable link between blindly patriotic, Larry the Cable Guy loving , working class shoppers looking to get what they need for the family at prices they can afford and the "the funny talking brown people want us dead - they hate us - you need my protection" bullshit that got Bush elected.

I am not one of those comedians who is going to talk about Wal-Mart as white trash heaven. Mostly because I don't think it's true. My family shops at Wal-Mart. I'm working class. My wife is employed at Wal-Mart - in fact they hired her when she needed a job desperately and McDonald's had turned her down because she had a degree. But I am aware of how it's destroying "Main Street" America. I am under no illusions. Wally and I have a love hate relationship. So, I'm not going to go on and on about the people that shop there. So, please don't take it that way. But there is an undeniable demographic that Wal-Mart has cornered and fostered. So it will be interesting to see how George and his puppeteers...I mean team... walk this razor.

Any way, we all know that Farm and Fleet is white trash heaven.

8 Comments:

At 1:48 PM, DJR said...

That's your Mainstreal Miberal Media® at work. :-)

Walmart? Meh. They are loathed down here in Austin, but this is our new, global economy, I guess. I shop there sometimes. I am too lay to do the research that would inevitably turn me against them.

I don't care about Hilary's ties with WalMart, What I care about is that she is a political whore who will say whatever she needs to say to whatever group she's speaking to in order to obtain their votes.

Check out her stance on the Iraq War and tell me you could vote for her in good conscience.

I hate Bush much more than the next guy, but he has convinced me that he believes every word he says, no matter how misguided, dangerous or stupid.

Hilary Clinton is, at best, a politician. The Dems cannot seriously be considering running her for office. It will be a debacle if she loses and a worse debacle if she wins. Please also keep that idiot Lieberman out of contention.

If either of these clowns ends up fronting the Democratic ticket, I will either vote Republican (depending on the candidate they put up), Independent, or not vote at all.

 
At 12:38 PM, Eric said...

I'm actually with you on Hillary. Don't care for her at all. I want dreamy John Edwards... THAT should be the face of 2006.

 
At 10:41 PM, Princess Marea said...

Ummmm...you do realize the Presidential election isn't until 2008, right, Eric?

 
At 9:51 AM, Eric said...

Feel like a big man now, Princess? Make you feel better about yourself - pointing out in public my little typo. Yeah... I fuckin' know. I'm countin' the God Damn days until 2007...Shit! Damn!

 
At 9:06 PM, Princess Marea said...

I only feel like a big man if I can make someone cry.

P.S. I had to type in a word that looked like jism (with some other stuff attached) to post this. HAHAHAHAHA

 
At 10:56 PM, DJR said...

My word was "ickspedz" which, come to think of it, could be a euphemism for jism (with some other stuff attached) ... and isn't that really the worst kind of jism?

 
At 11:48 PM, Princess Marea said...

Actually, Dale, I think it sounds more like the sound you make when you're get a mouth full of jism with other stuff attached to it and so you feel compelled to expel it with the sound effect of "Ick! Spedz!"

 
At 10:20 PM, Princess Marea said...

What? I'm the only one on here who's ever had a mouth full of jism before? Why am I the only female who ever posts here?

 

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