Hitchens: Clinton should have let Ling and Lee rot in N. Korea

[derspiess]

From that same article:

Polling released earlier today shows that 15% of voters believe Clinton is Very Likely to become the first woman president of the United States. Another 23% say she is Somewhat Likely to achieve that honor.

Yeah, and the list of wimmenz with any shot of becoming president is sooooo huge.

[DGuller]

A shocking poll!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/08/12/clinton-popular-hillary-poll-shows/

Bill Clinton More Popular Than Hillary, Poll Shows
A Rasmussen Reports poll released Wednesday showed 58 percent of those surveyed view the former president favorably, while 53 percent feel the same about Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Actually, I'm shocked that so many view Hillary favorably.

I still can't figure out how in the world did she go from being a left-wing extremist to a conservative alternative to Obama in the eyes of the public. 

[derspiess]

I still can't figure out how in the world did she go from being a left-wing extremist to a conservative alternative to Obama in the eyes of the public. 

Maybe 'cuz Obama is just that far out on the left?

[DGuller]

I still can't figure out how in the world did she go from being a left-wing extremist to a conservative alternative to Obama in the eyes of the public. 

Maybe 'cuz Obama is just that far out on the left?

Only the caricature of him.  Then again, maybe he was just next in line to be overblown as the mortal threat to apple pie.

[grumbler]

I still can't figure out how in the world did she go from being a left-wing extremist to a conservative alternative to Obama in the eyes of the public. 

Probably because that "left-wing extremist" tag was so obviously phony that few bought into it.

[Jaron]

I still can't figure out how in the world did she go from being a left-wing extremist to a conservative alternative to Obama in the eyes of the public. 

Probably because that "left-wing extremist" tag was so obviously phony that few bought into it.

few = Berkut, derspiess, Tim

[Viking]

Let us not forget that we have the hikers in Iran as well, which seem to have been slightly more geographically challenged while faced with a slightly less brutal and manipulative regime with less prevalent body guards. Though since they are not Royal Navy personnel they might get released just because holding them is so ridiculous that even the Iranians know that gap year hikers are no CIA hacks.

[Scipio]

Ank & Hitchens speak da troof. 

Did Clinton know he was being played?  Or did he care, as long as he got to get on the news?

Clearly, both the US and the DPRK sought to benefit from an arrangement.  We got them back, and DPRK can pretend to be magnanimous.  Both sides win.  That was the gameplan, and the sole reason it happened.

Typical commie thinking from Obama and Clinton.  Why the fuck are we doing bedhead favors?

[Caliga]

Probably because that "left-wing extremist" tag was so obviously phony that few bought into it.

Does anyone really think that?  I mean, I know folks like Rush Limbaugh *say* it, but he's an act.  I don't think he believes half of the stuff that he actually says.

[DGuller]

Probably because that "left-wing extremist" tag was so obviously phony that few bought into it.

Does anyone really think that?  I mean, I know folks like Rush Limbaugh *say* it, but he's an act.  I don't think he believes half of the stuff that he actually says.

I think you're vastly underestimating the power of echo chambers to self-reinforce the stupidity and irrationality of its members.

[Berkut]

I still can't figure out how in the world did she go from being a left-wing extremist to a conservative alternative to Obama in the eyes of the public. 

Probably because that "left-wing extremist" tag was so obviously phony that few bought into it.

few = Berkut, derspiess, Tim

I bet you can find just loads of posts from me where I call Hillary a "left-wing extremist".

[Caliga]

Although I have not listened to Rush Limbaugh in years, I used to do so all the time because my dad is a devoted fan and always had Rush on in the car.

My impression always was that Rush is more of a showman than an actual political fanatic.  Sometimes he seemed to almost be mocking the right in some of the things that he said.  I mean, he was always mocking the left, too, but he was just so over-the-top....

I guess my impression is that he's more of a comedian than an actual commentator, and probably deliberately sought out the right fringe as his niche, maybe because there wasn't much competition there.

[Berkut]

Probably because that "left-wing extremist" tag was so obviously phony that few bought into it.

Does anyone really think that?  I mean, I know folks like Rush Limbaugh *say* it, but he's an act.  I don't think he believes half of the stuff that he actually says.

I think you're vastly underestimating the power of echo chambers to self-reinforce the stupidity and irrationality of its members.

Indeed. Which is why uncritical partisanship is so dangerous.

[Valmy]

I used to listen to Rush during the late 80s and man he was hilarious.  Eventually his schtick just got old so I stopped listening but people have a tolerance for the same stuff day after day year after year...

Languish posters for example. 

[Berkut]

Although I have not listened to Rush Limbaugh in years, I used to do so all the time because my dad is a devoted fan and always had Rush on in the car.

My impression always was that Rush is more of a showman than an actual political fanatic.  Sometimes he seemed to almost be mocking the right in some of the things that he said.  I mean, he was always mocking the left, too, but he was just so over-the-top....

I guess my impression is that he's more of a comedian than an actual commentator, and probably deliberately sought out the right fringe as his niche, maybe because there wasn't much competition there.

I remember thinking that people self-identifying as "dittoheads" had to some kind of clever joke, a little self mocking or something.

But then I realized that most of them were completely serious, and took great pride in the fact that Rush does their thinking for them.