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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Who’s Got My Back?

posted by on January 29 at 8:59 AM

As made clear by Mr. Bush’s last State of the Union address, the situation in Washington is marked not only by a shift in political power but a shift in dramatic power.
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The sense of transition was magnified Monday by intense focus on the body language in the House chamber as the two leading Democratic candidates for president, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, returned for a couple of intelligence-related votes earlier in the day and the president’s speech. And they did so on the same day that Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts delivered a ringing endorsement of Mr. Obama that many saw as a rebuke of former President Bill Clinton and his recent conduct on the campaign trail. Mr. Obama walked into the chamber, with Mr. Kennedy directly behind him. They took their seats, side-by-side, sealing the image of their newfound partnership.

Sitting just four chairs away, Mrs. Clinton was engaged in conversation with a number of senators, but not Mr. Obama. When Mr. Kennedy extended his hand and they exchanged a brief handshake, Mr. Obama’s head turned the other way. After the address, Mr. Obama chatted briefly with Mr. Bush, while Mrs. Clinton exited the chamber.

For Democrats, the political theater was a highlight of the night.

Obama and Hillary have all the drama; the Republicans have nothing new to show. What can we expect but sleep and shallow dreams from a play whose main actors are a very old man, a Mormon, and a Jesus hick?

RSS icon Comments

1

Yes, much entertainment is to be gained nowadays by watching. As I was at work, the radio is king (Kucinich would still be in if theres no TV mind you, and Romney would be OUT) and the substance was more easily parsed without the noise ofthe visual. It sounded like there were some boos when he brought up our success in IRAQ? anyone catch that?

Posted by Matt Jones | January 29, 2008 9:06 AM
2

It's Mormon, dipshit, not Morman.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty | January 29, 2008 9:09 AM
3

When the pres walked in and started high fiving people and whispering sweet nothings in their ears, the camera panned to Hill dawg in her red power outfit, hands at her side and a pouty look on her face. Then, Obama was shown, clapping and giggling w/ Gigantic Head Kennedy.
I wonder how much detail and strategy went into their presentations that night. Seemed like lots of cold calculations. Barak pandering to repub voters by clapping. Hillary subliminally showing viewers that she is all about bucking the system.

Posted by yearning | January 29, 2008 9:19 AM
4

@2 That's OK Fifty-Two-Eighty

Charles likes readin' writin' & spelin' in that new Irbun tawk.

He doesn't want to limit his people. Werk wit da guy otay?

Posted by Obvious Guy | January 29, 2008 9:20 AM
5

The Kennedys are still gangster.

Posted by kerri harrop | January 29, 2008 9:30 AM
6

Obama needs to be cordial. He and Dubya will be sharing a limo ride next January.

Posted by DOUG. | January 29, 2008 9:31 AM
7

I appreciate the more optimistic take on all this handshake analysis, which I found sort of disturbing as in this video: http://moourl.com/ldwwl

Posted by Jay Smooth | January 29, 2008 9:47 AM
8

@2, god knows i'm great, but i'm still not god. sorry.

Posted by charles mudede | January 29, 2008 9:48 AM
9

Awkward.

Posted by keshmeshi | January 29, 2008 11:46 AM
10

As the Washington Post reporters pointed out, Sen Clinton has done that to Sen Obama many times in the past year, so ...

She brought it on herself by using Bill as her Race Card attacker.

Posted by Will in Seattle | January 29, 2008 12:02 PM
11

"a Jesus hick" huh? Because he's from Arkansas? The south? A "fly-over state"?

My, what a intelligent and tolerant man you are, Charles.

Look, I hate Huckabee, too, but describing him as a Jesus hick makes you look just as ignorant he is.

Wish I could count on a response...

Posted by Dan Ravaged | January 29, 2008 10:55 PM
12

The Kennedys are a dynasty of corruption and bullshit. They are the Bushes with better P.R., courtesy of old Joseph, and that is the only difference between the 2 families and their "legacies".

Posted by Donovan | January 30, 2008 2:18 AM

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