The Clinton campaign realizes that no matter what they do, they will be declared evil. They realize that no matter what Obama does, he will be declared a saint. In such an environment, both the Clinton campaign and the Obama campaign will feel no restraint to their behavior.

In an open memo which got almost no media play and zilch public attention last December, Rove spit out six things Obama should do to zap Clinton.

Obama has followed the script to the letter. He's unleashed an all-out no holds barred attack on Clinton's personality, record, and demeanor, and even tossed in some blatant racial digs at her and hubby Bill for supposedly demeaning Dr. King, Jesse Jackson, and of course himself. He's made bold, brash, and loud pitches and promises to do everything from end the war to clean up the economy. This fulfills Rove's admonition to him to stop sounding wishy-washy on the big ticket issues and create an aura and persona of confidence, expertise, and even invincibility about himself.

The remaining question is Why? Why this relentless hostility, self-righteousness, hypocrisy, loss of objectivity on the part of so many?

That is a little of why, my knee-jerk is if the media likes it, I automatically don't.

It is because the media resents Bill's success from the 90s.

For 30 years (in one state or another) I've been one of those sign holders, fending off discouragement over the voter apathy that's been proclaimed by the media since the 1970's.

Finally, we have people going to the polls and taking part in the process.

And what does the media do?

It demands Clinton drop out of the campaign, while simutaneously doing whatever it takes to start a race war in this country.

And, what does Howard Dean, Donna Brazile and the DNC do?

They punish the people of Florida and Michigan for what a group of elitists (holding the reigns of power) did.

And, what did Nancy Pelosi do?

She appeared on national television during prime time to say, "The votes don't matter. Only the delegates matter."

Well then Nancy, since you said it and you rule the roost, discount the delegates as an act of punishment for not obeying the DNC rules, but demand the votes be counted!

We have 10 more states who want a voice in this, and no elected official, or superdelegate, or wannabe talking head should be telling any American citizen not to vote, or that his/her vote doesn't count.

Personally, I think Pelosi deserves to be voted out of office for this, as a reminder of how important our right to vote is.

As for the media encouraging Clinton to step aside so they can put their choice of nominee on the road to the White House, maybe it's time you look at your falling circulation figures and Nielsen ratings and brace for the loss of women 55 and older.

I remember the days not so very long ago, when I used to like Obama OK, although I always thought he was a weaker candidate than Hillary or Edwards.  The media and the blogosphere have been fanning the flames and yes, I believe that Obama's campaign was the first to go "dirty".  They're certainly the first to whine about unfair treatment.  

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Brave New Films which, along with moveon.org (I unsubbed when they endorsed Obama), is delivering a petition to NBC studios asking them not to "parrot right-wing Fox" in bashing Obama.  Like there's any danger of that!

I e-mailed them back:

Your concern for Obama is touching.  Funny I haven't heard anything from you on the horrendous bias of MSNBC, CNN and much of the MSM against Hillary Clinton.

But I'm sure we all remember the 2000 Republican presidential race in South Carolina.  Whispers of McCain's illegitimate black child and his wife's instability/drug addiction.  Politicians are generally not beyond throwing low blows, even at their own team.

BTD said this hurts the party's chances in the GE and he's probably right.  But what will really hurt our chances is putting up the candidate that can't win.  Look what we did in 2004.  There was no internal bickering about or among the candidates, and we found a way to lose to Pres. Bush!

At the time I was reading Arianna and Dowd. Both of them practically were stating that Obama was unmanly for not attacking Hillary Clinton.

Then it began. Stinkers like Russert revealed themselves.
The press enjoyed what they think was a heavyweight fight.
They lured folks into the tent with the big fight so that they could sell their hair tonic and snake oil.

But it is Obama who went for it.
His campaign became one of the sleaziest in memory.
Bill Clinton, you know, the one who has his presidential office in Harlem, was recast as a racist.

And so on.

I admit that I never liked Obama. His campaigning for Lieberman disqualified him for me. His speech before the convention in 2004 that everyone found so electrifying was an absolute nothing for me. He said nothing about Iraq. He said practically nothing about Kerry. He waved the flag, and talked about himself.

And so if he is the nominee, in my view he will have gotten it by destroying Hillary Clinton, the one viable candidate in the race.
He would have done it in concert with a rabid sexist media.

If he is the nominee, I must admit that I don't think he is prepared to be President. I don't think he knows what the hell he is doing.

But I recall back during the Niners glory years when they polled the NFL players as to which team played dirtiest, and the Niners were the consensus pick.

I don't mind negative campaigns.  "Politics ain't beanbag" as Molly Ivins used to say. (RIP Molly)

I really don't mind that Obama gets away with playing dirty.  Life isn't fair, and the Clintons know that.

But what annoys me is the Obamaniacs acting all sanctimonious and smarmy, accusing Hillary of playing dirty.