SOUTH BEND, Indiana — Well, it took nearly 12 years, but I finally convinced Sen. Hillary Clinton to speak with me on television. Emboldened by Barack Obama’s “Rev. Wright” disaster, the senator is aggressively reaching out to independent voters, many of whom watch my television program, “The Factor.”
After meeting and speaking with her face-to-face, my assessment is that health care is Clinton’s strongest issue and Iran is her weakest. Polls show that most Americans are fed up with exorbitant medical costs and a callous insurance industry. So, any presidential candidate who offers relief from this mess will get a hearing. Of course, the cost would be staggering, but she has a well-thought-out plan. Whether it is possible, I don’t know.
Clinton, however, stumbles on Iran. Both she and Obama want out of Iraq, but the unintended consequence of that would be a much bolder Iran. Those fanatics will spin a U.S. withdrawal as an “Islamic” victory. And then, most geopolitical experts agree, Iran would attempt to dominate Southern Iraq.
That kind of aggression would likely cause world oil prices to double, causing major chaos in the economic marketplace. When I described that likely outcome to Clinton, she had no specific answer.
The thing about this presidential race is that some vital issues are so complicated they can give you a permanent migraine. Iraq is a mess. The Iraqi government is largely corrupt, but if we fold, Iran causes big trouble. Awful.
Regarding Afghanistan, the vicious Taliban are hiding in plain sight inside Pakistan, But the Pakistani government is afraid of the radical Islamists, so it allows these killers to operate. That means the Taliban has a sanctuary from which to violently destabilize Afghanistan, and there’s little the U.S. can do about it. The Pakistanis have made it clear that NATO forces are not welcome to cross into their country.
Back home, oil prices are hurting most Americans. Sens. Clinton and McCain want to suspend the federal gas tax this summer. Fine with me, but the truth is that both parties have sold out the folks on oil. Clinton voted against drilling in ANWR and the expansion of nuclear energy.
And that’s pretty much the problem with her and most politicians: They are shortsighted. A closer look at “universal” health care costs may upset your stomach. California is running a $16 billion deficit, largely due to out-of-control medical costs. Sen. Clinton’s home state of New York is $5 billion in the red. Again, health costs are driving the debt train.
So, how on earth will Hillary pay for Hill Care? There aren’t enough rich people in America to foot the bill. Canada has sky-high taxes with just 30 million people receiving government health care. The USA has 300 million people. Do the math.
In the end, I enjoyed my conversation with Sen. Clinton, although I believe she thinks I’m a pinhead. If so, at least I’m a fiscally responsible and national security-driven pinhead. Those issues are vital to all of us. No spin.
Bill O’Reilly is a nationally syndicated columnist, host of the Fox News show “The O’Reilly Factor” and author of the book “Who’s Looking Out For You?”
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Billy... I stood on a street corner with the Clintons.in 1992. in SF.
Health..care.. was..if you look back online, one of the platforms... of the Clinton campaign.
Billy, the other... put his wife in charge of health care reform..
Now..it's 15+ yrs. later ..and Hillary, who dropped the health care ball...like it was a dead fish...is proclaiming that she will fix. it.
Like david letterman said.. "That ol hillbilly sure has em hornswoggled."
Not me.... anyone but them..
Like some of their former advisors now say..
"they should not be allowed anywhere.. near the White House...In..their lifetime."
On Jan.21st...the day after Jan.20th.. Barack Obama will walk down a hall in the White House...and phone the Clintons at 3am 3am.. on the red phone... and he will be able to do a Bill The cat...pppfffft.. it's me baby"
George Shieman gshieman@ao.com
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MY FELLOW "BITTER", STUPID, WORKING CLASS PEOPLE :-)
If you think like Barack Obama, that WORKING CLASS PEOPLE are just a bunch of "BITTER"!, STUPID, PEASANTS, Cash COWS!, and CANNON FODDER. :-(
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary’s than they had ever been before or since.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..
You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)
Best regards
jacksmith... Working Class :-)
p.s. You Might Be An Idiot! :-)
If you don't know that the huge amounts of money funding the Obama campaign to try and defeat Hillary Clinton is coming in from the insurance, and medical industry, that has been ripping you off, and killing you and your children. And denying you, and your loved ones the life saving medical care you needed. All just so they can make more huge immoral profits for them-selves off of your suffering...
You see, back in 1993 Hillary Clinton had the audacity, and nerve to try and get quality, affordable universal health care for everyone to prevent the suffering and needless deaths of hundreds of thousands of you each year. :-)
Approx. 100,000 of you die each year from medical accidents from a rush to profit by the insurance, and medical industry. Another 120,000 of you die each year from treatable illness that people in other developed countries don’t die from. And I could go on, and on...
OBAMA AIDE: "WORKING-CLASS VOTERS NOT KEY FOR DEMOCRATS" :o
DEBATE! DEBATE!! DEBATE!!!...
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DEBATE! DEBATE!! DEBATE!!!
It's time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Hillary Clinton seemed almost somber at her Pennsylvania victory speech. As if part of her was hoping Obama could have proved he had some chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources.
But it is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say's that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Mr. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Mr. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Mr. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Mr. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Sen. Hillary Clinton: "You know, more people have now voted for me than have voted for my opponent. In fact, I now have more votes than anybody has ever had in a primary contest for a nomination. And it's also clear that we've got nine more important contests to go."
Sincerely
Jacksmith... Working Class :-)
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Haha...Well at least Bill O'Reilly gave Hillary some credit. She's a knowledgable person on Democrat policies. But he thinks those policies will doom America.
And yes...she probably thinks O'Reilly is a pinhead.
At least she had cajones to face O'Reilly.
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I have difficulty understanding why anyone with an ounce of civility would stoop to appear on Bill All Riled Up's infotainment rant. Too angry, too boorish and too intellectually bereft for any meaningful conversation. Great for masochists and misogynists though.
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"Canada has sky-high taxes with just 30 million people receiving government health care"
Bill, apparently you don't put much stock in facts. You fail to mention that Canada's Federal Government is running balanced budgets and many of the Provinces have balanced budgets and little or no debt. Why don't you do the work and show us the Canadian tax on say a family of four earning $50,000 living in Alberta to .. pick a State.
Brian
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