I don't get what is newsworthy in this item. It's not like she hid that she was a corporate lawyer - and it's not like Obama wasn't also one. Where's the expose on him?

yo, where's the morning docket?

10:39 - The point is that she topped out at only $200K.

10:39

Obama was an associate, briefly, but spent most of his post-law career *actually* serving the public interest.

I am absolutely flabbergasted by the folks who support Clinton, and have yet to hear a cogent argument that she should be nominated.

Clinton reeks of dynasty and the past - let's move the hell on, and nominate -- and elect -- someone with clarity of vision, a sense of purpose, and most importantly, someone we can bloody trust.

10:43, she "topped out" at $200K in Arkansas many, many, years ago...which means she was wealthier than 99% of Arkansans. Where did it all go wrong?

Web server: $50
Talking iPod advertisements: $150
Traffic from Cadwalader and OMM trolls: $60

Finding an excuse to include a "Hillary 2008" banner at the top of your law gossip Web site the day before Super Tuesday: priceless.

Hillary's firm had long counted WalMart as a top client; Hillary served on WalMart's board for years (she was the first female partner at her firm, and the first female board member at WalMart).

That's all well and good, but the question for ATL readers should be:

Given WalMart's recent call for discounted legal fees, how would large corporate clients and biglaw comp committees function under a Hillary presidency? (Hint: don't expect any more raises, let alone "special" bonuses.)

10:50, you're flabbergasted? Obama has been in the Senate for 2 years...and that's all she wrote. His claim to fame is change...and yet, he can't articulate what exactly he's going to do...except that things will change...you know, stuff that was like one way, will you know, be the other way. I paid $100 to go to a fundraiser to hear him speak - refund! Hillary has a health care plan, an Iraq withdrawal plan, and an economy plan. She also doesn't plan on telling me what I can and cannot do with my own body or whether two of my friends can marry each other. There's your cogent argument. Now, I await the misogyny.

Skaddens have just gone to 190!

$200K *today* in Arkansas and you can live like a god.

Back in the 80's? Let me put it this way - "Hillary was just fine" is worth a lot more than a throwaway line at the end of this "article."

So 42% of her "35 years of service" was spent serving corporations, huh? And I thought Slick Willy was a master at fudging the truth. I swear, these Clintons are friggin evil.

10:39: the point is that she claims to be a champion of the little people (she used the word champion, in fact). the proof is in the pudding--she was on the board of wal-mart for 6 years and while she no doubt did some decent things pro bono, the bulk of her time was spent doing the same unimportant crap that we do.

Lat,

Judge Helverson is in the news, you can run her photo again:

http://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1201912762511

Hey Bitchy,

For every plan you listed for Hillary, Barack has a plan that is somewhat similar. Plus, he's not personally invested in continuing a war with republicans and he can actually admit that he's not perfect (unlike Hillary). Your cogent argument is lacking.

10:57

It's sad that Hillary supporters immediately accuse non-Hillary supporters of being misogynistic (akin to Obama supporters accusing Clinton supporters of being racists).

Obama has been in the Senate for three years, not 2. He was in the IL state legislature since 1996. This all being said, the only relevant experience for the oval office is executive experience. Being a representative at the state/Federal level only prepares you to the extent you deal with executive-type issues.

Beyond her Senate experience, what compelling exp. does Clinton have?

Bitchy McBitchington:

I tried withdrawal once. . . it did not end well. Thank you that is all

This sums it up: http://www.dipdive.com/

Hillary has an "Iraq withdrawal plan"? She knowingly and enthusiastically supported an "Iraq INVASION plan," but she has yet to articulate an actual withdrawal plan.

If and when she does offer such a plan and, if and when she wins the nomination, she can explain her "plan" to McCain when they debate. It will be a gas to hear her defend the notion of withdrawal within "60 days" of her swearing in. Beyond the logistical impossibilities, I await Hillary's explanation of how (i) this country will react when US troops remaining in a rapidly decreasing force suffer huge increases in casualties and (ii) how the world will react when the premature withdrawal results in one if not two genocides in Iraq.

http://www.dipdive.com/

I refuse to vote for someone whose idea of substantive policy is "change and hope."

10:57

No thoughts on dynasty? No thoughts on the relentless Clinton machine and its trappings? No thoughts on the lies, the dishonesty, on Bill running amok again?

No -- just accusations of misogyny, the catchall accusation whenever a woman candidate is challeneged.

Chris Rock said it best -- no problem with a woman president; just not THAT woman.

11:11 - check the website dude, his policy is almost identical to Clinton's. The primary differences are those of character.

LOL: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/clinton_crys_in_connecticut.html

Hillary Clinton weeps again. Can't wait to have a president who cries each time she gets sad. She'll probably have a nervous breakdown once Bubba starts diddling the new and improved White House staff.

The setting: mid 90's, while in Nepal on a presidential tour of Asia (part of her "35 years of experience"), Hillary was introduced to Sir Edmund Hillary, to whom she (publicly) gushed the story of how she received her name - "I was named after you, Sir Edmund!"

The truth: He didn't climb the damn mountain (i.e. he was totally unknown) until Hillary Rodham was a little girl.

I had a mask on in 2 girls 1 cup

I am being sexist when I call bull**it on her latest "crying episode"! WTF? I guess the "manipulative one" decided that if it worked once it will work again. This is gonna make her look like a manipulative, cry-baby opportunist.

"She also doesn't plan on telling me what I can and cannot do with my own body or whether two of my friends can marry each other."

She only plans to tell you how you *must* spend your money, lest it be garnished. She only plans to force business owners to provide health insurance, even if it results in laying off half of the employees so that those remaining are covered.

You Americans never cease to surprise me with your stupidity. First eight years of Bush, now everybody goes head over heel for Obama.

Gladly shorting US stock market. It will go down even more. Actually this is better than working those associate hours.

I wish people that think Universal Health Care is such a great and wonderful benefit would look at two places: 1) Canada (their health care system sucks; and 2) the VA.

I've worked and seen what the VA hospitals are like and think our vets should be treated better; but I sure as hell don't want that as our standard of care.

10:54 - hilarious. HC's a dirty, power hungry who-ore

$200K in Arkansas in the early 1980s was a nice chunk of change.

$200k in Arkansas is still a nice chunk of change.

I'm glad there are some reasonable people here. Stockmeister, thank you. People are voting for Obama, because they like him more as a person--for no other reason.

The Dems that argue about the "relentless Clinton machine and its trappings," are the same Dems that though Billary was God's gift to American politics.

I, for one, will be voting for Hillary--not because she's my ideal candidate, but because she actually has experience to lead and knows how Washington works. I agree that executive experience is the most relevant experience, but absent that, I want someone who will be able to force my agenda.

PS Regardless of whether we agree with this war, the reality is that we are at war. While most Americans disagree vehemently with John McCain's 100 years in Iraq policy (what an ass), they may fear more electing a president (Sen. Obama) whose ADMITTED greatest foreign service experience is growing up abroad.

People are voting for Obama because Hillary is a retard when it comes to economics. Obama says the right things. And the hope of those skeptical of both candidates is that someone smart enough to say the right things will occasionally be smart enough to do the right things.

Can't we stipulate that both Hillary and Obama are dangerously unqualified?

Hillary Clinton: Freeze interest rates for FIVE years. Loans become more difficult to get, economy stagnates, stuff gets worse.

Hillary Clinton: Garnish wages of those who choose not to have health care. My constitutional law is a little rusty, but I reckon there are a few arguments that might bring this mightily stupid idea down. A health insurance tax on income is fine, but garnishing is an issue. Not to mention that this is stupidly socialist (I'm not against socialized anything, if it makes at least some market sense).

Hillary Clinton gets elected: shit, meet fan.

Obama is a feel good candidate. That's all.

Media love him, the democratic party bigwigs endorse him, talk show host stumps for him, presidential daughters campaign for him, Hollywood stars go ga-ga over him. OMG, is he the second coming?

But you have a good system. If Bush can be president for 8 years, why not Obama? At least you have something to feel good about.

The enitre political group is shit this term. Both Hillary and Obama with their socialist views will be a bane to our society for years to come. People don't understand the fact that it takes YEARS to a presidents policies to have any effect and we are still (short of the war) living under Bill's economics.

Obama just doesn't have a damn clue. Let's talk about change. Yes we need change, but WTF is that change, he doesn't have a clue.

Check me if I'm wrong here Sandy, but I believe that Hillary has only been in office since 2000, which is, um, only 8 years ago. I know lawyers are bad at math, but please tell me how 8 years is 35 years?

Oh, and shame on you Lat for putting her campaign banner up under the guise of a posting.

12:41

You're wrong. There is no "magic experience" that makes folks a good president. It's largely about leadership, vision, and the ability to unite. I don't need a calculating bureaucrat riding high on her unfaithful hubbie's laurels, nor a clown like McCain who's got

Many great presidents were not as experienced as their competitors by today's standards. For God's sake, arguably this nation's best president, Lincoln was a politician for only six years before becoming our president. Many great presidents became great by virtue of their vision and their leadership. Lincoln was one; Kennedy was another; Obama should, and hopefully *will* be the next.

Yes, you're right on the math.

But arguing politics via a comment on a blog is like running in the special olympics.

12:47:

Actually, as to Lincoln, many historians believe that he would have been impeached during reconstruction as was Johnson (obviously Lincoln got capped and so that never happened). But, his popularity is thus at least partially a by-product of his martyrdom.

The same is true of Kennedy. There is a strong argument to the effect that he did not accomplish all that much while in office. The civil rights act and the war on poverty didn't go through until after his death. Johnson (yes, both Lincoln and Kennedy had a vp named Johnson) rode Kennedy's martyrdom to accomplish those goals.

Not to put ideas in somebody's mind, but Lincoln and Kennedy were assassinated.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners.
Both successors were named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are comprised of fifteen letters.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named "Ford's".
Kennedy was shot in a car called "Lincoln - made by Ford Motor Co".

Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse.
Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.

Both John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

Isn't it something to see the deranged Hillary supporters discount JFK and Lincoln as inexperienced "hopemongers"...

12:54

Much as I appreciate the history discussion (too infrequent in the comments), and though I don't believe Lincoln would have been impeache (though Johnson almost got tossed out on his ass), I'm not sure what the relevance is to Obama's viability as a candidate and strong leader. My only point is that you don't need a certain kind of magic experience to make a good president. GWB was "experienced" and look upon the disaster he, and this country is as a result of his election.

Clinton's experience, as far as I'm concerned, is her 1.5 yr senate term -- very respectable, but not as germane to the attributes I want in a president as the attributes I've seen in Obama.

I admit that the man isn't as experienced as some other candidates, but if we look into history, you'll find plenty of examples of great leaders who were principled, convicted, honest, visionary, were forged by their position and changed the country's path for the better.

What we need now, more than ever before, is hope and healing. I'm really afraid Hillary will provide neither. She will seek to steamroll opposition and -- mark my word -- public opinion will swing the other way again during by 2010.

If you can, please vote Obama tomorrow.

Lincoln would have been impeached? Really? Now I see why you go by assclown. The reason Johnson got impeached was because he was a democrat and the republican congress resented his obstruction to reconstruction. Lincoln, a republican, had enough support to make congress slow down their reconstruction plans without fear.

>>>>Actually, as to Lincoln, many historians believe that he would have been impeached during reconstruction as was Johnson (obviously Lincoln got capped and so that never happened). But, his popularity is thus at least partially a by-product of his martyrdom.
>>>>>>The same is true of Kennedy. There is a strong argument to the effect that he did not accomplish all that much while in office. The civil rights act and the war on poverty didn't go through until after his death. Johnson (yes, both Lincoln and Kennedy had a vp named Johnson) rode Kennedy's martyrdom to accomplish those goals.

The lesson here? Clearly we should have elected Stephen Douglas because of his much longer experience and ability to "get things done." Also, Nixon was a much better choice than JFK, because JFK was a callow youth who didn't get anything done, but had to die so seasoned veteran LBJ could bring freedom to the poor blacks who just sat there doing nothing.

Give me one example that Obama is principled, convicted, honest, visionary.

The guy says he can transcend race, while attending a quasi-racist church.

The guy flip-flops his position on guns just to get more votes.

The guy gave a speech in 2002 saying he is against dumb war, then in 2004 said his position on war is not much a difference than Bush's, and in the same year, he said he didn't know how he would've voted if he were in Senate at the time. Now he is using his war position as the main theme in campaign.

And how many votes he missed in Senate? Let me tell you, in national security issues, he missed 9 votes, during his three years in Senate; Hillary only missed 1 during her 1.5 year terms.

Wake up, he is no messiah, he is just another bought-and-paid-for politician, who just tells you what you like to hear. And you are dumb enough to believe he is really going to bring change?

Booth was actually born in 1838.

1:05(1): yeah, I had no point. I was (and apparently still am) just trying to avoid work.

1:05(2):

Many historians do believe Lincoln would have been impeached. If you had bothered to read what I actually wrote you would nowhere have found an assertion as to my belief on that matter. That said, Johnson (at least initially) did try to implement Lincoln's plan such that it existed when he died. To say there is only one reason why Johnson got impeached, as you do, represents the kind of tunnel vision that is driving this country into the shitter. maybe you'd like to take over my moniker?

At the end of the day, Clinton and Obama are very similar candidates policy-wise.

In fact, the two voted the same 257 out of 267 times (http://www.salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/01/31/obama_record/index.html). If you have any idea of Congressional politics, you know that people miss votes, or choose not to vote for a variety of reasons. So don't give us the "OH NOES, HE DIDNT VOTE" or "HE FLIP FLOPPED" -- are you kidding me?

As far as the war vote is concerned, it's simple: you vote against the war, but vote for the troops. You don't vote to punish the troops because you disagree with the leader. Clinton has consistently hawked her way through votes in order to build her "national security" cred.

This election is actually about something simple: do you choose the appearance (illusion?) of experience over the appearance (illusion?) of hope and change. For many, it is character (real) vs. experience.

Obama - like Bill Clinton, like Kennedy, like others - has been attacked as inexperienced. HC gets a freebie when she attacks him on experience, though the man served in the IL. State Legislature, forewent the big associate path, and has more REAL and relevant experience than she does (HC, of course, gets to claim "35 years" of experience, counting all her days as a AK law firm partner doing pro bono as relevant experience - LOLL).

As Chris Rock said, I welcome ANY woman president -- just not Hillary Clinton, just not now.

"Bough-and-paid-for politician."

In some sense, all politicians are. Still, all politicians have certain attributes that mean more than others when it comes to leading. Obama's are simply more appealing, and more promising than any other candidate's. Moreover, he's not been taking dirty money from as many dirty people as Hillary has -- I mean, Clinton has taken SOO much money from SOOO many unscrupulous donors, much more than Obama...we're talking orders of magnitude.

And while we're on the topic of Lincoln, who do you think the first donor to sleep in the Lincoln bedroom will be when HC is prez? My money is on shady Uzbek oil guy?

1:05(1): yeah, I had no point. I was (and apparently still am) just trying to avoid work.

1:05(2):

Many historians do believe Lincoln would have been impeached. If you had bothered to read what I actually wrote you would nowhere have found an assertion as to my belief on that matter. That said, Johnson (at least initially) did try to implement Lincoln's plan such that it existed when he died. To say there is only one reason why Johnson got impeached, as you do, represents the kind of tunnel vision that is driving this country into the shitter. maybe you'd like to take over my moniker?

Can someone please tell me which one is a NINJA and which one is a pirate? I only vote for NINJAS.

kthnxbi

"you know that people miss votes, or choose not to vote for a variety of reasons."

I know you are biased towards Obama, but come on this is just excuse.

Obama national security vote missing pattern - general election issues: Immigration /Iraq

And the pattern is..absent vote on general election issues: Immigration /Iraq ?
10/16/2007 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2008 NV
10/03/2007 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations NV
09/26/2007 Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding Federalism in Iraq NV
09/26/2007 Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps NV
07/26/2007 Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act NV
07/26/2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations NV
07/26/2007 Border Fence and Customs Appropriations NV
07/26/2007 REAL ID Funding NV
07/19/2007 Sense of the Senate on Guantanamo Bay Detainees NV

What pisses me off is he attacked Clinton on her vote, but he didn't even bother to show up to vote - like that Ky-Libermann Iran resolution.

A couple of days ago, MoveOn.org endorsed Obama. And I was thinking, how ironic. Hillary voted against condemming MoveOn, while Obama did what he does best, he didn't vote.

BTW, NYT has a piece about Obama's legislative accomplishment. You should all read. That guy is something, when it comes to boasting.

With respect to the Ky-Libermann Iran resolution, both McCain and Obama missed that vote. There's no way to cast a vote in Congress without being present in the chamber to do so.

Beyond that, it's obvious why he probably wouldn't have voted even if he *was* present: Ky-Lieberman meant nothing, and did nothing but make us look retarded.

That said, Obama's come out many, many times on Iran -- his position is clear, and has not changed (can the same be said of Hillary on Iraq?).

Since you want to play the missed vote game, riddle me this: why has Clinton missed 105 votes (23.5%) during the current Congress?

The list is too voluminous to reproduce here, but here's a link: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/c001041/votes/missed/

Here's a hit parade:

Vote 407: On the Nomination: Confirmation Michael B. Mukasey of New York, to be Attorney General

Vote 1: H R 4986: H.R.4986; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

Vote 440: On the Motion: Reid Motion to Concur in House Amdt. No. 1 to Senate Amdt. To H.R. 2764, with an Amdt. No. 3877; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008

Vote 437: H R 2764: Feingold Amdt. No. 3875; To provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq.

Vote 433: H R 1585: H.R. 1585 Conference Report; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008

Vote 415: H R 3996: H.R. 3996 as Amended; Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007

Vote 409: H R 1429: H.R.1429 Conference Report; Head Start for School Readiness Act

Obama missed even more (37%). Why don't you bring this up?

And don't bring McCain in. You know we are talking about the new political wonder boy Obama.

I am just saying Obama used the vote to attack while he didn't even vote. Comparing her own actions with what Obama didn't do and calling them equivalent is dishonest.

Action speaks louder than words, my friends.

BTW, DOW down another 100 point. Cover or not cover my short position, that's question. How about wait till President Obama is sworn in? haha

2:04 -- well, why didn't you bring up Hillary's missed votes or percentage in your initial remarks re: Obama?

I brought McCain in to show that Obama wasn't the only frontrunner to miss Ky-Lieberman. We know well where McCain stands, and know well where Obama stands on Iran.

Character vs. experience. Do you want Billary renting out the Lincoln bedroom to the highest bidders again?

A post from another site re: hating Hillary:

I agree that there is a rabid nature in the manner which numerous conservative groups attack Hillary Clinton. However, I do not need to recall or debate the merits of the long list of Billary scandals of the 1990’s to know that most of Hillary’s reputation is well-earned and deserved. I am a life-long Democrat and can make that judgment just by her behavior in the past few weeks.

Is the NY Times so pro-Clinton that you’ve forgotten some of the tactics employed by both Clintons during the past few weeks AGAINST MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN PARTY!?! For example:

1) Clinton cronies suing to prohibit caucuses held at nine casino worksites when Obama was endorsed over HRC by the 60,000-strong Culinary Workers Union — followed by Bill pushing legal limits by flagrantly campaigning up to the very last minute in the actual rooms where the caucuses were being held.

2) According to the several credible news sources, the Clinton camp is once again resorting to abandoning even minimal standards of common decency by using resorting to Karl Rove style push-polling in California, just as they did in Nevada. (Hopefully, their push-poll efforts will be as effective as they were in SC).

3) Yesterday, Bill Clinton tried to attack his ol’ friend Ted Kennedy by linking Kennedy to Bush and the failure of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program. Funny thing, though, Slick Willy forgot to mention that HRC also strongly supported the NCLB bill.

4) Hillary claims to have spent 35 years in public service. HA! After law school, she did indeed go to work for a non-profit organization…and stayed for less than ONE year before joining the high-end Rose law firm in a high-paying position for FIFTEEN YEARS!

5) Also during those 35 years of “public service” and experience, Hillary counts her eight years as First Lady in the White House and the years she spent as First Lady of Arkansas. Billary states that HRC was deeply involved in decision-making and policy matters. Yet, she claims that there would be no co-Presidency with Bill. Hey, Bill - are you aware of this?

Are we to believe that she would not allow Bill, who actually does have executive experience as both President and as a governor, the same access and input that she supposedly had during his administrations in both Washington and Arkansas?

6) Of course, one cannot forget the Billary race-baiting after the SC primary, nor the repeated use of Barack Obama’s middle name (Hussein) when push-polling, nor the attempted smears by Clinton surrogate and CEO of BET about Obama’s admitted mistakes during his teenage years. Heck, Hillary even trotted out Obama’s kindergarten teacher and a supposed essay he wrote when he was five as proof that he has been thinking about running for President for longer than he stated. (Frankly, I’m impressed that he was writing essays at age five - most of us were still learning how to write our letters at that age).

I am a life-long Democrat and used to be an enormous supporter of both Hil and Bill. That is soooooo over. I will not vote for HRC. If she can divide her own party this well by being willing to do whatever it takes to win the nomination, then I can only imagine how incredibly successful she would be at uniting the GOP and further dividing and dead-locking this country and our government along partisan lines.

I'm VERY turned off by the mean and inaccurate Clinton attacks against Obama. Her mischaracterization of Obama's comments re the Reagan era were so blatently twisted and taken out of context. That was the last straw for me. Yep, another white woman attorney NOT supporting Her Royal Clinton-ness. We need a woman president, but not her.

Watching the Obama love in from outside reminds me way too much of 2000 and Dubya.

* The infatuation of the right and a chunk of independents who bought the crap about Dubya's inexperience being balanced out by the people he would have with him (Cheney, Rice and Powell)
* the glass jaw when it came to criticism,
* the avoidance of serious questions from journalists and the lack of specific step by step plans (he has some but rather few).
* the airy-fairy talk of changing Washington and bringing a new bi-partisanship,
* the focus on speeches/languages (remember when Dubya's inept English showed him to be a down-home boy who you would love to have a beer with),
* Oprah deciding on feel who to vote for (go back and see how she responded to her perception that Gore lacked warmth),
* Allowing the idea of who you like rather than can get the job done to dictate your choice (Dubya preferred as a BBQ invitee over Gore).
And a lot of other things to boot.
I am not a Hillary fan and could live with either but am seriously sick of so many Americans refusing to dig beyond the superficial about your candidates.

Given the very real lack of administrative history behind either candidate and Obama in particular I often wonder how many are going to wake up in 2009 with a feeling like they went to bed with some really lousy lay because of the beer glasses they were wearing during the Primaries.

'Hillary for President!'

Very well said.

America had a drunk for president for 8 years, now you are about to send a junkie/pothead to the white house.

BTW, dow down 246 points...

It's time to change...how about see Dow at 8000 in two years.

Yeah, so this was in the early 80's, before legal salaries exploded. And, she made partner after 4 years or something nuts like that. And, she made bank on bunch of corporate boards. I think she was pretty much the top dog in the state. The fact is, she probably cleaned up relative to her classmates who went biglaw in NYC. Girl did good. Good for her. Go Hillary.