"It's not inconceivable that Hillary Clinton could raise $500 MILLION by the '08 election."

[in_cog_ni_to]

This is what "The Hill" reporter said on C-SPAN'S Washington Journal this morning. Yep. Hillary has such powerful fund raising capabilities, it's NOT INCONCEIVABLE THAT SHE COULD RAISE $500 MILLION by the '08 election. I thought it was obscene when I heard a candidate would need a measly $100 MILLION just to run for Prez. Hill will probably raise $500 MILLION. I guess it's better than a repuke raising that much money to use AGAINST us, but I find that much money being spent on a Presidential election is OBSCENE. What are your thoughts? How do you feel about this?

$500,000,000!!!!!!:wow::wow:

[rubberducky]

1. She is going to be beholden to a lot of people.

[Lerkfish]

4. "going to be"?

[Jacobin]

7. bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran

Sing to the tune: "Barbra Ann" by the Beach Boys.

(flashback to the IWR protests on DU)

[lancdem]

8. That's Bush's aim

[Jacobin]

10. Have you heard Hillary on that subject?

[lancdem]

18. Of course

And I read ALL of what she said before AIPAC, not just portions people decided to focus on while ignoring everything else. She talked about engagement with Iran (which the current administration does not favor), and said no option should be taken off the table. The argument that she would use military force as anything other than a last resort makes no sense to anyone who's actually paying attention.

[Jacobin]

24. 500 million dollars

That doesn't come from anti-war supporters, I'm afraid

[lancdem]

5. At least they'll be Democrats

:)

[Lerkfish]

9. really? how do you know that?

why couldn't her donors be neocons?

[lancdem]

11. Why would neocons give anything to HRC?

McCain would obviously be their first choice. They're Repukes, not Dems.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Because McCain is unelectable?

& even they know it??

[Lerkfish]

15. neocons are independent of party, actually. They'll back whomever they

think will attain power.

They're powermongers, not republicans.

[texasclarkie]

35. Not necessarily

Rupert Murdoch has not only given her money, but hosted a fundraiser last year. I wouldn't exactly call him a Democrat.

[Skidmore]

29. Or maybe just a few really big contributors.

[babylonsister]

2. Discouraging. nt

[Lerkfish]

3. personally, I think if she doesn't win the nomination, she should give that to

whomever does.

[Jackpine Radical]

17. The people giving it to her

probly don't want it to go to just any candidate--like, for example, some rabble-rousing, boat-rocking progressive type.

[in_cog_ni_to]

20. With $500,000,000,

she can just buy the election. I don't see any other candidate coming even close to $500 MILLION in fund raising. Do you? I wish I knew how much each campaign raised in 2004. I'd love to compare.

[AndyA]

6. I can think of a lot of uses for $500 Million besides funding a f*ckin' political campaign

How about helping the poor people in this country, who are sick and can't afford medicine or medical care?

How about helping to fund a few organizations that actually do some good for Americans, like environmental concerns, Meals on Wheels, election reform, etc.?

There are so many legitimate uses for that kind of money. It's a sin to give it to the corporate-owned media so they can use it against us to further their right wing causes. :(

(This is not a reflection on Hillary - I would feel this way about any candidate who would be willing to spend that much on a campaign. Our priorities are really, really screwed up in this country.)

Public funded campaigns is the only way to go, the private money needs to be abolished. It's the only way we'll get good representation in Washington.

[BayCityProgressive]

14. why would you waste

money on useless poor people when rich people can keep it instead!!??!?!

[stonecoldsober]

12. I think she will not get a red cent from me!

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. If you take the money out of politics there would be a lot fewer politiicans.

“America is a nation without a distinct criminal class...with the possible exception of Congress." - Mark Twain

I think Mark's axiom could safely be expanded to most politicians.

[in_cog_ni_to]

22. LOVE that quote.

It's fitting and most definitely could be expanded to most politicians. Unfortunately.:(

[wakeme2008]

19. I will not give her a penny

:shrug:

Must be a lot of Repugs giving her money....

[Benhurst]

21. It's time for transparent elections.

As in ancient Rome in its days of decline, I think the presidency should be sold on the steps of the Senate, in plain view through open bidding.

[TheWraith]

23. You know that that's roughly what we raised for the last presidential election, right?

Not neccessarily all by the candidate's campaign, but 2004 total election spending was north of one billion dollars, and we were half of that.

[in_cog_ni_to]

27. No. I didn't know that. That makes this even more obscene.

:( She will have as much money as the entire 2004 Democratic campaign had. That's just wrong.

I guess I should be happy that a Dem will buy the office instead of a repuke buying it this time, but it's leaving a very bad taste in my mouth.:( Mr. Heartland of America could NEVER run for president these days. We've been removed from the process...except we're free to give our hard earned money to these candidates, but forget about running as a candidate unless you're a MULTI-MILLIONAIRE/BILLIONAIRE.

[TheWraith]

37. Not really.

Any presidential campaign in 2008 is going to end up spending 500 million on our side of the aisle, period. From what's raised in the various primary campaigns up through the general, that's just what gets spent in this environment. And the Republicans are going to raise the same. I think the person referred to in the OP is either being colorful in lumping all Democratic spending on the campaign as being "raised" by the candidate--that's not really likely, as you've got other organizations like MoveOn and so forth which raise independently, as well as the funding for each of the primary campaigns--or they're being unrealistic in expecting that just one candidate would rake in such a substantial boost over any other in the general election. I suspect that general election fundraising will be more or less the same as long as our candidate has a pulse and doesn't drool on stage.

And really, Mr. Heartland of America could never have run for president. Money hasn't changed the fact that we've never had a truly "average" president. Everybody has been "somebody" before they were elected. People don't vote for average joes.

[oasis]

25. The Mormon Church (Romney) can raise much more.(eom)

[in_cog_ni_to]

28. Are all Mormons repukes??? Harry Reid is a Mormon.

The Fundamentalists could raise that much money too, but never do.

[oasis]

30. Utah, Idaho, Arizona. Get the picture?

If Romney gets the nod, he'll be well taken care of.

[in_cog_ni_to]

31. I get the picture. I really doubt that flip-flopper Romney will get the nod.

First he supported gay rights, then he didn't. Then he supported pro-choice, then he didn't. The fundies aren't going to anoint Romney..he's not PURE enough. Neither is Guiliani. I think Romney and the Mormons is a moot issue. He's not going to win. Have you seen his poll numbers in NH and Iowa?:rofl: He's not doing well.

[oasis]

36. If Bush can be packaged and sold to the public, so can Romney. It's the corporate media

that shapes their image for the polls. In the past, they have called the shots.

Hopefully the blogosphere will get all the facts out early on Romney and the rest the GOP frontrunners.

[greenissexy]

26. easy

I believe she can do that easily. Considering 75% of the people support her, if each of them gave only $3 that's $675 million. I know some people justifiably don't like her support of Bush on the war, but when she wins the nomination, that won't matter because she'll be facing a Republican.

[jsamuel]

32. with that much money they don't need the govt to implement reform

[Beelzebud]

33. The Best Democracy Money Can Buy....

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

34. Palast! Great books.

I'm writing in Gore/Webb no matter who gets the primary.

[Hardrada]

38. All the money she makes will never buy back her soul.

To paraphrase a line of Bob Dylan's.

[Faux pas]

39. $500,000,000 could feed a lot of hungry Americans, maybe even

house and clothe a few. What a f-ing ridiculous WASTE.

[B Calm]

40. What IS INCONCEIVABLE is her saying we have to 2009 to get out of Iraq