Forget Fort Hamilton.
When Sen. Clinton recently won a seat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, she became the first New York senator ever to be appointed to the committee. Her press office went to great lengths to burnish her image as an expert on all things military, especially all things military in New York: "I will be better able to support New York's military bases and ensure that New York's defense industry continues to play a significant role," Sen. Clinton said in a statement. Her release went on to list West Point, Fort Drum, the Watervliet Arsenal and Hancock Air Field among the most important "key sites." However, left off the list was the only active military base in New York City: Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. According to true New Yorkers, this was no small oversight. The 177-year-old base guarding New York Harbor, named for Alexander Hamilton, has been home to many of the nation's best-known military officers, and the base played a major role after the September 11 attacks when it housed 500 National Guard personnel. In her defense, Hillary's office said the list of installations was "not inclusive." Maybe she knows all of Arkansas' or Illinois' military installations.
Hillary Endorses National ID.
As reported by Michelle Malkin (see Human Events last week, page 10), Hillary has caused much mischief with her legislation to prohibit the removal, deportation or detention of illegal aliens who happen to be related to victims of September 11. Subsequently, Sen. Clinton also raised eyebrows with her support for a national identification card for U.S. citizens if other measures to keep illegals out of the country failed. She told WABC's John Gambling that although she is "adamantly against illegal immigrants"-except those who had families affected by 9/11-"we might have to move towards an ID system even for citizens." She went on to remark that "we have to make some tough decisions as a country," and one of these tough decisions may include a national ID system.
Hillary and the Hammer.
On February 26, Hillary will team up with House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R.-Tex.) to co-host a screening of Antwone Fisher. The screening in the private theater at the Washington offices of the Motion Picture Association of America, is to benefit foster children, an issue on which the normally vociferous adversaries agree. "It is one of Capitol Hill's more unusual odd couples. We are still trying to figure out who is Felix and who is Oscar," DeLay aide Stuart Roy said. Hillary's spokesman said, "On this very important issue, and at the screening, they won't sit on opposite sides of the aisle."
Thank You, President Bush.
When President Bush proposed spending $ 1.2 billion over five years to develop the alternative energy technology in his State of the Union address, fiscal conservatives winced. But Hillary has taken President Bush's plan a step further. Well, about two-and-a-half times further. Along with liberal Sen. Byron Dorgan (D.-N.D.), she announced her plans for legislation that would provide $ 6.5 billion over 10 years to develop fuel cells. "Our bill helps the President's idea have legs," said Hillary. "This would be good for the environment and good for the economy, and specifically, it would be very good for the economy of upstate New York. We want it on a faster track. We want to see results sooner than under the President's plan." She also said that New York fuel cell efforts could "hugely" benefit through competitive research grants, tax credits and other kinds of funding if the bill becomes law. Sen. Clinton's bill has no Republican co-sponsors as of yet, but she believes it will be a bipartisan effort because of the President's focus on the issue.
New York! New York?
A few weeks ago, the GOP announced it was holding its 2004 national convention in New York City, a move widely perceived as simultaneously strengthening President Bush's standing in the state, while discouraging Hillary from running at all. And a few weeks ago, polls indicated it was the right move. However, a new Quinnipiac University poll finds that, right now, 54% of New York State voters intend to vote for the eventual Democratic presidential nominee. Democrats outnumber Republicans 5 to 3 in New York, which has helped the Democrats to capture the state in every presidential race since 1984. The same survey found that 50% would back Sen. Clinton in a presidential primary if she sought the nomination in 2004, which is more support than six other announced Democratic hopefuls received combined.
