Finance Difficulties.
Hillary is now competing against New York's senior senator, Chuck Schumer, to win a coveted spot on the prestigious Senate Finance Committee-a powerful panel with control over billions in aid for New York. Although there will be two Democratic retirements from the committee this year, rumor is that there is room for only one New York senator, especially with the news that former Goldman Sachs' president turned New Jersey Sen. Jon Corzine is also eyeing a seat at the table. N.Y. Senators Al D'Amato and the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan both served on the Finance Committee, which is really no surprise, since New York is an important part of American commerce. Associates of both Mrs. Clinton and Sen. Schumer said privately that both senators are jumping at the chance to move onto the Finance Committee, but they can't do any public lobbying for the positions. But neither New Yorker would rule it out. Said Hill: "I have nothing to say about that. Talk to me after the election next fall," when committee selections will be made.
Gun Bill.
During debate recently on a bill restricting liability against gun manufacturers for crimes committed with their products by criminals, gun control advocates introduced amendments to kill the bill. Hillary, of course, voted for every poison pill amendment, including reauthorizing the Brady "assault weapons" ban and closing the gun show "loophole." She then crowed to the press about how vitally important it was that these amendments become law. "The vote reauthorizing the assault weapons ban is a vote in support of a public safety initiative that works," she proclaimed in a press release. She went on to say, "Closing the gun show loophole is also a tremendous step forward." Despite claiming credit and declaring how vitally important it was for these amendments to pass, Hillary then did what the trial lawyers wanted and voted against final passage of the underlying bill, killing the gun control amendments in the process.
Women in Iraq.
In a speech at the liberal Brookings Institution, Hillary argued that Iraqi women were better off under the old regime, claiming that when Saddam Hussein ran the country, at least women were assured the right to participate in Iraq's public life. She said that since Saddam's removal from power, Iraq's postwar governing councils had engaged in "pullbacks in the rights [women] were given under Saddam Hussein." Apparently, women had it pretty good under Saddam's rule, rape rooms and murders aside. After all, said Hill, at least they were assured certain constitutional guarantees. "On paper, women had rights," she insisted. "They went to school, they participated in the professions, they participated in the government and business and, as long as they stayed out of [Saddam's] way, they had considerable freedom of movement." But the party for these Middle Eastern feminists ended when President Bush invaded Iraq, according to Hillary. "Now what we see happening in Iraq is the governing council attempting to shift large parts of civil law into religious jurisdiction," which means that women will face increasing obstacles if Iraq turns to Islamic law. Hillary also mentioned how, during her Thanksgiving trip to Iraq, these women had complained to her personally. "Women tell me they can't leave their homes, they can't go about their daily business. And there is a concerted effort to burn schools that are educating girls [and] to intimidate aid workers who are women." Hillary did not go so far as to call for the re-installation of the woman-loving Saddam to power.
Videocy.
Hillary recently joined with Rep. John McHugh (R.-N.Y.) in writing a letter to NBC's "The West Wing" Deputy White House Chief of Staff Joshua Lyman. The letter stated that "Like most Americans, we don't watch 'The West Wing,' but according to the Associated Press the episode Wednesday suggested that Fort Drum in northern New York might be shuttered. We want to make sure that such a recommendation doesn't make it into another 'West Wing' scene. It is important that all White House advisors have the most current information to respond to such flawed proposals." The pair then concluded the letter by saying that "We are willing to meet with you directly to address any other concerns that you may have."
