Hillary Will Make Her Run

SENATOR Hillary Clinton finds herself in the eye of another political storm with the defeat of John Kerry by President Bush.

Despite media speculation there is no question at all, according to sources close to the former first lady, that she will be in the starting gate come 2008 and the beginning of the presidential primaries.

“Does she want it? Does a bear s*** in the woods?” is how one close Clinton advisor rather pungently put it. 

Despite stories saying that Clinton would merely meet the same fate as John Kerry because of her unpopularity in red state America, the prospective candidate herself does not see it that way.

After all, who could have predicted in 2000 what the 2004 race was going to be about? September 11 was nowhere on the horizon, and the threat of international terror and a war in Iraq seemed very distant possibilities.

In four years the Supreme Court could have overturned Roe vs. Wade which would make abortion illegal, criminalizing women who seek the procedure and doctors who perform them in the process. Such an occurrence would certainly send millions of women flocking into the Clinton camp, making it a powerful rallying point for them.

Who knows where we will be in four years? Don’t rule out a wave of Clinton nostalgia if the economy has tanked and Iraq has gone badly wrong.

Bill’s Library All Set

SPEAKING of the Clintons, hundreds of their Irish supporters will be heading to Little Rock, Arkansas later this month for the opening of the Clinton Presidential Library.

There is a significant Irish aspect to the library, according to those who have seen it. It recalls President Clinton’s work on behalf of the Irish peace process and features video interviews with some of the key players.

And the man opening the library? Why none other than President George W. Bush who, sticking with tradition, will do the honors for his predecessor. 

Wouldn’t it be ironic if in time Hillary were to do the same for Bush somewhere in Texas around 2012?

Wild Geese Spotted in Ohio

“THE Wild Geese Fly Again” is the interesting title of a press release “Intelligencer” received from the Irish American Republicans who turned in double duty for President George W. Bush in Ohio over the past few weeks.

An estimated 80 members of the organization flocked to Ohio when the call went out from the Bush campaign for volunteers to help out at the polls.

Grant Lally, national chairman of Irish for Bush, communications director Jeff Cleary and Nebraska state chairman Justin Driscoll led the fight to “insure voter integrity” in the words of the press release.

“While fraud was everywhere these seasoned professionals helped train others and insured that every legal vote was counted,” said David Moore, Ohio state chair of Irish American Republicans.

Of course the irrepressible Cleary had the last word. “I am so proud to serve with this team. I am also very proud of President Bush. He inspired us to work so hard for this victory. It’s morning in America.” 

Now where have we heard that last expression before?

Consolation Prize for McCourt

THERE were some disappointed faces at the American Irish Historical Society bash last Thursday night at the Waldorf Astoria.

No, it was not the quality of the event itself, which was excellent as usual. Rather it was the presence of many key operatives from the Boston area who were hoping to be celebrating a fellow Bostonian in the White House.

Congressman Ed Markey must have been especially disappointed. Markey was an odds on favorite to take over John Kerry’s seat if he vacated it for the White House. Markey had already begun an advertising campaign with that in mind, but for the moment at least his ambitions have been thwarted.

Then there was guest of honor and medalist David McCourt who gave a stirring acceptance speech. McCourt would have been on the shortlist for the position of ambassador to Ireland in a Kerry administration, but that is obviously not going to happen now. 

Still, the medal from the American Irish Historical Society, which in previous years has gone to Bono, President Reagan and former Coca-Cola President Don Keough among others, was a nice consolation prize.

Bush’s Immigrant Bill Likely

ONE way that President Bush could quickly endear himself to Irish emigrants is to follow up on his plans to create temporary worker visas for those who have lived and worked here for at least three years.

There are encouraging signs from the administration that they intend to follow up on this initiative which was essentially buried during the Bush first term. 

While it will mainly benefit Mexican and Hispanic immigrants it would also have a major impact on Irish living here undocumented. We will be watching the progress