When Senator Clinton's Bosnia fairy tale was finally exposed recently, I blogged that the story was the end of her campaign as she can not recover from so grossly embellishing the Bosnia visit and then covering it up.

Like most Political disasters, there is the initial bad act and then the cover up, In this case , Senator Clinton had been repeating her sniper story for months as a center piece of her 3am foreign policy credentials. Senator Clinton first used the story in Iowa during the runup to the Iowa caucuses and her story was completely debunked in a Clevaland Plain Dealer Article dated January 10th, 2008.

Incredibly, the Clinton machine sought to discredit all contrary stories hoping the tale would not be uncovered. But her prepared ST PATRICKS DAY SPEECH vividly detailed and repeated the mythical sniper myth story once again.

This time, post 3am commercial , Sinbads eye witness stratements ( wich the Clinton campaign vocally discredited based on the fact he is "just a comedian") and appraoching 4,000 American soldirs dead in Iraq the obvious falsehood of the story (long defended by Senator Clinton and her staff) was exposed by CBS NEWS and carried on the Drudge Report and You Tube where it became a sensation. 

As detailed in an  excellent OP ED piece by Frank Rich in today's New York Times ( March 30th 2008) titled " Hillary's St. Patrick Day Massacre", the Bosnia sniper story was in no way a simple case of foggy memory, rather it was repeated and aggressively defended by Senator Clinton  and her campaign until the long known evidence was finally picked up by the timid main steam media . 

Even then the Campaign defended the statements but finally relented when Senator Clinton said she had faulty recollection and was tired.. This was yet another falsehood and part of a coverup. Senator Clinton may have been able to use that excuse with some veracity if she had never repeated and defended the story. But it was repeated in her stump speach and often defended--- including the Clinton signature mark tactic of discrediting those who disagree ( Sinbad and others)  and get supporters to give supporting tibits of facts which lend sufficient credibility to the Senator's story that it can be written off as a he siad she said---- al la NAFTA where it is clear from multiple credible eyewitnesses at White House gatherings that Senator Clinton supported Nafta. The Clinton campaign has still not fessed up on NAFTA and the mainstream media has not pressed the story.

The Bosnia sniper story can only be described as a really big lie and a really bad coverup. Even Senator Clinton's most ardent supporters must admit when faced with undeniable facts that the explanation that it was a simple case of not recalling corerectly and being tired was another  inexcusable lie as the story was repeated by her many times  and defended by her campaign even after put into question by some in the media and others.

This debacle is particularly harmful and one from which Senator Clinton cannnot recover as soldiers were dying and being mamed as Senator Clinton made up and defended false stories of dodgin bullets in Bosnia. Senator Kerry, a decorated vert was torn apart for allegedly embellishing his war experiences and injuries, ( I dont think that is what gave that story legs, it was Kerrys timid response and his personal visits to Paris as welll as his unclear position on the Iraq war which did him more harm)

The general public will never accept Senator Clinton as Commander in Chief based on this sad tale and coverup. Senator Clinton cannot blame this on anyone else-- it is a self inflicted death blow--- fortunately ( and I mean that ) it is only a political death .

 Her negatives started high and are now Bush like. She has and will always ( in this campaign at least) maintain a base of support based on her ability to raise money, her support among many female voters and of course her husband. This does not change the reality of her prospects.

Make no mistake about it, her staying in the race now is  hurting Democrats chances in November . Obama can't and shouldn't say so as she clearly ahs the right and ability to stay in, but as Senator Leahy aptly stated, no good reason.