Earlier today Josh Marshall wrote a column called Thumbs Down.  In it Josh noted that he was skeptical of Hillary's claimed strength in rural areas  and red states but he seemed somewhat surprised that the politicians from those areas keep coming out for Obama.   Well, perhaps it is because many in those areas see Hillary as being  phony and willing to do or say anything to get herself elected.  Or perhaps they see Hillary as I do.  That is a politician on a power trip who seems to conveniently forget  the pie in the sky promises after they get in power.

In 1993 Hillary Clinton championed health care in America but red tape and lack of enthusiasm seemed to put an end to it.  While Hillary was a force in the SCHIP program, her general health care plan gathered dust until she ran for office in 1999.  Then after election her plan seemed to be tossed aside only to be dusted off again when she decided to run for president in 2007.

Hillary of course claimed to identify with people from rural small town America, such as myself, be she doesn't.  One ad tells us of how her family made and annual pilgrimage to her grandfather's cottage for summer vacation.  How many in small town rural America had a grandfather with a cottage along a lake?  How many in the late 1950's could even afford to take a summer vacation?  It seemed as though everybody was poor back then.  And did you see that cottage?  It looked more like a mansion to many of us who grew up in rural America.  That's strike one.

Hillary needlessly pushes the envelope on truth.  There was absolutely no need for her to lie about her trip to Bosnia.  And when she got caught she tried to pawn it off as a misstatement? No.  It was a lie and she was just trying to make herself look better.   That's strike two.

Finally, Hillary is campaigning against the wrong person.  I realize that this is a primary but Hillary's primary target should be McCain, not Obama.  I for one want to see a Democrat candidate who can successfully get elected without laying waste to the Democrat party.  So far Hillary has praised John McCain while trying to destroy Barack Obama.   Remember what I said about doing anything to get elected? 
Hillary's handling of this election is a lot like Bush's war in Iraq.    That  is attack without cause or provocation, while not knowing who the real enemy is.   Next is to destroy everything possible, regardless of the cost so she can declare Mission Accomplished.  To me that is strike three. 

Like other Democrats from rural America, I'm going all the way with Obama.  That is in my view our only hope to see the real change in direction that a staggering 71% of my fellow Americans still want to see. .