A VC - Latest Comments in Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

fredwilson — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:59:03 -0000

This is not about the NY Times Steve. I could care less about the NY Times.

This is about who will end up in the white house.

Biden, Dodd, Richardson are not going to get elected. Not a chance. So forget about them

Same with McCain. He blew it by getting too close to GWB.

It's down to 5, maybe 6 candidates

Clinton, Obama, Guiliani, Romney and maybe Huckabee and Edwards

That's what our political system/primary system/money system has done to our presidential election process. So that's the universe I am considering. And within that universe, I feel better with Hillary in the White House than anyone else on that list.

Fred

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

techinvestor — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 20:15:47 -0000

A Key Endorsement For Obama -- and, No, It's Not Oprah

http://news.yahoo.com/s/the...

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Steve Kane — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 14:57:00 -0000

Fred, be real. Joe Biden hasn't "been around the critical issues, personalities and institutions"? And doesn't have "scar tissue"? Chris Dodd? Bill Richardson? Arguably Senator Clinton has the least experience -- less than two terms in the Senate and eight years as a spouse in the White House and a few years as a spouse of the governor of Arkansas.

On the Republican side, John McCain hasn't "been around the critical issues, personalities and institutions"?!?

The NYTimes is every bit as flagrantly biased as Fox News -- they just are more crafty and polished. I mean, heck, how many column inches did they devote -- starting on the front page fercrysaykes -- to drumming up sympathy for Senator Clinton, even "invoking a mantra attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt"! Puhlease.

Equal time!

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

redstapler — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 07:03:08 -0000

I'm sorry, but I am an ABC voter (Anybody But Clinton). I live in the Chicago area. Hillary didn't run in Illinois for Senator, where she is originally from. She went to New York instead. During one of the debates when the baseball playoffs commenced, Hillary was asked who she would support if the Cubs happened to play the Yankees in the World Series. Hillary wouldn't commit to either team.

If she can't make a decision on supporting a baseball team, how is she going to make a decision in the White House?

If I had to choose a Democrat, I would go for either Obama, or Biden. Obama doesn't have the baggage like Clinton (Unless you go all the way back to the 3rd grade). The mere fact the Clinton went all the way to his 3rd grade, makes me even more leery of her. What is exactly so bad about Obama wanting to be President in the 3rd grade? Is he not allowed to have goals and aspirations?

There is nothing wrong with having a woman or minority for President, but I don't trust Hillary, and she is not strong enough to make a decision like

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

fredwilson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 12:07:02 -0000

I think that's wrong Steve

My sense of her is someone's who has been around the critical issues, personalities, and institutions for a long time

Unfortunately the other democrats with a chance can't say that credibly

fred

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Steve Kane — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 11:55:40 -0000

With due respect to Senator Clinton, this is classic NYTimes: endorsement, disguised as reporting.

I mean, who in the world goes into *politics* if they don't have massively thick skins?!?

And who lasts more than 10 minutes in politics without acquiring "scar tissue" all over their bodies? (and all over the bodies of everyone close to them?)

Senator Clinton is exactly no different than every other candidate for president, past present and future.

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

johntunger — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:46:17 -0000

Scott Meyer just posted a great cartoon on "How to show off a scar" on his Basic Instructions Blog:
http://www.basicinstruction...

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

fredwilson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:12:16 -0000

i will vote, you can count on that.

most likely for hillary, but i am not sure yet.

and the NY primary may not matter anyway

fred

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

fredwilson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:11:09 -0000

al has a lot going for him

he's the ariel sharon of US politics, in girth as well as many other ways

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

fredwilson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:08:59 -0000

my son josh likes kucinich too

he's working on me, but hasn't gotten me there yet

fred

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

fredwilson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:07:55 -0000

i should have said "and many others" thanks for this comment. i appreciate it

fred

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

fredwilson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:06:30 -0000

thanks for that explanation. i totally agree, particularly about GWB. scar tissue that i wish we saw!!

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Hockeydino — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 07:00:09 -0000

Scar tissue? What has she really done? She is a senator for a state she has never lived in. She was the first lady who never was in charge of policy (ok maybe you got me on this one). She has never run a business. You want her because she is a woman? Are you freaking kidding me? That's like Oprah supporting the Tool because he is black. Or Huckabee supporters wanting him because he is a Christian. Embarrassing! Objectivity is thrown out the door, and for what? A popularity contest.

How about voting for someone who stands for defending the constitution? How about voting for someone who will bring our troops home around the world and protect our freedom here? How about someone with a proven track record for never raising taxes? How about supporting someone who is not on the take by special interest groups? How about voting on principle rather than emotions that is fueled by media human drama stories?

It's not time for a woman to be president. It's not time for a miniority to be president. It's time for a person of honor and trust to be president. And it that person is a woman and a minority, then great! However the woman and minority with socialist tendencies on the take who are running are NOT those people.

I love you man, but please don't vote!

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Ada — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 03:49:13 -0000

nice post.

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

vruz — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 01:03:20 -0000

So that means Al Gore would make a better president than Hillary Clinton ?
Who's gotten the most political scars ?

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

jackson — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 00:49:58 -0000

The thing is the takeaway learnings. Instead of learning how to be effective in putting forth policy, I feel that she's instead learned how to avoid criticism and wave making.

I think we need some waves, and I see nary a surfer running for office.

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Gabe — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:42:33 -0000

Like the current president, Hillary Clinton wouldn't be where she is today - a senator and viable contender for the presidency - if it wasn't for her status as a close relative of a former president.

Scar tissue?
Perhaps.
But the prime thing that jumps out of her resume is her connections and not her achievements, which however noteworthy, are not what brought her to the seat she currently occupies or to the brink of the one she aspires to.

Similarly, the scar tissue she has accumulated is largely a by-product of her connections and not because of the struggle that was a concomitant of any noble cause she has championed or goal she has pursued over the years.

And not that I support either, but it's a bit strange to be talking up the virtue of scar tissue when a current (McCain) and recent (Dole) presidential candidate have non-metaphorical injuries that befell them while serving goals that our nation deemed critical to the national interest.

It's important to distinguish between the scar tissue of let's say, an MLK - acquired in the pursuit of noble goals - and the scar tissue of Senator Clinton - acquired during the course of Beltway infighting and as a result of petty infidelities, which only occurred and only mattered because of her marriage to someone else.

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

S.t — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:36:27 -0000

'...vote for Hillary even though I don't consider myself a fan of hers. Part of my reluctan(ce to) support for her ...' is that she's a poor excuse for a politician, and an even worse choice as a presidential candidate...having never run a state or city or local government or even a business before in her life...

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Stephen L. McKay — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:16:23 -0000

Fred,
GOOD Lord, are you soooo back on track ! I love it!
I also agree with you, completely.

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Guest — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 19:56:52 -0000

Well, G.W.Bush has seen his fair share of failure, do you see any scarring? Me neither. He seems like a callous, unimpressable individual, who does not care about the mess he created and the damage to his legacy, his country and the whole world.
Same with VCs. Some of them, like yourself, invest their own emotions along with their LPs money. If they fail, it hurts, but as you argued, makes them stronger.
Others only care about the 2% income stream from management fees. Those are the ones who are bound to do dumb things over and over...

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Tom W. — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 19:47:12 -0000

Fred, I'm more of a fan of hers but I agree with your take on scar tissue - great post. I did the blogger's POV piece on Clinton a month ago - and she continues to take hits, plenty because she's a woman.

http://tomwatson.typepad.co...

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Alex Gorbatchev — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 18:20:52 -0000

I'd much rather see a person with brains in the White house, regardless of the sex... I think only two candidates qualify here - Paul and Kucinich.

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Kathy — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:14:56 -0000

Hi Fred,
Stumbled onto your site and really appreciate your post re: Ms. Clinton... I was just looking at her picture on a recent Time magazine cover, and thought to myself it is time we elect a woman president. She's a brilliant woman and has plenty of experience in the world of politics. I really appreciated your comments and insight, and especially the fact that it came from someone of the male species! Thank you!

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

Nate Westheimer — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:13:38 -0000

I feel you on this one Fred. But what a luxury we on this side of the aisle! That this is how we have to pick from a list of winners is a blessing. One of the reasons I've only donated to Edwards so far is because he's also a guys who has failed and learned from his failures in really public-serving ways (the other reason is because he's an underdog-front-runner). What I mean by that is that Edwards' fall was caused by over-politicking. He came back and left politicking (as much as he could) on the curb. I guess this is my one hesitancy with HC. Sometimes she seems not to have *really* learned things. You can believe she's been though tough sh*t -- easily. But that she's learned much from it is not easy to see.

But again, what a luxury we have that these are the ways we're separating the great candidates from the also-great.

Re: Scar Tissue That I Wish You Saw

fredwilson — Sun, 09 Dec 2007 16:00:01 -0000

Great comment jerry from someone who witnessed the wounds

Fred