The Hilla Monster

Barack Obama's foreign policy advisor, Samantha Power, called Hillary Clinton a "monster" in comments she thought would be off the record during interview with The Scotsman.  Although not welcome by the Obama campaign, Ms. Power was expressing what many feel in light of Clinton's vicious, venomous attacks in recent weeks.  

"Vicious"? "Venomous"? Sounds more like an animal than a fellow Democrat.  Continue below to learn what kind of animal fits the Bill ...

Yep, you guessed it from the title - the Gila Monster.

The Gila Monster (pronounced /ˈhiːlə/, HEE-la), Heloderma suspectum, is a species of venomous lizard native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.

Hillary does seem to favor beaded necklaces, so it's posssible another related species might be more analogous -

It [the Gila Monster] is one of only two species of venomous lizard, the other being its close relative the Mexican beaded lizard.

- but the name is more fitting and the personalities also seem similar:

The Gila monster's bite is normally not fatal to humans (there are no confirmed reports of fatalities), but it can bite quickly and holds on tenaciously.

With respect to habitat, the Hilla and Gila Monsters both avoid open spaces and agricultural regions as might be found in the West and Mid-West.  Both are social animals, and, regarding diet, the Hilla and Gila Monsters both feed on the young.

Fortunately for their prey, both monsters are endangered or threatened depending on the jurisdiction where they live.  And both have ties to the pharmaceutical industry:

In 2005 the US Food and Drug Administration approved a drug for the management of type 2 diabetes, Byetta (exenatide), a synthetic version of a protein derived from the Gila monster's saliva.[10] The drug based on a synthetic form of a hormone called exendin-4 that occurs naturally in Gila monster saliva ...

It would pay to keep away from the Hilla Monster when she's spitting angry.  Also, this pharmaceutical connection might explain why so many are sick to their stomachs with the Hilla Monster:

Exenatide also slows the emptying of the stomach and causes a decrease in appetite ...

It is worth noting that just the other day the FDA has held up approval of a long acting form of Exenatide.  With luck the same will be true for the Hilla Monster.

•  I strongly support Obama. This diary is crap.

  by Finck II on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:32:44 AM PDT

•  Monster: something big and scary

  Big and scary; the connections Clinton has with megacorporations that control the media.

  Big and scary: the telecommunications lobbyist firm that is running two campaigns; McCain's and Hillary's.

  That a democratic candidate is acting like George Bush; same tactics; same swagger; same secretiveness, same unblinking willingness to throw democracy under the bus.

  Big and Scary; her vote, without reservation, for the war, which has been huge profit for megacorporations and rape of the American economy.  The death and injury count is still rolling for all parties.

  Big and Scary: her response to releasing her personal gains statements to the American Public

  by Septima on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:33:47 AM PDT

•  delete this

  I am an Obama supporter and you are giving us a bad name.  Delete this.

  by maineiac on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:48:34 AM PDT

•  I think its funny lol n/t

  by michlawa2 on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 06:55:52 AM PDT

  •  There was a time I'd have thought this funny too

    But then I graduated from junior high and never looked back.

    by Finck II on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:01:02 AM PDT

•  Oh come on

  It wasn't vicious.

  I like the line about "ties to the pharmaceutical industry."

  Samantha Power's a moron. "This is off the record, OK? Well I heard Hillary killed a man in Reno just to watch him die."

  by samlang on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:06:44 AM PDT

  •  Meant for Finck II n/t

    by samlang on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:07:06 AM PDT

  •  "Viscious?" Maybe not. Dumb? Definitely.

    As for the pharmaceutical industry reference, if you have to scrawl all the way to the bottom of a diary before encountering anything of substance, this is a strong indication of a need for editing.

    by Finck II on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:17:44 AM PDT

    •  Don't misquote me - I spelled "vicious" correctly

      As for the rest, look, I'm not going to say this diary was a step forward for humanity.

      But it was meant to be comedic, not nasty.

      by samlang on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:48:07 AM PDT

•  Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES should

  Obama come out to his next big speech with this song blaring out:

  http://www.youtube.com/...

  snark off!

  by Last Best Chance on Fri Mar 07, 2008 at 07:06:50 AM PDT