Democratic endorsement editorial: Why Clinton

[Yukari Yakumo]

Source: Des Moines Register

No fewer than three candidates would, by their very identity, usher the nation to the doorstep of history. Should the party offer the nation the chance to choose its first woman president? Or its first black president? Or its first Latino president?

Or should the party place its trust in two senators, Joe Biden or Chris Dodd, who have served their nation with distinction for more than 30 years each? Or should it heed John Edwards’ clarion call to restore opportunity for all Americans?

Beyond their personal appeal, the candidates have outlined ambitious policy proposals on health care, education and rural policy. Yet these proposals do little to help separate the field. Their plans are similar, reflecting a growing consensus in the party about how to approach priority issues.

The choice, then, comes down to preparedness: Who is best prepared to confront the enormous challenges the nation faces — from ending the Iraq war to shoring up America’s middle class to confronting global climate change?

The job requires a president who not only understands the changes needed to move the country forward but also possesses the discipline and skill to navigate the reality of the resistant Washington power structure to get things done.

That candidate is New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Read more: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/NEWS/71215018

[liberalnurse]

1. They sized things up well.

This will set the tone for the Primary Path.....................She is the ONE. :kick:

[IndianaGreen]

6. Hillary voted for Kyl-Lieberman. That's some fucken leader you got!

A leader to perdition and corruption, not to mention to endless pandering of the Israel Lobby and continued occupation of Iraq.

I hope you are happy at all the American and Iraqis that will die under Hillary's leadership.

:puke:

[flvegan]

2. Wasn't it revealed that the DNC and the DMR were holding hands in the debate?

That might be the start of your answer.

So long as the media picks our candidate, all will be good. For them.

[disndat]

3. How important

is an endorsement by the Des Moines Register? What is their record?

[IndianaGreen]

8. DMR put Alan Keys on the GOP debate and kicked Kucinich out of the Dem debate

Of all the ridiculous bullshit about the Iowa caucus, that one took the cake!

[WCGreen]

24. They endorsed Edwards in 2004 and he came in second I believe.

[mallard]

28. LBN ... ?

Don't think so. That ain't 'news'.

[MissDeeds]

4. "Why Clinton"

Why indeed.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MonkeyFunk]

21. stupid girls

if they had real MAN editors like God intended, I'm sure they would've chosen the correct candidate.

[Ken Burch]

23. There's enough reasons to criticize the endorsement without lowering yourself to sexism

"followed the herd instinct" Jeeeezzzzzzz!!!!!

HRC's gender has nothing to do with this.

[Guaranteed]

7. Well, that's too bad.

They're pretty well wrong. She has shown nothing in many, many years in (or outside of, rather) the public spotlight that would give the impression she is ready for anything near the Presidency.

[Evergreen Emerald]

9. Awesome endorsement!

great news for Clinton

[kstewart33]

10. A good choice.

Not charismatic, not charming, and programmed to the hilt. But experienced and tough as lead nails.

[NewHampster]

11. Indeed

http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071215/NEWS/71215018

Indeed, Obama, her chief rival, inspired our imaginations. But it was Clinton who inspired our confidence. Each time we met, she impressed us with her knowledge and her competence.

[zalinda]

12. After reading all the comments and looking

at their track record, I'm glad they didn't endorse Edwards. Whew! That was a close one.

zalinda

[zalinda]

13. Oh, and congratulations to Clinton n/t

[RaleighNCDUer]

14. This is an endorsement?

"Unfortunately, for many Americans, perceptions of Clinton, now 60, remain stuck in a 1990s time warp. She’s regarded as the one who fumbled health-care reform as a key policy adviser to her husband, President Bill Clinton, or as a driving force in the bitter standoff between the “Clinton machine” and the “vast right-wing conspiracy.”
Her record in the Senate belies those images. Today, she’s widely praised for working across the aisle with Sam Brownback, Lindsey Graham and other Republicans."

I LIKED her when she was fighting the vast right-wing conspiracy.

She hasn't done that in a long, long time.

[DemKR]

15. SurprisE!!!!!

[balantz]

16. It don't mean didley, Edwards will win.

He's been working hard there, people will weigh that, and they are ready for a new direction, away from corporate corruption.

[kurth]

17. The only negative against Edwards: He's "anti-corporate"?

"His harsh anti-corporate rhetoric would make it difficult to work with the business community to forge change."

WTF. America's biggest problem is its corporate overlords.

[IndianaGreen]

19. Edwards doesn't want the Big Pharma and the insurance industry on the health reform table

like Hillary does. Hillary is their "girl."

[lisainmilo]

27. You are right!

Most people don't seem to get it yet. Corporations have sold us out and they still are. I seems it is business as usual. I only hope Iowans will see through the bull.

[EV_Ares]

29. and Hillary is the best one to end the war!

[IndianaGreen]

31. Hillary will turn a Republican war into a Democratic one, and she will become a war criminal

You and others like you will find yourselves in the difficult situation of defending a sitting Democratic President and her wars, against the antiwar Left. You will taste what those that defended Lyndon Johnson's war in Vietnam tasted, the utter hatred and contempt of the people.

[loveangelc]

18. I thought it would be Edwards or Biden.

Surprising. It's too bad for Edwards though because I like him. I like Obama too but he at least got the Boston Globe.

[ElboRuum]

20. There is one thing I've always understood about politics...

The one (and that person's supporters) who can keep their cool when the heat is turned up usually ends up prevailing.

In this respect, Hillary is a fait accomplit. I wish that it were different.

[comradebillyboy]

26. a very interesting perspective

I hope you are right and I think a pretty good reason to have confidence in Hill when the heat is on.

[Rowdyboy]

22. Congratulations to Senator Clinton and her supporters.... See you on January 3rd

[CANDO]

25. Iowans and Granite Staters, for God's sake please don't foist Hillary Clinton upon us.

I beg of you. Let us break this mad cycle of the Houses of Bush and Clinton running this nation into the ground. Yes, the DLC backed House of Clinton has done perhaps enormous economic damage in following conservative economic trade policies. Please give us Obama or Edwards or Kucinich. PLEASE!

[adnelson60087]

30. This is a mistake.

The paper chose Hillary on a campaign slogan of "preparedness". How can she move the country forward when about 1/2 the US population hates her at a personal level? Like Mrs. Edwards said earlier, it may not be justified, but it's true. Will the Congressional Dems follow her lead? Will they stick their necks out (cowardly bastards that they are) when she tries to do something really difficult? Not a chance, because they don't really trust her integrity. Worse, can she help other Dems get into Congress? What kind of coat-tails will she have? Finally, what state will Hillary win that Kerry didn't? She (or Obama) cannot compete in the entire SOUTH. We leave the 50-state initiative put forward by Howard Dean that brought so much success in 2006. Hillary loses a close one and a Republican wins the White House again. All America loses. The whole freakin' planet loses.

I really hope I'm wrong...but I fear I'm not. John Edwards is NOT anti-corporation. He IS for putting corporate wants behinds American Citizens' needs. He can help move the country forward and has the maturity and tough-mindedness for the hard decisions that will need to be made that will help restore HOPE to all levels of Americans.