What accomplishments of Hillary Clinton make her "most qualified" to be president?

[election_2004]

Regardless of whether you support her or despise her, PLEASE READ THIS POST IN ITS ENTIRETY BEFORE you respond with any sarcastic or condescending replies

This is an inquiry asking her supporters to explain to us what Senator Hillary Clinton has actually done, COLLECTIVELY and COHESIVELY, in terms of leadership and legislative accomplishments that makes her the superior and more qualified presidential candidate compared to (as a group) Biden, Clark, Edwards, Gore, Kerry, Kucinich, Obama, Richardson, and Vilsack?

I'm talking about what actual RESULTS she's gotten during her political career over the last six years.

Basically:
- What bills or legislation has she shepherded that none of her presidential competitors have spearheaded to the same extent or magnitude that she has?
- What bold stances has she taken that no one else has?
- What major issues has she brought to the national dialogue that the other potentials have ignored or barely touched upon?
- What key votes has she made that differ from how her competitors for the nomination weren't willing to vote or publicly express their support?

Hillary 2008 supporters, this is your chance to illustrate examples of substance and detailed leadership on your candidate's behalf to an admittedly skeptical and large portion of the activist crowd. Let's see who can do that without droning on about distracting bells n' whistles or red herrings (see below).

In that spirit, when pointing out her legislative strengths and examples of leadership, I don't want to hear anything about:

- who she's married to (having the most beloved and successful president of the 20th century by her side while in office - - despite the fact that 1992-2000 was a much different time with way different political circumstances going on in the world; everything changed after 2001)

- her huge campaign warchest (raising tons of money does not automatically make you the best potential Leader of the Semi-Free World)

- withstanding right-wing attacks ("they've thrown everything but the kitchen sink at her and none of it has stuck")

- bringing out the women's vote (suburban soccer moms who would give her their vote just because she's a woman, in order to elect the first female president)

- having Carville and Begala on her team (those ever-classy attack dogs)

- the possibility of pulling out an Electoral College win with needing only "all of the Kerry states, plus Ohio, Florida, and the Southwest" (which ANY of the Democratic candidates for the nomination could potentially do in a General Election)

- interest group ratings (percentages of votes during a legislative session don't necessarily tell you the full story of what a candidate will be like or how they'll govern if elected to office)

- poll numbers (which are mostly based on name recognition, and who the MSM not-so-subtly wants to see as General Election nominees)

*********

I would like to respectfully ask those of you who are skeptical of Senator Clinton's ability to govern effectively (as I similarly am), or those of you who don't believe she would win, to refrain from posting your criticism of Hillary Clinton's electoral drawbacks on this particular thread. There is plenty of opportunity to do that on other DU threads that are specifically intended to address the matter of Senator Clinton's weaknesses. Please don't turn this into a flame war with name-calling or personal attacks.

I would also appreciate it if you refrain from promoting your own favored candidates here on this particular thread - - as I said, there are more appropriate opportunities to do that on other DU threads.

In that spirit, I personally will refrain from responding to any of the Hillary supporters' examples (of her leadership) that they choose to provide, since I don't want to waste too much time with a fruitless debate. I will, however, respond to unwarranted personal attacks (as I realize there will inevitably be several of them from certain people on this forum).

On that note, I would like to respectfully request that the moderators not to close this thread as "flame bait," but to simply delete the posts of any individuals who choose to engage in vitriol or personal attacks on this thread.

I'd also like to encourage everyone to bookmark this page, so you can refer back to it as we get closer to the primaries. Thank you.

[DURHAM D]

1. Good God - I am already exhausted from the primary battle

and it really just began today.

[crispini]

2. Good post. K&R.

[Blue_In_AK]

3. This is a good idea.

Waiting....

[crispini]

4. Here is a link...

to the Thomas index of all bills sponsored by HRC in the 109th congress. Just for the reference purposes of those who are bookmarking this thread.

link

Edited to add: These are just the bills that PASSED and were signed into a law, FYI.
Edited to add again: Well, maybe they're not, now that I'm looking at them, but I could have sworn that I selected that option in the search.

[election_2004]

5. Thanks for the reference, crispini! :-)

Now it's up to Sen.HRC's supporters to point out which of these bills make her tower above and beyond the positions of her Dem opponents for the nomination. And how her leadership on those issues surpass the positions of the other Dems.

[crispini]

7. Yes, I'm trying to play along at home here,

.... I'm enjoying looking around in Thomas, at the moment, myself.

[crispini]

9. Welp. I didn't find much from the 109th.

But, I was looking for stuff that actually PASSED, and actually, considering that the congress has been Republican controlled for awhile now, is that fair? I don't know.

I like this bill: S.1283, which passed eventually as HR3248
link
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a program to assist family caregivers in accessing affordable and high-quality respite care, and for other purposes.


Edited to add: I do agree that "look it up yourself" is not a fair answer. I'm sort of enjoying this exercise.

[mtnsnake]

6. In addition to what crispini said...Hillary was one hell of a fine First Lady!

How many of our other candidates can say that? :shrug:

Plus, in a nutshell, as NYS Senator, she delivered on her campaign promises. She worked extremely had on behalf of children, education, and for the common people of NY. She didn't just talk the talk, she walked the walk. There was no double speak coming from her mouth.

If you need a further list of her accomplishments, see crispini's post just upstream or do a google or go to her website, just like anyone would do for any other candidate you asked that question of.

[election_2004]

8. Supporters can and should do so, when asked

I'm sure, that in the coming months, people will be posting a variety of "What has Obama done?"..."What has Edwards done?"..."What has Clark done?"...etc. threads. And people will have the chance to talk up those candidates accordingly, for skeptics, when those threads are created.

If someone supports a presidential candidate, they should embrace the opportunity to outline specific legislation or proposals that their favored candidate has championed, rather than referring people to a search engine or campaign website -- because let's face it: that's a real cop-out...when people on the street ask a person, "Why should I support your presidential candidate?" - - it's disingenuous to tell that potential supporter: "Go look it up for yourself, on the Internet."

"Look it up yourself" is not an acceptable response.

[mtnsnake]

20. You want it? Here it is. Hillary will tell you herself about her accomplishments. Here...

She even provides a link where you can sign up to join in the conversation with her, so instead of calling me disingenuous, maybe you could follow the link she provides if the letter I've pasted below by her doesn't answer all your questions concerning her accomplishments.

Dear "election_2004",

I'm in. And I'm in to win.

Today I am announcing that I will form an exploratory committee to run for president.

And I want you to join me not just for the campaign but for a conversation about the future of our country -- about the bold but practical changes we need to overcome six years of Bush administration failures.

I am going to take this conversation directly to the people of America, and I'm starting by inviting all of you to join me in a series of web chats over the next few days.

The stakes will be high when America chooses a new president in 2008.

As a senator, I will spend two years doing everything in my power to limit the damage George W. Bush can do. But only a new president will be able to undo Bush's mistakes and restore our hope and optimism.

Only a new president can renew the promise of America -- the idea that if you work hard you can count on the health care, education, and retirement security that you need to raise your family. These are the basic values of America that are under attack from this administration every day.

And only a new president can regain America's position as a respected leader in the world.

I believe that change is coming November 4, 2008. And I am forming my exploratory committee because I believe that together we can bring the leadership that this country needs. I'm going to start this campaign with a national conversation about how we can work to get our country back on track.

This is a big election with some very big questions. How do we bring the war in Iraq to the right end? How can we make sure every American has access to adequate health care? How will we ensure our children inherit a clean environment and energy independence? How can we reduce the deficits that threaten Social Security and Medicare?

No matter where you live, no matter what your political views, I want you to be a part of this important conversation right at the start. So to begin, I'm going to spend the next several days answering your questions in a series of live video web discussions. Starting Monday, January 22, at 7 p.m. EST for three nights in a row, I'll sit down to answer your questions about how we can work together for a better future. And you can participate live at my website.

Sign up to join the conversation here: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/conversation

I grew up in a middle-class family in the middle of America, where I learned that we could overcome every obstacle we face if we work together and stay true to our values.

I have worked on issues critical to our country almost all my life. I've fought for children for more than 30 years. In Arkansas, I pushed for education reform. As first lady, I helped to expand health care coverage to millions of children and to pass legislation that dramatically increased adoptions. I also traveled to China to affirm that women's rights are human rights.

And in the Senate, I have worked across party lines to get billions more for children's health care, to stop the president's plan to privatize Social Security, and to make sure the victims and heroes of 9/11 and our men and women in uniform receive the fair treatment they deserve. In 2006, I led the successful fight to make Plan B contraception available to women without a prescription.

I have spent a lifetime opening opportunities for tens of millions who are working hard to raise a family: new immigrants, families living in poverty, people who have no health care or face an uncertain retirement.

The promise of America is that all of us will have access to opportunity, and I want to run a 2008 campaign that renews that promise, a campaign built on a lifetime record of results.

I have never been afraid to stand up for what I believe in or to face down the Republican machine. After nearly $70 million spent against my campaigns in New York and two landslide wins, I can say I know how Washington Republicans think, how they operate, and how to beat them.

I need you to be a part of this campaign, and I hope you'll start by joining me in this national conversation. Visit my new website at HillaryClinton.com to learn how you can join in:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/

As we campaign to win the White House, we will make history and remake our future. We can only break barriers if we dare to confront them, and if we have the determined and committed support of others.

This campaign is our moment, our chance to stand up for the principles and values that we cherish; to bring new ideas, energy, and leadership to a uniquely challenging time. It's our chance to say "we can" and "we will."

Let's go to work. America's future is calling us.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

[Nite Owl]

28. I don't see how this answers the OP

questions (or mine either)

I would like to be able to at the least be able to campaign for Senator Clinton. What do we say to people who ask 'what has she done?'
Has she made any original proposals about health care for example? She is my Senator and I don't know, I have never seen her take the lead on any issue. She votes the right way (except for the IWR and she wasn't alone on that), but how does she lead?

Feingold was my candidate but he is not running so I don't have a horse in this race yet (though I am leaning Edwards or Obama). If she were to win the primary, as an activist, what would I tell people?

[mtnsnake]

31. Oh geez, then try post #25 where I put the juicy parts in bold.

You asked what you can say to people when they ask you 'what has she done?' Well if this doesn't give you an answer for them, then I don't know what to tell you.

[Nite Owl]

37. Ok she did lead the fight

for Plan B. Other than that, nothing there really shows things that she led on. As First Lady she did lead on healthcare and that turned into a mess. Senator Kennedy has proposed expanding the Medicare program for all. Is she on board with that? I don't have a clue what she would propose and she is my Senator.

What is uniquely her idea?

[rman]

48. Doesn't affect every day life of the average American

Nor do computer games or flag burning.

But the war does; almost everybody wants out if Iraq.
Bush does; almost everybody wants him impeached.
9/11 does; a majority wants a new investigation.

[William769]

10. It seems to me you want you cake & eat it too.

Good luck with that.

[election_2004]

19. Not sure I understand the point of your reply < nt >

[crispini]

11. Okay, I have given up on Thomas.

Here are some thoughts from her campaign website:

"After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Hillary worked with her colleagues to secure the funds New York needed to recover and rebuild."

"She is the first New Yorker ever to serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, working to see that America's military has the necessary resources to protect our national security."

"Hillary passed legislation to track the health status of our troops so that conditions like Gulf War Syndrome would no longer be misdiagnosed. She is an original sponsor of legislation that expanded health benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserves and has been a strong critic of the Administration's handling of Iraq."

"She has introduced legislation to tie Congressional salary increases to an increase in the minimum wage,"

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/about/senator/

[crispini]

13. More...

She has supported a variety of middle-class tax cuts, including marriage penalty relief, property tax relief, and reduction in the Alternative Minimum Tax, and supports fiscally responsible pay-as-you-go budget rules. She helped pass legislation that encouraged investment to create jobs in struggling communities through the Renewal Communities program. She has championed legislation to bring broadband Internet access, which is so important in today's information economy, to rural America.

In the Senate, Hillary has not wavered in her work to expand quality affordable health care to more Americans. She worked to strengthen the Children's Health Insurance Program, which increased coverage for children in low income and working families. She authored legislation that has been enacted to improve quality and lower the cost of prescription drugs and to protect our food supply from bioterrorism. She sponsored legislation to increase America's commitment to fighting the global HIV/AIDS crisis, and is now leading the fight for expanded use of information technology in the health care system to decrease administrative costs, lower premiums, and reduce medical errors.

There's more at the link ... I am curious about one thing:

"She has championed legislation to bring broadband Internet access, which is so important in today's information economy, to rural America."

Anyone know what that is? I mean, what bill?

[PresidentObama]

12. Giving me a link to something isn't....

highlighting her accomplishments.

I'd love to hear her supporters highlight the many accomplishments of Hillary.

I want to know besides her name value, her husband, and her connections and media hype--why she is leading or was leading the polls? Because right now THOSE are the only reasons I have.

So please Hillary supporters, not out of malice but out of curiousity what has Hillary done?

Please, and thank you in advance. My eyes and ears are all yours!

Personally I'm skeptical, but I want answers like all of us. Especially with a lot of great candidates besides Hillary.

EDITl: Especially why does it seem she's been so silent on Iraq? And what has she done to not support and to stop this war in Iraq? Thank you, and I look forward to hearing the supporters speak out for their candidate :)

[MADem]

14. I invite EVERYONE's attention to this website, and perhaps we can avoid

a lot of this "Well, what has so-and-so done, or said to make them "qualified?" I realize you aren't looking for flames, but the very question, singling out one candidate rather than the lot of them ('Who do you support and why?' might be more neutral, perhaps?) invites blowtorches, or at least a little snark. To 'qualify' to run for President, you have to meet age and citizenship criteria, and that's that. The website isn't updated as often as I would like, but it's good for an overview and a starting point. It's called ON THE ISSUES and you can look up the one you love, or the one you hate. And you WILL find surprises. You think you know how a candidate sees the world, because of their smile or their position on a single topic near and dear to your heart, and next thing you know, you discover that they diverge from your views in a number of important areas. Or, alternatively, you despise a candidate for a single stance, and discover, to your dismay, that they are a clone of you on every other issue that matters.

Hillary on the issues: http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Hillary_Clinton.htm

Barack on the issues: http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Barack_Obama.htm

John on the issues: http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/John_Edwards.htm

Joe on the issues: http://www.issues2000.org/Senate/Joe_Biden.htm

Dennis on the issues: http://www.issues2000.org/OH/Dennis_Kucinich.htm

Bill on the issues: http://www.issues2000.org/Bill_Richardson.htm

Tom on the issues: http://www.issues2000.org/Tom_Vilsack.htm

[election_2004]

18. By "qualifications"....

I didn't mean the minimum requirements you need to run. I was referring to what legislative evidence specifically makes Senator Clinton's supporters feel she is the best candidate out of everyone in the pack to be the next Commander-in-Chief?

If people have similar doubts about other Democratic presidential candidates in the field, they could go right ahead and create their own threads challenging other candidates' supporters to do the same.

[MADem]

22. Please take the time to peruse the links I provided to you.

That is, if you are genuinely curious about the answer to your question, not just for Senator Clinton, but for all the candidates.

You can define your personal standard of qualifications until the cows come home, but those are just YOUR standards. And they mean little to anyone, other than you.

I don't mean to be unkind, but you should know full well, if you live in the real world, that presidents are not selected based on your criteria. They never have been, and they never will be. Each voter has their own reasons for pulling the lever--everything from party loyalty to "Ah liked his smile." Legislative records, or lack thereof, don't mean shit to most people. It's how well one can articulate vision, how well the candidate does in debate, the "X" factors of charisma and likeability, and simply TIMING that often make the difference. The "record" is something that is spun by both sides, and it isn't as important as you want it to be.

Take a look at the asshole in the White House now, and tell me that your little set of standards were used in choosing him? Of course they weren't. It was money, bullshit, and cheating that slid that bastard into the job.

[election_2004]

26. I will. The problem with your assertion....

...is exactly what you pointed out...that it's hard to predict what any one voter's motivations will be for choosing their candidate.

That's why it's important to arm yourself with substantial evidence of the *superiority* of one's candidate...for when you encounter the voters who actually ask, "Well, what has your candidate actually DONE?" Some people do want a genuine, non-superficial reason to support someone (and those are the types of voters who may bring additional new voters into the process).

But the collection of links you provided are a good resource for supplementing one's overall scope of knowledge, when examining the entire field as a whole. I may post my own reflections on the entire field in an entirely different post, sometime down the road.

I still contend that candidates need to also be scrutinized individually, in comparision to the resumees of their campaign rivals.

[crispini]

21. Thank you! That is a very good resource. nt

[MADem]

23. Anytime...it's full of surprises, as I said, too! NT

[More Than A Feeling]

29. Not as useful as I'd hoped.

For example, I heard Edwards say that he supports civil unions this afternoon. On that website, he is said to support letting the states decide.

[MADem]

32. As I noted, it is not updated as often as I would like. But what that DOES tell you is that he has

shifted his position, so there is still some utility there. It's probably politically easier to play 'state's rights' when you are a southern Senator, and change your stance when you're playing to the blue coasts on a progressive issue....

[AtomicKitten]

15. prediction

Although some here have no problem offering up links from their candidate's website or links to blogs favoring their candidate,
NO EVIDENCE proffered in support of HRC will be deemed adequate.

Just sayin'

[ccpup]

17. you're right

and the person's favorite candidate will be held to a much lower standard in comparison to HRC.

[AtomicKitten]

30. it's always fun watching

the more fervent avowed supporters of other candidates PRETEND like they'd give HRC a nanosecond of consideration. Now that's entertainment!

[crispini]

34. Hee.

It's like trying on a different hat for awhile. :D I'll vote for WHICHEVER hat wins the nomination, so I'm certainly going to TRY TO be nice about all hats for awhile. I think we have a selection of lovely hats to choose from this time. :P

[AtomicKitten]

35. In the sea of those shopping for head apparel

you are indeed sincere; I wasn't talking about you.

And, of course, I too will vote for whomever gets the nod. :)

[crispini]

36. Bwahahahaha.

Nice pic. :D

[ccpup]

16. I eagerly look forward

to the "What has Kucinich done?" and "What has Obama done?" and "What has Edwards done?" and "What has (fill in the blank) done?" threads. I get the sense that Hillary, as polarizing a figure as she is, is held to a much higher standard than her running mates. It is good, though, to be very aware of what the candidate has actually DONE rather than just saying you "like them" and that's that.

[oasis]

24. Hillary stood by Bill during the illegal impeachment. Public opinion would have

shifted against BC had she not done that.

Hillary's open support of President Clinton thwarted the rightwing's effort to overturn the results of the '96 election.:thumbsup:

[mtnsnake]

25. Here's something Hillary has to say about her accomplishments:

Feel free to skip down to the parts in bold if you want.

Dear "Whomever"

I'm in. And I'm in to win.

Today I am announcing that I will form an exploratory committee to run for president.

And I want you to join me not just for the campaign but for a conversation about the future of our country -- about the bold but practical changes we need to overcome six years of Bush administration failures.

I am going to take this conversation directly to the people of America, and I'm starting by inviting all of you to join me in a series of web chats over the next few days.

The stakes will be high when America chooses a new president in 2008.

As a senator, I will spend two years doing everything in my power to limit the damage George W. Bush can do. But only a new president will be able to undo Bush's mistakes and restore our hope and optimism.

Only a new president can renew the promise of America -- the idea that if you work hard you can count on the health care, education, and retirement security that you need to raise your family. These are the basic values of America that are under attack from this administration every day.

And only a new president can regain America's position as a respected leader in the world.

I believe that change is coming November 4, 2008. And I am forming my exploratory committee because I believe that together we can bring the leadership that this country needs. I'm going to start this campaign with a national conversation about how we can work to get our country back on track.

This is a big election with some very big questions. How do we bring the war in Iraq to the right end? How can we make sure every American has access to adequate health care? How will we ensure our children inherit a clean environment and energy independence? How can we reduce the deficits that threaten Social Security and Medicare?

No matter where you live, no matter what your political views, I want you to be a part of this important conversation right at the start. So to begin, I'm going to spend the next several days answering your questions in a series of live video web discussions. Starting Monday, January 22, at 7 p.m. EST for three nights in a row, I'll sit down to answer your questions about how we can work together for a better future. And you can participate live at my website.

Sign up to join the conversation here: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/action/conversation

I grew up in a middle-class family in the middle of America, where I learned that we could overcome every obstacle we face if we work together and stay true to our values.

I have worked on issues critical to our country almost all my life. I've fought for children for more than 30 years. In Arkansas, I pushed for education reform. As first lady, I helped to expand health care coverage to millions of children and to pass legislation that dramatically increased adoptions. I also traveled to China to affirm that women's rights are human rights.

And in the Senate, I have worked across party lines to get billions more for children's health care, to stop the president's plan to privatize Social Security, and to make sure the victims and heroes of 9/11 and our men and women in uniform receive the fair treatment they deserve. In 2006, I led the successful fight to make Plan B contraception available to women without a prescription.

I have spent a lifetime opening opportunities for tens of millions who are working hard to raise a family: new immigrants, families living in poverty, people who have no health care or face an uncertain retirement.

The promise of America is that all of us will have access to opportunity, and I want to run a 2008 campaign that renews that promise, a campaign built on a lifetime record of results.

I have never been afraid to stand up for what I believe in or to face down the Republican machine. After nearly $70 million spent against my campaigns in New York and two landslide wins, I can say I know how Washington Republicans think, how they operate, and how to beat them.

I need you to be a part of this campaign, and I hope you'll start by joining me in this national conversation. Visit my new website at HillaryClinton.com to learn how you can join in:

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/

As we campaign to win the White House, we will make history and remake our future. We can only break barriers if we dare to confront them, and if we have the determined and committed support of others.

This campaign is our moment, our chance to stand up for the principles and values that we cherish; to bring new ideas, energy, and leadership to a uniquely challenging time. It's our chance to say "we can" and "we will."

Let's go to work. America's future is calling us.

Sincerely,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

[Bitwit1234]

27. Most Qualified because

She is against bush and his policies. What in the devil qualifications did ....bush jr, Reagan, Bush Sr. or Ike have to be president.

A person's integrity, his intelligent, his caring for the people of this country, and his zeal to improve the conditions of people of this country are the foremost requirements for a presidential candidate. Hillary has those. Since there are so many people in this country that won't vote for a woman she does not stand a chance to even get the nomination. But it is very disheartening to have other democrats swift boat her before her campaign has gotten off the ground. I don't that democrats should turn against any of the democrats candidates. They should point out their qualities they think would make them qualified and stop all the negative stuff. Let the republicans tear them selves apart. And they will spew and smear the candidates without democrats doing it to their own.

For example...Kunich has done nothing outstanding yet...he is congress.
Edwards..a good person but nothing outstanding he was in congress
Wes Clark was in the service
Richardson was a governor
Vilsack was a governor
All running and nothing about them is outstanding. They like Hillary Clinton did a good job in the position they had. So I say stop the negative basing of all democrats and point out the republicans short comings.

[Muddy Waters Guitar]

33. How has she been against the Bush policies?

You mean the one about invading Iraq on false pretenses, seizing their oil, getting 25,000 Americans (and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis) killed or wounded, and continuing in this vein for 5 years after the initial resolution?

Or the one about taking aim at Tehran before even the Rethugs themselves had jumped onto the "bomb Tehran" bandwagon?

Or supporting a bill to make it more difficult for indigent, unlucky families to file for Chapter 11 when then hit hard times?

Seems like Hillary was 100% on board with such Rethug policies when she could have been demonstrating her leadership and independence to the American people, to the detriment of our country and the progressive cause in general.

[wisteria]

38. None, her last name by marriage is Clinton. n/t

[onenote]

39. if you are really serious about this, you need to broaden the inquiry

after all, you are asking for an enumeration of the accomplishments that make Clinton "most" qualified. In order to make that comparative judgment, you need to also ask people to list the accomplishments of all of the other candidates.

[election_2004]

40. Well, if she is going to be regarded as *The_Frontrunner*....

...then it is completely fair to devote a special thread to her delving into what makes her record superior.

People can't give her a statuatory referential advantage as The_Frontrunner, and then demand that critical scrutiny of her record be placed on a level playing field with everyone else's. That's simply manipulative. If people want to scrutinize the records of other candidates, or question their accomplishments, they are free to create other threads doing that.

[onenote]

43. If someone lists one accomplishment, that makes HRC "most" qualified

unless superior accomplishments of other candidates are also identified. That is why your inquiry needs to be broadened or, in the alternative, it should be adjusted to ask for a list of Clinton accomplishments per se, not relative to other candidates who achievements are not identified or discussed.

[election_2004]

46. Bottom line

Each candidate needs to be able to stand on their own two feet by citing their own independent accomplishments that make them distinct as a candidate. Otherwise, their campaigns are based on superficial factors.

This goes for all the candidates in the race. It's fine to compare them and their records to one another, but plenty of that will happen once the formal debates begin.

I want to know what a candidate, INDIVIDUALLY, has accomplished that makes them uniquely qualified for the presidency. This thread is the chance for Senator Clinton's supporters to shed some light on her legislative progress, especially for the benefit of those of us who don't believe there's been all that much of it over the past six years.

Plenty of people will have similarly legitimate concerns about candidates such as Obama and Edwards.

[mtnsnake]

41. Isn't that the truth

At the very least, I'd like to see someone start a similar thread asking what has Edwards accomplished in his career that makes him such a great choice to be president. I would start such a thread, but I don't have time right now, and besides, the Edwards loyalists aren't too fond of me already. :evilgrin:

[election_2004]

42. I'm sure someone else who's skeptical of Edwards....

...will present such a thread, to stimulate similar discussion on what his potential strengths would be.

[sendero]

44. I've been saying..

... the same thing forever. The only big initiative with her name on it, Health Care Reform, was botched beyond belief.

Being a good politician does not make one a good leader. Just look at George W. Bush.

[donsu]

45. she's pro children - never leaves them out of any equation

nt

[election_2004]

47. BUMP

Now that her campaign has been launched and she's done a series of webcasts, do any of Senator Clinton's supporters have anything to add?