Thoughts on Hillary

[Onlooker]

Like a lot of people here, I was once very much for her, but am now very much against her. That said, after watching the video of her questionning Rumsfeld (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-5uhhyq1yY), I thought she came off as great. She sounded like a Commander in Chief!

She was smart, strong, and assertive (without suffering from any of the tonal issues that sexist media often underscores with women candidates) and, given the strategy she's opted for, she's playing her cards brilliantly. While I don't like the fact that she's counting on liberals to vote for her if she wins the primary, the strategy is obviously focused on winning the White House by securing moderate and even some conservative support.

The fact is, while I'll almost certainly support Edwards or Feingold in the primary, if it's Hillary in the General Election, she'll get my vote because she's better than righty and it would be great if the Democrat Party was first to put a woman in the White House. Plus, what better way to get back at the hateful right-wing than to get another Clinton into the White House!

[meegbear]

1. Maybe it's me ...

but your first sentence isn't jiving with the rest of the post.

Audience?

[H2O Man]

2. I think it does.

Makes sense to me.

[meegbear]

18. Didn't see "once" ...

my bad. Sorry (hungover when I readit).

[no_hypocrisy]

3. My sentiments are a bit more complex than yours.

When Senator Clinton takes a position contrary to the general position of the democratic party and goes "Lieberman" on us, it seems as though it isn't because she's acting on a strong, fearless conviction (as though she isn't afraid of coming across as "unpopular" for the sake of being a leader). Rather, it seems as though her stands and words are calculated toward her political future, not the contemporaneous conflict at hand. I can't shake this impression even though I have admired her from the get-go. I am disappointed and wish she could rise above whatever is holding her back.

[Onlooker]

7. I agree

I don't like her politics, but I love her political skills. She's packaging herself as the ideal woman candidate. I

[abluelady]

4. Feingold is my First Choice

But when you hear/see Hillary in person. She is hands down unbeatable in style, presence, speech, etc. But she will be such an easy target for the other side. I cannot even imagine what the election would be like if she is the Dem's candidate. Needless, to say, I wish she were more liberal.

[Burried News]

5. I get back at the right wing by breathing.

Hillary can play her cards however she wants. Her 'candidacy' is dead west of the Hudson.
Opportunism is not leadership.

[wain]

13. "Opportunism is not leadership"

That's a powerful statement. Very well stated.

Reminds me of another quote on leadership: "Consensus is the absence of leadership"

:)

[KharmaTrain]

6. My Calendar Still Say 2006

The 2008 election begins the day after this crucial election is decided...not before. While we know the Iraq invasion will be a major issue, there's a lot of other bumps and grinds that could happen that dictate how the 2008 elections play out. First, and foremost, is if the Democrats gain control of either the House or Senate. If that happens, a new dynamic kicks in...a new cadre of Democrats get to move forward...either through their victories or gaining committee chairmanship (along with the subpoena power the Repugnicans so fear). These elections are a real turning point...not just for the country, but the Democratic party.

Now how many people in June, 2002 thought John Kerry would be the candidate...or Bill Clinton in Summer '90? (I remember another New Yorker...one named Cuomo...who was all but written in as the '92 candidate that summer). Senator Clinton's "change" will mean little if this war goes along and the mood of the country gets angrier. Any Democrat who doesn't run on some kind of anti-war plank runs the risk of being "Libermanned" (do I get credit for a new word???) and if liberal/progressive candidates make big gains this fall, be assured the "mainstream" party is going to be shaken to its foundations. Stay tuned.

As has been my policy for a while, I don't support any candidates during the primaries. A major reason is my state has no say on who gets the nomination as our primary is long after the issue is decided. Again, I'll sit out here on DU and watch the various campaigns and their supporters go at it...and then see where the pieces fall going into the Iowa & New Hampshire primaries.

[BlueManDude]

8. Her nascent run for the presdidency has warped her

I still like her but the embarrassingly obvious moves to beef up her foreign policy credibility (which in the USA means being acting hawkish just for the hell of it) have annoyed me.

I still hold out hope she won't run in 08.

[ecstatic]

9. I have mixed feelings but she is our best choice right now

It's too bad most of us don't see this basic fact and some of us are doing the GOP's dirty work by smearing her continuously on this site and others.

Do you know how many people wish they could go back to the Clinton days??

Kerry is not going to work. People just do not like him-he gives off a certain vibe of snobism. Edwards could work. Most people outside of DU and Washington have never heard of Feingold. Obama is a rising star, but America is not going to vote for a Black man yet--though, Powell would have had a better chance had he not become entwined in the Bushes. Politics in mainstream America is moreso a popularity and beauty contest.

Edwards and H. Clinton are our best choices right now.

[femmedem]

17. What about Gore?

He's already won the popular vote once, and a lot of people who didn't vote for him back when regret it now.

Besides, he wasn't so visible, so able to be his own man when he was VP. Since then, he's demonstrated enormous intelligence, integrity and courage--enough to win many voters' hearts.

[mmonk]

10. Can't vote for her.

I will help progressive candidates in Congress if that is my only option. Our country is in trouble and as long as it stays on the war/full spectrum dominanace path, I think it will continue to be whether led by bush or a dem.

[laura888]

16. Exactly. n/t

[bronxiteforever]

11. Edwards,Feingold, maybe Clark then H.

Her war support and opportunism has hurt her with me. I believe she will be an instant punching bag for the right wing and will scare off voters nationally due to the propaganda machine.
That being said, 2008 is light years away given the rapid course of foreign and domestic ills we face
I am willing to keep an open mind about her.

[zcflint09]

12. I will support Hillary if she is given the nomination

She is not my first choice, she's not even in my top 3, but I think that in the end she is a democrat in the same way that Bill was--a few conservative bugs here or there, but nothing that we would need to be too concerned about. I would fully throw my support behind a Hillary campaign if Clark, Feingold or Kerry does not claim victory in the primaries, but I still believe that Wes Clark is the best option for this country in 08.

[sueragingroz]

14. What you said... (n/t)

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

15. When she stops supporting the war and occupation get back to me.

She's going to have to do some serious backpeddling, apologizing, and show some integrity before she will ever get my vote.

A doubtful occurance for both of us.

[Cleita]

19. Hillary won't ever be President. She's too radioactive.

I believe the Dems know that and won't back her as a candidate, but even if she became the Democratic candidate she won't win. She has no support from the Republicans and about half of the Democrats are wishy washy about her.

As much as I would like to see the two for one presidency that Bill crowed about, because Bill would now be back in the White House working quietly behind the scenes, I don't think there is a chance it will happen.