Well it's official. Sen. Hillary Clinton is a presidential candidate. She announced on her site. It's not the best opening statement and it's not the worst. It looked 'middle ofthe road' to me. She wants the 'right' end to the war, health insurance, energy independence, reduce the deficit, etc. Hillary throwing her hat in seemed like a foregone conclusion and the least kept secret outside of Sen. Escalate McCain. My reaction?
No secret that I'm one of the few representatives of 'the left' on this blog (at least that's how I've been pigeon-holed) and I've worked on a Dem governor's campaign, coordinated other campaigns and recruited legislators so I certainly have a vested interest in whoever the Dem presidential candidate is. I find it interesting that a number of Republican pundits have practically been cheerleading her candidacy. In this case, they're right. If Hillary gets the nomination, a Democrat will not get the White House. Period.
Nominate Sen. Clinton and it will turn out the Republican base just as if Jeb Bush got nominated by the R's. People will quit their jobs to work for the Republican nominee, it's a huge mistake. It may not even be fair but Sen. Clinton has had negatives in the 40's for 12 years. You just don't turn that around in a year. She has money, endorsements lined up, and so forth. it will be no easy job to beat her but if voters in key primary states don't knock her off, it's over and we'll have more division, more pandering and more lives wasted in Iraq.
Sen. Clinton will be holding three web video town hall events over the next few days. You can sign up for them on the web site. I intend to ask her why she doesn't stay and become a better senator and not run. She has to know she will not win the nomination easily and if she does, she loses the general. What do you think?
UPDATE: As the diary author, I get to comment here. Now I wrote this diary as a Democrat but suggested that nominating Sen. Clinton is a mistake. I'm impressed by the number of comments supporting Sen. Clinton. You've made some good arguements. I'm not changing my opinion but some points were made. Those ranting, raving, cursing and even issuing death threats (the editor removed some comments thank goodness) are remarkably way out there. Gee, if they were smart they wouldn't come off so unhinged but that's never bothered the Right Wingnuts in the past. And for the record, rightwingers, for the most part, are either careless or terrible spellers. Finally, if anyone has read Sen. Barak's books or ever heard him would realize he is a Christian and has deep faith. All this nonsense about where he went to school for two years when he was 6 years old is so absurdly low, cheap and false. Sen. Obama has been a member of Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ since 1988. And no, I'm not for Sen. Barak either. Just setting the record straight.
Reader Comments ( Page 31 of 32)
451. Go Hilary, you will win. We are praying for you. Don't even listen or mind what they critic are saying. Go for it you will make a great president just like your husband was the greatest thing that ever happen to America.
Ifeanyi at 9:20PM on Mar 11th 2007
452. Elect Hillary. Bring back peace, prosperity, balanced budgets and reducintg debt. We have to dump the borrow-and-spend fiscally liberal Republicans. The Repubs love to spend but they don't like to pay. About ninety per cent of the almost nine trillion dollar national debt has been accululated during the Reagan, Bush I and Bush II administrations. Elect Hillary and save the country.
Jerry at 1:06PM on Mar 12th 2007
453. All Hillaries acomplishments???What accomplishments???Other then stepping into Mounahans job as senator of N.Y. she really hasn't accomplished anything..I would love to see the list of accomplishments..Health care reform??(nope) national security??(nope) deficit?? (nope)She's had a lot of suggestions ...I'll give her suggestions..If she becomes president I would suggest you sell every stock you own,especially energy and health care companies..These "Greedy companies are destroying America!!What a crock of s--t..
John myrtle beach at 7:36PM on Mar 13th 2007
454. i wonder who is the better half ,bill or hillary.if it was bill heaven forbid what this country would be in for with hillary at the helm.hasnt the clinton legacy done enough damage to the usa. are people really that blind that they would welcome another 4 or 8 years under the clintons.if by some wee chance she should become pres elect,all i can say is we get what we deserve.
al
al at 8:01PM on Mar 13th 2007
455. I have serious doubts about the country nominating either Clinton or Obama. I really don't think that the democrats from around the country would want to so desively early give the White House to the Republicans. If the Democrats want to win the white house in november of 08 then we need to make some serious choices about the candidate that we pick. Do I have an idea of who I would like to see win, yes, but don't we all. The people of America my have been waiting for the day that Clinton would come back, but it isn't Hilary that they're looking for. Bill was a great President did he have his flaws, yes, but again who doesn't.
I just can't see the Democrats of this country handing the White House to the Republicans by nominating either Clinton, or Obama.
Robert Shoemaker at 11:18PM on Mar 15th 2007
456. All these prospective presidents so far, talk in 3rd person criticizing terms like Hillary, pie in the sky form based on what's what now. I would like to hear leadership with new ideas. Hillary seems like an angry wife with bitch-bitch-bitch repertoire I read her disposition in the White- Water matter and her double and triple billing sold me on not ever being a Clinton supporter. Bill was there too, but Bill has an aura `of being plain folk, not so, Hillary.
R.Richard Fusilier at 3:39PM on Mar 16th 2007
457. Let us all hope she doesn't win. We have enough to contend with without a menopausal woman at the helm.
S. Prosser at 4:43PM on Mar 16th 2007
458. Hillary Clinton will never be voted president. She is weak. She is a door mat. Her best friend (husband) has no respect for her, treats her like crap and she stays with it? Why? because shes to weak to stand on her own two feet. She can't run a country when she has feet that don't move.
penelope panatoski at 8:28AM on Mar 19th 2007
459. As a moderate Republican, I think the GOP should stop fixating on Hillary and pick someone who has much of the Ronald Reagan magic to represent the party in 08. Forget McCain, he flip-flops too much. Forget Giuliani, he is too liberal and almost a Bill Clinton light in terms of his marital history. Romney's Mormon background will be a hard sell. Gingrich is brilliant, but his marital history is nothing to write home about either based on recent revelation. I find Chuck Hagel and Fred Thompson the most attractive, yet undeclared candidates. They also likely do not carry the kind of baggage any of the current GOP frontrunners have. As a northeasterner, Fred Thompson is looking to me more like a winner everyday.
Stuart at 9:55PM on Mar 22nd 2007
460. I for one would have been extremely discusted if our President had stood back and let Iraq bomb and destroy all those peoples lives .Let me say i have never been overly concerned about politics,but Hiliary was a disgrace as the first lady,and everyone says she was the President when the Clintons where in office.Laura Bush is a wonderful most grasious First lady. I have never heard of her ever doing anything except stand beside her husband, not in front of him . Hiliary would be an imbarisment to our wonderful country. I wish her well but not as Predisdent.
Dorothy L. Day at 5:40AM on Mar 21st 2007
461. I'm so surprised by the reaction that Sen. Clinton is getting on her pursuit to bring the United States back to its glory.
For the first time in my life, I have been ashamed of our current President Bush's on what we now know as a misguided pursuit of freedom and democracy and how he is too afraid to correct. I truly beleive, he did not do this intentionally. I backed him when he decided to go to war with Iraq based on the information that I was given.
I remember the good old days with the Clinton administration, except for the witch hunt that they had to endure. How I remember the hope I had for Hillary's intitiative for better health care. I know, it wasn't perfect, but I will take the optimism they instilled in me any day. Oh, and let's not forget the relationships we use to have with other countries. We were an economic powerhouse and proud I was with the positive image we had as a country.
Let's get that back with Hillary with Bill by her side. She is probably the most qualified person to ever to run for the the President of the United States of America. VOTE HILLARY CLINTON! I certainly will be stumping for her all the way to the White House.
Marlene McGuirt
Marlene McGuirt at 2:09PM on Mar 21st 2007
462. I'm so surprised by the reaction that Sen. Clinton is getting on her pursuit to bring the United States back to its glory.
For the first time in my life, I have been ashamed of our current President Bush's on what we now know as a misguided pursuit of freedom and democracy and how he is too afraid to correct. I truly beleive, he did not do this intentionally. I backed him when he decided to go to war with Iraq based on the information that I was given.
I remember the good old days with the Clinton administration, except for the witch hunt that they had to endure. How I remember the hope I had for Hillary's intitiative for better health care. I know, it wasn't perfect, but I will take the optimism they instilled in me any day. Oh, and let's not forget the relationships we use to have with other countries. We were an economic powerhouse and proud I was with the positive image we had as a country.
Let's get that back with Hillary with Bill by her side. She is probably the most qualified person to ever to run for the the President of the United States of America. VOTE HILLARY CLINTON! I certainly will be stumping for her all the way to the White House.
Marlene McGuirt
Marlene McGuirt at 2:15PM on Mar 21st 2007
463. My 2 cents; Don’t trust Hillary... comes off too opportunistic, power hungry... too much baggage-if "Monica" had not happened, Hillary would probably be the next President. Smart, yes, presidential, no... Although a Obama/Clinton, Edwards/Obama presidency could be formidable. There are so many pressing problems. Haven't heard the Dems' position/solutions to the Healthcare/ Medicare crisis, Social Security (vis-a-vis aging population), the out-sourcing of American jobs, Illegal Immigration, Alternative Energy policy, Iran's nuclear program, dealing with other rogue nations (N. Korea, etc.), the Deficit, influence of money and lobbies on legislation....
mary at 7:16PM on Mar 21st 2007
464. God help us with either Mrs Clinton or Algor!
hartnhc at 11:34PM on Mar 21st 2007
465. the clitons are gifts to the united states. hillary Rodham clinto is goona wrestle the us from the fist of the Bushe's dynasty.......step up hillary...charles kumolu
charles kumolu at 10:13AM on Apr 12th 2007