The Hillary Clinton who appeared on five Sunday morning shows was a formidable political candidate: poised, polished, knowledgeable. The package she presented was designed to send a message to her Democratic rivals: catch me if you can.
She now sits atop the Democratic field, in a tier by herself. She has achieved that by performing at a consistently high level in debates and on the campaign trail, along with help from a campaign that has been largely free of major mistakes. She showed Sunday she could stand in against some of the best pitching in political journalism.
The question was also answered by David here a couple of days ago. But yes, Hillary is unstoppable, and it is now probably too late to parachute Al Gore in to save the party, even if the Democrats had an inclination that the party needed saving (which they don't). Hillary's got it in the bag, and it isn't even October yet.
Here's why. Dan Balz goes on to speculate what would happen if Edwards and Obama finally go on the attack and whether it would make a difference. But they can only hurt Hillary, they cannot help themselves. The problem is not that Hillary is so good, the problem is that her top tier opponents are completely unelectable. John Edwards is a trial lawyer with very little experience. He's gotten this far by trading on great messaging and hard work, but it can only get you so far. Obama may be a great contender one day but not this year. He's too early, he's inexperienced and he's gotten this far by being an incredible public speaker. Maybe one day.
If I was evil (not a big stretch, some might think), and I was Hillary's campaign director I would do whatever it would take to keep these two in the race against me. They suck time and energy away from real threats, while making it look like Hillary has to actually work to get the nomination. Brilliant!
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. When people announced their candidacy for President, I really thought there were three possibilities and this political season would be interesting.
Both Edwards and Obama tried to play up inexperience as a great opportunity for change, but even though America likes the "idea" of change...we, in fact, change very slowly.
Edwards has used up a lot of energy already running a negative campaign. Obama has made one mistake after another...kind of making the message he was trying to send a bit confusing. For instance, threatening Pakistan...a relatively unstable country...would only escalate the war he claims to have been against since the beginning.
I guess when all is said and done, I feel much more comfortable with a "Washington-insider" than I do with rash unpredictable candidates who seem to react and act like I did in my twenties. Nothing against being in your twenties...I just grew up very slowly. For President, inexperience seems to be a liability; not an asset.
Hillary has got my vote and thanks to Obama and Edwards for bringing out her softer side and her great humor...who knew?
Respectfully,
Mr. Clark
Mr. Clark at 10:25AM on Sep 25th 2007
2. THE CLINTONS LEGACY SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
RECORDS SET
- The only president ever impeached on grounds of personal malfeasance
- Most number of convictions and guilty pleas by friends and associates*
- Most number of cabinet officials to come under criminal investigation
- Most number of witnesses to flee country or refuse to testify
- Most number of witnesses to die suddenly
- First president sued for sexual harassment.
- First president accused of rape.
- First first lady to come under criminal investigation
- Largest criminal plea agreement in an illegal campaign contribution case
- First president to establish a legal defense fund.
- First president to be held in contempt of court
- Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions
- Greatest amount of illegal campaign contributions from abroad
- First president disbarred from the US Supreme Court and a state court
* According to our best information, 40 government officials were indicted or convicted in the wake of Watergate. A reader computes that there was a total of 31 Reagan era convictions, including 14 because of Iran-Contra and 16 in the Department of Housing & Urban Development scandal. 47 individuals and businesses associated with the Clinton machine were convicted of or pleaded guilty to crimes with 33 of these occurring during the Clinton administration itself. There were in addition 61 indictments or misdemeanor charges. 14 persons were imprisoned. A key difference between the Clinton story and earlier ones was the number of criminals with whom he was associated before entering the White House.
Using a far looser standard that included resignations, David R. Simon and D. Stanley Eitzen in Elite Deviance, say that 138 appointees of the Reagan administration either resigned under an ethical cloud or were criminally indicted. Curiously Haynes Johnson uses the same figure but with a different standard in "Sleep-Walking Through History: America in the Reagan Years: "By the end of his term, 138 administration officials had been convicted, had been indicted, or had been the subject of official investigations for official misconduct and/or criminal violations. In terms of number of officials involved, the record of his administration was the worst ever."
STARR-RAY INVESTIGATION
- Number of Starr-Ray investigation convictions or guilty pleas (including one governor, one associate attorney general and two Clinton business partners): 14
- Number of Clinton Cabinet members who came under criminal investigation: 5
- Number of Reagan cabinet members who came under criminal investigation: 4
- Number of top officials jailed in the Teapot Dome Scandal: 3
CRIME STATS
- Number of individuals and businesses associated with the Clinton machine who have been convicted of or pleaded guilty to crimes: 47
- Number of these convictions during Clinton's presidency: 33
- Number of indictments/misdemeanor charges: 61
- Number of congressional witnesses who have pleaded the Fifth Amendment, fled the country to avoid testifying, or (in the case of foreign witnesses) refused to be interviewed: 122
SMALTZ INVESTIGATION
- Guilty pleas and convictions obtained by Donald Smaltz in cases involving charges of bribery and fraud against former Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy and associated individuals and businesses: 15
- Acquitted or overturned cases (including Espy): 6
- Fines and penalties assessed: $11.5 million
- Amount Tyson Food paid in fines and court costs: $6 million
CAMPAIGN FINANCE INVESTIGATION
- As of June 2000, the Justice Department listed 25 people indicted and 19 convicted because of the 1996 Clinton-Gore fundraising scandals.
- According to the House Committee on Government Reform in September 2000, 79 House and Senate witnesses asserted the Fifth Amendment in the course of investigations into Gore's last fundraising campaign.
-James Riady entered a plea agreement to pay an $8.5 million fine for campaign finance crimes. This was a record under campaign finance laws.
CLINTON MACHINE CRIMES FOR WHICH CONVICTIONS WERE OBTAINED
Drug trafficking (3), racketeering, extortion, bribery (4), tax evasion, kickbacks, embezzlement (2), fraud (12), conspiracy (5), fraudulent loans, illegal gifts (1), illegal campaign contributions (5), money laundering (6), perjury, obstruction of justice.
blackmanvision at 10:30AM on Sep 25th 2007
3. Sigh ... do you idiots REALLY want that Clinton witch in charge of fighting the upcomming WWIII? What do you suppose is going to happen when she is the president and gets caught doing a Lesbian number in the very same closet that Bill used to get his daly ration of Lawinski's? Do you suppose the Muslums just "might" be offended? Good grief ... get a brain cell.
John at 11:51AM on Sep 25th 2007
4. I have a problem with any women who after not being able to have a sucessful marriage regardless of any fault either on her side or that ridiculous husband of hers,to take on a task of running the United States of America. The Clinton's put highest offic in the US in the basement due to their behaviors. I cannot and will not vote for anything to do with the Clinton's regardless of what the polls say. I think that one Clinton mess in the White House was enough for me. Yes, we are definately headed for World War III and do you honestly want a woman in charge of our military men and women. Not for one moment do I believe that she would be good for this country. She is a socialist from the get go and she will have us paying higher taxes and supporting all the national pork that they can muster up. Think about it people when you go to vote for a leader!!!!!
Rita at 2:10PM on Sep 25th 2007
5. Making the bold statement that "Hillary can't be stopped" reinforces the air of inevitability. It's like saying, "Resistance is Futile". Democrats don't think collectively and we are not the Borg. Republicans have selected Hillary because she represents the Far Right Wing of the Democratic Party. That's a Conservative who thinks he or she can sweet talk the Brothers! Oh, "I'm in no ways tired!" The Revolution has not started. For Hillary to be defeated, we must first find a Democrat who wants to win. We must first find a champion that tells the truth even inside the Democratic Party. We must align that candidate with an insider who knows why Democrats lost in 2000 and 2004. We must find a visionary that can articulate the past failures and paint a picture with words and poetry that remind us of why we are fighting for equality and justice for all. We must find a way to raise this single voice and amplify that voice with millions of others "Left Behind". We must focus on the power of "One" to defeat Hillary. We must find the right one. We must have faith in a power beyond our current comprehension. Hillary isn't President yet and Bush has not escaped impeachment either.
Cecil Jones at 3:42PM on Sep 25th 2007
6. I'm a Republican and I honestly think that Democrats are going for Hilary because she's the best they've got at the moment...Feel sorry for them though...Yea, so we have touch and go candidates, but to have Clinton be the best you've got...my apologies
Jen at 8:32PM on Sep 25th 2007
7. GET OVER IT YOU DIRTY MURDERING HIPPOCRIT REPUBLICANS : HILLARY WILL BE THE NEXT GREAT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: SHE WILL HAVE ALOT OF WORK TO DO STRAIGTENING THE BUSH MESS UP,BUT SHE IS THE ONLY PERSON THAT CAN DO IT. ON THE DAY SHE WALKS DOWN AND TAKES THE OATH SHE NEEDS TO SAY THAT THE IRAQ WAR IS OVER TODAY AND THAT WILL PUT THIS WAR AS GEORGE BUSH'S WAR.
BRENT at 9:09PM on Sep 25th 2007
8. It doesn't matter WHO runs, the Republicans will win; the companies who make the voting machines are owned by right-wingers.
irksomekitty at 9:15AM on Sep 26th 2007
9. Hillary will win.........because this nation is a long way from having a Ni**er president.
Sorry, but true.
Luis at 2:44PM on Sep 26th 2007
10. I have never seen such a looney bunch of comments This country doesn't deserve anyone as good as Hillary. We have gone so conservative the rest of the world needs to gang up on us and kick our butt. It is the only thing that will cure the sicko conservatives that have manipulated their way into power. You're evil, and the sooner the world punishes you for it the better!
Craig Travis at 2:56PM on Sep 26th 2007
11. Time for Al to go on a diet.
jake at 4:04PM on Sep 26th 2007
12. Rita,
Whether a woman can have a successful marriage has nothing to do with whether she will be a good president. You should learn how to spell correctly if you want people to take what you say seriously.
Sarah at 7:26PM on Sep 26th 2007
13. I was a REP.turned INDPNDT.I voted for BUSH and then KERRY....Now I have no party affiliation...I hate these politicians...They all lies...all stands for their family and friends....So I tell you all now....feel sorry for the REPS.friends..I am pretty sure that DEMS. going to get the houses and the Presidency....This country got screwed up.....someone really has to come and do something honestly....
gt at 9:27PM on Sep 26th 2007
14. It's not over, until it's over!
I BELIEVE IN BARACK OBAMA!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/5bucks
MY FIVE BUCKS, YOUTH CREATED VIDEO- CHECK IT OUT
Sara Haile-Mariam at 3:14AM on Sep 27th 2007
15. To go directly to the video click on the link below
http://youtube.com/watch?v=uCfYRrUeMOg
Sara Haile-Mariam at 3:16AM on Sep 27th 2007