Hillary is the candidate of retribution, not of hope

London Guardian ^ | January 5, 2008 | Martin Kettle in New Hampshire

[Aristotelian]

It is hard not to feel sorry for Hillary Clinton. She is, in so many ways, the perfect presidential candidate for the Democrats. She has the brains and the name, the money and the machine.

(snip)

And yet, when actual voters are given the chance to seal the deal, too many of them balk, as they did in Iowa this week. Coming third in Iowa, with more than two-thirds of the voters choosing other candidates, is a shocking blow to the Clinton campaign. Yet the pollsters have always known what her problem is. Her problem is that a lot of people do not buy into her, while a significant minority actively hate her. She is one of the most divisive figures in American life, however hard she tries not to be. If elected, she would reignite the culture wars in spite of herself. All this makes even her admirers fear that she is neither a winner nor what the country really needs. And in a year when Democrats want, above all things, to win, that is very bad news indeed.

Bill Clinton saw the Iowa defeat coming. Before Christmas, the former president said privately that his wife was becoming, in effect, the latest political casualty of the Iraq war. While the war was still raging, Hillary's competence and experience made her an obvious safe choice. But as Iraq has got easier on the ground and diminished as a political issue, so the primacy of the need for a candidate with experience has diminished too. Just as happened in 1992, Bill Clinton observed, 2008 has become an election tailor-made for the candidate of hope. But that candidate is not Hillary Clinton. That candidate is Barack Obama.

[Aristotelian]

It is hard not to feel sorry for Hillary Clinton.

No, it's not.

[Aristotelian]

Actually, Bill Clinton’s reported analysis seems spot on. Hillary is becoming a victim of the surge’s success. As Iraq recedes into the background, the case for her candidacy seems less and less compelling. So, in a sense, Hillary is being defeated by Bush!

[SIDENET]

It is hard not to feel sorry for Hillary Clinton.

I don't feel sorry for that soulless creature.

[Earthdweller]

"As Iraq recedes into the background, the case for her candidacy seems less and less compelling. So, in a sense, Hillary is being defeated by Bush!"

Haha!!

Ironic isn't it.

Fate..psychology..reading the minds of the electorate, just ain't what it used to be.

It's a new age...hippies be gone!

[penowa]

"It is hard not to feel sorry for Hillary Clinton."

ROFLOL!

[romanesq]

The leftist Guardian is just crying for one of its own.
She should plan for a nice trip to the UK when she is defeated.
They can all have a good cry together.

Let’s make sure that day comes soon.

[Mr Apple]

3rd

[TexasCajun]

Was/Is Big Media holding back on Hillary, not wanting to jeopardize any future relationship with the potential temperamental President and now that she lost Iowa and her campaign seems to be imploding they seem to be slowly but surely finding courage to report what they really think of her.

[gridlock]

This guy nails it with a five-pound sledge. A Hillary Clinton Presidency would mean we are re-fighting the battles of the 90s for eight more years, and nobody under the age of 40 wants that to happen. To them Bill Clinton is history, and sordid history at that. They don’t want to go back.

[gridlock]

It is hard not to feel sorry for Hillary Clinton.

It is foot-on-the-neck time for Hillary Clinton. Nobody should feel sorry for her until she is well and truly eliminated from the contest. Until then, pressure must be applied.

I might feel sorry for Hillary Clinton the day after she withdraws... but probably not.

[gridlock]

...now that she lost Iowa and her campaign seems to be imploding they seem to be slowly but surely finding courage to report what they really think of her.

You are right about that, FRiend. An awful lot of the people who were for Hillary were for her because they thought she was going to be the next President, and they know that she will either be granting favors or holding grudges. The support was uneasy, but based on a realistic assessment of self-interest by the people involved.

But now that she is failing, all of that unease will be released as people pile on in condemning her. It is going to be the fastest turnaround in the history of American politics, as everybody suddenly abandons the woman who suddenly has the smell of a loser.

Bill will be the last one to knife her in the back, if only to ensure he has the greatest amount of attention when he does it. Et tu, Bubbah?

[backhoe]

[Grampa Dave]

After the Iowa Gang Obaming of Hill, Big Brown delivers the Sad Hill in her big brown and ugly pant suit to light up a meeting for her in Gilford, NH!

Then the Hill lights up the Gilford, NH Meeting with her charm and energy!