Posted on 07/15/2010 2:26:25 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The rehabilitation of Hillary Clinton has been interesting to watch, and will likely get more so if this is any indication. An op-ed in today’s Wall St. Journal by Pete DuPont is making the case that Hillary Clinton could launch a formidable campaign against incumbent President Barack Obama in 2012.
The question of whether Hillary plans on making another White House run has been casually bandied about since her hard fought 2008 campaign against Obama, but this is the first time I can recall seeing it in a serious publication…though I strongly suspect it will not be the last. The speculation this time around comes as a direct result of Obama’s plunging poll numbers (Hillary, by contrast, rates 45% favorable and only 35% unfavorable) and the approaching mid-terms, which even Press Sec. Robert Gibbs is none too optimistic about. Neither of these things, of course, are remotely new challenges for a incumbent president to face — Bill Clinton in 1994 is obviously the first example to spring to mind. What is new, however, is the wave of euphoria that Obama swept into office on, making this plunge all the more dramatic. But also: Sarah Palin.
First, here are the reasons DuPont thinks Hillary would be a good choice for the Dems:
She is one of the most experienced prospective candidates the Democratic Party has had in a long while: wife of a governor, U.S. first lady [nice that these attributes are now considered boons], senator and now secretary of state. This is a good record to run on as someone who knows how the government works.
Fourth, she is an experienced foreign-policy adviser who understands the threats to our national security: unresolved conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq, rising threats of nuclear capability in Iran and North Korea, and uncertainties in Pakistan.
Fifth, experience will be even more important to voters in the 2012 presidential election, whose 2008 gamble on someone with little experience is proving costly.
All good strong, reasons, and ones that are notably lacking on the GOP side. Ironically, what DuPont neglects to include is the fact that Hillary’s a woman could also be a huge selling point, particularly now that Sarah Palin has been banging the Mama Grizzly drum so consistently.
It’s not a secret that Palin of late has been ingeniously cashing in on those 18 million cracks in the ceiling Hillary so notably inspired in 2008. In fact, lest we forget, in the beginning that was Palin’s reason for being: to allow the McCain campaign to capitalize on all those women votes. In the interim however she’s built (in ways no one could have anticipated) enough national clout to be widely considered the GOP’s strongest candidate for Oval Office, which may say as much about the roster of GOP candidates as it says about Palin — who I am still not convinced actually wants to be president — but nevertheless she’s a force to be reckoned with. Likely absolutely nothing could take the wind out of those sails faster or more permanently than Hillary Clinton. A hypothetical I imagine the media is going to harp on in the next few months: could there be a greater gift to the calbers and blogosphere than a Clinton vs Palin election year?
Mind you, there’s also the question of whether Hillary Clinton wants to be president still, or would consider launching a campaign against an incumbent from her own party (the last person to seriously do so was Pat Buchanan in 1992); one imagines Obama’s poll numbers would have to be rock bottom to justify such a decision. And even then it would be tough.
Of course, it’s still early and plenty could happen in the next 12 months that would entirely change the national political stage: the hole could be plugged, the economy could rebound. That said, the media started beating the Obama drum shortly before the 2006 midterms so perhaps it’s not that early at all, if the 2008 political season is anything to go by — and granted Bush was not an incumbent — the presidential debates should begin sometime next April.
Much more realistic........
The blacks will close ranks around Obama 100%.
Blacks make up 40% or more of Democrat primary voters.
There is no way for anyone but Obama to win the Dhim primary.
Has challenger within the party ever knocked out an incumbent president and then gone on to win? Usually even a serious challenge is the kiss of death, either because of the primary or because the president must be awful to invite a party challenger.
Well, I waited so long to post that I found my own answer. President Pierce lost the primary in 1856 to James Buchanan, who won. That was the only time a President lost his primary nomination to the man who was elected in the general. And that year the Whig party was breaking up and the Republican was ascending, so it would take a self destructing Republican Party to allow Hillary to win the general after beating Obama in the primary. And how could the Republicans screw that up..... oh, no, Hillary's going to win. We're doomed with President Hillary and First Horndog Bill....got to find my happy pills, where are the happy pills?
I am trying to be charitable here, but time and her life as she lived it, shows on her face.
I and many wont or can't vote for her...
(Lil’ John) - “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!”
I am trying to be charitable here, but time and her life as she lived it, shows on her face.
She's Bill's version of the Picture of Dorian Gray. All of his sins showed up on her face, and he's awfully sinful.
Wow, I had to google it to get the reference. Powerful.
If Hillary! decides to have a go, the 2012 primary season will be filled with excitement for sure.
I wonder how much the Clinton private detective teams have been able to turn up on Baraq since Nov 08?
The PUMA’S (party unity my ass) can kiss mine. They jumped on islamabama’s wagon as soon as Hillary sold out.
Great idea, Hillary. Go ahead and piss off all the blacks and see how big an electoral margin you carry. DO IT!!
Some big GOP wonk that got snared in the Abramoff scandal has predicted just this. You take the doctors telling him to drink less, and his grandiose behavior of having lavish parties one after another, and one may question his mental health. You can google all the shrinks that have come out and noted he maybe a Malignant Narcissist (which crash and burn badly if you read up on them by they way..), etc. I have asked a gnome I know will he take a powder because of his mental health and the answer is No, too much as stake they (The DNC and other "organizations") would do everything to prop him up given he is a 1st.
At least HiLlary isn’t a Tea Party racist.
/s
Sheesh, this woman is like a bad rash, it just won’t go away!
Wait ‘till the null set wins the primary...then in September, unload all of the evidence on ineligibility that hopefully, MOSSAD will provide.
btt
More like Robert Kennedy vs LBJ. The Kennedy clan absolutely hated LBJ.
I'm so PRETTY!!!! 
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