Where Are They Now? (Noonan points out how Hildabeast has to be PHONY to win)

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Page ^ | 12-9-04 | Peggy Noonan

[GianniV]

We have been writing lately about Republicans. Let's pay some attention to Hillary Clinton, just for fun. I wrote a book about her more than four years ago. The idea came from a friend, a bright former-Republican-now-Democrat who thought my Wall Street Journal pieces on Mrs. Clinton's looming senatorial candidacy could be turned into something longer that made the case against her. I immediately thought: Yes, that could make a difference. I went to my publisher, who agreed, and I hit it hard, speaking to Mrs. Clinton's friends and enemies, scouring the record. What I concluded was that Mrs. Clinton was an unusually cynical leftist political operative who had no great respect for the citizens of the United States or for America itself, but who saw our country as a platform for her core ambitions: to rise and achieve historic personal and political power both with her husband and without him.

Since the book came out I haven't written much about Mrs. Clinton. I'd said what I had to say. In interviews on the book tour I said what seemed to me the obvious: she would keep her head down in the Senate and work hard, she would gain praise for her ability to get along with Republican senators, she would position herself as a moderate, and run for the presidency in 2008.

She is, right now, in what is surely the happiest time in all of her life, her zestful, independent and productive 50s. She is the single most powerful figure in the Democratic Party. She is popular and broadly supported in her adopted home state. She has a star's presence at meetings, symposiums, podiums and parties. She is the Democrats' premier fundraiser. She is its presumptive presidential nominee in the 2008 cycle......

[GianniV]

All this article does is point out how PHONY Hillary has to be in order to become President. Her core beliefs are left-wing and cannot get her elected. And watching Hillary talk about her "faith" makes me puke.

[xJones]

That is such an excellent, insightful article. Noonan at her finest....

[nj26]

Noonan: "On immigration she has begun talking tough on border security, accusing the administration of not spending enough, employing enough people, using the best technology. She recently called herself "adamantly against illegal immigrants," by which she no doubt meant illegal immigration, and has been inching toward support for a national ID card... So she is tough where Mr. Compassionate Conservative is soft (immigration), or is vulnerable, after a coming attack, to charges that he was soft (homeland security)."

[nj26]

Noonan on GOP bench: "They've got a deep bench and a big fight coming. Alphabetically the list so far can be considered to include George Allen, Bill Frist, Rudy Giuliani, Chuck Hagel, John McCain, Bill Owens, George Pataki, Mitt Romney, and beyond that any number of potential surprise guests from Tommy Thompson to Colin Powell to Mrs. Hutchison"

Where are the conservatives on this list, beyond Owens?

[jammer]

Right-o. I sent this to about 20 people on my email list with the caveat to read the last paragraph. That "deep bench" is deep in one thing: bovine excreta.

[Old Sarge]

Is there no rule about pics for Peggy?

[Taliesan]

When she speaks in a large hall she shouts and it is shrill; she sounds like some boomer wife from hell who's unpacking the grocery bags and telling you that you forgot not just the mayo but the mustard.

Hillary invites this sort of thing. Her candidacy will be a rollicking good time for the Right.

[SMARTY]

If I was stuck on a desert island with Evita and the Boston strangler, and if I had a gun with only 2 bullets, I'd shoot Evita - twice.

[aberaussie]

bttt

[avenir]

Hillary always reminds me of Queen Jezebel in the Old Testament, Ahab's wife.

She was so sure that Elijah would die at her hands, and he was scared since she had power and was truly evil.

And yet, by the time the dogs were through with her there wasn't enough of her left "to do" anything.

[Lesforlife]

Totally agree!

[Tallguy]

Third, Mrs. Clinton knows the Democratic Party as a whole is to the left of the electorate. She is used to this. It is the story of her life. The electorate in Arkansas were always more moderate than Gov. and Mrs. Clinton, and President and Mrs. Clinton for that matter. She knows how to operate in such conditions. She does not intend to go down in flames as a leftist when she runs for president. This will take guile. She has guile.

She has guile?! Nope! That's what Slick brought to the partnership. Hillary is given to verbal gaffes like (off the top of my head) "I'm not some little woman baking cookies and standing by her man" -- or -- (During the Healthcare debate) "I can't be held responsible for every undercapitalized business". These gaffes are too obvious to be ignored, and they give you a vivid glimpse into her real agenda. Notice I didn't say "soul" since I believe she has none. This woman has no "guile" she's been living off the generous publicity handouts from the MSM.

[Verginius Rufus]

The comparison with Jezabel is a good one. Jezabel's way of handling Naboth (I Kings 21) is a lot like the Hildabeast's handling of Billy Dale and Ken Starr.

[Roccus]

Underestimate this fascist at your peril.
If you think the MSM, who's support is said to be worth at least 10% of the vote, is going to hold her feet to the fire, you are wrong. She is a clear and present danger to life as we know it in these United States.

[jammer]

Maybe, but she may have learned something in the last 11-12 years.

[kitchen]

Please tell me what Owens has done that causes you to conclude that he is conservative.

[doug from upland]

It doesn't matter how phony she is. The RAT base and voter fraud will be there for her. I think she is better than even money to be the next president. The RATS were within 120,000 votes in Ohio of making a man the commander in chief who should have been tried for treason. The DemocRATS would elect a convicted child molestor or she gave them what they want.

[Tallguy]

Maybe, but she may have learned something in the last 11-12 years.

My comment was limited to whether Hillary possessed "guile". IMHO, she has none, and furthermore "guile" is not something that can be learned -- at least not at her age.

She'll run for President. She'll continue to make gaffes & mistakes. And the MSM will strain itself covering for them. But will it matter given the decline in credibility of the MSM? They couldn't save Kerry. I just don't know.

[b4its2late]

Here's to hoping she never sees the inside of the Lincoln bedroom again.

[jammer]

Sure, I see your point and hope you're correct. But, she's tricky and slick.