[Publius]

However, the Clintons are proving themselves to be far smarter than I had given them credit for before. They fully understand that if they're to succeed they need to lie their way into power, and that campaign is already beginning in earnest. And they don't need to fool the entire country, they only need to fool a relatively small percentage of the people in order to pull it off.

Concur. But She lacks the political instincts to pull it off, possessing a tin ear for opinions not shared by Herself. She has no patience with people less brilliant than Herself.

This is why there has been discussion in Congress about a constitutional amendment that would open the way for Arnold to run for president -- but would also repeal the 22nd Amendment and give Bill another shot at the top. Congressional Democrats don't share Her exalted opinion of Herself and think Bill has a better chance of regaining power for the party.

The key to why a splintering is so likely is that the Deaniacs are so far out of the mainstream that they will drive moderates away in droves. Zell Miller merely said he was still a Democrat, but one who was supporting Bush. The next defectors will not make that distinction.

[sweetliberty]

"She has no patience with people less brilliant than Herself."

She has no patience with people less brilliant than Herself she imagines herself to be.

[Zack Nguyen]

But She lacks the political instincts to pull it off, possessing a tin ear for opinions not shared by Herself.

I agree with you here to a degree. Senator Clinton in my opinion is not a particularly good politician. She is an average public speaker at best. She might find it difficult to relate to ordinary people because she is, first and foremost, an ideologue.

But that is where her husband comes in. The former President has a first-rate political antennae, and can tell Senator Clinton what to say and how to say it. It probably grates on her but she'll say what she has to say.