Under normal circumstances, I'd agree that as of 2008 the United States would not elect the likes of Hillary. I think the US will still naturally favor a conservative for at least a couple more elections, but that doesn't mean that events, and the media, couldn't conspire to elect Hillary.
I could see the war on terror cutting both ways; if things are quiet and Iraq is stable then Americans might overlook that Hillary would be commander-in-chief, while if its bad, people might be fed up and vote for someone they think will get us out asap.
If the economy is bad. If gas prices are still so high. If the corruption charge still has play....it could happen. And we shouldn't let up our guard, especially since the media will make it their number one goal to make Hillary synonomous with 'moderate' and 'centrist.'
My biggest concern is McCain pulling a Ross Perot by running independant and screwing us over by splitting the conservative vote.
I don't think Hillary can get more than 50% of the vote. Rush made a good point. a) Bill never got 50%. b) This is the best Hillary is ever going to look to people. She has gotten nothing but wonderful press for 13 years now...no opposing views of her. No real, genuine scrutiny. She's not going to be able to do that through a campaign.
The only way she wins it is if we can't put up a good candidate or if McCain successfully splits us up. We totally need to be on guard for that....remember the result of Perot. Eight years of one of the worst Presidents in American history.
I'm not so sure that Hillary will even win the nomination in 2008.
She will run to the middle, as she has in every campaign. The radicals control the party now, and I think probably will two years from now as well. They will not hold their nose and vote for a centrist again, I don't think. They are too angry.