Hmmmm. Maybe.
Posted on 02/02/2006 1:46:05 PM PST by FerdieMurphy
Political junkies are witnessing a true phenomenon in presidential politics: more than two years before the next presidential election cycle there's a movement to target someone considered by the news media and pundits to be a frontrunner in 2008 -- Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Even with softball interviews by the likes of Katie Couric and Diane Sawyer, and with almost a daily practice by some members of the mainstream news media of publishing her press releases as if they were news, Hillary Clinton is facing tough opposition not only from Republicans but also from members of her own party.
Right after a poll showed last week that most Americans would “definitely” not vote for her, Senator John Kerry suddenly sprung to life on the ski slopes of Switzerland to head up an attempt at filibustering the confirmation of US Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alito. It's no secret within the Beltway that Kerry believes he has a shot at the presidency even after losing to President Bush in 2004. There's no doubt that Kerry monitors the polls that are showing Hillary is vulnerable to attack from both the right and the left.
In fact, there are many Republicans storing their symbolic "flip-flop" sandals for the next Presidential campaign since Clinton is all over the place on issues, taking positions based on whom she's addressing. She's for tough border security, but votes no on legislation that would increase the number of border agents and detention beds. She claims she supports the war, but says she's sorry she voted to go to war after the reigning queen of the anti-war movement, Cindy Sheehan, spanked her in California by calling her a warmonger. She wants to curtail illegal immigration, but she also wants to provide illegal immigrants with education and healthcare.
Former staff members in Bill Clinton’s White House are privately saying she could be a risky choice. To the left, an anti-war “stop Hillary” movement is gathering traction, threatening her ability to unite the Democrats. Which is possibly why Al Gore is criss-crossing the US giving the most vitriolic speeches for left-wing groups such as MoveOn.Org. He too envisions another shot at the White House prize.
According to the Sunday Times, Mike McCurry, Bill Clinton’s White House press secretary, claims he fears the 2008 campaign could be brutal for the former first lady. He said he remembers how she became a “lightning rod” for conservatives during her husband’s years in office.
“She has proven that she works hard at being senator and does that job well, but bringing the country together and moving it in a different direction is an entirely different matter,” McCurry said. “It is very hard to reinvent yourself in politics.”
However, McCurry proves that old habits, such as blowing smoke when it comes to the Clintons, are hard to break. Ask McCurry what piece of legislation Hillary has sponsored and you will get a glazed look. When New Yorkers are asked what's she done for New York State or for the nation, besides bloviating at functions and hobnobbing with the Manhattan and Hollywood elite, they usually answer with abstract notions such as "she gives us hope."
It's the same reaction you get if you ask African-Americans what Bill Clinton, the "first black president" did for them in his eight years in office. They think and think and then say, "He gave us hope." Hope doesn't pay the rent, feed the kids or make car payments. The true answer for both Clintons is: they do nothing but talk your ears off.
A CNN/Gallup/USA Today poll last week found that 51% of Americans “definitely” would not vote for Hillary and only 16% said they definitely would. Among men, 60% said they would not vote for her. And 43% of women said they wouldn't vote for her either.
“Ultimately the issue is: do we turn to something new? We’ve been through the Clintons, we’ve been through the Gores, we’ve been through the Kerrys, all of whom are known quantities in politics,” said Leon Panetta, a driving force within the Democrat Party and a Bill Clinton loyalist.
The Democrats have a new rising star in Mark Warner, who recently stepped down as governor of the conservative state of Virginia. His proven appeal to moderate voters is attracting Democrats of all shades who are eager to win, but he remains little known on the national scene at this point. However, that is likely to change as the perception of Senator Clinton as damaged good starts to take hold within the Democrat Party.
The doubts about Clinton’s electabilty are growing almost with each speech. On Martin Luther King's Birthday, during a memorial in Harlem, Hillary chose to attack Republicans rather than honor the civil rights icon. She even managed to include the words "plantation" and "Republicans" in the same sentence in order to continue the myth of Republican racism.
Talk host Laura Ingraham was incensed over Hillary's playing of the race card. Ingraham told her listeners it was a speech designed to create fear in blacks that the evil Republicans can't be trusted. Even news stories about her ignoring washed-up Calypso singer Harry Belafonte at a New York function were promulgated to protect her from being linked to the rantings of an ignorant fool who prides himself as an intellectual.
Conservatives know that Hillary's heart is with Belafonte, but her mind wants to reside once again in the White House. As with singer Madonna, Hillary tries and tries to reinvent herself and it could have worked had there been no Internet news and blogs, no talk radio, and no Fox News Channel.
Clinton’s small successes with voters in the small towns in New York is seen as proof that she can win over conservatives, although according to last week’s poll, 90% of Republicans will “definitely” not vote for her. Even New York Democrats -- many of whom are former Reagan Democrats -- may be comfortable with her warming a seat in the senate, but giving her the power of President and Commander-in-Chief is a horse -- or donkey -- of a different color.
New Republic magazine, the left-wing weekly, argues in its current issue that the voters of rural New York bear little comparison to diehard Republican voters in the South and Midwest. “She is going to have to bring something else to the national stage,” it warned.
So folks, the Stop Hillary train is leaving the station. And it's coming to a station near you.
Hmmmm. Maybe.
Reuters took the photo.
Posted yesterday here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1569321/posts
"And just what do you think you're doing off the plantation, Sheila?"
Well, Vince Foster would vote for her had she not had him commit "suicide" like he did.
'Course, Hillary doesn't have Ross Perot working for her, either. She'd have to take more than 50% of the vote, which Bill never did.
Wouldn't put it past them.
For some reason they seem to like Wesley Clark, something that has always escaped me.
Names to watch right now--
Warner- red state Dem choice. Seen as a "moderate" (Liberal) Southern Governor
Bayh and Feingold- red or purple state going extreme liberal and hope geography covers the spread
Gore- He's what Kerry wants to be, died in the wool Leftist that the base loves now.
Wesley Clark-don't ask me why. Maybe it's the uniform, but the left seems to like him for reasons I can't understand. Unlikely candidate, but I'm putting him in the group because I don't understand the appeal, so can't dismiss it.
Clinton- main asset is nostalgia for the last days Dems contolled Washington. Triangulation is dead, though, so not front runner at this time.
It's all a trick.....don't fall for it.....The
Clintons will trick you all..only Rush and us dittoes
know the drill....so wait til we alert you...Jake
Anyone the far-left commie loony retards at DU support,is a sure bet for a loser.(Although they're also right about Hitlery-a stopped clock is right twice a day. And the reason they're so against Her Heinous is because they think she's too "centrist"!!!!!)
It will be worth the price of admission to Watch Mr. Heinz-Kerry try to attack Hillary from both the left and right at the same time.... "I was on her right before I was on her left!"
The primary season will be fun if nothing else.
She's wearing her "puffy" face.
Thank heaven algore had the foresight to invent the internet!
Cripes, for the next 2 years we have to listen to the posturing of Hitlery AND Kerry. I might've been able to tolerate one or the other, but good grief - not both!
It is amazing
Yes it was at the SOTU speech and the circumstances was Belzibob was trying to get out and make and appearance and she was trying her best to keep him inside.
Be sure and add Gore to the list of posturers...
Kerry, Clinton, Gore...they will make the Three Stooges look like Mensa members..
I too find it a mystery why the Left is attracted to Wesley Clark. Possibly it's the deep current of fascism in them.
Nevertheless, it's going to be Edwards next time, he's young and exciting to them, and his populist message makes it unnecessary for him to climb out on a limb with anti-war rhetoric---or any other gimmick that is both loony and freshness-dated. Populism is perennially appealing and he has a corner on it right now.
It may seem strange that someone who now holds no elective office could win the nomination, but try to see it from the perspective of the average Dem voter. He's an outsider now, and he's so photogenic. Stand him up against that mummified John Kerry, or the harridan Hillary, or the kooky Dean or Kucinich, or the aging and bland-spoken Clark, and the average Dem will pick Edwards every time.
Mark my words, Edwards will win handily against all these people. And if we run somebody stale, bipolar, or mummified, Edwards will beat him too.
Do I have any suggestions? No. :( I like Allen but I'm not sure he can swim upstream against the media and win the White House. Whereas Edwards will have the MSM in his pocket.
The graveyards will always be full, and always increasing in population
Sad thing for the country is she probably is the sanest Dem.
If her negative numbers stay that high, she'll have to engineer a third-party candidacy to make it into the White House. After all, 57% of Americans did not vote for Bill Clinton in 1992.
Looks like my prediction that Hillary won't get the nod for '08 might be proven right sooner than expected.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.