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How to beat Hillary in 2008
Enter Stage Right ^ | 2/13/06 | Rachel Alexander

Posted on 02/12/2006 9:48:24 PM PST by freespirited

Republicans are looking toward 2008 with increasing unease. Hillary Clinton's name recognition gives her a towering edge over any other Republican or Democrat candidate. Americans are ready for a female president, and Hillary is a logical choice, having more visibility than even any potential male candidate.

Nevertheless, Hillary's ascendancy can be overcome. She is assured to win the Democratic primary, but will have problems winning the general election. Her principal weakness? She is conspicuously lacking in charisma. As we have learned progressively since the arrival of television, personality counts considerably in national elections. How else would little-known Bill Clinton have emerged as the Democratic frontrunner in 1992, beating out better-known Democrats like Bob Kerrey and Richard Gephardt? The Republicans learned their lesson and nominated George W. Bush next, whose folksy demeanor was arguably the determining factor in his races against Al Gore and John Kerry. Undecided voters and independents decide elections. Many do not follow politics closely, acquiring their information from news sound bites. A few television clips of Hillary Clinton droning in her monotone, schoolmarm voice about "the children" or government healthcare will tune out all but her most allegiant supporters.

It is puzzling why Hillary has not corrected this weakness. She must realize her husband's charm was responsible for his career advancement - and hers. One would think she would take classes on how to improve her appeal. She no longer has Bill's coattails to ride on; he can be little more than a shadow in the background when she runs for President. The reality is Hillary probably cannot change her disposition. She has a bitterness to her, an angriness, that she does not want to set aside. It is such a deep part of who she is that she is unwilling or incapable of suppressing it. It is part feminist resentment and part anger toward her husband for his infidelity and apparent ease obtaining success. She begrudges the fact that her advancement in politics is mostly a result of her connection to him. She cannot leave him, because he still opens doors for her that wouldn't otherwise be opened (he will secure the Democratic presidential nomination for her), and she cannot be sure her popularity will remain as high if she abandons him.

Hillary is predisposed to releasing her bitterness in careless remarks like "the vast right-wing conspiracy," describing the House of Representatives as "run like a plantation," criticizing women who stay at home "baking cookies" instead of pursuing a career like her, and praising the "white suburbs" of her youth. These offensive remarks only exacerbate voters' negative perception of her.

Hillary is generally a dislikable person. One never hears people exclaim, "I just love Hillary Clinton!" There is something disturbing about her that most people can't put their finger on. Those who observe Hillary regularly know what it is. As Carl Cannon in Washington Monthly put it, perhaps voters will realize that "her marriage is a sham, and…she's an opportunist." For Hillary, holding public office is not about principles - it is about status and power.

New York Times best-selling author Edward Klein quotes a Hillary insider, a former campaign staffer, in his book, The Truth About Hillary, "She has this unbelievable ability to be a liar. She is soulless." Dick Morris describes some of these lies in his book, Rewriting History. Hillary has lied about how she got her name, how she met Bill, and about Chelsea Clinton jogging near the World Trade Center Towers on 9-11. These weren't just exaggerations, or suspected mistruths, they were lies that have since been distinctly exposed. Hillary told reporters that she was named after Sir Edmund Hillary, the first man to climb Mount Everest - but he didn't climb Mt. Everest until 1953, five and a half years after Hillary was born. Prior to that, he was an unknown beekeeper. Hillary has a problem telling the truth. This may not bother the consciences of her friends on the left, but it will disturb the swing voters in Middle America, who want honest leaders and the best for America.

There are other weaknesses of Hillary's that can be exploited as well. Hillary has tried to position herself toward the middle since becoming a Senator. Or has she? The liberal group Americans for Democratic Action gave her a 95 per cent rating in 2004, the same score as Barbara Boxer and socialist Representatives Jim McDermott and Bernie Sanders. The National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL) gave her a 100 per cent rating in 2003. Her 2004 rating from the American Conservative Union? 0. She was one of only 10 Senators to receive a score of 0. Other Senators receiving 0 included Ted Kennedy, John Edwards, John Kerry, and Joe Lieberman. Hillary's lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union is 9 per cent. This is lower than Diane Feinstein's lifetime score of 11 per cent. It is only slightly higher than John Kerry's lifetime score of 5 per cent and socialist Bernie Sanders' lifetime score of 6 per cent.

Hillary received an 8 per cent rating in 2004 from Citizens Against Government Waste, the same rating as socialist Bernie Sanders', and lower than Ted Kennedy's and John Kerry's 25 per cent, as well as Barbara Boxer's 29 per cent. Hillary received a 10 per cent rating in 2005 from Americans for Tax Reform - the same score as Ted Kennedy. She received a score of 0 from the Christian Coalition in 2003, and a 14 per cent from the Family Research Council - the same score as Robert Byrd and Washington state's liberal feminist Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell. Hillary's 2003 score from the Eagle Forum was 13 per cent, just one point higher than socialist Bernie Sanders' 12 per cent, and the same as Barbara Boxer, Chuck Schumer, and Maria Cantwell.

Hillary favors universal healthcare, and when she was put in charge of it at the Clinton White House, failed miserably. She has received a 100 per cent rating from the American Public Health Association (APHA) for her pro-government health record in the Senate.

Hillary is not a moderate, she comes from the liberal wing of the Democrat party. Media reports that she has been trying to position herself more to the middle are simply incorrect. The only issue she has moved to the right on is Iraq, reflected in a few of her votes, which isn't saying much, since Democrats in Congress are divided on the presence of troops in Iraq. Other than Iraq, her record on foreign policy and defense is really quite liberal. The Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy (SANE) gave Hillary a 100 per cent score in 2003 for a pro-peace voting record. She has voted for an international nuclear test ban treaty.

Her record on Israel is troubling. Although she has tried to pull back from her pro-Palestinian positions, because she is lacking in principles her maneuvering is seen as pandering for votes. It is hard to forget that Hillary was on the forefront of calling for the creation of a Palestinian state in 1998 - even before the Clinton White House had announced its support for one. As White House First Lady, she chose to attend a meeting of the Palestine National Council and praise Arafat. It is difficult to trust someone whose opinion on such a problematic issue swings from one extreme to the other.

A recent Fox News poll found that 44 per cent of registered voters expressed that "under no conditions" would they vote for Hillary. Only half as many voters said the same thing about Rudy Giuliani or John McCain. This leaves a lot of undecided voters that Hillary must pick up in order to win. Considering there are usually less than 10 per cent undecided voters in presidential elections, Hillary will not only have to pick up more than half of them, but 100 per cent of her Democratic base. In hypothetical matches polled, Giuliani beats Hillary by 11 percentage points, and McCain beats her by 13 percentage points. It is critical that Republicans put forth a candidate in 2008 with charisma. This is the decisive area in which they can beat Hillary. She can lie about her record, but she can't hide her sullen disposition in a sound bite.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; elections; hillary; hillary2008; hillaryclinton; mrsbillclinton; notmargaretthatcher
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To: freespirited

Beating Hillary in '08 is easy -same recipe as beating Bush. Run conservative. Run on an anti-illegal immigration platform and mean it. Run on an anti-offshoring of jobs platform and mean it. Run on a small government platform and mean it.
Promise to put more constructionists on the court and mean it.
Promise to severely further curb H-1 and L-1 Visas and mean it. Promise to protect the American economy and mean it.

Bottom line, if you want Roe overturned, that's nice. If you want terorists defeated once and for all, that's nice too. You can't do that if Americans are working at McDonalds because The big three automakers went under due to
unfair trade practices. You can't do it if people aren't making money to pay the taxes that fuel our ability to conduct wars or pay for our cultural battles. Bottom line, if you're pulling the economic rug out from under America, America won't be able to afford anything else. Time to get bottom line priorities in line and start putting people on the block in washington who won't tow the line! At some point, people have to stop waving the label conservative and actually live up to it. If they do, Hillary hasn't a prayer. If they don't, get ready for Hillary and 8 years of intern stories with her own version of the blue dress.


41 posted on 02/12/2006 11:17:53 PM PST by Havoc
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To: Thunder90

Maybe that's why Roberts has been laying low lately.


42 posted on 02/12/2006 11:33:30 PM PST by Uriah_lost (http://www.wingercomics.com/d/20051205.html)
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To: freespirited
"How to beat Hillary in 2008"

Shut-up and let her talk. That can turn anyone off. Screeching hag does not equal winner.
43 posted on 02/12/2006 11:54:45 PM PST by Anti-Christ is Hillary (If Moreen Dowd can call herself a journalist than so can I.)
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To: freespirited
Hillary Clinton's name recognition gives her a towering edge over any other Republican or Democrat candidate.

WRONG!!! McInsane or Rudy beats her in EVERY SINGLE POLL! Never listen to a pundit is wrong from the get-go.

44 posted on 02/13/2006 3:21:36 AM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: freespirited

"How to beat Hillary in 2008" Run anybody against her.


45 posted on 02/13/2006 4:27:07 AM PST by R.W.Ratikal
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To: Anti-Christ is Hillary

It's been a foregone conclusion for a long time that Hillary would get her presidency as part of some deal she struck with Bill. How do you think things will be around the Clinton household if she doesn't even get the candidacy? Bill had better get to work here, or the old ball and chain is going to pull his fun-pass.


46 posted on 02/13/2006 4:29:55 AM PST by Thebaddog (Dog can like cats who are cool)
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To: Luis Gonzalez

That should work because the ugly stick has been used.


47 posted on 02/13/2006 5:01:40 AM PST by Vaduz (and just think how clean the cities would become again.)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
The media propped Bubba's @ss up.

And they'll do the same for Hillary.

48 posted on 02/13/2006 5:10:10 AM PST by O6ret
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To: doug from upland

And we will see a third party perot rise up before too long.

Isnt anyone suspicious of all these hillary cant win stories? This is standerd MO for the clintoons. Release it early and get it out of the way.


49 posted on 02/13/2006 5:12:36 AM PST by winodog
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To: freespirited; Sic Luceat Lux; All
WHY HILLARY MUST NOT WIN. WHY HILLARY CANNOT WIN.

(ICKES + ESTRICH PROVIDE ROADMAP--oops!--FOR HILLARY DEFEAT)

Mia T, 12.10.05

ON THE FICTIONALIZED MEMOIR (HEAR HILLARY IN SF)~PART TWO~
THE (oops!) INADVERTENT ADMISSIONS OF HILLARY AND JANE IN SAN FRANCISCO



THE (oops!) INADVERTENT ADMISSIONS OF BILL + HILLARY CLINTON (HEAR HILLARY IN SF) ~PART ONE~


'HIATUS' FOR HILLARY?


HILLARY'S EXPOSED LEFT FLANK 'SCARES THE HORSES' (VIDEO)
(MISSUS CLINTON SUPPORTS ALITO FILIBUSTER)


CLINTON 'CULTURE OF CORRUPTION'


IS REUTERS SENDING A MESSAGE ABOUT A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HILLARY?


ON REJIGGING GALLUP'S LOSING NUMBERS FOR HILLARY
THE ALTERNATE UNIVERSE OF ANNE KORNBLUT



SEE VIDEO: "HILLARY IS 'DOOMED'" (more 'plantation' fallout)


GONE WITH THE WIND
(miss hillary's '
plantation' blunder)


REDACTION LOOPHOLE: ACCESS TO THE BARRETT REPORT


HILLARY CLINTON KNEW ABOUT THE RAPE: HEAR JUANITA BROADDRICK


ROCKEFELLER SEDITION: WHO IS CALLING THE SHOTS?


THE ABSURDITY OF A COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF HILLARY


for the birds
(THE INCOMPETENCE OF HILLARY CLINTON)


HILLARY FLUNKED D.C. BAR EXAM
"the smartest woman in the world" sought less competitive venue


HILLARY!?? WHAT IS THIS MORIBUND LOSER DOING IN THE POLITICAL ARENA, ANYWAY? (bill's bud explains)


IT TAKES A CLINTON TO RAZE A COUNTRY


 



COPYRIGHT MIA T 2006

50 posted on 02/13/2006 5:23:40 AM PST by Mia T (Stop Clintons' Undermining Machinations (The acronym is the message.))
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To: freespirited
She cannot leave him, because he still opens doors for her that wouldn't otherwise be opened (he will secure the Democratic presidential nomination for her), and she cannot be sure her popularity will remain as high if she abandons him.

Although this author makes some comments which are purely speculative (e.g., "Americans are ready for a female president"), the idea of Bill ramrodding her through the primary and the convention ought to irritate the hell out of the other democrat contenders. This could develop into intra-party warfare that could wreck havoc within the party.

It'll be fun to watch the self-destruction.

51 posted on 02/13/2006 5:49:22 AM PST by Rudder
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist
The media propped Bubba's @ss up. Jerry Brown and Paul Tsongas were both eating his lunch.

No, no, no, no. After a decade of political isolation Blacks made the calculation to support the candidate with the best chance of winning. All that 'Run, Jesse, run' stuff had gotten them nothing. And in any case Blacks find Southern Democrats quite congenial in a way they don't with Kerry style latte liberals. Now Clinton has the personal ability to fit in anywhere among any kind of people and that is a rare gift. He was able to get Black support so solid that he could Sistah Souljah Jesse Jackson (and Blacks understood that he did it because no Democrat could be seen as 'pandering' to Jesse Jackson and go on to win in November) and ignore his attempts to push him to the left.

Brown was frustrated by his inability to get Black support. Blacks pegged Brown as a McGovernite loser and decided that 80% of something is better than 100% of nothing. In desparation he announced during the NY primary that he might make Jackson his VP. It did not get him any Black votes but his Jewish support collapsed.

52 posted on 02/13/2006 5:51:03 AM PST by Sam the Sham (A conservative party tough on illegal immigration could carry California in 2008)
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To: Mia T

As is always the case, another superb post! Bttt


53 posted on 02/13/2006 6:38:28 AM PST by Sic Luceat Lux
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To: winodog

A third party made it possible for her rapist husband to win.


54 posted on 02/13/2006 7:53:55 AM PST by doug from upland (A dead body means one more chance for Democrats to have another funeral-op)
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To: freespirited
according to yesterday's CBS/NY TIMES poll of REGISTERED voters:

26% would vote FOR hillery regardless of opponent,

43% would vote AGAINST her regardless of opponent,

27% would consider voting FOR her, depending on who her opponent is &

4% refused to answer the question.

in other words, as of right now, she & i have about the same chance of ever being POTUS, i.e., NONE.

free dixie,sw

55 posted on 02/13/2006 8:04:55 AM PST by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to GOD. Thomas Jefferson, 1804)
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To: freespirited; All
according to yesterday's CBS/NY TIMES poll of REGISTERED voters:

26% would vote FOR hillery regardless of opponent,

43% would vote AGAINST her regardless of opponent,

27% would consider voting FOR her, depending on who her opponent is &

4% refused to answer the question.

in other words, as of right now, she & i have about the same chance of ever being POTUS, i.e., NONE.

free dixie,sw

56 posted on 02/13/2006 8:05:23 AM PST by stand watie (Resistance to tyrants is OBEDIENCE to GOD. Thomas Jefferson, 1804)
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To: devolve

Didn't realize you are such a Hillary fan :-)


57 posted on 02/13/2006 1:15:54 PM PST by Czar (StillFedUptotheTeeth@Washington)
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To: freespirited


At least with Hillary you know before hand what you'd be getting. Bill was able to cover his dishonesty and sedition with that deceiving "down home" charm of his. Hillary displays her hard socialist ideas with brass knuckles and a loud mouth.


58 posted on 02/13/2006 1:28:06 PM PST by Paperdoll (On the cutting edge)
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To: devolve
Just use more Spackle

From the Drudge Report;

Likely Challenger Lashes Out at Clinton

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/02/13/D8FODS201.html

59 posted on 02/13/2006 7:20:33 PM PST by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: freespirited
Just don't forget that Hildegarde's biological father won with only 30% of the vote!


60 posted on 02/13/2006 7:25:44 PM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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