Posted on 05/07/2006 7:29:33 AM PDT by Kaslin
Newsweek columnist Eleanor Clift says that Democrats shouldn't fear nominating Hillary Clinton as their presidential standard bearer in 2008, claiming that Republicans were just as nervous about Ronald Reagan's White House bid in 1980.
"I was trying to think, who in my lifetime has been such a dominant frontrunner and yet people had been nervous about his electability - and I came up with Ronald Reagan," Clift told the Fox News Channel's "Fox and Friends" on Sunday.
The Newsweek scribe noted that Reagan "was the oldest person, at that time, to try to contest for the presidency as a frontrunner."
"He was a grade-B movie actor," she said, failing to mention Reagan's two terms as governor of the nation's largest state. "He had orange hair. And a lot of Republicans worried that he couldn't be elected."
"And look what happened," Clift said, referring to Reagan's two electoral landslides
One key difference, she said, would be Bill Clinton.
"That adds to the uncertain terrain," Clift told Fox. "It's very difficult to figure out what you're going to do with him" as First Man.
Whether Democrats are comfortable nominating Hillary or not may be a moot question, Clift warned, since she practically has the top prize locked up.
"When you look at who could challenge her and get around her in the primaries . . . it's very difficult to see who can run to her left - which is where the grassroots Democrats are in the primaries - and be a credible nominee.
Eleanor Clift is still running around loose? I had forgotten all about her.
She's not loose. She is tethered to Hill's ankle.
*cue John MacEnroe voice*: "You cannot be serious!"
This is easily this funniest thread I've seen on FR in six months.
Hilly needs a sex change operation. The cost would be paid for under her health care plan. Oh, I forgot that plan flopped. She will have to do another cattle futures deal.
EEEEEEW! Of course she's always been a Clinton suck-up...
Eleanor Clift Like Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus can be cured.
Hillary is a man?
No. She just plays one in politics.
HilaryCare is to Reagan what Elenor is to Intellegence.
Pray for W and Our Troops
ROTFLMAO. They are really trying like the dickens to move ol Hillary to the conservative. I suspect it's another of the Clinton bag of tricks as usual.
You could make the case, though, that she's going to be the Nixon or Mitterand of our era: a highly controversial and very divisive figure, hated by many, who manages to reach the top of the tree through persistence and cunning.
If there's real discontent with Bush and the Republicans she may win, but I have to wonder whether she's really the mastermind or dark eminence she's been made out to be. She's gotten as far as she has because of Bill Clinton. Does she have what it takes to go the next steps on her own? Or does she need a front man to win people over?
True... but so are you..
Hillary WILL BE the next democrat candidate..
And probably the next president(add Bubba)...
The republicans will choose a RINO.. which will NOT elected..
President Bush is working hard as we speak to ensure that happens..
Not all say, ON PURPOSE, but I do.. Because I believe president Bush is NOT stupid..
The bizarre orange hair comment is nothing if not telling about Ms. Clift's mental condition.
Yea, she had that locked up when she married her psychological twin.
I realized the same scenario until I woke up in a cold sweat from a nightmare.
You have more faith in this accomplishment then the political Diva of folklore herself has.
Fact Number four: Ronald Reagan had trim ankles.
Fact Number Five: Ronald Reagan had a pleasant voice to listen to, speech or conversation.
In 1976? Perhaps. In 1980? No way in hell! By 1980, every Republican as well as half the Democrats realized what a mistake had been made in 1976. If Reagan had only been elected then, we wouldn't have had to suffer the four worst years in American history known as the Carter years.
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.