Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

GOP Views Clinton As Virtually Unbeatable
The Politico ^ | 2/7/2007 | Carrie Sheffield and Jim VandeHei

Posted on 02/07/2007 5:48:59 AM PST by Mike Bates

What many conservatives regard as the nightmare scenario -- President Hillary Rodham Clinton -- is increasingly seen by veteran Republican politicians and strategists as a virtual inevitability.

In GOP circles, the Democratic front-runner is seen as so strong, and the political climate for Republicans so hostile, that many influential voices -- including current and former lawmakers, and veterans of President Bush's campaigns -- have grown despairing. These partisans describe a political equivalent of the stages of grief, starting with denial, then resentment and ending with acceptance.

For now, these Republicans say the party needs good luck, including a change of fortune in Iraq, and a revival of organization and leadership in the conservative movement to avert another Clinton presidency.

"If the conservative movement and Republicans don't understand how massive the Clinton coalition is, she will be the next president," former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay said in an interview last week, after giving a private talk to GOP lawmakers. Clinton will win, he added, "if we don't use everything available to us and motivate our base, the people that believe in us."

In his closed-door comments to conservative House members, DeLay warned of the wealth and political potency of the Clinton fundraising network.

"We do have to get our act together, and I'd agree with Tom DeLay on that," said Rep. Steve King of Iowa. "At this point, short an inspirational Republican nominee, then I would agree that it's going to be very difficult to beat Hillary if she wins the nomination."

Those comments echoed those by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich last month on Fox News:

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: elections; hillary; verrucktenfreude
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 241-243 next last
To: pissant
Too late. Edwards stepped in it too many times. With his pledge to raise taxes and his hiring of an anti-Catholic bigot, who I'm willing to bet will be fired by week's end.

Isn't he also on record admitting that he was too inexperienced to run for VP in 2004? And now in 2008, with no experience gained in the interim, he's running for President? I know the Republicans are viewed as the stupid party, but even they wouldn't pass up the opportunity presented there.

181 posted on 02/07/2007 7:21:51 AM PST by alnick
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 109 | View Replies]

To: jveritas

Hillary used to be able to put on a pretty good "Girl Next Door" (cack!) act but I haven't seen it in a while. She was trying and ended up implying Bill was a violent evil man. I should think the "end the war in Jan 2009" and "take the oil company profits" (all of them) would have killed the candidacy in the cradle, but she's still going.


182 posted on 02/07/2007 7:22:09 AM PST by ichabod1 ("Liberals read Karl Marx. Conservatives UNDERSTAND Karl Marx." Ronald Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 98 | View Replies]

To: Mike Bates
Who is 'ThePolitico' and what is their agenda?

That will tell me a lot about the credibility of this article.

183 posted on 02/07/2007 7:22:42 AM PST by Lazamataz (You are not your mind. You are not your emotions. You are not your pain. All you are is love.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pissant
I hope you're right, but, as much as I hate to say it, I heard the same story in the run up to the '06 elections, and we still got clobbered. If we see the same divisions in our party in '08 that we are already seeing here today, we're going to get creamed again.
184 posted on 02/07/2007 7:22:47 AM PST by chimera
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 167 | View Replies]

To: alnick

Plus, his opponents just have to show this to crush his chances..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AE847UXu3Q


185 posted on 02/07/2007 7:23:33 AM PST by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 181 | View Replies]

To: Mike Bates

I will vote for any Republican nominee that isn't Hilary Clinton. :)


186 posted on 02/07/2007 7:24:12 AM PST by KellyAdmirer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mike Bates
Never mind. These are hard-core leftists.

Take a look at the headlines of their 'Exclusives':

Huckabee Sees Iowa as Big Test 
Iraq War and History Favor the Democrats 
Green Party Seeks FEC Blessing As Big-Time Political Party, Fundraiser 
Why Not Skip the Speeches? 
MoveOn Already Attacking Senators Blocking Debate on Surge 
Campaign Financier Who Gave to Group McCain Criticized has Donated $4,200 to Arizona Senator 
Unity08 Plans to Field Fusion Ticket Aimed at Moderates 
Three GOP Senators Oppose Army Chief Nominee 
Behind the Clinton and Obama Landslides 
Entertainment Luminaries Press for Anti-Piracy Action, Boost for American Films 

187 posted on 02/07/2007 7:24:43 AM PST by Lazamataz (You are not your mind. You are not your emotions. You are not your pain. All you are is love.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ichabod1
should think the "end the war in Jan 2009" and "take the oil company profits" (all of them) would have killed the candidacy in the cradle, but she's still going.

The primaries are far long from starting and people are not paying attention yet.

188 posted on 02/07/2007 7:25:31 AM PST by jveritas (Support The Commander in Chief in Times of War)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 182 | View Replies]

To: chimera

The GOP leaders earned the loss. They will need to learn the lessons of 06.


189 posted on 02/07/2007 7:25:35 AM PST by pissant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 184 | View Replies]

To: Blackirish

"Any of whom could beat Hillary."


Any of whom would be nearly as bad as Hillery, move us even further to the left to make socialists like you happy!


190 posted on 02/07/2007 7:26:43 AM PST by antisocial (Texas SCV - Deo Vindice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 176 | View Replies]

To: Mike Bates
The Politico and thepolitico.com are being financed "by the deep pockets of Allbritton Communications and overseen by John Harris, the former political editor of The Washington Post, and Jim VandeHei, a former national political reporter for The Post.

'Nuff said.

Believe none of this.

191 posted on 02/07/2007 7:26:56 AM PST by Lazamataz (You are not your mind. You are not your emotions. You are not your pain. All you are is love.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: spikeytx86
1. The Democratic base is only slightly more thrilled with her then ours is, and they are more likely to sit home then ours is as well.

They may be, but Democrats have been out of the White House for 8 years and in the end their base is not going to risk 4-8 more because she isn't their dream candidate.

2. She is barely over 50% in likability and in people who MAY consider voting for her and the campaign ain't even started it yet.

I agree- I think the base will fall into line, but independent voters? Many are turned off by her and I don't think she can win over the number she would need to in order to win the election. A lot of this factor will ride on the campaign itself, as well as who we nominate.

3.With the DEM's in control, anything bad that happens tarnishes them now and not just us.

Yes, but probably not equally given 1) the media and 2) the fact that most casual voters find it easier to identify the government with the president rather than Congress

I don't think that Clinton is "unbeatable", but I would say that Republicans have a tough battle to keep the White House, given the lackluster choices and voter fatigue. Voters tend to fickle and have short memories.

192 posted on 02/07/2007 7:28:28 AM PST by LWalk18
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 46 | View Replies]

To: twonie
Excellent point!

The swiftboaters managed to sink Kerry. Hitlery can (and MUST) be beaten.

193 posted on 02/07/2007 7:28:37 AM PST by Churchillspirit (We are all foot soldiers in this War On Terror.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Mike Bates
No, no. We just need to keep up our brilliant stragegery of bashing every Republican candidate who doesn't fit our ideal 100%, then promote an absolutely unelectable guy who does. That's the ticket.
194 posted on 02/07/2007 7:28:38 AM PST by TChris (The Democrat Party: A sewer into which is emptied treason, inhumanity and barbarism - O. Morton)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: RockinRight

"How is Newt a liberal?"

He agrees with Hillery on national health care(socialism).
He wants amnesty for 20 million illegal aliens, just a little slower than Bush.


195 posted on 02/07/2007 7:29:54 AM PST by antisocial (Texas SCV - Deo Vindice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 178 | View Replies]

To: Sir Francis Dashwood
Great!

Thanks.

196 posted on 02/07/2007 7:31:06 AM PST by Churchillspirit (We are all foot soldiers in this War On Terror.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Blackirish

"You don't have a candidate this round."

Thompson, Hunter, Newt, most anyone that wouldn't cause have the Republicans to puke and just stay home or vote for some third party.


197 posted on 02/07/2007 7:31:42 AM PST by Beagle8U
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 176 | View Replies]

To: Wallace T.
If the GOP establishment.....would look for another Ronald Reagan...

Duncan Hunter.....look no further.

198 posted on 02/07/2007 7:34:41 AM PST by Churchillspirit (We are all foot soldiers in this War On Terror.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: antisocial

Who do you like for '08? Ideally, I mean.


199 posted on 02/07/2007 7:35:57 AM PST by RockinRight (What I want in '08: Gingrich's politics, Reagan's appeal, and Tancredo's immigration stance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 195 | View Replies]

To: Veto!
I hope your friend is correct.
200 posted on 02/07/2007 7:36:15 AM PST by Churchillspirit (We are all foot soldiers in this War On Terror.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 161-180181-200201-220 ... 241-243 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson