GOP leaders are meeting to try to find someone to run who could defeat Hillary.

[Thinkingabout]

[RoverSuswade]

1. Fast forward to November 15th 2016:

"GOP leaders are meeting to try to find someone to run who could defeat Hillary in 2020".

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. We fight the Hillary Inevitibility train here at DU. Republicans, however, have surrenderd to it.

There is a lesson in there somewhere.

[Thinkingabout]

3. Where is the Hillary Inevitibility train?

I want to see a primary, it is a means of providing where the candidates are on issues and their ability to handle the job of presidency. The primary is a good place to sharpen the skills of the candidates. Perhaps the larger picture should be realized, the primaries will occur and however the vote turns out then this will be the answer. Currently right now I am behind Hillary, I have followed the Clintons since 1980, know her record, know her experience and know she has experience to do the job.

[Agnosticsherbet]

5. I hear talk about around here, but I have never ridden on it.

Last edited Wed Feb 11, 2015, 02:26 PM - Edit history (1)

As to other candidates. So far, Jim Webb seems a go, but his statements in an interview with NPR makes him an unacceptable choice.

Bernie Sanders is still in the mulling it over stage. He has said if the runs it will be as a Democrat. I will wait until he joins the party to wave the Sanders flag. I would support him over Clinton in the Democratic primary.

Warner has announced five times that she is not running. Since her close advisor, Mandy Grunwald, announced she is joining Clinton's team, I think Warner is even less likely to hearken to the call. I will consider her a contender only if she makes a formal announcement that she is changing her mind. Until then, it is not worth discussing.

Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland, is exploring a run. But everything I've read so far indicates that he isn't running against Hillary Clinton, and some have said he is doing this to keep his name near the top of the list of VP candidates.

There are a few others who have said they are interested, but they haven't hired anyone or come close to a decision.

The Republican Clown car has become so full that they will need to get a stretch Limo to get to the circus.

Democrats just don't seem to have a lot of people considering the job.

[davidpdx]

45. The field on the D side is going to remain locked until Clinton says whether she's running

It's doubtful anyone will announce until she declares one way or the another.

[Agnosticsherbet]

66. Jim Webb and Martin O'Malley have already declared their intent with an exploratory committee.

Martin O'Malley looks pretty good, Jim Webb looks like the worst Democratic choice of the three.

In a primary between Clinton, O'Malley, and Webb right now, I'd vote for O'Malley. Between Clinton and Webb, I'd vote for Clinton.

NOTE: Bernie Sanders most recent statement that he doesn't think he can collect enough money to run disappointed me. If he does decide to join the fray as a Democratic Candidate, my choices would be (1) Sanders, (2) O'Malley, (3) Clinton, (4) Webb.

[davidpdx]

77. Neither have officially announced

With just an exploratory committee it is pretty easy to backout of the process. I still see it as a locked field. It's possible once Clinton announces O'Malley will abandon his exploratory committee.

[Agnosticsherbet]

82. Neither has Clinton, but they have an exploratory committee and are picking people

to work in their campaign.

Some articles I read about O'Malley suggsted that his goal is to get to the top of the list for the VP slot.

And really, if anyone doesn't run becaue they are afraid to take on Clinton in a Primary, they are not a good choice for President.

[davidpdx]

90. I agree with you on that last line

But we all know there is a hierarchy in our party and which specific family is at the top of that hierarchy.

[Agnosticsherbet]

91. If anyone doesn't run becaue they are afraid to take on Clinton in a Primary, they are not a good

choice for President.

President is not a job for the timid. That alone disqualifies the best people for President, sadly.

[apnu]

87. Its alive and well in the GOP apparently.

If they're running around trying to defeat Hillary now, instead of working on a platform for 2016 and viable candidates, they're dead already.

[Thinkingabout]

88. Sounds if some are working for the Rove group.

[FBaggins]

6. Perhaps they've "surrenderd to it"

Or perhaps it's what they're hoping for.

[TeamPooka]

7. If you were reading the poll numbers of every GOP potential candidate for 2016 compared to Hillary

head to head then you would not be hoping for it.

That said, I've heard this "Hillary is inevitable" thing before in 2007.

[FBaggins]

9. Most of them have been in politics long enough that they know that's irrelevant

That's name recognition. The only thing they could tell you at this point is if she's in trouble... not that she's unbeatable.

[TeamPooka]

10. Your downplaying "name recoginition" in politics?

If you're just going to make up stuff about what's important to win elections then there's no point in discussing this with you.

[FBaggins]

11. Lol... nope. I'm telling you what it means.

If there's a dramatic gap in name recognition between two candidates (because it's almost two years before the election and one name has been in the White House for eight years... and a senator... AND secretary of state - while the other name is governor of a mid-sized state for just over one term) - a double-digit gap simply doesn't have any meaning.

Name recognition can impact congressional elections on down... but everyone knows the presidential candidates by the time they pull the lever. So there's no such thing as "name recognition is important to win elections" when you're talking about a presidential run late next year.

[Agnosticsherbet]

14. They read polls and know that whoever they nominate must appeal to Centrists and Independents.

It s normal to call Republican's stupid, but their leadership are not stupid. They understand politics.

Clinton trounces everyone, even beating Jeb Bush in Florida (a state they know they have to win to get to the White House.) There is almost no route to the right number of electoral votes without Florida.

They have moved to control the number of debates, how they are conducted, and who conducts them. That killed them last time. The leadership recognizes they have a clown car and most of their candidates are clowns. They are trying to control it by forcing clowns to wear normal people masks.

They can read polls and even though Hillary may not be very popular in large chunks of DU, she is remarkably well liked by Democrats and independents who don't spend their time discussing and cussing politics. She is hated by the right because she is one of those liberal Clintons. (that is their POV, which does not necessarily match reality).

Republicans also know that neither Blacks nor Hispanics are going to vote for them in large numbers. They know they have a problem with women voters.

They are going to back a candidate and then sell that candidate as the most likely to win because that Candidate appeals to independents and centrists. Their electorate likes clowns, but if you look at the winners of their primaries, you will notice that they never nominate a clown. Bush Sr, Bob Dole, Bush Jr, McCain, and Romney were always sold as serious conservative men who appealed to independents as well as the right wing conservatives.

Whoever in the current crop of candidates is most like the above group will be the nominee.

[Alittleliberal]

81. Gotta be Kasich

He's the only one that scares me.

[merrily]

29. A couple of years ago, Joe Scarborough said a number of times that he loved Hillary.

I didn't believe him. And, of course, he will do his best to shred any Democrat who actually runs, including Hillary.

Not that he is anything to go by, but he does have a big mouth, though not such a big audience.

[R. P. McMurphy]

12. Maybe she is inevitable, but she can be pushed to the left. nt

[Thinkingabout]

16. She is as far left as Elizabeth Warren, I am nit sure she should go further left.

[djean111]

26. No, no she cannot. She can SPEECHIFY to the left, though. That's all she will do.

[daleanime]

34. +1

[merrily]

30. Any Democrat can SEEM to be pushed a bit to the left in a primary, even a founding member of the DLC

How they will run in the general is a different issue. So is how they will govern.

It's a classic shell game in which the marks always lose. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_game

[djean111]

27. You don't speak for everyone at DU, either. By any means. People can post their thoughts

and feelings without your permission. And will continue to do so.

"TeaLeft"? As if the Left wants the same things as the Tea Party? That's meant to be a put-down, but it just crystallizes for me that Hillary and Co. are not actually Democrats, or the Democratic Party has pretty much oozed to the right, greased by all the Wall Street money.

[merrily]

43. +1 "TeaLeft," my ass.

[davidpdx]

46. +2 "TeaLeft," my ass.

[merrily]

31. Everyone is prepared on day 1, with the possible exception of Harrison. Days 2 -1461, maybe not.

[onehandle]

4. Last item on that meetings' agenda: On what date do we give up on our nominee...

...and concentrate on keeping Congress?

[TeamPooka]

8. Note: We don't have Congress right now. Not sure if you know that.

Are you paying attention?
Holding the White House is the only way to stop the GOP Congress.

[onehandle]

17. The OP was about the GOP meeting. Not the Democrats. nt

[merrily]

32. "Keeping" Congress? Reince, is that you?

Good point, though, especially since the meme here is that the President can't do a thing. (Unless, of course, the President is getting praised for doing something.)

Also, state and local elections are important.

[blkmusclmachine]

13. Hillary is former Wal Mart Board member ('86-'92) and Goldwater Girl.

[Thinkingabout]

15. You know Goldwater ran in 1964, Hillary was not old enough to vote.

In 1968 she worked for Hubert Humphrey. Yes she was on the Walmart board, worked for women to get promotions and "Buy America", which Walmart was doing while she was on the board. She was also in the Obama Administration Cabinet, both places where she gained more experience.

[merrily]

35. She attended the Republican convention in 1968.

[merrily]

42. She attended the 1968 RNC and worked for Ford. There's been a lot of historical revisionism.

Last edited Wed Feb 11, 2015, 08:15 AM - Edit history (1)

She became a Democrat after meeting Bill. They when they both worked in Texas on the McGovern campaign.

http://www.factcheck.org/2008/03/hillary-worked-for-goldwater/

[bornskeptic]

94. So you respond with historical revisionism of your own?

She worked against Richard Nixon, but she worked for Nelson Rockefeller, not Gerald Ford. That's a huge difference. Rockefeller was a RINO if there ever was one. When Humphrey won the Democratic nomination, he offered Rockefeller the second spot on the ticket. Unfortunately, he turned it down. If he had accepted, it's likely they would have won and we would have never had to suffer through a Nixon presidency.

[merrily]

95. Nothing I posted was historic revisionism. No matter how you slice and dice, the reality is Ford

Last edited Sun Feb 15, 2015, 03:52 PM - Edit history (1)

and Rockefeller were both Republicans.

Comments saying she wasn't even vote when she was a Goldwater Girl imply that she cast her first vote for a Democrat. That is the revisionism to which I was responding.

[libdem4life]

19. I was a Goldwater Girl...what of it? (Also been a good deal in corporate America)

[NYC Liberal]

23. She was a "Goldwater Girl" for a few months as a teenager raised by a right-wing

father. Many people evolved as they grew up.
Elizabeth Warren was a Republican for decades as a grown woman.

[merrily]

39. Hillary was a Republican longer than she was a Goldwater Girl. After that, she was Third Way and

still is. Founding member of the DLC, who traveled to other nations with Al From to spread the DLC gospel. As a Senator, she advocated for the Iraq War, which the DLC and its offshoots supported.

See also Reply 42.

[NYC Liberal]

53. Nope. Hillary is a liberal Democrat, despite what you might hear on DU.

I know a tiny minority likes to tell people how terrible Hillary is and how she's this evril right-wing crusader, but as Pres. Obama told Romney at the debate -- "It just isn't true."

I will be proud to vote for her next year.

Strongly Favors topic 1:
Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right
(+5 points on Social scale)

Lift ban on stem cell research to cure devastating diseases: Favors topic 1
Respect Roe v. Wade, but make adoptions easier too: Favors topic 1
Alternatives to pro-choice like forced pregnancy in Romania: Strongly Favors topic 1
Must safeguard constitutional rights, including choice: Favors topic 1
Remain vigilant on a woman’s right to chose: Favors topic 1
Keep abortion safe, legal and rare: Favors topic 1
Being pro-choice is not being pro-abortion: Favors topic 1
Supports parental notice & family planning: Opposes topic 1
No abortion for sex selection in China: Opposes topic 1
Voted liberal line on partial birth & harm to fetus: Favors topic 1
Endorsed Recommended by EMILY's List of pro-choice women: Favors topic 1
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1
Expand embryonic stem cell research: Favors topic 1
Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women: Favors topic 1
Sponsored bill for emergency contraception for rape victims: Favors topic 1
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance: Strongly Favors topic 1
Provide emergency contraception at military facilities: Favors topic 1
Ensure access to and funding for contraception: Favors topic 1
Focus on preventing pregnancy, plus emergency contraception: Favors topic 1
NO on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion: Strongly Favors topic 1
NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP: Favors topic 1
NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life: Strongly Favors topic 1
NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime: Favors topic 1
YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives: Favors topic 1
NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions: Favors topic 1
YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines: Favors topic 1

Strongly Favors topic 2:
Legally require hiring women & minorities
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Some world leaders are still misogynistic: Favors topic 2
Some world leaders are still misogynistic: Favors topic 2
We’ve come a long way on race, but we have a long way to go: Strongly Favors topic 2
Apologize for slavery, but concentrate on civil rights now: Favors topic 2
Human rights are women’s rights: Neutral on topic 2
Women’s rights are human rights: Favors topic 2
OpEd: "18 million cracks" meant "lingering sexism": Strongly Favors topic 2
Equal pay is not yet equal: Strongly Favors topic 2
1988: Instituted gender diversity Report Card within ABA: Strongly Opposes topic 2
Argued with Bill Clinton about diluting affirmative action: Strongly Favors topic 2
Shift from group preferences to economic empowerment of all: Neutral on topic 2
Sponsored bill maintaining role of women in armed forces: Favors topic 2
Rated 96% by the NAACP, indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance: Strongly Favors topic 2
Recognize Juneteenth as historical end of slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2
Re-introduce the Equal Rights Amendment: Strongly Favors topic 2
Reinforce anti-discrimination and equal-pay requirements: Favors topic 2
Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue: Favors topic 2
Sponsored bill enforcing against gender pay discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 2

Strongly Favors topic 3:
Comfortable with same-sex marriage
(+5 points on Social scale)

Increase America’s commitment against Global AIDS: Favors topic 3
I re-evaluated & changed my mind on gay marriage: Favors topic 3
DOMA discrimination holds us back from a more perfect union: Strongly Favors topic 3
I support gay marriage personally and as law: Strongly Favors topic 3
Let states decide gay marriage; they’re ahead of feds: Favors topic 3
2004:defended traditional marriage; 2006:voted for same-sex: Strongly Favors topic 3
Federal Marriage Amendment would be terrible step backwards: Favors topic 3
Gays deserve domestic partnership benefits: Strongly Favors topic 3
Military service based on conduct, not sexual orientation: Favors topic 3
More funding and stricter sentencing for hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3
Rated 89% by the HRC, indicating a pro-gay-rights stance: Strongly Favors topic 3
Provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees: Strongly Favors topic 3
YES on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes: Strongly Favors topic 3
NO on constitutional ban of same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3

No opinion on topic 4:
Keep God in the public sphere
(0 points on Social scale)

Partner with faith based community in empowerment zones: Strongly Favors topic 4
Tap into churches to avoid more Louima & Diallo cases: Favors topic 4
Community involvement helps, but only in short term: Favors topic 4
Link payments to good parenting behavior: Opposes topic 4
Allow student prayer, but no religious instruction: Opposes topic 4
Character education: teach empathy & self-discipline: Favors topic 4
Change what kids see in the media: Favors topic 4
Co-sponsored bill to criminalize flag-burning: Favors topic 4
Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-Family-Value voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 4
Rated 100% by the AU, indicating support of church-state separation: Strongly Opposes topic 4
NO on recommending Constitutional ban on flag desecration: Opposes topic 4

Strongly Favors topic 5:
Expand ObamaCare
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Outcry if AIDS were leading disease of young whites: Favors topic 5
Lower costs and improve quality and cover everybody: Strongly Favors topic 5
Supply more medical needs of families, & insure all children: Strongly Favors topic 5
Medicare should be strengthened today: Favors topic 5
Smaller steps to progress on health care: Favors topic 5
Guaranteed benefits & focus on prevention: Neutral on topic 5
2006: If I can't do universal coverage, why run?: Strongly Favors topic 5
Universal health care will not work if it is voluntary: Strongly Favors topic 5
Universal health care coverage by the end of my second term: Strongly Favors topic 5
We need a uniquely American solution to health care: Favors topic 5
Health care initiatives are her first priority in Senate: Strongly Favors topic 5
Establish "report cards" on HMO quality of care: Favors topic 5
Invest funds to alleviate the nursing shortage: Favors topic 5
Let states make bulk Rx purchases, and other innovations: Opposes topic 5
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record: Strongly Favors topic 5
Preserve access to Medicaid & SCHIP during economic downturn: Strongly Favors topic 5
NO on means-testing to determine Medicare Part D premium: Favors topic 5
NO on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit: Favors topic 5
NO on $40 billion per year for limited Medicare prescription drug benefit: Opposes topic 5
YES on increasing Medicaid rebate for producing generics: Favors topic 5
YES on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug: Strongly Favors topic 5
YES on expanding enrollment period for Medicare Part D: Favors topic 5
NO on limiting medical liability lawsuits to $250,000: Opposes topic 5
YES on requiring negotiated Rx prices for Medicare part D: Favors topic 5
YES on overriding veto on expansion of Medicare: Favors topic 5

Strongly Opposes topic 6:
Privatize Social Security
(-5 points on Economic scale)

1997: Hillary warned against privatizing Social Security: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Soc.Sec. one of greatest inventions in American democracy: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Social Security protects families, not just retirees: Strongly Opposes topic 6
All should join the debate now to preserve future solvency: Opposes topic 6
Create Retirement Savings Accounts: Favors topic 6
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 6
NO on establishing reserve funds & pre-funding for Social Security: Opposes topic 6

Strongly Opposes topic 7:
Vouchers for school choice
(-5 points on Economic scale)

OpEd: Common Core recycled from Clintons in 1980s and 1990s: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Fully fund special education & 21st century classrooms: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Supports public school choice; but not private nor parochial: Opposes topic 7
Vouchers drain money from public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Fight with Gore for public schools; no voucher “gimmicks”: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Charter schools provide choice within public system: Opposes topic 7
Vouchers siphon off much-needed resources: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Parents can choose, but support public schools: Opposes topic 7
Supports public school choice and charter schools: Favors topic 7
Solemn vow never to abandon our public schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Offer every parent Charter Schools and public school choice: Opposes topic 7
Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes: Strongly Opposes topic 7
YES on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7
YES on funding student testing instead of private tutors: Opposes topic 7
YES on $5B for grants to local educational agencies: Opposes topic 7

Strongly Opposes topic 8:
No 'rights' to clean air and water
(+5 points on Social scale)

$5B for green-collar jobs in economic stimulus package: Opposes topic 8
Voted against and consistently opposed to Yucca Mountain: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Scored 100% on Humane Society Scorecard on animal protection: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Remove PCBs from Hudson River by dredging 200 miles: Opposes topic 8
Rated 89% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes: Strongly Opposes topic 8
EPA must do better on mercury clean-up: Opposes topic 8
Grants for beach water pollution under Clean Water Act: Opposes topic 8
Strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting: Strongly Opposes topic 8

Opposes topic 9:
Stricter punishment reduces crime
(+2 points on Social scale)

Longtime advocate of death penalty, with restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 9
Address the unacceptable increase in incarceration: Opposes topic 9
Mandatory sentences have been too widely used: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Give kids after-school activities to prevent gangs: Opposes topic 9
Spend more time with kids to prevent violence: Opposes topic 9
Supports citizen patrols & 3-Strikes-You’re-Out: Favors topic 9
Supports “Three Strikes” and more prison: Strongly Favors topic 9
End hate crimes and other intolerance: Favors topic 9
Require DNA testing for all federal executions: Opposes topic 9
Increase funding for "COPS ON THE BEAT" program: Opposes topic 9
Reduce recidivism by giving offenders a Second Chance: Strongly Opposes topic 9
YES on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program: Opposes topic 9

Strongly Opposes topic 10:
Absolute right to gun ownership
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Rein in idea that anybody can have a gun anywhere, anytime: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Against illegal guns, crack down on illegal gun dealers: Opposes topic 10
Get assault weapons & guns off the street: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Background check system could prevent Virginia Tech massacre: Opposes topic 10
Congress’ failure at Littleton response inspired Senate run: Opposes topic 10
Limit access to weapons; look for early warning signs: Opposes topic 10
License and register all handgun sales: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Gun control protects our children: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Don’t water down sensible gun control legislation: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Lock up guns; store ammo separately: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Get weapons off the streets; zero tolerance for weapons: Opposes topic 10
Prevent unauthorized firearm use with "smart gun" technology: Opposes topic 10
NO on banning lawsuits against gun manufacturers for gun violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10
NO on prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers: Strongly Opposes topic 10

Strongly Favors topic 11:
Higher taxes on the wealthy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Rescind tax cuts for those making more than $250,000 a year: Strongly Favors topic 11
Pay down debt & cut taxes within balanced budget: Favors topic 11
GOP tax plan would hurt New York’s students: Favors topic 11
Rated 21% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes: Strongly Favors topic 11
Rated 80% by the CTJ, indicating support of progressive taxation: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on raising the Death Tax exemption to $5M from $1M: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on allowing AMT reduction without budget offset: Favors topic 11
YES on reducing marriage penalty instead of cutting top tax rates: Favors topic 11
YES on spending $448B of tax cut on education & debt reduction: Favors topic 11
NO on $350 billion in tax breaks over 11 years: Strongly Favors topic 11
YES on extending the tax cuts on capital gains and dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11
YES on $47B for military by repealing capital gains tax cut: Favors topic 11
YES on retaining reduced taxes on capital gains & dividends: Strongly Opposes topic 11
NO on permanently repealing the `death tax`: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on supporting permanence of estate tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on raising estate tax exemption to $5 million: Strongly Favors topic 11
NO on repealing the Alternative Minimum Tax: Strongly Favors topic 11

Favors topic 12:
Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
(+2 points on Social scale)

Introduce a path to earn citizenship in the first 100 days: Strongly Favors topic 12
Consider halting certain raids on illegal immigrant families: Favors topic 12
Deporting all illegal immigrants is unrealistic: Strongly Favors topic 12
Illegal immigrants with driver’s licenses puts them at risk: Opposes topic 12
Oppose granting driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants: Opposes topic 12
More border patrolling on both Mexican AND Canadian borders: Opposes topic 12
Anti-immigrant bill would have criminalized Jesus Christ: Strongly Favors topic 12
Sanctuary cities ok; local police can’t enforce immigration: Favors topic 12
Comprehensive reform to get 12 million out of shadows: Strongly Favors topic 12
Sponsored bill covering child resident aliens under Medicaid: Favors topic 12
Sponsored bill funding social services for noncitizens: Favors topic 12
Rated 8% by USBC, indicating an open-border stance: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on continuing federal funds for declared "sanctuary cities": Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on allowing illegal aliens to participate in Social Security: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on giving Guest Workers a path to citizenship: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on establishing a Guest Worker program: Favors topic 12
YES on building a fence along the Mexican border: Strongly Opposes topic 12
YES on eliminating the "Y" nonimmigrant guestworker program: Neutral topic 12
NO on declaring English as the official language of the US government: Strongly Favors topic 12
YES on comprehensive immigration reform: Strongly Favors topic 12

Favors topic 13:
Support & expand free trade
(+2 points on Economic scale)

Chief advocate for Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP): Strongly Favors topic 13
TPP agreement creates more growth and better growth: Favors topic 13
Smart, pro-American trade: NAFTA has hurt workers: Strongly Opposes topic 13
No fast-track authority for this president: Opposes topic 13
Defended outsourcing of US jobs to India: Favors topic 13
1980s: Loved Wal-Mart's "Buy America" program: Opposes topic 13
Globalization should not substitute for humanization: Opposes topic 13
Supports MFN for China, despite concerns over human rights: Strongly Favors topic 13
Build a rule-based global trading system: Favors topic 13
Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 13
YES on removing common goods from national security export rules: Favors topic 13
YES on granting normal trade relations status to Vietnam: Favors topic 13
NO on extending free trade to Andean nations: Strongly Opposes topic 13
YES on establishing free trade between US & Singapore: Favors topic 13
YES on establishing free trade between the US and Chile: Favors topic 13
NO on implementing CAFTA for Central America free-trade: Strongly Opposes topic 13
YES on free trade agreement with Oman: Strongly Favors topic 13

Opposes topic 14:
Maintain US sovereignty from UN
(-3 points on Economic scale)

US support & no-fly zone, but UN troops on ground in Darfur: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Support UN reform because US benefits: Opposes topic 14
Engage in world affairs, including human rights: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Keep Cuban embargo; pay UN bills: Opposes topic 14
2002 Iraq speech criticized both Saddam and U.N.: Opposes topic 14
2002: Attacking Iraq "not a good option" but authorized it: Favors topic 14
Urged President to veto UN condemnation of Israel: Favors topic 14
Voted against Levin Amendment: it gave UN veto over US: Favors topic 14
Dems believe in fighting terror with cooperation: Strongly Opposes topic 14
Restore habeas corpus for detainees in the War on Terror: Opposes topic 14
YES on preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees: Strongly Opposes topic 14
YES on requiring CIA reports on detainees & interrogation methods: Strongly Opposes topic 14
NO on removing need for FISA warrant for wiretapping abroad: Strongly Opposes topic 14

No opinion on topic 15:
Expand the military
(0 points on Social scale)

There is no safe haven for the terrorists: Favors topic 15
Our troops are stretched; so increase size of military: Favors topic 15
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 15
Extend reserve retirement pay parity back to 9/11: Favors topic 15
Improve mental health care benefits for returning veterans: Favors topic 15
YES on requiring on-budget funding for Iraq, not emergency funding: Opposes topic 15
YES on limiting soldiers' deployment to 12 months: Opposes topic 15

Strongly Favors topic 16:
More enforcement of the right to vote
(+5 points on Social scale)

Presidents should reveal donations to their foundations: Strongly Favors topic 16
Voter suppression revives old demons of discrimination: Favors topic 16
Stand for public financing and getting money out of politics: Strongly Favors topic 16
Move to public election financing, not banning lobbyists: Strongly Favors topic 16
Verified paper ballot for every electronic voting machines: Favors topic 16
Called for ban on all soft money in 2000 campaign: Favors topic 16
Prohibit 'voter caging' which intimidates minority voting: Favors topic 16
YES on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations: Favors topic 16
YES on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads: Favors topic 16
NO on establishing the Senate Office of Public Integrity: Opposes topic 16
NO on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress: Strongly Favors topic 16

Favors topic 17:
Stay out of Iran
(+2 points on Social scale)

OpEd: More aggressive than most Dems on foreign policy: Opposes topic 17
Smartest strategic choice is peace: Favors topic 17
Extend peace treaties to Palestinians, Syrians & Lebanese: Favors topic 17
Foreign aid spending is only 1%; lead by remaining engaged: Strongly Favors topic 17
Up to the Iraqis to decide the future they will have: Favors topic 17
Demand Bush to explain to Congress on his plan on Iraq: Favors topic 17
Deauthorize Iraq war, and don’t grant new war authority: Strongly Favors topic 17
Phased redeployment out of Iraq, beginning immediately: Strongly Favors topic 17
Withdraw troops within 60 days after taking office: Strongly Favors topic 17
Voted for Iraq war based on available info; now would not: Favors topic 17
Progressive Internationalism: globalize with US pre-eminence: Favors topic 17
No troop surge: no military escalation in Iraq: Strongly Favors topic 17
Require Congress' approval before military action in Iran: Favors topic 17
YES on authorizing use of military force against Iraq: Strongly Opposes topic 17
NO on redeploying troops out of Iraq by July 2007: Strongly Opposes topic 17
YES on redeploying US troops out of Iraq by March 2008: Strongly Favors topic 17

Strongly Favors topic 18:
Prioritize green energy
(-5 points on Economic scale)

$100B per year by 2020 for climate change mitigation: Strongly Favors topic 18
$100B per year by 2020 for climate change mitigation: Strongly Favors topic 18
Remove energy dependence on countries who would harm us: Strongly Favors topic 18
Stands for clean air and funding the EPA: Favors topic 18
Reduce air pollution to improve children’s health: Favors topic 18
Ratify Kyoto; more mass transit: Strongly Favors topic 18
Supports tradable emissions permits for greenhouse gases: Favors topic 18
Keep efficient air conditioner rule to conserve energy: Strongly Favors topic 18
Establish greenhouse gas tradeable allowances: Strongly Favors topic 18
Rated 100% by the CAF, indicating support for energy independence: Favors topic 18
Designate sensitive ANWR area as protected wilderness: Favors topic 18
Set goal of 25% renewable energy by 2025: Strongly Favors topic 18
Let states define stricter-than-federal emission standards: Strongly Favors topic 18
Gas tax holiday for the summer: Opposes topic 18
NO on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on targeting 100,000 hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2010: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on removing consideration of drilling ANWR from budget bill: Favors topic 18
YES on reducing oil usage by 40% by 2025 (instead of 5%): Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on disallowing an oil leasing program in Alaska's ANWR: Strongly Favors topic 18
YES on banning drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Favors topic 18
YES on factoring global warming into federal project planning: Favors topic 18
YES on removing oil & gas exploration subsidies: Strongly Favors topic 18

Opposes topic 19:
Never legalize marijuana
(+2 points on Social scale)

Medical marijuana now; wait-and-see on recreational pot: Opposes topic 19
Medical marijuana maybe ok; states decide recreational use: Opposes topic 19
Divert non-violent drug offenders away from prison: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Address drug problem with treatment and special drug courts: Strongly Opposes topic 19
End harsher sentencing for crack vs. powder cocaine: Opposes topic 19
Require chemical resellers to certify against meth use: Favors topic 19

Strongly Favors topic 20:
Stimulus better than market-led recovery
(-5 points on Economic scale)

Wealthy should go back to paying pre-Bush tax rates: Favors topic 20
Want to restore the tax rates we had in the ‘90s: Favors topic 20
Help people facing foreclosure; don’t just bail-out banks: Strongly Favors topic 20
Minimum wage increases haven’t kept up with Congress’ wages: Strongly Favors topic 20
Co-sponsored bills totaling $502B in spending thru 2005: Strongly Favors topic 20
End Bush tax cuts;take things away from rich for common good: Favors topic 20
Social issues matter; wrong time for tax cuts: Strongly Favors topic 20
Use tax dollars to upgrade infrastructure, not for stadium: Strongly Favors topic 20
America can afford to raise the minimum wage: Strongly Favors topic 20
Just Say No to GOP tax plan: Strongly Favors topic 20
YES on increasing tax rate for people earning over $1 million: Strongly Favors topic 20

http://www.ontheissues.org/Hillary_Clinton_VoteMatch.htm

[merrily]

55. No. Despite the talking points, she is UNDENIABLY DLC/Third Way.

[NYC Liberal]

56. Her ACTIONS belie your tired old memes.

I agree with Howard Dean and Elizabeth Warren, who both think Hillary is great.

[Thinkingabout]

57. She is undeniably liberal, just sone continue to deny she is.

[merrily]

64. Repeating that doesn't make it so.

[Thinkingabout]

68. And the same when you continue to say she isn't, her record proves other

Than claims she isn't. She may not be liberal enough for some but it does nit make her out of the liberal classification. In fact I like the stand on the issues the Third Way takes.

[Phlem]

78. ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!

It's the wall of text!

I didn't believe it but there it is!

I'm laughing so hard I'm crying!

It is a good day on DU!

[NYC Liberal]

80. Next time I'll be sure to dumb it down into bite-sized pieces. Would that make it easier for you?

Hillary has the support of great progressives like Howard Dean and Elizabeth Warren. I stand with them in supporting her.

[joshcryer]

60. This stupidity doesn't even merit a response.

Clinton is a lifelong Democrat.

[merrily]

61. That's not even what her book claims. Not what factcheck says either.

[joshcryer]

65. She never voted Republican.

Hillary Clinton was interested in politics and her family was Republican and so she wound up going to Republican events. As a teenager. As soon as she had her own say in life, she chose to be a Democrat.

Unlike, say, Elizabeth Warren who was voting Republican until the late 80s / early 90s.

It's just a really dishonest smear to make. But don't worry, I expect all the Vince Foster type of tripe to come back in due course.

[merrily]

67. How do you know how Hillary voted? Besides, which specific part of my post are you

claiming is wrong? According to both Hillary and fact check, she was not Republican all her life. Then she became DLC/Third Way. Which part of that do you claim is factually wrong?

[joshcryer]

69. DLC was how she managed to work in a woman-unfriendly world.

Rose Law Firm, Wal-Mart, those things are professional choices she had to make.

Her thesis was on Saul Alinsky. Her first legal job was at a law firm ran by former communists. She and her husband were hippies.

She chose early on to get out of activism and climb her way up the ladder. There is nothing you can say about her judgement back then because she wanted to attain higher goals. If she chose instead to work in academia, or work in activist spheres, you would not know of her. She'd have written some papers about women and children, maybe opened up an NGO, but there are literally thousands of women like that.

In such a woman-unfriendly world of politics you have to really work your way through the myriad obstacles in the way. In the 90s that obstacle was Ken Starr and the Rove / Gingrich machine.

You should watch Clinton: The American Experience. Hillary brought back the Elanor Roosevelt style of working on the side to the White House. You will scoff at that, of course, but after Elanor the woman in the White House was a figurehead, a Stepford Wife, of sorts (particularly obvious with Republican Presidents). And Elanor never had an office in the West Wing like Hillary did.

[rogerashton]

44. Yeah -- I was for Goldwater when I was 18, too.

And Walmart is an Arkansas company. First lady on the corporate board sounds like borderline socialism.

[DFW]

18. The Republicans are meeting to nominate Elizabeth Warren?

I don't see anyone in their own ranks right now that should be a lock against ANY Democrat.

No wonder they're looking.

[AtomicKitten]

24. My first thought as well.

The Repulicans are meeting to nominate Elizabeth Warren?

[merrily]

36. Never misunderestimate the Bush crime family.

If it could get Dimson elected twice.....

[libdem4life]

20. This one is ours to lose. They are scared of Her and many here are hoping to find someone

to replace Her that they aren't scared of. Go figure.

[djean111]

28. "Her". OMG. She is referred to as "Her" now? Do we also use "She" even if that is

not the first word in the sentence?

[libdem4life]

48. Give me a break. I'm tired of writing her name.

[daleanime]

37. Do you really believe that's why many of us don't support her running?

[libdem4life]

49. Everyone has their own opinion, as do I, and maybe it's more like the " enemy of my enemy"

has my vote.

If someone else comes out and actually puts their billion dollar fundraising plan on the table and they are left of her, I'll vote for them in the Primary. Plain and simple. No one has, of yet. But as of now, she's the one that they are fearing because, and again I emphasize, they know she can win. Even if they can find some way to clean up Jeb and put him out there...and that is my worst fear...she could beat him, I believe.

3..2..1.. for the it's too early crowd. No it's not. People this very moment are making huge financial decisions, hiring people, getting volunteers lined up. It's not too early.

IMO.

[BlueCaliDem]

51. My sentiment as well. I would rather have a more liberal candidate but that's not where America is.

We not only need the vote of all Democrats, but we need that of Independents...and our candidate has to raise a billion dollars in order to compete against the Koch Bros and the GOP PACs that will be coming out of the woodwork on a local and State level. I don't see a single Democrat out there - except for President Obama - who is capable of doing that outside of Hillary Clinton.

Above all else, I want to keep the White House in Democratic hands. SCOTUS might have three seats opening in the coming decade, and that's why the Koch's are willing to spend a whopping $889 million dollars (I'm certain that amount is at the lower end) to win the White House and more States. Since President Bill Clinton had appointed two of the most liberal justices in a long while, I'm confident a President Hillary Clinton will keep in line with that when Bader-Ginsberg retires and Scalia and Kennedy either keel over in their posh seats or retire out of own volition. We cannot afford to have their and Justice Bader-Ginsberg's seat go Republican.

[daleanime]

75. OK, I. think I get it.....

you do think that and you're fine with money having a controlling interest in our system.


Or did I read this wrong?

[libdem4life]

84. There's a lot of things I'm "not fine" with, but to pretend it doesn't take a billion

bucks is borderline insanity. Passing the Hat around was a couple of centuries ago.

[daleanime]

86. If you give up....

the fight is over.



Feel free to degrade me in any fashion you wish, I will not pretend that I'm happy with the current situation. I will work toward changing it in any way I can.

[merrily]

40. Ours to lose? Where have you been since 2010?

Yes, Obama won re-election as a war time incumbent. But look around Congress and the State Houses. It's been brutal.

[libdem4life]

50. Indeed. You make my point. She has Coat tails that no one else does.

[merrily]

54. No, I don't. I doubt she can win the general, let alone cause a Democratic sweep as Obama

and Dean and an energized base (and Dimson) caused in 2008.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

21. OMG! Send in Michael Steele!

[Thinkingabout]

22. Do you think Michael Steele is in Karl Rove league?

[merrily]

38. Priebus has sure done well, but you are trying to compare apples and oranges.

Steele was head of the RNC for a time, like Dean and, heaven help us, Kaine and Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Rove is an advisor, strategist, pundit, like Axelrod.

[Thinkingabout]

47. I think I was replying to post #21.

[merrily]

41. Steele is with NBC. Reince Priebus has done very well for the GOP.

Steele didn't even do that badly, especially when compared with Kaine and Wasserman Schultz.

Replacing Dean with Kaine and Wasserman Schultz, both part timers, was a significant mistake. (Unless you wanted Democrats to lose.)

[Thinkingabout]

58. Do you think Steele is obnoxious and always trying to destroy?

[merrily]

59. I think that is a non sequitur and also that Steele, at this point, is not very relevant

[Thinkingabout]

62. I was actually giving Steele a big compliment.

[merrily]

63. Whether it was a compliment or an insult has nothing to do with my post.

I currently don't have much reason care what anyone thinks of Steele.

[ffr]

52. Rupert Murdock seems like their best hope.

[totodeinhere]

70. Poll Shows Big Opening for Elizabeth Warren in IA, NH

http://front.moveon.org/elizabeth_warren_polling/#.VNupYyzfSzl

Go Liz go.

[Thinkingabout]

71. Perhaps in the future the GOP will meet to see who they could run to beat Warren

But on this meeting it was to beat Hillary.

[totodeinhere]

72. IMO either Warren or Clinton would win the general comfortably. And if I am correct

then the question arises, who would be more likely to look out for the best interests of the American people. I think it would be Liz. She would not take any crap from Wall Street.

[Thinkingabout]

73. She sure did not appear to be looking out for the best interest of the American people on her recent

no vote on the ISIS Resolution, what happened on the vote.

[totodeinhere]

74. She has said time and again that America should not be dragged into another war in the Middle

East and I agree with her.

[Thinkingabout]

79. If this is her position then she would not be able to fulfill her duties as commander-in-chief.

[totodeinhere]

83. You have it backward. That is why she is qualified to be commander in chief.

We don't need another Neocon war monger in the White House.

[Thinkingabout]

85. Warren has said over and over she is not running, taking action as a commander-in-chief may be

a problem she recognizes herself. She is a lively lady, quiet able in her line of expertise, she is needed in Congress to enact laws which control the problems with financial companies. It takes knowledge in many areas to be president, allow Warren to make the decision she is capable of making.

[SummerSnow]

76. Pick Palin...

[workinclasszero]

89. Lets see..Cruz OMG LOLZ..hellz naw...Rand Paul? (snicker) nope

Uh..John Wardog Bolton..heh..fail.

Ben Insane in the Brain Carson..GTFO..NO.

Hmm...Chris Under Indictment Christie, naw to many court dates.

Well how about, Mike I hang with draft dodging cowards but Bey is bad Huckabee? No but he will sell books on fox and friends.

Scott I hate the middle class Walker? Not in this lifetime!

Hey lets give it to Jebby Bush! Its his turn after all! LOLOL

Sorry baggers its all just a massive pile of FAIL!!!!!

[Sunlei]

92. run the koch$ twins

[McCamy Taylor]

93. Good luck with that. The candidate has to survive their primary.

"Surviving the GOP Primary" and "Someone Who Could Defeat Hillary" are two entirely different universes with no intersection.