Fear of `Clinton in 2008' (Knight Ridder)

[Up2Late]

(Note: I personally don't agree with this writer's premise.)

Posted on Mon, Feb. 27, 2006

Fear of `Clinton in 2008'

By Steven Thomma
Knight Ridder

MANCHESTER, N.H. - As they ponder how to win back the White House, many Democrats fear that the early front-runner for their party's 2008 presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, carries so much baggage that she would drag the party down to a third straight defeat.

Many support her, to be sure, and even more admire her. Polls confirm that she has the early edge over other potential rivals. Party insiders think she'll enter the race shortly after her expected re-election as a New York senator later this year -- with a $50 million head start on fundraising toward 2008.

But ominous signs abound, and together they suggest that her campaign would conjure a clash between the lure of Clinton nostalgia and the fear of Clinton fatigue.

Already firm on vote

One new poll shows that a majority of registered voters never would vote for her. Another shows that a majority don't even want her to run, including a majority of independent voters. One veteran Democratic strategist says she's so well-known -- and polarizing -- that it's hard to see how she could change any minds.

(more at link below)

<http://www.miami.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13972205.htm?source=rss&channel=mercurynews_politics>

[geomon666]

1. They're right.

The nazi controled media would have a freaking field day. Wouldn't matter if what they said was wrong or right.

[Orsino]

4. What could people possibly be afraid of...

...that * hasn't already FUBARed?

[Warpy]

10. More DLC "business as usual" bungling

that is killing the working class, that's what.

Don't run, Hillary. You're too conservative and too polarizing to connect with the party base.

[henslee]

12. You are right but she's not running against Senor FUBAR.

[LisaM]

2. Third straight defeat, my foot.

Bias, bias.

[skipos]

3. "51%... definitely wouldn't vote for her." Please don't run Hillary.

You won't win.

[leveymg]

5. Listen to them, Hil, listen.

Once you stop campaigning for President, you can start becoming a good Senator.

Now, jettison the neocons among your own advisors, and announce your opposition to both Middle-East wars: Iraq and Iran.

[demosincebirth]

6. Please don't run.

[xultar]

7. Trashing her didn't work. Now they are playing the Fear card.

:rofl: :woohoo:

It just makes me sick how they play in our shit. They did the same thing to Clark. I wish they'd let us do our thing.

Why don't we put out junk on McCain.

[texastoast]

8. That she were married to someone else

And we had the wonderful intelligence, fight, integrity, and eloquence that Hillary has. All these positives. But little chance to unify the Dems, much less the country. But you know, Barbara Boxer is a lot like her.

[xkenx]

24. NOT SO--Barbara Boxer speaks her Progressive mind

[Donna Zen]

29. I didn't realize

that Barbara Boxer voted for the war.

[wordpix]

9. why is Hil so polarizing? Could it be that she's a woman & she won't stay

at home and bake cookies?

[Warpy]

11. No, it's because she's conservative

and lacks the personal charm to make it palatable to people who are sick of conservatism killing them financially.

[Texacrat]

14. Yeah, that's it

:eyes: You've got to be kidding me.

[AtomicKitten]

19. Hillary isn't a conservative.

What she has done is try to dispel the Dems-are-weak-on-defense meme.

Thanks for falling into their trap.

[Texacrat]

13. The Fear is those who can't stand a woman running things

These are the same people chirping "We need a Southern, White male as our nominee. Women should just get back in the Kitchen." :eyes:

[radio4progressives]

15. This isn't about Gender. This is about Class.

I'm a woman, and a feminist. But I'm for the interests of the Working Class, and Hillary is for the interest of the Corporate Class.

Bring me a woman that isn't a War Monger and a Corporate Shill, but is about the interest of the Working People (not lip service) give me a woman who will fight for the rights of Unions and the right to organize, the right to negotiate for better wages and benefits - give me that kind of Woman, and I'll be there.

Hillary isn't that Woman.

[AtomicKitten]

26. No, it's about rampant uneducated Hillary hatred.

Delivered in a style that is bereft of reality and truth.

But that's how you roll, eh?

[iconoclastNYC]

16. If she wins the primary.....20% of Democrats will switch to Green

And I'll be one of them.

If she wins that that's all I need to know about the flawed Democratic primary system's ability to trump the people's vote.

[AtomicKitten]

22. is that a promise?

[ronnykmarshall]

17. I say it again and please take note ...

HILLARY WILL NOT BE THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT!

This is coming from someone that loves HRC too.

[abbiehoff]

20. Hillary will be the candidate

because the people who rig elections want her to be. It is important for the election riggers to have a candidate that might conceivably lose, and Hillary is their woman.

[Up2Late]

23. Hummm, I didn't think of that angle

That would suck.:(

[karynnj]

18. Does anyone else have a problem with those questions?

Assume you favor some candidate.

A pollster calls you and asks you the following questions:

Would you ever consider voting for "X"?

and

Do you want "X" to run.

Assume X is not your candidate, but she/he is the frontrunner. Strategically, "no" is a better answer to make X appear weaker. I've noticed that the stronger a candidate is perceived the higher the score for wanting him not to run. (did anyone care that Sharpton was running?)

[Virginia Dare]

21. If she runs, she will blow everyone out of the water on

fund raising, it'll be hard to go up against the corporate power she wields.

[TayTay]

25. This just proves that nobody knows shit yet.

It's all just smoke and mirrors at this point. Each candidate who thinks about running, appears to be running or the media thinks should be running will go up and down in the press. ('They can ride in and save the Democrats' 'No wait, they suck, get someone else' 'Wait, I like them again.' 'No, they suck again.' Rinse, lather, repeat.)

Nothing means anything yet. I hope everyone runs. It'll just fuck with the media big time.
Go JohnWesJohnHillaryAlJohnAl&John Go get 'em people. Sigh!

[yourout]

27. all the middle of the road pukes that have decided Bushco is...

bad news and would vote for an independant maverick type candidate would go running back to the pukes
the instant she announces her candidacy.

[nevergiveup]

28. I shake in my shoes

at the thought of her candidacy but she certainly has a right to run if she so chooses. For now I think we should concentrate on winning back Congress and worry about Hillary later.

[NativeTexan]

30. Nothing surprising here. I have been on the fence, and remain....

...there. Of course, if she wins the nomination, I am there. I really lean toward my original choice in 2004...Wes Clark, with Obama on the ticket.