Clintons trying to position Hillary as the American Maggie Thatcher?

[BurtWorm]

Zbgieniew Brzezinski thinks so, according to Tompaine.com's Robert Dreyfuss, and they're dragging their fellow Dems rightward with them:

http://www.tompaine.com/articles/2006/04/11/hawktied_democrats.php

As the Russian foreign minister correctly reminds us, there is a lot about the manufactured crisis over Iran that is déjà vu : the axis of evil again, attempts to tie Iran to Al Qaeda, accusations about WMD, U.S. government efforts to play footsie with Iranian exiles, and bluster about demanding action by the United Nations or else. One other thing looks familiar, too: just as the Democrats meekly got in line to support the invasion of Iraq, many (perhaps most) elected Democrats are demanding a confrontation with Iran, too. Some, such as Hillary Clinton, are even trying to out-Bush the president in demanding a showdown with Iran.

To anyone who has read the latest policy missive from the Democratic Party describing its approach to national security, the Democrats' stance is not suprising.

At least one leading Democratic foreign policy strategist is upset with the party's refusal to contradict the president. Zbigniew Brzezinski, the Carter administration über-hawk who become an Iraq dove, provided the bluntest commentary on why the Democrats shy away from confronting the Bush administration’s war-based foreign policy. Brzezinski, appearing on the April 5 "Diane Rehm Show" on NPR, noted the traditional sad critique that Democrats fear being seen as weak or vacillating on issues related to national security. But then he put the real blame squarely where it belongs: on Bill and Hillary Clinton. The former president, he said, wants his wife to be president, and together they have determined that this goal can best be reached by Hillary disguising herself as the reincarnation of Maggie Thatcher. And since Hillary the Iron Lady II is the frontrunner for the 2008 nomination, she sets the tone for the rest of the party, said the former national security adviser.

Unfortunately, Brzezinski is on the mark. Despite the fact that former Vice President Al Gore is speaking out consistently against the war in Iraq, despite the fact that Representative John Murtha has called for an American withdrawal, despite the fact that even John Kerry is now demanding a deadline for a U.S. pullout, the Democratic establishment has avoided a forthright challenge to Bush. That was obvious when, following the State of the Union speech, the Democrats chose Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to give a befuddled, Mr. Nice Guy response, whose refrain was that the Democrats have “a better way.”

[blm]

1. Well, let's see how she does in the Dem debates - she'll have her chance

to present her positions stacked up against other Dem candidates.

[Cleita]

2. Uhmm. I don't think Maggie Thatcher is the

role model our Democratic women politicians should be molding themselves after.

[papau]

3. Hill may need that image - a DUer said "she stamped her little foot" when

she outlined problems and/or solutions.

Seems even on the left we have a hard times with ladies as our leader.

She may need a tougher image.

But Zig is wrong in his comment - she is not pulling the party right unless one demands a pull out the troops in 30 days approach - heck, Kerry is not saying that kind of a time table.

There will be a lot of time to hear her positions - and the positions of other Dems - as well as their ability to speak and hold a crowd and more important, hold a national audience - over the next 2 years.

But it was interesting to read on DU a post that described Hill's analysis of the economic situation as "stamped her little foot" !

:-)

[derby378]

4. Russ Feingold for President!!

We don't need a Margaret Thatcher - we need a Winston Churchill!!

(OK, I know, maybe not the best analogy, but I hope you get my drift.)

[tocqueville]

5. Does that include the retaking of some uninhabited islands

after an heroic battle on the other side of the globe ?

[LittleClarkie]

6. Nah, they might try to drag their party rightward. But I predict

she will end up isolated.

Y'all know who I'd prefer, but I'm thinking it's possible that a dark horse will come galloping out of the shadows and surprise us all.

Hillary is not Bill. There is no art in her politics.

[mdmc]

7. I thought she was already our Thatcher

:shrug: