Which Hillary?
In desperation now, the Campaign That Couldn’t is giving us a montage of Hillary Clintons–defiant, angry, scolding, sarcastic–in Ohio and Texas, but how will she blend those stump personas into a coherent candidate for the side-by-side setting of tonight’s crucial debate?
In New Hampshire, the sensitive Hillary won over voters in the final days and, at the end of last week’s sitdown, emerged again to great effect, but her advisors seem convinced that only an aggressive Hillary can overcome doubts about a woman as Commander-in-Chief.
During the 1960 campaign, John F. Kennedy said he felt sorry for Richard Nixon. “It must be hard,” JFK said, “to get up every morning and have to decide who you’re going to be that day.”
Compared to Nixon, Hillary Clinton is a person of substance, but the Barack Obama surge has forced her into parading multiple personalities, adding confusion to the negatives she has to overcome from the Clinton years.
Claiming superior experience didn’t work. Unleashing Bill Clinton didn’t work. Mockery and anger don’t seem to be working. Being soft and sensitive is too risky.
What’s left?
Cross-posted from my blog.
13 Responses to “Which Hillary?”
Bob: Nixon was a scumbag and I grew up in a home that reviled him. However, in '68, Tricky Dick had far more substantive experience as a politician and leader than Hill does. As for that fact does Obama.
Wow, you're seeing some very different Hillarys than I am. And I thought I was watching my girl pretty closely….
Hillary is between the proverbial rock and a hard place. As noted, nothing has worked to slow the Obama phenomenon. I think Hillary is a candidate of substance, intelligent, an apparently good lawyer in the past with Senate experience, and I do think her years as first lady mean something in her case though I've brushed it off here in the past.
She obviously is not the only one who has failed to match Obama, though. Democrats started out with a full slate of intelligent, highly-experienced candidates. That she's the last one standing says something for her abilities I think. But Obama is, again, a phenom this year. Almost impossible to lay a glove on, or at least no more than a glancing blow.
Republicans are going to have as tough a time slowing him as his Dem rivals, I suspect. We'll see.
Dam: That's because we didn't get the rosy glasses and Kool-Aid.
I am one of those independent voters, most of the time I vote Democrat. I never heard of Barack Obama until his 2004 speech at the Democratic convention, I was mesmerized by his oratory skills and message.
I like both, Hillary and Obama, but I do think Hillary is the best person to be our next president and I voted for her during the primary election. Hillary is trying very hard to get the nomination and I support her but I am a pragmatic individual, I thought I would vote for Obama if he was the nominee… up to last week
Two campaign incidents forced me to reconsider my vote
1) A patriarch of democratic politics, Ted Kennedy, pandering to Latinos in Texas by signing “Guadalajara” a popular Mexican song. I found this patronizing if not insulting.
2) The crowd cheering and applauding when Obama blew his nose in the middle of a speech; this is DISTURBING to say the least, a cult.
If the Democrats and all those super delegates (sitting on the fence waiting to see which way the wind is going to blow) don't show some courage and support Hillary at this time, then the party is shooting itself on the foot… again
I will probably vote for McCain.
A drunken old wastrel and a man blowing his nose are what decides your vote.
That is far more disturbing than anything even Hillary has done. This is why we keep getting the worst possible candidates year in and year out: moronic electorates.
members of a cult do not think
Cosmo: Oh, I think you've had some Kool-Aid too….heh. Maybe we're both wrong. It's possible.
I don't know about the rose-colored glasses, though. Glasses can be a valuable aid to clarity, even when tinted.
my point exactly
OK, LAgal, you have a right to your opinion, but wander over to sites like hillaryis44.org, or taylormarsh.com, read a bit, and come back and describe the whole cult thing again.
I understand where you're coming from, but go there with eyes wide open.
Mike_P
please do tell me where I'm coming from????
there is a difference between websites and a campaign rally. There are thousands of websites with a very strong bias, maybe cultish (my guy can do no wrong, he/she is perfect).
However, when a multitude of people cry, scream, faint, and go wild when somebody blows his nose, that is disturbing
LAGal. I'm just trying to let you know I understand your pointing out some of the over the top reactions of the “multitudes,” and I'm not disagreeing with you. But there are currently 818 responses to the post “Ohio Debate With Hillary Clinton And Big Media And Barack Obama” at hillaryis44.org and counting. Some of the nicer samples:
S Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
she looks gorgeous…but they are going to try to put her on the defense…
Tiny Dancer Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I’m not watching ::hides in corner and rocks back and forth::
These things kill me. But kick his ass Hillary!
Psymac Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Sniveling BO, under the breath comments, snake…..
Tiny Dancer Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Okay I’m watching. Hold my hand everyone! : )
5 secs in and I want to smack him.
laney Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
I freakin love her
Making a reference to SNL
MJS Says:
February 26th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I’m sending all my positive karma to Hillary right now and all my negative to bambi
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Now, that's just a *teeny* family-friendly smattering taken from the first 20 minutes of the 1.5 hour debate from the 818 comments . Need I go on?
Cult? Yeah. Like I said, go there with eyes wide open. There are passionate supporters on both sides. Don't blame the candidates for exciting passion in their fans! It's a (generally) good thing! It wins elections.
LAGal: 'members of a cult do not think'
Which explains your vote's deciding over a nose blow.
Dam: 'Cosmo: Oh, I think you've had some Kool-Aid too….heh. Maybe we're both wrong. It's possible.'
But I'm not shilling for anyone. Obama is a better candidate than Hill, but at the end of the day he's still just a politician, which means he's out for power, and lies like he breathes. But, along the way he's more likely to do more good than the other 2 candidates. Say hello to Jim Jones.
Mike: LA gal is having one of those swoon moments. Watch out!