Campaign 2008

[Gary Floyd 0]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050726/ap_on_...HNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

 

By MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press Writer

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -    Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday the nation has "gone off track" in Republican hands since the prosperous years of her husband's presidency, making her case along with other potential 2008 Democratic candidates to a group that helped    Bill Clinton win the White House

 

Sen. Clinton received a warm reception for her plea that the party adopt a hard line on national security and back an increase in troop strength, echoing the stance of the centrist Democratic Leadership Council. She also called for expanded health care, increased jobs and better education.

 

Her core message was a need for Democratic solidarity.

 

"After four years of Republican control, our country has not only gone off track, it has reversed course," the New York senator said. "Let's start by uniting against the hard-right ideology."

 

Among other possible 2008 candidates, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack assumed the chairmanship of the DLC, and Virginia Gov. Mark Warner and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh (news, bio, voting record) spent the weekend courting activists before delivering speeches on Monday at the group's annual meeting.

 

• Vilsack said Democrats must have "a positive, progressive, practical agenda. We can't afford to be anti, against everything."

 

• Warner made a pitch for expanding the Democratic electoral map. He said, "I am here today to tell you how important the heartland strategy is for the Democratic Party and the future of the country. ... We as Democrats neglect the heartland at our own peril."

 

• Bayh said the party's future lies in the Midwest: "Our success as a party will largely be determined by how well we do here in the heartland. ... The time has come to be secure about our values. The time has come to lead."

 

Bayh described Clinton as a "very strong front-runner" for the Democratic nomination three years from now. Polls show the same thing, though there also are many voters who have a negative view of the former first lady.

 

Sen. Clinton's speech focused on domestic issues and improving the lot of average Americans, harking back to her husband's presidency.

 

"I know we can do all this because we've done it before," she told the nearly 400 activists gathered for the DLC's annual meeting.

 

In another allusion to her husband's eight years in the White House, she said, "They turned our bridge to the 21st century into a tunnel back to the 19th century. We are thinking Democrats, not lockstep Republicans."

 

The speech was coupled with the announcement that Clinton had been chosen to head the DLC's "American Dream Initiative," described by the organization as a national conversation with business, political, labor, civic and intellectual leaders on an agenda for the country and party.

 

The chairmanship will allow her to travel around the nation next year, at the same time she is seeking another term in the Senate. The job will be an opportunity to burnish an already high-profile image, one that energizes Democrats and Republicans — in opposite ways — as the former first lady is both revered and vilified.

 

Clinton talked tough on combating terrorism, calling for "a unified, coherent strategy focused on eliminating terrorists wherever we find them" while arguing that more can be done to bring other nations into the fight.

 

The    Republican National Committee dismissed her comments, saying in a statement that "Sen. Clinton can talk the talk in an effort to grab headlines, but she can't run from her hard-left record."

 

She urged Democrats to put aside divisiveness.

 

"All too often we have allowed ourselves to be split between left, right and center," said Clinton. "It's high time for a cease-fire. It's time for all Democrats to work together."

 

Clinton has taken a course toward the political center as the speculation about 2008 has grown.

 

In January, she used an appearance before abortion-rights advocates to call for "common ground" on the issue and recently joined with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., to push for health care legislation like a single system for medical billing that all insurers and providers would use to save time and money.

 

In a nod to the political calendar, Pat Gerard, vice mayor of Largo, Fla., said a lot can happen between now and 2008.

 

"Star power doesn't always mean everything," said Gerard. The early star gets the most criticism, he noted.

[SuperJerk 0]

Hillary Clinton can't take a crap without people thinking its a sign she's running for president.

 

I still say she won't run, based on the idea that she smart enough to know she can't win. That won't stop the press from shoving her down our throats with constant "hints" she's a candidate, like they did with Colin Powell in 1996 and Mario Cuomo in 1992.

[gWIL 0]

Evan Bayh, will run and win.

[Ace309 0]

Hillary Clinton can't take a crap without people thinking its a sign she's running for president.

Yeah, it's worse than the old Raven threads that were always interpreted as signs the Flock was returning.

 

Am I the only one who thought this was going to be about Pataki deciding not to run for a fourth term as governor of New York?

[SuperJerk 0]

If 2008 turns out to be anything other than Bayh vs. Frist, I'm going to be fucking shocked.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

I wish either John McCain or Russ Feingold would run. I'd vote for either.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

Hillary Clinton can't take a crap without people thinking its a sign she's running for president.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, it's worse than the old Raven threads that were always interpreted as signs the Flock was returning.

 

Am I the only one who thought this was going to be about Pataki deciding not to run for a fourth term as governor of New York?

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Spitzer is going to own NY. He would also be a good future presidential candidate.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

I wish either John McCain or Russ Feingold would run. I'd vote for either.

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Those are two very different politicians. The only thing they really have in common is the campaign finance reform bill.

[RepoMan 0]

Hillary has a good chance to win b/c she can BS as good as her husband could and raise the most cash.

 

Pataki might run but their is no way he wins the nod. The Republicans have been going further and further to the right and wining. The party base won't like a pro-choice, non homo bashing moderate candidate whose only acomplishment were small tax cuts in NYS.

[SuperJerk 0]

Hillary has a good chance to win b/c she can BS as good as her husband could and raise the most cash.

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I think you're half right. She can definitely raise the most money.

 

She also has the public speaking ability and charisma of a middle school assistant principal. She can't win because she won't be able to connect with most voters.

 

She also has more baggage than LAX.

[NoCalMike 0]

I just hope Rick Sanitorum is serious about running for the republicans, because if he somehow miraculously makes it as the Republican Rep. I think the Dems may actually win.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

No, Santorum would win, and we'd all get our futuristic corrupt utopian society jumpsuits in the mail.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

That's true...they are quite different. I think I could live with either of them over someone extremist like Cheney or Hillary though.

 

Those are two very different politicians. The only thing they really have in common is the campaign finance reform bill.

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[Guest Ether]

I just hope Rick Sanitorum is serious about running for the republicans, because if he somehow miraculously makes it as the Republican Rep. I think the Dems may actually win.

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Given that he probably won't win Senate re-election in 2006, I can't see that happening.

[Guest JMA]

Here's hoping that Evan Bayh runs.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Let her run. And let me vote Republican in protest to a dumb bitch like Hilary Clinton running for the Democrats.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

Let her run. And let me vote Republican in protest to a dumb bitch like Hilary Clinton running for the Democrats.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Brilliantly stated.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

If 2008 turns out to be anything other than Bayh vs. Frist, I'm going to be fucking shocked.

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I think if this was the contest, a lot of progressives would feel alienated and probably go Green or Nader.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I absolutely can't stand to vote for Hillary. And yet if a Republican wins in 08, we're truly fucked as the neo-conservatives will win their stupid culture war by filling the Supes with guys who think the government should detail out what you can do to yourself in your home.

 

Anything other than Hillary could get support from traditional, small-government conservatives who are tired of statist policy.

[SuperJerk 0]

Let her run. And let me vote Republican in protest to a dumb bitch like Hilary Clinton running for the Democrats.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Brilliantly stated.

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Because it doesn't make any sense?

 

He wants her to run so he can vote against her in protest of her running. It'd make more sense for him to just want her to not run at all, wouldn't it?

[AndrewTS 0]

I think Smit was being sarcastic, since Hillary tends to bring out the Partisan Fuckery in people.

[Darthtiki 0]

I absolutely can't stand to vote for Hillary. And yet if a Republican wins in 08, we're truly fucked as the neo-conservatives will win their stupid culture war by filling the Supes with guys who think the government should detail out what you can do to yourself in your home.

 

Anything other than Hillary could get support from traditional, small-government conservatives who are tired of statist policy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

As probably one of the few Republicans if not the token Republican on the board Guillani is realistically the only man who could run for our side and win handily. As for Hillary, she's been planning to run since the former Air Force One left Andrews AFB January 20, 2001. Hillary is polarizing figure to most which is her weakness. Unfortunately even after all the posing and sliding to the center, she still is a card carrying member of the same Democrat fringe that bows to the foil-hatted, socialist, Marxist ideals that are championed by the current DNC chair.

[NoCalMike 0]

I absolutely can't stand to vote for Hillary. And yet if a Republican wins in 08, we're truly fucked as the neo-conservatives will win their stupid culture war by filling the Supes with guys who think the government should detail out what you can do to yourself in your home.

 

Anything other than Hillary could get support from traditional, small-government conservatives who are tired of statist policy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

As probably one of the few Republicans if not the token Republican on the board Guillani is realistically the only man who could run for our side and win handily. As for Hillary, she's been planning to run since the former Air Force One left Andrews AFB January 20, 2001. Hillary is polarizing figure to most which is her weakness. Unfortunately even after all the posing and sliding to the center, she still is a card carrying member of the same Democrat fringe that bows to the foil-hatted, socialist, Marxist ideals that are championed by the current DNC chair.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Honestly, and I could be wrong, but I feel Guiliani's appeal outside of the NY tristate area is highly overrated, and he has too many skeletons in the closet that would bring on his ultimate downfall if he tried to run for President.

[Danville_Wrestling 0]

Wow, I think this might be the first time I've agreed with NoCalMike on anything. I totally buy the fact that Guiliani doesn't play outside of the Northeast. Test polls out of Iowa are showing that he's not faring too well there plus Guiliani is pro-choice, which the christian right isn't going for.

 

I think Hillary will try to run, but I think there is someone who could beat her aside from Evan Bayh (who I'd vote for in a heart beat): Al Gore. Why? Well, I think Gore has an outside chance at pulling a 'Nixon' (losing a controversial election and rebouding to save the party eight years later). Gore also HATES Hillary Clinton. He blames his 2000 defeat to Hillary b/c he says the Clinton White House spent all of its efforts on getting Hillary elected in NY instead of getting him elected against Bush (which has merit). Also, when Gore became VP in 1993, Hillary wanted the VP office for herself, basically kicking Gore to the curb, and Gore never has gotten over that. Thus, I think Bayh could play well but if you want someone who might have the credibility to face Clinton head-to-head it's Gore. The only problem is Gore going crazy against Bush several years after losing, but even Nixon had his moments (ex. loss to become governor of California and telling the media "at least you don't have Richard Nixon to kick around any more").

 

Even though I'm conservative I'm tiring of the act 'conservatives' are putting on in government. We're getting a big statist machine instead of small government, no action on illegal immigrants, a terrible foreign policy that at times lacks direction, no efficient enforcement of current security protocol, and the last goes on and on. I voted in 2004 for Nader as a protest (and would've voted for Lieberman, Gephardt, or Edwards but the Dems didn't nominate them and went with Kerry instead) and I'm looking for something good in 2008 from the Dems (which is basically ANYTHING BUT HILLARY). So my vote is really for the Dems to lose more than anything, which they probably will screw up.

 

A big fear I have for the GOP is to have Jeb Bush on the ticket somehow. I know Newsweek has said he's considering it, but here's my arguement: we've been ruled by a BUSH OR A CLINTON FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS BY 2008. It's time for a damn change of government, you think? I just don't want to elect Hillary and make it twenty-four. Let someone else run the show.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

I think Smit was being sarcastic, since Hillary tends to bring out the Partisan Fuckery in people.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Yeah, I was being sarcastic. Corey Lazarus' post was dumb.

[Big Ol' Smitty 0]

Danville, Gore isn't going to run. He has stated so unequivocally.

[NoCalMike 0]

The way I remember it, it was actually Gore himself trying to distance himself from Clinton so he and Bush could run a mutual "I fuck my own wife" campaign.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

As probably one of the few Republicans if not the token Republican on the board Guillani is realistically the only man who could run for our side and win handily.

 

Giuliani can not win unless the Democrats nominate Ted Kennedy or Robert Byrd or something. He has even more scandals to dredge out of the mud than the Clintons do. His wife had to get a JUDGE to gain entry to the house when Rudy kicked her out so he could goof off with his woman on the side.

 

Admittedly, though, Guiliani VS Hillary would be a humorously terrible debate. "Well, at least when MY husband decided to get kinky with the first slut that showed him any attention, he didn't lock me out of my home!"

 

Unfortunately even after all the posing and sliding to the center, she still is a card carrying member of the same Democrat fringe that bows to the foil-hatted, socialist, Marxist ideals that are championed by the current DNC chair.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Uhh..... Hate to break it to you, but Dean hardly = United Socialist Workers Party or anything, nor Hillary. She's, well, very statist like the current neo-con crew. She got the government involved over a sex scene in a goddamned video game, and that's the kind of wackjob shit I expect out of the right's Bible thumpers.

 

But neither would resemble socialism as much as Kucinich tried.

[CheesalaIsGood 0]

. Hillary is polarizing figure to most which is her weakness. Unfortunately even after all the posing and sliding to the center, she still is a card carrying member of the same Democrat fringe that bows to the foil-hatted, socialist, Marxist ideals that are championed by the current DNC chair.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

G.W. is a polarizing figure as well and he still managed.

 

 

I think my foil hat is quite stylish.

[Masked Man of Mystery 0]

Dean isn't the wackjob liberal everyone thinks he is, he's pretty moderate, he just played up his anti war stance. I'd almost like to see Barrack Obama(is that how it's spelled?) run just to see how the Republicans would try to smear him, but my personal pick would be Wesley Clark, as it was last time