Repondering Hillary - UPDATED
I've been convinced for months that Hillary Clinton would be the worst possible candidate the Democrats could field, as "too polarizing, she can't win" and even "too politically calculating."
I was a big fan during the 90s, but had heard so much, so often, about her "calculated move to the center" — promulgated by her enemies and echoed ad nauseum by the talking heads on cable — while paying only casual attention since 2008 is so far away, that I kind of accepted that conventional "wisdom" as truth.
Any effort on her part to work with a Republican — even when the proposed legislation is something the Democratic party should and will support — is viewed, not as a demonstration of a true "uniter," but rather as a crass "move to the center."
Shame on me. I caught the C-Span broadcast of her speech last week to the Aspen Ideas Festival (July 24, 2005) and thought: My god, she is so absolutely right! What the hell is going on here? And would it be possible — and what would it take to get her elected?
Go to C-Span.org and hear for yourself. In the box for video search, type in "Hillary Clinton Aspen." This is a must!
She may still not be electable. She should not even be nominated unless she early and clearly separates herself from the Democratic Leadership Council. The center-moving approach of the DLC worked once, when Bill Clinton caught the Republicans by surprise, stole their issues, and won the election. It won't work again.
Hillary would be up against the utter and unscrupulous despicability of her opponents on the right, anyway, but they would have a field day with the Republican-lite positions still and again advocated by Al From & Co. and make us all look like fools.
If she can distance herself from the real center/right movers, I do believe she's at least entitled to honesty — and honest evaluation — on the part of Democrats and their supporters.
I was a big fan during the 90s, but had heard so much, so often, about her "calculated move to the center" — promulgated by her enemies and echoed ad nauseum by the talking heads on cable — while paying only casual attention since 2008 is so far away, that I kind of accepted that conventional "wisdom" as truth.
Any effort on her part to work with a Republican — even when the proposed legislation is something the Democratic party should and will support — is viewed, not as a demonstration of a true "uniter," but rather as a crass "move to the center."
Shame on me. I caught the C-Span broadcast of her speech last week to the Aspen Ideas Festival (July 24, 2005) and thought: My god, she is so absolutely right! What the hell is going on here? And would it be possible — and what would it take to get her elected?
Go to C-Span.org and hear for yourself. In the box for video search, type in "Hillary Clinton Aspen." This is a must!
She may still not be electable. She should not even be nominated unless she early and clearly separates herself from the Democratic Leadership Council. The center-moving approach of the DLC worked once, when Bill Clinton caught the Republicans by surprise, stole their issues, and won the election. It won't work again.
Hillary would be up against the utter and unscrupulous despicability of her opponents on the right, anyway, but they would have a field day with the Republican-lite positions still and again advocated by Al From & Co. and make us all look like fools.
If she can distance herself from the real center/right movers, I do believe she's at least entitled to honesty — and honest evaluation — on the part of Democrats and their supporters.
posted by The Voice | 11:34 AM
2 Comments:
i wasn't a hillary fan, either, until she started getting attacked and i really thought about her record. i mean, she wanted health care before anyone was even talking about it. she's progressive. but she's lived in a red state, and she knows what matters to average americans.
that aspen speech was great.
I am still not a member of the "cult of Hillary" but will gladly give credit where it's due.She is engaging the GOP on the issues that really matter to the avg. American in a way that most D elected leaders can't seem to finfd the courage to do. I'm not willing to support a Presidential bid at this time;but will instead hope that she keeps up the good work.
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