Friends of Hillary hint she may pull out of presidential race

[truthpusher]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2340352,00.html

Friends of Hillary hint she may pull out of presidential race

Sarah Baxter

FRIENDS of Hillary Clinton have been whispering the unthinkable. Despite her status as the runaway frontrunner for the 2008 Democratic nomination for president, some of her closest advisers say she might opt out of the White House race and seek to lead her party in the Senate.

The former first lady longs to return to the White House with husband Bill as consort. Only last week she told television viewers America would be led by a woman one day. “Stay tuned,” she said.

First, however, she has to win the election. Some Democratic party elders — the American equivalent of the Tories’ “men in grey suits” — say Clinton may back out of the race of her own volition.

“I would not be surprised if she were to decide that the best contribution she can make to her country is to forget about being president and become a consensus-maker in the Senate,” said a leading Democratic party insider. “She believes there is no trust between the two political sides and that we can’t function as a democracy without it.”

(SNIP)

The solution, insiders say, is for Clinton to take over as Senate minority leader in 2009 from the lacklustre Harry Reid, senator for Nevada. One well-respected blog, The Washington Note, recently claimed that Reid privately told Clinton the job was hers if she gave up her presidential ambitions.

Reid’s office denied it, but the claim made its way into the Los Angeles Times where it was suggested she would make a “superlative Senate leader” while keeping her options open for the 2012 presidential race.

LINK: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2340352,00.html

[journalist3072]

1. How can she pull out of a race that she has not yet declared her

candidacy in yet?

[Webster Green]

2. I wondered the same thing...

"...runaway frontrunner for the 2008 Democratic nomination"

Who decided that?..........Tweety perhaps?

[TheWraith]

5. Polls decided that.

Polls on likely 2008 candidates show her with by far the largest percentage of Democratic support.

In any event, I echo the question of how she can withdraw from a race she's not in... but I feel a little smug as I say it, because I've never been as convinced as some that she was actually running.

[greccogirl]

15. It looks like they are

dangling a carrot in front of her to get her NOT to run. They know she can't win.

[MindMatter]

65. Those polls also show

that although she enjoys a lead because of her name recognition, her negatives AMONG DEMOCRATS, not no mention republicans, are so high that she could never get elected. And those negatives aren't changing, precisely because she is so well known.

She is absolutely unelectable, and maybe she is figuring this out.

[blue cat]

67. Exactly

Some dem women that I know what her to win but they don't follow politics much and don't really know who else is running.

[hatrack]

4. Yeah, when did she declare?

Sheesh.

[Tellurian]

12. Makes Perfect Sense to me..

Rumors your not running in a race you haven't entered yet..

If she does run, she'll get my vote.

Don't do anything crazy now, Hillary- like dumping Bill..<g>

[shadowknows69]

57. Runaway Frontrunner?

I hate the media. Not one campaign ad out yet and she's won because of course she'll have the most money.

[Le Taz Hot]

66. No but I have been getting

fundraising letters from her for months and I'm in CA. My guess is her staff reads the blogs and the writing is on the wall. The progressives won't go along with her AND she has way too many negatives. I think even the DLC gets that that now.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

3. I for one would be relieved...

We want to win in '08, we may have to pick up some votes from the right. So-called "red states" hate Bill Clinton as much as we hate Bush. For the life of me, I couldn't imagine voting for Laura Bush.

[ckramer]

6. John Kerry will be the next president

Good for Kerry.

[IndianaGreen]

9. Good for Kerry? Good for us!

Hillary is very polarizing and her record is unremarkable.

[greccogirl]

16. Do you really think so?

I don't think there is a chance that Kerry would win.

[Skip Intro]

35. I think he would win in a landslide.

Of course, a lot depends on which bush-sucker the repukes put up for 08, and who the VP slot goes to.

But I think Kerry would have an excellent chance to walk away with it.

The mud's already been slung.

He has a unique advantage in that he can say, "I told you so." More eloquently, of course.

Hell, I think he probably already won the race once.

I'd be behind him 100%

[_dynamicdems]

92. I totally agree with you on John Kerry.

One thing I've learned about Republicans over the years: the amount of threat they consider you to be is directly proportional to the attacks they direct at you. They still keep Senator Kerry under intense scrutiny and immediately spring to attack everything he does and says. This tells me that they consider him a threat.

[NeoConsSuck]

102. The republicans don't attack without help..

Corporate media attacked Kerry just as much as any repuke did.

[_dynamicdems]

108. Yup, and they still are attacking him.

If I had a dollar for every snark or outright lie I've heard from corporate media since the election, I'd be able to buy myself a Republican Congressman (well, one of the cheaper ones anyhow).

[susanna]

98. So Al Gore could do it, too, then? n/t

[Skip Intro]

118. Oh yeah. But I think Kerry is in an even more advantageous position to win

than Gore.

Don't get me wrong, Gore would be a great President. I have no doubt left that 2000 was stolen. The bush regime came into power using the same criminal, anti-democracy, un-American tactics they've used ever since.

And Gore would have the same, "see I told you" advantage Kerry would have.

But I think Kerry would have it moreso, at this point. He was more recent. Gore has become a punch-line to some in this country, sadly, largely due to the sham of a corporate media that helped install bush to begin with. Kerry does not carry that particular baggage, at least to that extent, and I think he's definitely more electable. I think he's more widely respected.

He would need a strong VP partner on the ticket, tho. Who that should be, I don't know at this point.

If Kerry runs, and wins the nomination, he will be the next President.

[susanna]

122. I voted for Kerry last time.

I truly am not sure I want to again. He didn't fight when he needed to. At least Gore fought as long as he could. They're way different to me, and Gore comes out on top easy.

[michreject]

83. I agree

I don't think that anyone form the northeast could win. Midwestern is where the candidate will come from. Can anyone say Feingold?

[harpboy_ak]

91. I agree, and he had his chance

He could have challenged the Ohio results and won the bleeping election, but like Gore he folded before all the bleeping votes were counted! He had his chance, is a has-been, screw him.

I'm sick and tired of triangulators like him. I want a candidate with principles who stands for something. Since Wellstone is gone, that leaves Russ Feingold, who damn well better run. If we don't have someone like him, a lot of True Democrats who would never vote for Hilary or who held their nose and voted for Kerry might just take a walk.

The votes are out there for a True Democrat, not a DLC Dino. Screw trying to pick up suburban moderate Repukes. If we run a True Democrat who actually has consistent principles, doesn't waffle, and doesn't triangulate, we'll get those moderate votes, since they're good government types who don't like the RoveSpeak talking points.

[MercutioATC]

53. of what?

Certainly not of the U.S.

[ckramer]

77. President of USA

I don't see any democratic candidates that is better than him at this point.

[Egnever]

80. Delusional

Kerry will never be president.

[DuaneBidoux]

110. I agree but not for the reason you probably think:

It seems to me that senators have a very rough time getting elected. Too much history and voting record to campaign against. On the other hand, governors have an amazing record of getting elected from both parties.

[_dynamicdems]

93. I sure hope he decides to run.

He can do it. He's learned so much since 2004. I want to see him really kick ass this time.

And he'll be one Hell of a good President!

[susanna]

96. Are you serious? n/t

[Master of Disaster]

100. John Kerry will not be the next president.

The next president will be someone from outside the beltway.

[NOLADEM]

7. PLEASE DROP OUT HILLARY

We can't take any more repuke administrations, and SHE CANNOT WIN.

I know many dems who couldn't pull the lever for her.

I would have to swallow the puke in my mouth to do so.

She voted for the war. She is a shill for interests that are not America's interests.


We don't need any more dynastic presidents.

She would divide the country just as bad as Bush has.

PLEASE do the right thing Hillary. DROP OUT and stay a mildly relevant Senator.

Now, do I think she will drop out? Hell no.

My Crystal Ball says she will run, win the nomination and lose the election by double digits to the repuke.


Also, I don't want to see the Big Dog relegated to doing White House Tours and Christmas Tree ornament selection.(sarcasm) Seeing him on Poppy's lap has been enough emasculation. (not sarcasm)

[UWS_DEM]

11. She can't win

...and surely she's smart enough to know she couldnt pull off a general election.

I'm not even impressed with her as my senator, cannot imagine how half the nation would want her as a prez. Best she can do is wager for a leadership role in the Senate and lie low. She does make an excellent decoy - lightning rod--for the roves/etc though.

[Captain Hilts]

28. Depends on who she's running against. nt

[NMDemDist2]

31. welcome to DU UWS_DEM

:hi:

[TheWraith]

20. Actually, polls say that she could/would win.

The only Republican who consistently polls higher than she does is McCain, who won't get through a Republican primary.

This should be in no way construed to mean that I think she is running--I'm just correcting bad information.

[CollegeDUer]

43. I've seen polls say she's probably the most polarizing candidate

among moderates. That's not a great thing at the ballot.

[Bjorn Against]

74. She is polarizing moderates, and she IS a moderate to conservative Sen.

She is even more polarizing among progressives. She would probably not be able to win the primary for this reason, she would probably have a slightly better chance in the general but even so she would not be as much of a shoe-in as several other potential candidates. Right now it is looking like Gore, Feingold, Clark, or Edwards would give us the best chance of winning, although there is still plenty of time for new faces to step into the race.

[susanna]

123. McCain WILL get through the GOP primary...

...if they're cornered and know he's the only one who can win. They are the party of hypocrisy, remember; JMc will become their best friend if they need him. And he's such a vacillator he'll do whatever is asked. IMHO of course.

[bronxiteforever]

25. explain "mildly relevant senator"-

[CrispyQ]

75. My republican mother said she will not go to the polls in '08

unless Giuliani or Clinton run. She would vote for Giuliani and against Clinton. :eyes: She hates Hillary with passion but cannot site any real reason why other than "she thought she was elected to the White House!" :wtf:

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[IndianaGreen]

8. Nice script for a movie, but this is nothing but a smokescreen

Unless Hillary whispered something to the owner of The Times of London, her financial backer and mentor Rupert Murdoch.

[TheWraith]

21. Boy, you certainly have a hair trigger, don't you?

Financial backer and mentor? One minor fundraiser is supposed to erase the fact that Murdoch spent twelve years and billions of dollars trying to destroy her and her husband?

[Warpy]

10. Majority Leader in the Senate has a nicer ring to it, I think

and I think that's what's been offered her. She'd be pretty good at it.

I'd be delighted if she'd pull out of the race.

[onehandle]

13. She isn't in. This is non-news. nt

[greccogirl]

17. Oh come on now! Do you really

think Hillary doesn't want to run? You'd never convince me of that. But I think she's being offered this to not run.

I think there needs to be someone new, like Clinton was.

[bluestateguy]

14. I think she would be a decent floor leader in the Senate

Certainly I'd take that in exchange for her staying out of the presidential race, which she'd be unlikely to win.

[leesa]

18. Works for me.

[INdemo]

19. This is so stupid

Why Minority leader..hopefully the Democrats may be the Majority in 2009.......Journalists just sit around and come up with this BS? ......This certaintly came from a wing nut with nothing else to wrtie about..........

[wisteria]

22. This story has been floating around for a while now, I guess we will

just have to wait and see.

[catzies]

23. Pull out of a race she's not in...boy, what can't those Clintons do!

They's magic I tells ya.

[Schema Thing]

24. God I hope this is right.

[flordehinojos]

26. hillary has never said she was in the run for the presidence.

republican pundits just jammed that she was down our throats. now they are jamming that she is opting out. how can she opt out, when she was never in?

reality in these united states, at least as far as the republican party is concerned, is a matter of little concern.

i don't understand anynmore what is real, what is not.
people can talk until they are blue in the face and if republicans don't want listen, if they want to distort the words, if they want to fabricate another reality they simply do!

Il Pensiero> IL PENSIERO....bush has chained us...and we are the lost souls (the diaspora in our own country) of il pensiero.

[MarinCoUSA]

84. THEN THE REPUKELICANS WILL DRAFT HER!!!

n/t

[Ninja Jordan]

27. Edwards-Holbrooke 2008

[Tellurian]

29. Hillary and Obama- Brilliant together n/t

[Ninja Jordan]

30. Hillary too polarizing (nm)

[StrictlyRockers]

32. I'd vote for Hillary. But I would rather have:

1) Kucinich
2) Edwards
3) Kerry
4) Gore
5) Gen. Wesley Clark

[countmyvote4real]

34. Feingold n/t

[Tellurian]

36. The same Feingold that voted against the Iraq War?

[countmyvote4real]

59. And the Patriot Act.

Pretty consistent voting record to uphold The Constitution.

[davidwparker]

117. And, leading the effort to censure *. Seems like he has a good head

on his shoulders. He would be great on a ticket with Clark and Edwards. Gore too.

So much talent in the Dem party.

[Tellurian]

33. Bush will hold the POLARIZING title forever.. after polarizing the world.

Obama gives Hillary, the right balance. He is a very charismatic speaker and will make a good front man for her. Besides all that, he's fresh, innovative, lightening quick on his feet, and doesn't rely on someone else doing his thinking for him.

[Ninja Jordan]

38. Obama needs to finish a Senate term first (nm)

[Tellurian]

39. He can do a Lieberman, and resign if he wins. n/t

[Ninja Jordan]

40. Lieberman had served for 15 years. Obama is a first timer.

2012 is Obama's year.

[Tellurian]

44. X # of years serving in the senate are not a prerequisite for a VP

He's either got it or he doesn't..
afaic, he's the real deal!

[davidwparker]

114. who's holbrooke?

[young_at_heart]

37. Hillary has far more power as a top senator

As president she would be spinning her wheels. As a senate leader, she can change policy.

[Tellurian]

41. She IS already a Top senator-

As a senate leader, she is only as good as her quorum getting power.
As president, she has the advantages of all the good stuff Bush has been signing by Executive Order, these last 6 yrs.

[merh]

52. With all due respect to you my friend

The only way Hillary would get my vote is if I was stuck with her on the ballot and it was her versus a republican. This woman is so moderate, so DLC, that she would be just about as bad as having a republican in office (Bill wasn't that hot either, he screwed up a lot as prez and his screw ups allowed the republicans to gain control, imho.) I'm not crazy about the family dynasties and I don't think the majority of the nation are keen on them either.

For pete's sake, she considered changing her position on abortion, as in voting to make them illegal. She floated test balloons on the concept and found it was not at all popular. She bends in the wind and her interests are more in line with the corporate powers than the people.

I pray she doesn't run, the republicans want her to run, want everyone to believe she is the favorite because they know that she cannot win, it gives their GOP candidate a chance.

I love you, but I think she and Obama both are too special interest (as in corporate interest) for my taste and much too DLC.

:hi:

:hug:

[bling bling]

58. Do you have any evidence of what you claim?

"She considered changing her position on abortion, as in voting to make them illegal."

Links? Hell, just point me in a direction to help me narrow down the search criteria and I'll even do the research myself.

[Boomer]

60. What merh said

n/t

[Tellurian]

62. Well, a good morning to you my dear friend-

I respect and can agree with you to a point.

Maybe, I'm looking at a bigger picture (as usual) because I'm not looking backward; I'm looking forward to the future. This country, not only our country, this world is in such a state of chaos because the war profiteers want it this way. Thats how they make unaudited billions that filter back into GOP war chests and pay big money to cooperating CEOs of Big Corporations. Money dictates Control.

While they're at it, there is an ethnic cleansing going on in the ME, in case anyone hadn't noticed. Giving the current administration an excuse to do the very same thing in our country. The Evangelicals are in fear the white race will be a minority so, muslims and arabs are no longer welcome here. In addition to an ethnic cleansing, domestic policies have been merged with foreign policies..that is, the outsourcing of american jobs as part of Bush's foreign trade agreements. The effect outsourcing our jobs overseas is rippling through the middle class. Thousands of people are suffering from the termination of good paying jobs resulting in unheard of staggering numbers of housing foreclosures where the banks end up as big property owners and their former owners end up in debt for the rest of their lives. Bankruptcy doesn't absolve people of debt anymore since Bush changed the rules.

This dynamic has got to be stopped because the GOP, for whom the rule of law doesn't apply, want to make it quite clear to all of those who are unlike them, rich, white and Christian have two choices either you bend to a life of servitude, meaning you'll do as we say, or your going to one of our warehouses..(read camps)

The point I'm trying to make is, Hillary is not perfect for the job but I don't know who out of the gaggle of available politicians is. What I do know is this. The only person I would have enough confidence in to right all the damage done by the Bush Administration is Bill Clinton. The only way that can happen is to elect Hillary. I don't give a flying **** what she's said or what she's voted on or failed to vote on. It took a team of (nefarious)people years to implement the PNAC plan and bring it halfway to fruition. We have to think clearly, succinctly and redouble our efforts to undo what has been wrought on us by Republicans and their greedy cohorts.

This is our last chance at a bite of the apple. If we fail this time, we will never have another chance again.

So, in closing. I can give Hillary the benefit of the doubt. I can wait to hear her campaign speeches and what she considers important for the direction of the country. I can forgive her mistakes, as long as she holds to her word of what we need to do to right the country. Like giving people back their rights and making people her primary concern above corporate interests.

If she does all that, she's my candidate..

[Captain Hilts]

70. A source for the abortion comment, please. Blogs don't count. nt

[bling bling]

97. Would you please reply to my question? You made a SERIOUS accusation.

And I don't think it's too much to ask when a SERIOUS accusation like that is tossed around here for the accuser to back it up with links or facts when requested. I even offered to do my own research if you could point me in some sort of direction.

[davidwparker]

119. Sing it. We really need a change from the Clintons. There has been a

lot of fallout over what Bill did. He's charismatic for sure, let's move on. We've had problems as a result of NAFTA. The Telecom bill (of 1996) that led to more RW consolidation of news. I think we need people who take a position and stick with it no matter what polls say.

[CollegeDUer]

42. If she had any kind of positive ideas to change with, maybe

But she currently holds nothing more than star power, and I doubt that will change. Plus, the Republicans have created the greatest hate cult against her against any senator. She'd never be able to have enough sway.

[Tellurian]

45. Really? From where I'm standing, the GOP is going to be calling

the Red Cross to aid Republican civilians suffering from heart attacks after they loose the midterm elections..to (gasp) democrats/and/or Independents!

[CollegeDUer]

46. Oh I think they may lose the majority in November

But I don't think Hilary can or should be an effective leader once that happens. I have a conscience and do not stand with criminals like her; I'll support people who didn't support horrible wars.

[Tellurian]

47. So, who do you have in mind...? n/t

[CollegeDUer]

49. Anyone who voted against going to war is a start

A great start, in fact.

[SuperNovaRS]

50. But Pelosi wouldn't let her win that spot.

[Captain Hilts]

69. Why not? She's in the House and Hil in the Senate. nt

[silverweb]

48. Let's hope so.

(1) She is not the "runaway frontrunner" among possible Democratic candidates (and as far as I can tell, there is none, except the still somewhat unlikely entry of Al Gore).

(2) I'd vote for her against any reTHUG candidate, but somewhat reluctantly.

(3) For all her brains and energy, Hillary is still a very polarizing figure among Democrats and all Americans; thus, she is not the kind of candidate Democrats need in this very critical election.

We need a charismatic, energizing, real "uniter, not a divider" for 2008 -- but we'd damn well better find a better descriptive phrase!

[RamboLiberal]

51. You Hit the Same Points I would make perfectly Silverweb

The only people I see pushing Hillary are the DLC, a lot of pundits and some big-money Dems. There are a number of Dems that rank ahead of her among grassroot Dems like many of us.

If she was the candidate in '08 I wouldn't find myself very enthused. And while I'd vote for her over any ReThug it would be without much enthusiasm.

She's too polarizing to win in '08, and if she did we'd still have a very polarizing President in the WH.

Amd while I admire the Clintons, I've had it with just two families running this country since 1988, it's time for some new blood.

If this rumor is true, right now Tweety, Russert and all of Faux are crying in their beer!

[silverweb]

56. ^5!

Let's hope lots of others see it the same way, eh?

:D

[Superman Returns]

54. Good

Time for the possible combinations of Warner, Edwards, Clark, and Finegold, to take her place.

[pinto]

55. What Presidential race? Spin becomes reality becomes news.

[stepnw1f]

79. Indeed...

she never declared such a thing.... look at propaganda in action.

[Eurobabe]

61. How can you pull out of a race that you aren't in yet?

Such BS.

[rhett o rick]

63. What presidential race. I still think the SCOTUS will rule that it is

Constitutional for the current President to extend his reign (oops term) temporarily during this time of war. That would save us from another nasty election.

[TroglodyteScholar]

64. Oh pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease

She could do so much more good in the senate where her profile would be a bit lower........

[marions ghost]

68. A good idea

Why stick your head up to be whacked off when it's not necessary? How does becoming a failed presidential candidate help her? How does being a divisive candidate help her party?

If Hillary doesn't run, I will give her points for true wisdom rather than mere intelligence.

[Tellurian]

71. The Biggest Fear of all is If Hillary runs and wins..we get Bill Back!

Is that such a BAD thing?

It's the ONLY thing...afaic!

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

72. I've been thinking for awhile now

that Hillary maybe a "red-herring" candidate. Maybe running, maybe not running but, she'd draw all the attention and criticism away from the true front runner and then BLAM, pulls out. This would leave the true candidate unscathed. It's just a theory I've had bouncing around in my head.

[Tellurian]

73. They still play that game at back yard Birthday Partys, don't they?

Is that where you got the idea...

KUDOS!

[Psst_Im_Not_Here]

105. Well. since football season is getting ready to start,

Think of it as a "screen play". LOL

[InkAddict]

76. Pre-empted payoff...

but by which side of the triangle...Dems, Pukes, MSM?

[stepnw1f]

78. Drop Out of What People?

She never declared to run... it's all been corporate media specualtion. Seems the right wing wanted her to run, or at least place the notion into everyone's head. And it worked....

[depakid]

81. She'd be a vast improvement over Reid

and the faster that might be accomplished, the better.

How about January 2007?

[Captain Hilts]

82. He's really a non-entity, isn't he? nt

[patricia92243]

85. Senate Minority Leader??? How about at least thinking we might be the Majo

Majority. What a defeatist attitude.

[JerseygirlCT]

89. I'm with you.

Hillary for Majority Leader!

[winston61]

86. Oh please God, make it so..

[robcon]

87. I think this is just posturing.

She may be just floating the notion, through intermediaries, that she may not run for president - as a campaign ploy to suggest she'll give 6 more years as NY senator.

[JerseygirlCT]

88. She'd be an excellent senate majority leader

I hope she does this.

[sofa king]

104. I think she would be, too.

I was still covering the Senate when she came in, and of all of the freshman Senators that year she was far and away the most serious about her job. Among other things, I heard she was Senator Byrd's star pupil on Senate rules, and nobody has ever known the rules like Byrd does. It was hilarious to watch the right-wing press go from "she doesn't know her job" to "look at all the terrible shit she's doing!" in about three months.

I'll happily vote for her as President, too.

[JerseygirlCT]

111. I like her a great deal, honestly

Someone that committed to a better world with those smarts is very attractive.

I think, however, there's this big, unfocused but strong dislike for the woman -- from both the right and the left. I really don't know that she could overcome that in a national election. I don't think it necessarily has any reason behind it, either.

In the senate, she'd probably continue to be a very diligent worker, and an accomplished and effective public speaker. And her national name-recognition and position gives her a lot of clout. I'd feel quite confident with her in charge.

[sofa king]

124. Oh, I think there's a reason behind it.

Hillary Clinton embodies the threat presented to the asshole white males of this country. She's the living manifestation of it--competent, politically savvy, and rapidly adding to a resume which can already challenge the best those asshole white guys can field.

You may think I'm jumping tracks here, but I swear there's a point to this. A couple of weeks back I was talking to a friend of mine who was a makeup artist in the fashion industry. For the first time I (an asshole white guy myself, though I'm always chipping away at the asshole part) asked my friend a specific question: why is it that the fashion industry focuses almost exclusively on the "Twiggy model," when most women don't look that way and most guys I know actually prefer different (if equally deluded) female body types.

"It's the men," my pal said flat out. "The fashion industry is still controlled by a patriarchy, and that patriarchy hates women and is scared silly of having the women take over the industry. So they use body type as a means of controlling the models." After that the conversation drifted on to even more disturbing subjects, like the use of starvation as a means of social control.

Similarly, I think, the right-wing press knows exactly what sort of threat women in general and Hillary Clinton in particular presents to them, and has for a long time. Regnery Books has its own sub-industry of I-hate-Hillary books, which seem to be squeezed out quarterly. The dam is trickling already and really always has been, but one of these days soon a woman is going to bust straight through, and when she does she'll kick ass and take names. Once a woman President establishes herself as an authority figure to be followed and trusted, the political field will expand dramatically, as the snoozy public suddenly realizes that the best candidate can be of any gender.

The Republicans have to prevent that at any cost, because as soon as the dam breaks, their useless chauvinistic asses will be swept away for good. I so very much look forward to that day.

[JerseygirlCT]

126. Yes, I do think that's a big part of it

Although the most vitriolic responses I've seen to her come from women. Have they just bought into the system? Could be. Or perhaps any sort of change is too scary; they understand the status quo and have gotten comfortable in it.

At any rate, I completely agree that once that dam breaks, huge changes are inevitable. I, too, eagerly look forward to it!

[Captain Hilts]

128. She scored a lot of points on both sides of the aisle.

She has a surprisingly high 'plays well with others' quotient.

[sweetheart]

90. friends counsel wisdom of patience

... sounds like hillary's got good friends.

[SKKY]

94. This is good news. I don't think she had much of a chance anyway.

[robcon]

99. Huh? She'e the leading Democrat in the polls.

I think she's the favorite for the nomination.

[Mizmoon]

95. I love Hillary

That's all I have to say.

[Master of Disaster]

101. I suppose she has been looking at the high negatives for so long

that it has finally sunken in.

[rocktivity]

103. Well, if they're only "hints"

and if they're from "friends" of Hillary rather than directly from the source, what is the point of this story--making the National Enquirer look classy?

:shrug:
rocknation

[Jersey Ginny]

106. Hillary is the Repukes favorite Democratice prez candidate

They are salivating at the prospect of running against her-running ANYONE against her. They could make it about personality (perceived), whip up their histrionic base and not run on their pathetic and facist record. I'd love to see her take a bigger and more prominent leadership role in the SENATE and stay out of the Presidential race.

[legin]

107. This is Sarah Baxter

of 'Democrats for bush*' fame just before the last election.

She may be regarded as quietly odious.

[Jack Rabbit]

109. After she's been anointed by the elites?

Who are they going to tell us we've chosen next?

Three years ago they were telling us that we Democrats wanted Lieberman. Now he's trying to tell rank-and-file Democrats that they're all wet and the elites are trying to put the stamp of legitimacy on that. It's as they're trying to read the voters out of the Democratic Party.

But who needs real people when the MSM and Beltway political leaders are there to tell us what we think?

[0rganism]

112. Too soon! She should "pull out" of the race in late 2007

Get as many rightwing nutcases and fearmongers as possible to line up their attacks against "Evil-Lesbian-Hitlery-who-is-sure-to-win-the-Democrat-primary" and then yank the floor out from under them -- that'd be a service. She can use her high-profile "candidacy" to run cover for other Dems to "sneak under the radar", so every second they waste smearing her is one they lose attacking an actual candidate.

[davidwparker]

113. I would support Hillary on minority/majority leader.

She needs to reinvent herself without the DLC, shake off triangulation, and get with the base. Maybe someday, ... after a Clark/Feingold, Gore/Clark, Edwards/Clark administration. That is, if you can beat Dean.

[PurityOfEssence]

115. Well, for all her faults, she's not stupid

That's about as charitable as I'm able to be today.

[Generator]

116. Victory! (if this is true)

:bounce: For all the real Dems out there.

[RCinBrooklyn]

120. She shouldn't be in ANY leadership position - including President.

[Captain Hilts]

127. Why not? nt

[AtomicKitten]

121. She would have to enter the race in order to pull out.

This is filler. Period.

[robcon]

125. She's just positioning herself for the fall Senate campaign

She'll reinvigorate her presidential run as soon as she's re-elected, IMO.