Don't like Hillary? Stop her now!

[mandyky]

I think she can win another Seante term, let her stay in NY.

For the progressives, we need to draft someone now to stop her. But we have to start now.
I think Al Gore's trip to the middle east and whatever he said there ruined it for him.
I like Feingold, but he's a Senator. Can we draft Sweitzer sp (Montana Gov)?

We need an outsider.

[bbinacan]

1. Historically, Senators don't do well

Time to focus on Governors. IMHO

[mandyky]

2. I agree but

Warner, Vilsack and Richardson don't do it for the progressives. I can't think of any one besides the MT Gov. (unless Dean runs again)

[mrgorth]

21. I like Schweitzer

but the truth of the matter is that he's probably not much more progressive than Vilsack or Richardson. Not sure about Warner. I'd settle for any of those guys over Hillary. It's gonna be plenty hard to get someone like Feingold the nom.

[John Barrett]

22. Hillary Is Trouble

Hillary is like a magnet that will bring out opposition en masse. I don't believe she is electable. She's the consumate politician, too smooth and changes position too easily with the political winds. One day she opposes illegal immigration, the next she's trying to use them for political gain. I'd like to see Democrats win with a less controversial more moderate western or southern candidate that will not rally the opposition, and might even bring over some moderates that want a change on board. Schweitzer has had some good ideas.

The Clinton's have been here, done that and we don't need another royal family. I'd like a leader who firmly stands for US interests and not multi-national corporate or foreign interests and I don't trust the Clintons on this issue. I'd trust Lou Dobbs though.

[WildEyedLiberal]

28. Historically, the last liberal Presidents we had were senators

Let's not have another centrist governor, ok?

[Hippo_Tron]

43. Historically, crappy Senators get nominated

Wanna bet that Bobby Kennedy would have been elected president?

[bluestateguy]

3. I like Clark

No messy congressional voting record to untangle. He's a more seasoned campaigner now and he'll get into the race earlier this time. He's not perfect, for nobody is, so don't try to find one.

[Tom Rinaldo]

4. It would be foolish in my opinion to overlook Clark n/t

[ruggerson]

5. I'd rather spend my time fighting Republicans, thanks

[AtomicKitten]

12. me too.

[frogmarch]

26. me three

[Th1onein]

6. I don't like Hillary either.

What bothers me first is that she is too Republican Lite.
Second, she's too easy to hate.
Third, and the most IMPORTANT, is that the Rethugs are trying to choose her for us!

[Moody Bluz]

13. What really bothers me is...

why the Republicans want to force Hillary on us. Should Hillary decide to run, she will be very difficult to defeat in the Primaries and to do it, it will be a vicious and bloody fight. Whoever survives will have severely drained campaign coffers and enter the Presidential campaign in a weakened condition. I think that the Republicans really don't care if Hillary is the nominee at all, they just want her to cause a lot of division, hurt feelings and strife in the Democratic Party.

[NativeTexan]

35. They aren't forcing her...

...they are scared of her and are DEMONIZING her, so that we can have discussions like this! Welcome to Karl Rove's world of planting thoughts and worries.

[Andromeda]

41. Republicans aren't forcing Hillary on us.

The Republican talking heads are trying to stir up trouble and trying to get Democrats to fight with each other about who they want for nominee.

Guess what? It's working.

Let the primary process take care of who wins the nominee. That's the American way. Nobody will be forced on us---just elected by the will of the people.

[AtomicKitten]

48. It's such rovian strategy, really

Not only is it causing rancor, as you pointed out, in the ranks among Democrats, but it gives the Republicans a target for all their hatred (and fundraising), and god knows they have plenty of venom to spare.

I just don't understand why there are some alleged Democrats that despise Hillary so; frankly I don't even think those vociferous naysayers are really Democrats at all. Regardless, it reminds me of one of my sisters who I really can't stand (Republican fundie), but damn if I'd allow anyone outside our immediate family to talk trash about her. Although I don't agree with Hillary on many issues and won't vote for her in the primary, I still believe she is being maligned by many unfairly. I expect that bad behavior from the Republicans, but not from within the party. It has caused such division, purposely so IMO.

[Th1onein]

7. What was Gore supposed to have said in the ME?

nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. "Go Iraq?"

:shrug:

[mandyky]

17. Noone had any tape on it

But the Wingers on CSpan call in still bitch about it. He went to Saudi Arabia and was talking about how Muslims/Arabs were being mistreated by the US, supposedly. I don't trust that Wingers haven't taken it context, or something.

[Cascadian]

9. Frankly, I would rather her go back to being a lawyer.

New York deserves somebody who is more progressive than she is and America does not need anymore dynasties be it Clinton or Bush. That is another reason I am against the idea of Hillary running for president in 2008. Time for the Democrats to take a bold new direction.


John

[Botany]

10. please ....

.... Eyes on the Prize! Worry about the 06 elections ..... the right wing wants us
talking pro and con about Hillary because they have nothing for 06.

Hillary is not an issue now .... winning congress, governorships, and local races matter right now.

Work on getting every precinct w/ an exit poll that is what we need now.

[John Barrett]

23. Agreed

I agree that winning 2006 in the House (and Senate) should be the objective now, and then there's a chance of winning 2008. Yep exit polls needed.

[ladjf]

11. Gore is the one I suggest for that role.

[politicasista]

14. We NEED to focus on 06. 2008 is mute right now....

And stop playing into the hands of Roveboy.

This is why this fall is so important. We must also fix the voting machines and take back a GOP-controlled media (though that may be slim).

What may be best for the country is electing someone that is BEST qualified for the job. Though I am not Hillary's fan, it doesn't matter if the candidate is "fresh-face" governor, senator, or a congressman, they will be smeared just like the last two nominees were. People don't see that, but it can happen to anyone.

The person who wins the Dem nominee (and hopefully wins the presidency without fraud) is going to have a huge, massive, I mean MASSIVE, mess to clean up once Bush is out of office.

We can dream about a fresh face "perfect" candidate all we want, but the future is NOW.

[sandnsea]

15. Schweitzer wants to keep bases in Iraq

He's a good governor for Montana and is doing some good things there, but he's not the kind of guy DU would typically support.

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/nataffdaily/story/8957654/schweitzer_on_iraq

[mandyky]

18. I am not totally anti-war so that isn't a problem with me

He probably wouldn't be as stubborn as the currrent CiC, and he sounds like he knows the culture.

[Hippo_Tron]

45. But he didn't specify for how long he wanted to keep those bases

He also is serious about energy independence which means that those bases will be closed sooner rather than later.

And Schweitzer has quite a following on DU. The man is honest and is very hostile to Bush. He also doesn't have DLC next to his name which helps on DU.

[wyldwolf]

16. Sweitzer? I'm all for him! Bring him on!

And I can't wait for the wailing and gnashing of teeth among DU's "progressives" if he ever got the nod.

[mtnsnake]

19. Stop her? That's bad advice. We NEED her to bring out the best in us

and that's obviously what's going to happen.

It's because of someone who's as controversial as she is that we're going to end up with someone who might actually win next time...someone who will HAVE to rise to the top because of her, not despite her. To beat her out in the primaries, it's going to take a fantastic new face, and that will be good.

[SaveElmer]

20. Count me OUT...

I am going to work to stop the "Stop Hillary" movement!!!

[brentspeak]

24. Only a Mark Warner or Gen.Clark can win the presidency as a Dem

The public will not be in the mood for another controversial and/or headline-grabbing President following eight years of Bush -- be they Democrat or Republican. Someone low-key, non-controversial, will be elected President.

That immediately eliminates Hillary Clinton from the equation - period. Unfortunately, it also eliminates a politician like Gov. Brian Schweitzer, whose maverick outspokeness would scare off an electorate that will be extremely weary of Presidents who dominate water-cooler conversation. Perhaps in a different climate, where the outgoing president was relatively non-descript and bland, would Schweitzer's personality appear attractive to voters. Just not this time out.

[AtomicKitten]

25. I'll support ANYBODY that can beat the Republicans.

And I also will yield to the consensus of voters in the Democratic primary. Although I prefer Al Gore by a long shot, if my fellow Dems choose Hillary, so be it.

[noonwitch]

27. I would not underestimate Hillary in this

Two more years of Bush/Cheney screw ups and people might be willing to vote for anyone.

I hope to get the chance to vote for Hillary. It would be awesome to watch right wingers have apoleptic fits on national television. Can you imagine how much fun it will be to lurk their websites in this situation? I wonder how many of them will start to threaten to leave the country?

[Moody Bluz]

30. Hillary's Biggest Obstacle...

would be the South. She stands no chance of winning there and her candidacy for President would hand the Republicans the minute she accepted the Democratic nomination.

The same for the southwest. A Presidential run for Hillary would depend on turning some deep, crimson red states to her favor and it will not happen. Minds are already made up on Hillary and they are not changing.

Hillary in the Primaries will be hard to defeat. The other candidates will have to get down and dirty, maybe even throw in a little collusion to make sure she does not get past the primaries. It will be ugly, it will be ugly and the Republicans will just stand on the sidelines and watch them go at it.

A situation like this is a prime breeding ground for people like Rove to take advantage of, maybe even covertly priming different camps with information they can use one against the other. It will also make it hard for a fresh faced "outsider" to gain a foothold.

I hope that Hillary does well in her Senate run in New York and stays there. Not only for the good of her constituents, but for the good of the national Democratic Party as well.

[laugle]

29. Focus, focus, focus, focus on 2006 election!! n/t

[juajen]

31. WOW! Whodathunkit?

The most loved and respected duo, probably in the world, belongs to our party, and where do they get panned? Really, people!!!

[election_2004]

32. I agree.....

Of course, every time any of us try to make a case as to why Senator Clinton would hurt other Democrats as the presidential nominee, we are snapped at by the Hillaristas and told to "shut up and quit bashing Democrats."

Or, we're told to "stop talking about 2008 and concentrate on 2006" - - even though the media will begin attempting to handicap the race in Hillary's favor the morning after the 2006 midterms are over.

Schweitzer is running for gubernatorial reelection (in Montana) in 2008, so I doubt he'll make a run in '08. Maybe in a future presidential election cycle, though?

[EndElectoral]

33. Outsider? - I like Bill Moyers, but I'd vote Clark.

[patrioticliberal]

34. Isn't Clark friends with Hillary/Bill? Just asking. (No flaming)

[AJH032]

49. Yes, he is, in fact..

Bill Clinton was a proponent of Clark running for president.

[PBass]

36. Isn't it a little early to start organizing the Circular Firing Squad?

Hillary can win. Hillary may not be your choice, but she is definitely electable. Hillary wins in the conservative areas of New York state (outside of New York City, a lot of NY state is conservative) and she wins so convincingly upstate that the NY GOP can't find a decent opponent willing to run against her.

Hillary is not as progressive as I wish she was, but then neither is Wes Clark, John Kerry, Al Gore, Mark Warner, John Edwards, Howard Dean or any other mainstream candidate except probably Dennis Kucinich.

Please, there is plenty of time to start 'eating our own' for the 2008 election, later on. Lets try to concentrate on November (and IMO what happens in November will certainly affect the 2008 playing field.)

[Renew Deal]

37. This message sponsored by Free Republic

and other knuckle draggers.

Stop her now? That's exactly the wording used by the right.

[mandyky]

39. I am not a Freeper

all I am saying is, if the collective "we" don't want her we need to act now.

I am sick of the supposed "MSM" telling us she'll be "our" candidate.

[Andromeda]

46. What are you going to do if she is the nominee?

Work for anybody you want but you can't keep Hillary out of the primaries if she decides to run. Just because you don't like her doesn't mean she won't have a lot of support. She'll go up against the other candidates and compete just like anybody else.

If Hillary wins the nomination, she has to get most of the votes. Nobody is going to crown her as the winner or appoint her as leader of the free world.

Let the Democratic process work. The primaries will determine who our nominee is, not the media or the Republicans.

[mandyky]

50. I did not mean she should not run

But a lot of people here don't like her, so what I was suggesting is to stop her now by picking another candidate. If you wait to decide, it may be too late.

[mdmc]

38. Gore!

:kick:

[Corey_Baker08]

40. WHY TRY TO KILL YOUR OWN???

I dont get this. Why do you want to try to stop anyone from entering the Democratic primary? If you dont like her dont support her in the primary. If she dont win the primary that probably means you werent the only one that didnt like her, but if she does win the primary she will win it because she is the candidate with the most support among Democrats, thats just how it works.

Instead of trying to attack your own why not put some of your energy behind trying to take out Republicans and let the primaries decide our candidate.

I am not a big Hillary fan myself, but Im not gonna try to take her off the political map completly. There is others that I would much rather see than Hillary get the nomination but im not going to try to force my opinion of her on others. Let people make up their own mind and decide for themselves and lets let the primaries decide who our candidate is, not Gallup polls and Gossip.

[Stockholm]

47. Well said!

n/t

[mandyky]

51. I did not mean she shouldn't run

I am just sick of the GOP and MSM telling us she is gonna be the frontrunner.

I am not trying to kill any one, but we do have to think ahead.

[election_2004]

54. Exactly!

If we let "Ms. Inevitable" walk to the nomination with no serious opposition, the media will have a field day with the "excitement" of a Hillary vs. McCain or Hillary vs. Allen showdown for the General Election in November 2008.

[timbnyc44]

42. Tasini for Senate

Jonathan Tasini is running against Clinton in the NY Dem primary for US Senate. The best way to show that we want an anti-war candidate in '08 is to punish those who refuse to take a stand now. The more I see and read about Clinton, the more I wonder what side she's on - a few eeks ago she blasted the White House for being 'soft' in Iran...and then Bolton and Cheney played catch-up by making all the threats that started the last go-round between our countries. I really have no use for a representative who's going to try to out war-monger this current administration.

[Hippo_Tron]

44. Schweitzer in '08 is political suicide

He must serve his full term as Governor or he will lose all credability in his home state like John Edwards did because they will see him using his office as merely a stepping stone for the presidency.

Schweitzer is absolutely presidential but he needs to be saved for 2012 or 2016.

[erpowers]

52. No Outsider

We do not need an outsider. We just need a person who stands up for the things they belive and do not try to play Republican light. I think Feingold would make a good candidate even though he is a senator and divorced twice. I think many people wanted to vote for the Democrats in 2004 and want to vote for the Democrast in 2006 and 2008. The problem with 2004 in my opinion was that Kerry did not put forward a clear alternative to Bush. I think if the Democrats just stand up and not listen to what the media is telling us than we can win in the next few years. I contend people are waiting for the Democrats to come out with opposing ideas.

[LWolf]

53. Is she making phone calls these days?

The phone rang last night about 8:30. I don't answer after 8:00. Caller ID said "Hillary" with an area code in the 300s, which I'm not familiar with. I wondered if it was a recorded call, but I let the machine pick it up. No message was left.

As far as a candidate goes, I agree with "outsider," including senators and congresspersons who are "outside" the status quo, the party power brokers. I'm pretty open at this point, to any progressive outside the current "leaders."