Why are Republicans pushing Hillary as our presidential hopeful?

[MellowOne]

Lately, I've heard several Republicans on talk shows refer to Hillary as the front runner for president as well as on political chat rooms. But polls on DU show the opposite. So why are the Repubs pushing Hillary?

[bullimiami]

1. they are scared to death of her.

[Danieljay]

21. I disagree. They have demonized her to the point she can't win..

and they want her to run as a result. I don't think she has a chance in hell and would only vote for her if she was the candidate, which I hope she isn't.

[bullimiami]

24. you still think partisan cant win? think bush.

hillary is a lock if she runs and they know it. the sabotage is beginning early.

they were scared of dean and took him out while they still could. he was the most dangerous candidate.

[Danieljay]

30. they aren't painting her as partisan....they simply know they can beat her

and I happen to agree. I am willing to be wrong for the sake of the country, but I just don't think American's will rise to support her. Besides, in my opinion, she's getting closer to be a DINO every day (Democrat in name only).

[bullimiami]

44. first i agree with you, hillary is way to close to some republican issues

than i like.

but, she is a real honest moderate. conservative fiscally, socially pretty liberal, somewhat hawkish, somewhat in bed with business without giving away the farm.

compared to a real liberal, kucinich or mcgovern she is a dino for sure. compared to bush she seems like a damn socialist though.

and I think you are all wrong. they are afraid of her because she beats them on every issue with the majority, she is tough as nails and she is a political superstar.

i think they are more afraid of hillary than anyone else and they want to just get her out while they still can.

[FatDave]

47. Agreed, Daniel

Republicans want Hillary as their opponent. Not only would she have to break the presidential sex barrier (and I don't care what anybody says, in the privacy of the voting booth that's going to make a difference to an alarming number of voters) but she's also lost a lot of support from democrats over her stand on the Iraq war. For years she's been saying that going into Iraq was the right thing to do, but it's becoming increasingly obvious to most people (even many republicans) that it was not. So she's either got to run with an unpopular policy or change her stand and face cries of "flip-flop!". Personally, I think she knows how slim her chances are and will drop out of the race before it really begins.

But make no mistake, she is who the republicans want as their opponent.

[Baconfoot]

52. Hey. We "simply knew" we could beat Herr Chimpenfuhrer. NT

[RaleighNCDUer]

54. But with Dean, they dissed him and claimed he would be the

easy one to beat, hoping to shake our confidence in him, making us choose someone 'electable'.

With Hillary, they're claiming she's the top contender, tough target. I can only believe that is because they think SHE will be easy to beat and they want us to get behind someone who is pro-war, anti-election fraud, DLC conservative -- IOW, someone our base will have a difficult time rallying behind.

I think she's an effective senator. Let her stay there and keep that seat safe for us.

[Skink]

2. Hedging their bet.

[democrat_patriot]

3. They know she can't win. Plus Repubs hate her and it will get them out

to vote.

[wakeme2008]

4. Hillary is the same to them as Gay Marriage was in

2004... Gets the fundies and other RW crazies out to vote against their own best interest.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

34. you are EXACT:Y right !

[Lerkfish]

43. correct.

[w4rma]

5. Helps them fundraise for themselves.

Hillary is coming! Hillary is coming! Give us your money to stop her!

[bunkerbuster1]

40. And BINGO was his name-O!

yep, slap Hillary's face on a direct-mailer and wait for the $$$ to roll in from frightened little men who are terrified of
a) liberals
b) women
c) liberal women

and of course they're convinced Hillary is worse than liberal, she's a "socialist."

I hear this dumb shit on RW hate radio all the time.

[Jamison]

6. B/C Rove's already got his gameplan worked out on her. n/t

[ronnykmarshall]

53. But can he work it from prison?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

58. Touché.

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

7. Democrats WANTED Reagan as the candidate in 1980...Be careful

Be careful what you wish for Repubs!

[ronnykmarshall]

60. Very good call !

Made me think about Reagan.

He really screwed Ford over in 1976. Had RR not run against him, Ford would have probably had a better chance of defeating Carter in the general election. PLUS Ford could have ran again in 1980 (I think).

[LetsGoMurphys]

Because she is their favorite target n/t

[Why Syzygy]

8. That's a good question.

I didn't know this. We don't even have a "front runner". Do we? So they assigned us one?
Does anyone else ever stop to think about what these freepers are up to? It must be a fear tactic.
I think that's the only thing they know.

[in_cog_ni_to]

9. So they can destroy her during the campaign. I'm sure they have rooms

full of garbage on her.

[havocmom]

10. They know how to push buttons. Hillary's AND America's

They know they can beat her.

Look what MSM did to Dean in the 04 primary season. HE is the type of candidate they are afraid fo.

[Strawman]

38. and at worst they all know the script to a second Clinton presidency

I'm not convinced that Dean had what it took to win ultimately, but the mere possibility did scare the shit out of everyone in the corporate mainstream media and the political establishment, and I think he at least showed the way. Dean's campiagn was fundamently about upsetting and restructuring the power structure in this country, in the government, in the mass media, and in the Democratic party.

[AValdoux]

11. My Republican Boss...

...says its because they want her to run. She's the one they think they can beat.

He likes to tell me Hillary jokes. I stopped him in his tracks the last time by asking, "So would you vote for Bush again?" His response, "the press is "blame bush for everything" mode and they don't report the good stuff." So I asked "Which is?" He went back to his office.


AValdoux

[Why Syzygy]

20. yes. I am begging

for a report on the good stuff. What time is that on? Good for you!

[NewWaveChick1981]

12. They WANT her as the reason to vote Repub!

They trash her (and all other godless librul Democrats) at every opportunity. They're trying to insure a Repub win.

[Nye Bevan]

13. Don't worry what they are saying

I remember during the 1992 primaries some Republican operatives saying that they wanted Bill to be the Dem candidate because of the sex scandal rumors. Supposedly the guy they were afraid of was the war hero Bob Kerrey.

[centristo]

14. they are scared shitless of her

and they want to put the microscope on her now so that if she slips up, they have it on tape and can derail her 08 run. She's also an easy target for conservatives to gang up on - she (and Bill) are despised pretty universally in Republican crowds.

[RaleighNCDUer]

61. Having it both ways?

Are they scared of her, or is she an easy target?

Someone who is an easy target is not someone to be scared of. She's a polarizing figure, because of 8 years of Clinton WhiteHouse, and being on the ballot would pull repubs of all stripes out of the woodwork.

I don't think she scares them a bit.

[centristo]

66. Bush was an easy target in 04 and he still won.

In October 2004 I was scared he would win and lo and behold he did. I think one can be both.

[Beelzebud]

15. Because they want the sheep for forget about th '06 midterms!

It's obvious. Talk about '08, and none of the TV-fed sheep will think about the mid-terms coming up at the end of this year.

[murray hill farm]

16. because they know she cannot win!

But if she does, it will make it a sure bet, shoe in for their candidate...wont even have to fool with the election. Hillary, as a candidate will not have a chance...at this point in time and history of the world...the rupugs are pushing her...even acting..oh my we are so worried, etc...because they want with all of their evil little hearts for her to be the democratic candidate.

[cassiepriam]

17. This is Rove's work pure and simple, he wants Hillary as the Dem Cand

[bullimiami]

25. i think you are so wrong. they are playing you all.

hillary is their nemesis and they know it.

[cassiepriam]

36. I hope you are right and that I am wrong.

[Nostradammit]

18. Because if she loses they win, and if she wins, they win

Think about it - Here's a woman who voted for the Iraq war and the "Patriot" act.

And she'll have to clean up the mess W's made of the world.

[WI_DEM]

19. because she would be the easiest to beat?

or so they think.

[Beelzebud]

22. It's about distracting from the 06 mid-terms, people!

And apparently, it's working according to plan. Here we are discussing Hillary in 08, and ignoring the upcoming mid-terms. :)

[FatDave]

50. I don't think we're distracted at all

We're discussing '08 in this thread, because that's what this thread is about. A lot of people discuss a lot of things simultaneously on DU. There's plenty of '06 election threads here too.

[warrens]

23. Obsession.

They are totally obsessed with all things Clinton. Remember that shit Derbyshire wishing 11-year-old Chelsea DEAD? That's how bad they are.

[Ready4Change]

26. Because she would mobilize their base.

They already have their base frothing at the mouth over her. I sincerly doubt that they would get a bigger turnout if Bill Clinton could run again.

She is their dream opponent.

[sable302]

45. Bingo

Repubs voting in droves, while many Dems still don't trust her after the healthcare fiasco.

[Skarbrowe]

64. My right wing step-brother has thrown Hillary in my face since 2001.

I tried to talk politics via e-mail with him for a few years after this Bush nightmare started. I never received an e-mail back from him making any sense at all. He would just throw something like " Hillary is going to run in 2004", then 2008". He was obsessed with talking about Hillary and Bill Clinton. My step-brother is a poster boy for the type that votes not only Republican, but hard right Republican. I agree that they want Hillary to run to galvanize the Republican base and possibly a few "no woman for president ever" Democrats. And I include women voters in both those categories. I've got a few female crazies in my family alone that still think a woman is just not qualified because of their mood swinging periods. :silly: (They failed to mention the kick everyone's ass menopause mood. I can vouch for that one. snark! )

I also agree that Hillary is a brilliant woman and should stay in the Senate. I'm am a bit upset with her flag-burning stance. Republicans had made it appear to be political suicide to come out against the Iraq war and she obviously fell into that trap. I do think she has her political finger to the wind, but she's a died-in the-wool politician. Has been her whole life. That doesn't surprise
me.

In plainer words, I don't want her running for president. Not in 2008 anyway.

edited to wonder at my mispelling of Hillary..I'm on the ball..right

[Mrspeeker]

27. Rove is pushing for her

Cause McCain will run and Diebold will prevail and hand another election to the NECONS (nazis)

Sad But true, on step closer to DESPOTISM!

[Brilligator]

28. I'm going to dissent...

...with the common opinion here, it seems. I think they want her for the same reason I don't want her. She won't win.

She will get ridiculously few conservative votes and the McPublicans will easily be able to turn quite a few moderates and Democrats against her based on her support of the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, support of video game banning, etc.

Look at the presidents that have been elected over the last 30 years. They are all but one charismatic governors from the lower states (not just the South). Let's get someone in their before we get too fancy. That's part of the problem with the Democrats, they give voters too much credit.

There's not as much difference between this election and class president as we like to think.

[napi21]

29. It's also possible they're trying to interfere with her 06 re-election.

Hoping that if NYers think whe would only serve 2 years, people will vote for someone else.

I saw her new opponent on Hardball last night. I must admit, she seems a hell of a lot better than that first Pub that was running. Can't remember her name, but she's the one that lost the page of her speech and really screwed up that presentation...she then dropped out.

The new one seems to be a pretty decent speaker, except she won't commit to ANYTHING! Even Tweety said, NOW I have a question you HAVE to answer...no more I don't knows!

[Beelzebud]

35. Bingo!

It's all about the mid-terms!

[Rufus T. Firefly]

57. Or trying to keep hold of Congress this year.

Getting out the base, as in:

"We know you don't agree with Our President, but if you give the Democrats control of the House and Senate, Hillary will win in '08 and take away your Bibles and force you to get pregnant so she can personally abort the fetus."

[geniph]

31. Because the name Clinton is polarizing

and the more Repubs can polarize people, the more they can distract them from the way they're picking their pockets and tapping their phones. "Don't look at the man behind the curtain!" I think the goal here is to unite the Repubs and others who hate the name in opposition to her.

[Johonny]

32. Well

I can not remember a time ever that the presidentail election have been talked about sooo much. I mean we are talking the 2008 presidential elections. Why are we talking about them. I think it has at least something to do with deflecting from the horror that is the current administration.

[Taverner]

33. They want us to lose

And even if we win, with her we lose.

Say she runs, and loses...lots of Hillary Bashing, lots of fear against women - she's the perfect candidate to get scared Republican men to donate to the GOP

Say she runs and wins, shes a conservative who is more than willing to push the PNAC agenda. So they win again.

It's a win-win situation for Rove and the boys.

[CrispyQ]

37. Because she can't win.

Half of America hates her with passion & a good share of America is not ready for a woman president. They are pushing her in the media so when they manipulate (steal) our primary votes, via electronic voting, & Hillary is decalred our candidate, it won't seem as suspicious.

It's an aspect of electronic voting that we frequently forget about: The republicans will select the democratic candidate they want.

[mongo]

39. They have years and years of sound-bites to use against her

Just as the media demonized Dean and shoved Kerry into the spotlight before the primaries, they will do everything they can to make Hillary the dem nominee.

Then they will drag out 20 years worth of soundbites and swiftboat her.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

56. Then again, all the "bad" is already out there.

Same way I think Kerry would have an easier time in '08 - the swiftboating already happened and now it's old news.

Plus, if they bring up her "scandals," she can list all the ones in the Bush Admin and Congress. Problem is, there are too many to concentrate on just a few.

[Rocknrule]

41. Because they secretly realize what a good president her husband was

and long for those days to return

[ThomWV]

42. Because Every Republican Would Vote Against Her ...... and ....,,

Quite a few Democrats would not vote for her. If you put that combination together you have a landslide - and I mean absolute LANDSLIDE - victory for Republicans. If I'm even half wrong, and only as many Republicans as voted for Bush vote against Hillary - and that is a very safe bet - and only a few Democrats abstain from from going to the polls you have a Republican Victory. Throw a 3rd party into the mix any way you like and you come up with a Republican victory. In fact the only way you can possibly come up with a ticket that does not lead to a Republican victory is to keep Hillary off the ticket.

[madmom]

46. so they can make the election about her and not the real issues!

[Garbo 2004]

48. First heard Dick Morris pushing the idea that Hillary would run for Pres

years ago on Faux. With Bill out of office they needed another boogey man (or woman) to rail against and rally the followers. This was pre Sept 11, of course. But still they've been using Hillary as their boogey man for years. Since they spent a decade trashing and demonizing her and Bill they've got all the material they can trot out. So from early on it's been the Repubs that have been pushing the idea of Hillary as a Pres. nominee and they're the alternative that will "save" the nation from such a fate. It's their wet dream.

However, things haven't turned out quite as well as they hoped on Bush's watch. They still try to scare and distract people with Hillary, but the awful reality of the Buscho/Repub regime that has turned even traditional Repubs against them. They still keep the Hillary "threat" in their playbook though, it's worked before with some and they're hoping it works again to rally the rank and file.

They don't have a stellar record to run on, no star heir apparent to Bushco, and they're worried about the mid term elections and maybe more indictments and jail terms. I bet they're praying that Hillary runs or at least that their followers believe she will so they can keep on attacking that "straw man" which is one of their favorite tactics. Which is why they're talking it up so much. It's like a Repub terror alert: "Hillary, whooo, be afraid, whooo. We'll save you from the big bad Hillary monster. Whoo..."

[Norquist Nemesis]

49. So than can beat Bill's wife?

:shrug:

Honestly, the language they use is abusive.

[ronnykmarshall]

51. Same as they did w/ Dean in 2004.

In other words: It ain't gonna happen!

[leftchick]

55. Because they know she could never be elected

and she is easily manipulated by their media machine. Much like the last Democratic candidate.

[Initech]

59. They know she'd be really easy to "swift-boat"

Meaning an easy victory for whichever puppet repuke they elect next.

[riona]

62. because

they know how to get their base to the polls - hillary hatred is a great motivator

[wordpix2]

63. We have other good Dems that can run so STFU, repukes: We'll Murtha you

Personally, I'd like to see a Murtha-John Edwards ticket.

[NNN0LHI]

65. Because people tend to mock what they fear. Its human nature n/t