A 'Fighter' in the White House

If you've been listening to the pundits, the campaign staff and the candidate herself, Hillary's pugilistic display is a prime reason to back her. Surely we want this fighter in the White House. It doesn't matter that the election numbers are overwhelmingly against her. It doesn't matter that party leaders and political experts are screaming about the damage to the Democratic Party. Pay no heed to glaring reality; damn the torpedoes -- full speed ahead.

Who does this remind you of? Who else is a fighter in the face of overwhelming opposition? Who else listens to no one holding contradictory opinions? Is there another politician who ignores the numbers, the advice of experts and the popular consensus on critical issues?

Can you say 'George Bush'?

Yes, Hillary has displayed great tenacity. Yes, she is impressive in her drive and commitment to her campaign. But these characteristics are not inherently valuable. We have an outstanding example of this residing in the White House right now.

Comments

[LouisPWu]

George Bush has a huge ego. Hillary Clinton has a huge ego. They are both WARMONGERS.

[byrdlegs]

Hillary does have spunk and tremendous drive, but as stated by most posters, this is not leadership by any stretch of the imagination. When she had the opportunity to portray her qualifications for President, she overstated her involvments in the SCHIP Program, the peace accord with IRELAND and other important issues. She even chose to tell an out and out lie concerning her dodging bullets in Bosnia. What was that all about? This statement in itself leads to a much deeper psychiatric problem. She really sealed her fate with pandering and trying to buy votes via the GAS TAX holiday. By all accounts, this was the silliest thing I heard in a long time except for a BUSH speech. Telling the world she would OBLITERATE IRAN wasn't a very good idea also. Would you want this person answering any phone call at 3AM in the morning? Case closed !

[BigFella]

Of course Hillary is a fighter, as are all people who are entirely driven by their ambition, but ambition does not make you a leader, it just keeps you hungry. Hunger leads to a breakdown of internal systems, which includes an inability to exercise sound logic and judgment.

[Freedomscap]

Absolutely right. I couldn't agree more and so aptly put.

[SuburbanMalcontent]

Right on BigFella, you nailed this to a tee.

[coolkraft]

right on target Catherine.­..you are one of the few who speaks intelligently and knows what she is talking about..I always loved seeing you on court tv...unbia­sed, smart, a good judge (pun) of many things...

[paragrafH]

Uh-un. Cowboy diplomacy got us into the mess we're in. Go read some history.

[JohnDewey]

"Cowboy diplomacy?" Would that be anything like threatening to obliterate Iran, voting for the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment or parroting White House talking points in one's speech in favour of the illegal invasion of Iraq.

One doesn't even need to read a history book to learn the truth about Senator Clinton's political instincts & intentions - just read her own statements. She seems to be trying so hard to prove she has Presidential testicles, that she's neglected to consider that we don't all agree that they're an asset.

[ThatSharkeyGeezer]

"I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president, we will attack Iran. And I want them to understand that. … I think we have to be very clear about what we would do.”
- Sentaor Hillary Clinton, to George Stephanopoulos last Sunday on ABC’s This Week.

Hillary still has one final option left that might squeeze her into the White House.

She could always run as VP. She'd make a great Vice-President.

And with her war-mongering rhetoric, pandering gas-tax gimmick, barely disguised racism and voting record in the Senate - especially on Iraq - she's an obvious match for the presumptive nominee.

She should call John McCain immediately. There's virtually no difference between them!

(Remember this, Clintonistas, when you start talking down to us about being 'sore winners'. We were goddam right, and you were wrong.)

[ddharder]

Brilliant!

[jdenham]

Although I have compassion for Senator Clinton and not wanting to concede her dream. But Catherine is right we need a President that will look at reality. Hopefully Senator Clinton and her supporters will come to the logical concussion.

[JJK]

I think your point is tautological. "Tenacity," "Drive" and "Commitment" and a "Damn the Torpedoes" mentality are pre-requisites for seeking the presidency and are hallmarks of successful and failed presidents alike. Those of us who have been privileged to meet and work with those who have sought or held this office and who have tried occasionally to disagree personally with them know that fact well.

Please name for me a President in the last 70 years who wasn't tenacious, driven and committed to what he believed and who pushed ahead against the advice of nearly everyone around him when he thought he was right. How about "Harry Truman when Douglas MacArthur wanted to cross the Yalu River, "JFK and the Cuban Missile Crisis when his Generals wanted to start WWWIII" or "LBJ and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 when his Party wanted to continue pandering to the South." Of those three, only JFK emerged from his chosen course unscathed at the time.

What we hope for in our leaders is that they can manage and channel those characteristics in a productive manner.

In the case of W, I join the chorus of those who say that his pig-headed devotion to "the course" that he set in Foreign Policy has done him, our country and the global community great harm. But, the final verdict on this will be written by historians who are running around in diapers or who are in elementary school today.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

On the other hand, we got the LAST Preznit thanks to the country's infatuation with politicians' personalities cults and identity politics. Who would you rather have a beer with, etc.

I fear we're about to do it again.

It's the policies, folks.

[Freedomscap]

Exactly -- it's the policies. An example, the gas tax holiday.

[PLUMPLUM]

Like the gas tax debacle where she ignored 200+ economists - you mean that policy?

[jennyjen]

I have been shaking my head over that idiotic move. The saddest/best part of that boneheaded decision is that Clinton showed us all how low her opinion of voters really is.

The other sad truth is that she is benefiting from the blatant racism of many voters.

[ddharder]

Which demographics does O's personality and style appeal to? The intellectual elite. Which demographic did Bush's personality and style appeal to? The Bud drinkin', GED totin', bible thumpin' cowboy demographic.

Your logic misses an important nuance here.

[ZeusBoots]

Actually we got the last Preznit, as you call him, because of the Clinton's! It was the years of scandal, embarrassment, and arrogance that the Clinton's brought with their administration that lead the American people to vote for Bush. Back then, Gore was the one as seen as "another 4 years of Clinton". How quickly people forget!
Why do think Gore has remained so silent? He is still feeling the pain of his connection with Bill Clinton. I am sure he will be happy to endorse Barack as soon as he feels the timing is right.

[jennyjen]

I always blamed Gore for distancing himself from Bill Clinton over the Lewinski mess until I read this book excerpt in Vanity Fair:

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/11/clinton200711?printable=true&currentPage=all

The sad and terrible truth is that the Clinton's self absorption, naked ambition and their lack of concern for the immediate future of the country gave us George Bush.

Hillary was actually approaching supporters at Gore's fundraisers! I am so glad that their tactics are not working this time around.

[LAJonathan]

What's the point of the policies if no one wants to help you pass them? NOTHING. Sounds like the old washington machine to me. Without a leader that is respected, nothing gets done. Its as simple as that.

[lucky54]

Thank you Catherine, as always right on the target, or should I said money ? Because what I see in Hillary is the tendency to spend our money the same way W does. Enough is enough.

[JudgeCrater]

...and ignoring the advice of those gosh-darned 'experts' is another characteristic she shares with Bush. Yeah, that's a good idea. Who cares why they are called 'experts' anyway? Duhhhhhhhhh.

[Grunty1]

"Who else is a fighter in the face of overwhelming opposition"?

Bush never fought against any opposition during his presidency. Whenever the going got the least bit tough, he threw a public tantrum, kicking and screaming like a toddler. The correct statement is "
"Who else is a fighter in the face of overwhelming opposition to the truth and to what was right?"

That does not change the fact that Hillary does act a great deal like Bush does, if a bit more mature in her tantrums.

[jgaines7]

During the Clintons' time in the White House, I felt that their opponents attacked them unfairly. I'm sure they felt that they were unfairly attacked. Remember Senator Clinton's cry that there was a vast right-wing conspiracy? It's sad that she felt she had to become like her former opponents to become a winner.

[patmancando]

That is BS........­..just MSM and Obama propaganda.

[HmblDog]

if the party is unhappy that primaries are still being held at this late date then the party is a bunch of hypocrites. that seems to imply that it's ok to hold a primary in May or June just as long as there is only one candidate left by the time you get to cast your vote.
I'm in Missouri. This was the first time I was able to vote for the candidate I preferred before it had already been decided. Kerry had already been declared the nominee (by the media) before MO held their primary.
I hope Hillary fights all the way to the convention. Maybe it will force us to rethink how this whole process has been setup.
I don't need Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina to determine who will represent the party while the rest of the states sit on their hands and take it.
I believe that is what would have happened this time if Obama hadn't been able to raise a surprising amount of money immediately after he announced he was running (primarily from Dems who were and remain anti-Hillary).
Change the process. Don't complain about how she's still running (while states have yet to vote).

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

Well said.
And a perspective not heard often enough.
The primary process needs fixing.

[bknott]

Your point is understandable, but Hillary has, by this time, no legitimate chance of being the nominee. All she is doing right now is making the rift between Democrats stronger while McCain goes unchallenged. If this keeps up until the convention, we'll probably end up letting McCain have the White House. Is giving Hillary continual do-overs worth losing the big prize?

Having all 50 states run their primary on the same day would solve this, however, you would just get new problem - the candidates would spend all their time on the east & west coasts, and completely ignore middle America.

[JimR]

I'm with you on changing the process. Maybe have the nation vote in regions, and each region takes turns going first.

I have no problem with Hillary staying in the race. What I have a problem with is her vile, disgusting underhanded campaign tactics.

[ddharder]

You make some good points, but I think the principles you wish to stick your guns to are a bit misguided. O isn't going to swoop in and be the savior for America like some of his supporters hope he will do, but McCain has the potential to extend the unfathomably great damage that Bush has done to both the country and the world. Nit picking over this type of principle when the primary is already over for all intents and purposes is irrational.

[ATLiberal]

This nomination was not decided by the 3 states you mention. Obama went on a serious roll after Super Tuesday. As to money, Hillary Clinton's war chest was every bit the equal of Obama's in January. Her campaign squandered the money on lavish events while assuming she would be the presumptive nominee after Super Tuesday. She herself said the nominee would be decided by Feb 5 on national TV.

All these were incorrect assumptions and it has cost her the nomination. I am fine with her staying in, butyI am not fine with her bogus scenarios about why the super delegates should negate the leader in pledged delegates, seat the FL and MI delegates as is, when (on national TV also) she said that those votes wouldn't count. Of course, that was before she was behind. Now we have to hear every possib le scenario from her about why she should win, when she has actually lost. I find that to be extremely problematic.

[lapinbrim]

During a recent interview HRC was trying to make the point that she is a stronger candidate because she gets the votes of (I'm about to paraphrase a bit): working people, hardworking white people. During this same interview, she more or less said the black vote was important but not worth worrying about because blacks would always vote for Democrats in the general. Therefore, the focus should be on winning "hardworking white people".

Yes, she is a fighter. She's fought so very hard to channel Lee Atwater, Carl Rove, Jesse Helms and is now working on David Duke. Perhaps she can ensure an overwhelming defeat for Obama in West Virginia by promising to raise the confederate flag over the White House, if set gets elected.

[ObserverinVancouver]

My grasp of American history is shaky, so this could be laughable and if so I'm sorry. But, I thought West Virginia broke off from Virginia because that part of the state did not support the confederate cause and wanted to remain in the Union. (Of course, they may later have regretted that decision and started flying the confederate flag.)

[ZeusBoots]

The Confederate flag is dear to them, that's for sure. When Bill Clinton was Gov of Ark. he flew the flag at the State House. He also fought against making Martin Luther King Day a holiday for the State. When he lost that argument, he made MLK share a day with Robert E. Lee! He was sued (and he lost) by the Supreme Court when he tried to get the election of a Black State Representative overturned. And he favored racial profiling and was sued for that as well. When the Supreme Court ruled he could no longer do this, he threatened to ignore the Court's decision.
all the while Hillary was standing by her man. So you see, Hillary's comment is what she feels in her heart. Her racist heart. She claims to have done so much for African American's but her claims are beginning to sound just as false as all her other rhetoric.
The truth comes out if you watch closely for it. It surfaces when people are caught off-guard. And right now Hillary is really off-guard and off-base.

Here's hoping New Yorkers wise up and vote for a new Senator next time it comes around!

[adavis08]

Hillary was a Republican right out of college, when she worked for Barry Goldwater. Maybe she should change back, since she shares so many of their beliefs. Last night on the Daley show John McCain told the host supposedly jocking, that he was announcing his choice for VP and it was Hillary Clinton. It may have been a joke, but maybe not.