Paul Begala on Hillary's Chances

I just had a conversation with Paul Begala, a well-known Democratic strategist and a former advisor to Bill Clinton. He argued that Senator Hillary Clinton has to do a better job defining herself to rise to the challenge from Senator Barack Obama. Here is a part of that conversation:

Comments

[ElleJ28]

05:31 AM on 01/09/2008

I honestly don't think we will know who is where until after February 5th, Super Tuesday. As far as Hillary is concerned, there is no doubt that she is intellegent and of course she has President Clinton as an advisor. However, I am still not sure this country is willing for a woman to lead them, especially after the mess left by GWB. I have great respect for Obama. He is articulate, intellegent, talks of change but is not experienced. As sad as it is to say because I don't personally believe it to be a problem, but there are still a lot of racists out there and that could be their fear. Stupid but true. I honestly believe that John Edwards is the only Democratic candidate who can win in November. I think John McCain will emerge the Republican nominee in November.This is pure speculation on my part and it is way too early to make this conclusion at this point. All I know is that we do not need another Republican president in the White House nor do we need a majority of Republicans in Congress. Of course it should be a check and balance system with both parties working for the good of the country. The failure of the Republicans to cross the aisle and work with the Democrats has been obvious since January,2007. They talk about it but when it comes to the vote, they stay with the president. I think we all know where that has gotten us. We do not need another Republican president in the White House.

[tristanrose]

03:31 PM on 01/07/2008

obama states he is an agent of change... from a white president to a black president, from repub to democrat. bush is someone who can do street talk (only because he is a C student), and obama is as likeable as bush. where i am sitting, it is not much change. he'll bring in experienced people to 'rule' for him.
what is wrong with having a strong woman for president? i guess america is ready for a black president but not a woman president. then we are a backward country!

[JMEB]

02:42 PM on 01/06/2008

Democratic Obama supporters:

Can you explain why so many Independents and Republicans want Obama to run?

(I know Republican Obama supporters outnumber Democratic ones here about 10:1; please refrain from answering)

[Dots]

02:01 PM on 01/06/2008

What could be more of a change than a woman? "Hillary Clinton IS change."

She is articulate...I understand her when she speaks. (The most pleasant thing in the world after W) AND the numbers I saw from Iowa amounted to a difference of a roomful of people...forget the percentage CNN.

I don't follow Obamas stumbling ah ah ah...this is critical...ah ah ah...America...hope is the...vote audacity...we'll change...ah ah ah and get it right. His speeches take off but I can't take another man full of BS signifying "nothing."

Everybody needs a break, as do I, from all this exposure to the candidates.

[Steamboater]

01:41 PM on 01/06/2008

I just wish Elizabeth Edwards was healthy and running as a candidate for the presidency. Now, that's a woman I'd vote for! When we talk about spouses having an influence on their mates who are candidates, she's ok and she can push her husband, if he becomes president, to always to do the right thing. She can change John Edwards' mind and have a good effect on him and a terrific effect on the future of this country. She can be as pushy as she wants; she's the democrats' best advisor around.

[Evolin]

01:23 PM on 01/06/2008

Politics is not truth, not justice, and not fairness or a feeling for the electorate - the country as a whole.
It is for ganging up on a woman verbally and in other ways such as using the 15 % rule to shift male votes to another male. Calling her asertiveness shrill and belittling all the years she has really tried to work on children and health issues. Politics is Pied Pipering the callow youth and inexperienced by false hope of a new beginning and "America Is Back" preaching rhetoric that leads us down a trail of disappointment because without a knowledge and experience of history, the bad stuff will be repeated over and over.
Obama wants to compromise social security and his health program has a terminal fault in that all people are not put into the system. His health care program cannot work.
He said he wants Republicans - the same who have supported Bush policies in his cabinet.
Yes, the independents, the Republican crossovers, the media pundits may derail HRC. It will not be because she would not be the best candidate.
I would intrust her with my beloved country. I do not rrust any of the other candidates.
I would like to give her a hug today. I feel protective of her against the onslaught of so many. She does not deserve it and I, and many other believers, who want to return this country to greatness do not deserve this.
I will continue to support her and hope she can surmount all the attacks and misrepresentations.
If not, we will lose a brave soldier that would have served the country better than any other candidate running for president at this time in history.
Yes, just my opinion but I was hoping for a better era for my children and grandchildren.

[kfdan]

11:32 PM on 01/05/2008

Hilary Clinton's positions have been well established with her support of Bush and his criminal cronies! Bill will do anything to be First Lady! He is just passed his prime in politics and doesn't know it!

[Ides]

09:59 PM on 01/05/2008

Hillary spent all of her time saying, "Obama's not what you want, pick something else...oh, by the way, you liked Clinton, my name's Clinton, so you might as well pick me, just don't think too hard about it!"

Problem is, people saw what Obama was and chose him in Iowa. If Hillary "defines" herself, they'll see how far to the right of Obama, how hawkish, and how useless she will be to the Democrats and to America.

[thedudeabides]

07:47 PM on 01/05/2008

i have to add one thing though-though i neither like nor trust her, i cannot imagine anyone who would do a more comprehensive job washing away the grime and filth of the bush years (preemptive war doctrine, patriot act, warrentless surveillance) than another clinton...i will miss her for that, if she is not the next president

[thedudeabides]

07:28 PM on 01/05/2008

begala has a point---she has the time, and money, to hold on past new hampshire after tuesday, and i think that she will come a close second to obama, bumping edwards out of the race (though he may wish to try his hand in south carolina)but if she doesn't let herself be "real" she hasn't a chance...and billy's presence may be hurting, not helping, it may make her feel more pressure, than if she were more of a solo presence...just a guess...

[Fernando]

06:22 PM on 01/05/2008

There's no other job I'd like more than to host Charlie Rose (but then it couldn't be called that anymore!) and I'm glad he brought Begala in, who as always, proves his sharp political acumen.

Hillary will learn the lesson that both Gore and Kerry learned after they "lost" (Gore did win and I'm not completely sure Kerry lost in '04) their elections; people want a real candidate. Both Gore and Kerry could have been (I'm still hoping Gore will try again) exceptional presidents but they became the candidates people would have voted for when they gave their concession speeches.

Admitedly, Hillary is running against a jock-establishment, but perceived coldness and unwillingness to take clear-unequivocal stances earlier are coming home to roost. The only thing she had going was that "aura of inevitability" that even I bought into at some point. That has sine been proven wrong.

[AgathaX]

05:17 PM on 01/05/2008

Hillary has had 15+ years to introduce herself to the American people. If she failed to introduce the right Hillary, its too late to start over now.

One has difficulty imagining Obama trying to recast himself in any way.

[Qbear]

05:13 PM on 01/05/2008

Hillary and Edwards are KNOWN commodities, and Iowa said real LOUD...no thanks.

[Steamboater]

04:04 PM on 01/05/2008

" ... a visionary orator who channels Bobby Kennedy.
"If (Obama) wins, it says Americans are willing to reach an accommodation on the single most divisive issue in American history."
Bobby Kennedy would have never reached an accomadation on the Vietnam War nor Iraq either. He would have ended them both and pulled ALL the troops out and not just combat troops. If anything, Kennedy is closer politically and passion to John Edwards.

[Qbear]

02:55 PM on 01/05/2008

Bill's comment about "rolling the dice" should be shoved right back in their faces.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/OldLadyLuck.jpg

cuz ya crapped out in Iowa