''What we saw in the final moments in that debate is why Hillary Clinton is the next President of the United States. Her strength, her life experience, her compassion. She's tested and ready. '
First of all what debate were you and your other personalities watching? and let me address some of your fantasies :
Stubbornness is not strength
Her life experience has little or nothing to do with politics except for her marriage to a POTUS. Her tenure in the senate has been mostly spent campaigning.
she's tested and ready. to do what? is she ready to run the government the way she has run her campaign. into the ground?
It was the moment she retook the reins of this race and showed women and men why she is the best choice. The polls don't reflect your delusions
She is a sociopath, grandiose and entitled who cares for no one but her self and will do and say anything to be the first woman president of the united states. She takes no personal responsibility, no advice and yet pretends to so she can blame someone else for her poor judgment. She is corrupt and without conscious. She is so scripted that if it is not planed she's paralyzed and still It is amazing, how she got so far. I guess it's because she is running on the experience of her husband and folks remember the good economic times during Bill Clinton's presidency . riding his coat-tails she has had a remarkable run but clearly it's over.
Hillary Clinton's Future: Senate Majority Leader?
At 9:56 pm Thursday night, Clinton Campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson sent out this statement about Hillary's concluding, cheer-generating comments at the UT Austin debate:
What we saw in the final moments in that debate is why Hillary Clinton is the next President of the United States. Her strength, her life experience, her compassion. She's tested and ready. It was the moment she retook the reins of this race and showed women and men why she is the best choice.
Sitting with other senior stakeholders in Hillaryland, I heard Hillary essentially concede to Obama -- and in a magnanimous, gracious way. Many with me that night agreed.
I happen to think that Barack Obama should offer Hillary the Vice President slot. His "win" that seems to be in the making is impressive -- but not definitive, and there are substantial parts of the Democratic party that are still clinging to the Clinton franchise.
If Obama can acquire the Clinton infrastructure and consolidate it with the Kennedy franchise and then fasten in the many newcomers to his "movement", he'd then be creating something quite new and different -- and sustainable.
Some of Obama's supporters can't imagine a ticket with both of them on it -- but the reality of American politics is that power is built through amassing building blocks of influence. The Kennedy franchise is second only to the Clinton's in its structural resilience. Obama was given the keys to the many thousands who owe the Kennedy machine for the jobs, favors, policy work, and the like that the Kennedys have disbursed over decades.
With all due respect to the currents that are fueling Obama's primary victory, his supporters are not part of a well-organized franchise and their engagement and involvement may only seem deep but are really just a function the moment. As Howard Fineman wrote recently, Hillary Clinton is running against Obama's "wind". Sounds good in one sense -- but in another, winds die down.
Obama would be a fool to not jump at the opportunity to build-in the Clinton's followers into his political superstructure.
But even if Hillary Clinton is not offered the Vice Presidential slot, she will be a major force in American politics -- and rumors are afoot that "her friends" are paving the way for her to ascend to Senate Majority Leader. Some tried to engineer this before her decision to run. Now they are at it again.
And to some degree, I am hearing from senior Democrats that this move would be welcomed by most in the party -- by just about everyone except the John Bolton-hugging Chuck Schumer, who wants the Majority Leader position himself. But in a contest, Clinton would beat Schumer.
Durbin also wants the job and is close to Barack Obama, but Obama needs Clinton's support and cooperation if he takes the nomination and eventually the White House -- and that can only happen if he puts her on his ticket as VP or helps engineer her move to Senate Majority Leader.
For those who think that there may yet be a surprise in Ohio and Texas and that Hillary's moving final comments in the debates will pull off another New Hampsire-like outcome, all I can say is that I have learned that a senior Clinton campaign adviser -- not on the political side -- is already out looking for a job.
-- Steve Clemons publishes the popular political blog, The Washington Note
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this statement was made by a person as objective as the questioner in the SNL debate, Obama girl, Howard Wolfson.
If Hillary has been "tested", will she release her grades? How did she do on the test? Did she pass?
Majority Leader? Wouldn't that entail showing some sort of LEADERSHIP?
Sorry, she was too busy running for president during her tenure in the Senate to do anything of the kind.
Chris Dodd should be the one to replace Harry Reid's sorry ass.
hillary clinton has become very schizophrenic in the last week. From playing nice-nice during the debate, to mocking Senator Obama, to scolding Obama because he gives speeches and has well attended rallies. I don't know if it's the death spiral of desperation that have her flailing like a beached fish or what is going on, but she has demonstrated a very high degree of emotional instability.
I would not trust her as VP or Senate Majority leader.
Frankly if Senator Obama wins the election, I expect hillary to drop out of the NY senate - it's only purpose was as a stepping stone to the Presidency. Once reality sets in and hillary realizes that she will never be elected, the Senate job becomes akin to a wool sweater in July.
Again Mr. Clemons,
You make a reasoned, reasonable suggestion. Then the faithful, who would rather have America go to hell before they would compromise, attack you. Unlike these newly converted, I question whether Senator Obama can win without something like what you are suggesting. These supporters have short memories or are too young to remember Howard Dean's immense popularity and quick fall. It is scary how naive and gullible they are.
For the record, I will be voting for the Democratic nominee in the Fall. I think Barack's plans for "cooperating" with the neocons is ill advised, but I really don't want another Scalia on the Supreme Court. Of course I think a Clinton/Obama ticket with John Edwards as the AG would be the ticket to 16 years of Democratic leadership.
The comments posted here seems to be commenting on the other posted comments it appears that the actual article is never read. How can you comment on an article that you have not read?
Commenting on unread comments is virtually identical to commenting on reading them. Obama-haters always descend into the two-dimensional arguments of the past that mean nothing on our new 11-dimensional brane.
We read it ok. Why do you post such a comment? Do you agree or disagree with any of the comments? What has been said that is not an appropriate comment on the article? Did you even read the comments?
Many are saying that the tactics employed to this point are not working and why they feel that way. Some commentors are saying that various things should be included in an Obama plan to attract or include Clinton Supporters.
No, I don't envision Clinton's supporters voting for McCaine, But I can see them staying home and sitting on their hands. Obama has not made much of an effort to reach over to the Clinton supporters. His wife has made several statements (such as I'm not sure I could support Clinton if she wins the nomination") the are offensive to Clinton supporters and others that are offensive to most Americans.
I have been a Clinton supporter, so how about some of the following:
1. A clear statement of intent on rooting out the Bush people and infrastructure at Justice, EPA, etc. Not just the high level appointees.
2. A clear statement that corruption and criminal activity that has taken place prior to the 2008 election will be sought and punished.
3. A statement on the continuing offshoring of jobs and the rewarding of companies that do it.
4. A statement on his intent relative to the wiretapping and torture practices of the Bush administration. Will he end them? Continue them?
5. If bipartisan cooperation is not working out (without giving away the store) what is plan B?
Any thoughts? Obama cannot win the election without Clinton's supporters and their active support. She could not win without the support of Obama's people. While we have heard over and over again how the Obama people " might not be strong for HRC" should he not get the nomination, Maybe they should be less sanguine about the support of that other wing of the party if they do get the nomination. Taking it for granted might prove to be very dangerous.
Another reasoned suggestion. It will, of course, be spat upon or ignored.
Obama Supremus Causa
You can't build in such a plan when the entire strategy is to attack her with old Republican crap and the same tactics he supposed disavows.
Even Obama can't pull off that.
So he'll have to do without quite a few Hillary supporters.
If Senator Obama doesn't have any political
secrets hidden in his past, then he is likely
to win. Personally I disagree with some of his
trade policy and having Senator Clinton as VP,
just might prevent him from getting bad advice
from "think tanks" or "Freidman Followers".
How about a dog catcher, wonder if she is even a dog catcher material.
I am positive she has already been dog catcher. She has done everything and has been all things to all people. She has single-handedly brought peace to Ireland, Knows more about the Middle East and everything else that anyone ever did in the history of the galaxies. We speak of her reverently and only in superlatives and they are wholly inadequate to describe the wonder that is she. She is, as they used to describe Barbarossa"s grandson Fredrick the second, "il stupor mundi", the wonder of the world and that, too, is insignificant. If she were Catholic it would be redundant to canonize her for she is a saint, an angel and let"s admit it a god: the new trinity. Well, she"s something alright.
Obama should NOT offer Hillary the VP slot. Assuming she would even accept it, which is doubtful, frankly he doesn't need her. Hillary's supporters will back him even without her on the ticket. The alternative is Bush III also known as John McCain. I think what Obama will do is pick a woman as his VP. It'll go a long way to appeasing the Hillary supporters who are intent on seeing a female President. If he wins and serves 8 years, his VP will be in line to run for President in 2012 and having VP on her resume will be a huge advantage. I predict he'll pick the governor of Arizona or Kansas. Both are women who are strong supporters of him and a LOT less controversial than Hillary Clinton. I would be happy if either became President someday.
As for Hillary Clinton, I don't want her to be Senate Majority leader, though anyone would be better than Harry Reid. I hope Clinton ends up in the dust bin of history where she belongs. Hopefully, the people of New York will wise up and dump someone who never cared for their state, but was only using it to run for President. Time to put the Clintons in the past where they belong.
I think you are dead wrong. I think his first choice for VP should be Hillary, then Biden, then Richardson, then Gen Clark. I do not think Hillary will accept it, then the Majority would be a natural fit for her. I do not think Biden will accept it, but he would make a great SOS. Richardson will accept it, and will assist Obama with the Latino vote, and has alot of experience. I think Wesley Clark should at Defense. If I were Obama, I would start naming my cabinet as soon as I had the nomination. Show everyone that I will pick my cabinet based on experience, not on patronage, like W has done.
Steve, you're not being rational.
Do you seriously think Obama will risk losing Hillary's base if he doesn't ask her to be veep? Can you actually envision her supporters voting for McCain in November? All Hillary has to offer is negative baggage he doesn't need.
Furthermore, the mostly-grassroots machine Obama has now assembled is bigger than that of the Clintons and Kennedys combined.
The more I think about it, the more I think Richardson would be a good choice, to help consolidate the Latino vote. But definitely NOT Hillary. She needs to be gently escorted off the presidential stage and quietly serve out her political career as a senator.
Is this to be a sort of consolation prize? If so, let's elect her Senate President Pro Tempore, so as to actually be in the 'line of succession'. (C'mon, we can do *anything*!)
As for the majority leader's job, surely it'd be entirely up to her Senate colleagues. There are obviously senators with lots more seniority, and perhaps more ability. Durbin, certainly, as a Friend of Obama, would be a wise choice.
Can't quite imagine why this is an important issue for the public at large. Sure, when we have a piss-poor majority leader, but why do we care much about his replacement? Unless... are we expected to send in contributions, to make it happen?
President Pro Tempore is the longest serving member of the majority party. That will be Byrd, and I don't know if there is anything you can do to change that.
My problem with a possible Hillary Clinton vice precidency is where will Bill fit in this?
Would it be just her or would it be a co-vicepresidency ?
Bill's behaviour of late has been such as is shown by those whose screws have become lose.
Also Hillary's anthipathy towards diplomatic negotiations with such dignitaries as the Castros and Ahmadinejad is worrisome.
How will the new vicepresidential powers so diligently crafted by Cheney and signing statemented to law by Bush translate to real life in Obama-H.Clinton or Obama-H&B Clinton administration?
If Hillary were to be Obama's VP, you suppose Bill would not *still* be Obama's co-President? Or, maybe just 'President Emeritus in Residence'?
Bill is a Great Man. The farther from the White House he is, the greater he becomes.
Why would we want her as Senate majority leader? She hasn't stood up to the Republicans in the Senate yet, or fought them on a major issue... Her term as Senate Majority Leader would be a term of capitulation, just like the current one...
Is Dodd an option?
I think Senator Dodd would be far better as Majority Leader -- but certainly Senator Clinton would also be a viable choice for the job. The spineless milquetoast Reid has to go, regardless of who's president!
Agree Reid is useless. My only objection to Billary is that she sees all republicans as evil - for us to break deadlock we need someone who can compromise and isn't so polarizing.
Republicans can NEVER warm to Billary.
I'm guessing the only way Sen. Clinton can be elected Senate Majority Leader is if she is able to broker a deal with husband Bill to STFU until the end of festivities in November 2008, allowing some possibility of a Democratic sweep.
I could be wrong, of course.
Hillary as VP is a terrible idea - why take on that baggage, and prompt so many fruitful avenues of attack from the right? Get Mike Bloomberg on the case, and you have the detail-oriented, self-made business man to go along with the gifted natural leader of the people.
no
"Obama would be a fool to not jump at the opportunity to build-in the Clinton's followers into his political superstructure."
Obama would be a fool to tie himself to the Hillary Clinton anchor.
And Hillary's not qualified to be the Senate Majority Leader, she's a legislative light weight with no real accomplishments running on name recognition alone and there are several WOMEN in line before her, so she can go jump.
I had to rack my brain for who is the CURRENT Majority leader, so effectively has Reid faded into the woodwork.
This makes sense to me, it is the way forward. Obama/Clinton plays to the strength of both.
bill will do a Foster to get hillary the job he promised her.
The thing is, if we wanted the Clinton Machine we would have voted for Clinton...
Exactly!
From the first day she announced her candidacy for the Office of the President of the United States she has said she is "in it to win it." Now that the race is tight, people are shocked Hillary won't lie down and quit. From the beginning of the race until the end, the fact remains that Superdelegates are a part of the nomination process and will have an impact in a close race. Obama should have prepared for this scenario. Hillary has prepping for this scenario for years and should not be penalized for having foresight.
"From the first day she announced her candidacy" -
c'mon - it was way before that - the NY senate race was the first step in the plan for a third Clinton term.
Just because they mapped it out doesn't make it wise for America.
Prepared by not having operations on the ground in any of the post-Feb 5 states?
This makes sense to me, it is the way forward. Obama/Clinton plays to the strength of both.
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Posted February 23, 2008 | 10:35 AM (EST)