If you had asked me on Friday what I thought of Hillary Clinton's chances to be elected president, I would have probably said slim to none. But I made a decision to watch a large portion of her first effort in Iowa via C-Span. Perhaps I was feeling masochistic.
There was the usual "government of white men" liberal platitudes and the questioners for her non-discussion discussion couldn't have been more hand-picked. But she did manage to put the slick back in Clinton in a way I didn't think she could.
Ultimately, I was reminded of the guy in the pony tail who, I believe, approached President Bush in one of his debates with Kerry, or maybe Gore, and dribbled out a lament over the need for the country to have a Father in the White House. Ugh!
The country may not have had to endure a Father figure in the White House for the past six years, but rest assured there is now a woman longing to be America's Mother, in image, if not form. And clearly her campaign has the resources and has done the homework to discern just which heart strings they want to pull.
A chicken in every pot to distract from what some might say is a chicken in the face of radical Islam, Hillary dodged one substantive question I heard on Iraq, moving the subject to the need for larger veteran's benefits. If you have the question, Hillary seems to have the hand-out laden retort. That isn't to say veteran's benefits are pork, but remember she's debating a straw man as regards Bush policy and the MSM isn't likely to burn too many of Hillary's straw men down.
In a word, formidable is what came to mind after watching the, admittedly, very early performance. But as she managed to work in the "male white theme" into the answer to her first question, I wonder if she isn't already laying the groundwork to swallow up the Obama buzz by eventually putting him on the ticket.
Hillary's just now wrapping up Iowa 1 and it's far too soon to assume much of anything regarding 2008. But if you are sitting back thinking she isn't ultimately relevant, you may be making a big mistake. In rhetoric sure to appeal to her Liberal base, Hillary is going short on substance and long on everything being about George Bush.
Astute political observers can point out that Bush won't be on the ticket next time out. But a Republican will be and Hilary's mostly populist rhetoric sells Hillary, if nothing else.
Clinton held a town hall-style forum attended by about 300 activists, giving a brief speech before taking questions for nearly an hour. Pressed to defend her vote to authorize force in Iraq before the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, Clinton responded by stepping up her criticism of Bush.
"I am going to level with you, the president has said this is going to be left to his successor," Clinton said. "I think it is the height of irresponsibility and I really resent it."
"...veteran's benefits are pork..."
Ah, if only I had the integrity of a wingnut blogger, Dan would forever be associated with this phrase.
Posted by: scarshapedstar | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 11:00 PM
That isn't to say veteran's benefits are pork
Big surprise, obviously you have no integrity at all.
Posted by: Dan Riehl | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 11:03 PM
Iraq is the first battle (2nd, if you count Afghanistan) in a war that will outlive all of us. I really think Hillary! is extremely disingenuous to insinuate this could and should all be over and behind us in time for her to "inherit" a pristine, war-free situation. Well, I really resent her for saying something so idiotic.
Posted by: Peg C. | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 11:09 PM
Just out of curiosity, though, what is the acceptable Patriotic™ position on veterans' benefits? Shall we continue cutting them? Oh, right, that's a "straw man". I wish I could simply dismiss arbitrary portions of reality like that.
Posted by: scarshapedstar | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 11:13 PM
She makes my skin crawl. A flip flopper like Kerry-guess it runs in the party. She had all the same info as Bush and he did go b/4 the UN to plead our case etc... yet she nows says "If I'd had only known...blah blah blah ... he abused my approval..." B.S.
Posted by: splashtc | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 11:46 PM
The nomination is Clinton's to lose. Baring major goofs its hers.
Posted by: Purple Avenger | Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 11:49 PM
""I am going to level with you, "
I despise this phrase. I instantly think, "As opposed to lying to me?" It instantly begs the question - 'What were you doing before you so sincerely decided to level with me.'
Posted by: Phoenix | Monday, January 29, 2007 at 01:46 AM
Trackbacked by The Thunder Run - Web Reconnaissance for 01/29/2007
A short recon of what’s out there that might draw your attention.
Posted by: David M | Monday, January 29, 2007 at 11:20 AM