If you really wanna freak out a friend that politically leans to the right just try working something like this into the conversation, "Things will be different when Hillary is in the Oval Office." You need to say it sort of matter of fact. It needs to blend into a conversation already ongoing in order to work. If you just drop it out of the blue it will actually dim the effect. Just try it. It's fun. It is like the ultimate political litmus test. If I were to say it to certain people I know and they were driving it would cause an accident.
The worst part of the above is that Hillary just really might be in the Oval Office two years from now. She is the obvious front runner. She skipped over the silly exploratory committee fake campaigning approach (declaring you are kind of running, but raising money and campaigning without having to actually formally declare, ie ... the wussy campaign approach) and flatly stated she was running and "in it to win", sort of like Matt Hasselbeck in Green Bay in Overtime a couple years ago after the coin toss (we know how that turned out). For all intents and purposes her announcement and its timing have effectively squelched just about anyone other than the previously announced Edwards candidacy and the non-campaign of Barack Obama. Kerry announced his non-candidacy moments later.
Gore still claims he is not running. And since he is not running he is able to be himself and people like him, sort of like Bob Dole post-1996 doing SNL and Viagra ads. I can just picture Al morphing right back into Robo-Gore. You are doing more good on the outside Al, stay there.
I am seriously starting to doubt whether or not Obama will fully declare at this point. After all, he is young, has a bright future, and can step out of the way without blowing his political captital for 2012 or 2016. Hillary's declaring pulled him right off the front page. His campaign is effectively much ado about nothing at this point given the conventional wisdom that she is the front runner.
Edwards is the other issue. He is the only other declared candidate with a real chance of winning the nomination, and with the right geographical running mate could contend for the White House in 08. As such, those who want to de-Clinton American politics will likely latch onto him. Otherwise, we are looking at a pattern of Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Clinton in the Oval Office for over twenty years. What we really need is for both of those families (and the Kennedy's, Rockefeller's, etc ...) to all get out of politics for a while.
Hillary is now running on her own record. By all accounts she has been a pretty good senator. She has now won statewide office twice in a media circus and rightfully thinks that she can survive in the national spotlight.
On a side note, wouldn't it be funny if Rudy and Hillary finally went at it for the Oval Office in 08 when the expected match up did not happen in New York in 00? It's not exactly Lincoln vs. Douglas, but still kind of interesting.
The national spotlight and 24/7 multiple cable channel news cycle means that the coverage of this campaign will be another reason for me to not get cable. Old stories will be rehashed and brought up as though they were news or newsworthy to the 2008 campaign. And, since so much of campaign coverage these days centers on issues having nothing to do with the presidency itself, all the old Clinton baggage will get opened for inspection. Monica Lewinsky, wherever you are, brace yourself. Ann Coulter will get more air time than anyone would want. This will redefine ugly.
The best thing for the country and the Democratic Party would be for someone else to get the nomination.
(My mother asked me if I could vote for a woman. Yes. I still think it is weird that the United States has not elected a woman to high office and a country like Pakistan has. I would love to get to the point where that was not an issue.)
***
(From the original Shotgun Prose site I had on Tripod in November 1999)
"This ain't rocket science ..." vote for Rudy and end the Clinton era of electoral politics in this country.
Running for the Senate has nothing to do with the people of New York or being a Senator for Hillary Rodham Clinton. It is about her future bid for the White House. The Senate is merely the proving ground for her future candidacy. Bill should have been left high and dry by the supposedly strong Hillary, a woman I once thought had integrity. Instead, she just sat there humiliated and looking like an absolute ass for taking him back. They deserve each other. The people of New York at the very least deserve a senator with New York interests like Rudy, and I can't stand him. The people of New York have the opportunity to end the Clinton Era of electoral politics in this country, once and for all. Even if they have to elect a Republican to the Senate in the process.
***
I was pissed. The Republicans may have utterly botched their feeble attempt at impeachment, but the country was going to be better off in so many ways once the White House had a new occupant. Granted, W has been an utter disaster, but the place needed moving vans brought up to the back door, much like it needs it again now. But, when Rudy bowed out of the race and left Hillary to run against a lightweight, the announced candidacy of Hillary 2008 became inevitable.
This creates a quandry for me. In 1996, out of disgust for the entire slate of candidates I voted for a third party candidate. In 2000, I voted for McCain in the Washington State Primary. I can see voting for McCain, but none of the other Republicans could I vote for on accident, let alone as an alternative. I am not going to vote for a losing third party guy again. This will be a hold my nose vote if it comes to it.
The worst part of the above is that Hillary just really might be in the Oval Office two years from now. She is the obvious front runner. She skipped over the silly exploratory committee fake campaigning approach (declaring you are kind of running, but raising money and campaigning without having to actually formally declare, ie ... the wussy campaign approach) and flatly stated she was running and "in it to win", sort of like Matt Hasselbeck in Green Bay in Overtime a couple years ago after the coin toss (we know how that turned out). For all intents and purposes her announcement and its timing have effectively squelched just about anyone other than the previously announced Edwards candidacy and the non-campaign of Barack Obama. Kerry announced his non-candidacy moments later.
Gore still claims he is not running. And since he is not running he is able to be himself and people like him, sort of like Bob Dole post-1996 doing SNL and Viagra ads. I can just picture Al morphing right back into Robo-Gore. You are doing more good on the outside Al, stay there.
I am seriously starting to doubt whether or not Obama will fully declare at this point. After all, he is young, has a bright future, and can step out of the way without blowing his political captital for 2012 or 2016. Hillary's declaring pulled him right off the front page. His campaign is effectively much ado about nothing at this point given the conventional wisdom that she is the front runner.
Edwards is the other issue. He is the only other declared candidate with a real chance of winning the nomination, and with the right geographical running mate could contend for the White House in 08. As such, those who want to de-Clinton American politics will likely latch onto him. Otherwise, we are looking at a pattern of Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Clinton in the Oval Office for over twenty years. What we really need is for both of those families (and the Kennedy's, Rockefeller's, etc ...) to all get out of politics for a while.
Hillary is now running on her own record. By all accounts she has been a pretty good senator. She has now won statewide office twice in a media circus and rightfully thinks that she can survive in the national spotlight.
On a side note, wouldn't it be funny if Rudy and Hillary finally went at it for the Oval Office in 08 when the expected match up did not happen in New York in 00? It's not exactly Lincoln vs. Douglas, but still kind of interesting.
The national spotlight and 24/7 multiple cable channel news cycle means that the coverage of this campaign will be another reason for me to not get cable. Old stories will be rehashed and brought up as though they were news or newsworthy to the 2008 campaign. And, since so much of campaign coverage these days centers on issues having nothing to do with the presidency itself, all the old Clinton baggage will get opened for inspection. Monica Lewinsky, wherever you are, brace yourself. Ann Coulter will get more air time than anyone would want. This will redefine ugly.
The best thing for the country and the Democratic Party would be for someone else to get the nomination.
(My mother asked me if I could vote for a woman. Yes. I still think it is weird that the United States has not elected a woman to high office and a country like Pakistan has. I would love to get to the point where that was not an issue.)
***
(From the original Shotgun Prose site I had on Tripod in November 1999)
"This ain't rocket science ..." vote for Rudy and end the Clinton era of electoral politics in this country.
Running for the Senate has nothing to do with the people of New York or being a Senator for Hillary Rodham Clinton. It is about her future bid for the White House. The Senate is merely the proving ground for her future candidacy. Bill should have been left high and dry by the supposedly strong Hillary, a woman I once thought had integrity. Instead, she just sat there humiliated and looking like an absolute ass for taking him back. They deserve each other. The people of New York at the very least deserve a senator with New York interests like Rudy, and I can't stand him. The people of New York have the opportunity to end the Clinton Era of electoral politics in this country, once and for all. Even if they have to elect a Republican to the Senate in the process.
***
I was pissed. The Republicans may have utterly botched their feeble attempt at impeachment, but the country was going to be better off in so many ways once the White House had a new occupant. Granted, W has been an utter disaster, but the place needed moving vans brought up to the back door, much like it needs it again now. But, when Rudy bowed out of the race and left Hillary to run against a lightweight, the announced candidacy of Hillary 2008 became inevitable.
This creates a quandry for me. In 1996, out of disgust for the entire slate of candidates I voted for a third party candidate. In 2000, I voted for McCain in the Washington State Primary. I can see voting for McCain, but none of the other Republicans could I vote for on accident, let alone as an alternative. I am not going to vote for a losing third party guy again. This will be a hold my nose vote if it comes to it.
Hilary will not win Jeff. People have had enough of Bill chasing interns in the White House.
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