Is Hillary going to self destruct ???

[TooFarTampa]

Now that Obama is seen as a viable candidate and not just too young/too inexperienced/a flash in the pan, Hillary is definitely toast. It is clear that all along, most Democrats were just hoping someone else would emerge.

Over the weekend she got angry, today she got teary. :shock: It is amazing how quickly this has happened. But is it all that surprising?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Is it surprising that Hillary is losing to Obama and Edwards? Quite surprising in my opinion. She doesn't seem like a leader, but she is more centered than Obama and Edwards combined, so I'm a little surprised. Maybe the Dems think that there are enough anti-Bush (and therefore anti-republican) people to really steer hard left. They may be right. Time will tell. Does Hillary have any money coming in at all, now that Obama is creaming her? How long can/will she last if this pace keeps up? Unless she completely flip flops into a different person, I don't think she has a chance in hell at being the Dem's nominee. Should I be surprised, is a different question. This race has quickly become a popularity contest, and I think most American's think that Obama is maybe the best orator of all the candidates, and he seems very calm, professional, leader-like, and friendly. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.

The other question is, Will the GOP come together out of fear of Obama being too far left, and turn out to vote in record numbers. It may take that. Romney has a good point about McCain playing on experience in DC. Romney said that if McCain does so, Sen Obama will clobber him too, just as he did Hillary. Voters are looking for a chance at change.

 

[rapunzel]

Is it surprising that Hillary is losing to Obama and Edwards? Quite surprising in my opinion. She doesn't seem like a leader, but she is more centered than Obama and Edwards combined, so I'm a little surprised. Maybe the Dems think that there are enough anti-Bush (and therefore anti-republican) people to really steer hard left. They may be right. Time will tell. Does Hillary have any money coming in at all, now that Obama is creaming her? How long can/will she last if this pace keeps up? Unless she completely flip flops into a different person, I don't think she has a chance in hell at being the Dem's nominee. Should I be surprised, is a different question. This race has quickly become a popularity contest, and I think most American's think that Obama is maybe the best orator of all the candidates, and he seems very calm, professional, leader-like, and friendly. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am.

The other question is, Will the GOP come together out of fear of Obama being too far left, and turn out to vote in record numbers. It may take that. Romney has a good point about McCain playing on experience in DC. Romney said that if McCain does so, Sen Obama will clobber him too, just as he did Hillary. Voters are looking for a chance at change.

SJ, I love and respect you and I say this in that spirit -- please balance your conservative talk radio news consumption with an hour of NPR for some perspective.

All three of the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination are pretty centrist. Of the three, Edwards is the furthest left with elements of populism mixed into his platform. Hillary is good bit to the right of Edwards as her platform stops short of socializing medicine, and instead socializes insurance, she is not quite as willing to increase taxes on corporations. Barack Obama is to the right of Hillary and very centrist. Most of the criticism of his platform comes from the most liberal wing of the party, they accuse him of not going far enough with healthcare, etc. and don't like his record of working with Republicans to make change happen.

As for the sentiment that this election is becoming a popularity contest, I find that insulting. I looked carefully at each candidates platform early last year and studied and listened and decided that Obama's plan was the one that most closely matched my own views and that seemed the most reasonable, achievable, and grounded in reality. I think a lot of people felt the same way, but worried that he was unelectable either because he was black or because the Clinton machine was so powerful. His decisive and historic victory in Iowa reassured those attracted to his message that he was a viable candidate, and his poll numbers soared. Your dismissive attitude of Obama's success in the campaign as a "popularity contest" comes off as elitist if not bigoted, and I know you to be neither of those things.

 

[seacrestkristi]

I'm really not surprised at all. This country is not 'ready' even though the woman is. It really wouldn't matter who the woman was. The smear campaign against her has been incredibly alone and also in comparison to her male counterparts. Why not an , "Will Obama or McCain Self-Destruct?" thread. Just look at all the negative remarks and threads for her. I'm asking why all the extra negatiivity towards her? I don't think she deserves it. I think she deserves a little respect.

 

[JoshMclean]

I'm really not surprised at all. This country is not 'ready' even though the woman is. It really wouldn't matter who the woman was. The smear campaign against her has been incredibly alone and also in comparison to her male counterparts. Why not an , "Will Obama or McCain Self-Destruct?" thread. Just look at all the negative remarks and threads for her. I'm asking why all the extra negatiivity towards her? I don't think she deserves it. I think she deserves a little respect.

I think the thread was probably started because she was the front runner when this all started. Many people were ready to swear her in just a few months ago. I personally don't like her policies and she just gives me a bad feeling overall. Mitt Romney is starting to give me that same feeling at this point. They both seem like robots to me. I wouldn't say that this country isn't ready for a female president, just not this female. Bring on Margaret Thatcher and I'll vote for a female.

 

[rapunzel]

I think the thread was probably started because she was the front runner when this all started. Many people were ready to swear her in just a few months ago. I personally don't like her policies and she just gives me a bad feeling overall. Mitt Romney is starting to give me that same feeling at this point. They both seem like robots to me. I wouldn't say that this country isn't ready for a female president, just not this female. Bring on Margaret Thatcher and I'll vote for a female.

Well said.

Let's stop playing the woman card. Particularly in light of the fact that Americans have shown an ability to look beyond race in this election, I think blaming her poor showing in Iowa and in some polls on her sex rings hollow.

 

[Maid of Honor]

If you want to blame it on someone, blame it on Bill.

 

[goofer]

Now that Obama is seen as a viable candidate and not just too young/too inexperienced/a flash in the pan, Hillary is definitely toast. It is clear that all along, most Democrats were just hoping someone else would emerge.

Over the weekend she got angry, today she got teary. :shock: It is amazing how quickly this has happened. But is it all that surprising?

Today she had her Ed Muskie moment.....which ended his campaign in 1972. I think she will drop out if she loses in South Carolina. Losing 3 of the early primaries will be too much rejection for her to bear. She is under enormous stress now and is starting to show it.

 

[Smiling JOe]

SJ, I love and respect you and I say this in that spirit -- please balance your conservative talk radio news consumption with an hour of NPR for some perspective.

All three of the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination are pretty centrist. Of the three, Edwards is the furthest left with elements of populism mixed into his platform. Hillary is good bit to the right of Edwards as her platform stops short of socializing medicine, and instead socializes insurance, she is not quite as willing to increase taxes on corporations. Barack Obama is to the right of Hillary and very centrist. Most of the criticism of his platform comes from the most liberal wing of the party, they accuse him of not going far enough with healthcare, etc. and don't like his record of working with Republicans to make change happen.

As for the sentiment that this election is becoming a popularity contest, I find that insulting. I looked carefully at each candidates platform early last year and studied and listened and decided that Obama's plan was the one that most closely matched my own views and that seemed the most reasonable, achievable, and grounded in reality. I think a lot of people felt the same way, but worried that he was unelectable either because he was black or because the Clinton machine was so powerful. His decisive and historic victory in Iowa reassured those attracted to his message that he was a viable candidate, and his poll numbers soared. Your dismissive attitude of Obama's success in the campaign as a "popularity contest" comes off as elitist if not bigoted, and I know you to be neither of those things.

I love you, too. You may find this difficult to believe based on your guess as to my news sources, but I try to listen to all sides, and on average, listen to more npr, than talk radio. It is really difficult to hear much on the left side of things, by tuning into the radio. The shows are non-existent in our local area. NPR has a small bit of news from that angle. I try to catch the BBC news hour at night, but don't always listen in. Without cable, I don't get Fox, Fox News, CNN, nor MSNBC. I am limited to somewhat left CBS, NBC, ABC, and the mostly neutral PBS.

As for the bigot comment, I'm glad you clarified your statement. I am far from a bigot. My comment comes from the perspective that Obama is very likable as a person, and Hillary is very repulsive.

Regarding who is the most left, that remains to be seen. I may have misunderstood the part you mentioned about Hillary, "she is not quite as willing to increase taxes on corporations." I thought I heard Hillary in a recent speech stating that the oil companies make too many profits and that she wants the Federal Gov't to take away/limit their profits.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I think the thread was probably started because she was the front runner when this all started. Many people were ready to swear her in just a few months ago.

I think you nailed the reason for the question. IMO, with all of Bill's support, and her experience, this is Hillary's race to lose. If Obama's name was the subject of the thread, it would be more along the lines of Will Obama be able to Win? He was the underdog, in my opinion.