Tuesday, January 22, 2008
South Carolina Debate
I wouldn't be seeing so much of these debates if my husband wasn't a presidential scholar and that would be fine with me because I'm starting to get scared. I guess the problem is that the Democratic candidates' positions are too close so that Hillary and Obama are forced to argue about voting records, PACS and Boards they've sat on. But even Obama's nearly unflappable civility it starting to fade with the constant onslaught from Senator Clinton and her spouse. Going into this season, I thought I might support her, but all she's proven to me is she's the toughest candidate. Is that her intent? Is that the most necessary trait in a presidential candidate? Is there such a thing as wanting to win too much--because I think she does and it's making her into something scary. I thought she'd found her voice last week, but apparently it's a voice that changes to suit the night.
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18 comments:
Unless, say, John McCain gets the nomination, I'm afraid I'm going to have to hold my nose and pencil in Hillary's bubble in November.
Great. Another dynastic president who thinks it's her birthright.
Come on, Barack. Read Eisler's blog. He likes you, and he's a Republican.
I think I saw a comparison somewhere between Hillary and Tracy Flick in the movie ELECTION. Hillary is overly ambitious, and I think that's what makes her unlikeable to some people. Her attitude in terms of what is due to her just rubs people the wrong way.
I agree that there isn't a whole hell of a lot of differnce between Hillary, Obama and Edwards in terms of policies. I'm leaning Obama because he has that certain something, a sort of minor cult of personality, that can bring people together; and perhaps that's what we need, a leader who acts like a responsible, comforting and inspiring leader rather than someone with superior knowledge of the system and competency. Hillary doesn't inspire me the way that Obama does, but is inspiration enough to put him over the top?
As for McCain, I have a great amount of respect for him, however I had a shitload more respect for him when he ran in 2000 and didn't drink the Republican Kool-Aid. Before South Carolina I didn't have much hope for him, but if he can win in a state where some are still stinging from the Agression of the Northern States and think he has an illegitimate black child, maybe he'll take the whole thing. But, as much as I like McCain, and hope that some of his original dignity and indepedence is intact, I don't think I can vote for a Republic Administration after Bush.
I like Obama more every day. I think the Dems need an inspiring leader and I certainly don't see Hillary as that. Having said that, I heard her speak once in Amsterdam in 1997 and she was everything she isn't today. Inspiring, charistmatic, nice. Where did that Hillary go.
Hey guys, what is it you both see in McCain. I just don't see it. Sure, he's the best of a bad lot, but why any more than that?
I knew I liked John McCain when Pat Robertson came out foursquare against him. THAT man is a lunatic. If for no other reason than that McCain would get my vote. But most of the GOP top ranks don't like him. I don't see how he can get the nomination.
It's amazing to me that the Republicans don't see McCain is their best chance to hold onto things. The other candidates seem like lunatics to me. But that's only my take.
McCain can be a maverick within the Repblican party - and he's a Goldwater Republican in a W Republican era. I respect politicians who will think on their own and break with the ranks, which is a major reason I like Maine's GOP senators. However McCain has been sucking up to the Religious Right more and more, which scares the shit out of me. Even though Pat Robertson came out against McCaine, McCain did seek his support this past year when he gave the commencement speech at Robertson's college. He lost quite a bit of respect from me when he did that.
But McCain, or at least what he used to be, represents what the GOP used to stand for: fiscal responsibility and leaving people alone, stay out of the bedroom. W Republicans aren't fiscally responsible and they want to tell you how to live your life. The trouble McCain has is that he has to play to the W Republicans, and take a less maverick stand, in order to win.
This may be McCain's chance at the nomination, but he's in the wrong time for snagging the Presidency. In 2000 Al Gore wouldn't have stood a chance.
As for Hillary's likeability, I think she is trapped in campaigning mode - a fake state of being for someone who isn't a natural at it. Bill was constantly campaigning, but he was the best. Incredible. I've never met anyone in this world who has had that type of charimatic pull as Bill Clinton had. It's unworldly, really. Hillary isn't like her husband. She's more like Bob Dole and Al Gore, both of whom didn't come out of their shells and become likeable until after their defeats and they didn't have their political handlers around. Maybe Hillary will be the same way.
But Bill isn't so likable campaigning for Hillary. He's doing things in her campaign, he didn't do in his. Shrill, on the attack. Maybe the times have changed. Or maybe he has. Oh, and she's very much like Bob Dole. I couldn't help but notice that last night.
I, too, am liking Clinton less and less. Did you see how she spun her eyes around when Obama was talking. He stayed polite, but the Clinton strategy just seems to be throwing mud and seeing what sticks. A debate is not the best forum for Obama. I heard him in person last week and he was funny, down-home, erudite, innovative, and philosophical. If everyone who will vote could have seen what I did, he'd win 80% of the vote.
He's got my vote. A debate may not be his best forum but at least he retains some civility. She's lost hers.
But he didn't get your vote - you couldn't vote for him. If Obama had at least one full Senate term under his belt, I think a lot of people's caution about his inexperience would be a non-issue.
I lean toward Obama more and more. The Maine Caucus isn't until the Sunday after Super Duper Tuesday, but hopefully the nomination won't be settled then.
Metaphorically at least. I hope you get to vote for him and have it matter.
Saddest for me was how little air Obama and Edwards could put between themselves and Clinton, who remains in my eyes a mainstream 1970s Republican. Still thinking of writing in Gravel in Jersey on Super Day. I suspect we'll still have the option of voting for HC in November...even without Bill Clinton bulldogging, the institutional Democrats are mostly behind her. And I see her beating McCain or Romney or the ever-less-likely Giuliani. Clearly, Bloomberg is tempted. And I won't even be able to vote Green if they/we put up McKinney.
I like Hillary. Her scarpiness makes her more not less appealing to me. However, I am probably biased because I am married to a scrappy woman whom I love dearly. In any case, we have three COMPETENT Democratic candidates to chose from. How refresing is that?
All three are smart and competent but is that enough? Will Hillary be a Richard Nixon always looking for enemies outside her inner circle. I'm afraid so. She's jaded from the Clinton years. People with axes to grind are dangerous.
She'll always have that right wing conspiracy tailing her. :)
Despite her competence and intelligence, I truly think she is the harder sell to the general population than Edwards or Obama. Can she win? Most likely. Will she do a good job? Probably. But I think I'm looking for someone has more going for them than competence. We need a leader leader, which is why I'm leaning toward Obama - however, I may change my mind in the next couple of weeks. I don't see much of a difference between them in terms of what they'll do in office, perhaps a difference in the means. Who knows?
A leader leader. I like that. Hillary may be that in two weeks. She's capable of any swing.
On the NPR series ON POINT, I'm listening to Lanny Davis, Clinton supporter, throwing a tantrum in his attempt to defend the Clintons' attempts to smear Obama. Yet another Clintonian hack demonstrating one of the reasons why the Clintons are so off-putting...depending on what the definition of "are" is.
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