Do you think Clinton, Obama misread the last vote?

Question

Was the last election just about the war?

Are they counting on a larger political "sea change" that isn't really there?

Are they expecting to ride that wave?

(This question isn't about gender/color changes in the presidency)

Answer 1

Well, we've got a "democratic" congress now ... that was expected.

But I wonder if after seeing clear cut examples of what it is like to have 1) a Democratic President & Republican Congress and 2) a Republican President & Republican Congress ...

AND the difference that brought in Budget Spending? Will the American public remember that equation at voting polls and what priority will the budget issue hold?

Clinton's time line has been no secret for quite some time. So her run now is no surprise. Will the better-than-nothing reforms in health care from Bush's administration tip the scale for her presidency and goal to socialize our medicine as it is in Europe and Canada? Or will Bush's taxation burden on the middle class and tax cuts for the elitist hurt her reform in its funding?

And what of Obama's corporate campaign funding? Corporations already run our government, as well as most of our lives in ways we don't even realize ... with Bush & Co being very much about Corporate Power. Will the current climate of citizen's ire against these giants cause a backlash for Obama?

Clinton and Obama both have gambled to run during a time in history when they feel it is the most effective introduction. Gender and Color issues cannot be excluded. The gamble takes a big risk for the Democrats. But the possibilities for a woman or a minority to win are real ... for the first time in USA history. I suspect no win will bring the players back again. Both are determined and both intend to be President.

If there had been no war in Iraq, Bush Jr would have went the way of Bush Sr - one term. Both have held the lowest rated popularity percentage of any sitting president in history. Like Father, Like Son.

Answer 2

I think Bush used momentum from 911 and the subsequent wars to win the last election. He did not win it based on his policies for the USA.

Plus people had to stick by him, because he stood up for them. When 911 happened he took action, people felt somewhat secure in that. That alone likely won it all.

If there had been no 911, and his policy for the USA showed through his patriotism caused by his fight for the USA, the he would've been gone because as I recall for most of his presidency the US financial situation has been on the decline.

Whoever wins the next election, be it Clinton, Obama or anyone else, will win on offering people hope. Because people are so tired of the war now, they're fatigued by the constant bombardment of news from a world away that they have a personal connection to(Iraqis dying, US soldiers dying etc), people want an exit strategy that makes Iraq a better place so they know they did good. They will also win by having a sound plan to get the US economy rolling again and make it the great nation it used to be.

They'll win on offering hope, pure and simple. Hope for a better tomorrow. It doesn't have to be Obama or Clinton, it can be whoever has the best strategy to make things better.

Answer 3

Don't go by what politicians say, go by what they do. The democrats may be publicly espousing that they have been handed a mandate but they are acting closer to the reality. By rights, historically, they should have done much better in the last election. They are only barely in the majority.

That is why they are going through all this subpoena nonsense instead of actually attempting any real policy changes. The phony investigations keep them in the public eye and are annoying to the republicans.

Believe me, when you watch what they do, you realize they read the last election just fine.


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Answer 4

I wonder the same thing. Has the voters been misread by both parties?? Seems to me that the Republicans don't believe that an edict was sent and the Democrats think that they've been handed the right to do anything they please. I think that it is well known that the majority of Americans are against the war but are not willing to see it end as Vietnam did. It took a decade to regain any pride in ourselves after Vietnam and most are not ready to see that happen once again.

Answer 5

I don't think the last election was just about the war. I think most Americans are tired of ineffective do nothing policy.

Answer 6

The vote has only been mis read by BUSH and CO

The American people have had it up to here with this war and MOST of the people in the USA believe that WE WERE DUPED INTO THIS WAR BY BUSH ON KNOWN LIES