Question for Democrats?

Question

It's obvious to anyone on here that I'm a conservative. But even I will admit that while I rarely agreed with him, Bill Clinton was most likely the finest politician I've ever seen (I will admit that my first presidential vote was for him his second term). He always seemed to go with the consensus, keeping him right down the middle on most issues (and thus with a pretty high approval rate). Even when you disagreed with him, he had that way of telling you exactly what you wanted to hear to make you feel better about it.

The people backing him were also some of the most politically savvy in American history, and managed to get him through numerous scandals with little to no real damage. Most of this team is still in place, and working with Hillary now. My question is, while Obama seems to be winning over large sections of young, energetic Democrats, does anyone really believe he has a chance at survival when the Clinton machine gets into full swing and barrels down on him?

Answer 1

your Clinton analysis is exactly the way I saw it to be in respect to Bill. as for the rest of your observation, you may be correct there too. I don't think that Obama has the maturity and political savvy that it takes to beat Hillary. they may ultimately cancel each other out if a strong third candidate rises to the occasion.
I don't think either one can garner enough center and right support/votes to be president though.

Answer 2

Many democrats felt betrayed by Clinton. I'm not sure it was an impeachable offense because there was no good reason for him to be answering question under oath about, but it sure was slimy. I think that makes them want to stay away from Hillary.

Also, Hillary Clinton was such a polarizing figure that some people think nominating her would be like handing the GOP the election. I would expect so see lots of copy of that clip where she said "what was I supposed to do stay home and bake cookies?" In a weak moment she told many American woman that she though they had made bad choices.

I think some people seem Obama as more electable and hopes that eventually many of the party faithful will realize that too.

One problem with our nominating system is that the people who do the nominating (in both parties) are mostly the hard core, true believers of each party. However, most Americans are fairly middle of road. Democrats seem to be the worst at this.

So you get a candidate that the left likes and one that the right likes that then spend the campaign trying to run to the center without upsetting the base. Some Democrats think Obama might start us off there.

Answer 3

No, I do not think that Obama will survive the next year, not just due to the whip smart crack shot team Sen. Clinton has, but due also to his own political inexperience. She's been through this a few times, to say the least. So many were counting on him to show her up in the debates and she has controlled every one of those debates, he never stood a chance. That could change, but I wouldn't bank on it. All in all when I think about Obama now, who I do like very much, I think he would make a pretty good VP.

EDIT: Someone mentioned how much more money he has raised than Hillary and that is an interesting side note. It's strange, he pretty much matched her last quarter and now has far exceeded her contributions this quarter, yet she remains solidly as the front runner in all of the polls. Those two things just don't seem to jive. I know a lot of people don't think polls are realistic readings, but when they all read the same it's time to pay attention - much like the midterms.

Answer 4

Obama has some former Bill Clinton aides helping him. The 08 Democratic primary will be even more competitive then normal as both Obama and H. Clinton are big names, and if they beat up on each other too much, John Edwards could win the primary.

In the end, I think Hillary will win the nomination not because she is more "Democrat" then Obama is, but because she still has Bill Clinton as her husband, and there are plenty of people out there who he might be able to persuade to vote for his wife... at least in the primaries anyway. Edwards will be held back for the act that he was Kerry's vice presidental candidate.

Answer 5

Sen. Clinton may be a case of a person whose time has gone. While I believe she would be a excellent president maybe it's time for a fresh face...Sen Obama seems to be that fresh face. Of course whatever BS the reactionaries of the current GOP toss at Clinton, they'll have no problem reversing engines and heaping the same goofball charges on Obama. At this point I'm going to vote for Obama in the primary elections, but if its Clinton, she'll get my full support. The right had its chance and mostly screw the pooch on any issue that really counts. Results count and the Bush Junta hasn't had any that could possibly benefit the American wage-earner. It's time for a change!

Answer 6

glad u asked and glad to answer i do believe that obama will fall victim to the clinton machine. he is a big time stumbler and his answers are too generic never personal. for example in the msnbc debate he and everyone else was asked it two us city were attack right now what would he do he said something about making sure the first responders we in play or some bs and hillary said find out who did it be prudent and retaliate soon after barack followed her and so did evry other canidate on that stage so even then ha couldn't take on hilldog so when she really begins to play hardcore politics he will possibly fold

Answer 7

Clinton has more experience and has more corporate backing which is how you win these days. This will never change until we abolish corporate person-hood, they should have no part in elections except making political signs for us. Just like they should only get the oil out of the ground for us after that "We the People" set profits.

Answer 8

Hillary Clinton is not Bill Clinton. Hillary is lacking in many of the qualities that made Bill Clinton a popular President. While I don't particularly like Obama, I believe that among the idealistic crowd who believe in the utopian (and very unrealistic) message of the Democrats, he can beat Hillary.

Answer 9

Machine? The reason that so many of these scandals (filegate, for god's sake?) went away was pure lack of substance. The Republicans sicced a special prosecutor on him and all that he could find was a parsed sentence to avoid embarassing the office through exposure of the president's private life.

I don't remember Al Gore ever declaring his own autonomous branch of government.

Answer 10

He is a young politician who still needs more experience, so he will be an easy target for attack. On the other hand, Hilary has had a questionable record in the Senate. So, let the political battle begin.

To be honest, I doubt that either one of them will be elected. Despite how far our country has come over the years, I feel that Americans still aren't ready to vote for a woman or for a black man.