Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party?

Question

I was just wondering what people thought of this.

The Clintons and their people have more power within the Democratic Party than anyone else right now. That's probably because Bill Clinton was the most successful Democratic politician since FDR. Ever since Hillary Clinton started taking the steps toward running for President seven or eight years ago her being nominated has been treated as an inevitability. Especially now that the field is pretty open for her.

To get far in the party you've needed to get close to the Clintons. It seems like no one in the party would go up against them and are instead for now anyway lining up with Hillary or at least getting out of her way. Senator Evan Bayh from Indiana, a very promising moderate guy who has always been close to the Clintons who almost ran for President this year, stepped aside this week and endorsed Hillary Clinton. It seems like peopled think that anyone in the party who lines up against the Clintons is going to get screwed over.

I think this election will be big as far as their future in the party goes. If she loses, then she's pretty much out of the way, and all of these other candidates and the party can step out of her shadow. Does that mean they lose their power in the party? And would it give a new group of people the opportunity to step in? Kind of like they did in 1992. But if she wins then how much more power will they have? Will pretty much everybody have to get friendly with the Clintons? Keep in mind Barack Obama and his people seem to be the only ones right now mounting a serious challenge to the Clinton/New Democrat dominant influence in the party, will people like him be shut out? What do you think?

Answer 1

Barack is not the only one who is challenging Hillary, he just is the most successful.

If Hillary were the dominant influence in the party, someone other than John Kerry would have been the nominee in 2004.

The fact is that there is no dominant influence.

However, having spent almost 18 years in national politics, the Clinton's do have influence with and the support of a significant segment of the party. Other major players with slightly smaller influence would include Al Gore and Ted Kennedy.

Regardless of who gets the nomination (and whether a Democrat gets elected), presidential campaigns have lingering influence and spawn off a new generation. Rahm Emmanuel (the successful head of the Democratic Campaign Committee in the last election) started off in the Clinton White House. He will continue to climb up the leadership ladder in the House of Representatives because he is an effective politician. If Senator Clinton does not get the nomination, she will continue to represent New York for at least another decade.

If you will recall history, the 1972 McGovern campaign gave us Gary Hart and other individuals who played a role in Democratic politics for the next decade.

Answer 2

You know in think the main thing here is that people want a change from what we are seeing right now in the white house. That is why the focus is so much on Hillary and Obama because not only are they close to breaking history, but they sure as hell have alot to do if one of them becomes president. Hillary is a leader because after all she has been through she is coming out head strong looking people in the eye and giving point by point answers. I think people appeal to her more because, no doubt, people remember the Clinton years. The country was at surplus, and we had clinton for two terms (which had not happen to a democrat since FDR) What I am afraid of is that both Obama and Clinton are promising so much that when they do get to office they can only do so much. But non the less who can truly say who the nominee for the democratic party would be? Clinton has the experience and knows the many strings in the politics game while Obama is a fresh face, and appeals to the people by poking their dreams and that he is the man to make them come true. How the republican side is looking right now.....if either Obama or Clinton gets the nomination I think they will do fine as long as they stand their ground.

Answer 3

Hillary is bringing dow the party simply because people want a new face and a new last name in the white house. Sure, Clinton fans loved the "Clinton years," but a lot has changed since --including the voting pool. From what the experts are saying, if Hillary wins the nomination, there's a good chance the dems will lose the general election. I'm not a Dem, and I'm not a Republican for the most part. Come this election I'll probably vote for the lesser of the two evils. It's a shame Ron Paul didn't make it.

Answer 4

Barrack and others who do go up against the Clintons would not be shut out if Hillary were to win the nomination or the presidency as long as the campaigns against the Clintons didn't get to ugly. Additionaly a loss likely would not detract her influence much either, though we may see some slight influence deter, for an example of this take a look at Ted Kennedy who ran for President in 1980.

Answer 5

The problem is the two party only political system that dominates US Govt. Without any competition from other parties & with only two choices you basically get the same Big US Govt. that we've been getting since FDR. Doesn't matter if it's a Clinton or a Bush. The problem is Big US Govt. that is monopolized by the two big parties (GOP/Dems). The Govt. came up with Anti-trust laws to break up the robber barrons in the early 20th Century because there wasn't enough competition & that hurt America. Well the same kind of thing is happening with US Govt right now & the only way it will get fixed is to have more than just two very dominate political parties.

Answer 6

We all know that Ken S is right. That is why no one stands up too big against her. I just hope no one is dumb enough to chose her as vice president running mate. As for how long she has been running for election, it is ever since Bill got in the first time. That is why she had her office in the west wing of the white house instead of the traditional east wing for first ladies. Of course, I guess that could have been to keep and eye on Bill, which if that is the case she didn't do a very good job so just how observant is she? Perhaps not enough so to be president!

Answer 7

well....hopefully none of it will matter....despite wht you might hear in polls and news sound bytes, Americans still are not buying the liberal nonsense from Hillarys mouth. She is pushing her once failed health care system again...people did not like it then and still dont. She is Bush bashing....but yet we know that in his place, had she been president during 9/11 she would have an even bigger mess than he does. and lastly.... the woman is not a leader, she talks tough, but her resolve and problem solving skills are shakey at best. Americans see that we need a stong leader, and that is why Bush was elected again last time despite the war problem.... I think the person who stand with a platform to defend America will win... no one likes war...it is an unfortunate situation...but ask voting Americans..do we run?, or do we stand our ground? .............get out of the way little girl...

Answer 8

If you don't get out of the Clinton's way you end up dead.