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Hillary's New Crusade
Jens Meyer / AP Photo
A year ago this week, Hillary Clinton ended her presidential campaign—to the relief of many. But even her critics must admit that as secretary of State, she’s been a feminist hero to behold.
One year ago today, Hillary Clinton ended her presidential campaign, much to the relief of millions of ardent Barack Obama supporters like me. Throughout the primaries, I had been irritated and then outraged by those who argued feminism obliged women to back her. The possibility that our first female president would be a former first lady promising to continue her husband’s legacy struck me as profoundly dispiriting. During the campaign, her hardball tactics horrified me. So when she made her rousing and gracious speech in the National Building Museum, conceding defeat but celebrating "18 million cracks" in "that highest, hardest glass ceiling," I was too furious to really hear her.
Listening to it now, though, I can’t help but tear up. I’m still glad I supported Obama, who I think is proving to be a better, defter president than Clinton would have been. Nevertheless, I was wrong to mistake her political ruthlessness for a lack of principle. Just as Clinton proved her skeptics wrong upon entering the Senate in 2001 with hard and diligent work, she is now quietly remaking the State Department. That’s especially true when it comes to women’s rights. As secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has been the feminist hero of this administration.
Just as Clinton proved her skeptics wrong upon entering the Senate in 2001 with hard and diligent work, she is now quietly remaking the State Department. That’s especially true when it comes to women’s rights. As secretary of State, Hillary Clinton has been the feminist hero of this administration.
Clinton made it clear during her confirmation hearing that women’s rights would be at the center of her approach to foreign policy. “[O]f particular concern to me is the plight of women and girls, who comprise the majority of the world's unhealthy, unschooled, unfed, and unpaid,” she said. “If half of the world's population remains vulnerable to economic, political, legal, and social marginalization, our hope of advancing democracy and prosperity will remain in serious jeopardy. We still have a long way to go, and the United States must remain an unambiguous and unequivocal voice in support of women's rights in every country, every region, on every continent.”







kent1944
i'm amused by your comments on hillary,is it because she is a women and you vastly identify? obviously the clintons have many lovers(no pun) and many detractors they are the most ruthless politicians to haved graced the political spectrum ever,the deaths,drugs,illegal monies know no limits,succintly they have no honor as humans.no i'm not a rethuglican.
Hawnzz
I doubt it. Deaths? Hardly... Drugs? Cocaine like Bush... Illegal Money? Like paying reconstruction companies billions in Iraq, a war of choice. Bush makes the Clintons look like the belong in a church choir. The Clintons are just good politicians. (And all the joys that go with it) Ruthless, vile, and vicious can be attributed to Rove, Cheney and their ilk.
davidcannon
Thanks for your reply. I am constantly amazed how republicans can project so much of what they don't want to face about themselves onto the Dem., especially the Clintons. It is both sad and disturbing to see so many take the bait of hate from the Right Wing pundits and so self-righteously proclaim the horrors of the Dems., while their own house is filled with so much dishonesty and incompetence. How any party who has Bush Rove and Cheney can point a finger at anyone, including the Clintons, is amazing. I think Freud called it "projection".
Lilli917
Thanks, I couldn't agree more!
loralee1000
Not just Bush. Does anyone look at what Obama did to his mentor to get his first political office??? That is just one example. As a Democrat I feel like I have a right to say that we are so outraged that the Republicans gave idiot Bush a free pass to do as he pleased but we are doing the same with Obama. The only difference between Obama and Bush is intellect. We will see in a few years who does more damage to our country. Michelle , I hope you aren't getting paid to write these things. You clearly don't do your research. Shouldn't you have tried to figure out who Barack and Hillary were BEFORE you spouted your empty opinions to the world?
morris1030
Hooray Hawnzz,
Clinton is doing the hard work. Good politicians are always tough. Otherwise they fail. She is reshaping and delegating a State Dept., not looking for pats on the back. We are lucky to have her as a public servant.
oliverckerr
The Hillary flaw is Billy. She will do what it takes to protect his "legacy" and keep covered what these so-called political leaders don't want you to see. The following is a key passage from "New World Hors D'oeuvres." Find lots of reasons why for all sorts of stuff that went on in the Clintstone administration.
You are about to find out why Fidel was calling all the shots relative to Elian Gonzalaz. (Since when does Fidel tell us who stays in America and who repatriates). You will also get insight why ef be eye broke into the Bowker ISBN data base and changed this political commentary satire "Trade" book into a "Specialty" (Meaning stores pay in advance - no returns) book of "witty humor" for kids aged 13 - 17. Is that a niche market, or what? That was the work of your domestic counter intelligence people, insuring book stores would not order and the poet prophet would be marginalized for the rest of his days. Enjoy these paragraphs from "New World Hors D'oeuvres:"
"And so, dear peer-ships, for that final juiciness as to "what Fidel had" on Billy Clintstone that drove the Elian Gonzalez case and skewered our pallah tics, having detailed all of the Eli�n facts, to obtain King Solomon's wisdom, we need change course, and revisit Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1989. Oh! Your throat is dry, you're hungry for the details and furthermore, it's time for brunching.
Speaking of brunch in, or luncheon, whichever you prefer, in or out, it was noted years ago, that for a period of months, a couple three times a week, Clintstone ignored his daily Governor's schedule and high tailed it over to Charlie's downtown Chye-knee restaurant for a noontime special.
When Clintstone went on these lunchtime forays three blocks down the street, was the governor driven by a state trooper, or followed while he strolled? Clintstone didn't stroll. Quickly changed into his jogging duds, Billy dashed from the State House without notice, on his way out the door, advising his trusted secretary, Betty Curie, to hold all his calls. He jogged down the street, by himself, slipping the alleyway gate into Charlie Lin trie's kitchen, panting wet in summer sweat. What was Billy's luncheon modus? What was our Billy Clintsone's back door operandi?
Revisit photographs that feature restaurateur Charlie Yah Lin Trie. Does this chef appear he'd be comfortable over a stir fry wok, or doling out Chinese egg drop soup, Charlie Yah Lin Trie, Chinese cook, who migrated to America and snookered super fortune cookie? Hedge those bets on Charlie.
And when Billy Clintstone dashed over to Charlie's place for some noon time Chinese dishes, did he forage the chow mien buffet line, gobbling lunch, and gabbing away middle day with Charlie's regular noon time choppers, or was our next President's hangout spot in Charlie Trie's secluded banquet room, the doorway in from Charlie's kitchen? And was Clintstone's made-to-order spread at one particular around-the-corner secluded booth each time, a special booth designed with the wily Arkansas governor, unbridled in mind?
Yes.
And when our Clintstone flopped at his own very special table, in Charlie's semi-private banquet room, 'Closed" to the public, his booth, out of sight, around the corner from the doorway in, was Charlie the governor's server, or was Yah Lin Trie minding his cash out register? Was Clintstone's server famous Guangdong waitress, Shrimp Throat Kim Soo, brought special from Macau to Little Rock, expressly for Bill? And what else did Shrimp Throat Kim serve our soon-to-be cookie fortunate President, besides her succulent lunches?
They call it a "nooner."
Was Charlie's banquet room rigged in advance for the Governor's appearance, with hidden video cam recorders focused on that one special booth where Clintstone pegged his nooners, sew the surreptitiously created video tapes do clearly show it is our Billy Clintstone for sure beyond any shadow, dew wop a dew, and you can read Charlie's menu askew on the table?
Yes it was. Yes they do.
Does this eggs plain why James Riady's lowly gardener was sent to our White House for a soft money campaign coffee, there to say softly to Clintstone, as Billy Clintstone marched around the room heartily shaking hands with all his millionaire Clintstone investors, "The Riadys sent me?"
Can the innocent Riady gardener's crypt tickle message be translated thus: the transferring of Loral's missile tech to the Chinese military has to take place sooner, rather than later, or else the whole wide world, bling bling, is going to see your "nooner?"
Yes it can. Yes it does.
Do those scrumptious tapes of Shrimp Throat Kim serving Billy her breath away lunches explain how democrat party fund raiser John Huang was suddenly so easily flipped, with top security clearance, from Democrat Party headquarters to the Commerce Dept., his primary purpose there, to facilitate the speedy missile tech transfer from State to Commerce, sew Loral's key missile aiming technology could then cross the sea and land in the military hands of the shiny Cheyenne-easy?
Yes they do.
Do the underhandedly created Kim Soo tapes eggs plain why the Loral Group, whose missile technology was always for sale, dipped giant chunks of soft money, yearly to the democrats, but the year of their missile tech transfer Loral cut their demo party trib way back? Yes. The tech sale, they were told, was going to go regardless, sew the Loral group's quid pro Chinese party quo was knot but for appearances, to muddy the trail?
Yes again, says our Onlion Shem.
It was during the Monica megillah that former congressman Cox's Report, documenting the fishy Chinese military stuff during Clintstone's administration was completed, but for gnashional security's sake, the fruits of his committee's investigation were kept under wraps far too many months, with some parts knot slated to crack dawn until the next century, long after Clintstone is departed.
Dear Peers! What is it that we, the American people are prohibited from seeing? Do our spineless self-serving Members of Congress fear the populace united would slip together as a body into nonpartisan outrage, and move to remove each and every Member of the Congress for their oblivious malfeasance in our public offices?
The Cox Report's congressional staffers talked amongst themselves: "The evidence we collected is air tight. Everything here smells like unadulterated treason, but what could be the reason? Where is there a motive?" The staffers weren't up to sniffing Clintstone's modus operandi. The staff was not apprised of all the juicy lunches served by waitress non-witness Shrimp Throat Kim Soo, who was shipped back to Macau and, during the trip, to protect our witless Clintstone, snuffed in the Pacific.
Charlie Yah Lin Trie told Clintstone, after Clintstone won the presidency but was still, officially Governor, hanging out in Little Rock, expressly with the purpose in mind to slip in a serious palaver with Charlie Trie, "Mr. President. You remember waitress, (Shrimp Throat) Kim, from Macau? She got picture. I hear video picture. I knew nothing but I can go back to Macau and find her."
Does Shrimp Throat Kim explain how overnight, a chintzy stir fry restaurateur from downtown Little Rock morphed into a major democratic political party fund raiser, with more visits to the White House than Monica Lewinsky, plus photo-ops galore with Clintstone sew Charlie Trie could promote himself to all the Macau gangsters as a true entrepreneur with most high White House connections? Yes.
King Solomon muses.
Shrimp Throat Kim was the reason behind Billy Clintstone's reluctance to give up his Arkansas Governorship, to relocate in Washington, D.C. for his transition, bedding down at the historical Blair House, with a glorious pre-presidential shebang of svelte beltway dinners, all the beltway peeps raptly wined up to meet them.
Bill needed a Charlie chat before the blare, to figure out what happened to Kim Soo, what he could do, where and who. When Clintstone stated they had to stay in Little Rock, to carefully oversee packing bags and books, it was not Billy's first mis-troof, rather it was the first mis-troof both Bill and Hill thought they got away with.
Of course the as yet to be exposed video tapes explain all of Clintstones' mini-treasons, blackmails, bribery, high crimes and missile tech state secret Ms demean hers that every buddy, regardless of pallah tic party, knows inside their bones are Billy Clintstone's true legacy: publicio thong-a-dong corruptus.
The Riady Lippo group owned the Clintstone tapes. They cost the Riadys thousands of dollars to create, and after the missile tech was transferred to China's military that was the end of it. Years before, they'd surreptitiously mastered tapes of Clintstone, jamming Kimmie down her throat, because the tapes were make-able.
To outright quote Monica-Man, nay paraphrase, why he, the Clintstone, dude what he did, the Riadys 'did it because they could.'
The Riadys couldn't and wouldn't sell the Clintstone tapes to their good friends, the Cheyenne-easy. The Chinese, unaware of any sex-pre-presidential tapes in the first place, instructed the Riadys, in no uncertain terms, to deliver the missile technology transfer for their military, or else. Or else what?
The Chinese knew the Riadys were Clintstone supporters. It was well known the Riady group fronted Clintstone's political campaign a fast, illegal million-dollar 'loan' when the self described comeback kid came out of New Hampshire in 2nd place, their 'loan' enabling Clintstone with enough raw campaign ducats to knock off New Hampshire's adopted favorite son, Paul Tsongas, in the Florida primary that was, in 1992, fast coming next.
The Cheyenne-easy told the Riadys to use their influence with Clintstone on behalf of the Chinese military, or jeopardize their own extensive operations in China. That's 'else what.' Between the Riady Lippo group and the Chinese generals, there wasn't any love loss. It was just business.
That costly batch of video tapes, featuring Billy Clintstone, breeches breached, getting a nooner by waitress Shrimp Throat Kim, doing what she did, her best, served their purpose, and that was that, but with more than just, "a painted paradise at the end of it" when Eli�n Gonzalez practically washed up on the beach in Florida, world wide instantly famous, a truly miraculous survivor.
The Riadys looked at Fidel, who couldn't do anything beyond standing by and watching from across the Straits; the soul of Shrimp Throat Kim cried out for retribution, and boing! The Riadys saw fabled potential in their trip x tapes. An 'eyes-only' screening was arranged for Castro. Fidel bought his copy with cash on the spot, a suitcase full of street corner fifties. Sew Clintstone's buds, James and Mochtar Riady, recouped their countless ducats spent on Shrimp Throat Kim and the missile tech, and then some, selling their black malleable yo-yo Shrimp Throat video to Fidel.
That is why silence from Cuba for so many months after Eli�n was rescued at sea. After Fidel bought the Clintstone tapes he consulted with his closest advisors on the next move to make, amongst them, Stalinist Russian advisors left intact from the good old days. For success, Castro needed to construct a careful cakewalk across the Straits, with the highest of tidings possible, to Clintstone aide, Bruce Lindsey, and through him, a lasso into Clintstone's Oval Office, thus, Greg Craig, Clintstone's high priced mouth from the impeachment days, who it just sew happens, is capable of conversing with Fidel in impeccable Cubish.
These maneuvers took their own good time to arrange. Fidel, holding the wildest of cards, could not chance blowing his hand. At first our government agencies worked with Eli�n's Miami-Dade County family, because that is our policy in cases like Eli�n's, where the custodial dispute is only a going-through-the-motions spread, to protect the remaining family in Cuba.
When Fidel, through hired emissary, Greg Craig, made the case to Clintstone what he, Fidel, had copies of, Clintstone realized, without consulting a soul, he'd better heed Fidel, and commit to what Castro wanted, or a whole lot more than his presidency was going down the tubes. That is exactly when Attorney General Janet Reno had her "phone call," when our immigration agency abruptly altered the normal mitigating course of its Cuban policy, relative to Eli�n.
That is why Clintstone compromised our democratic way, manipulated the press, and dumpstered Eli�n's constitutional guarantee. Clintstone needed to keep his true legacy out of the public eye; those hot lap videos of Charlie's climactric waitress, Shrimp Throat Kim, doing her thing. His thing. Why Greg Craig, attorney for Bill and Fidel backed Barky Obama's campaign instead of Hill's.
Ritarita
Much too long.
Much much too long.
oliverckerr
All true.
Billy Clintstone committed treason.
In the event someone knocks on Hillary door
with the tapes of Billy and Shrimp Throat Kim,
Hillary will do what is required to
keep the tapes buried.
We need new people for all our public offices.
(Ritarita still ultimate s.)
oliverckerr
Knot muppet!
kent1944
as for the rise of christian nationalism,i never believed in bartering with god.
BernieO
The only reason people would be surprised that Hillary would be a great Senator, Sec'y of State, etc. is that they have been completely suckered by all the right-wing propaganda that has demonized her. Had Ms. Goldberg actually researched Hillary's true history, she would realize that Hillary has always been a serious, intelligent, impressive woman who has been able to work with all sides on a issue to effect change.
For example, as First Lady of Arkansas, Hillary spearheaded Bill Clinton's much needed educational reform. Not only did she get the various players in the state to buy into the program, she convinced Sam Walton, the conservative founder of Walmart to support a tax on corporations to fund it. That alone speaks volumes about her ability to work effectively to improve the lives of others.
It is time people woke up to just how much - and how long - our perceptions have been distorted by right wing lies.
Hawnzz
You have to admit, she has bigger cajones then anyone in Washington. She has taken more @#%^ and was still standing then even Bush, Cheney, Rove (any of the equal cronies on either side of the political spectrum) would of been able to... they would of been left wimpering in the corner.
I don't always agree with Hillary... but I'm often impressed. She's one tough woman. (Even if you don't like her, you have to give her that.)
scott1607
I second that. I'm always amazed people disparage her for being "ruthless" and "machiavellian." Hello? It's politics and she's perfect for it. The best leaders are. Obama's doing okay but I'm still of the camp that wishes we had Hillary for President.
jus1drun
scott1607
wish u had chimed in earlier and wish i hadn't been gone all day. i think i'm in your camp except i wish hillary was in pelosi's position. that would be a very interesting prospect. i'm afraid the concept won't get play though, the comment energy has moved on.
morris1030
She's brilliant. She works her ass off. She knows how to get the job done. And we will see an enlightened and effective State Dept. because the lady knows what she's doing.
DKJamal
Exactly, and shame on Michelle Goldberg for just now realizing she bought into the anti-Clintonism of vast right-wing conspiracy.
Ms. Goldberg is representative of the shallow, entitled, cluelessness of women...no, they don't deserve to be called women, of "girls" in my generation. Watching 20-35 year old girls bash Mrs. Clinton last year made me wonder if they were really that dumb and easily fooled or just drunk on Kool-Aid. It was probably both.
Yo, Michelle, Hillary has always been like this. It's nothing new. How you can now write with no sense of irony that the same traits Axelrod and the dirty, manipulative, race-baiting Chicago machine made you THINK you abhorred last year are now the very things you suddenly appreciate about Hillary is more yet proof that the females in my peer group will never hold a candle to serious, tough, real accomplished women like Hillary, Condi, Ferarro etc.
Hillary wasn't good enough for these ingrates when she wanted to be head of the company. Now that she's goen back to her place and become a secretary, they love her?
Wake up, ladies!
morris1030
DK,
A hit job came from both sides to Hillary.
She is smart enough to understand the politics involved, and smart and strong enough to evaluate it all while not allowing any of this shit to prevent her from performing at the high level we are witnessing. Bravo Hillary!
morris1030
Bernie, thanks for your great post.
cruccia
I cannot understand why Ms. Goldberg couldn't see Hillary Clinton as the feminist she has always been. I am glad she's seeing more clearly now. For all of her initial misgivings about Clinton, none of them have any substance----they are a matter of style.
I am pleased to see that Goldberg has awakened to women's issues. According to the Inter-Parliamentart Union, before the 2008 elections, the United States ranked #69 in female representation in government. After the 2008 elections, we dropped to #71. Afghanistan and Iraq rank higher than we do.
If we want to do a better job and be a leader in the world, it would be great if other women could study the process Goldberg used to finally appreciate the real Hillary Clinton. We women are are own harshest critics. This fact has been used to divide us to keep women out of leadership roles and dilute our one real power------there are simply more women than men.
By all accounts from pollsters, the real reason President Obama won is because the African-American population came out to vote. AA voting patterns had been at 30---35%. In 2008, the figures were around 92%. If women would follow that lead, we would finally achieve parity and make this country a fully representative democracy. As Americans, to paraphrase Clinton, we cannot achieve our full greatness as a nation until women achieve parity.
Although it is a little late for the 2008 elections, it is thrilling to see women such as Goldberg awaken to our responsibility as women to lift each other up. If not us, who? If not now, when?
Marshal
Why would the writer of this article be surprised that Hillary is a hard and diligent worker? She has been her entire life. She would have made an excellent president as well... although I take nothing away from Obama, whom I voted for... but I did vote for Hillary in our state's primary,of course. Hillary is one of our generation's most outstanding individuals.
whynot
Unfortunately, Hillary is a generation or two ahead of her time and chose the supporting role for Bill. I'd bet if they both took an identical test her scores would exceed his. She is a born leader and I'm proud she took on those glass ceilings. I know her impact is needed in the State Department but I would be proud to have her nominated for any future vacancy on the Supreme Court.
SueKatz
Michelle, I've read this just minutes after watching Clinton's interview by George Stephanopoulos. Yes, I too found her Presidential campaign insufferable, but hopefully she is going to demonstrate the difference between having a woman Secy of State and having a feminist Secy of State. More power to her. Thanks for your candid piece.
jimors
It is human nature to rrecall the last action one sees and Hillary stooped real low at campaigns end. In retrospect it was only due to advisement of handlers and a last ditch effort for the office President. Her appointment was genius and she has handled it with brilliance. She will be a tough opponent 8 years from now. I do hope she breaks that ceiling.
bpai99
Hillary might have gone on to achieve great things had she not shackled herself to an undisciplined egotist for a husband. She's 10x the person he is.
bezvodka
Hillary Clinton is still just for Hillary Clinton. Today on TV I hear her saying something about Obama and, "I am glad to serve with him," thus giving herself equal status. I have never heard this from anyone else, regardless of administration. It is "I am glad to serve in his administration" or the like. But not Hillary.
If she had any idea that she could prevail, she'd run against Obama in 2012 in a New York Minute. Her loyalty is to herself.
I also think she is as much of a warmonger as George Bush was.
BluestBlue
It amazes me that the tweenybopper types still can't see beyond the propaganda. The DNC broke it's own rules to install a freshman senator as the nominee. For a "journalist" to not see the republican talking points, to not do the research and understand reality, to still be drinking the kool-aid is truly astounding. You expect that from children who are infatuated with their first campaign. But one would hope it would wear off and they'd start judging Obama on actually accomplishing something. Deeds not words are the standard he'll eventually be judged by. Hillary's deeds will stand out in history, the words used against her will ultimately be exposed as the republican lies they always were.
I hope Obama actually does something. There is too much on the line right now. But it isn't looking good. He isn't keeping the few promises he made during the campaign, he was so vague on the issues you couldn't know what he believed in. His supporters just projected their views on him, along with their hopes.
Single payer could have been a reality, but he won't even let them have a seat at the table to discuss it, let alone consider it. Big Pharma & Health Care have bought and paid for this round of "reform." If they are supporting it do you really think there will be any appreciable change?
His "support" women is laughable. He wants us to support their right to wear veils and the hijab. I'm more concerned about the stoning of rape victims and the acid attacks, and the women forced to wear the hajib or face being beaten or worse. Yet these girls aspiring to be women see Obama as the stalwart supporter of women's rights.
Obama supports Bush's rule of conscience, like bush had one. How do you like that support girls? He supports spying on Americans. He won't stand up to the telcos but prefers they get immunity. I'm not seeing much difference her between the two. Sad but true. Maybe he'll develop a backbone, but the Dems have lost a lot of formerly loyal party members with their tactics. I hope the children pan out for them but they'll probably get distracted by the next shiny toy. I'm still astounded by Harry Reid's pride that he pulled aside a freshman senator, that has never done anything but get elected, because he gave a pretty speech and told him to run for President right away. Wow. That is some kind of leadership.
xlntcat
If you have all the answers, exactly how would you solve all the problems? Maybe you should be more concerned with the treatment of women in this country and allow other countries to evolve as the see fit. The right's that women have gained in the country were the results of efforts by women in this country not by outsiders who wanted to impose their values.
BluestBlue
Women in this country have a long way to go before they see equality. Witness the misogyny of the presidential campaign. Obama and the press. Read the current article. Look at the frat boy Obama keeps on staff as his speech writer. Obama is known for his speeches. If his words matter Favreau's actions speak very loudly indeed. Look at Obama appointee Larry Summers.
We absolutely have problems in this country that need to be solved. I am concerned about them and continue to work to change them. But they aren't solved by women who do not support women.
You don't have to agree with their point of view. I did not agree with Palin's point of view, but I did not agree with the misogynistic treatment of her by the press. the blogosphere, and Obama's supporters.
Inequality of women in the US is not solved by ignoring problems in the rest of the world. Especially among the starving and brutalized. I notice you don't knock Obama for commenting as an outsider on other countries.
Were you opposed to the pressure placed on South Africa? Where you opposed to intervention in Rwanda?
Women's rights are human rights. They are not cultural values. I have no problem with women wearing the hajib if that is what they truly choose. I oppose them being forced to wear it, being beaten or killed if they do not. I oppose rape victims being stoned for adultery, especially 13 year old girls. I oppose women being unable to work and earn money for their fatherless children. I oppose men telling women they can't have reproductive health care, including contraception. I oppose genocide.
TennDem
So Hillary playing hardball during a political campaign upset this writer? Well, well. It must give the writer the vapors when women act like real people.
BluestBlue
At her age she is still rebelling against her mom. Let her get a dose of the real world and then we'll see her change her tune.
I really feel for her, irritated because people with a different viewpoint didn't quit when Obama said they should. After all, Hillary is a woman, it would different if say a man was running for president and didn't give up, like say Teddy Kennedy or any of the others who campaigned with less reason to expect success than Hillary, with 18Million votes. If the economy hadn't tanked, it wasn't clear Obama would have won. Now it isn't clear if we'd be worse off. Sad to say, but true.
GPatton
Al Gore got more votes in NYC than she did; Rudy din't run against her. She screwed up health care when most of the country was for it. Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. The nomination was hers and in her arrogance she let it slip through her fingers. Her hubby, don't forget signed the law that turned the major investment banks into bucket shops and greased the skids for the debacle that followed. Ever read her valedictory address from Wellsley? Give her time, she'll screw up again...
karenmb
GPatton...surely you jest!! Hillary knew there was a need for healthcare reform before it was "cool" to be for healthcare reform. All we ever hear is how she had closed door meetings when formulating the reform policy, but we rarely hear that the top leaders in the Dem party "requested" she formulate the policy in this way, so as to avoid the prolonged back and forth from others in the congress who hadn't done an ounce of research on the subject. It should be much easier for BO to get some kind of healthcare reform since this will be the second time around, and HRC established the groundwork for it, in addition, many more people are now uninsured, and see the need. Most of the country was NOT for reform during the Clinton yrs., especially after the drug co.'s spent a fortune on commercials to defeat any reform. Get your facts straight, or at least, have one valid point.
Reagan actually signed the law that allowed bankers to loot accounts and began investing people's money ruthlessly. Also, under Reagan, credit card debt exploded, and for the first time since WWII, consumers had a much higher debt/savings ratio.
If the far right had spent millions to vilify BO for years ad nauseum, he would have had an image perception to overcome during the campaign as well. He had a clean slate, because he hadn't really done anything, and most people didn't know him. If he hadn't been tall, I'll venture to say, he still wouldn't have won.Psychology is a funny thing....
Mary50
And reading this is why I'm still infuriated by Obama supporters. Every attribute you subscribe to Clinton during the primary, best describes Obama. Obama supporters think themselves and he so righteous that none of them can see Obama's obvious flaws, the unforgivable race-baiting tactics by his campaign, nor their own brain-wash-induced vilification of any of his opponents. I really didn't care much for Hillary Clinton, until I saw what her supporters had to endure by the rabid Obama supporters. Further, if you really respect hard work, you would have favored Clinton, who has always busted her ass, over a lazy opportunist like Obama in the first place.
Ritarita
I don't think lazy
Is actually a good descriptor
For Obama.
Try again.
BluestBlue
I don't know, it seems to fit.
He likes other people to do the work. He likes to game the system. Yeah. Lazy opportunist looks pretty apt.
GPatton
Sad but true!
bpai99
Hillary might have gone on to achieve great things had she not shackled herself to an undisciplined egotist for a husband. She's 10x the person he is.
Flag It|Permalink|Reply11:46 am, Jun 7, 2009
karenmb
I'm always taken aback when writers have these "epiphanies" about Hillary. Hell, anybody who had done their research, would know she truly is a valiant "public servant", always has been, and always will be. She works her heart out for this country. Does she like power, yep, I'm sure she does, but show me a leader at the top of this game who doesn't!!! BO sure as heck was power hungry, but I never heard it used as a negative against him...go figure.
The Rush Limbaugh's of the world made their millions trying to bring down the Clintons. Unfortunately, what they were selling got gobbled up and stored in people's collective consciousness, and the perception had legs of it's own. Nobody has been vilified with the same tenacity as the Clintons. Millions of taxpayer dollars were spent to try and find something, anything, and the final conclusion of Ken Starr's smear was: No other President has been investigated so thoroughly with so little wrongdoing found. The End. BC has done very amazing work since leaving the Presidency as well. Most of BO's supporters were too young to know their history. Sad.
HRC is a tireless workaholic, a policy wonk extraordinaire, a compassionate woman, and I feel much better knowing she is SOS. I think she would have been a fantastic President, but BO may turn out to be okay as well. Time will tell. I was impressed with BO for knowing what he doesn't know, which was "policy", and appointing knowledgeable people in the important roles.
The writer and a few other posters alluded to
HRC's "insufferable" campaign tactics, and I find that amusing, because as a loyal HRC supporter, I found the BO campaign to be a classic study in Chicago style dirty tactics. I did vote for BO, and I support the way he's handled some areas.
Thank you.
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