I understand Hillary's appeal. But...

[LuckyTheDog]

I understand Hillary's appeal, I really do. And in the fall, if she's the Democratic candidate I'll vote for her.

The years of Bill Clinton's administration were the best years of my life, professionally and personally. Hillary was an integral part of that administration and deserves a big chunk of the credit for its successes. Part of me wants all of that back. Full employment was very, very good to me. So, for nostalgia reasons if nothing else, I understand the pull of the Clinton mystique.

During the Bill Clinton years, I, too, was a "third way" Democrat. I thought the idea of slow-walking our way to progress was brilliant because I felt economic growth was a prerequisite for any real change. I attributed the economic good times of the 90s to Bill Clinton and his third-way policies. And I was not entirely wrong.

Since then, I have evolved. Being on the business end of the Great Recession -- being laid off twice, losing my home equity when the housing bubble burst, experiencing some health problems -- had an effect. I looked at things in a new way. I came to realize that capitalism, as we have practiced it for the past 40 years, is broken. I came to believe that we need more rapid, more radical change than I had realized.

I don't think Hillary Clinton is a bad person. I don't think she will be a bad president. But I worry that she simply lacks the vision to really transform the American economy in the way it needs to be transformed. Bernie isn't perfect, either. But he "gets it" in a way Hillary doesn't. So, that's why I voted for him in the Michigan primary.

If my fellow Democrats determine that Hillary is to the be nominee, I'll be alright with that. I'll vote for her. I also expect to be a left-leaning critic of her administration when, as I suspect will happen, she becomes our next president.

[hereforthevoting]

1. I appreciate your candor

I feel as though a lot of people had a lot of success during that time. As an "old millennial", I was just a hair too young to get a piece of that. I wasn't of age until W was in office. It's understood that for many, Clinton was a boon known as not Bush and not Reagan. For me, while I have always been for the most left leaning democrat possible, it has always been very clear that my interests would not be served. Thank you again for your truth, and it looks like for many of us, astute awareness is the only thing we will have going for us in 2017.

[pipoman]

2. Then you are one step ahead of me.....

"I understand Hillary's appeal."

[ViseGrip]

4. True, but he appears to be getting there!

[ViseGrip]

3. Hillary will only nibble around the edges, of the edges.

You got it right. Also know, it takes a couple of years to get policy into the pipeline. Then a decade to see it working, or not. The tech bubble, (putting computers in every business and home) was a great economy. The housing? Bill got rid of the Glass Steagall Act that would have protected the housing market and not allowed people like you to ever go under water, through no fault of your own. Your healthcare issues? That is insurance business, and Obama kept them in there, after they nearly destroyed every big corp and workers we had here. Your job layoff? NAFTA, and that trade policy continues with other trade policies surrounding it.

Actually, LuckyTheDog, we are living in Bill Clinton's world. It takes a while, and usually another president is in office, after two terms. So you think it's the new boss's economy. Not so. Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama, Clinton....get it?

Just look here, before even Bill new to take us 'third way'.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bill+clinton+h+w+bush+at+kennebunkport&biw=1024&bih=702&tbm=isch&imgil=9X8nYisbEvHq9M%253A%253BBOPnkf0NyQfWeM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.snopes.com%25252Fphotograph-clinton-bush-wallace%25252F&source=iu&pf=m&fir=9X8nYisbEvHq9M%253A%252CBOPnkf0NyQfWeM%252C_&usg=__LnD491F_jYDK-L8ME4deoiZr2Kg%3D&ved=0ahUKEwjF7t7b0PzLAhVGwiYKHTcJBGkQyjcIJw&ei=VWAGV4XwOsaEmwG3kpDIBg#imgrc=9X8nYisbEvHq9M%3A

[RiverLover]

5. "Where else do they have to go?'

They keep giving us "centrists&quot repub policy advocates) and the only other choice are the republicans who actually call themselves republicans.

I'm no longer playing along with this rigged game.

But most will be like you. Its a good OP, I just can't go along anymore.

[Dragonfli]

7. it appears, the "Where else do they have to go?' is changing quickly to "just go to hell liberals"

I am sure PPI and Third Way, with DWS implementing the new "go to hell" tactic will work swimmingly well.

[RiverLover]

10. Yep, they're getting damn nasty. Shows desperation. The latest natl poll of Dems favors Bernie

and with the WI blowout, they're shaking in disbelief.

Let 'em get ugly. Finally people are waking up to the media propaganda being hurled at US.

[BillZBubb]

6. I used to understand Hillary's appeal. No more.

The IWR vote always troubled me greatly. Her speech on that was a classic display of craven, cynical politics. But, even so, I could forgive her that one moment of self-serving weakness.

Then in the 2008 primary campaign, she and Bill, went into racist territory with their attacks on Obama. Some of the things they said were simply inexcusable. She was also pro-gun to a degree, which was pandering and a way to separate herself from Obama. Those things and others drove me into the Obama camp.

Since then, her speaking fees, particularly to industries antagonistic to Democratic values, her chumminess with 1%'er right wingers, and the machinations of the Clinton Foundation, have convinced by that she is ethically and philosophically unfit to lead a Democratic party that I would want to be a part of. Her actions reek of corruption and influence peddling.

[djean111]

8. The Third Way, IMO, seems good at first, but it is, IMO, deliberately planting lots of

little land mines that affect people not in the 1%, years later.

I don't understand Hillary's appeal today, and I was a vociferous support in 2008. Now, all I see is the results of the Third Way so far, and a Third Way Neocon Hawk. Plus, she has made the term "fellow Democrat" into a meaningless nothing. Not what used to be a wonderful platform, but now just a harsh loyalty and money pledge and STFU.

I think she would happily put Social Security and other safety nets on the table and then proclaim "bipartisanship" and working with the GOP and "see, I didn't give them everything they wanted THIS time". Looks like Bill would have cheerfully privatized Social Security, if not for the blue dress.

So, no.

[Lizzie Poppet]

9. I don't see how any progressive sees the slightest appeal in her.

And no...I won't vote for her in November if she gets the nod. Not with a gun to my head...

[LuckyTheDog]

14. Some liberals probably thought that about Carter in 1980

I don't know for sure that a heavy turnout by liberals for Carter could have saved us from the destructive Reagan era.

But, looking back, I think having another four years of Carter's centrist administration would have served the country a lot better than what we ended up with.

[think]

11. Thank you for a very thoughtful post. You are very kind in your remarks.

Unfortunately I'm totally burnt on Hillary due to actions and deeds but wish that it wasn't so.

For me Hillary represents and epitomizes much of what I grown to despise in republican politicians.

She is most certainly liberal on social issues but that's where it ends for me.

From there I will digress....

[Dem2]

12. I also have uncertainty about Hillary. Oh, and Bernie too.

They both have their foibles and there's no way to know which will be the better President.

One might be more "pure" on the issues, but that certainly is no indication that my life will be any better under his presidency versus Hillary. Confidence in our leaders effects how the country functions and if either falters under pressure, it could be a long 4 years (and yes, they could fail to be re-elected.) Working with others (in Congress) is a key factor in achieving the goals set forth by our candidates and may be a bigger factor than just standing pat on an issue and refusing to compromise at all. We already see how the failure to compromise on the Republican side hasn't helped them in the long run.

[Punkingal]

13. I wish I understood her appeal...I really do.

Personally, I have a heard time even looking at her, let alone listening to her.