The reason the Repubs were all over Hillary in their last debate ....

[ginchinchili]

is because it's the only thing uniting the republicans at this point. It brought the night's biggest applauses. If we really want to win this election we should use the old bait and switch tactic. Let them gear up for an "all about Hillary" campaign and nominate the grownup in this campaign, Joe Biden. It would rob them of most of their strategies and attacking points. He would out class them, out inspire them, present better, more thought out solutions to the major problems our country now faces, and simply out maneuver them so that they are left standing at the podium mumbling vague attacks about east coast liberal or Washington insider but it's just not going to be enough because enough Americans are getting tired of the meaningless slander. In Joe Biden we finally have a candidate who comes across as a regular American more than any Republican running, much less the Democrats running. Joe Biden represents the republican's strongest challenge because he is stronger than they are on most of the issues they're used to relying on in their attacks against Democrats. He's just the best qualified. Forgive me for saying this because I'm no fan of Reagan, but he would be the Ronald Reagan of the Democrat Party. In a word, the Republicans would shit if Joe wins the nomination. You want to see the Republicans really get worried, nominate Joe Biden.

[Catherine Vincent]

1. They also did it because the elephant (Bush) is in the room.

Anything to avoid talking about him.

[ginchinchili]

7. There were several reasons, but the point is that they used her to chang the topic.

Not Obama. Not Biden. Not Edwards. They used Hillary because no other figure is more repelled by the Republcian Party. She works to unite a fractured Republican Party.

Hillary's supporters like to quote polls demonstrating her strength as a candidate, which can mean a hundred different things. The dominance she enjoys in polls will drastically change when all the republicans coalesce around one candidate. I think it's safe to say the Gore was better liked than Hillary is now and he didn't win by a large enough margin to prevent Republicans for stealing the election. Does anyone really believe that Gore motivated Republicans to the polls than Hillary would? Be objective and smart about this. I see and hear the criticism about Hillary on a daily basis. When the Republicans were attacking her in their debate, she wasn't just a random choice. There are many who strongly dislike her and many who just don't want her to become president. In investing, one takes risks for substantial return. If the Democrats take the serious risk in nominating her, she could very well lose, and if she won, we will have gone though all the risk for someone who isn't even the most qualified candidate available to us. It doesn't make good sense and it's about time America gets back into the practice of being smart and practical so that that we can start moving forward once again.

[rusty quoin]

2. I happen to agree with you. Eventhough Biden is so low in polls,

he knows his shit.

[durrrty libby]

3. They are all about Hillary because they covet her nearly 50%

approval numbers, which they can only dream and drool over. Nice try though.

[ginchinchili]

12. Just exactly what do you mean by "they covet her nearly 50% approval numbers?

Would you care to elaborate? Because I'm sure you're not suggesting that they're attacking her because they're jealous. Assume from this point on that everything is strategy. If the Republicans really fear Hillary the last thing they'd do is make it know by attacking her in the debates because that would only energize the Democrats to carry through on her nomination. If they fear her, they obviously wouldn't want that. So what do you mean?

[Bluzmann57]

4. I think they are scared shitless of her

She's beaten them before and can do so again. That being said, I am not supporting her in the caucuses. But I may very well support her in the general election should she get that far.

[Dawgs]

6. When has Hillary ever beaten a Republican?

Is she fighting them in a boxing match. This isn't a one on one competition. She needs the support of all Democrats, and she doesn't even have that.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. Politics Is A Boxing Match

Hillary is the one in the black trunks...Her hapless opponent will be the one in the white trunks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h9xMgvOxmY

I'll save you time...Go to the 57 second mark

[durrrty libby]

16. Well done. lol.......You are a card DSB.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. I Distinguish Between Governance And Campaigning

To me a campaign is a sporting event...

[CK_John]

11. She won NY by 72%, after Rudy cut and ran. n/t

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I Have Told This Story Before

My internet buddy worked for Governor Pataki... He was so pissed when Rude(e) dropped out of that campaign...My buddy also hated Mike Murphy who ran Rick Lazio's campaign...He called him a total slob...

[durrrty libby]

25. Yeah Rudy pretends he wants to go up against her, but he is shaking in his skirt

[Dawgs]

5. I'm not a Biden fan, but you are 100% correct about Hillary uniting the Republicans.

[pscot]

9. If you don't have anythng sensible to say

attack Hillary. Works for Republicans and Democrats.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. Where Have You Been

Haven't seen you in a while...

[ginchinchili]

15. It's your perogative to support Hillary, but don't pretend that the animosity doesn't exist.

That's simply naive. Sure it's easy to simply say "if you don't have anything sensible to say..." completely avoiding what was said. That's just another way of stating that we shouldn't criticize your candidate. But you have to understand, many of us don't think she will do well in a general election and many of us just don't like her enough to become president, so we give our reasons. That's how Democracy works. Perhaps you should adapt.

[Yupster]

10. You can't go negative in a nine man field

because then you and the guy you're attacking both look bad.

So they come off as forceful by attacking the Democratic nominee who is Hillary. It only makes sense for them. If Edwards was ahead, they'd all be attacking him.

[durrrty libby]

17. Don't display common sense. They can't deal with that.

It's all about the conspiracy and repuke talking points:tinfoilhat:

[ginchinchili]

19. That's only half true, because attacking Edwards does not have the same effect

they're looking for. Remember throughout the rest of this election: everything is strategy. There is a reason they were all going after Hillary, and it wasn't just because she was the front runner, though that was part of it. It's because she's been successfully vilified by the Right and attacking her gets the people on the Right excited. Attacking Edwards, even if he was the front runner, wouldn't have the same effect. You can tell yourself otherwise all you want, but that won't change the reality that there is a strong dislike for Hillary Clinton in the United States. This dislike is stronger than it was for Al Gore in 2000 and John Kerry in 2004, and that should concern you. If you want to help your candidate denying this dynamic will only hurt. You have to confront it and find a way to dilute it. Denial won't accomplish that.

[jillan]

18. They want her to win because the repugs hated Bill Clinton.

And the playbook is already written.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. They Did Such A Good Job Beating Up Clinton Folks Think He's The Third Best Pres Of All Time And

Has A Current 67% Favorable Rating:


"Who would have thought it? Some two years after he left office hounded by right-wing detractors and stained by his affair with Monica Lewinsky, Bill Clinton now ranks as this nation's third best chief executive, according to a recent CNN/USA TODAY/Gallup Poll.
Only Abraham Lincoln (chosen by 15%) and John F. Kennedy (13%) finished ahead of Clinton (11%) in the April poll, which asked Americans who was "the greatest" president."


http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/2003-05-26-wickham_x.htm



At this point, however, the former president is seen in favorable terms. Two-thirds of Americans said they approve of the job he did while he was in office -- virtually the reverse of President Bush's current approval rating, which stands at 33 percent. Clinton remains overwhelmingly popular among Democrats, and 63 percent of independents and even a third of Republicans also gave him positive marks.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/03/AR2007100302036.html?hpid=topnews



You would think the Rethuglicans would learn but there's a reason John Stuart Mill called the conservative party the "stupid party".

[ginchinchili]

22. I like Bill Clinton, but I must say Washington, Jefferson, and Roosevelt

has him beat. Better than Washington? Come on.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

23. The Poll Was Silly ...I Just Used It To Make A Point

I'm afraid to post my ratings here because I'd have some Republicans pretty high, not because I like them but because they were effective, and that's how a political historian would rate them...

[durrrty libby]

24. I do believe most people believe the country has a shot

if Bill Clinton is hanging out at the WH

I do a lot of medical home visits and the old folks want to see a woman in the WH

and they always mention that it will be "nice" to have Bill back.

Oh yeah...they plan to vote

[AtomicKitten]

26. She does unite them in their festering hatred.

That's for damn sure.

[durrrty libby]

27. Oh please...There is no more "festering hatred. " than this place

Normal Americans are much more sensible

[AtomicKitten]

28. Only half of America is sensible.

If 50% of Americans say they will not vote for her, eeking out a win will be a nail-biter, and I'm afraid too close for comfort is, in fact, too close for comfort.