Do you think a surprise Hillary exit would earn lots of good will in return?

[RiverStone]

I do.

There are a few rumors circulating that Hillary may surprise folks and withdraw sometime soon. Like this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5223141&mesg_id=5223141

Even with all the negativity and disappointment directed at her campaign's tactics over the past couple of months, I think if Hillary were to exit the race before PA or shortly afterwards, the bad blood memory would be shorted lived.

If she were to leave soon and declare it is in the name of party unity; I think many people would blow off the mudslinging primary season (from both sides) as "just politics" and not only rally behind Obama - but look towards Hillary to assume an important role in an Obama administration. If not in a cabinet or VP role, then at least as a leader in the senate. I can imagine some behind the scenes power broking with Dem party leaders going on in Hillary's behalf. There is increasing pressure to rapidly end the party infighting before it hurts us beyond repair going into the GE.

With all due respect to Hillary supporters, even knowing that is not what you want to hear or believe - IMO, Hillary would earn tons of good will (back) and respect if she were to bow out soon. Even her campaign acknowledges she has only a 10% chance of winning. In reality, it is probably even less.

I do believe she has a pathway to rehabilitating her image in the eyes of her detractors; it's called doing what's best for the party and ending her candidacy.


peace~:)



On edit: kant spel

[bluestateguy]

1. Perhaps

But if the Obama people or his superdelegates are seen "demanding" that she pull out, she definitely WILL NOT do so.

[ThatBozGuy]

7. The only way she would pull out and not be forced out would be a guaranteed VP slot

That is not going to happen for Mr Obama he can not make that compromise. Not as a personality sense, but a very simple fact, he has run a campaign free of PAC money. She is a PAC in of herself and a majority money is from her corporate donors.

It wont happen, he didn't throw anyone under the bus previously for political gain, he certainly wont throw us under the bus to make that compromise.

[Cosmocat]

133. I have said that since ...

people started coming up with the "dream ticket" stuff ...

Bringing Hill on as his VP candidate pretty much invalidates the fundamental message of his campaign ...

[Drunken Irishman]

2. Yes.

[Johnny__Motown]

3. i agree, if she drops out RIght after PA;.

[splat]

68. Why drop out after a big-state win?

[AZBlue]

4. Yes - she'll gain back some of the respect she's lost.

[NanceGreggs]

5. Totally agreed.

She still has a "small window of opportunity", as they say, to pull back from the destructiveness and negativity and turn a graceful exit into a plus for her overall political image.

I do hope, however, she realizes how narrow that window of opportunity is at present, and acts before it is closed completely.

[ZinZen]

73. I agree with Nance

n/t

[Window]

119. What Nance said.

[democrattotheend]

6. She'd be nuts to drop out now

Obama may be ahead in pledged delegates, but this Wright crap has hurt him. I've been out in the field registering voters and talking to undecideds in the Philly suburbs all weekend, and the damage is real. I hope and pray that he can recover, but if he can't bounce back and appears unelectable in August, the superdelegates will not and should not make him the nominee regardless of delegate counts. They have a responsibility to choose the strongest candidate, and if Obama can't win the general there is no value to him or to any of us in him being the nominee. If it comes to it I'd rather him run again in 4 or 8 years than lose now and never get another chance. I am in no way giving up on him - I vowed last Tuesday that no matter how demoralized I get, I will never give up on Barack Obama. But I think calls for Clinton to drop out are premature, and if she was going to drop out she'd have done it before, not after this whole controversy.

[ericgtr]

23. You are talking about a state and an area that's pro Hillary anyway

sort of tough to base it on canvasing by one person, nothing personal I am sure you are providing a great service but you have to look at the big picture here.

[democrattotheend]

27. Yeah, but where I was should have been more pro-Obama

Montgomery County, full of rich white liberals. He definitely has some support there, but he needs to win it by 10 points to offset Clinton's strength in Western PA and avoid a blowout in the state. If he can get the people who supported Rendell over Casey in the 2002 gubernatorial primary he has a shot. I expect that the Clinton-Obama map will look fairly similar to the Casey-Rendell map in 2002 and probably not that different from the Bush-Kerry map, at least in the eastern part of the state.

[grantcart]

36. intelligent reply but you may have missed one factor - money

this is the number one reason that campaigns stop - if her contributions are drying up - and a lot of her big contributors are already maxed out. she could stop now.

[democrattotheend]

54. I think she will outraise him this month

I am really afraid of that. She raised $5 million in the 24 hours after March 4, and a lot of big donors who had been hesitant in February probably felt more comfortable giving after March 4 and even moreso after the Wright controversy began. Obama has had a tough month and I am afraid his fundraising may have slowed. So if you are an Obama supporter and have not given this month please do...I am really nervous that she will pull off an upset and outraise him. Obama hinted recently that his fundraising may have slowed a bit...he said that there were fewer primaries this month so he did not expect to sustain the pace.

[grantcart]

109. there have been some threads around indicating that they may be running low on money

[RiverStone]

37. And what will the party look like after 5 more months?

...of trench-war and infighting? It will be so battered and bruised that I doubt we could heal up in time for the GE.

Gallup yesterday had Obama back up by 3 points. I only mention this because I don't think the hits he took last week are either that damaging or that bad. We did not see a compelling shift to Hillary as many had feared. Did he take a hit - yes; did it knock him down or out - not even close.

IMO, the case for Hillary to exit remains and the math has not changed in her favor (see Bill Richardson endorsement).

[papau]

48. I agree - there will be no good will on DU ever-and the Obama half of the party sells her as Monster

[cooolandrew]

126. The controversy will of far blown over by November.Even Kerry came back in contention from negatives

[karynnj]

141. I am not sure what you are saying -

There is no similarity between Kerry's situation and Hillary's. He ran an excellent primary campaign where he was the frontrunner from Iowa and was never seriously challenged. There was none of the persistent nastiness that was Kerry's campaign.

If you mean that Obama will recover, as Kerry did, from the smear campaigns. I hope you are right. I don't think that Obama has been hit by everything the RW will come up with yet, but his team is doing a great job answering things. Obama has an easier year to win in - so we can hope. (and I hope Kerry is one of the people in debate preparation with him.)

[splat]

8. If these dudes are the new Dems, I'm gone, bullied right out of the party

[MonkeyFunk]

10. I agree

[Lerkfish]

you'll leave the party if Clinton drops out?

just trying to make sure I understand you completely here.

Will become a republican or an independent? (this is directed to you and the poster you agreed with)

[splat]

49. Politics won't be part of my life any more if if this nasty new DU represents the new Dems

[Lerkfish]

130. so you only support one democrat, period? what about local races?

:shrug:

[Lerkfish]

39. so, to be clear, you'll stop being a democrat if Clinton is not the nominee?

thanks.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. I will have a hard time not quitting the party if she IS the nominee

I don't want to belong to a DLC Democratic party. I am a progressive.

[splat]

53. So is she; she just can't run that way

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. She is not progressive

Again, just because you wish it to be doesn't make it so.

[splat]

61. You're projecting.

[proud2BlibKansan]

82. More like projectile vomiting

:puke:

[splat]

51. The bullies can lose without me!

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. She is dead to me

She will never have my respect again.

But she will probably gain some good Karma if she drops out soon. People tend to be forgiving.

[splat]

12. Hillary supporters won't forgive Obama for turning a Dem shoo-in into a loss

[leftofcool]

14. Absolutely correct!

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. You guys must be dizzy from all this spinning you're doing

Hillary was never entitled to the presidency. Just because you want it to be that way doesn't mean it is. A significant majority of us in the Democratic party have rejected a Clinton presidency all along. For many reasons. She is NOT progressive. We don't want a dynasty. She was too supportive of the war (until recently when it became convenient for her to not support it). We don't like her health care plan.

And then once she launched her campaign, the arrogance and sense of entitlement was just astounding. There is a HUGE difference between a Democratic shoe-in and a Hillary nomination. They are NOT one and the same. Never have been. Maybe one day you guys will see that. But I am certainly not holding my breath. Narcissists rarely see the error of their ways.

[splat]

30. Those are all rethug talking points about the first woman presidential candidate

Yes, women are noticing how you're treating her.

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. Bullshit

How's that sexist card working for you?

I am outspoken and I have been accused of a lot of silly things but no one has ever accused me of making rethug talking points. What a hoot.

:rofl:

[leftofcool]

46. Yet you quoted exactly what Rush Limbaugh said about her

He said Hillary felt "entitled" to the presidency. He has accused her of being part of a dynasty. I also belive Hannnity and O'Reilly have said the same thing about her. Are they still right wingers?

[proud2BlibKansan]

70. Well you know what they say about stopped clocks

There is indeed a sense of entitlement, an arrogance, from Hillary and her supporters. She seems stunned that Obama has dared to challenge her, as the presidency is rightfully hers. It's as if she didn't actually have to work to earn it, it was just supposed to be awarded to her.

[leftofcool]

88. Fox News thanks you

[proud2BlibKansan]

98. The Fox News that supports Hillary?

That Fox News? The one led by that guy who hosted a fund raiser for Hillary? THAT Fox News?

[Window]

122. Agree proud2Blib, and her supporters have the same amount of hubris as does she.

[Window]

121. I heard that exact phrase from Democratic non-Hillary supporters long before any Repub.

[leftynyc]

136. Welcome to the party

I've been a lifelong democrat - right down to my bleeding heart. It didn't stop several Sen Obama supporters from calling me a racist, a bigot and being told that both Rush and Sean were waiting on the phone for me - all on the same thread last week. Because I make no distinctions between right and left wing churches when it comes to bigotry.

[leftofcool]

35. Oh yea..........

That is one of the reasons he will never win the GE

[Eric Condon]

44. So, a list of perfectly legitimate reasons not to support one candidate over the other = Sexism?

Wow! Didn't see that one coming.

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. Gotta love it

Women are noticing how I am treating her! Oh how I shiver at the thought! :scared:

I guess next campaign I should be sure to make my choice based on what women think? LOL

[splat]

80. Keep it up -- it's be you and the locker room left in the party

[roguevalley]

146. I'm a woman and I agree with the posters. If you believe this place

doesn't fit you because of a loss, then there are other places. Start your own. This sort of reminds me of one issue voters. "I voted fer Bush because he was a Christian man and hated abortion."

We can't make you stay and if the votes of the majority bother you, then the republican party has openings. THey don't like majority rule either.

[Window]

120. LOL! The inevitable Hillary turned "a Dem shoo-in into a loss."

If the Hillary supporters cannot "forgive" Senator Obama and McCain wins as a result, then they get the government they deserve. Simple as that.

[Yes We Did]

11. I don't care when she pulls out anymore. She has lost my respect.

I was a huge Hillary supporter when she first announced. Then she started going negative, and that was that.

[proud2BlibKansan]

45. I was a huge fan until fall of 2002

That IWR vote was the beginning of the end of my love for Hillary.

[leftofcool]

13. You might want to think about how Obama supporters are going

to get back in the good graces of all Hillary supporters if either A: She does concede the nomination or B: He wins it. I also suggest you take a peek at the latest polls on the percentage of Hillary supporters who will not vote for him in the GE compared to the percentage of Obama supporters who will vote for Hillary.

[splat]

15. I've dated guys like him -- sweet talker, sweep you away, no there there

[RiverStone]

55. Obama needs Hillary supporters

Look at the percentage of folks from ALL walks --- idies, disaffected pukes, blue dog Dems, and of course, party regulars that intend to vote for Obama. He gets the most from the largest demographic.

I do agree that Obama must have the support of both Hillary and as many of her supporters as possible - if not, he would be very hard pressed to win the GE.

I just know that getting that support will be a hell of a lot easier soon, then in 5 months after a bitter and unprecedented convention battle in late August.

[splat]

58. The more I know about Obama, the less I like him

[RiverStone]

81. How long are you going to say that?

Your right of course to say it.

splat, do you think that being critical of Obama serves any valuable purpose any more? I'd say the same in reverse about Hillary to O supporters.

I've just always felt it is far better to share what you like about your candidate, then what you don't like about mine.

[splat]

90. When we did that all we got was STFU

You have no idea how badly Obama's supporters here have represented their candidate, and associated him with bullying and ridicule.

[RiverStone]

106. Not most....

Some for sure - bad apples everywhere.

But I think a small % love to be disruptive --- from both sides ---- just for the hell of it.

Honestly, I admire any Hillary supporter willing to wage on (here on DU) where he/she is out numbered 4 to 1.

But I do request you consider not using a broad brush to describe Obama supporters - that comment alone is negative.

Speaking for myself, I will diss Hillary and her tactics - but not her supporters, we are on the same team when the dust settles. What ever anger you feel toward DU's O supporters - that may pale in comparison to the bullshit that the pukes will pull this fall. It will be propaganda and lies and swift boating to the extreme.

We need all the help we can get.

Hopefully, you will still be part of that very compelling fight splat. You are a Democrat after all.

peace~:)

[Window]

125. STOP! Stop making sense. LOL!

:applause:

[MADem]

118. I think the reverse. Let the primaries take place, and let the votes be counted.

Don't tell one candidate to leave the stage to anoint another. If this has to play out down to the wire, so be it.

You shove Clinton off the stage to give "poor little Obama" a rest and some breathing room (like he's too weak to endure a long, tough, contest or something), and I'll wager that will "disaffect" a huge portion of Clinton supporters. And they won't return to the fold. They'll either stay home or vote for Old Popeye.

After all, the boomer-through-Greatest Generation types have been insulted by the Obama crowd, repeatedly. Folks tend not to go where they aren't wanted.

[Window]

123. Wonderful. They'll get McCain as they deserve.

[JimGinPA]

16. I Don't Think She Can Go 4 More Weeks Without Making It Worse...

She (or Bill or one of her surrogates) is going to do or say something really outrageous every couple of days between now and the primary, trying to cripple Obama. it's just their nature.

[splat]

17. Actually, I'm more expecting more shoes to drop on Obama, who's truly naive

[leftofcool]

18. There is more to come

[kerry-is-my-prez]

20. That's what I'm afraid of too. What else is there out there? Even little mistakes will do him in now

people are very leery of him now. The only people who are still with him are his die-hard supporters in my opinion.

I will have to be proven I'm wrong about all this to feel comfortable.

[Tatiana]

19. It's possible. She'll definitely get love from those like Bill Richardson and Chris Dodd.

But, unfortunately, I do think she's caused irreparable damage to some other political relationships. Honestly, if she had withdrawn at the end of Feb. or earlier this month, we'd be talking about an Obama/Clinton ticket. The party and Democratic voters seemed amenable to the idea.

But now you hear very clearly from Speaker Pelosi that the so-called "unity ticket" won't happen. Seeing as how she is not part of the Barack Obama campaign (and therefore, how would she know who the VP would NOT be?), I can only surmise that the party leaders have been seriously turned off by the Clintons.

To me, whether she drops out with grace and class or whether she loses at the convention will determine whether she returns to the Senate in contention for Majority Leader or a Democratic Pariah.

[splat]

21. I'm sure she doesn't care how you want to structure her life

[proud2BlibKansan]

29. "her life"??

Silly me, I thought this was about our country.

[splat]

38. "Pariah" is about our country? No it's not

[proud2BlibKansan]

105. LOL your one liners are no longer making sense

[Alexander]

24. Definitely. But that's a double-edged sword. Prolonging this will hurt her.

[splat]

26. Not when she's the last candidate standing it won't

[Alexander]

31. She will be standing...on the floor of the Senate, as Obama sits in the Oval Office.

I suppose you have a point.

[splat]

33. Obama can't win the GE

[Alexander]

40. And Hillary with her 55% disapproval rating somehow can? Give me a break.

Obama gets out the 18-29 and African-American voters like nobody else. Polls have consistently underestimated the turnout he gets.

It's really too bad that you can't recognize a charismatic, intelligent Democrat when you see one.

[leftofcool]

47. Yea, and that will help him with the women voters how?

[Alexander]

59. Black women and young women have no trouble voting for Obama.

NEWSFLASH: Women don't vote as a monolithic bloc. Neither does any demographic group, for that matter.

And there are three women - Boxer, Napolitano and Sebelius - who would all make excellent VPs for Obama.

[splat]

64. Fielding the B-team isn't gonna cut it

[Alexander]

72. What, exactly, is the "B-team"? Please explain.

Are you suggesting Napolitano, Boxer and Sebelius aren't good candidates for the presidency and therefore the vice-presidency? I'd have to disagree.

[splat]

75. Most of the country who aren't hard-core pol junkies has never heard of them

And Obama is definitely wet behind the ears.

[Alexander]

77. So? As the primaries have proven, name recognition doesn't win shit.

Otherwise we'd be looking at President Lieberman.

You still have yet to explain how a candidate who is actively disliked by 55% of the country can somehow win the presidency.

I'm waiting.

[splat]

79. Because she'll look smarter and more competent than McCain; Obama would just "Hope on"

Slogans aren't enough.

[Alexander]

84. Yes, "I was for the war before I was against it" worked so well for us in 2004.

Remind me again, who were those Supreme Court justices that President Kerry picked in your parallel universe?

[splat]

86. He was a bad candidate -- his judgment is still poor

[Alexander]

89. So voting for the IWR is bad judgment? I agree completely.

Nice to see we agree that Hillary Clinton and John Kerry both exercised bad judgment on that vote.

[splat]

92. Twist as you will

[Alexander]

94. You said "his judgment is still poor", not me.

If you don't want your own words used against you, don't say them in the first place.

Sheesh.

[proud2BlibKansan]

107. And legacies aren't enough either

[splat]

56. Women are a majority of the Democratic party; older women aren't here, but they vote!

[Alexander]

60. And when have I disputed any of those statements?

Never. There is no point to you posting them. You're preaching to the choir.

[Diane R]

91. Yes. We do vote. And my 'older women' friends and I are all voting for Obama.

[splat]

93. Women voting against their own self-interest; the chance won't come again soon

[Alexander]

95. So you'd vote for Condi Rice, just because she's a woman?

Good to know.

[splat]

97. You like the straw man fallacy a lot; rephrase it to something you can shoot down

Good night. Same old bull on DU.

[Alexander]

100. So how does Hillary represent the "self-interest" of women? Please explain.

And no, "Because she's a woman" doesn't cut it.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

148. *crickets*

It is an indefensible statement from splat...

[Chulanowa]

116. Obama is anti-woman?

Please do explain, if you can fit it into your subject line.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

147. Biggest pile of crap yet from you.

:thumbsdown:

[proud2BlibKansan]

108. I am an older woman

So are many of my friends. And most of us support Obama.

[LordJFT]

96. a lot of people on here want him to lose just so they can say I told you so

[Alexander]

103. True. There are also still Dixiecrats in the party.

They didn't all leave in the 1960s.

[OzarkDem]

25. It will cost us the election in November

but if that's what you want, you're entitled to your opinion.

Party unity is meaningless if we don't have a strong, experienced, viable candidate for the GE. If you think this primary has been bad, wait until the GOP goes after Obama. It won't be pretty and it won't be fun.

[splat]

32. Agreed; they won't pull punches like a fellow Dem does

[RiverStone]

62. Ironic how two Dems can witness the same thing...

...but come to an entirely different conclusion.

If Hillary were to get the nod, it will cost us the election in November.

Obama = inclusive/unity
Hillary = exclusive/polarizing

But you have heard that all before.

QUESTION for you OzarkDem:

Hillary would still get my vote if she turned out to be the nominee, would Obama get yours?

[fadedrose]

28. Nice if she did, but I think she's in till the convention

She and Bill don't seem to care what anybody thinks of them, good or bad, so long as they get delegates and they don't seem to care from whom or how.

Hell knows no fury like a woman scorned by delegates...? It will be hard for Obama's supporters to rally around someone they don't trust to behave rationally.

She's worked so hard I wish she would pull out and keep what dignity and respect she needs. Support her or not, nobody could say she hasn't put everything into the race.

[RiverStone]

65. Hell knows no fury like the Dem convention in Denver if this goes on till then!...n/t

[Skittles]

41. she will be relentlessly trashed no matter what she does n/t

[RiverStone]

69. I really think that would radically decline if she were to withdraw soon.

People know that rubbing salt in the wound would only hurt our chances in the fall (well, most folks anyway).

[tabasco]

42. It would prevent further damage to the Clintons' reputation.

Good will is a bit of a stretch after the rotten "kithen sink" gutter campaign.

[FightTheRight89]

43. I've said many times that I loathe Hillary Clinton...

And dislike Bill (who used to be my ultimate political idol). If they ended the campaign in the name of party unity, that would be phenomenal. I would gain back respect for them.

[RiverStone]

71. Glad to hear that!

I think most people would also respond like you. :hi:

[donheld]

52. Hillary who?

:shrug::evilgrin:

[saltpoint]

63. Probably. And she could use some. The bad bile taste is building by the

hour. The longer she's in the less she's liked, and the greater the delegate bleed.

She was just re-elected to a second term in New York. She'll have to make a decision at some point if she drops out of the race for the nomination on whether she will take a Cabinet post or remain those constituents' U.S. Senator. I imagine there are people in Gov. Paterson's office watching thing pretty closely this spring.

[eridani]

66. Probably, provided that Obama supporters don't act like assholes

Gloating and snotty "good riddance" sentiments add nothing productive.

[RiverStone]

74. No gloating allowed!!!

Would be my hope. But alas, some will pour salt in the wound.

I would expect however a majority of Obama supporters would be gracious and kind to those very disappointed Hillary folks. We need them to win - why hurt our own any more?

[splat]

76. It's too late -- most have left when DU reminded them of other abusive situations

You don't get it. The damage is done.

[RiverStone]

85. I still think there is time to repair much of that damage

But not if we try and mend fences in early September after a HUGE convention battle in late August.

People want to NOT HAVE McBush for 4 more years.

People want to come together.

People want to win!

Maybe I'm just more of an optimist, but I believe we can heal this - if it ends soon.

[crankychatter]

113. 50% of Eligible Voters don't vote because of Cynicism

We DON'T need them (conservative dems). If they were gone we could kick out the tent stakes and create a true coalition of young and progressive Americans that are sick and tired of disenfranchisment and corruption.

They need to go with Holy Joe... or get used to some growth and change... stop getting in the way.

I suspect it will be US that goes though... so it goes.

[RiverStone]

128. Hope will trump cynicism

If Obama is the nominee and if the Dems can show the country a party united soon.

Cynicism = business as usual

Obama = break the mold and begin anew

[bigbrother05]

67. Think it will only happen with a close race in PA

If she gets anything like the current margin, she'll stay in.

That said, there are more than 4 weeks left and remember how he performs as people get to know him. Have heard some wonder why he's not in PA now. My take is that he is starting to flood the state with volunteers, his grassroots organization is his real strength. While they are getting their folks in place, this flap over Wright is subsiding and the Richardson endorsement has effectively stopped the slide in the polls. With a little time for the rhetoric to cool down, Obama will be able to make 3 or 4 swings through the state, talking about the issues without being excessively sidetracked by the negative blather. Not sure he'll win, but it will be a whole lot closer than it is now. As always, Obama is running a 50 state campaign. PA is not the only contest on his radar, but anything less than an HRC blow out (15+ points) could be the signal for her to fold her hand graciously.

[sepdxdem]

83. I replied to this on another thread but...

if she did bow out before PA and throw her weight behind Obama she'd again be a hero TO EVERYONE in the party and I think it would catapult the dems into both the presidency and control of the legislature.

I know this is her life's dream, and I honestly believe she feels she is the best candidate, so I can understand why she wouldn't want to give up yet, but if there was ever a time to be a team player, this is it.

From a pragmatic standpoint, bowing out is IMO her best strategy, even if she has 2012 in mind. There's a better chance that Obama loses the general election than her pulling out the nomination and beating McCain.

And even if Obama does win, if she does go the "team player" route she's guaranteed a respected and influential party elder role as long as she wants. She might even end up VP, Secretary of State, or Speaker of the House

At this point she has to ask herself what the cost of all out war is given the slim chance that she can actually reach her ultimate goal of the presidency. It could cost her her career and would likely cause a war within the party that might damage us for years.

For me, this is the point where, despite the fact that I am an Obama supporter, my years of support for the Clinton's is really going to be tested. I'd like nothing more for them to take the high road now and not shake my faith in them as that would really hurt after thinking so highly of both of them for so long.

[RiverStone]

87. Well said --- I agree.

:hi:

[TML]

99. I don't know

The damage has been done. It will take more than kissing Howard Dean's ring to make amends.

[99th_Monkey]

101. I pretty much agree, at least speaking for myself that's true.

It pains me now each day that passes to see her campaign sinking fast, and see her lashing out instead
of bowing out. If she really wants to continue to be a major player under a new Democratic administration,
she should show the same respect for the process that Kucinich, Edwards and Richardson have exhibited by
exiting at an appropriate moment. She needs to throw in the towel soon to cut her loses.

[jackson_dem]

102. No. She could cure cancer and the far left and far right would still hate her

[crankychatter]

111. Any Democrat that decries the "Far Left" is a Republican

You should follow Strom Thurmond and Holy Joe Lieberman into the darkness, just for saying that.

Since Dean, "left" has been erroneously redefined to mean everyone that's against the War. If you haven't noticed, that's MOST of us... hardly "far left."

Nobody believes her. She takes the money from war profiteers, and then does what's expected of her... Voting one way and talking out of both sides of her mouth.

[FightTheRight89]

127. I'm a proud liberal...

And I hate the far-left.

To me the far-left includes people who are similar to my beliefs, but don't have the decency to respect or take into consideration the views of others. Let's be honest here, there are a lot of good conservative ideas. Unregulated welfare? Bad idea. Huge overspending government? Bad idea. Pacifist foreign policy? Bad idea.

[Lerkfish]

131. I think you're somewhat confused.

the things you say are bad are liberal ideas, essentially. You've just identified yourself as a right leaning democrat, at best.

[FightTheRight89]

138. I'm confused?

I'm in favor of smart welfare. Not unregulated welfare.
I'm in favor of big spending. Not overblown spending.
I'm against unneccesary wars. But pacifism would have kept us out of World War II (and almost did).

I am not a right-leaning democrat, but I am aware that should we fall too far left, that would be just as bad as going to the right. Conservatives do have some good ideas. Liberals have more, and better ones.

[boppers]

104. She should wait until Oregon.

Because I live here. :evilgrin:

[sepdxdem]

110. I live here too...

I don't think she's going to win in Oregon, even though she's probably as popular in Portland as she is in almost any city in the country. Obama is just tremendously popular here, at least from what I can tell.

[XOKCowboy]

112. Doing what's best for the party?

Now that's a novel idea. Yes it would earn her some good will from me. I don't see it happening though. I guess I'm a little more cynical than you.

[sepdxdem]

115. well....

I didn't say I thought she would.

You can sure as hell bet her and Bill have talked about it though. They're way too smart to not mull over all possible the strategies.

[crankychatter]

114. She'll litigate until McCain is Sworn in

or run independent

[Warren DeMontague]

117. Yes. It would be the smart and classy thing to do. nt

[cooolandrew]

124. It would give us time to mend fences and rebuild our efforts for the GE taking it to August is....

ultimately defeatist.

[slinkerwink]

129. Yes.

[Coexist]

132. putting the party ahead of personal ambition would do a lot.

[intaglio]

134. It would earn my goodwill

but given her past record it would also earn a deal of suspicion about what she was going to try. I would expect a McCain/Clinton unity ticket :puke: on the likelyhood that McCain would not even complete 1 term.

But I've always had room for conspiracy theories ...

[Doctor_J]

135. Not if she continues to campaign for McCain

If she wants to get n the Obama bandwagon, absolutely.

[yurbud]

137. national alzheimer's is more reliable than forgiveness

she would do herself a favor by visibly helping Obama, maybe with opposition research.

[Beacool]

139. Nope, the damage is done.

Too many of us feel that Obama is not deserving of the presidency and we have 4 choices: 1) write-in her name, 2) vote for Nader, 3) stay home or even 4) vote for McCain.

[MagickMuffin]

144. Option #3, you refuse to help the Democratic Party for House & Senate SEATS

Even if Hillary or Obama loses to McCaineyBush, winning back CONGRESS is way more important in that scenario.

McCaineyBush, would have a hard time with his so called mandate.

You would only be defeating the Democratic Party if you CHOOSE to stay home.

[Beacool]

151. Good point.

The rest of the Dem. ticket will get my support.

[Dogmudgeon]

140. Capitulation or Death

Isn't that kind of the antithesis of Hope?

I hope that President Obama can show that kind of cruelty to the Republicans when they go after him.

--p!

[karynnj]

142. I am not sure she will be given more a of a leadership role than she had

She always had somewhat of a leadership role, even when she had no title - she was HRC. She has had a DLC leadership role. I actually see her as LESS powerful when she returns. She was the assumed future President at least since 2004 - and from the articles written she was treated as such. When she returns, that will be gone. She will also still be Mrs Clinton - and Clinton will likely still be a power.

I know of no tradition that losers returning get anything. Leiberman got nothing after 2000 and John Kerry, who nearly won the Presidency wasn't given anything. I can't think of any example where anyone who lost the nomination or the Presidency itself got anything.

[stillcool]

143. At this point...

I want the Clinton Campaign completely exposed, and the self-inflected wound to be fatal, to prevent any further career in politics. Not very diplomatic or considerate of me.

[futureliveshere]

145. Yes it will...

Depends upon how concilliatory she makes it, and how well she motivates her supporters to support BO.

[AGirl]

149. I wouldn't give a shit about earning the goodwill of these nasty people.

[Orsino]

150. Of course, but...

...what counts is the unanimity of support given to the nominee. Dropping out must be accompanied by an endorsement.