If you were Hillary's most trusted adviser, what would you tell her to do?

[kwyjibo]

She seems to be on the verge of breaking our party in half. I can't believe that she wants that, so what can she do to stop it (and save face)? Or is it not her problem to solve?

[LakeSamish706]

1. Quit Hillary, cause it's over and has been for awhile. n/t

[iconocrastic]

30. HILLARY DOESN'T TRUST ANYBODY

[yardwork]

2. As a Democrat, I am asking Hillary Clinton to concede the nomination to Obama.

I have nothing against Hillary. I don't blame her for running a strong and even fierce campaign. However, Obama is now well ahead in delegates. For Hillary to get the nomination at this point would require Super Delegates going against the will the of the people who have voted in all these primaries.

The primary has gone on long enough. It's not helping us win the White House in the fall. It's time for the one who is behind to concede to the one who is ahead.

[End Of The Road]

3. Stay in Hillary.

You're the best person for the job and it's a long time til the convention. Anything can happen.

[flyarm]

4. STAY IN THEY ARE BOTH POLLING THE SAME ..

22% say obama should get out 22% say hillary should get out..

stay in Hillary..and keep fighting for Florida delegates and Mi delegates! we count!

and i can assure you, if my vote is not counted towards the nominee..the dems won't get my vote in Nov..and i will demand my money back from the DNC!

I have fought for votes to count in Fla..and the repigs have stolen my vote over and over again..now the dems think they can do the same..fuck them..I will not vote in Nov if Dean and the dems think they can STEAL MY VOTE NOW!

Not now, Not Ever!

Oh and i was a 2004 Elected Dem Delegate for Florida and I am a member of the Executive committee of my county.

I will quit the Dem party and the 8 Dem clubs I am a member of, and charter member of in my second state I live in!

The dems will never get another dime from me nor any dem candidate if they do not count the vote in my state!

Oh and I voted for Edwards...

I stand with the delegates that have been elected in Florida!

and I will not bend.

fly

[olkaz]

8. Typical.

I'll take my ball and go home!

Grow up. Kids are dying in Iraq. This is bigger than your feelings.

[flyarm]

14. Typical? tell me how many times have you had your vote stolen and why don't you

come to either state of Fl or MI and give up your vote..then you tell me how you feel!! other wise stfu..because it obviously has not been your vote stolen, and you obviously have not put your money up or hours upon hours, days upon days of your time trying to save votes!

fly

[John Q. Citizen]

20. If wishes were fishes, we'd have a fish fry. MI and FL broke the rules and paid the price.

[olkaz]

21. Your leadership screwed you. Go after them.

Your anger is not as important to me as 4000 dead soldiers in Iraq.

Vote in the general for a Democrat.

[PoliticalAmazon]

34. I plan to. Of course, that means I won't be voting for Hillary Clinton. n/t

[olkaz]

45. I know, I know more snark

Look, I don't like Hillary either.

But you cannot let McCain keep this thing going. I don't know if you have military in your family or friends, but it's bad. And it's getting worse.

Please, just hold your nose and vote for the (D). We'll do the rest if it disgusts you so much. It's just really, really important.

[theredpen]

48. Your votes weren't stolen

They were given away by the idiots who you voted into office in Florida. The DNC said that Florida could keep its delegates even if the primary was moved as long as the Dems in the Florida state government fought the change. They didn't — they went along with it.

Don't blame the Republicans. Don't blame the nominee. I sure you did what you could and shouldn't be blamed either, but let's blame the people who screwed up: the elected Democrats in Florida.

[Yael]

11. Thanks for sharing your faux outrage with the class

[flyarm]

15. i don't have fake outrage..i have damn real out rage..and i will prove it with my checkbook

and my non vote..so will hundreds of thousands of dem floridians!

count on that!!

fly

[olkaz]

22. While Americans die.

You realize selfishness and sociopathy are Republican traits, right?

[Yael]

24. Thanks for your support in ending the war

:thumbsup:

[Hawkeye-X]

39. fly - wrong direction to release your outrage

Try gelber and ring. Both of whi were dumbasses to push the primaries early. I can see that you have been ignoring madfloridians journal which has documented exactly where the blames belongs and is worried for someone like tou oputting the blame where it does not belong. I suggest you heed my advice before you enbarrass yourself.

[DeadElephant_ORG]

40. "Obama is the nominee. Your future in politics is in jeopardy unless you get some grace NOW." n/t

[Flabbergasted]

5. If she has me as her most trusted adviser she's in deep shit.

[Armstead]

7. LOL -- But you could do as well as her current trusted advisors

[jwirr]

6. I am not one of her supporters but I would tell her to stop hitting herself

over the head. Much of what has changed many of us former Clinton supporters to Obama supporters is these mistakes like the bosnia mess and she should stop attacking anyones religion because all three candidates are vulnerable. She must change the look of a spoiled little girl who cannot face possible lose to the look of a caring woman who cares about the party in November and understands the mess the big corporations have put us in. She is acting as if it will be just going back to the Bill Clinton era and then everything will be fine - wrong - *ss has almost destroyed our world and we need someone we trust to understand and act in whatever way is necessary, not just follow the party line.

[theredpen]

9. I would tell her that we're taking her to a farm out in the country...

...where she can campaign as much as she wants.

[Ysabel]

35. lol n/t...

[Armstead]

10. If she wants to stay in the race -- Make a public peace agreement with Obama

What is really tearing the Democratic Party apart in the tone of this campaign.

Frankly, I'd tell her to get out of the race, and start working for a larger Democratic Sweep this fall.

But if she is detrmined to ride it out in the primary I'd tell her to make an agreement with Obama to focus on real issues, avoid negative attacks and reframe the remaining primary election to a positive comparison to two candidates.

Then hold a joint press conference to tell the media and the supporters to make similar changes and tone it down.

[Sinistrous]

27. I agree.

I believe the acrimony has reached a such a level that a "summit conference" of Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Obama is necessary to raise the level of the rhetoric to a debate on policies and a recognition that, even within the primary, they are both running against John McCain. They should agree to reserve their venom for McCain, and not use it to destroy the Party.

[SoonerPride]

12. Beg Obama to be his VP and back down as gracefully as you can

Turn on the charm and stop being so divisive

[Independent-Voter]

13. Get the fuck out, go home, divorce Bill, ....

[Hope And Change]

16. Tell her to quit and ask all Democrats to unite behind Obama but

...I guess Hillary`s supporters wouldn`t agree with that.:eyes:

[PBS Poll-435]

51. You are right about that

The GE is a million years a way (in political dog-years.) Let the votes count and the chips fall where they may. I must say, there is something really unnerving about the insistance that she "DROP OUT RIGHT NOW FOR THE GOOD OF THE PARTY AND COUNTRY!!! UNITE AROUND THE CHOSEN ONE!!!(who is not the nominee, and has not won enough delegates to be considered the pre-convention "Presumptive Nominee." It is almost like a cheap magician doing tricks in the back yard. It may fool little kids, but the grown-ups know about the trap door.

[applegrove]

17. Talk policy policy policy.

[Drachasor]

50. That seems to be what the poll last night indicated she should do.

Whether it happens or not...who knows?

[John Q. Citizen]

18. At this point she's in until PA at least. Unless the mood continues to shift and her internals tell

her she's going to lose PA, not something that's likely. But in that case she might end it early and proclaim her defeat was for for party unity.

She can't really withdraw until after PA though. At that point she could spare herself major losses in NC and OR. And I expect by that time Obama will have a lot more supers declared for him.

I have a feeling, and I hope I'm wrong, when she finally does withdraw it's going to be very low down and dirty. I'm worried Hill's going to play this as a woman scorned. Bill Clinton will act like, 'And after all I did for you.'

I don't know that they will do that at all, but I'm worried they might.

[kwyjibo]

19. I think she's too smart for that kind of political suicide.

When she gets out, I think she'll be respectful of Obama - she knows he is an incredible and intelligent politician, and she can only benefit from being on his good side. Nothing good will come from being a sore loser and I'm sure that would leave a bad taste in the mouths of New York voters.

[John Q. Citizen]

26. Basic political sense would say you are right. But Hillary's already crossed the Rubicon here by

endorsing McCain as well as attempted race baiting. In a normal year, I'd agree with you in a second. And I hope you are right.

[karynnj]

23. I would advise to stay in through PA, but to do so spelling out what is wrong with McCain

Oddly, this could make her look better and improve her chances in PA. (Think 2004 - Kerry spent far more time attacking Bush than any opponent. He often even quickly answered primary questions asked then pivoted to attack Bush.) It also helps the party, whether Obama wins or she creates what would be a miracle for her. It also would create a transition where she bows gracefully out and switches to being a surrogate against McCain. (helping the party and her own reputation)

[marions ghost]

43. yep

but there seems to be something preventing her from sticking it to McCain & the Repigs and the Booshies right now. That's where she should be focused...but...she's working harder not to alienate them than she is her own party. Hmmmmmm......:eyes:

[pansypoo53219]

25. tell her

she is hurting the FUTURE of feminism.

[iconocrastic]

32. She's hurting the past also

since history is written by the victors

[hughee99]

28. It depends on what my interests were...

If I were looking out for the best interests of the party, I would probably suggest she stay on until Pennsylvania, and without a resounding victory there (more than 60%) she drop out. She should do what she can to win the popular vote, at least, so that in a brokered convention, there would be a legitimate case for her. While super delegates are fair game (even ones already "committed" to Obama), I would not want anything to do with trying to sway pledged regular delegates. I would probably also suggest that she try to restore some sort of relationship with Obama before Pennsylvania so that if she doesn't get the victory she's looking for there, it will be easier to sell her dropping out to her supporters and begin to heal the divide that has been created in the party.

If I were specifically looking out for the best interests of Hillary's presidential aspirations, I'd probably suggest that even if she doesn't pick up any ground in PA, she stick around until at least North Carolina. She should quietly (if that's possible for anyone under the current circumstances) go through back channels to try to sway super delegates and even pledged delegates so that if they did change their minds, she could deny that she had anything to do with it. She wants their votes, but she doesn't want to appear that she got them through bribes or threats (true or not, that will be the speculation). Failing to have sufficient success with the upcoming Primaries, the already pledged delegates, or the super delegates, I'd suggest she do what she can to "dirty up" Obama now to make him un-viable in 2012. While appearing to support him completely in the GE, she should do what she can to prevent him from winning (though it would be critical that her fingerprints aren't anywhere near it). With the money she's raised here for the GE, she can use it in 2012 and she'll have 4 more years to raise money for that primary. She should basically start campaigning for the nomination the day after Obama loses in the GE (of course, if he beats McCain, then she's screwed until 2016, if that's even an option for her).

I guess it depends on what sort of person you think is Hillary's closest adviser, someone who puts the party first or someone who puts her interests first.

[LWolf]

29. Stick to her guns and take it to the convention. n/t

[Ysabel]

38. but but you just said in another thread that you wanted gore to save us from her...

- (paraphrased)...

[redqueen]

41. Via brokered convention. (nt)

[LWolf]

47. If she drops out before the convention,

I'm likely to be stuck with Obama. I want Gore, or some other Democrat, to save us from BOTH OF THEM.

[Ysabel]

49. hmm well i don't think it will come to that (tho i think she'll probably drop out)...

i think obama will get enough delegates...

edited: parenthesis / comment...

[LWolf]

58. You're probably correct,

but as long as there's hope, that's what I'm supporting.

[k8conant]

31. Tell her to suspend her campaign...

she can stay on the ballot and quit throwing good money after bad.

[PoliticalAmazon]

33. Considering Penn is a close adviser, I would never make the grade in the first place.

Obviously, to be a Hillary Clinton adviser you have to have zero integrity and to have worshipped the campaign tactis of Rove/Bush Jr.

[Rubiconski2009]

36. QUIT!! Hillary is toxic to this nation...

She brings the entire country down...

When she speaks, people gag and want to turn their TV set to another channel.

:argh:

[wowimthere]

37. I'd tell her... It's over! Get out with dignity

[OhioBlue]

42. stop embarrassing herself n/.t

[WVRevy]

44. Call Barack and tell him you'll concede in exchange for....

...the Senate Majority Leadership. She can't win the nomination, and she killed any chance of being on the undercard with her comparisons of Obama unfavorably to McCain. Majority Leader is the best she can get.

[marions ghost]

46. Hillary seems like

the racehorse or the prizefighter who they make so rabid about the one goal, the prize --that's all you see reflected in their eyes. And if they lose they crash completely.

But this is what we do to the candidates in this country. It's not entirely her own doing, as a candidate must be superhuman in their drive to succeed...or you can't even get into the race.

All Hillary has to do is throw in the towel and take a vacation and get on with her life, if she truly wants to do what's best for the country. I think she'll do that before too long...but it's hard to shake the horse off of that final drive to the finish line. She may need some strong messages.

[Beacool]

52. I would tell her the same thing that most of her supporters have been telling her:

Stay in until the last vote is counted!!!!!!!

[maximusveritas]

53. Drop out to preserve some remnant of a political future

If she continues to the convention, she's making the decision that it's now or never, with the odds heavilly leaning toward never.

[Life Long Dem]

54. Stop using my donations for a 2012 run. I want my money used for

a President this season. So if that is what your doing then stop using us and do the right thing. Hillary Clinton, isn't it time you put your support toward Obama?

And please stop putting up ads on McCain's website. Geez I open the home page with a video of Clinton advertising for McCain!

[DeepModem Mom]

55. It's a close race, stay in -- but stop the negative; take her chances with positive...

and if it doesn't work, she came close as the first woman to be anywhere within reach of the Presidency, and the nominee is not damaged by the campaign.

She is still U.S. Senator from New York; you never know what will happen, she may have another chance.

[tishaLA]

56. Honestly? I'd tell her to carry on

but with more dignity than she has been. I'd try to tell her that she can still win, even though it's remote, but that she simply cannot win with the tactics she's employing now.

[Buzz Clik]

57. You mean Bill? I think she's gotten enough bad advice from him.