Who made Hillary Clinton Queen? - Political Forum

emptypepsi · 10-08-2007, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Among so much about American politics that can impress or depress a friendly transatlantic observer, there's nothing more astonishing than this: Why on Earth should Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton be the front-runner for the presidency?

She has now pulled well ahead of Sen. Barack Obama, both in polls and in fundraising. If the Democrats can't win next year, they should give up for good, so she must be considered the clear favorite for the White House. But in all seriousness: What has she ever done to deserve this eminence? How could a country that prides itself on its spirit of equality and opportunity possibly be led by someone whose ascent owes more to her marriage than to her merits?

We all, nations as well as individuals, have difficulty seeing ourselves as others see us. In this case, I doubt that Americans realize how extraordinary their country appears from the outside. In Europe, the supposed home of class privilege and heritable status, we have abandoned the hereditary principle (apart from the rather useful institution of constitutional monarchy), and the days are gone when Pitt the Elder was prime minister and then Pitt the Younger. But Americans find nothing untoward in Bush the Elder being followed by Bush the Younger.

At a time when Americans seem to contemplate with equanimity up to 28 solid years of uninterrupted Bush-Clinton rule, please note that there are almost no political dynasties left in British politics, at least on the Tory side. Admittedly, Hilary Benn, the environmental secretary, is the fourth generation of his family to sit in Parliament and the third to serve in a Labor Party cabinet. But England otherwise has nothing now to match the noble houses of Kennedy, Gore and Bush.

And in no other advanced democracy today could someone with Clinton's r¿sum¿ even be considered a candidate for national leadership. It's true that wives do sometimes inherit political reins from their husbands, but usually in recovering dictatorships in Latin America such as Argentina, where Sen. Cristina Fern¿ndez de Kirchner may succeed President N¿stor Kirchner, or Third World countries such as Sri Lanka or the Philippines -- and in those cases often when the husbands have been assassinated. Such things also happened (apart from the assassination) in the early days of women's entry into British politics. The first woman to take her seat in the House of Commons was Lady Astor, by birth Nancy Langhorne of Danville, Va., who inherited her husband's seat in 1919 when he inherited his peerage, but we haven't seen a case like that for many years.

More in the actual article.

This is what I found to be pretty interesting editorial by a British author. Let me first say that I don't know anything about this author, just got a link from a friend. However, this brings up the point I've shared for a long time WRT Clinton and other candidates. It is often very popular for people to throw out this line about lacking experience as a reason to vote for someone or not, but in comparison to others Hillary is about the same level.

Any other thoughts on the article?

Tim · 10-08-2007, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emptypepsi

More in the actual article.

This is what I found to be pretty interesting editorial by a British author. Let me first say that I don't know anything about this author, just got a link from a friend. However, this brings up the point I've shared for a long time WRT Clinton and other candidates. It is often very popular for people to throw out this line about lacking experience as a reason to vote for someone or not, but in comparison to others Hillary is about the same level.

Any other thoughts on the article?

This is superb article - thoughtful and perceptive. It asks the questions that Americans should be asking, but are not. Hillary is beloved by the media, to an extent that is both bizarre and foolish. She has been the object of a steady series of fan magazine style articles and cover stories over the last fifteen years from media sources that are supposed to be serious in both content and intent. Yet they are so impressed by her - so overwhelmed by her - that they do not take the time to ask even the most basic questions.

When her recent health care plan was unveiled, the coverage was overwhelmingly - even hysterically - positive. Surely a plan so all-embracing and audacious would demand - and require - both questions and explanations? Yet journalists grovel before her, grateful and breathless with excitement. It is all very odd.

Hillary is a wealthy, intelligent left-wing feminist. Many journalists - certainly the majority of the Washington Press Corps and all the leading newspapers with the exception of the Wall Street Journal - are in agreement with her views and beliefs. They are not going to question her or hold her accountable, and they may just succeed in having her officially crowned as monarch.

LessGovMrPrez · 10-08-2007, 03:35 PM

Well other then giving government handouts, what good is she? Glad to see somebody, even if they are outside the US, can figure this one out!

Oregon Elephant · 10-08-2007, 03:39 PM

I was just thinking the same thing when Rush Limbaugh talked about it today on his show in the 2nd hour.

Does your friend listen to Rush?

Agrippina · 10-08-2007, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregon Elephant

I was just thinking the same thing when Rush Limbaugh talked about it today on his show in the 2nd hour.

Does your friend listen to Rush?

Sorry guys but Hillary is my hero. She will sort out all the good old boys who've messed around in Washington forever. I can just hear her telling the Israeli and Palestinian presidents "Ok that's enough of this fight *&^%^&, just work something out, no one is leaving this room until you've come to an agreement, is that clear?" The answer to which will be "yes ma'am" and a settlement in the Middle East. Yep, Hillary is my gal. I wouldn't want to work for her though.
She's scary.

Oregon Elephant · 10-08-2007, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agrippina

Sorry guys but Hillary is my hero. She will sort out all the good old boys who've messed around in Washington forever. I can just hear her telling the Israeli and Palestinian presidents "Ok that's enough of this fight *&^%^&, just work something out, no one is leaving this room until you've come to an agreement, is that clear?" The answer to which will be "yes ma'am" and a settlement in the Middle East. Yep, Hillary is my gal. I wouldn't want to work for her though.
She's scary.

That's funny. I hear a lot of people who think that Hillary will just cause everything to snap together, and when she was first running, she played off of that. But now, she is coming more and more down to Earth. She says that she can't promise anything in the middle east now, maybe we'll be out, maybe we won't. But anyway, Hillary won't be going over to the middle east to do many foreign affairs, she'll have her husband go, because he is very much liked by other countries.

I'm hearing more and more liberals coming out against her, saying how much they dislike her lack of commitment. They feel that if they vote her in, she be just like when they voted in the new congress. It said it will get the troops out, cut the funding, control spending, tax the rich, help the poor, and than they get there and... not much.

Tim · 10-08-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Agrippina

Sorry guys but Hillary is my hero. She will sort out all the good old boys who've messed around in Washington forever. I can just hear her telling the Israeli and Palestinian presidents "Ok that's enough of this fight *&^%^&, just work something out, no one is leaving this room until you've come to an agreement, is that clear?" The answer to which will be "yes ma'am" and a settlement in the Middle East. Yep, Hillary is my gal. I wouldn't want to work for her though.
She's scary.

Interesting view of Hillary.

However, somehow I don't thnk it will work out the way you describe. She may try out her "angry feminist" routine with leaders from around the world, but it is doubtful they will bow down before her. It's far more likely they will dimiss her. As for the good old boys in Washington - she's a shrewd, tough Washington player, just like they are.

Tim · 10-08-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregon Elephant

That's funny. I hear a lot of people who think that Hillary will just cause everything to snap together, and when she was first running, she played off of that. But now, she is coming more and more down to Earth. She says that she can't promise anything in the middle east now, maybe we'll be out, maybe we won't. But anyway, Hillary won't be going over to the middle east to do many foreign affairs, she'll have her husband go, because he is very much liked by other countries.

I'm hearing more and more liberals coming out against her, saying how much they dislike her lack of commitment. They feel that if they vote her in, she be just like when they voted in the new congress. It said it will get the troops out, cut the funding, control spending, tax the rich, help the poor, and than they get there and... not much.

Well, if she is in office with a Dem congress, she will be able to achieve what she wants: the withdrawal of troops, health care, sharply higher taxes, increased regulations. Some liberals may dislike her, but she is preferable to any GOP candidate for them.

emptypepsi · 10-08-2007, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oregon Elephant

I was just thinking the same thing when Rush Limbaugh talked about it today on his show in the 2nd hour.

Does your friend listen to Rush?

I don't know if he listens to Rush, but he is definitley more of a Conservative than I am. I wouldn't count it out.

Agrippina · 10-08-2007, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim

Well, if she is in office with a Dem congress, she will be able to achieve what she wants: the withdrawal of troops, health care, sharply higher taxes, increased regulations. Some liberals may dislike her, but she is preferable to any GOP candidate for them.

I watched the whole fiasco with Al Gore's election. I love election night and CNN it's so exciting. A lot more than our elections.
But I saw the disappointment and the counts and recounts and hated to see America in that situation, I've always thought everything just slotted in, that you guys had it all together then to see that happen.
Then 9/11 happened and the whole WMD business and 'we'll find OBL' and nothing then poor old Saddam hiding in a hole in the ground. Then his terrible execution, another election and more anticipation would Kerry win.
It seems to me that it has been almost eight years of domestic crisis. You know I suppose like when you have in inefficient housekeeper, is the best way i can explain it, because Hillary fits the analogy.
It's the inefficient housekeeper, who breaks ornaments, doesn't hang towels properly, puts bins back in the wrong place, bashes the furniture against the walls, pulls plugs out of electric sockets and doesn't put them back. She does the job but the irritation is always there and you never know what's going to be the next thing that will go wrong.
Then there is Hillary on the horizon. To me she's like the new housekeeper that comes highly recommended with her well-experienced partner who she can rely on to do things that he is more than qualified to look after for her. And suddenly everything is back in its place and you know that whenever you walk into the house it will always look like that.
Sorry but to me that's what she looks like. She has the air of a leader, a powerful leader. I may be wrong and believe me if I am I will apologise and admit it, I always admit when I've made a mistake. But for your sakes, I really do hope I'm right so that when I visit America in a year or two or three, it will look like my dream.