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comment on article 27 Comments
Posted on Wednesday, September 08, 2010 at 11:41 PM


Could Hillary Clinton challenge Barack Obama in 2012 in Democratic primary?


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New York Daily News columnist Sarah Elizabeth Cupp has put at least a kitten among the pigeons with her suggestion yesterday that Hillary Clinton run against Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2012.

I have heard numerous suggestions along those lines in my own circle so it was not entirely surprising to see it break into print.

Cupp writes that following a heated political discussion among her friends one fact emerged..." for my friends - three thirtysomething left-of-center moderates who voted for Obama in 2008 - only one name would make them consider pulling the lever for someone else: Hillary Clinton."

Cupp admits she herself is a Republican but that "two years of Obama has even me seeing Clinton in a much different light than in 2008, when I thought the only thing worse than a new President named Obama was another one named Clinton."

There is no question that Hillary has been the star of the Obama cabinet. Her work as Secretary of State has been assured and professional.

Her latest venture in the Middle East will have a massive pay off if it succeeds.

The Bill Clinton days are looked on now as rosier than ever. Balanced budget check, economic prosperity --check -- no morale sapping long war - check.

But Obama has played the Hillary card very cleverly making it next to impossible for her to run against him.

By making her Secretary of State he stood by the old motto, "hold your friends close and your enemies closer"

He knew that only Hillary could have been a viable challenger against him in 2012.

I'm not saying that was his only consideration, but it made sense as part of the equation for hiring her.

Right now there is no way that Hillary will challenge Obama in 2012. It is not even on the radar.

However, if the polls continue to plummet, and Democrats have a disastrous mid-term election, then who knows what the next 18 months might bring.

Stranger things have happened.


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Posted by tom77777 on Nov 08, 2010, 03:21 PM EST
2012 : BARACK OBAMA , HILLARY CLINTON AND KGB CONNECTION YouTube VIDEO Mikhail Kryzhanovsky Video 1. "Barack Obama 2012 : KGB technology-2008" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvG4nLRn4PI Video 2. "Hillary Clinton 2012 : KGB connection" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgCOzGZ9H0k
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Posted by aliciayellow on Sep 21, 2010, 05:33 AM EDT
I've always wondered why the Clinton's are disliked. They should be loved, after Bill Clinton took over from father Bush the country had the highest deficit in the entire American histroy. When the Clinton left the administration the country had no dificit. Now Bush junior beat his daddy and managed to produce an even bigger deficit. Making a new highest deficit in the history of America. But Americans voted for him d he stayed a second term to continue to bankrupt the country. Obama has been a disappointment, he is simply not strong enough. Where does that leave the USA? Hilary Clinton would actually save the economy and pull the country together and save USA. Everyone should be voting for Hilary Clinton. And yes, if Bill is part of the team all the better, they were always a great team. I hope the Democrates realise that they don't stand a chance with Obama and make Hilary run. Go Clinton's go!
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Posted by Temerity on Sep 13, 2010, 06:36 PM EDT
Maybe Obama will be voted in again?No?I really think Hilary Clinton's time to shine has passed she missed her falling star last election.Pity.What about Sarah Palin (chuckle)well anything can happen in American Politics.Perhaps she could placate the Taliban with mom's home cooked apple pie TLC and her dazzling smile?;-D maybe not they'd make her wear the berka right?
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Posted by brycecovert on Sep 13, 2010, 02:02 PM EDT
I don't buy it. That was a really messy fight between them, and I think she's past it. But I do want to point out that she had some pretty flawed economics going on in reference to the deficit. Neither her or Obama get it. For the truth on how deficits work, and a great analysis of Hillary's comments, read this: http://www.newdeal20.org/2010/09/13/deficit-drivel-hillary-singing-same-wrong-tune-as-obama-19948/
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Posted by DennisQ on Sep 11, 2010, 05:29 AM EDT
I have to laugh at the idea that Republicans are hoping to position themselves as the party of new ideas. Maybe they're hoping that voters will mis-hear the pitch from the party of no ideas. Comes now SouthBendNative offering up the tired old notions of so-called "leaders" like Mitch McConnell and John Boehner.

Bring it on! Let's hope the RNC hears you, SouthBend. With any luck at all they'll actually go with what you suggest . . . and get soundly defeated in '10 as they were in '06 and '08. From your perspective, though, I suspect Republicans would be better off to avoid any suggestion of going back to the way Bush did things. No, it does not sound like a winning plan at all.
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Posted by LindaAnn on Sep 10, 2010, 11:09 AM EDT
I voted for Hillary (write in vote) the last election & would love it if all else did the same.
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Posted by Keynyata on Sep 10, 2010, 10:10 AM EDT
Hilary is a dope - and she called for the invasion of Iraq.Niall barked up the wrong tree when he backed her for nomination for president And he also disgracefully cheered the attacks on Obama because he once met a dodgy cleric during the selection battle.Lest we forget. The Clinton woman is a useless politician,,,she is at best a gossip without a trace of talent.
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Posted by rorschach on Sep 09, 2010, 11:25 PM EDT
I voted for Hillary in the 2008 primaries, but even I know there's no chance she's gonna buck the party and challenge a sitting president -- who gave her her job! -- in 2012. This "news story" is a pipe dream.
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Posted by CullenAbroad on Sep 09, 2010, 10:56 PM EDT
Neither party any good - it's the same difference! They're all in bed with one another. Country needs a radical change - people need to wake up - cop on - and be "We the people, for the people" again. Apathy begets apathy blah blah blah equals more of the same aul' tripe.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Sep 09, 2010, 09:19 PM EDT
Dennis, by default, thinks the American people are stupid, since every poll out there (including the one I cited from NBC BEFORE Dennis responded) show a clear and large majority support the GOP this fall and think they will bring a fresh approach. Therefore by default, they must be stupid -- thus spaketh Dennis. As the Democrats are now learning the hard way (since they've spoken precisely that way to the majority for the better part of two years now), it's not a very good way to endear yourself to public support.
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Posted by SouthBendNative on Sep 09, 2010, 08:50 PM EDT
DennisQ, have you ever been given a job by a poor man? Of course there should be across the board tax cuts to create conditions that will entice those with the $$ to create jobs to invest in job creating ventures. Class warfare never works..ask Obama. He won't admit it but he has decided to stick to failed ideology in the face of a blizzard of evidence that it does not work. Controlling spending and tax cuts will stimulate the economy and get people back to work. Thinking otherwise is simply foolish. The nonsense you have heard before is the social engineering, nanny state non-solutions from the left.
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Posted by KathyCallahan on Sep 09, 2010, 08:38 PM EDT
Yes
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Posted by maloney on Sep 09, 2010, 08:15 PM EDT
hillary...obama, obama...hillary. who cares as long as they both lose in 2012
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Posted by DennisQ on Sep 09, 2010, 08:06 PM EDT
Republican "new ideas" include tax cuts for the rich and an a pugnacious foreign policy. Am I missing something here - maybe "states rights"?

Republicans don't have any new ideas, just the old, long-discredited ones. The reason Bush left America in such a mess is that when he ran out of ideas he just kept going. Tax cuts to the rich didn't jump start the economy. An aggressive foreign policy just got us into more wars.

The "new" line of Republican thinking is to ask for yet another chance to screw up. We heard that nonsense before.
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Sep 09, 2010, 05:04 PM EDT
Brendan, it would seem to me, despite your statement having truth to it that dems who voted for Clinton in the previous primary voted en mass for Obama. It could well work out the same again if a vice versa scenario were the case.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Sep 09, 2010, 03:32 PM EDT
According to an NBC/Wall Street Journal poll, 58% of Americans currently believe that if the GOP wins control of Congress this November, they will bring new ideas with them -- and dissatisfaction with the current Democrat-controlled Congress (which has been governing against the majority's will from virtually day one) is at its highest level in nearly a generation -- 18 years -- more than all the Bush years combined. Not a single, solitary Democrat in the House is running an ad saying how they voted FOR the health scare deform, many are running FROM Obama and in fact many are not even mentioning that they're Democrats -- and even still, the Dems are facing an electoral tsunami this fall. There are reasons for all this. Obama has been the biggest disappointment the country's had in my lifetime, and perhaps ever -- and if this keeps up, Hillary probably has a great shot at getting her party's nod in '12. Whether she'd actually WIN the general election itself in that year is another story. We'll see what happens...but the Democrats are certainly in deep, deep sh-t.
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Posted by BrendanPKeane on Sep 09, 2010, 02:03 PM EDT
uggh, more use of the word "haters" to win-over on an opposing idea. Despicable tactic. At least it wasn't "racists" or "crazies" this time. Maybe you're saving those 'debate' gems for later.
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Posted by austbill on Sep 09, 2010, 12:23 PM EDT
I am a proud, progressive, and educated southern man who feels that people who underestimate Hillary Clinton and her ability to effectively run the USA are simply not facing reality. Just because Hillary Clinton may not be your choice, it does not mean that she wasn't or still isn't the best choice for president of the USA. There is no other person, Republican or Democrat that has the background, experience and know how that Hillary has. No doubt in my mind, Hillary Clinton would make an excellent president. One of her many strengths is domestic issues. The economy happens to fall into that category. With her domestic strength and foreign policy experience, there is no other person more ready to be the president if she chooses to do so. Why so many haters? Hillary Rodham Clinton 2012 and 2016!!!!
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Posted by shirleyo on Sep 09, 2010, 12:07 PM EDT
Wow! What a righteous bunch of opinions this column has raised. First - Remember:At the start of his Presidency Mr. Obama said -- he'll do what he thinks is right. If America's populace doesn't like it, he'll have one term. I believe if he thinks Ms.Clinton was enough in demand,and if that move would benefit his Party and country, he'd step aside. Big question though: Would she WANT that job now?
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Posted by McNamara31 on Sep 09, 2010, 11:57 AM EDT
deenaww...X2 great post. With the financial mess the U.S. is in, we need long term solutions to rebuild jobs and the economy. The American people want solutions, yesterday, for problems that were created over the past 10 years, and if they don't see it happening "today," they’re ready to “throw em out" and vote back the party (in November) whose mismanagement brought us to this very situation. Voters have to get past the campaign rhetoric that continually attempts to frames this administration "as not one of us" a deal with the real and factual problems facing us. The reason the opposition continually uses inferred smears and birth certificate garbage is because they know they can't win on facts, because the facts are, their policies broke America. So they will divert you fear and divide you with smears, and push their reality show quality candidates, and in the long run, it will take America that much longer to recover.
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Posted by BrendanPKeane on Sep 09, 2010, 11:54 AM EDT
plasticpaddy: And look what that kind of primary stunt did to Carter. There is no example where an incumbent was replaced unwillingly that had good results for the party. Or maybe I'm not thinking back far enough. Any 19th century examples to bolster the Clinton side on this?
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Posted by plasticpaddy on Sep 09, 2010, 10:48 AM EDT
Not really Brendan, she would only split the party for the primary!
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Posted by Monsoonman on Sep 09, 2010, 10:09 AM EDT
"Could she be that selfish"? Since when has self motivation and promotion not been hillarys main impetus? Very naive to think otherwise.
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Posted by deenaww on Sep 09, 2010, 09:55 AM EDT
Just stop. Enough already...we get it you love Hillary! But... she has about as much chance becoming president as Palin. They are both too extreme to garner the independents support. Obama may not be the candidate you wanted or voted for but he's steadily getting things done. He's trying to empower the people to put issues into law. Unlike the Bush/Cheney's administrations heavy handed "I'm the decider" attitude and using executive order. Why don't we try supporting the president instead of knocking him? We are in a huge mess. Economically were busted. As a country we're more divided than ever before. He is handling the presidency with great aplomb. What other president has been attacked purely based on race before? Something even Clinton hinted at during the election. I'm proud of Obama. He rose up from nothing. He didn't get here on daddy's bankroll or connections. We should all value that.
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Posted by BrendanPKeane on Sep 09, 2010, 08:48 AM EDT
If she runs, she'll split the party in half. A divided party can not win. Sounds like a traditional Democratic strategy. Could she be that selfish?
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Posted by jamieLM on Sep 09, 2010, 08:21 AM EDT
Why would she want that thankless, difficult, stressful job? Nothing will "age" anyone faster. Whatever decision is made, half the country will be against it. If she's smart, she'll forget about running for president. She's already going to be remembered in U.S. history as First Lady & Sec. of State. I agree that Obama gave her the job to keep her busy and out of the country.
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Posted by DennisQ on Sep 09, 2010, 06:23 AM EDT
Unfortunately for Hillary, she's tin-eared. She voted for the war in Iraq and when it turned out badly, couldn't account for that vote. She hemmed and she hawed, but ultimately her response to questions about that vote was to mumble.

She's also politically slow-witted and doesn't dare say anything off the cuff. There's always a lag time between a breaking issue and Hillary's response to it. She can perform well if she's not caught off guard. However, to get the 2012 nomination, she'd have to defeat Obama, who thinks well on his feet and has good reflexes. He's very seldom caught off guard.
 




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