How Hillary Clinton might run in 2012 against Obama
By: Niall O'Dowd | Published Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 2:42 PM | Updated Friday, September 9, 2011, 10:27 PM
I was asked on a radio show in Ireland yesterday was there any way I could see Hillary Clinton running for president in 2012.
No, I said, with one small exception.
That is a 1968 scenario where a deeply unpopular president, Lyndon Johnston was forced out of the race after a complete outsider, Senator Gene McCarthy,ran him close in the New Hampshire primary, 49 per cent to 42 per cent.
Soon after, Johnston, wearied from the Vietnam War debacle, announced he was not running,
Hillary is not Gene McCarthy in that scenario, rather she is Bobby Kennedy, who tragically, saw the McCarthy opening as an opportunity for him to jump in, a quest that ended tragically with his murder in California later that year.
If the economy continues to tank and Obama continues to roll over for Republicans then a McCarthy scenario becomes more likely.
Last week's crisis revealed Obama as a show horse rather than a workhorse,searching only for a deal to mollify the Republican right.
He did not stand up and fight for the people who elected him who will now be hit with the trillions in cutbacks.
As a result there is now a profound unease about him in Democratic party circles.
Thus,a New Hampshire opponent is not as unlikely as it might have been a few weeks ago.
There is an obvious McCarthy-type person, Vermont independent senator Bernie Sanders from a neighboring state who has been deeply critical of what Obama has been doing.
He'd have to change his affiliation and there is certainly no guarantee that he would fare anything like as well as McCarthy did.
But with the economy tanking by the day and Obama seemingly in professorial mode listening only to the Harvard clique surrounding him it is not impossible.
He seems deaf to those who elected him, and they may take a measure of revenge.
In which case Hillary might well be back in the game.
Listen to Niall O’Dowd on Ireland’s Newstalk 106 on
In Discussion with Eamon Dunphy here (31st July and 7th August)
47 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.crazylune | Sep 08, 2011, 10:59 AM EDT
@falconflash - I would love, LOVE to see someone like you make a poignant remark about politics without using GOD as a reference. Coming from a believer of GOD, I am sick and tired of every politician's political platform revolving around religion. This is a country made up of many religions, and we as Christians need to be more tolerant and realize that politics and religion are a volatile mix. Look at the Middle East. Keep your politics in Washington and your religion in the church. If a "baby killer" can save this country, than so be it. I would prefer that over someone posing as a "good christian" and against everything that is currently a hot topic with the christian community.
skigrl88 | Aug 17, 2011, 10:05 AM EDT
Sign the petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/hillary-clinton-for-president/signatures.html
Springfield9 | Aug 09, 2011, 09:32 AM EDT
Hillary could put the bite on Ed Mezvinsky (her new in-law) if he's not in Federal Prison.
peterson | Aug 08, 2011, 08:22 PM EDT
Well, they sure have lots of lady wannabees. You know what they say --- If you want the job done right, have a woman do it !!!!
falconflash | Aug 08, 2011, 12:58 AM EDT
The Irish usually have a strong reaction to injustice yet many silently accept the slaughter of unborn babies......
seanomelbourne | Aug 07, 2011, 06:53 PM EDT
Hillary has had her chance and failed.
seanomelbourne | Aug 06, 2011, 07:41 PM EDT
falconflash should fly away.
ladyBoru | Aug 06, 2011, 06:36 PM EDT
I wanted her in the first place--I had the opportunity to meet her in 92 and I saw a warm and caring person but I also believe she has what it takes to get the U.S. back on the right path! I say go Hillary!
PaulFagan | Aug 06, 2011, 01:45 PM EDT
Agree with Niall
themurphia | Aug 06, 2011, 03:52 AM EDT
Get your boots on Hillary...!
falconflash | Aug 05, 2011, 11:25 PM EDT
Another baby killer for President? No thanks. First and most important job of a president: protect our families (don't abort one million babies per yr.... but there is a just God)
ciarrai | Aug 05, 2011, 08:14 PM EDT
If Obama had Hillary's balls, that would be the ideal candidate.
seanomelbourne | Aug 05, 2011, 07:34 PM EDT
The billionaires hate Obama and his genuine concern for the middle classes.
peterson | Aug 05, 2011, 06:55 PM EDT
The months ahead will be very interesting. America has to do something drastic as obumma has made them a 2nd rate country !!!
1IrishMedic | Aug 05, 2011, 06:35 PM EDT
If Hillary went for it I would work for her campaign, Obama has let us down and folled over for the feckin republicans I'm sick of his approach. Actually Hillary should have been the front runner last election, she has OVARIES!!!
jamthecat | Aug 05, 2011, 06:28 PM EDT
I'm not crazy about her but at least she has balls, unlike Obama.
themurphia | Aug 05, 2011, 05:53 PM EDT
cillowen:If only...!
cillowen | Aug 05, 2011, 04:13 PM EDT
make her prez of ireland - what a concept - what a country.
pounder | Aug 05, 2011, 03:01 PM EDT
As long as Wall St. and the fawning masses of the politically correct live and breathe,we are going to be stuck with Obama.
revdlrsdd | Aug 05, 2011, 02:41 PM EDT
I truly believe that the only person that truly had the citizens of the u.s.a. first was Will Rogers, a humorist during the 1930's. His commentaries about politicians were not mean spirited, but reflected what was wrong with government during that era. He could explain it in common sense terms that the People could understand or relate to. If more politicians had this trait maybe this Republic would not be falling apart. We have all seen what path our present POTOUS has led us on. Can we continue onwards? No matter who wins 2012 the election the going will continue to be perilous.
themurphia | Aug 05, 2011, 01:54 PM EDT
Way to go KerryLKing...Hils was the better Clinton but stood back and took one for the team allowing her less talented husband to take the Presidency and just look how that worked out for her...and did the same again for O'Bama..as yet she has to claim any Irish heritage but her role in NI politics is unrecognised visavis Bill the ******...Hillary needs to assert herself this is the last tilt at the title...Hillary JUST DO IT...!
KerryLKing | Aug 05, 2011, 01:16 PM EDT
That would be wonderful....alas, don't think it will happen. It "most definitely" should have been her "in the 1st place" for president. Things would have been very different in this country if it had been....
kinvara7 | Aug 05, 2011, 12:47 PM EDT
Ireland has made a major discovery in the Atlantic; named a region of our planet and possibly discovered new species...and yet Irish Central has this as one of its main articles?
TexasGal | Aug 05, 2011, 12:41 PM EDT
She is just like Obama she stands for the same crap
pilib04 | Aug 05, 2011, 12:09 PM EDT
Netta1952 states that "since President Obama and Secretary Clinton are on the same party Obama would have to agree not to run in order for Clinton to step forward." Sounds like this "Political Science Teacher" should take a class in " Intro to U.S. Constitutional Law" or an "Intro to American Government" class. There is nothing to stop Hillary from running for President within the Democratic Party. In reality, party rules are outside the purview of the government!!! Who the Democratic Party nominates is of no concern to the U.S. government. Nor does the Democratic Party have any requirements of Party loyalty (which is what this article was about).
pilib04 | Aug 05, 2011, 12:03 PM EDT
As for the revisionist historians on this blog with regards to LBJ: Johnson was megalomaniac. He was all consumed with power (interesting that he was succeeded by Tricky Dick). His whole life had been that way. The only time he was out of power were those three years as JFK's Veep. I imagine that was quite a shattering and humbling experience for him.
pilib04 | Aug 05, 2011, 11:58 AM EDT
It is very difficult to defeat a sitting President of your own party. Hillary is enough of a politician to know this. Such an act would lead to civil war within the Democratic Party and most likely a scorched earth policy on the part of the loser. Just won't happen. It's possible President Obama could dump Joe Biden as VEEP and name Hillary as his running mate. But Niall aside, the only way Hillary is a candidate in 2012 is as the running mate for President Obama. Actually Niall, this column reads like someone is hitting the Bushmills a little hard. Bernie Sanders??? Gene McCarthy was hardly a left-wing candidate in 1968. It took the Battle of Chicago and years of Tricky Dick to bring Gene over to the Left. Bernie is left all right, but not stupid. Of course the best reason that Bernie won't run is that he is in the middle of his own reelection campaign. As the only self-described "democratic socialist" senator in the United States, I doubt that he would give up the seat in order to "tilt at windmills." By the by, Gene McCarthy was not up for reelection in 1968.
mayoman | Aug 05, 2011, 11:45 AM EDT
I would love to see Hillary challenge the President, but I strongly doubt that it ever happen. However this maybe the opportunity for another Democrat to throw his or her hat into the ring. We certainly need someone to stand up to all the docile shills for the wealthy in the GOP.
whiteycat | Aug 05, 2011, 11:34 AM EDT
No way would she ever kick the Dawg out. He is too important financially. He raises money like no other.She could never be president on her own. People love slick willie.
whiteycat | Aug 05, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT
I would not mind Hillary if she were prez. But I would hope she would put a stop to giving China our secrets.Bill has a habit of that.But she would still be better than obuma.
netta1952 | Aug 05, 2011, 11:23 AM EDT
I'm a Political Science teacher...so here goes. First, lets get Lyndon Baines Johnson's name correct. Second, since President Obama and Secretary Clinton are on the same party Obama would have to agree not to run in order for Clinton to step forward. Secretary Clinton is very qualified to run the office. I track her work as Secretary of State every morning and believe me she has all that it takes to run in 2016. As far as Obama is concerned, he has had a tough office. The American Government is a bicameral one and that makes it tough for either side to move forward as they may need to. The important thing for this great nation at this point is to work in solidarity to do what is right for all its citizens....no matter who is in office!
allentown | Aug 05, 2011, 11:22 AM EDT
We know Democrats are not the brightest bulbs in the country. However, for those Democrats who want Hilliary to run against Obama-----------your bulbs have gone out.
Nicomax | Aug 05, 2011, 11:17 AM EDT
The Dems had their chance in 2008 to nominate the more experienced, tougher-minded candidate, but they had Clinton-Bush fatigue and went for the novel. They now realize their mistake, and can only hope the feckless GOP will allow them to continue in 2012 anyway.
FastEddy | Aug 05, 2011, 11:12 AM EDT
Well, so far Hillary has done a decent job in the State Department. One would hope She would continue at that, Oh Bummer or not. ... "... Soon after, Johnston, wearied from the Vietnam War debacle, announced he was not running, ..." Setting this right: Lyndon Johnson had already served one and one half Terms as President, so He did what He should do and followed the (Amended) Constitution and said He "would not seek and would not serve" a third term. Yes, He was very disillusioned with the Vietnam War, but mostly He was being driven from office by antiwar democrats ("Hey, hey, LBJ, how many babies did you kill today?"). [In candid conversations with Lady Bird and myself, He freely admitted that he had let the war proceed on the advise of the military / industrial complex and Texaco.]
stpetesbeach | Aug 05, 2011, 11:01 AM EDT
Hi Niall, enjoyed the history lesson! Maybe with a little persuasion from your good self, Hilary might get back in the game!
IAPRINCESS | Aug 05, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT
Oh you of little faith, cast the first stone!! Don't give up. He hasn't. The Republicans are just too dam arrogant for words. Keep praying that he will succeed.
Towngate | Aug 05, 2011, 10:33 AM EDT
Niall, a chara: No.Let's hope this bitter woman keeps her word and high-tails it outa town as she promised. Hopefully Obama will join her on the same bus. ~ The most important Office in the World is occupied by a novelty marionette showhorse whose own puppetmasters are better hidden than Dubya's mob of war criminals were. How he ever achieved the office is still a mystery to many. Still, in the end, he can always drown his sorrows in that famous Irish drink he loves so much! Slainte! ~ ~ ~ Btw: See what a lucky escape you had from the Irish Presidential Cesspit. Good Call!
DuffsMot | Aug 05, 2011, 10:24 AM EDT
Lyndon Johns(T)on?
rugbyplayer | Aug 05, 2011, 10:07 AM EDT
We can only hope!
BippyBellito | Aug 05, 2011, 10:05 AM EDT
No way Hillary runs for office. Her assignations with Huda, the wife of Weiner the Flasher, will ultimately bring her down. It won't be for the personal part of their relationship, but for the information gave to Huda which found its way into Pakastani al Quada hands.
themurphia | Aug 05, 2011, 09:58 AM EDT
Colleen:apart from the fact she's a white woman so differnce at all...at all..Hillarious...Actually I quite like Hils...but tehen I would being a bit of a pinkocommiefeminist...She's a bit of a wit as well...who can forget her 'you can't keep a dawg on the porch'... when Billy the kidult went walkabout...Not that I agree with the sentiment shoulda kicked him into touch...!
Billcarson | Aug 05, 2011, 09:43 AM EDT
The United States and Hillary Clinton needs to look at how stimulus funds have been used illegally in Falmouth,Massachusetts ! How in the world did the Town of Falmouth buy two turbines in 2009 valued at 5.2 million each through the MTC ? The Massachusetts Technology Collaborative bought these two turbines in 2004 and kept them in a warehouse at $3300.00 per month until the politically embarrassing turbines were sold to Falmouth through some Beacon Hill backdoor deal with our federal funds in 2009. How did stimulus funds get used for two turbines that were so old they had NO warranty left on them ? These turbines were sold like a used car ! The federal prosecuters need to probe this whole deal ! http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-9751.pdf ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9142–5] Notice of a Regional Project Waiver of Section 1605 (Buy American) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) to the Town of Falmouth, MA AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The EPA is hereby granting a waiver of the Buy America requirements of ARRA Section 1605 under the authority of Section 1605(b)(2)[manufactured goods are not produced in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available quantities and of a satisfactory quality] to the Town of Falmouth, Massachusetts for the purchase of a foreign manufactured wind turbine to be installed at its existing wastewater treatment facility site. http://www.masshightech.com/stories/2008/08/04/weekly7-MTC-puts-mothballed-wind-turbines-on-auction-block.html Friday, August 8, 2008 MTC puts mothballed wind turbines on auction block As a result, the two turbines, originally purchased in 2005 for $5.2 million each went on sale last week
DLW12183 | Aug 05, 2011, 09:36 AM EDT
Obama would never give up. Nice thought but it won't happen.
ColleenMcVeety | Aug 05, 2011, 09:28 AM EDT
There is NO DIFFERENCE between Hillary and Obama. NONE. They are of the same beliefs and cut from the same cloth of believing that THE PEOPLE are not smart enough to run their own lives. Hillary is MUCH farther left than her husband Willy. If she does decide to run...after what we have gone through with Obama....who she is will be revealed as well.
PhlutiePhan | Aug 05, 2011, 09:25 AM EDT
There is no doubt that Hillary is the "biggest parakeet in the room".
BallinaLass | Aug 05, 2011, 09:24 AM EDT
I voted for Obama (waited hours in the sun to do so) but he has proven to be weak - he doesn't fight. This is the second time he's caved to Republican pressure, specifically about tax breaks for the super-wealthy. He talks a good game but no spine to back it up. I admire Hillary C. (she was my first choice in 2008), but she has already said she's done after her current gig is finished.
sweetgirl | Aug 05, 2011, 09:11 AM EDT
Niall, re Obama's "rollover" for the right, what other option did he have? Shutdown the govt, default? The Dems no longer control the House as a result of the 2010 election. As Obama himself said in 2009 when pushing thru his $800 billion "stimulus", election results have consequences, oh yes they do indeed.