Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
If the Obama administration were a movie, Rob has been saying for months now, then in the third act Hillary Clinton would leave the State Department to run against the president. Is reality mimicking Rob's imaginary
screenplay?
From the latest by Andrew Malcolm (one of the few remaining reasons, by the way, to read the L.A. Times):
A new Quinnipiac University poll shows President Obama's approval rating at a pathetic 42% –- down four points from early March. The American public isn't impressed with his handling of the crisis in Libya either -– with 47% of the public against the war and 58% of registered voters saying the president has not clearly stated U.S. goals for the mission. These numbers are bad –- really bad –- CNN prime time ratings bad.
To put them into context, according to Gallup, 76% of Americans supported military action against Iraq in 2003, 90% gave the A-OK for strikes against Afghanistan in 2001, and 65% approved of putting boots on the ground in Somalia in 1993.
It's also important to state that this isn't part of a "throw all the bums out" mood directed at Washington.The approval numbers for Hillary are nearing an all-time high –- with Gallup showing 66% of Americans giving "Hill the Thrill" a big thumbs up –- up from 61% in July.
Well?
Will she?
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Comments :
Jan '11
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
Perhaps, but if you want a movie out of it, Bill Clinton becomes the major character.
There was a reason why Hillary lost last time, and it wasn't because Obama was brilliant. Hillary's campaign wasn't very good. And let's not kid each other: Hillary hasn't had a lot of positive experience running things at the State Department. We talk about Obama not having executive experience, but Hillary didn't have much either, and her "running" the State Department doesn't look good on her resume. Remember, it was only a week or so ago that they had an internal conflict exposed to the public with the resignation of PJ Crowley. (When you're in charge of diplomacy and relations with the rest of the world, having your internal squabbles spill out publicly is a bad sign.)
I must say, though, that having Bill Clinton as the "shadow behind the throne" would be Shakespearean. They always whined that Bill didn't have the chance to face a great crisis that would glorify him in history. How would cleaning up a mess look to history?
May '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
Nice script, but I just don't think she has the energy left. Also, I think she has had he tail between her legs for the past two years, and is just sick of the whole process...
Jun '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
Please, no more Bushes or Clintons. I think Hillary would be better than Obama, but family dynasties should not be a part of American politics.
Aug '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
What on earth does she have to offer? Last I saw, her negatives numbers also were high. In any case, she's Obama Lite; which by then should be totally discredited - if there's a prayer left for our sick and dying nation. We cannot survive 'progressivism' until 2016. Look at the damage Carter did in four years: Iran, Afghanistan, Dept. of Energy, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, &tc.; Obummer and his demonic crew are Carter on steroids.
Edited on Apr 4, 2011 at 12:50pmMay '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
I know, let's "astroturf" a Hillary draft!
Aug '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
Huh?
Why would Libya make you favor Secretary Clinton over President Obama when she's one of the people who talked him into it?
Tis truly a foolish venture to look for reason and sense in the poll respondent.
May '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
If Hillary runs against Obama, it's possible she will win the nomination, if not likely.
But how long can she wait to resign and still divorce herself from Obama's image? And can she resign so soon after beginning the war in Libya?
As I've said before, Hillary would be a strong, savvy candidate against the Republican nominee. Let's hope we have to face Obama instead.
Sep '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
I don't see it happening.The Democrats have their guy and he's doing great for them. Only a few Democrats are really principled enough to want to change direction. Hillary has no fire left. She's been utterly co-opted first by Bill, then by Barack. She's rich and still somewhat powerful, she's going to go all Woman UN next.
Edited on Apr 4, 2011 at 1:28pmDec '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
This is one of those "possible" (as in, anything is possible), just "no chance" (as in, a probability approaching zero) scenarios. However, there's every motivation for Obama to ask Hillary to run as his VP to swing the Hillary voters back his way after the 2010 thrashing in states Hillary won in the primaries. He'd be stupid not to beg her, and while the President is many things, he is not stupid. I also think Hillary has it in her to enjoy answering "no" to his pleas. Oh, to be a fly on that wall!
Oct '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
Peter,
I thought it was Paul Rahe who was advancing the Hillary 2012 thesis: Are you sure you have the correct attribution?
Edited on Apr 4, 2011 at 2:07pmJul '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
Hillary vs. Obama? Oh, that will do wonders for race relations within the Democrat coalition.
May '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
As I say whenever this comes up, no single event would do more to liberate AfAms from their lockstep support for Dems as having the first black president rejected by the party. It would be great for both them and the country in the long run, and great for Republicans immediately (Imagine Donna Brazile's get-out-the-vote campaign for Hillary in South Chicago in the general election. That would be an enthusiastic bunch.).
Oh, how I wish it were possible, but there's no chance. Mathematically it's too darn hard to win the Dem primaries getting 0% of the black vote. Couple this fact with Obama's incumbency edge, and there's simply no way Hillary would risk the indignity of losing to this guy twice.
Jan '11
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
I don't think it will happen. Too many potential problems - a resurgent older crankier Bill, burn-out, and a sense of disgust over the last foray into the ring. Agree with Western Chauvanist; who makes excellent points at 1:32
May '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
You probably think you're cute for putting in one sentence what I put in two paragraphs.
Nov '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
I'd like to believe this, but after reading the highly publicized piece of liberal propaganda -Game Change- by Heilemann/Halperin, the GOP should resist the temptation to dismiss Hillary's all-consuming obsession with winning the presidency. She and Bill finally came to understand that "they" essentially lost the 2008 nomination because the likes of Reid, Schumer and Kennedy were averse to further political scandal in the WH (ironic, I know) and did, in fact, encourage BHO to take up the gauntlet.
I predict she'll take one last shot at the nomination because she senses Reid, Schumer and the remaining "lions" in the Democratic Party may not have the clout to stop her in light of BHO's PR disasters of the last 24 months.
Jul '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
What would a Paul/Ventura third-party ticket do to all these calculations?
Oct '10
Re: Hillary in 2012? Rob Long Has Written the Script
She won't. She's very loyal to Obama.