Three years before the vote, Clinton machine gears up

[webfact]

Three years before the vote, Clinton machine gears up

By Michael Mathes

Washington (AFP) - With the news that America's largest liberal fundraising group is to back a Hillary Clinton presidential bid in 2016, a growing sense of inevitability is building around her prospective candidacy.

The former secretary of state who once occupied the White House as first lady and narrowly lost the Democratic nomination in 2008, has been coy about whether she plans to run again.

But she has said that she will decide this year and, with a full 24 months before even the first party primaries, the "draft Clinton" movement is not waiting for its heroine to formally announce.

She swamps other potential Democratic contenders in the polls, including Vice President Joe Biden, another 2008 Democratic challenger defeated by Barack Obama's victorious campaign.

Meanwhile, the man once seen as her most dangerous Republican challenger, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, is battling a murky political dirty tricks scandal in his home state.

Clinton is scheduled to give three speeches in April before business groups in reliably Democratic California, further fueling speculation that the 66-year-old veteran is nurturing a candidacy.

Priorities USA Action, a non-profit political group which brought in $78 million for Obama's re-election campaign in 2012, confirmed Thursday it plans to raise money for Clinton from rich Democrats.

The group named 2012 Obama campaign manager Jim Messina, a veteran political operator with deep ties to wealthy donors, as its co-chair, essentially ensuring the most high-profile Democratic push of the coming election cycle.

He is joined at the helm by former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, an energetic Clinton backer and who has spoken for grassroots political action committee, "Ready For Hillary."

Political analyst Tobe Berkovitz told AFP the moves are early efforts at "bigfooting potential challengers on the Democratic side and also freezing the big donors from going anywhere else."

Is it too early?

Part of the plan appears to be for the Clinton camp to burnish the inevitability of her candidacy, showing she is hungry to make history as the United States' first woman president.

But is it happening too early?

Berkovitz said news of the powerful groups aligning with Clinton was good for her but warned it may have been better to appear inevitable a year from now when voters are closer to making their decisions.

And yet the enormous early enthusiasm for Clinton is a "tremendous asset," argued Mitch Stewart, Obama's battleground states director in 2012, who now advises Ready For Hillary.

"I think you're seeing people coalesce around that excitement because it's very rare, if ever, to see something like that especially three years before the actual election," he told AFP.

"For us not to take advantage of both the enthusiasm that we're seeing across the country but also the time that we have, again I think it would be gross malpractice."

As if the world needed reminding that Clinton's gravitational pull was increasing, this week's New York Times Magazine cover features a much-debated "Planet Hillary," an orb bearing Clinton's face.

The image also contains a nod to potential threats to her campaign from the aura of scandal that still cloud memories of her husband's presidency, featuring as it does a "Friends of Bill" black hole.

If Clinton runs she will need to juggle operating in today's data-driven political climate of micro-targeting and rapid response, while also buttering up the old-school politicos who have been the power couple's inner circle for decades.

Sensing a juggernaut, Republicans have not waited for Clinton to declare before trying to set-up roadblocks.

Even before Clinton left office as secretary of state, conservative lawmakers seized on the militant attack on an under-protected US mission in Benghazi, Libya that killed the US ambassador in 2012 as evidence that Clinton is not White House material.

They have also turned to a recent memoir by former defense secretary Robert Gates, a Republican in Obama's first-term cabinet, who wrote that Clinton only opposed the 2007 troop surge in Iraq for political reasons because she was facing Obama in the primaries.

But when Gates was asked whether he felt Clinton would be a good president, he let down Clinton's critics in his own party.

"Actually, I think she would," Gates said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-01-25

[canuckamuck]

They say a country gets the government they deserve. America is determined to prove it every four years.

[khaowong1]

It's not going to happen..

[brianP]

politics,sic. poly =many, tick=parasites.

[geriatrickid]

It's not going to happen..

I look forward to Madame President Clinton visiting Madame Prime Minister Yingluck.

[noikrit]

I wonder if she will drop the Cuban Cigar import embargo ??????

[Credo]

It's not going to happen..

I look forward to Madame President Clinton visiting Madame Prime Minister Yingluck.

And hopefully that will be at Gov't House in Bangkok and not in Dubai.

[falangadang]

..... just when you thought things couldn't possibly get any worse!

[Costas2008]

geriatrickid, on 25 Jan 2014 - 12:14, said:

khaowong1, on 25 Jan 2014 - 10:32, said:

It's not going to happen..

I look forward to Madame President Clinton visiting Madame Prime Minister Yingluck.

Keep dreaming.....may be you should add........Madame President Clinton visiting also President Thaksin.

[chuckd]

One thing that has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt is the fact that neither Hillary nor her boss answered that 3 AM phone call on 9/11/12.

Lots of scandals in the past to try and live down.

But then, to quote a famous phrase..."What difference does it make now?"

[NeverSure]

Hillary is loved by many, and hated by many. There isn't any middle ground. I can see her getting the nomination from the liberal Democrats, but I can't see her being elected POTUS. I would say she would be the best thing that could happen to Republicans. (That and Obamacare.)

[MJP]

I know so many normal, well balanced, smart, kind Americans. Why can't you folks find some normal, well balanced people to run your administration?

I think Ron Paul was your best bet, but Americans weren't ready to swallow that pill.

[Scott]

The people who become POTUS are often good, wonderful, caring people with good moral character. However, when you stick a virgin in a brothel for 4 to 8 years, they really aren't the same any more, are they?

[SailingHome]

I know so many normal, well balanced, smart, kind Americans. Why can't you folks find some normal, well balanced people to run your administration?

I think Ron Paul was your best bet, but Americans weren't ready to swallow that pill.

Normal, well-balanced people do not enter politics, bro. If they do, they are doomed to lose their balance.

Besides, how often after 8 years of one party is the next nominee of the same party elected? Ummmm... not any time in recent history. Mark my words, no matter how whacko the next Repub nominee, 'he' will win.

[Credo]

<snipped>

Besides, how often after 8 years of one party is the next nominee of the same party elected? Ummmm... not any time in recent history. Mark my words, no matter how whacko the next Repub nominee, 'he' will win.

We can rest assured it will be a whacko.

[SailingHome]

Hillary is loved by many, and hated by many. There isn't any middle ground. I can see her getting the nomination from the liberal Democrats, but I can't see her being elected POTUS. I would say she would be the best thing that could happen to Republicans. (That and Obamacare.)

Yeah... but WHY is she loved? What am I missing besides that she appears to be female? Her track record and power hunger make me wonder what is to love. Are people looking at her as a role model? Clue me in, please.

[tingtongteesood]

It's not going to happen..

I look forward to Madame President Clinton visiting Madame Prime Minister Yingluck.

Meanwhile back in the real world.......

''What difference does it make right now'' will stop her from becoming president. She has already shown her caliber or rather lack of to the people....

[tx22cb]

Hillary is loved by many, and hated by many. There isn't any middle ground. I can see her getting the nomination from the liberal Democrats, but I can't see her being elected POTUS. I would say she would be the best thing that could happen to Republicans. (That and Obamacare.)

Yeah... but WHY is she loved? What am I missing besides that she appears to be female? Her track record and power hunger make me wonder what is to love. Are people looking at her as a role model? Clue me in, please.

Some of us have never gotten over our love affair with Bill .....

[Johpa]

Washington (AFP) - With the news that America's largest liberal fundraising group is to back a Hillary Clinton presidential bid in 2016, a growing sense of inevitability is building around her prospective candidacy.

It is a sad commentary on American politics when any of the Clinton's are defined as being liberal. For further elaboration I highly recommend reading Chris Hedges book "Death of the Liberal Class".

[Credo]

Perhaps the liberal class is the wrong word. They belong to the caring class.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Credo

[Ulysses G.]

Hillary is loved by many, and hated by many. There isn't any middle ground. I can see her getting the nomination from the liberal Democrats, but I can't see her being elected POTUS. I would say she would be the best thing that could happen to Republicans. (That and Obamacare.)

Yeah... but WHY is she loved? What am I missing besides that she appears to be female? Her track record and power hunger make me wonder what is to love. Are people looking at her as a role model? Clue me in, please.

That is what I wonder. I don't love her or hate her, but do not see any real accomplishments or any compelling reason to vote for her. It must be because she stood by her man and because that man was Bill Clinton.

Edited January 26, 2014 by Ulysses G.

[Credo]

Hillary Clinton is a very hard working lady, who logged one heck of a lot of miles as Secretary of State, she is known and respected world wide and when she speaks, the world does listen.

She knows the ins-and-outs of Washington. She is well known by both the Republicans and the Democrats (as well as the independents and every other party). She is realistic and knows what she can get done and what she can't -- at least she is unlikely to be charging at windmills.

She is loved by many and hated by many, but she is ignored by few.

[chuckd]

Hillary Clinton is a very hard working lady, who logged one heck of a lot of miles as Secretary of State, she is known and respected world wide and when she speaks, the world does listen.

She knows the ins-and-outs of Washington. She is well known by both the Republicans and the Democrats (as well as the independents and every other party). She is realistic and knows what she can get done and what she can't -- at least she is unlikely to be charging at windmills.

She is loved by many and hated by many, but she is ignored by few.

...and what has she actually accomplished on her own?

What bills did she propose and get enacted when she was a US Senator?

What did she accomplish when she was appointed Secretary of State by Obama...except to travel a lot?

In short, what has she done on her own other than being married to Billy Bob?

But, at this point what difference does it make?

[Credo]

Well, she managed to be a U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of State.

She hasn't been president yet, so we don't know exactly what she is able to accomplish.

Politicians, by the way, don't do much on their own. It requires the type of support, networking and cooperation that she is capable of providing.

[chuckd]

Well, she managed to be a U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of State.

She hasn't been president yet, so we don't know exactly what she is able to accomplish.

Politicians, by the way, don't do much on their own. It requires the type of support, networking and cooperation that she is capable of providing.

You are claiming that she bcame a Senator from New York and Secretary of State on her own? What if she had been married to George Bush?

Would you still believe her accomplishments came as a result of her talents, rather than from her choice of marriage partners?

I see you couldn't come up with any bills she had passed or treaties she negotiated. That tells the story in itself.

The current guy has support, networking and has earned no cooperation. Look where that has led us.

[SailingHome]

...and as SoS, she spent a lot, did little, and foibled a bunch - with lives and security no less. I don't trust that she will not lessen freedoms and make tighter (false) securities. I want a president that supports freedoms

[Credo]

Well, she managed to be a U.S. Senator and U.S. Secretary of State.

She hasn't been president yet, so we don't know exactly what she is able to accomplish.

Politicians, by the way, don't do much on their own. It requires the type of support, networking and cooperation that she is capable of providing.

You are claiming that she bcame a Senator from New York and Secretary of State on her own? What if she had been married to George Bush?

Would you still believe her accomplishments came as a result of her talents, rather than from her choice of marriage partners?

I see you couldn't come up with any bills she had passed or treaties she negotiated. That tells the story in itself.

The current guy has support, networking and has earned no cooperation. Look where that has led us.

Apparently your reading skills are getting poorer, or perhaps it is comprehension that is lacking. Politicians, as I said, don't do much of anything on their own.

Your overtly sexist remarks about her accomplishments being related to her marriage partner says more about you than about her. It is also a low blow to Laura Bush, who on her own, was a bright, intelligent and articulate person, unlike her husband. But then Laura Bush started out as a Democrat and was careful in her discussions about her husbands policies, as would anyone with much intelligence or education.

Hillary is a team player and will likely be our first woman president. Please try to keep up.

[MJP]

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. ... God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion; what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms." -- Thomas Jefferson to William Stephens Smith, 1787

Rather the blood and the arms bit, why not break from tradition and vote for someone else, perhaps independent candidates (I'm not sure if you have them in the US) instead of the Elephant or the Donkey.

The excellent idea of having a maximum two terms as President has been thwarted by a little political club it seems.

[samran]

A black man as president and now potentially a highly intelligent woman as his replacement.

Grumpy old men across the US are fainting en mass at the mere suggestion. They thought the nervous twitches and the random bouts of shouting at the sky were behind them.

Appears not.

[MJP]

A black man as president and now potentially a highly intelligent woman as his replacement.

Grumpy old men across the US are fainting en mass at the mere suggestion. They thought the nervous twitches and the random bouts of shouting at the sky were behind them.

Appears not.

Nothing to do with gender or skin colour and this issue is on both sides, Democrat and Republican.

George Bush Snr. > George W. Bush

Bill Clinton > Hilary Clinton

The Kennedy's?

It's a two party club (the same thing really, just made to look like opposing sides) and I don't think these sort of political dynasty's are what the founding fathers intended.