The only Thug who could beat Hillary is Chris Christie.

[MoonRiver]

But the Teabaggies will never give him the nomination. So, it's hello President Clinton in 2016!

[Scuba]

1. I sure hope not.

[JustAnotherGen]

2. They don't have to give it to him

He's very good buddies with Rove.

Here's what I think - I think Rove and Co. can steal S.C., A.L., M.S., G.A. - if they stole two National Presidential Elections - what makes anyone think they can't steal a much smaller state election? And the Feds won't be paying attention - because they aren't going to be going after low income and/or minority disrticts. Oh - no . . . the fraud they could commit . . .

We focus so much sometimes on voter suppression amongst Democratics/Liberals/Progressives - but what if they commit the Fraud - On Their Own Voters?

[1-Old-Man]

3. Really? I think Joe Biden can beat her.

[Just Saying]

4. Yeah at this point I see a repeat of 2012

In the GOP primaries. They'll run a bunch of fringe candidates, most of which couldn't win in a general election against anyone, and come up with a nominee most of them can barely stomach.

I think the keys to winning in 2016 is getting out the vote and stopping the GOP's attempts to disenfranchise, outright cheat or just generally screw with the election.

[bunnies]

5. These threads make me want to throw something.

The woman hasnt even announced and not a single vote will be cast for years. She's no more inevitable in 16 than she was in 08. Sorry.

[L0oniX]

22. Worshippers need to worship ...dug up the old g0d cause she was still available?

[bunnies]

27. Yep.

We might as well get used to being called haters again. Wonder when the puma's will be back.

[LWolf]

6. I hope not.

I'm sure we could win the WH with a better Democrat.

[L0oniX]

21. ...one that isn't picked by the DLC.

[LWolf]

24. Obama wasn't picked by the DLC.

That was a huge talking point for Obama during the horrific primary wars here on DU, and elsewhere, during the '08 primaries.

It didn't matter that his policies were a great fit for the DLC, which was actually noted here by a DLCer and Hillary supporter whose DU name escapes me...wyldwolf? Maybe.

It didn't matter that he publicly identified with the "New Democrats," making him a centrist that fits the DLC.

He wasn't an official member, so he got a pass. And we got a neo-liberal president. Underlying the dlc/"new democrats"/"3rd way"/centrists is neo-liberalism. They're corporatists.

I want a nominee that is distinctly opposed to neo-liberalism.

So, when the primaries heat up, be on the lookout for a candidate who is "not" dlc/centrist/etc., but whose policies seem to be a good fit anyway. That's the candidate that will be pushed into a two-person battle, squeezing out any non-corporatist neo-liberal courageous enough to run early on.

Let's see how the primary voting schedule lines up. Note that it was set up to weed out most candidates early on in '08. My primary didn't roll around until Obama and HRC had been the only 2 left standing for 5 months.

[L0oniX]

48. No shit. Obama ran against the DLC choice in the primary. n/t

[LWolf]

49. But the point is,

he was no better than the DLC choice. For most of us, there was NO choice that was not a neo-liberal.

[L0oniX]

54. Looks like we will have no choise again. I'm out on this one. Got suckered last time.

I'd rather see what happens when the Dems don't give a shit about what the left and progressives want than vote for another good cop bad cop dog and pony candidate.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. Gosh, another election between Really Bad 3rd Way and Really Badder Repug.

I'll pass on both.

[Proud Public Servant]

8. "So, it's hello President Clinton..."

...in 2008!"
-- Hillary supporters, 2006-March 2008

[magical thyme]

9. got a hard-on for war or something?

Hillary is too much of an armchair warrior.

I want to see President Warren or some other President non-corporatist.

[snooper2]

10. Niether of them will be president-

You really shouldn't get your hopes up for something that isn't going to happen

[millennialmax]

11. A President HRC would piss off all the people in politics I can't stand.

[frylock]

17. and that is what's most important after all..

fuck you, Dodger fan.... errr I mean republicans!!

[bunnies]

25. Liberals?

[millennialmax]

35. I know plenty of liberals that love Sec. Clinton.

[bunnies]

36. those are NOT liberals. nt

[millennialmax]

37. Really? Is there a liberal litmus test of which I'm unaware? eom

[bunnies]

39. Seriously?

You think there are pro-war, pro-corporate "liberals"? Thats funny.

[millennialmax]

42. Is she in favor of every war and every corporation?

How does one get labelled pro-war and pro-corporate?

What percentage of wars and corporations does one have to be against to keep their liberal card? Because I won't hand mine over that easily.

[bunnies]

43. She was in the DLC for crying out loud.

Do you know what their point of existence was? To make the Democratic party more conservative. Now, if you think for a moment thats something a liberal would do, then I dont know what else to say. Thats crazy.

[Koios]

12. Doesn't matter who the GOP nominates ...

... the Dem Nom is our next president.

The fact is, the changing demographics have utterly closed nearly every path the GOP has to reaching an Electoral College majority. And it's been changing, and did change, years ago. In the last 6 presidential elections, the GOP won a majority (slim) of the vote, once. And that was post 9/11, when in times of crisis, real or imagined, voters rally behind our leader. So in fact, the only time in the last 6 national elections that the GOP won a majority, nationally, credit goes more to Osama bin Laden than the GOP candidate.

So choose our nominee carefully. He/She will be the next president.

[exboyfil]

31. These things change really fast

I think Christie could get through the primary season, and it is a craps hoot as to who would win the general election. Too many close states in the last election that could swing easily Republican (especially one who is isn't crazy). The Republican social voters have no where else to go. Which Romney states are in play (North Carolina but with the Voter suppression legislation - it is off the table)? People forget what a truly awful candidate Romney was from top to bottom, and he still kept it somewhat close (47.8% of the popular vote).

Christie has some negatives but his strengths will be what counts in Florida, Ohio, and Virginia. Also credible run at Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. I even think Iowa and Colorado would be in play.

I would vote for Clinton over Christie, but it should be recognized that he is a legitimate threat. I think moderates want to see more cooperation in Washington, and they understand that the whack job wing of the Republican party will never cooperate with a Democratic president (that was actually Romney's strongest selling point). Someone who could run an effective campaign (no Orca type mistakes) that comes across as moderate could clean up. That a tax dodging plutocrat with zero regard for the little folks could get that close - what can a skilled political moderate from a Blue state do nationally? If Christie keeps a Huntsman style line in the primary the nut jobs will consume each other.

He does need to take the pounds off though. The country will not vote for a fat president.

[Koios]

38. Crap shoot, not, IMO

Just not seeing the GOP winning. Christi might not be the loon many in the Republican Party have become, but he's still very Right Wing, and has that virus attached to his candidacy: Republican. That's alienated all minorities, and even the staunchly (formerly) anti-Castro Cubans.

And wait 10 years, and even Texas goes to the Dems. It's pure demographics, creating a math problem for the GOP come national election day, that nominating Jesus Christ would not solve for them.

Also, I'm not seeing Christi as viable nationally. The obesity thing takes him out, since as sad as that may seem, as a rule, we're very, very superficial on voting day. Bald guys and ugly women need not apply. And the obesity problem is two-fold: superficial problem; also fear of heart attack, diabetes or something else causing him to drop dead in the first 100 days.

[Capt. Obvious]

13. 80-20

[MannyGoldstein]

14. It's inevitable!

Again!

[Metric System]

16. The only thing that is inevitable is the over-the-top Hillary hate on DU. Luckily most Democrats

like and respect her, even more so than in 2007-08. That's the difference this time around.

[L0oniX]

20. Well isn't that special ...you don't need lefties and progressives. Good luck.

[Little Star]

28. I'm about as liberal as one can get, always have been and...

I think Hillary is our best shot (and maybe only shot) at the presidency in 2016.

I want to win the general election. Just hope we can fix congress during the mid terms.

[Little Star]

30. +1

[Dawgs]

40. The Democrats won't be the problem. It's the far left indys and centrists that she will need. n/t

[nevergiveup]

15. If the polls in early 2016

show Christie as the best match against Clinton, which is likely, then the "Teabaggies" will begrudgingly fall in line and nominate Christie and vote for him in mass. IMHO

[MoonRiver]

23. Christie won't compromise his principles, ala McCain and Romney, so he won't get the nom, IMHO.

Those Thugs gotta throw their crazed base some red meat, and Christie just isn't corrupt enough to do it.

[factsarenotfair]

29. He gave up eating fattening foods for politics so I see no problem with him compromising

his principles for politics. He's already compromised his diet!

[exboyfil]

33. That would be a mistake for him

He will lose the general election if he gives in to the whack jobs. He has a shot at the nomination if he is consistent and emphasizes the need to compromise to solve the most critical issues.

[factsarenotfair]

45. Republicans seem to have an unlimited number of tricks up their sleeves. :(

Ratfu**ers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirty_tricks

[Koios]

53. Let 'em...

... once was a time when they could bridge the gap with dirty tricks (~2 percentage point gain, at best). But they've (Reps) done such a bang up job about pissing off every minority and most women, that an EC majority would be beyond their reach if the resurrected George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and ran them on the same ticket.

Simple as that. Until Republicans fix their anti-minority image, Dems win the White House in a walk.

[factsarenotfair]

55. I hope you're right and I'm wrong. :)

[Koios]

57. Me too!

Plus, consider that in the last 6 presidential elections, Reps got the most votes in only 1 of them ... with help from Rovean dirty tricks, and the post-9/11 Osama bin Laden bump.

Reps kneejerk opposition to minority and women's issues has denied them the White House, more so with each passing year. Probably put the Senate out of reach. And Congress is only holding by a thread thanks to some very creative gerrymandering in 2010.

Reps are completely out of touch, with Americans nationally, and even most state in state-wide races for Senator.

[cynatnite]

18. If she was running, Chris Christie couldn't beat her if he tried...

He's a fucking bully.

[L0oniX]

19. Let the worship begin ...and good luck with the progressives and lefties.

It will be your fault when we lose. Clinton and big tent do not mix.

[KharmaTrain]

26. Christie's Path To The Nomination...

...would mean a similar rushpublican clown car demolition derby we saw in 2008 and 2012. I don't see Christie polling better than the low 20s in Iowa or South Carolina...two of the first primary states. BUT...that may do the trick if there are a dozen right wing teabaggers playing "flavor of the week". If the teabaggers unite behind a candidate, Christie won't win the nomination. But that's a big IF at this point.

As far as a general election, Christie would have to walk the same tightrope Mittens and McCain tried to...attempt to energize an unhinged base while appearing to be "reasonable'. Pander too much to the far right and lose the independents...move too much to the center and the church buses don't fill up on election day...

[LittleBlue]

32. It would be a relief if they nominate him

He doesn't come across as a fundie whackjob.

Even if he won, I wouldn't fear for the country like I did with Shrub, McLame and Rmoney.

[Larkspur]

46. Christie loves to bully women, especially teachers

Candidates running against him need to trigger his anger management problems and then ask voters, would you want him in charge of our nuclear arsenal?

Christie looks good to voters now, but when tested, I expect him to have temper tantrums that will make voters uneasy about him as President.

Also he needs to lose a lot of weight. National campaigns are marathons and I don't think he could handle the pressure of a national campaign.

[Dawson Leery]

51. His temperament may make him inviable.

[LittleBlue]

58. Truthfully, I get nervous when any Rethug is in charge

I just hope they nominate a moderate, so we don't have another ruinous presidency like Bush.

As much as I care for the party, I care for the nation more. It cannot survive another Bush. Hell, we're barely hanging on as it is.

[mainstreetonce]

47. That is exactly

what I would say, I don't like him, but he is not as crazy as some of the clowns.

[stevenleser]

34. I think that Chris Christie, like most Northeast Republicans has a particular problem in a GE.

I don't think he can hold his home state or win any other northeastern state against Hillary and what does that leave him? He's weaker in the South than a Southern Republican, not nearly as outdoorsy and appealing to MidWest Republicans as a Southern or MidWestern Republican might be and he thus makes it easier for Hillary to pick up a lot of the border and purple states around the country.

A Republican has to hold the South and the Red Midwestern states big so that they can concentrate on the purple states. They have to win more purple states than the Democratic candidate does, so they cant afford to have to work to hold any traditional red state.

[coldmountain]

41. The RAPEpublican war on women makes Hillary inevitable

I think she is more progressive than she is given credit for, she's been under cloak for 4 decades.

Some one else reading Hillary Rodham Clinton 1969 Commencement Speech at Wellesley College.

[1-Old-Man]

44. Wasn't 1969 44 years ago? And tell me, is Hillary the only woman in the Democratic Party?

Because right off the top of my head I can think of two Democratic women who I would far prefer to Hillary, those being Elizabeth Warren and Wendy Davis. We've got a couple of women Senators who I much respect as well, and the same can not be said about Hillary.

We have simply had too many years of this 3rd way crap, Democrats who have become so deeply entrenched in the political money machine that they become nearly indistinguishable from your typical milk-sop-Republican. I won't vote for another one no matter which Party they belong to. Oh, and first on that list is my own's state's newest Senator, Joe Manchin - as poor an excuse for a Democrat as can be found this side of the Mississippi.

[coldmountain]

56. Obama wasn't supposed to be third way. If you don't vote Dem you vote GOP by default

Sorry our system sucks. Is Wendy Davis really to the left of Hillary?

Hillary is the most electable candidate we have. She's far stronger than she was in 2008.

[spin]

50. I thought she was coronated President back in 2008. ...

Everybody felt that there was no way she could lose that election.

I would have no problem with her becoming President but she will have to run a far better campaign than she did in the last Presidential primary she was in. I have no doubt that had she won the primary she would have become President as no Republican alive could have overcome the Bush legacy.

[Coyotl]

52. ROFLMAO

Where oh where did you find THAT crystal ball?

Only fools and drunks bet on elections that far away