Well, this horse race sure has been fun. How about we talk policy now? Trade!

[hellofromreddit]

One of my biggest concerns with Clinton is her stance on free trade.

She was for TPP before it started to cost her politically, then she flipped from support to opposition. On the one had, it's good to see a politician respond to public pressure. But, on the other hand, AFTER opposing the Colombia trade agreement in the 2008 campaign, she went on to support it as SoS.

It gets messier: http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/04/21/401123124/a-timeline-of-hillary-clintons-evolution-on-trade

So, as a Bernie supporter, what am I supposed to think of Hillary's position on trade? Should I just file this one under "compromise" and assume the outcome will be poor, but not as bad as Trump? Or is there some reason I ought to feel confident in Clinton's handling of trade?

[tonyt53]

1. She supported the Columbia deal at the behest of her employer Barack Obama.

Also, is she no allowed to change her mind or position? If a person can't do that, then how the hell would Bernie ever run fast enough to get away from his support of communist and socialist governments? Or could it be that he still supports them?

[hellofromreddit]

3. Complaining about Bernie again? You won't get far by shitting all over Bernie at this point.

C'mon, everyone says Hillary has this in the bag, it's time to pivot to the general, bla bla bla. Is she going to win the GE by bitching about Bernie too? I doubt it.

[HumanityExperiment]

2. GL

HRC, with her crowd here will pummel you two ways from Tues to keep you off balance with policy talk, they will begin their 'insulation' of their candidate throughout the GE, using everything BUT her actual policy position(s) over her history as a defense/attack

They will bait and trap for purge anyone that pushes too hard against her positions and policies, she's republican light... she's no progressive/liberal and we all know it... it's that insulation process that will position her supporters here the 'ability' to 'protect' her within DU and from actual criticism/discussion

[NorthCarolina]

4. Once Bernie is gone there will be NOBODY talking policy. Hillary doesn't talk

policy because she would have to say things she doesn't really believe, and Trump won't talk policy either. From here on out it just becomes the usual poo-flinging contest.

[pampango]

8. Trump will continue to talk about walls, tariffs and ripping up international agreements.

Of course, many will not consider such talk are really talking about policy but as a continuing appeal to fear and emotion.

And I am not as sure as you that Hillary doesn't "say things she doesn't really believe".

[Agnosticsherbet]

5. Well, that will depend on Republican in Congress, on the short term

What’s Next for TPP: Will Congress Ratify in 2016?
While TPA was a major victory for the President, achieving a vote on the international trade deal before he leaves office will be another uphill battle. Similar to the TPA vote, trade agreements typically rely heavily on Republican support for passage. TPP has been unpopular among many Congressional Democrats, who staunchly believe the trade deal will have a negative impact on American jobs and wages. Securing TPP approval from the Republican majority will require the Administration to resolve several outstanding issues over controversial portions of the trade agreement from key GOP members, including Congressional Leadership. For example, Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) opposes the agreement’s exclusion of tobacco products from the investor-state dispute settlement mechanism; Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) wants stronger language on market exclusivity for biologics; and House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Dave Reichert (R-WA) opposes the rules that prohibit countries from preventing the free flow of data or forcing local storage of data because they fail to cover financial data.

The Administration will have a difficult time maneuvering these and other specific issues without completely unravelling the years of negotiations with other TPP partners. Outstanding issues could be addressed through side agreements, which are difficult to achieve because they involve additional obligations that must be accepted by all TPP countries after the original agreement has already been signed. These issues could also be addressed by side letters, which are common to trade agreements and are used to clarify specific issues. More commonly, the Administration has addressed issues in its implementation and enforcement plan, and some Members of Congress have even relied on informal commitments from the Administration to address issues, a difficult task under strained relations between the President and Congress.

The path forward on these specific issues is unclear, but in the event of their resolution the Administration will need to work with Congress to reach an agreement on the text of the implementing bill. Pre-agreement on the legislation is essential if the implementing bill is to receive TPA’s “fast-track” consideration through the House and Senate. This process will likely include hearings and “mock markups” by the relevant congressional committees. According to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX) hearings may begin as early as February.

Although the Obama Administration has not identified a specific time-frame for submission of the implementing bill, it has indicated it would like to submit the bill in July of this year, before Congress adjourns mid-July for the two national party conventions scheduled this summer. Timing of the implementing bill’s submission is key, as formal submission will trigger a series of deadlines for Congressional action, ultimately requiring Congress to act within 90 legislative days.

I suspect the Republican Congress will vote on the TPP after the November election. If they do, President Obama will sign it. Now, if they don't, The New Congress beginning in 2017 will be handed that ball. Whether it is approved depends on the relationship between Congress and the next President. Republicans were loathe to give Obama a win. If they see it as a win for Democrats, they will not pass it.

[hellofromreddit]

7. So what would Hillary's role be in that? As POTUS she would have the ability to push them

even if they are a bunch of stonewalling idiots.

I'm asking because I really have no sense at all how Hillary will deal with it. From what I've seen, she probably actually wants the TPP to pass, but is only opposing it for the primary. Going with that assumption, how's she going to improve its odds of passage?

[Agnosticsherbet]

10. Republican voters, for the most part, are against the TPP. That is one reason Congress refused to

approve it or disapprove it. The other reason is that in an election year, especially, they did not want to give Obama a "Win."

A Clinton (or Sanders) administration will face that same dynamic in 2017. If Clinton pushes it they will by reflex say no, even if they like it. Unless the Trump effect extends to a change election in Congress, we will have 2 or 4 years of stalemate with only absolutely necessary legislation being passed by a do nothing congress. Once other nations have signed off on the TPP it will go into affect and the executive branch will honor it.

I think that the last month of the current Congress, after the election will be a "golden moment" when Republicans can approve it and Obama can sign it with the least political backlash. If it is not signed then, the TPP will be like a lot of treaties. The executive branch will honor them even though Congress has not given their consent.

[hellofromreddit]

12. I pretty much agree with that, but it doesn't give much indication of what Clinton would do.

I get that she's going to be pretty much stonewalled, but which way will she push the US once she gets an opening?

I suppose I should have been a little more specific in my OP. I'm fishing for indicators of what Clinton wold do aside from statements she has put out (I personally find statements from her unreliable). So things like who she tends to work with, and what those people have done WRT trade, or legislation she impacted while she was in the senate. The link I included in my OP touched on all of her trade decisions that I'm aware of, but there might be something else out there that hasn't had much attention.

I currently don't trust her platform on trade, so I'm looking for a a guidepost that either will give me reason to reevaluate that, or just give me a compass to figure out where her heart really is.

[Agnosticsherbet]

13. That's a good question. Honestly, I don't know.

[hellofromreddit]

18. Oh well. Thanks for the constructive replies. Those are surprisingly hard to come by.

[larkrake]

6. she will push any corporate giveaways. she is their darling

[BootinUp]

9. Here's what she says she will do

She wrote this article about it. Due to copyright I have only copied the first 4 paras, so go to the link for the rest.

Hillary Clinton: Agenda for jobs and even trade
Published: February 22, 2016 - 05:13 PM

“Made in the U.S.A.” — that label has always been a mark of quality and pride around the world. American manufacturing has gone through hard times, but we’re working our way back from the worst of the economic crisis. Under President Obama, we’ve saved the auto industry and added over 900,000 manufacturing jobs. Exports are up 40 percent.

But even those hard-won gains are at risk. A stronger dollar, slowing Chinese economy and global economic turbulence mean that workers in industries from steel to auto parts are facing headwinds. At the same time, China and other countries are using underhanded and unfair trade practices to tilt the playing field against American workers and businesses.

When they dump cheap products in our markets, subsidize state-owned enterprises, manipulate currencies and discriminate against American companies, our middle class pays the price. That has to stop.

Ninety-five percent of America’s potential customers live overseas, so closing ourselves off to trade is not a solution. But we have to make sure we are all playing by the same rules. As a senator, I pressured the Bush administration to get tougher on China. When I was secretary of state, I fought to protect American workers in the global marketplace.

Full Article at Ohio.com

[hellofromreddit]

11. I'm aware of what she says she will do, but she often does not do what she says.

So what's out there beyond her own statements? For example, who does she often work with, what's their track record, etc.

[NurseJackie]

15. You're not looking for information, are you?

You're looking for an argument.

[hellofromreddit]

16. Thanks for the kick.

[NurseJackie]

17. I'll take that as a "yes", then.

[insta8er]

14. You basically cannot talk about policy, anything negative against Madam ... won't be tolerated.