Reply #20: highly unlikely that she would win. [View All]

[ChairmanAgnostic]

although her name recognition is extremely high, higher than many people in the administration, her negatives are also huge. She offended many people in the past. Her secrecy about national med insurance truly scared millions in this country. It also set the stage for allowing the Bush administration to become even more secretive (while hiding behind 9/11 and terrorism). They learned how much they could get away with, and they took it a step further.
Hillary continues to offend people, but this time for other reasons. She started going to church, but only when there are TV cameras present. She has started supporting the troops, but only on TV. She has taken a straddle position on many hot button issues, attempting to triangulate much like her husband did, but without the deft talent and innate ability that he had. In doing so, she loses support from both sides, one of which does not trust her, and the other which finds itself shocked that she refuses to support the logical position. In summary, she perfectly represents someone who is preening and primping in order to stay on the national stage, while refusing to take any strong, difficult or stressful stance on any issue that might be divisive.

It is a major mistake on her part. She ends up looking like a panderer, rather than a pragmatic leader.

Is she all bad? Of course not. By some indie accounts, she is a fair senator. She works hard, she is prepared, she knows the issues, she crosses the aisle to talk and negotiate, she pursues several important issues as an example, but those accomplishments are far exceeded by a few of her faults. There is no question that she is smart, anxious for success, and hungry for higher office. Good. One has to be, if one wants to be in the limelight. There is no question that she avoids pitfalls so often that she appears to refuse to take the obvious position in public. Bad. If one continues in that approach, they end up standing for nothing, and they lose all credibility. She is at the abyss of standing for nothing.

She has done nothing to gain back those she offended during Clinton's first term. She has done little to change the minds of those who absolutely hate her today. That in itself is not fatal. As Lee Atwater and James Carville both noted, 30% will hate you, 30% will love you, and 30% will be undecided, even if you were born of a virgin and walked on water. But, how you deal with that last 30% makes or breaks you. She is not doing well in that category.