A controversial candidate like Hillary Clinton will not be able to win '08

[brentspeak]

Consider the varying personalities in the sequence of Presidents over the past 50 years:

FDR - Charismatic, always-in-the-news President

Truman - Low key personality, but served during a chaotic time (WWII, MacArthur firing, Korean War)

Eisenhower - The public picked him, I believe, because he seemed like the kind of president who wouldn't dominate their lives by being in the headlines every day. Quiet, stable, not electrifying.

JFK - The public got bored of the low-key presidency, and wanted someone with charisma, electricity. Hence, JFK was elected. The public at this time WANTED a president in the headlines.

LBJ - Not as dynamic as JFK.

Nixon - Bobby Kennedy would have been elected had he not been assassinated. Nixon was a galvanizing/polarizing type the public probably wanted.

Ford - The public was weary of Nixon-type controversy and constant headlines. Ford was the perfect antidote to that.

Carter - More noncontroversial, laid-back politician the public wanted (the public still couldn't forget Nixon).

Reagan - The public apparently again hungered for a headline-making president. Reagan was certainly that.

Bush Sr. - Eight years of Reagan dominating the entire culture brought back blandness to the White House.

Clinton - People wanted young and dynamic again.

Gore - After 8 years of Clinton controversy, Gore was considered a more stable, bland type of politician.

Bush (2004) - War presidents, even idiot war presidents, have never lost reelection.

2008 - Even the fools who are fans of Bush will be weary of the endless headlines, controversy, division. The public will thirsting for someone bland, non controversial, a president who won't seem to dominate their lives day-in and day-out.

Hillary Clinton is definitely not that. John Kerry might be considered in the "controversial" category, too (through no fault of his own -- ie. SwiftBoat smears).

[rwheeler31]

1. Oh give it a rest

nt

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[zalinda]

8. Yeah, give it a rest.........that was my thought exactly

I guess some just need to start threads, or whatever because they have nothing better to do.

zalinda

[brentspeak]

11. You guessed wrong

The point of my thread isn't entirely about Hillary Clinton -- it's more about the kind of president the American people will/won't want in 2008.

[readmoreoften]

3. here's the bigger problem

The public will elect whoever the neo-conservatives decide when they hack the vote.

I will vote for whatever dem. But we need an inarguably charismatic, vibrant figure, so that when he loses Americans will wake up to just how much they've lost. Let's hope someone has that candidate hidden in their closet, because I don't see him/her.

[StClone]

4. That is why McCain is our biggest threat

Even though he is a fake war hero :sarcasm: he is unflashy and has his name on several laws. He appears stable (but is more than likely not). He has allowed Bush/Rove to spank him when push came to shove. Bush has probably promised him the WH if he plays along once in office.

[brentspeak]

6. I'm thinking the same thing

Mark Warner or Gen.Clark would be good Dem candidates -- neither one is a polarizing figure.

[SaveElmer]

5. How many of the "Hillary Can't Win" threads....

Are we going to be treated to every night.... :banghead:

[benddem]

7. amen n/t

[Caoimhe]

9. I'm tired of it too

fucking negativity.. take it to freeperland.

[brentspeak]

13. You sound "tired" about everything in general

I can also tell you didn't even read my post.

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. "War presidents... have never lost reelection"--NOT. Bush Sr. was a

war prez, in fact, WON his Iraq war in spectacular fashion. Got his ass drummed out of office.

[brentspeak]

12. The Iraq War was over

I meant by a "war president": a president who's serving while a war is still underway (ie. FDR).

[SaveElmer]

14. LBJ...

Drummed out at the height of Vietnam...

[UrbScotty]

15. Enough about 2008 already!

I thought we had an election THIS YEAR.

[brentspeak]

16. Point well taken

I started this thread in response to Bush's talking about Hillary Clinton. But, yeah, I agree that we should be concentrating on midterm elections.

[UrbScotty]

17. Okay

It's just that hearing about 2008 when we have an electiopn this year turns me off.