Hillary/Rove I'm soooo confused

[bklyncowgirl]

I'm not a Hillary Clinton supporter. I'll vote in the Democratic primaries for someone who had the good judgement to oppose this disaster in Iraq from the get go. I believe the last thing that the Democrats need to do is revisit "I voted for the war before I voted against it" country (Kerry fans this is not a slap at your guy, I think he was a great candidate who's vote on the Iraq war put him in a terrible position--please put down the blowtorches).

I also think that when Karl Rove or Ken Mehlman or any other Republican strategist says that Democrats should do something that the Democrats should do just the opposite. Anyone who thinks that they are offering their honest advice to the Democratic brothers would buy a certain well known bridge in my home town. If Republicans say, for example, "Howard Dean's doing a terrible job and will lead the Democrats to ruin", that translates to me as "Dean's doing a great job and scares the crap out of us."

What then to think about Rove telling Democrats that Hillary Clinton will win the nomination and then lead the Democrats to disaster?

Oh shit, I agree with KARL ROVE!

This has turned my political world upside down. Does this mean that Hillary Clinton actually IS our strongest candidate and that the Republicans are trying to put a pre-emptive hit on her, or is this a ruse to unite progressives (who might otherwise have supported Feingold or some other antwar candidate) behind Clinton and in that way get the Democrats to nominate a seriously flawed candidate.

What to do, what to do?

[PBass]

1. Hillary is a great fund raiser for the GOP

Some people hate her so much, that if the GOP can push the Hillary button, it's good for raising money and whipping up emotions.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Rove is trying reverse psychology in order to get early fundraising by

dems directed to Hillary so that when a better candidate emerges, he (probably male) won't be able to compete against her warchest. And she of course will not drop out in favor of a stronger candidate and will continue to let herself rise as the primaries proceed and allow herself to be nominated at the democratic convention.

Rove knows human psychology all too well. He knows Hillary has an ego. Face it. And it's more than wanting to be president. To be elected would be personal vindication for her and for her husband. It's just too tempting not to pursue, or alternatively, not to fight others promoting her candidacy.

I don't know how much influence Rove will have generally once * is out of office. For all I know he may be more dangerous as he will be harder to track. But I'm sure he is going to be more busy messing with the democrats than assisting the republicans. Destruction is his strong suit.

[PBass]

3. that sounds plausible to me

and because Hillary doesn't really need the money for 2006, any donations to her now funnels useful dollars away from 2006 races.

[mtnester]

5. Rove's WET DREAM is Hillary in 2008

Reverse psychology to get us to support her because we would do ANYTHING to piss of Rove. Rove realizes that Hillary may be the only candidate his next protege can beat.

This buildup of Hillary in 2008 has been primarily ALL from the right...it is literally a sleep conditioned TPM for them now.

[leveymg]

4. The GOP obsesses about Hillary because they want to run against her

This is why:

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/politics/13972205.htm

Posted on Mon, Feb. 27, 2006

Fear of `Clinton in 2008'

By Steven Thomma
Knight-Ridder

MANCHESTER, N.H. - As they ponder how to win back the White House, many Democrats fear that the early front-runner for their party's 2008 presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, carries so much baggage that she would drag the party down to a third straight defeat.Many support her, to be sure, and even more admire her. Polls confirm that she has the early edge over other potential rivals. Party insiders think she'll enter the race shortly after her expected re-election as a New York senator later this year -- with a $50 million head start on fundraising toward 2008.
But ominous signs abound, and together they suggest that her campaign would conjure a clash between the lure of Clinton nostalgia and the fear of Clinton fatigue.
Already firm on vote
One new poll shows that a majority of registered voters never would vote for her. Another shows that a majority don't even want her to run, including a majority of independent voters.One veteran Democratic strategist says she's so well-known -- and polarizing -- that it's hard to see how she could change any minds.