Ben Mankiewicz hit on something in last night's webcast about what bothers me (&you?) about HC

[leftupnorth]

that I think is absolutely spot on. I'm paraphrasing here, but here goes:

Ben said that what bothers him and others so much isn't HC's positions, necessarily, but he is seeing the same too careful, too measured, fence-straddling kind of campaigning candidate that failed to overwhelm the GOP dirty tricks machine the last two elections. We need someone with some fire, some courage, and I know HC has it, but she isn't showing it.

For the record, I haven't picked or backed a candidate, and I think ANY of our candidates CAN and WILL win. I'm just waiting to see if anyone else enters the race, it's still early.

[aquart]

1. Since we won the last two presidential elections, he's wrong.

But you keep believing that the votes were counted. You keep buying the crap cover story about the Miracle of the Religious Bigots.

You aren't spot on. You are swallowing the Republican myth hook, line, and sinker. A willing, happy victim.

Try to grasp this: whoever gets the Democratic nomination WINS. Why? Because there are more of us than them, if our votes are counted. Additionally, Independents are leaning Democratic and most Republicans are puking in a bucket over their ridiculous "choices."

If our votes are counted.

[leftupnorth]

4. I'm fully aware they stole the elections.

I did mention the GOP dirty tricks machine. That includes stealing elections.

It is exactly the same attitude Ben was describing that allowed the GOP to get away with stealing it.

[saltpoint]

2. Right now the various betting sites say that Senator Clinton is

headed for 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

That doesn't mean she'll win for sure, absolutely, no question about it, sure-fire, double-dog, slamdunk DEFINITELY, but it means her odds are pretty good as things sit right now.

We don't know what's going to happen between now and tomorrow morning, let alone now and the Iowa caucus. Edwards leads in Iowa now. Richardson is making inroads in Nevada. Obama enjoys very significant support and matches Clinton in cash. Biden's voice on Iraq is taking hold and may sustain him longer than pundits predict. Dodd has a loyal following and persuades many when he speaks.

And so forth.

I think you're right to say Hillary Clinton has the inner fire but isn't showing it. She may have her reasons, for all I know. It's almost unfair for me to compare her speaking style for example with her husband's, because while I'm not a Bill Clinton Democrat, I would never argue that he couldn't turn an arena into a living room in two sentences flat. A great speaker and communicator, with many times the mind of a Ronald Reagan, in as much as Reagan had a mind at all, and I'm talking pre-diagnosis here.

I think other of our candidates are better on the stump. But Senator Clinton may be holding some cards close to her chin for later play. She's a savvy soul. We'll have to wait and see what happens.

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

3. Insightful analysis, that.

:toast: MKJ

[Tom Joad]

8. yeah, i suspect we will get 4 more wars...and the nightmare continues

[saltpoint]

9. Your guess.

[patricia92243]

5. She has proved - twice - that she can beat Republicans. n/t

[The River]

6. Fence Sitting, Triangulation and Lack of Leadership

are just the beginning of the reasons why I'd never vote for her.
I see no political courage, just a cold calculating desire for power.
Without her "famous" last name, she wouldn't even be in the race.

[Tom Joad]

7. fence-straddling? she sure gave the bushboy the support he needed for war in Iraq

she was there when bush needed her. she proved herself to be another joe.

[GeorgeGist]

10. Noble lies turned into ...

ignoble truth is the reality the Clintons cannot accept.