Is Hilary Clinton a skilled politician? Ideology and positions aside...

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

What I mean is this: whether or not you agree with her decisions, do you think she is skilled in the game of electoral politics? Whether you like or dislike her, do the choices she has made seem to make her more likely or less likely to be successful on a national ticket?

I vote with "No, politically tone deaf." Her most public moves seemed designed to almost exclusively pander to the right, who will NEVER vote for her anyway because she's been so successfully demonized by RW media. The calculation seems to have been made that liberal votes for her can be safely relied upon, and essentially no effort needs be made to shore up that base at all. Aside from not agreeing with it, this kind of strategy just doesn't seem SMART to me. But I'm no political pro... :shrug:

I just don't think she has the skills. She's no doubt VERY intelligent. But she doesn't have one tenth of the speaking skills, charm, or innate political instinct of her husband, IMHO (but then again, who does).

[mdmc]

1. She is half as skillful as the big dog - and that is very skillful

peace

[Cascadian]

2. She will not be the Presidential nominee for the Democrats in 08

I don't what others may say, but I do not think she will get the nomination. She has moved too far to the right and this is the thing the Democratic Party DOES NOT need. Al Gore stands a better chance to be a nominee at this point.


John

[Jane Austin]

5. I fear that the Republicans yearn for her to be the nominee.

For that reason, I am worried that they will use their voting machine skills to make sure she wins the nomination.

[Jane Austin]

3. Good question.

I'd say not.

"Ask Ghandi down at the gas station"? Yikes.

Her bigger problem, though, is that she is a boooooooring speaker. Preachy, lecturing and just boring.

[Crankie Avalon]

4. No...

...zero charisma and ridiculously transparent in her ambition and opportunism. She's about as good a "politician" as Cheney.

[cally]

6. I think she's very politically skilled

She works a crowd skillfully. She has tried to not steal the spotlight from other Dem Senators and she has tried to work with those who had a vendetta against her. I think her latest foray into family values was politically astute. I see her trying to appeal to the middle and seem innocuous. She's assuming the Dem base will support her no matter what. We'll see.

I dislike her because of her lack of courage and support of the war. I still think she's a great politician.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. I think most DUers are "middle", she is appealing to the right.

Your description does not speak to any leadership qualities whatsoever. Appear innocuous, not steal the spotlight.

This country, and the Democratic Party, need LEADERS.

[cally]

9. I didn't say she's what we need.

She's a very astute politician, though. I think it's difficult for real leaders to emerge in this political climate. I think we need one, I just don't have much expectation we will elect a leader.

[MamaBear]

7. Not good

She waits too long to speak, then when she does, her answers have obviously been crafted and vetted by others.

There's no "there" there: no philisophy, no beliefs, no personality.

In short, zero.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

10. She's a typical, ambitious, DLC opportunist.

But, she is a adept at bamboozling people into thinking she's liberal and squeezing money out of them.

[ktlyon]

11. I don't think she has the skill of a great artist but

I think Bill probably listened to what she had to say.