General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How come Hillary supporters can't present an argument for her? [View all]Recursion
(56,582 posts)1. She has extensive experience in diplomacy, having been one of the most active SecStates since Acheson, and furthermore she has extensive contacts overseas from her time as Senator and FLOTUS.
2. She has significant executive and administrative experience, having headed what is arguably the most complicated civilian department in the government, and certainly the most widespread department geographically.
3. Being a Senator was once thought to be a magic ticket that makes the Senate work well with you; Obama's experience belies that, but that may be sui generis and it would go back to being true in her case.
4. She's a known quantity; literally everything that conceivably could be dragged out against her has been known for 20 years now.
5. She's smart and tough
Now, I glossed the title as "outside of DU" because here, what seems to matter to most people is how much "fight" or whatever a politician has, as if the problem with Obama's platform is that he just doesn't want it badly enough. I agree there's not really an argument that can answer that. She'll be centrist -- just like Sanders or Warren would be if they were President -- because the amount of actual change you can make over a short period of time is pretty small. The arguments I'm making are that she could:
1. Stand a good chance of beating the Republican nominee, and
2. Competently govern and push the government as far left as its inertia allows (which isn't very far, which is why "how liberal" someone is doesn't matter)
I know this idea pisses people off, but in a lot of ways, all that really matters about a politician is the letter after his or her name, because they appoint the 1700 or so political appointees who actually make the government operate where the rubber hits the road, and make judicial appointments. "How liberal" a Democratic candidate is doesn't really change what will actually happen that much, particularly in a divided government.