Is Hillary Running or Not?

[HPLeft]

Hil holds her '04 hat

By CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Sen. Hillary Clinton insisted yesterday that she's not running for President in 2004 - even as staffers posted messages on her campaign Web site from supporters urging her to take on President Bush.

"I am absolutely ruling it out," Clinton (D-N.Y.) said at the New York State Fair in Syracuse.

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/113351p-102259c.html

*****

Talk about sending a mixed message. Personally, the last thing I want to see in 2004 is Bill and Hillary Clinton's character issues back at the center of the debate.

[Democrats unite]

1. Personally I want her to run in 2004

But it seems like people here are just like people on the freeper boards when it comes to Hillary. How many time does she have to say she is not running before it sinks in?

[Warren Stuart]

3. Personally I don't

Her running would be a Republican dream, Russert brings it up at every opportunity. The Vast right wing conspiracy would kick into high gear and she is smart enough to know this.

Personally I would like to see a Democrat win in 2004, Hillary gives away more votes than she gets.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not a Hillary hater, as a New Yorker I have already voted for her once, and look forward to voting for her again, hopefully for reelection.

[coralrf]

15. How dumb are we supposed to be?

""""I am absolutely ruling it out,""""" Clinton (D-N.Y.) said


""""Talk about sending a mixed message""""" HP says.

I report...you decide.

[LeighAnn]

2. Right Wing Rabble Rousing Tactic

This is just something the right-wing media pulls out of their butts to energize their power base whenever they sense that even the most moronic right-wingers are catching on to the fact that Bush is a corrupt idiot. They bring out the prospect of another Clinton presidency to bring back the fight in people who otherwise might catch on to the facts.

I don't think anyone here gives a &#@$ about Bill & Hillary's character issues, in light of the fact that Bush is a mass murderer as well as a liar and a crook. I wouldn't worry too much about it if I were you.

[Cocoa]

13. Fox news headline said "spectre" of a Clinton run

I think you're right. I actually fell for it a little bit, but you're right.

[avtho]

4. She can't win now

And she will never win!!! She is not likeable, she is smart and politically savvy, well that is unless she thinks she can win. Where would her votes come from, not Dem men,not Republican anyone, not even all Democrat women, we're just not ready for a woman , sorry maybe in a hundred years. Leave her alone.Let her be a Senator from NY. She can hold that postion but she cannot win a presidential election. I may be wrong!!

[baby_bear]

6. 'Not ready for a woman'? Are you serious?

Hillary does have more enemies than most people of either gender, but I wouldn't use the same brush to paint all women in politics. Diane Feinstein is a good example of a woman that could be a serious contender for president. I prefer Boxer myself, but that's another conversation.

I just don't like hearing anyone say that we're "not ready" for a woman president. Garbage. When Dems say things like that, it makes me sure that the first will be a Republican. And that's too damn bad, for us.

s_m

[StopThief]

5. Better pray she runs.

If she thinks there as ANY chance that Bush can be beaten, she will definitely run. If she chooses not to run, it will mean she can hear the proverbial "fat lady" warming up in the wings.

Hillary in '04!!!! There is no other!!!!

[Nashyra]

7. I don't think that she will run

but she gets the most shrill coverage because she is the most scary to the GOP. For those who condem her and express outrage over and Bill's character, they are not as hated as the "liberal media" makes them out to be. It is the same tactic that they use in claiming that the Dems are soft on national security, say it often enough and enough people will start to believe it. I think sometimes we are our own worst enemy. I think she would make a damn fine President, but I think her word to the state of New York is more important.

[diplomats]

8. "I am absolutely ruling it out"

doesn't sound like a mixed message to me. E-mail messages from supporters mean squat. I also don't look forward to having all the old baggage brought back, but Hillary isn't the one with "character" problems; her liabilities are different.

[HPLeft]

9. Not sure I agree

I seriously doubt that a control freak like Hillary lets her staff post those kind of comments without her approval. And, IMHO, Hillary has her own "character" problem. She is either the most cynical or most co-dependant woman in America. As a New Yorker, I only voted for her because my party gave me no other credible option. In my case, in was definitely an instance of "close your eyes and think of England".

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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

[coralrf]

17. What baggage?

File gate? Empty bag.

Travel gate? Empty bag.

Whitewater? Empty bag.

Vince Foster? Empty bag.

Monica? Her families bag not ours.

ON again off again campaign? She has always said that she will not run. Alleging that she will is just right wing smoke to paint her a flip-flopper or a liar. That bag is a GOP Satchel Bomb and we are intended to trip it. I suggest we support HC by respecting her wishes, noting her successes, pointing out her strong commitment to family values (staying married unlike Newt, Rudolph, Ronald and the boys) and her hard work for the people of New York.

The 'Hill is lying about running' crap is much loved and needed by the GOP. We do not need it at all.

[maggrwaggr]

10. I think she's "saying" she wants to be a VP for the Dem candidate

she's throwing her hat in the ring for that.

In politicaleze that's what she's doing.

[coralrf]

23. Bullshi*

There is absolutely no evidence of that. Absolutely none.

When she wanted to run for the Senate this is what she said: "I am entering the race for Senator". That is the kind of "politicaeze" that she uses. She has said that she "is going to finish her term as a Senator". There is absolutely no evidence that she means otherwise. None. There is only GOP crap allegation of it entirely motivated to leave a false impression. They need that after the beating she gave them.

[shihtzu5]

32. Winning 2004 ticket

CLARK-CLINTON

imho

[waggawagga]

11. Hillary Will Run in 2008

And when she does she'll have to do a lot to prove to me that she's not the Annette Benning character from "American Beauty". I don't hate her but really don't get why some like her so much.

[oasis]

16. Content to wait until 2012, Hill wants a Dem winner to be a 2 termer.

She said that in an interview earlier this summer. Fox News is trying to breathe life into a non story.

[coralrf]

25. Just like the problem she had in NY

Right? She had a bitch of a time there with their Native Son Rick the Shtick and who she was.

You will not be voting for her. You can vote for JEB. Hillary Clinton will in no way try to prove a damn thing about herself.

[robbedvoter]

12. She debunked this BS yesterday. As to their "character"

it sheds perfect light on why you posted this discredited news here. The mighty Clenis made you do it! Buh-bye now!

[jumptheshadow]

14. I'm suspicious of this wave of stories

The Murdoch-run NY Post is all over the made-up Hillary website story. And a Fox News anchorwoman broke out in a chipper little smile today about the non-story, noting pertly that these Hillary rumors could move the spotlight from Democratic candidates until the presidential filing date in November.

Bush's poll numbers are going down and, barring major developments, are probably on a permanent decline. Dean's recognition level and political warchest are surging. Wesley Clark's candidacy looms on the horizon. So now the Republicans, for the upteenth time, throw out the Clinton strawman for the true believers. Anything, anything to skewer communications.

[Pepperbelly]

19. and I am suspicious ...

of those who continue to carry water for these fascists by carrying this crap into our living room here at DU.

[coralrf]

24. DU Rules do not allow

us to call a spade a spade....but I do smell a shovel in here.

[coralrf]

26. AMEN!!!!!!

nt

[oasis]

21. Fox news used e-mails on Hill's website as a news source.

"We distort, you decide"

[zeemike]

41. The media is playing a little game with us

First they come on with the Clinton is running story then they get one of there moderates to complain that Clinton is sucking all of the oxygen out of the air. It is intended to divide democrats.

[coralrf]

20. Well that is odd...

""Personally, the last thing I want to see in 2004 is Bill and Hillary Clinton's character issues back at the center of the debate.""

HP help me out here. If that is the case why did you so gratuitously add that trite cant to your post?

[HPLeft]

28. Personal Opinion

Because I refuse to be a true-believer in regard to the Clinton's, and I don't see either of them as the answer to any of our current national problems. Hillary has as many people in this country who absolutely hate her as love her. Her baggage, and as her husband's, is, and will always be, enormous. It's time that the party moved on and found new leaders.

[Pepperbelly]

30. your opinion and

you are welcome to it.

Many disagree with you.

[HPLeft]

33. Fine With Me

I don't expect everyone to agree with me. In truth, I'm kind of shocked that this thread appears to have generated so much heat.

I'm glad that Bill Clinton won two elections. I voted for him, and contributed my cash to his campaign. I wrote dozens of letters to Congressmen and commentators supporting him when he was impeached. But I never admired either Bill or Hillary. In truth, I would have been much happier with Gore.

[oasis]

22. "sending a mixed message"? Is Hillary being ambiguous by saying "no"?

[oasis]

27. No answer? Could it be that HP Left........left?

:shrug:

[HPLeft]

29. I'm Back

Let's try and analyze this logically. Hillary's staff is apparently posting notes on her website touting all the feedback that she's getting about how she should be running for President. Now, who's the boss? Who decides what goes on at that website? Hillary. How is that kind of information relevant to doing her job as MY United States Senator? I do admit that my view of the Clintons is a trifle cynical, but it does seem fishy to me. And, putting the most sympathetic face I can on their behavior, let's just say that these two are easily as calculating a political couple as I've ever seen.

[oasis]

31. I attended Hillary's book signing in Pasadena a couple of months ago.

80 to 90 percent of the folks that I talked with ( I was there 6 hours)were enthusiastic about her running for president. Most were savvy enough to know she wouldn't be a candidate in 2004.

Wouldn't e-mails on her website reflect the sentiment of her well wishers? I'm sure Hill has a capable staff that would use discretion in what e-mailings are posted on her website. At present, Hillary is busy with the "Take back the Senate 2004" project with Senators Corzine and Stabenow.

"How is this kind of informaton relevant to her doing her job as MY united States senator?" you ask. Did Hillary put out a press release? You are her constituent, what should her staff post on her website?

[HPLeft]

35. She is selective

When many New York activists wrote passionate letters urging her to vote against authorizing military action in Iraq, and she elected to instead vote with the President, we never saw our views, or our anger and frustration, represented on that website. By March of 2003, according to the polls I saw, more than 50% of New York City residents polled opposed that war. I think Hillary is very selective with regard to the feedback that she presents on her website.

The bottom line for me is that if she is not running, then there is no issue, and I will be happy to stand corrected.

[oasis]

37. Kerry most likely received the same anti-war request. Is he selective?

BTW, I'm a Kerry supporter.

[HPLeft]

38. Different Point

I think a Senator should vote their conscience. I understand why Kerry voted as he did, and I can respect his vote while not agreeing with it - especially in light of what has happened since in Iraq. And Kerry did, in his remarks on the Senate floor, make it clear that he believed that military action must be the last option, and the United States must not act unilaterally unless Hussein represented an imminent threat.

Hence, I have no problem with Hillary voting to authorize the use of force, but I was making the point that she wasn't actively promoting on her website the views of what I suspect was a torrent of Democratic constituents who strongly disagreed with her view in that instance.

Let me add one more thing. I usually find myself butting head with Republicans and Independants. I'm new here, and I frankly had no idea that folks in the forum were so passionate about Hillary. It's not a passion I share, but I wasn't looking to rile people up over this. Like everybody else, I'm simply looking to discover the best way to send Dubya back to Crawford in January 2005.

[oasis]

39. Kerry's on Meet the Press Sunday. Check it out if possible and

please don't worry about about "riling people up" or someone riling you. If you've noticed some of the other threads, no one comes out unscathed around here, but a lot is learned in this "marketplace of ideas".

And welcome to DU :hi:

[HPLeft]

40. Thanks

I guess that I need to read more of the threads to get a better sense of normalacy here.

[uptohere]

34. OK heres the deal

Of course she's saying no at this time, why not be consistant ?

I do believe that there will be a confab sometime soon to look at the situation. If Bush looks beatable to her crew then there will be some form of groundswell that impells her, kicking and screaming, into the race as close to the last minute as possible.

This relieves her timing problems, makes the money game simpler, is a lot less work and allows her to look like a savior insted of a pariah.

Or I could be full of shit. Time will tell.

[oasis]

36. I agree with your second to last statement.

:-)

[John_H]

42. Heck, even most semi-literate freeper

pausing even a brief second between banjo licks, could tell from that article she's not running. It's called getting some free milage.