CNN POLL: Hillary Clinton Getting High Marks (70% approval rating)

[jefferson_dem]

CNN POLL: Hillary Clinton Getting High Marks
Posted: 06:00 AM ET

From CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

(CNN) – As Hillary Clinton flies to Mexico for a high level summit, a new national poll indicates 7 in 10 Americans are happy with the job she's doing as secretary of state.

Seventy-one percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday say they approve of how Clinton is handling her job as America's top diplomat. Fewer than one in four disapprove.

"Nine in 10 Democrats approve of Clinton — that's no surprise," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "But by a 50 percent to 43 percent margin, Republicans also think she is doing a good job at the State Department. That's an interesting result for a polarizing figure like Clinton."

The poll's release comes as Clinton teams up with Mexican officials to kick off several weeks of meetings designed to find ways to fight drug violence on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border. Tuesday the Obama administration announced a major increase in security funding and agent deployments along the border.

"Since taking office in January, Clinton has been at the White House nearly every day, meeting with President Obama, Vice President Biden and other members of the cabinet and national security staff," says CNN State Department producer Elise Labott. "The secretary maintains close ties with her former colleagues on Capitol Hill, and meets regularly with congressional leaders."

The former first lady, senator from New York and one-time primary rival to Obama has already clocked close to 60,000 miles in her first two trips overseas — one journey to China, another to the Middle East and Europe — since taking over as secretary of state in January.

<SNIP>

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/03/25/cnn-poll-hillary-clinton-getting-high-marks/

[MannyGoldstein]

1. She's Been Off The Radar

Brilliant move by Obama.

I wish he was as clever at dealing with his Republican economic team.

[Beacool]

3. Bullshit!!!

She's doing her job and doing it well. Your implication that he's keeping her "off the radar" is demeaning.

:thumbsdown:

[Jennicut]

8. I think she is doing a great job. She is not caught up in drama

like many said she would. That is not being off the radar, its called doing her job.

[Beacool]

10. I was one who did not want her to leave the senate.

I thought that she had independence and her own power base. But, seeing how almost everybody in Congress makes me gag right now, I'm glad that she's above the fray and piling up foreign policy chits.

;)

[Jennicut]

13. She got out at a good time.

[tabbycat31]

19. I didn't want her to leave the Senate either

I was on Thom Hartmann's bandwagon to get her to replace Harry Reid (because she has a spine and Reid does not) as Senate Majority Leader, but I think she's great at the job she has now.

[Beacool]

20. I agree.

If Reid's balls were higher up hi scrotum, he would be wearing them as a bow tie.

:eyes:

PS, I also wish someone would rein in Nancy.

[TheBigotBasher]

55. Nancy is doing a good job.

She delivered a stimulus bill that would have been far more effective than the wet compromise delivered by Harry.

Maybe Nancy or Donna to head the ticket in 2016?

[blue_onyx]

62. We can do better than Pelosi in 2016

[Beacool]

63. Nancy? Not so fast Kimosabe..........

I'm hoping that Hillary is convinced to run again.

:D

[Joe the Revelator]

78. She'll be pushing 70...she's not running again

New generation. don't forget it.

[Beacool]

79. Why not?

She'll be 69, there are plenty of world leaders older than she would be at that point. Besides, who else would be as experienced as Hillary with her 8 years in the WH, 8 years in the senate and X years as SOS?

BTW, Nancy is several years older than Hillary.

;)

[Joe the Revelator]

80. Because she will be nearly as old as McCain....as we've seen

70 year olds who will be pushing 80 by the end of two terms are just not in touch with America to the level that they should be. The presidency is a "younger" person's game.

[terisan]

82. Stuff the ageism. nt

[Joe the Revelator]

83. Don't fall back into this type of bs again

There are some truths in this world. One of those is that younger people make stronger leaders. Its the same arguments 99% of this board made against McCain.

[terisan]

86. Younger people do not necessarily make better leaders by virtue of being younger.

Evidence please?


99% of the people on any board can be wrong.

....and , in any case, can you prove your % figure?

[Joe the Revelator]

88. You're being silly

I can't prove common sense. People pushing 80 have a much higher then average chance of their thought processes slowing down. They are much more likely to be stuck in their ways, and end up being figure heads only. As stated, I want my leaders to be engaged and aware of the realities of the cutting edge world, not the world that was around 30 years ago.

[Captain_Nemo]

132. Hmmm? Ageism again here at DU.

Many people think they are liberals, yet they flagrantly throw around ageist commentary. Saying a person who is old shouldn't be president is ageist.

Liberalism
From Wiki:
Liberalism emphasizes individual rights and equality of opportunity.

Ageism
Again from Wiki:
"It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice and discrimination. This may be casual or systematic.<1><2><3> The term was coined in 1969 by US gerontologist Robert N. Butler to describe discrimination against seniors, and patterned on sexism and racism.<4> Butler defined ageism as a combination of three connected elements. Among them were prejudicial attitudes towards older people, old age, and the aging process; discriminatory practices against older people; and institutional practices and policies that perpetuate stereotypes about older people<5> The term has also been used to describe prejudice and discrimination against teens and children, including ignoring their ideas because they are too young, or assuming that they should behave in certain ways because of their age. <6>

[Beacool]

100. That's pure American thinking crap.

Here we glorify youth, but in other cultures age and experience are respected. I prefer to have an experienced person who has become wiser with age than an inexperienced person just because he/she may be perceived as being "cool". No wonder we end up with some doozies for president!!!

:eyes:

[Joe the Revelator]

127. Yeah doozies like Reagan and GHW

Those young kids like JFK, Bill Clinton, and FDR were all chumps.


Give me a break.

[Joe the Revelator]

81. And for the record I'm no fan of Pelosi

I'm in Mark Warner's camp for 2016

[Captain Hilts]

92. It's too old to start being prez. '08 was her only chance. nt

[Beacool]

101. Not necessarily.

Life has many strange turns. You may be right or not. Only time will tell and no one has a crystal ball.

:shrug:

[Captain_Nemo]

133. Agreed. And clearly more people know of her skills. It is time for women to have a woman president.

And this crap about about "not just any woman" is just a way to deflect the conversation and avoid facts.(OT What makes me laugh is the so-called 'liberal" comment "SHe should have apologized for voting for IWR."
WTF? Did they ask Kerry the same thing? Did they ask Dodd? Did they ask BIDEN?? No. That was reserved for her. )

The fact of the matter is women who live in countries with gender parity (including a woman president) do better.

Just read "Who Answers to Women" by the UN - August 2008

For the entire history of our nation we have been underrepresented. And now, fifty years after the women's movement we do not have gender parity.

The phrase "Not just any woman" is an excuse to avoid the stark reality of extreme sexism in our country.

Beacool, I am sure after this I will get some response that reeks of ageism peppered with a little "liberal sexism" for good measure.

Watch.

[Captain_Nemo]

131. Too old? We are an aging nation. You are revealing your ageism.

I assume you think you are a "progressive" or a "liberal." You probably think of yourself as non-discriminatory to the rights of all people.

This is clearly not true. Your comment is a reflection of your beliefs. Your ageism reveals much about you.

You deride '08 as "her only chance" and think nothing of saying it. Yet, the statement negates the needs of women and girls to see a woman in the white house.
We, as females, have yet to have the experience that men have had since the inception of this nation - male power looking back at them.

Your comment is condescending, trivializing, not true and insensitive.

I suggest you read up on what a "liberal" is and rethink your comment.

[sfbabe3]

126. Old? Dole (73) McCain (72) Reagan (69) GHW Bush (68 when renominated)

What is too old nowadays? Important question. AFter 60 it is mental acuity, energy and health which should be
evaluated, since it is so different for people. I know women in their early 50s who look older and less healthy than somein their 70s.

Old? Dole (73) McCain (72) Reagan (69) GHW Bush (68 when renominated)

[Joe the Revelator]

128. And Hillary would be nearly as old as Reagan in 2016

[blm]

35. Hillary used her spine in the senate from 2001-2008? Can you share details?

Some of us may have missed Hillary leading the opposition to Bush throughout the 8 yrs. Or, maybe you feel it took a spine to stand with Bush on his terrorism and Iraq war decisions instead of with the Dems who stood against Bush to voice opposition.

[Lord Helmet]

72. I guess that's a no.

[terisan]

84. Hmm ...and Obama did what in the Senate from 2004-08. Oh yes he was there to

vote for Cheney's Energy Bill and to get AT&T off the hook for domestic spying.

[Captain Hilts]

93. And funding the wars. Life's complicated, especially in the senate. nt

[Beacool]

102. Oh teacher call me, pretty please!!!

He started running for president?

:7

[blm]

109. as opposed to Hillary who started running for President years before Obama even had a chance

.

[Beacool]

111. Hillary had served more than a full term in the senate

before she ran for the presidency. Obama didn't even put the bags down before he was already bored with the job.

;)

[blm]

114. No - Bush's failures carved out an opportunity for a black candidate that might never be seen again

in Obama's lifetime.

Hillary didn't LEAD much in the 8years she was in the senate, did she, or THAT would be the focus of your exchange. In fact, she, along with Schumer, only LED the debate AGAINST filibustering Alito nomination in closed Dem caucus, right?

[Beacool]

119. I don't recall Obama leading on much of anything either.

Quite the contrary, he always struck me as an appeaser, not wanting to make waves.

[blm]

120. So that's your reason for claiming the Senate needed Hillary's (hahah) spine?

That IS all ya got, because you certainly can't show ONE INSTANCE in her entire EIGHT YEARS as Senator that Hillary took on George W Bush and led an opposition to him on serious matters, can you?

Not to mention the way her husband, the past Dem president, did more to sell Bush's position on Iraq war and foreign policy than even Lieberman, who took the lion's share of bad press for it from the left.

[blm]

110. This thread was about the MYTH of Hillary's leadership in the Senate.

I am no slave to anointing Obama with skills he doesn't have, either. I think he's too susceptible to letting media MYTHS make some of his decisions - like Sec of State. Both Clintons sided heavily with Bush on his foreign policy decisions and they deserved to be called on it, not rewarded.

[Beacool]

103. I'm sorry, I didn't know that she was obligated to cater to the left.

Hillary did what she thought was correct at the time. She was a senator from NY after all. She has more testicular fortitude than most men I know, just because you don't agree with her stance on some issues it does not mean that she doesn't have a spine.

:shrug:

[blm]

108. You don't know what went down with Alito confirmation, do you? She urged AGAINST filibuster

along with Schumer - she didn't WANT this fight with Bush. She and Schumer gave cover to southern centrist Dems who didn't want this fight, either. They were SCARED. Then, after activists placed hundreds of calls to her office she had the nerve to act like she was FOR filibuster all along.

She never LED on any issue important to the Democratic party and its principles OR issues important to the left, throughout her entire career in the senate. Then you want to play this game where you claim she would be a great senate leader because she has the most spine. I call BS because it is truly BS. You are INCAPABLE of naming one issue she led in her 8yrs in the senate. Hillary's leadership has always been a myth.

[Captain Hilts]

45. Me either. I wanted her in Reid's job because she NEVER would have said "I don't work for him."

Because she remembers that shit getting slung at Bubba by his own party.

[terisan]

85. Reid isn't supposed to work for Obama-We have 3 co-equal branches of government

[blm]

115. She certainly worked FOR Bush for 8yrs - she, and her husband who advised all DC Dems to support

Bush on his terrorism and Iraq war decisions - just like he advised Tony Blair.

[Arkana]

66. She is off the radar--but that's because she's doing a pretty good job.

[Dramarama]

124. She's been all over the place from what I've seen

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

22. Hillary's low profile has clearly kept her approval numbers artificially high. . .

Not that she's staying completely invisible. But, even when Hillary is out traveling the world, visiting China for example, sensitive issues like human rights take a back seat to less pressing issues, like pimping U.S. Treasury notes. Now that Saudi clerics want women banned from television and other media on top of the already dismal Saudi record on women's rights issues, you think Hillary - who has done a MASTERFUL job raising these issues in the past - will have anything to say about it? I highly doubt it, though maybe she's trying to gain much needed diplomatic experience before she attempts to take a prominent role on the world stage. I think it's only fair to give Hillary more time to see if she'll be an effective Secretary of State and bring real change around the world, or if she'll just be ineffectual while going through the motions.

[Beacool]

30. Hey, you don't like it?

Take it up with the president. How the hell do you think that she could publicly press the Chinese on civil rights when she just went there to ask them for more money for the overinflated stimulus package? You don't trash your banker if you hope to get more money out of them. Ditto for the Saudis, our #3 bankers.

Like a former manager I had used to say, "they got us by the short hairs".

:shrug:

[TheBigotBasher]

54. "Over inflated" stimulus package?

No where near over inflated. I would expect that the US will need another adrenalin shot before long.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

59. You've got a good point re Hillary-it's just a shame $ takes priority over human/women's rights.

[Beacool]

64. Hillary has fought for decades for women's rights

and children's rights. But, right now she is the SOS and representing the Obama administration, not herself. Hopefully she can press them on this issue at a later date when we hopefully don't go to them again to ask them for money for the umpteenth time.

;)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

77. I hope so too.

[terisan]

87. Clinton's record on women's rights is fantastic and she is highlighting women's rights as

Secretary of State.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

116. Can't wait until she sets the Saudis straight - major kudos to Hillary IF she does (I doubt it).

[laugle]

89. What about the overinflated

budget? And guess what he is cutting? The middle class tax cuts he promised, now I'm angry!!

So let's do a recap; he's cutting out the middle class tax cuts; he's raising tax cuts on small businesses who make over $250,000; and guess what, he's keeping Bush's tax cuts to the wealthiest people.

People had better get a clue and speak-up, or we will be left in the dust...................

This is not the "change we can believe in!"

[Beacool]

104. I think that the administration is taking a gamble.

But then no one knows for sure what will work. I'm looking at the whole thing askance because I have two economists in my life and they are both dubious that parts of Geithner's plan will work. They are particularly nervous about the huge deficits that we are being saddled with and what could happen if the money well dries up (read we don't have anyone else who can lend us money).

Well, we will see for ourselves whether it works or not. The sure thing is that we will all sink or swim together.

:-(

[laugle]

105. Hi there! I see you are still at it! LOL

I remember your posts regarding your economists friends/family. That's nice for you, I'll bet you have some pretty heavy discussions. No doubt it's getting very complicated and scary. I'm 56 and have never seen this country in such a mess. The latest regarding changing our currency to a global one is really freaking me out. So far, my husband and I have only lost equity in our home, we were very conservative with our investments and are still in good shape financially. I don't even want to know what will happen if we change our currency. Maybe your economist friends have some idea of the ramifications. Let me know, if you hear anything.

I think we will know more by the summer, there are some signs of light, ie. market rallies, & home sales.

I still choose to be optimistic, but it's getting harder.........best to you...........

[Beacool]

122. Hi, yourself!!!

Geithner had to retreat real fast from his scary remark about a global currency. It would be very bad for us and would put in doubt our ability to remain in global dominance if that were to happen (the Chinese are pushing hard for it). The Chinese would love to take over as a superpower. The kind of deficits that we are incurring now, and in the future will continue to incur, is making my staid brother very nervous. Ditto for my friend's husband. There's no amount of taxation that can offset a deficit that is predicted to increase at the rate of a trillion dollars per year. These are scary times, no one is 100% sure of what they are doing. It's the pasta test: through enough of it against the wall until some of it sticks. Not the best way to run the economy of a country........

:-(

Take care!!

:hi:

[laugle]

123. Great minds really do think alike!

I was just telling my husband that it seems like they are throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks! The "pasta test" that's a good name for it! Well.....I'm still going to try to remain optimistic, since there are some signs of light at the end of this long tunnel. The currency thing is scary and I'm not about to start investing in gold yet. Let me know the scoop if you hear anything. Forewarned is forearmed, I not going off that cliff...............

The thing about China is, if we go down, they do too. I try to remember that, as their economy is very much dependent on ours.

Best to you...........

[AZBlue]

129. Yeah, the country's in a mess - thanks to Bush.

Focus your anger where it actually belongs, not at the person trying to help us.

[Lord Helmet]

117. "This is not the "change we can believe in!" -- pure PUMA crap!!

Obama isn't doing shit to his own budget. Do you even read the news?! Clinton surrogate and fuckface Evan Bayh is leading the "ConservaDems" that are slicing and dicing Obama's budget and siding with the fucking Republicans on the reconciliation rule blocking what Obama asked for in his budget.

I read here that your clubhouse was torn down last night http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8292617 but don't think you can heckle and shit on the new president here.

[laugle]

125. You have a

filthy mouth! I'm no PUMA! The buck stops with our president! Go take your meds and have a civility break! IGNORE.....

[progressivebydesign]

38. WTF? She's in the news every day, traveling all over the world.

What a bizarre comment.

[Captain Hilts]

44. Two national surveys taken the last May saw her beating McCain by 8 pts compard to BO's 2pts.

Her numbers are good.

Obama's prez now and that's also good. He's a good prez, she's a good SoS.

It's all good. And the Republicans are green with envy.

[MannyGoldstein]

97. Last May?

Couldn't you find something a little more recent? Like, less than 6 months before the election?

[biopowertoday]

134. what a silly statement you make. She already has the diplomatic

experience for pete's sake!! where you been?

[empyreanisles]

47. More like "Off the Charts".

I love Hillary in this job. I loved her before and am happy to see her making her mark on the world stage (again). She really is taking care of things overseas and lifting the load off Obama to deal with the mess here.

[rpannier]

73. She's hardly been off the radar

She has been very high profile around the world.

I live in Asia and she's been seen constantly on Asia-Pacific TV, various Japanese, Korean and Chinese News outlets etc meeting with world leaders in Asia and Europe.

Her work has been exemplary.
She has gotten high marks everywhere she's gone.

It was a brilliant move by Obama
He chose someone who knows how to be a diplomat

[Captain Hilts]

2. She's not Condi Rice. It's all good. nt

[Beacool]

4. I saw Condi on Jay Leno last night and she was quite personable.

She's obviously bright and well prepared. I wonder what kind of SOS would she have been if she hadn't served in Bush's administration.

:(

[Captain Hilts]

5. Much better. She had nothing to work with.I think she tried as SoS. But she let Cheney and Rumsfeld

trample her as NSA.

[Beacool]

7. I think that she would have been a terrific SOS

in someone's else's administration, she definitely has the creds.

;-)

[Jennicut]

6. Condi had some decency as a human being, especially when she was moved when Obama was elected

However, she allowed Bush, Cheney and others to run all over her. She finally was able to practice some diplomacy at the end (with North Koreas) but by then it was too late. No one trusted the Bush administration.

[Beacool]

9. Yeah, it's a shame that she chose to side with those losers.

:hi:

[Jennicut]

11. Agreed. I do think she did really try.

:hi:
I don't view her as outright evil like Cheney or totally a waste like Bush. She is way too conservative for my tastes but she was right about using diplomacy and they would not listen to her. Colin Powell tried to.

[Beacool]

16. Exactly, they had their own agenda

and no piddly SOS was going to change their course. That was Bush's style. After the press conference last night I watched Frontline. Interesting and informative. It appears that Bush only listened to those he agreed with and fired those who didn't agree with his economic policies, such as his first Treasury Secretary.

That level of blindness to the realities of an economy that was unraveling before his eyes is frightening.

:scared:

[laugle]

90. Please don't forget, as national security adviser,

she was a complete and utter failure..........i.e., 911!

[Captain Hilts]

94. An enabler, just like Powell, yet Powell got a loud cheer at the inauguration. nt

[laugle]

95. How soon people forget! I will never forget the day at the U.N.

when Powell made his presentation for the Iraq war. Stupid me, I believed him, since he was the only one in the Bush administration with credibility. I don't like getting played.........and I don't forgive him!

[blm]

121. don't forget Bill Clinton helped sell invasion of Iraq to Tony Blair and DC Dems for BushInc.

All that influence Bill had within the Dem party, in our country, and with world leaders, and he used it to support Bush's decisions on terrorism and Iraq war. What a shame.

[otohara]

36. Smiling While Still Lying

sorry, but she was and still is overrated.

I think she's a good pianist though.

[rpannier]

74. My older brother was at the Harriman Institute with her (Columbia Univ)

He says she's bright, but she is an ideologue.

[Beacool]

12. Thank you for this nice thread.

I'm glad that people are approving of Hillary's handling of the job. One thing that even her worst adversaries won't deny is that Hillary is a very hard worker. She gives it her all, no matter which job she has at the moment, and the SOS post is no exception.

:D

BTW, I'm sick and tired of the media's meme that she is polarizing. Yeah, she's sooooo polarizing that she won almost 18M votes in the primary. She and Obama received more votes respectively that anyone else in a primary in the history of this country. This started as a RW theme during her WH years and it was picked up by a media that is still reluctant to let it go. Even when there is no evidence that it continues to be true (if it ever was in the first place).

:(

[jefferson_dem]

15. I'm back on the HillaryWagon in a big way...

after hopping off for a period during the primaries. It's all good now.

We are fortunate to have Secretary Clinton representing the US to the world.

[Beacool]

17. Great!!!

I think that you are not the only one. I'm still hoping that after Obama completes his terms that she can be convinced to run again. Who else would have that amount of experience? Eight years in the White House, eight years in the US Senate and X years as SOS.

:hi:

[Lord Helmet]

21. "She and Obama received more votes respectively that anyone else in a primary ... "

The only way she received more votes is if you don't count the caucuses and if you count Michigan and Florida which she agreed were disqualified (and then changed her mind).

It isn't helpful to these boards or your mental health to continue to push that blatantly false message. It also isn't a crime to point that out to you, it's just weird that people have to keep doing it over and over again.

Why can't you just be happy with her appointment as Secty of State?


http://www.usaelectionpolls.com/2008/clinton-obama-popular-vote.html

[Beacool]

26. I think that you need to practice reading.

I said that each of them received more votes than anyone else in US primary history. I never said that she received more votes than Obama.

:eyes:

[Lord Helmet]

28. "respectively" --- you said "she and Obama "respectively" "

You obviously mean what you write (you've said this many times before).

Maybe you should stop trying to fudge when confronted with your own words.

[Beacool]

29. Oh please, give me a break!!!

You are just trying to pick a fight when this is a nice positive post that attacks no one.

:(

[karynnj]

33. Not to mention - it is ridiculuous to compare to years when the

nominee was already decided much earlier. The fact is that Gore and Kerry both won a far higher percent of the primary vote and delegates and became the defacto nominee long before over half of the states voted. To imply that HRC somehow did better than they did in the primaries is just strange.

[wisteria]

46. You are absolutely correct. n/t

[Lord Helmet]

71. it is a ridiculous thing to say

but they keep saying it over and over anyway which is strange because it's easily disproved.

It's distasteful and divisive but I guess that's how they roll.

[laugle]

91. Snark.................

[Metric System]

34. I was about to post on the use of the word "polarizing" in the article when I saw your comment. I

totally agree with you. I see red whenever I come across that word in an article about Hillary. Her favorability ratings have been high for months now and the media STILL uses that word. It wouldn't bother me so much if they used it in describing other politicians too, but I never see Sarah Palin, for example, being described as polarizing. It drives me nuts.

[Beacool]

99. Well, if they didn't stir the pot they wouldn't sell their garbage.

What can you expect from them?

:eyes:

[PA Democrat]

41. I think Hillary is doing a great job.

I've always been impressed by her amazing knowledge of just about any policy or program. I was an Obama supporter, but was always in awe of her debating skills and her grasp of the issues. I think she has the makings of a great SoS. I am rooting for her to make progress on a whole host of foreign policy problems we now face.

[tridim]

14. I wonder if Rush still believes that "she'll never be elected Senator"?

Hehe, idiot. :)

[Beacool]

18. Oxycontin ate away Rush's brain.

Besides, he's a sexist creep. I remember the inappropriate comments he made about Hillary and Palin.

Pig.........

:puke:

[rpannier]

76. Well that puts him in good company

Shill O'Lielly said she would never win, as did Dick Morris, the Butt-way boys and Sh*tt Hume.

[WI_DEM]

23. I think she is doing fine, but then again because of the economy we seldom hear about her.

[denem]

24. "A polarizing figure like Clinton"?

Pure tripe. Democrats, successful Democrats are "polarizing" when they are subject to sharp, mendacious and frankly libelous criticism from the cabals that oppose them. At the core of media "Clinton hatred" was their success. During the Clinton Presidency they targeted Hillary, partly because it was difficult to lay a glove on Bill, and, she as First Lady, she had less opportunity to respond.

By the time of the DNC convention it was reported 62% had a favorable opinion of Hillary: This, after more than a decade of slander. Yes the RW attacks had relented somewhat, but most importantly, people had had a chance to actually hear her, to appreciate her intellect, humanity and grit.

I think we all knew what kind "respectful campaign" either Hillary or Barack were in for from the GOP. "Polarizing", is short hand for RW fear.

[Beacool]

27. It's a meme perpetuated by the media.

The RW still throws it around once in a while and the left picked it up during the primaries. Frankly, it's all B.S.

:eyes:

[denem]

31. A meme perhaps, but the RW certainly fear her.

[Captain Hilts]

43. People STILL believe this right wing shit. It doesn't explain her great poll numbers. nt

[dionysus]

25. good for her. i hope she continues to do well.

[4lbs]

32. For those that think she's been kept off the radar....

Umm... Very public trips to meet with officials in China, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Egypt, Indonesia, Russia, and the EU/NATO countries in the past 6 weeks is what one would call being kept off the radar?

If she was being hidden, President Obama would have sent her to Fiji and Guam, not to see about a dozen major countries.

[progressivebydesign]

39. Bingo! Thank you. There are still the Hillary haters around here who can't behave. n/t

[Beacool]

40. They'll never change.

They are worse than the Freepers. Apparently, they will hold on to that bone until the end of time.......

:eyes:

[progressivebydesign]

37. Damn straight! Wow. A SoS that is actually DOING something, what a concept!! n/t

[PBS Poll-435]

42. Polarizing?

Not so much anymore. 1993 was like so 16 years ago.

[Occam Bandage]

48. Sounds like she's quite polarizing. Among Republicans.

Dems, of course, love the hell out of her.

[Lilith Velkor]

70. Obamacans still hate her ass

Obamacrats, however, think she's a peach.

[empyreanisles]

49. When I see Obama and Hillary doing things, I feel like it's the superheroes

I would love to be a fly on the wall at their White House meetings. She is such a strong, radiant presence. When she arrives in these foreign locales, you just feel proud because you KNOW that the USA is back.

[Captain Hilts]

50. They were the two best candidates this party has had in decades, 'cept for Bubba.

But I inherently reacted more positively and strongly to both Obama and Clinton than I did to Bubba at first.

The primary season showed how strong our party is and how deep our bench was.

It's all good.

[PopSixSquish]

51. I Read Somewhere that SOS Clinton, SOD Gates and NSA Jim Jones

have really gelled together as a team with each being very impressed by the other's knowledge and abilities. This has helped the President tremendously by allowing him to focus on the economy et al. In addition, SOS Clinton and Vice President Biden also confer regularly (as stated in the article).

I'm also struck by something the President said in the 60 Minutes interview as well as last night. "If it comes to his desk, then it's a tough decision he has to make. Otherwise someone else would have taken care of it" (not an exact quote).

That tells me more about his governing style than anything else. He hired these people because he expected them to make decisions based on all available information. He didn't hire "yes people" and he didn't hire people to sit around and wait for him.

Damn brilliant if you ask me...

[Jennicut]

53. Clinton, Gates, Jones and Biden all work well together

I have been impressed by Gates wanting to cut the crappy programs in the Defense.

[Beacool]

57. I think that you mean this article:

Team Obama: Jones, Clinton, and Gates Hit it Off

March 14, 2009
By Paul Bedard, Washington Whispers



It's not all bad news coming out of President Obama's Cabinet Room. Yes, his financial team, lacking a bench, is double-dribbling down the court. His healthcare game is sluggish, and some agency heads haven't been confirmed. But as Congress and the press focus on his domestic and financial agenda, Obama's national security team—which is emerging as a modern-day powerhouse, insiders say—has been largely ignored. "We really can't believe how well and quickly this team has jelled," says a key adviser to the trio of National Security Adviser James Jones, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "They have hit it off."

At the head is Jones, the Obama confidant who is expanding the National Security Council's role and reorganizing how the world is viewed. Clinton, once Obama's foe, is his diplomat selling the administration, and Gates, a Bush guy, mans the guns as his department runs the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Aides say theirs is a team effort; they've even continued the Bush-era practice of joining for a weekly lunch.

And the glue holding the troika together? Many say Gates and the top aides whom Obama let him keep at the Pentagon. "This building does not have a leadership void," says one insider. "This is where Gates's foresight really helped." Some wondered if the brain trust would meld, considering their backgrounds. That's where Obama comes in, especially at the Pentagon, heavy with Bushies. "He made an immediate and impressive impact here," says a Pentagon official, who described Obama's knowledge of the military and diplomacy as not just "briefing-book stuff." A happy team? Says one defense aide: "On all counts, there is good rapport."

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/3/14/team-obama-jones-clinton-and-gates-hit-it-off.html?s_cid=rss:washington-whispers:team-obama-jones-clinton-and-gates-hit-it-off

[PopSixSquish]

61. That Would be the One - James Jones is One Impressive Fellow

You don't get to be a four-star Marine General without knowing how to kick ass and take names. The man has a Bronze Star.

His father James Jones Sr. is a highly decorated World War II Marine, having participated in such battles as Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Okinawa and his uncle retired Brigader General William K. Jones served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and the Navy Cross.

I'm glad the President has General Jones on his side. I think he, Clinton and Gates have the nation well in hand.

[Beacool]

65. They are a good team.

I'm glad that they get along; three hard working, disciplined people.

BTW, I love that toon of the three of them. Hil looks so cute with that basketball.

:D

[Captain Hilts]

69. I hope this helps cure some of the ugly stereotypes people here have against Marines and HillaryC.nt

[Beacool]

75. I hope so!!!

I'm not holding my breath, but here's hoping..........

:D

[Vidar]

52. She's doing a good job, & she's not Condi.

[Cha]

56. Good, she's working hard

and loving it, I dare say.

[960]

58. She's doing a great job. Like Obama, she's approved by everyone except for the

hardcore freepers and a handful of other wingnuts.

[mvd]

60. I was happy when she was picked (despite protests), and she hasn't let me down

:thumbsup:

[notesdev]

67. Everyone approves!

of Hillary being on the other side of the planet!

[BootinUp]

68. Hillary will go down as one of the best

SOS in our history.

[BeyondGeography]

96. Very strong performance in Mexico today

:patriot:

[burning rain]

98. Good for Hillary.

She's very well qualified for this post and has performed ably. Though I favored Obama in the primaries (most of all over the Iraq War), I'd have been pleased to vote for her had she ended up the nominee.

Admittedly, Hillary has in Condi Rice a weak predecessor who's easily outshone. What a meathead, she let the Mid East Peace Process die a grisly death (I know the true-believing righties reckon that a virtue, though) and in her own area of supposed expertise, Russia, utterly failed in negotiations, most ignominiously had to be bailed out by Sarkozy over the Georgia disaster, and it became clear she couldn't speak Russian for shit.

STAY CHILL WITH HILL !!! LOL, I'm a dork :dunce: But I'm not ashamed.

[joshcryer]

106. That's just a rumor.

Can't be verified unless we can have direct reports from the people polled.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

107. she "fits" in the role. in other roles she has been too aggressive as a woman

and finally people see her as a good "fit"

[Beacool]

112. I'm not sure I understand your meaning.

How has she been too aggressive? If a woman running for president is "too aggressive", then maybe it's people who have a problem with strong women. Despite the meme out there, this still remains a misogynist country. If there's a lesson to be learned from the primary is that we are not as advanced a nation as we claim to be. The media was beyond disgusting with their sexism and what was even more pathetic was that the Democratic party never called them out on it.

:(

[La Lioness Priyanka]

113. i am not saying that she is too aggressive or women shouldnt be too aggressive

its just that often women are seen as bad "fits". 1e: the role requires aggressiveness and women are not aggressive. or the women is aggressive and therefore a bad fit as a woman. either way, she is seen as a bad fit. there is a lot of literature on the concept of fit.

i think hillary is now finally a good fit in the eyes of the american people.

[Beacool]

118. Well, I hope that one day the American people

see her or another woman as "fit" to be president. We are more than half the population and we are still waiting our turn. As it is, we are the industrialized nation with less women in the upper chamber than any other. How many do we have now, 16 out of 100? Even some Second and Third World countries have more women representing them. What the hell is the matter with us?????

:-(

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

130. This pick is looking better and better for both Clinton and Obama.

And I, for one, couldn't be happier.