Last August, I wrote the post below, after the Logo Democratic Debate. But because of all of the local races we had, I felt it was more important that I focus on those and not what was happening nationally. With the Iowa caucuses tomorrow, now is the time.
The “question” did it for me. But I’ve been waffling on my support of Bill Richardson for president for a while now. Not because I don’t think he’s qualified, because I think he is. No, it has to do with his performance in the debates. Richardson’s resume is impressive. I still think he’s probably the one candidate that can appeal to the middle. But the guy still can’t string a sentence together and is unable to articulate a message, not to mention that his fundraising is lackluster. I expected more from him.
So I’m going with my number two. No, it isn’t Al Gore – because I don’t expect that he will enter the race. And neither is it John Edwards. I like his wife – hell, I wish she was the candidate. But there’s just something about John that I don’t like. Never have.
Ultimately, I will support the Democratic nominee. But for now, my support goes to…
I’ve read all the reports of why she can’t be elected. At the end of the day, though, I disagree with them. Hillary is a smart woman who knows what needs to be done – not only to win the nomination but to win the election. Will I disagree with her? Yes. But except for Dennis Kucinich, no one represents my views more closely than Hillary.
Below is her first campaign ad, one that I certainly identify with. I understand all too well what it is like to be invisible.
Hillary Clinton in 2008!
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Ack. You’ve been assimilated!
😉
Good choice Vivian! : ) Obama and Edwards will be good VP candidates. I was an Edwards fan for a long time, but Hillary’s speeches and resume now captivate me.
I have strong doubts about her as I posted the day before yesterday: http://tinyurl.com/yo4rzj
Stephen
I know what you mean about John Edwards, Vivian. I also can’t exactly put my finger on why it is that he bothers me.
Ack!!!! 🙂
I like john edwards . He is the only viable candidate that won’t continue the bush/clinton legacy.
obama isn’t ready.
I would vote for john edwards.
Hmm…i think she’s the least electible of the three. Edwards just seems disingenuous about his new populist streak.
Golly gee, I am shocked. I am a bit disapointed in you on this one, My friend.
Hillary is bad for your party and would be bad for the country. You know that. Wish you would stick to your principles!
But, as always, I respect you, even if I do not respecxt your choice.
Happy new year!
Ian, the upside is that even if she is the “least electable”, she’ll still beat any GOP candidate. Maybe this is why I’ve not felt compelled to settle down and get behind a candidate – any of the top three can win, and any of the top three would be competent presidents.
I have nothing against people getting rich, but the way Edwards became rich reveals him to be a ruthless and amoral man.
His wealth comes from a specific type of malpractice suit, alleging that cerebral palsy results from waiting too long before performing a Cesarean Section during a difficult delivery. There is no scientific basis for that assumption, but sympathetic juries, seeing a disabled child who will need lifelong care often will ignore the science.
Further, since North Carolina had malpractice caps in place, Edwards would allege that the Dr. involved was grossly negligent, as awarding punitive damages was the one way to get around the cap. Again, sympathetic juries saw no harm in pretending the Dr. was grossly negligent in order to provide what they saw as a large enough award to care for the child (and, of course, Edwards 40%). The juries figured that the insurance companies could afford to take care of these children and no one was getting hurt.
Edwards was so successful in this type of suit, that he franchised the idea, instructing and assisting other lawyers in making such cases (for a share of the fee, of course.)
Of course, people were getting hurt. Good Dr’s reputations were ruined, with gross negligence findings entered into the national health care database. Worse, other Dr’s, fearing just this kind of suit, became much more likely to preform C sections, and they are now 4 times more common than before Edwards pioneered these suits, and, of course, it hasn’t done a bit of good in preventing CP.
Edwards wealth, which brought him political power, all rests on lies that willing juries went along with because he was good at tugging on heart strings.
So, if Edwards gives you the creeps, there is good reason, he is everything that makes cruel lawyer jokes a national pastime.
Nice hit piece, Donald. Anyway, you’re right. Doctors never make mistakes (and surely, when they do, they own up to them!) and insurance companies will always make sure the right thing is done.
Oh Vivian…I’m thrilled that we both agree on Dennis Kucinich.
I respectfully disagree with you on Hillary. I can “respect” Hillary for being smart, competent, and I dislike how the right wing attacked her in so many ways and made much todo abut nothing while she was the first lady. Unfortunately I don’t trust Hillary as far as I can throw her.
IMO, “she’s un-electable” (primarily b/c she IS such a corporate girl…heck she should be a lobbyist). The Republicans sure are rooting for her.
I disagree with Michael Moore. I don’t think for one minute that Hillary championed Universal Health Care. I don’t think that Moore is aware of the fact that the local Democratic Health Insurance Mogul –Dr. Ronald I. Dozoretz and his wife Beth–spent evenings with Hillary in the Clinton White House kitchen advising her and assisting her in formulating the Clinton health care plan. Talk about foxes in the hen house….i realized then that the Clinton’s campaign promise of Universal Health Care was not being kept.
Health care is a major issue for me and feeling sold out just adds fuel to the fire. Unfortunately, for Hillary and the Democratic party there are many independents who will not be won over by anything Hillary may attempt to promise us. Too many of us don’t trust her and that’s a fact.
I am thrilled that I have retained my “independent” status b/c IF Hillary is the Democratic candidate no one can label me a “bad sport” for refusing to vote for her. Even if I was a Dem I could not violate my personal standards to the degree it would have to do to to pull the lever for “corporate girl.” I’ve heard from many others who, like me, have never in their life “not” voted in a Presidential election. We were discussing who we would write in and wondering if we have that option to write in a presidential candidate in VA. If the Washington establishment Dems get their way and Hillary becomes the Democratic nominee I believe they are going to be shocked come election time.
buzz…buzz…
I’ve never been assimilated nor is this a rejection of my principles. As I said, I’ve sat on this post since August. If anything, I’ve become an even stronger supporter of Hillary since then. Reasonable people can disagree on who should or should not be president. I believe that Hillary is our best shot in November, but as I said before, I will support the nominee.
A lot of what Mosquito says weighs into my decision to support Obama.
One other thing: I firmly believe in all politics being local. So the real truth is that I am a heck of lot more concerned with who my Congressional representation will be than who will be president, just as I am more concerned with who my state reps will be than I am with who my Congressional reps will be. Good government starts at the bottom, not at the top.