Hillary Clinton, The Pros & Cons

[kpete]

Pros: HILLARY CLINTON.

Cons: Clinton is a consummate modern Democratic politician. Which means she's way more conservative on many issues that I am (and most of this readership is): She's a corporatist, an opportunist, not committed to full transparency, and way more hawkish on foreign policy than I want any president to be (though I am keenly aware that peaceniks don't get elected). She's not great at talking about race and racism, always sounding awkward and unnatural like she's really trying hard to avoid saying the wrong thing, at a time when we really need a president who can speak confidently on racial issues.

That's not a complete list, but it's a few of my major concerns. And, to be fair to Hillary Clinton, most of them are concerns I would have about virtually any Democratic candidate. But that doesn't make them any less concerning.

The last time Hillary Clinton ran for president, I was alternatingly accused of being in the bag for Hillary Clinton, and being insufficiently supportive of Hillary Clinton, so let me just lay out what things are going to look like around here, regarding her candidacy, and y'all can manage your expectations accordingly: I am going to staunchly, unapologetically defend Hillary Clinton from the unfathomable torrents of misogyny which will be disgorged by both conservatives and progressives who can't be bothered to criticize her on the issues; I am going to be excited and invigorated by Hillary Clinton and her campaign; I am going to be depressed by and frustrated with Hillary Clinton and her campaign.

And if she happens to win, just substitute "presidency" for "campaign."


the rest:
http://www.shakesville.com/2015/04/here-we-go.html

[leftofcool]

1. Great post.

We are never, ever going to have a perfect president in this country. Even those we hold beloved and dear in our hearts (see Lincoln, Roosevelt etal) were not perfect. I know as a Hillary supporter that I am not going to agree with her on many issues but the idea of having a Republican president for the next 8 years scares the shit out of me. I think we all know exactly what will happen with a repuke president and the power in our Congress tilted to a repuke side.

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Obama was a sort of "peacenik". No?

Relatively speaking, of course.

And he crushed Clinton, McCain and Romney without breaking much of a sweat.

I'd say the "peaceniks don't get elected" thing is perhaps a bit out of date.