Do you have a positive opinion of Hillary Clinton?

[Tiggeroshii]

[MercutioATC]

1. Which Clinton?

Chelsea seems fine...

[Tiggeroshii]

2. Lol

Three people already voted, probably for Bill or Chelsea...

[featherman]

3. I think Hillary is just fine... as a Senator. Maybe a little centrist for my taste

but better than Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, etc.

[pnwmom]

33. Do you even know how she votes?

She's among the 10 most liberal in the Senate, according to www.progressivepunch.com
if you go by her actual voting record -- rather than how she's portrayed on DU.

[hijinx87]

42. indeed. her liberal quotient from ADA for 2005

is a perfect 100. I think she is trying to sound centrist,
but her voting record is clearly liberal.

[sendero]

55. You understand..

... that there are lies, damned lies and statistics?

Those vote guides are just one shade above meaningless. They do not, for example, account for folks who enable a bill by voting for cloture, and then vote against it to innoculate themselves from criticism (I'm not saying HRC has done this, but many have).

It does not factor in weightings of any kind. For example, do you think losing a leg is worse than losing a finger? Well, those vote guides treat each as equal.

It would be nice if judging a candidate was as simple as up or down votes. It really isn't and please don't act like it is.

[snowbear]

4. EXTREMELY positive as a U,S, Senator

I just don't want to lose in 2008, and she cannot win the RED state voters we'll need to secure a victory.

She's a wonderful, caring, considerate, intelligent woman. But as our presidential candidate...

[Erika]

7. Don't underestimate Hillary

She's got a growing support group in the South.

[stevedeshazer]

12. Say, are you on their staff or something?

http://www.hillarysouth.com/index.html

[Tiggeroshii]

9. I saw apoll recently(I think zogby or Gallup) which showed her leading all possible opponents in Ark

She is a native to that state and still rather popular there. Does your opinion change with the consideration of the potential of her putting Arkansas into play for us?

[MannyGoldstein]

15. The Wal-Mart Folks LOVE Her

She was a Wal-Mart Director for six years... they flew her and Mr. Clinton around on corporate jets during the '92 campaign.

[snowbear]

16. NO

NO
NO
NO

[Adelante]

17. She is a native of Illinois, no?

[Tiggeroshii]

35. Born there, but is still considered very highly by many in Arkansas

afteer being their first lady for 12 years and such

[Adelante]

43. Anyways

I do have a positive opinion of Hillary :hi:

[roody]

27. Bill barely won Arkansas.

She probably would not do as well as he.

[Tiggeroshii]

34. He won 53 to Dole's 36 in 1996 in Arkansas

And 59% To Bush's 33% in 1992

That is about a 17 and 26 point margin of victory.

I suppose that to some people, "barely" is a relative term, but in this case, I think it is still a stretch. Hillary definitely won't do as well, but is still most likely to win there than somebody not familiar by the state of Arkansas. She was a popular first lady for 12 years during Clinton's time as governor. She has been polling significantly ahead in Arkansas than most other potential opponents.

http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/elections_results/1996/ballot_results.html

http://www.sos.arkansas.gov/elections/elections_results/1992/92generalelectionresults.xls

http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReportEmail.aspx?g=52e64a95-64ed-459b-b8c0-07b028fb5ce9

[roody]

47. Oops. I stand corrected. eom

[MannyGoldstein]

14. Yes, Look At All She's Done!

Draconian bankruptcy act... Iraq war, which she still defends... the "Patriot" act.. introducing a bill to criminalize flag burning...

Yes, she's a class act.

[karynnj]

30. She was good on the bankrupcy bill

She voted to filibuster it - that would have taken 41 votes, which we didn't have. She then did not vote in the vote on the measure itself - she was with her husband in the hospital. Given that we didn't have 41 votes to stop it the week before, we clearly didn't have 51 votes to defeat it outright - so this was an extremely reasonable decision.

I incidently voted "NO". I would have voted lukewarm until recently, the shrillness and nastiness and impatience with others is not attractive.

[MannyGoldstein]

31. That Was The SECOND Bankruptcy Bill

She voted YES on the first one.

[karynnj]

32. My apologies

I only knew of what was obviously the second one (in 2005) and draconian would be an excellent descprition for it.

[BootinUp]

37. So what has been the

result of that bill anyways? I have heard conflicting stories...

[babylonsister]

5. Yes, because she's brilliant. nt

[MrSlayer]

6. No.

I think she will always do or say what is politically expedient.

[Erika]

10. SO? Don't all politicians while they are candidates?

What's your beef? She's a woman?

[MercutioATC]

11. Ummm...he said "always".

You wouldn't have a problem with a politician who always said whatever was politically advantageous?

[Smarmie Doofus]

19. No.

>>>Don't all politicians while they are candidates?>>>

If they did, no DEMS would have voted against IWR ( widely popular at the time). Turns out 22 senate DEMS and the majority of the House DEM caucus *opposed* it.

But not Clinton.

[Donna Zen]

48. To be fair:

Her pollster was quoted as saying that it was a tough vote. But...but...voting "yes" put her in a better position.

[MrSlayer]

26. Yeah, that's it.

I hate her because she's a woman. I hate women in general and think they should just shut the fuck up, cook dinner and put the cock down when it gets up. Give me a break. She stands for nothing in my view. There isn't a position she won't abandon or pursue if the polls suggest it's trendy. Sure a true politician's politician will do that but more than a few of them still have a few core positions they won't break from and she seems to have none, the perfect chameleon. I'm just not a fan of hers and it has nothing to do with her genitals. I don't want the same two families running everything. I want someone new. An outsider with a fresh perspective.

[jonnyblitz]

38. good response to a truly idiotic post. nt

[Raine]

49. I agree

the OP pulling out the woman hater thing was uncalled for. x(

[Marnieworld]

40. wow. you pulled out the "chick" card pretty fast

She capitulates and triangulates. She tries to be everything and say everything for everyone. She's clearly intelligent and I have been a big fan of hers since '92. I thought it was awesome that we had such an amazingly impressive First Lady and the joy of her being a Senator in the face of all of those attacks for so many years never ceases.

But I disagree with her IWR vote. It was clear at the time what the * admin would do with it and how they had no intention for diplomacy or even evidence of a threat. I knew it at the time and I am not a Senator or privy to what she was. She and Kerry made a calculated choice which is of course what politicians usually do but we are living in extrordinary times. Every choice is a life and death decision and I disagree with a lot of her choices.

Flag burning ammendment? Shameless lack of priority. Cozying up to Roger Ailes? Even recently she went after Kerry and hopped on the bash bandwagon for his obviously botched joke. She's only for her own ambitions and I just don't trust her.

But I guess I'm just a misogynist woman then?

[Raine]

51. so

the only reason has to be cause Hillary's a woman. :eyes: x(

[LittleClarkie]

8. Lukewarm. I'll give her a chance. But she needs to keep her attack martian at bay

I reckon.

[Stardust]

13. Except for her Iraq stance.

[Ready4Change]

18. Personally, I like her.

I don't think she's the best the Democrats could offer, but if the choice were between her and just about anyone from the Bush administration I'd vote for her in a heartbeat.

My reservations about her stem from how she, above nearly anyone else, would electrify the conservative voting base. I truly think Bill, if there were no term limits, would face less resistance from the Right.

Actually, that would make an interesting poll on a right leaning site.

[justinaforjustice]

20. Hillary Not Very Bright If Relying on Carville

I always thought that Hillary Clinton was a smart woman, but since she has failed to dis-associate herself from the absurd attacks on Governor Howard Dean by James Carville, I question her judgment. Carville is on a demented campaign to trash the Democratic Party's best organizer. One can understand that Carville's wife, Republican political consultant to Vice President Cheney, Mary Matalin, would applaud Carville's attempt to divide the Democratic Party, but does Hillary support this? If Carville is truly one of Hillary's campaign advisers, she'd be well advised to dump him.

[gumby]

21. NO MORE Bushies.

NO MORE Clintons.

Sorry, I like Hillary, but can't we move on already?

[MADem]

22. I think everyone should check this link before they make up their minds

People "think" they know where a politician stands, but then, when they check the actual voting record, they are often surprised:

http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Hillary_Clinton.htm

Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 60% by the ACLU, indicating a mixed civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 35% by the US COC, indicating a mixed business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 82% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 89% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 0% by the Christian Coalition: an anti-family voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 17% by CATO, indicating a pro-fair trade voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 85% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 21% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)



Hillary Clinton is a Moderate Liberal

[Arkana]

23. I'm fine with Hillary--as long as she doesn't get any ideas

about being Preznit.

[JDPriestly]

24. She is fine as a senator.

I don't agree with all of her views, but she is, to name a few of her good qualities, focused, intelligent, conscientious, kind, strong and hard-working. I don't think she has the warmth and charisma to be a presidential candidate. I don't think she knows how to project that "loving feeling" that a president has to project to gain the trust of the American people. She is a great woman. She would do a good, not great, job as president, but she would not make a great president. And, right now, we have several other better qualified potential presidential candidates. The room lights up when she walks in because she is Bill Clinton's wife, not because she is Hillary Clinton. Compare how the room lights up when Bill Clinton enters the room. That is charisma. He has it. She does not.

[Jed Dilligan]

25. Lukewarm

Like her as a senator, don't like her as a presidential hopeful.

[dweller]

28. she married an exceptional fellow. n/t

[LeftishBrit]

29. Yes.

I think she's intelligent and the fact that the Republicans hate her so much means that she must be doing something right.

Personally, I would prefer her (and most Democrats) to be a bit more left-wing; but it's obviously not up to me.

I don't know whether she'd be a good presidential candidate or not; I would worry that the extreme Clinton-haters on the right would rally their forces against her. Does she have enough of a following to beat that?

[Tiggeroshii]

36. She might.

Like I mentioned before, she is very popular in Arkansas and could do well in many other "red" states. The problem she might face is possibly glosing some Dem strongholds to moderates(who are leading their parties tickets) like giuliani and (not so moderate) mccain.

[formernaderite]

39. NOW that we've won back the house and senate that clinton lost

can we be done with them? Really, all I want to see is democrats...not moderates or third wayers..

[SutaUvaca]

41. I've liked her for her intelligence for a long time

but I'd rather see her grow to be a stronger and stronger force in the Senate,
and not make a run for the White House.

And no matter the strength and shrewdness in playing the game in Washington, I'd rather
have straightforward honesty and less gameswomanship.

Give me Hillaries for Senators any time.
Give me folks like Russ Feingold for President though.

[More Than A Feeling]

44. She's mostly dependable, but she's cautious, sometimes too cautious

It leads her to vote wrongly on some very high-profile things (war, bankruptcy bill as noted elsewhere), and champion ridiculous things like the flag-burning amendment. But according to her progressive punch scorecard, she's on the right side more often than not. Then there is the matter of her rhetoric, which as also noted elsewhere, is centrist.

I'm keeping an open mind on her presidential ambitions. I will note that having Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton makes me uncomfortable. It's all we need in an increasingly stratified society to have aristocratic families passing the presidency back and forth like it was some college football rivalry trophy.

On the positive side, I don't see her getting swiftboated without smashing her attackers into the ground at the first opportunity.

[ElizabethDC]

46. I agree that it's good to keep an open mind

about all the candidates. They all have both positive and negative qualities, we just have to see how it plays out in the primaries, imo. I don't like the thought of tearing anyone down at the outset.

[JamesJoyce]

45. Only 29% approve; DU: so far left it's right.

nt

[nevergiveup]

50. From the beginning

I have not liked her. I have tried and tried and tried to like and appreciate her but there is something about her that perturbs me. If she where the candidate I would vote for her but that is about it. I just can not get excited about a Hillary candidacy and I personally do not think she would win one state with the possible exception of N.Y and R.I. and maybe MA.

[Auntie Bush]

52. I do have a positive opinion of Hillary, but I prefer someone

else for president because I want to win. I'm afraid the southern folk won't vote for her. However, she is the best all around qualified person to run. Besides, she'd have Bill's ear, brains and advice . I'd much prefer Wes Clark. If he could just get some press and exposure and the public got to know him...I'm sure he could win!

I'd take a Clark/Clinton ticket or a Clark/Obama ticket...but that's about it!

[Blu Dahlia]

53. A strong, confident, educated, intelligent mother and wife

What is the problem guys? Seriously!

[LWolf]

54. ambivalent.

I don't trust her. At all.

I have a positive opinion of her intelligence and capabilities.

I've always had a negative opinion of her "standing by her philandering man," whether it be for personal or political reasons.

Her record as a senator leaves me cold, and her relationship to the DLC leaves her suspect.

[MoonRiver]

56. I don't hate her like many here.

But I sure do not want to see her on the 2008 ticket. We can do so much better.