why is Hillary playing it so safe?

[cleveramerican]

Every time I see news coverage of her campaigning, she is going on and on about some very very safe topic, desperately trying to get somebody to care about it.It comes off as canned pablum, no risk taken and nothing gained. Can she be thinking that she can win this way? I respect(though may not vote for) candidates who are brave enough to actually say something meaningful despite the fact that some may disagree.I have no patience for any candidate who plays it so safe all the time. Usually it is a recipe for defeat.I like her but this troubles me.

When are the gloves going to come off?
When is she going to take a risk and actually say something meaningful?


What do you think her strategy is at this point in the process?

[mmonk]

1. To be within the DLC framework while pretending

to be broader.

[havocmom]

2. she is a politician, not a leader

lots of windsock in that woman

[tularetom]

3. She doesn't want to piss off those who already hate her

I don't know where she's getting this advice (actually I have a pretty good idea) but she needs to act a little more indignant about how fucked up everything is.

[Moochy]

9. James Carville?

Harry Shearer on his Le Show radio program has done some really funny bits where he does his impression of James Carville advising Hilary to be more "Daddy". Quite funny, and irreverent, IMO.

http://play.rbn.com/foo.ram?url=livecon/kcrw/g2demand/ls/ls070318le_Show_-_March_18.rm&start=37:16

This is the clip to the segment :)

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

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[cleveramerican]

11. You think she's been brave politically lately?

I don't. call me a troll if you must.
I wouldn't voice these concerns in republican circles.
Here, among friends, I call em like I see em.
If this is considered "negative" then we are all in deep trouble.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

5. and how is this different from her usual behavior?

:shrug:

[papau]

14. she is pushing that which just might have a chance of passage in next 18 months - this isn't bad but

it does not satisfy the DK model or even the Edwards model.

What is amusing to watch is the Obama folks put her down for no specifics on big proposals - since the only big picture item Obama has gotten close to be specific on has been energy - and there he came out for coal to gas conversion before, in his latest energy proposal which was all goals he dropped any mention of coal to gas.

Hillary's child care "universal" health proposal is beyond specific and may even become law - which would be nice, - at least I think so, even if the rest of DU is unimpressed! :-)

Besides we are way early for big proposals with specifics (DK and Edwards are impressive by being early) - I'll check after Thanksgiving and see where we stand on big proposals from each of the candidates - but that is just me - and how I see it.

Right now Obama's goals and hope message are selling well and he will be near the lead or perhaps even in the lead by the time the fall comes around and things get serious.

[Bucky]

6. "Well I guess I could have just stayed home and baked cookies"; "I'm not some Tammy Wynette"

Mrs Clinton got burned over and over again in her early years by speaking off the cuff. It nearly derailed her partner's political career. The extent to which she's been successful since 1995 (when she hosted Newt's mom at the White House) is the extent to which she's learned not to be spontaneous and to always be prepared, focused, contolled, and of course "safe." At this hour in her career, I don't think there's any chance she's gonna be cuffing it between now and the convention.

I think the last thing she said spontaneously was in 2004. It was a gem, but another demonstration of her inability to win crossover votes:

"I wonder if it's possible to be a Republican and a Christian at the same time."
(C-SPAN broadcast, 21 June 2004)

[Flabbergasted]

7. She is not catering to people that pay attention but those who don't.

[mmonk]

10. I like that one.

[valerief]

8. She doesn't want to try to break up any dog fights and get bitten herself. nt

[saltpoint]

12. Voters can be fickle. She's running first in most polls now and has

a big jarful of money. Pretty well-positioned for a run for the presidency.

She's in a group of perhaps half-a-dozen to a dozen people or so, one of whom will be our next president.

We may be right that she's playing it too safe, but we could be wrong if she prevails.

[illinoisprogressive]

13. Both her and Obama are. Because they are frontrunners and trying to be the firsts.

[ElizabethDC]

18. Yes, and I think this means they both have the nost to lose

so they're both playing it safe.

[ORDagnabbit]

15. corporate whore comes to mind...but that wouldnt be pc so I wont say it. n/t

[sampsonblk]

16. Because she has this thing locked up

Pretty simple.

[Quetzalro]

17. You really believe she has it locked up????

Not what I hear.

[cleveramerican]

19. I think its slipping away

With each passing week I think Obama gains ground on her, and gains momentum. If she doesn't get on with it, she will lose.

[sampsonblk]

21. I am certain of it

Obama is getting a lot of media attention and public support. Fine by me. But Hillary Clinton has huge advantages that Obama can't hope to overcome. She is building a campaign infrastructure out of this world.

[AtomicKitten]

20. no more so than any other candidate

they are on deck for the top job

[draft_mario_cuomo]

23. Some candidates are actually telling voters what they intend to do and how they intend to do it

[AtomicKitten]

24. they ALL are

your ears are just closed to some

[jakem]

22. Scared of making a mis-step.

esp with Obama on her heels.