I agree with something Timmy said on Morning Joe - Hillary has to strip off the mask or she's done

[Herman Munster]

She allowed herself to be defined as a cautious poll driven caricature by her opponents and the media. Largely Mark Penn's fault. He should be fired immediately. Hopefully, this loss will liberate her and make her a much better candidate. She'll break down the mask and show us she's a human being and take somce chances. That's what primaries are supposed to be for. They should test our candidates and make them better.

But if she ends up losing the nomination, it's the whole Mark Penn strategy of not answering questions and being cautious that did her in.

[Buzz Clik]

1. He's wrong.

Hillary has redefined herself politically to garner votes from the right. It isn't working for Giuliani, it isn't working for her.

Everyone knows who she is. Why she chose to run as her rightwing evil twin is beyond me.

[leftynyc]

2. I agree about Penn

Fire his sleazy ass and talk to the people about what's important to them.

[BlueManDude]

3. If she tries to "reinvent" herself Russert and Co will kill her for that

She can't win with these people which is why I was hoping she wouldn't run in the first place and also why I'm praying she doesn't get the nomination.

It's not fair, it's just the way it is.

[madrchsod]

7. it`s not russert and company

it`s the democratic voters she needs to impress and in iowa it was the over 65 voters. over 65? hillary wake up!

[Sparkly]

4. I think they've been careful not to give the GOP ammo for a general election.

I agree they've been cautious. I think there are a couple of reasons for that, which are politically smart in one way but still a risk in themselves.

She's had to overcome a portrayal that she's a crazy "feminazi" liberal blah blah blah, and that she's bitchy and aggressive. So she's careful to temper that and appear warm and unthreatening. If she were to be fiery and fierce and the dreaded "angry," she'd be attacked like mad on both sides.

She does answer questions but she's careful not to make promises she can't keep, speak in absolutes, or give yes/no answers to more complex questions. If she were to get the nom, that'd put her in good stead when the GOP starts trying to pull out quotes and twist them to make her seem reckless and crazy and dangerous to national security, etc. (On security matters in particular, she's got to overcome a lot of resistance to the idea of a woman as Commander in Chief.)

However, when a questioner insists, "A simple 'yes' or 'no,' which is it?!?" and the answer is, "Well, it depends" or something else that isn't 'yes' or 'no,' many people roll their eyes at the answer rather than the question.

I think it is very much about the difference between a primary and a general election. It's a tricky thing to navigate. Her speeches are very strong and clear; it's answering questions framed by others where her caution can play to the "triangulating" meme.

Edited for typo.

[peaches2003]

5. Tired of the whole drama

I think people are just tired of the whole Hillary/Bill scene. I was a great fan of Bill's, but it is yesterday's news and the country is ready to move on. We don't need 4 or more years of them.

[madrchsod]

6. could the hillary backers finally see the light about penn?

i have stated that mark penn and his crew screwed up iowa before yesterday because they let obama and edwards gain ground by their mistakes. if they are comfortable with only winning the over 65 year old voters then have at it. the big test is coming next week maybe penn can pull a rabbit out of his hat and poll her way to victory.

have you read any reviews of penn`s new book? no wonder she did`t see this coming ....he`s a fool.

although i detest her i am not so foolish to realize that she maybe our next president and in my opinion she needs to rid herself from penn`s "polling" and her husband. those two did nothing for her in iowa. it seems to me that the true test of anyone is judgement and we will be seeing that tested in all of the candidates....

[Renew Deal]

8. It's not Mark Penn's fault. It's who she is.

Hillary has never won an election on her own. She doesn't stand on her own. She's Bill Clinton's wife. That's the only reason she's a senator from NY. That's the only reason she's a front runner here. She's not at good as politics as he was.