# My Advice to Hillary Clinton. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 24, 2014, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343 "2014-08-24T02:20:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/21 "2014-08-24T16:36:15Z")
> [@Stringbean](#): > > She just needs to be more likeable. That’s what Obama has that she doesn’t. What I’ve read is that Obama does not do politics well at an individual level, in terms of schmoozing with potential and past contributors in one-on-one conversations. He’s not great at making those thank-you phone calls to contributors. But the Clintons are masters of this. ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/22 "2014-08-24T20:15:19Z")
I’d vote for Elizabeth Warren before I’d vote for Hillary, but she isn’t going to run. If Hillary asked me, and she hasn’t yet, I’d say the big issue she should hit hard and often is the right wings attack on the middle class. Let them call her a Socialist, Socialism _in practice_ is a good thing. Governments purpose _should_ be to protect all of its citizens, not just the ruling class. The other thing I would tell her is; forget ‘gun control’. There are a lot more armed liberals out there than anyone seems to realize, who are appalled by the rhetoric from both ends of the spectrum regarding gun control, and they vote. Truthfully, many of them will hold their noses and vote for an anti-gun ‘liberal’ because they think the economy is more important than the second amendment, but they won’t forget, nor should they. I’ll be waiting for her call. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/23 "2014-08-24T21:15:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Socialism _in practice_ is a good thing. Pleaseohpleaseohplease let Hilary say this in a debate. Heck, make it the centerpiece of her campaign. Then she can say the spirit of [Eleanor Roosevelt](http://www.cnn.com/US/9606/22/hillary.book/) told her to say it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/24 "2014-08-24T21:52:01Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Pleaseohpleaseohplease let Hilary say this in a debate. Heck, make it the centerpiece of her campaign. > > Then she can say the spirit of [Eleanor Roosevelt](http://www.cnn.com/US/9606/22/hillary.book/) told her to say it. > > Regards, > Shodan Maybe I can pull back out my t-shirt from 2008 that reads **YOU’VE HEARD THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES, NOW TALK TO A REAL SOCIALIST**. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/25 "2014-08-24T22:13:58Z")
I know all politicians make a political calculation before they open their mouth on any subject. Hillary, however, really _looks like_ that’s what she’s doing. The others try to _appear_ genuine. There a a lot of things I like about Mrs. Clinton, and I could probably vote for her (Make that “definitely” over most republicans), but I see very little authentic about her. I wish she would relax and just see what happens. Wanting it too bad and trying to hard to avoid standing for much is what hurt her in 2008. Flag burning law. > [@](#): > > ``` > Senator Hillary Clinton is supporting a bill that would ban flag burning, but she is opposed to a constitutional ban on the act. > > Clinton is co-sponsoring a bill that would make it a crime to destroy a flag on federal property, intimidate anyone by burning a flag or burning someone else's flag. > > A spokesperson for the Senator says Clinton supports making flag burning a crime, but is hesitant to amend the Constitution. > > Clinton's move to co-sponsor the bill is seen by many observers as an apparent attempt to win over conservative voters as she preps for a possible run for the White House in 2008. > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/26 "2014-08-26T03:28:27Z")
She should make lots of appearances with her biggest asset, her daughter. In fact, I think the next “Clinton” president will be female, but I’d prefer it was Chelsea. If she wanted to, Chelsea could work towards that goal and in a couple decades become president. Perhaps Hilary should look at the long term plan and retire gracefully. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/27 "2014-08-26T04:27:54Z")
She has no chance whatsoever of being POTUS mainly due to personality issues. As others in the thread have indicated she does not have the requisite charisma to get a majority of the polity behind her. Beyond this, after the two Bushes I think the country has had about enough of political dynasties. She needs to remove herself form contention and not take money and oxygen from a Democratic candidate who has a chance to win. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/28 "2014-08-26T15:17:53Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Capable, maybe. Honorable— I’m not sure what that even means, for someone in her position. She’s a bad bullshit salesman. In a a Turnip world, I’d advise her to stop bullshitting. In the one we’re all mired in, I’ll tell her to learn to sell it better. The only president we ever had who didn’t bullshit us was Carter – and we couldn’t wait to get rid of him. We NEED to be led by a bullshitter, because we cannot endure the sad truth. Reagan was the biggest bullshitter in the history of the world, and we knew it and we kissed his ass. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/29 "2014-08-26T16:37:10Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > \Reagan was the biggest bullshitter in the history of the world, and we knew it **and we kissed his ass**. (Bolding mine.) Speak for yourself. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/30 "2014-08-26T18:04:29Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > (Bolding mine.) > > Speak for yourself. OK, as you wish. I did not kiss his ass. Somehow, that does not make the point that I had intended by using the word “we”. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/31 "2014-08-26T20:24:53Z")
She should get nowhere near Mark Penn. What a sleezeball! ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/32 "2014-08-26T21:42:33Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > The only president we ever had who didn’t bullshit us was Carter – and we couldn’t wait to get rid of him. We NEED to be led by a bullshitter, because we cannot endure the sad truth. Reagan was the biggest bullshitter in the history of the world, and we knew it and we kissed his ass. Of course- Carter was a GREAT president. He was just too wonderful, honest, brilliant and virtuous for a horrible country like ours. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/33 "2014-08-26T22:04:04Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I know all politicians make a political calculation before they open their mouth on any subject. Hillary, however, really _looks like_ that’s what she’s doing. The others try to _appear_ genuine. There a a lot of things I like about Mrs. Clinton, and I could probably vote for her (Make that “definitely” over most republicans), but I see very little authentic about her. I wish she would relax and just see what happens. Wanting it too bad and trying to hard to avoid standing for much is what hurt her in 2008. Flag burning law. I agree with this. Fairly or unfairly, she appears to be an opportunist who leans wherever the political wind blows. Her Iraq war vote still haunts her. She needs to show that she actually stands for something no matter how unpopular it is. And if she even hints at running away from the Affordable Care Act, she’s lost my vote. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/34 "2014-08-29T15:05:54Z")
I can’t offer Hillary any advice now. The best advice I ever offered her on the SDMB was to run for President in 2004. In 2004, her implied slogan could have been, “Remember 4 years ago, when America was prosperous and at peace? DOn’t you wish we could go back to that, and forget all the crap Bush has gotten us into?” That would have been a winning slogan, in my opinion. But the longer she waited, the more time people would have to forget what they’d liked about the Clinton years, and the more time the boredom factor would come into play. Hillary MIGHT make a better President after getting some seasoning in the Senate and the Cabinet, but she’ll NEVER be as strong a candidate as she would have been in 2004. Now? The boredom factor kicked in. People went for Obama in 2008 in large part because he was fresh and Hillary seemed old and tired. She looks a lot older and MORE tired now. I offered similar advice to Obama on the SDMB in 2008- I said it’s much better to run for office too soon than too late. He might have benefitted from more time in the Senate, but he’d NEVER be a stronger candidate than in 2008. If a candidate is popular NOW, he/she should run for office NOW! If he/she waits, that’s only giving people time to forget what they liked about you and for some newer attractive candidate to come along. I have absolutely NOTHING good to say about Elizabeth Warren (whom I regard as a phony), but if I were her friend or advisor, I’d definitely tell her to run for President in 2016. If she waits, she’ll just get older and less interesting. If she runs now, she has a chance to excite and energize the Left. ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/35 "2014-08-29T17:25:41Z")
I think she should just step aside and retire and allow some other young democrat to move in. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2014, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/36 "2014-08-29T18:00:20Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > I can’t offer Hillary any advice now. The best advice I ever offered her on the SDMB was to run for President in 2004. > > In 2004, her implied slogan could have been, “Remember 4 years ago, when America was prosperous and at peace? DOn’t you wish we could go back to that, and forget all the crap Bush has gotten us into?” > > That would have been a winning slogan, in my opinion. Probably not. The economy was recovering fairly well in 2004, having bounced back from the 9/11 recession. And the obvious response to “remember how we were at peace in 2000” is “you mean back when Osama bin Laden was preparing to attack us again and you and your co-President weren’t doing anything about it beyond attacking aspirin factories and oral sex?” > [@](#): > > I have absolutely NOTHING good to say about Elizabeth Warren (whom I regard as a phony), but if I were her friend or advisor, I’d definitely tell her to run for President in 2016. If she waits, she’ll just get older and less interesting. If she runs now, she has a chance to excite and energize the Left. Maybe she is considering a run, but she isn’t preparing for it by appealing to the Left. Not as far as [foreign policy is concerned](http://rt.com/usa/183744-elizabeth-warren-gaza-israel/). No doubt it’s the usual [jockeying for position](http://www.newrepublic.com/article/115509/elizabeth-warren-hillary-clintons-nightmare). Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2014, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343/37 "2014-08-30T00:35:39Z")
Stick close to Bill Clinton and his legacy. Al Gore should have done that, but the Lewinski affair was too big in the news around that time, or so he thought. The thing is, nobody imagines Al Gore getting a blowjob in the Oval Office. If he hadn’t done that huge smooch on stage, nobody would even imagine him kissing his own wife. He’s such a strait shooter. Clinton’s faults were absolutely not going to rub off on Gore. Only the nice side of the Clinton administration would have rubbed off on Al. Exactly the same goes for Hillary. How can this not work? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-advice-to-hillary-clinton/696343.md?page=1)