OK, America is full of people who tend to vote for the familiar name. W Bush’s improbable success is proof of that.
But why, exactly, is Hillary Clinton considered the Democratic frontrunner?
I have a hypothesis that there are people who, back in Bubba’s first term, became enamored of the idea of the ultimate super-couple; that Bill would serve his four-to-eight years with Hillary at his side, then Hillary would (perhaps after a break where a GOP candidate served & she gained actual office-holding credentials) serve her four-to-eight years with Bill at his side.
I admit, it’s cute. (As a GOP-raised kid, I once thought a Dole/Dole ticket was a neat idea.) But I got over it. (Partly because I don’t actually like Bill Clinton that much, partly because I actually agree with the term limit they’d be arguably subverting, & partly because after the Bush dynasticism I’m even more leery of dynasties.)
But I’m just speculating wildly here.
So, if you love the idea of putting Hillary Rodham Clinton in the White House, what’s your reason?
I don’t. I’d rather see her in the WH than any of the GOP contenders, but among the Dems, I’d prefer her only to Biden, Kucinich, and Gravel.
My problem with your hypothesis is that if it were true, I’d have expected Hillary’s support to start off a lot higher. But she was polling mostly in the upper 20s to low 30s in November and early December of last year, and has gradually increased her share of Dem support over the intervening months. ISTM that she’s gotten to where she is by winning over a lot of skeptics to her side.
I’m not one of them, obviously, but that doesn’t negate what’s happening.
I knew I should have left that speculation out of the the OP. I didn’t say it had diddly to do with anything in an editorial; the thing is, we’re told, “Oh, she’s very popular,” & I find myself a bit puzzled by why so many people–who aren’t writing editorials–appear to feel an affection for her.
I ask again, why are her poll numbers so high? You tell me.
I like Clinton (and voted for her twice) because I figured she’s a competent and intelligent person who’s knowledgeable and experienced in government operations.
There may be people who will vote for Clinton for irrational reasons like her gender or her last name (just as there are people who voted for any candidate for various irrational reasons) but don’t pretend there aren’t rational reasons to vote for her.
So big media love her because she has the corporate backing as an establishment incrementalist, progressive-minded types like that she’s a woman, & America’s small-c conservatism goes for the familiar name (which gave her higher poll numbers early, which make her look more “mainstream” which reinforces media coverage)?
Because the country was a lot better off the last time a clinton was in charge?
Because some people want to show the world that Americans aren’t all stupid rednecks who’ll vote an arrogant, war mongering, failure into office because he’s folksy?
Because she’s the first woman with a credible chance?
Because secretly in the dark of night, some Americans want universal health care?
Her early big advantage was name recognition. People ask all kinds of questions about what Hillary believes in and stands for, but they have a general sense of who she is. I think that means more to most people than the specifics of what a candidate stands for. Other candidates have to spend time trying to show the voters who they are, but she’s been in the public eye for about 15 years.
There may be some people like that, but there can’t be too many.
I was young at the time, but I don’t remember anybody expressing any opinions like that. Her co-President comment, her health care plans, almost everything she did irritated people, from what I recall. People made fun of them for being from Arkansas. And for the two years of his term, I seem to recall Bill Clinton’s Presidency was a total trainwreck, so I don’t think too many people were expected six more years of him, much less Hillary having a shot.
My personal theory is that she’s the Republican Party’s favorite Democratic candidate- because they know that enough people hate her that she’ll be easy to beat in an election. That’s why the Pubs are so insistent on keeping her in the public eye, and why they’re pretty much ignoring Obama.
Concerning the title of this thread-Who the hell has shown a “diehard” love for Hillary Clinton? I see support for some of her positions, but it’s not like we would support her if she did something dastardly, like shoot her best friend in the face and try to blame the friend for getting in the way.
I meant, “Why is she leading in the polls now, after people have had a chance to look at Obama, Edwards, Richardson, Biden, etc.?”
I like Biden the best, myself, despite him being from accursed Delaware. I think Obama would be decent. I’m kind of indifferent to Hillary, figure we could use some new blood, & I wonder if her support is due to the same kind of dynastic inertia that got W to a second term.
I can’t parse this in any way that it makes sense. Are you saying we shouldn’t appreciate competence in politicians or doctors or engineers because competence in criminals is bad? Because that has to be the lamest argument ever made on this board.
