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[Flanders]

And pretty much everyone who has a role in a cabinet and wants to run later starts to distance him or herself from the president in office.  This is why Hillary will step down as SOS after the fall election if Obama wins. 

Not if they are following in the footsteps of success Mike.

[marilyn.monroe]

Hilary had her chance and she passed to Obama.

[Mike Ingels]

Hey, Flanders, the first George Bush distanced himself from Reagan.  Al Gore distanced himself from Clinton.  There are few very presidents who leave as unqualified successes.  Reagan is a good example.  Lots of people whitewash his presidency, but when he left office, Iran Contra was a big deal and it was probably smart strategy to build space from that record.

Marilyn, I do not believe that at all.  She still has big support within the party and she's probably the person best able to raise lots of money.  And, again, once a person wants to be president, he or she will ALWAYS want to be president.

She's running.

BTW, her actions telegraph this.  She will leave the cabinet in December, win or lose, because that's what people who want to run for president do.  And she's basically saying that right now.

[Flanders]

Mike,
I would certainly make a distinction here between "distancing" and chopping the legs out from someone.

[Frenchfry]

Hilary won't run. The right-wing machine effectively dragged her name through the mud.
She's unelectable.


Conservatives like Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, and Jeb Bush are pouncing on comments from former President Bill Clinton regarding the Bush tax cuts

Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin and Jeb Bush On Obama & Clinton

[Mike Ingels]

Hillary Clinton had a 65-27% favorable/unfavorable rating as of April.  She's been able to fly above domestic politics for the past few years.  She's got a husband basically stumping for her right now.  She's popular with women and has about as much working-class white support of any Democrat.  I think that logic and math make her the best candidate for Dems in 2016 as of now.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/michelle-obama-ann-romney-hillary-clinton-in-personal-popularity-the-women-rule/

[marilyn.monroe]

Hillary Clinton had a 65-27% favorable/unfavorable rating as of April.  She's been able to fly above domestic politics for the past few years.  She's got a husband basically stumping for her right now.  She's popular with women and has about as much working-class white support of any Democrat.  I think that logic and math make her the best candidate for Dems in 2016 as of now.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/michelle-obama-ann-romney-hillary-clinton-in-personal-popularity-the-women-rule/

How about Cory Booker?

[Frenchfry]

On the link:
ABC NEWS/WASHINGTON POST POLL: Favorability #24
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE AFTER 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Popularity: Women and their Husbands
(Favorable-unfavorable ratings)

And

Favorable-unfavorable ratings
Michelle Obama
Ann Romney
Hillary Clinton
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/04/michelle-obama-ann-romney-hillary-clinton-in-personal-popularity-the-women-rule/

I suspect that poll would have much lower numbers if the questions were more to the point about the prospect of Hillary becoming President.

[Mike Ingels]

But just look at it.  Obama does piss poor among white working-class voters.  He makes up for it by driving African-Americans and to a lesser degree college-town whites to the polls in vastly greater numbers.

There is no Democrat besides Hillary who can bring back a lot of those working class whites.  And my guess is that women would vote for her disproportionately.

She brings people to the coalition who no one else can get.  And she would be the most qualified candidate for president in a long, long time.

[Frenchfry]

I disagree and feel Hillary for President would be a losing proposition.

As far as Obama goes...his moderate stance may be more detrimental than the fake charges from his right-wing detractors.

His "get-along" style of governance may be his downfall but he does have one thing going for him....his competition would be far worse.

But this will be his last term anyway so he's not really a factor...except to exemplify the glaring need for a progressive candidate. 

Bill Clinton came from Arkansas....he's a moderate....and I suspect Hillary shares that Blue Dog type mindset as well.

Enough with moderates!

The US needs radical change.