I guess that I should start with a disclaimer. I have a bet with my friend Danny that Hillary Clinton won’t be the Democratic Party’s nominee in 2016. It is for our usual amount – $1, but I would hate for anyone to think that my wager might color my opinion.
Clinton fatigue is sweeping the nation. Don’t get me wrong. I voted for Bill Clinton in both 1992 and 1996. I worked on both campaigns. And I voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primary. But this isn’t 2008 and, in truth, this doesn’t even feel like a Democratic Party issue. It has been the Republicans who have nominated tired politicians, long past their sell-by date, simply because it was their turn. Think 2008. Think 2012.
Why would the Democrats trip down this same path?
Experience? Mrs. Clinton has that in spades. She is the first First Lady to be elected to the U.S. Senate. She is the first to serve as Secretary of State. It is one Hell of a resume. But, there are the unending list of scandals, near-scandals, and worst of all, unforced errors that make any serious Clinton candidacy, much less another presidency, exhausting.
“1993 was the first year of the Clinton Crises Administration. Every issue, budget, NAFTA, etc… will supposedly make or break the presidency. So far he has won each fight, so thank G-d, the United States continues. But, either these people like to walk on the edge of cliffs or someone is crying wolf.”
The above was part of the annual letter I sent my clients in 1993. Twenty-one years later and nothing has changed. We’re always moments away from the next battle royal. And the Clintons, always just within the letter of the law but well outside the spirit of the law, win the battles as we lose the war.
Emails? Please. I’m already tired.
I completely agree with you Dave. Valerie Jarrett gave Hillary a pair of cement shoes. And whether the e-mail issue is valid or not, it adds both aerodynamic drag to her forward progress and ballast to her buoyancy as she gets tried in the media, and then the memories of the 1990’s scandals come rushing back.
Most of the alternatives in the Democratic Party are not ready for prime time. As someone who sits at the far left tail of the Poisson distribution, Elizabeth Warren lives in a place where there isn’t much “area under the curve”, so that’s a small percentage of the electorate. So while she might get nominated by a wide margin, she’ll get trounced in the general election by just about any Republican who can govern, and not just the ones who could beat Hillary.
I’m thinking that whomever gets chosen by the RNC for the Presidential nomination might pick Carly Fiorina as a running mate. And both Walker and Rubio are looking strong. Think GOP in 2016. The cards are clearly falling that way.
To all of my Dem friends – Yes, I realize that a post like this may feed my Republican friends’ fantasies. It is OK.
There should be a younger generation of leadership ready to move into place in the Democratic party. The Republicans at least have a range of ages.What does it say about the Democrats that they have not been raising up new national leaders? They will be in trouble if health or another emergency forces Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race for the nomination.