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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
We know Hillary has had enough practice and accumulated enough knowledge over the years to ace an interview like this. What wasn't asked were incisive followup questions.
Example: When Shapiro brought up the issue of two families controlling the White House for 24-28 years, Hillary gave us a standard "judge me on my own merit" answer which is reasonable. At this point, Shapiro should have asked the question why term limits are advisable and why it's good to not concentrate the power in two families - It's not just the people at the very top who can cause stagnation in fresh ideas at the top, but also their close network of advisers and friends. What Shapiro should have asked if what Hillary has done to bring in enough fresh blood to give other Democrats a chance at showing what they can do instead of the usual Clintonites.
Hillary also gave a reasonable answer to the pullout of troops. But what Shapiro should have asked is why Hillary did not know THEN what she knows now about the iraq war because the NIE was available to her back then and Code Pink and others had access to her and she got to hear directly from them concerns which she acknowledges as KNOWING NOW. This question is relevant because it goes to understanding why a leader makes decisions and if she really learned from her mistakes. Scott Ritter was telling anyone who would listen not to fall for the Bushes.
Another question: If Hillary wants to prove herself as a leader, why did she not take on a bigger role in 2004 elections since getting rid of Bush was something any self respect Democratic LEADER should have considered their duty.
This question is relevant because it goes to indicate how a leader can persuade others to go along for a progressive agenda. LBJ was no liberal, but he did a better job than many liberal Presidents would have at the time in getting civil rights legislation passed through. Leadership is important. And a person like Hillary has shown a fear of looking weak. SO by acting strong she is ironically showing a lack of leadership.
Dean lost a bitter primary and he still tirelessly canvassed the country for Kerry. Hillary has no record of defending progressives who were fighting the lonely fight against the Bush followers regarding the war. She pretty much spearheaded a few issues, but rarely came to help of other progressive Democrats because she was afraid of risking her chances for a 2008 Presidency. She put that above her duty to the country.
Hillary will be an improvment over Bush on many other positions, but so will other Democratic leaders who don't have her Iraq war baggage.
The complaints about having to "hold noses" to vote for a Democratic nominee should be directed at voters, not politicians. Look, the primary is for We the People to choose who we think is the best potential President and not to second guess what the undecided voter in a swing state thinks. That's how you end up with John Kerry in 2004.
And hey, no one is going to have the exact same stance on every issue as you do unless you are the candidate running. Go for it! We need a wider field. But if you aren't running, don't let a search for the "perfect" distract you from the pretty darn good.
I have to say, I was lukewarm on H. Clinton until this interview. She makes a good case for herself.
I'd be happy voting for Clinton, Edwards, Obama or Richardson -- and I'd be happier voting for a ticket that held two of those four.
First, we all know that Salon has some historical ties to the Clinton campaign- but I have become convinced that they are at least trying to stay neutral in their coverage. This article, however, should not have been given to Walt. He literally told her that he can't wait to stare into her eyes across a crowded room. That tells you all you need to know about his position.
That's an interesting take on what he actually said:
"I look forward to seeing you across a crowded room Friday in New Hampshire."
For the content-impaired, that would mean he will attend a public event (good thing for a political journalist to do, I'm thinking) and see her but not speak to her, as you would normally expect if you told someone you'd see her on Friday. Stretching that into a desire to stare into her eyes from across a crowded room takes some doing. I applaud you.
I haven't been a fan of hers (I suspect HRC of going where the wind goes) but she spoke well for herself here.
-TR
While I am usually very impressed with Walter Shapiro's writing, and with Salon's political coverage in general, this interview really demonstrates what I see as Salon's biggest weakness in 08 coverage so far: reflexive support for Hillary Clinton.
I'm sick of reading about whether or not "Hillary" is dimunitive, about who is out-fundraising who, and similar such trivialities. We're choosing a Democratic presidential candidate to finally lead us into a new century, and these are the issues we see fit to discuss?
If Clinton wants to sell me on her candidacy, there are a lot of questions I want answered. Save the hawkish posturing, the finger in the wind moderate charade, and the bipartisan talking points for the general election. Barack Obama has not budged from my first choice position because he represents a moving-on in Democratic politics - a new generation. I fear the horrors of the last six years have diluted much of the displeasure many Americans felt at the close of the Clinton years (conservative backlashes don't just happen because of 9/11. If everyone loved Clintonian politics then as they seem to now, Gore would have won handily).
It should be the responsibility of openly left-leaning media outlets like Salon to force Hillary Clinton to address this issue. She gets away with not answering anyone's questions and the last thing we need is another president whose arrogance makes her feel that she is not accountable for her positions and her policy decisions.
She's brilliant and competent, it's true. But does the nation's number one permanent law school overachiever really have a vision for us, and will she ever really come clean about what it exactly entails? Next time you interview her, ASK HER!
Much of the initial coverage about Fort Hood turned out to be wrong. Is there anything wrong with that?
The accountability imposed by another country for the CIA's kidnapping and torture reveals much about our own.
Fox News' morning show plays to type, talking about whether Muslims in the Army should face "special debriefings"
219 Democrats and one Republican join in favor of the legislation, which passed by a narrow margin
The survivor and author is upset about comparisons some on the right are making to genocide
Salon headlines in your mailbox
