Hillary Clinton Mentioned as Next Dem Candidate
Reported by Marie Therese - November 4, 2004 -
Here's an excerpt from a Townhall.com column written by Cal Thomas, FOX News Political Reporter, July 31, 2003, over a year ago:
"President Bush seems to be practicing middle-of-the-road politics better than his opponents. He has resisted commenting on cultural issues, such as same-sex marriage, and he rarely speaks of abortion, except to repeat his campaign slogan that every child should be welcomed in life as well as in law, which is supposed to sound non-threatening and does. While his conservative base might wish for a solid conservative or two on the Supreme Court and constitutional amendments banning gay marriage, abortion and even flag burning, Bush has shown no outward sign that he will give his base what it wants. He might if he's reelected, but to talk too much about such things now would turn off the centrists and swing the middle to the Democrats."
On Big Story yesterday (11/3/04), host John Gibson spoke briefly with Mack McClarty,formerly Bill Clinton's chief of staff, on the subject of the election.
GIBSON: I noticed today the dogs have been called off. The really vicious attack dogs that were working both campaigns made no appearances today. It appears some kind of truce has been called, but what do the Democrats do to try to regain some momentum and maybe the simple question is reconnect with 51% of the American public?
McClarty: You're going to have to see a vital center being rebuilt in the Democratic party in order to be successful, certainly in a Presidential election and it looks like, increasingly, Senate and Congressional elections as well.
GIBSON: Does that mean the Bill Clinton idea of the Democratic party being more of a centrist party and less of a left-wing party? Is that what you're talking about?
McCLARTY: I'm a centrist Democrat. I helped found the Democratic Leadership Council ... but I think it's where the country is, as Senator Brock said earlier. I think it is the vital center - that's who really elected President Bush. There was a strong turnout on the right. There was not as strong a turnout among younger voters. We're gonna have to do better there. But, in the end, the Democrats are going to have to reconnect or connect in some cases on social issues and put the message across in a much more positive, constructive way, if we're gonna be successful.
GIBSON: Does this now clear the way for Hillary '08?
McCLARTY: She will certainly be regarded as the frontrunner in the Democratic side ... She's going to be a formidible force in the party...But she's clearly going to be the frontrunner.
In a later discussion featuring guests Democrat Michael Brown and Republican Rich Galen John Gibson asked Galen an interesting question, very much consistent with what was obviously the "theme of the day" for his show. During this segment the lower third graphic prominently displayed the words END OF THE ROAD.
GIBSON: So, Rich Galen, you think the President's gonna do that [reach out the Democrats] or is he gonna say "Hey, you guys look what I did with a 500-vote victory. Now, I got a mandate, sorry, I'm gonna do things my way"?
Galen dragged out the tired old saw about President Bush's wonderful track record as Governor of Texas. He went on to note that President Bush's "normal operating style" is to "reach across the aisle to help legislators get what they need so the country can get what it needs."
Gibson's last guest was author and all-around sourpuss, Bernard Goldberg, hyping the paperback publication of his book "Arrogance: Rescuing America from the Media Elite."
COMMENT
So, let's see how this is going to play out.
George Bush, the Great and Powerful Wizard of D.C., will graciously extend his hand to the loyal opposition in a gesture of magnanimous friendship and conciliation.
If the Democrats reject his overtures, the right wing ttack machine (that includes FOX) will rev up and the Democrats will be painted as sore losers, ingrates, obstructionists, interested more in winning the 2006 elections than in helping the Great and Powerful Bush achieve his God-given mandate to take us back to 1954.
If the Democrats go along, they have nothing to run on in 2006.
I think the Democrats have to engage in a make it or break it strategy. What have they got to lose? A few more seats in a Congress that's already the color of blood? Who cares? What's a couple more seats?
Go for broke. Set a goal. Corral your membership. Stick together. No quarter. United we stand. Divided we fall. For far too long the Rove machine has played on the strength that is our weakness. We progressives are diverse and inclusive and therefore have more dissent in the ranks. Like a fine thoroughbred, we take a gentle, indulgent hand that is, at the same time, firm and decisive.
Develop a new language. It's time to throw out the words "left wing." Progressive is much better. Liberal means generous. You'd never know it from listening to the media.
Challenge, challenge, challenge.
And, one final thing.
We need a national progressive/liberal media outlet. Millions of little people raised hundreds of millions of dollars for the Democrats. Surely we can raise enough money to buy an existing cable TV network or start our own national radio network.
What are your thoughts?
NOTE added at 5:30 PM EST: There was an error in the date posted in the third paragraph. It should have read 11/3/04. It has been changed.
