I want to wish the best of luck to Hillary and say this

[LynneSin]

I am not on team Hillary. I'm still weighing my options since of course I'd support Joe Biden if he ran and I really like to see what Martin O'Malley has to offer (former Governor of Maryland). Delaware has a late primary so who knows, I could change my mind by the time 2016 rolls around.

But I will say this.

There is absolutely positively NOTHING that anyone here at DU can say about Hillary Clinton that would keep me from voting for her should she win our party's nomination. NOTHING.

I have been here at DU now for almost 15 years and I know very well both the good points and bad points of Hillary Clinton.

You cannot tell me that in any way, shape for form that Hillary Clinton could actually be a WORSE choice that I could actually cast a vote that could allow one of those clowns from the GOP clown car end up in the White House. It will not happen.

And not only would I vote for Hillary, I'd even help campaign for her in the general elections and I'd do it with a smile on my face too.

Because in the end, on Hillary Clinton's absolutely, positively worst fricking day EVER - she is still better than ANYONE from the GOP.

[libdem4life]

1. Second the motion. And if she takes Julian Castro with her, well...Hell, yes.

[LynneSin]

4. I see such total win with a VP such as Julian Castro

Was that the one that did the Keynote address in 2008 or was that his twin brother? I know both of the Castro brothers have very promising careers in politics and would give any Democrat a very serious edge to winning the White House in 2016.

[libdem4life]

13. Julian did... he is the one White House bound. My sense is that Joaquin may run for Texas Gov.

Also just a sense, but the reason may be that Julian is a family man, wife and young daughter, and Joaquin is single. In fact, when I first saw them together they joked about it...how to tell them apart...Julian has on a wedding ring and Joaquin doesn't.

[LynneSin]

40. I think no matter who gets the nom that Julian Castro should be on the very top of the VP list

You know the GOP are going to do the same but unfortunately the Hispanics in the GOP have sold their heritage out a long time ago for a seat at the GOP table. Maybe they can speak the language but they do not understand the needs of the Hispanic community.

Someone like Julian Castro is a total package. There is no one from the GOP that can compete with someone like him or his twin brother.

[libdem4life]

44. Yes, and he'll be all experienced for President in 2020. By then the Hispanic folk will be

used to having one of their own in the White House. And there will be many, many more of them because the Dreamers are already here. Their voting numbers are historically low...perhaps because no candidate understands their lives and speaks their language. (Not counting the Bush grandkid and Jeb's wife)

Julian Castro does. I'd even go as far as to say we might see a Blue Texas by that time, too.

[ag_dude]

58. We're still 20+ years away from hoping to flip this state.

Even with Wendy Davis running against an empty suit it was a 20 point loss.

Julian will make a difference in states like Florida and Arizona.

[libdem4life]

61. Yes, 20 years and some Hispanic empowerment will be the key, I think.

[TBF]

106. Exactly - Wendy lost by more than I thought she would

and that was a wake-up call. Choosing Julian will be the answer to Jeb Bush though and solidify support amongst latinos (the women are already with her - we saw their support when we campaigned for Obama in 2008 down here - latina women wanted Hillary!).

Clinton/Castro will be a strong ticket. And Hillary may not talk about class, but Julian does.

[charliea]

118. Probably 2024 instead

Since I hope that a Democratic nominee wins in 2016, I doubt that she wouldn't want to go for a second term in 2020. Actually I hope they do, I want an unbroken string of Democrats in the White House until Scalia and Thomas are gone from the court. I probably won't live long enough to see Roberts and Alito leave the court since they're both younger than me.

[libdem4life]

122. Duh. My math is challenged. Yes to Democrats until 8 years after Hillary's 8. There.

Hopefully it's Julian Castro next in line. Then we'll get some Real Judges for the people, as well.

[left-of-center2012]

138. And if she takes Julian Castro with her, well...Hell, yes.

Or former MD Governor O'Malley.

[libdem4life]

140. This is going to sound a bit biased, but it's time for a Hispanic. She's going to need

that demographic, too. They have never been represented in national politics and it's been an untapped minority for a very long time and growing quickly. And he's a Tejano. That's important, as well. I like O'Malley, but don't see the big draw other than he is a Progressive.

[sharp_stick]

2. Absolutely

I don't know who I'll support in the primary but by god I will vote for the Democratic nominee for President.

There isn't a single GOP candidate that could pass their primary system that would make me change my mind.

[beaglelover]

3. Agree!

[jaysunb]

7. What you...and Lynn said. :) n/t

[leftofcool]

5. Absolutely! Well said!

[Suich]

6. Agreed!

[workinclasszero]

8. I shudder to think

How horrible life would be under walker or cruz.

Hillary definitely has the best chance of stopping that horror from becoming reality

[onehandle]

9. Vince Foster! Benghazi! Emailgate!

C'mon...

'Use your aggressive feelings. Let the hate flow through you.'

[LynneSin]

11. That stopped working on me when I killed cable TV a few years ago

[Still In Wisconsin]

39. You forgot Whitewater!! nt

[MineralMan]

10. Thank you. K&R

[okaawhatever]

12. Amen to that. nt

[AuntPatsy]

14. K & R

[William769]

15. I respect your point of view and you said it very well.

[oldandhappy]

16. Amen!!!

[Cha]

17. I'll start out by saying.. "I Love Joe Biden!" I read the

Obama Diary and they are always showing what VP Biden and his wife Dr Jill are up to.. he's been an excellent Veep!

I totally agree with you about Hillary, Lynne

And, here's how I feel about my guy..

Nerdy Wonka @NerdyWonka
Follow
Memo to announced and potential 2016 Democratic candidates: You will not win us by dissing President Barack Obama's accomplishments.
12:55 PM - 12 Apr 2015 74 Retweets 70 favorites

http://theobamadiary.com/2015/04/12/democrat-or-republican-obamacare-has-your-back/#comments

[lovemydog]

18. That's how I feel too LynneSin.

I'd vote for a democratic socialist or anyone to the left of Hillary in the primaries. I always vote for the most progressive person on every ballot - local, state and federal.

If she wins the democratic party nomination (and it's a long road, nothing is for certain in politics until it happens) I'm confident she is more progressive than the republican party's candidate for President.

Best of luck to Hillary Clinton and her supporters. I will view her candidacy with fairness and an open mind. As I will examine all candidates in both the primaries and the general election.

Thanks for your perspective.

[RoccoR5955]

24. +1 n/t

[aquart]

69. Always vote YOUR choice in the primaries.

Even if your choice loses it will make the winner aware of not so sleepy dragons.

[lovemydog]

81. Yes, that is what I always do

and always will.

[Texasgal]

19. WORD!

Thank you sister!

[DesertRat]

20. Well said! And people must remember two important words...

Last edited Mon Apr 13, 2015, 12:13 AM - Edit history (1)

SUPREME COURT
There will most likely be vacancies on the court in the coming years. It's critical that we have a Democratic POTUS.

[Thinkingabout]

22. We MUST not forget this, also other important issues and unless we keep the WH

and get the Congress back many more issues will continue to be controlled by the GOP.

[Cha]

96. I got another one for ya, Desert Rat.. Environment!

[DesertRat]

146. Yes, indeed! nt

[Andy823]

21. I feel the same way

Not on team Hillary, kind of like to hear more about O'Malley, and most of all what you said;

"Because in the end, on Hillary Clinton's absolutely, positively worst fricking day EVER - she is still better than ANYONE from the GOP."

[marmar]

23. I'll definitely vote for her if she's the nominee......

...... but as far as excitement and enthusiasm about her candidacy? Can't muster any.

[mimi85]

86. Same here. I'll vote for her, but def a lack of excitement.

Is there any way we can keep Bill away from the WH? Maybe he'll keep traveling. I don't like these dynasty things. Roosevelts (even though FDR was awesome), Bushies, Clintons. I'll wait for Malia though!

I'm not young by any means, but she'll be 69 then? The campaign trail is brutal. Man or woman. Can't she play with her grandkid and kick back for awhile. Que sera.

[DrBulldog]

25. New York Magazine said it best ...

"The argument for Clinton in 2016 is that she is the candidate of the only major American political party not run by lunatics."

[calimary]

35. That nails it, DrBulldog!

She is indeed the candidate of the only major American political party not run by lunatics!

Great way to put it, great way to look at it.

[libdem4life]

45. Funny...true, as well.

[blue neen]

77. That's a good line!

It says it all! Thanks for sharing those wise words with us!

[Cha]

92. I know, huh.. and that's not an exaggeration.. if anything it's understated.

[George II]

26. I was on board with Obama from the day he announced his candidacy....

.....(to the chagrin of my racist neighbors, but that's another story) but throughout the 2008 primaries and debates I never thought a single bad thing about Hillary Clinton or any of the other Democratic contenders. I thought the way she and Bill Clinton handled the inevitable nomination was about as classy as any could be.

I'm behind Hillary Clinton now, I think of all the contenders she is the most experienced and is tough enough to handle anything the Republicans can throw at her AND anything the Iranians, Israelis, Russians, etc. can throw at her.

If it should develop that she isn't the nominee, I agree 100% that I'll support whoever gets it - he or she, as you put, on their WORST day would be hundreds of times more qualified than any of the idiots on the other side.

[captainarizona]

27. Hillary bashing is not fun if you live in red state

I live in the republican fascist police state of arizona. A democratic president is all the protection the poor and minorities have here. In many red states you are not entitled to health care if you are an adult with out small children with minimal emergency care if you don't make enough for obama care and many poor people have died. Its fun to attack hillary from a safe blue state not so much from a red state where you see the dying and the dead.

[lovemydog]

31. That's a really good point captainarizona.

I also want to say to you welcome here!

[calimary]

33. Welcome to DU, captainarizona!

Glad you're here! My sympathies. I'm in true blue California, and very proud and relieved to say so. And California's not perfect either. No more perfect than Hillary Clinton as a presidential candidate. But BOTH are BEYOND compare, when stacked up to any red state or GOP clown car occupant.

[LynneSin]

38. We blue staters are fighting for you

United we stand or divided we fall.

And right about now the GOP has it that they want us not just fall down but fail miserably.

I know that Arizona is your home and you have some clueless idiots down there running your state. But you have some progressive folks up here in the Northeast that will work hard to make sure that we keep this country with a democrat in the White House and turn congress blue. So maybe it can be better for folks down there in red state Arizona and other places around this great country!

[riversedge]

78. Agree. Wis Walker has not expanded medicaid--many on waiting list and

short on money for everything in this state.

[Art_from_Ark]

89. Personally, I'd rather have a real FDR/JFK/LBJ/RFK Democrat

than someone whose husband campaigns against liberal Democrats and cozies up to the Bushes.

[Surya Gayatri]

90. You hit me right in the solar plexus here, captain...

'Its fun to attack hillary from a safe blue state, not so much from a red state where you see the dying and the dead.'

Welcome to DU. And, keep fighting the good fight out there in Mad Max country.

[Cha]

93. Exactly, captainarizona.. I love it when people get that. But, hate it that it's so true.

[Warren DeMontague]

28. I agree. And I may end up supporting her in the primaries.

I'll wait to hear some substantive positions on actual issues, hopefully, once we get past the music videos and "Grandma power" phase of the campaign.

We could do a lot worse, as a nation, than Hillary Clinton.

As a party, that remains to be determined between now and the convention.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

29. Definitely.

[LadyHawkAZ]

30. Thank you n/t

[calimary]

32. Hear fucking HEAR!!!!!

I vote for Supreme Court pickers.

[ananda]

34. same here

..

[JoePhilly]

36. K&R

[secondwind]

37. Well said LynneSin..... There is no way I will vote Republican in 2016.. NO WAY

[realFedUp]

41. How fucking generous of you.

15 years doesn't mean more intelligence at DU.

[LynneSin]

50. I never said that

I just meant that every single negative thing that DUers have posted as to reasons why I shouldn't vote for Hillary, I've heard them.

And still not enough reason to keep me from pulling the lever for her come November 2016 should she get the nomination.

My only reason I'm not supporting Hillary right now is because I keep wondering if Joe Biden is going to run. I'm from Delaware and been a fan of his from the first time he ran back in 1988. I am also a big fan of the guy down south of us with Martin O'Malley from Maryland.

What I do admire about Hillary is that I have never ever seen on woman have so much bullshit thrown her way and she does not crumble or cower. She has a strength to her that the GOP fears so they have to break her down by going negative on her. That pisses me off to no end.

This was never meant to be anything against Hillary but more towards the fifty trillion posts we will get from DUers telling us yet again why they will never ever vote for Hillary.

[Warren DeMontague]

64. Wow, what an uncalled for, nasty response.

News flash, she's not the nominee YET.

[Cha]

95. "Wow, what an uncalled for, nasty response."! Yeah, and from a putin protector

[Warren DeMontague]

98. Who is a Putin Protector?

Surely you're not suggesting me. If so, you're pretty far off the mark.

[Cha]

100. No, Warren.. sorry, I was addressing

to whom was making the "nasty remark".

Yeah, I would have way off the mark!

[Warren DeMontague]

101. Gotcha.

Anyway- I catch your drift on the rest of it, too.

[LynneSin]

120. Btw thank you!

I never meant my '15 years' as having more knowledge than others.

It was more along the lines that I have read every all those post telling me why I should never vote for Hillary and not one of them has been compelling enough to change my mind. I can't imagine anyone coming up with something brand new that would make a difference.

Everyday I do learn new things here at DU but I think the 'Hillary is wrong for our country' has been pretty well cover. Let the primary decide and in the end I will Champion the nominee in November 2016

[mwooldri]

127. Want generosity?

How about this? I'll increase the electorate by one in 2016 and I'll cast a legal valid vote in November 2016 for the Democratic Party candidate.

"all I did" in 2008 is throw some money Obama's way. Same thing in 2012. Before that, I didn't know I could do that so Kerry got naught from me. In 2000, I actually stated a preference that Bush should win over Al Gore, basically as I was a bit naive and applied the standard that the party of sex scandals should be voted out of office, and Bill Clinton represented "the" sex scandal. Obviously I have come to realise that GW Bush and Republicans in general can be equated to the worst parts of Thatcherism and the worst parts of Toryism in general. The present people who have leapt into the GOP Clown Car have personal philosophies that I cannot support because I think they're insane. They're not in line with the politics that I grew up with and still feel strongly about - that which was best represented by the Social Democratic Party and the Liberal Party in the UK of the 1980's - and the Ashdown, Kennedy and Campbell-led Liberal Democrats.

I'm with LynneSin in saying that I'm not on the Clinton Train at this time. But 15 years doesn't mean more intelligence? You can put a Bush through Yale and it would become more intelligent. Wise? I think you're looking for the word "wisdom" and I would argue that X years on DU has certainly increased my wisdom.

[Logical]

42. I do not want Hillary at all. But feel the same. She will get my vote, but not my money. nt

[progressoid]

43. Ditto.

[UTUSN]

46. R#67 & K for, if I had writing talent *I* could/would have written this O.P. n/t

[Terra Alta]

47. A-friggin-men.

Hillary is not my favorite candidate, or even in the top two or three, but if she wins the nomination I will gladly vote for her. She is far ahead of Cruz, Rand, Walker, Jeb, or any other asshat the GOP has to offer.

[lexington filly]

48. 100% agree.

[Jim Lane]

49. I am 99.99% with you

The extremely unlikely scenario in which I would not vote for Clinton even if she's the nominee:

The GOP establishment again prevails over the movement conservatives, nominating a ticket like Bush/Kasich (who used to have some RWNJ support but who endorsed Medicaid expansion in Ohio, thereby revealing himself to be a socialist).

The conservative base is furious. They say, "If we keep voting in November for RINOs like McCain, Romney, and now Bush, the elite will keep shoving such nominees down our throats. We've had it. No more. There's no difference between the major parties. We're going to give the American people a genuine conservative alternative, and if the split in Republican ranks means the Democrats win, so be it -- at least we've laid the groundwork for 2020." In other words, they go Naderite. They run a third-party ticket composed of two of the likes of, in alpha order, Carson, Cruz, DeMint, Gohmert, Palin, Paul, Pence, etc. Maybe the Libertarians dislike the hawkishness of both Bush and the RWNJ so they again run their own candidate. (Remember that they finished third in 2012.)

That split on the right means that the Democrat is virtually assured of victory. That means, however, that a genuinely progressive independent candidacy has at least some chance of avoiding the fiasco of 2000. In that year it was always obvious that Nader couldn't win and that the only real-world effect of his candidacy would be to help Bush. In my scenario, some kind of Sanders/Grayson ticket might actually have a chance to win. It would be conceivable that some serious progressive campaign would emerge -- not a no-hoper Jill Stein on the Green Party line but rather someone who might defeat Clinton and the various right-wingers.

If, going into Election Day, it seems that a progressive candidate has a realistic chance of winning, then I'll vote for that candidate. I'm estimating the chance of that at roughly 0.01%.

In any other scenario, if Clinton is the Democratic nominee, I'll hold my nose and vote for her.

[LynneSin]

52. Not even then. The GOP just needs to get close enough in the polls

With the heinous Voter ID laws in some states and the electronic voting machines, the rest can be manipulated into a GOP victory.

Every vote counts. The Supreme Court is on the line and just for that I'm not even going to mess around with that.

If he Supreme Court was something like 6-3 in favor of the Dems and all the progressive judges were like 60 years or younger, then maybe just maybe I might see your scenario.

But it's 5-4 in favor of the GOP and we have 4 judges over the age of 70 including 2 of them who are progressives.

Will not fuck with that.

[Jim Lane]

68. What if Clinton-Bush fatigue is so great that Sanders is leading Clinton in the polls?

This was Sanders's situation in his first run for the U.S. House:

In 1988, incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Jeffords decided to run for the U.S. Senate, vacating Vermont's at-large congressional district. Republican Lieutenant Governor Peter Smith won the House election with a plurality of 41% of the vote. Sanders, who ran as an independent, placed second with 38% of the vote, while Democratic State Representative Paul N. Poirier placed third with 19% of the vote. (from Sanders's Wikipedia bio)

Arguably, those Democrats voting for Poirier should have seen that the cost of party loyalty would be the election of a Republican.

I'm with you on the importance of the Supreme Court. I'm just looking at the (very remote) chance that a vote for Hillary will be like a vote for Poirier -- that it's voting Democratic that violates the axiom of "Will not fuck with that."

Then there's the complication of national polls versus polls in your state. Given that none of this will actually happen, though, it's not worth trying to untangle that knot.

[ELI BOY 1950]

51. YOU are so right !!!

I voted for OBAMA because of the war...
She can be wrong at times but is still the most qualified person to run for the presidency...

Jeb Bush or Hillary...easy choice for me...

Let's stay unified...Sanders can't win and Elizabeth is not running...

She's the Democrats future...Lets support her and the party

[LynneSin]

53. Sanders isn't running yet

Sanders could win if he was the nomination

And to me in the end it is who gets the nomination.

It's not even 2016 yet.

[Aerows]

54. I absolutely agree with you

She's not my first choice, but if she wins the primary I will wholeheartedly support her. As you say, on her worst day, she is WAY better than ANYONE in the GOP.

This month, I've had an awakening on how big of a bullet we dodged getting Obama for two terms instead of the likes of the 47 idiots whose only plan is going to war, making everyone but the 1% suffer, and doing the same things, repeating the same lies while accomplishing not a damn thing.

[LynneSin]

56. The fact that we are not supporting our veterans is a serious problem

The GOP have called Veteran Care an 'entitlement'

If they think it's an 'entitlement' then stop creating new veterans because it's clear we cannot take care of the ones we have right now.

You cannot call yourself patriotic simply by supporting war. You call yourself patriotic by taking care of those who were willing to serve in that war for you. The democrats are trying to increase support for our Veterans yet the GOP vote against it.

That should be a HUGE campaign issue.

People need to know how much the GOP are against our Veterans.

[Aerows]

60. 100% RIGHT!

Another thing that we seriously need to address is infrastructure. That will do two things - ensure that we don't end up as Somalia 10 years from now, and will put a lot of Americans to work. More jobs = higher wages.

We have GOT to take better care of our veterans. They put their lives on the line, and when they come home, they most certainly shouldn't be waiting for months on a medical appointment. That's a travesty.

We need to focus on the environment, too.

I still think a serious hot button issue should be infrastructure - jobs and repairing our decaying bridges and roads. Both of those are win/win for the American people and a better America. Those that have profited *handsomely* from our infrastructure need to be the ones paying for it, too (i.e. large corporations and the wealthy.

Lifting the Social Security cap should be a DEFINITE must do, as well. It's bullshit that we can't fund Social Security - it's that those who make the most aren't paying their fair share.

[libdem4life]

75. Bill did a great commercial for a VA online job site about an hour ago. The Big Dawg is on duty.

[Major Hogwash]

79. Bullshit! We are supporting our veterans under President Obama!

Hillary won't be able to do one iota more than President Obama with a Republican-controlled Congress!!!

[LynneSin]

111. We could do more.

I'm talking about what the GOP has done calling Veterans Care 'entitlements' and how they have filibuster several bills meant to increase funding to help our Vets.

[Triana]

55. BINGO. My sentiments exactly. n/t

[blkmusclmachine]

57. Meh. I'm keeping my options open. May go "third way" and vote Independent.

[zeemike]

67. Me too.

I am not locking myself into anything a year and a half away from an election...especially out of fear of the clown car.
I will wait until November 2016 to decide if I last that long.

[rosesaylavee]

59. What you said.

But only here for 10 years.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

62. Rec & Here! Here!

[barbtries]

63. absolutely.

i declared my support for her already but it is subject to change if the democratic party nominates someone else...but otherwise. my nightmare is a republican in the white house.

[Dawson Leery]

65. Hillary v. Ted Cruz will have most here rally to her side.

[aquart]

72. Ted Cruz having the smallest tiniest chance at the presidency...my blood freezes.

That's a terrifying risk for this nation.

[PowerToThePeople]

66. if we are to go to hell

May as well make it quick.

Why torture ourselves by a death of 1000 slices?

[Katashi_itto]

141. Agree

[MissMillie]

70. she's brilliant

As good as her hubby was/is, she's better.

If she's our candidate, she will get my vote.

Is she the one that I want......? No.

But she might be the one that can win.


Two years ago, someone tried to convince me that Obama was a liberal.

So much of what Obama has done looks a lot like Reagan did, or would have done.





I met a 30-something not too long ago. He was bitching about his taxes have been raised.

If he's 30, he was born in 1985. The only person to raise taxes on the middle class since that time (and it might have even been before) was

RONALD REAGAN

(social security tax)

I'm sick of the lies and misinformation. I'm tired of the fact that Fox News gets a pass for "freedom of the press" when all they are is a 24 hr. ad campaign for the GOP.

[nevergiveup]

71. Yep, it is a no-brainer.

The crazies have the House, the Senate and the Supreme Court and although I have never been much of a Hillary fan, if she wins the nomination I will work my butt off for her to keep the idiots from taking the Presidency.

[TerrapinFlyer]

73. The OP needs a minor correction...

It's not a "Clown Car"... they had to get a "Clown Bus" this time.

[Bleacher Creature]

74. Couldn't have said it better myself.

Thank you!

[d_b]

76. For sure

She's not even in my top 100, but I'll vote for her if winds up the one vs. those fuckin lunatics.

[kelliekat44]

80. Right on!!! nt

[RiverNoord]

82. And so the country sinks even deeper into feudal oligarchy.

This is now the United States of America. We support candidates for the most critical single public office in the country because, even though we might not like the candidate or the prospects of positive change under her/his leadership, the candidate has got to be better than the loonies on the 'other side.'

It's a death spiral. We have only two major political parties, and the crazier one side gets, the more willing we are to accept the continuous erosion of the 'Democratic-Farmer-Laborer' principles that are right there in the actual name of the party that has the fewer crazy people in it. Because we're so worried about what the crazy people on the other side might do if they get into office.

With such an outlook, the only factor we can really afford to consider seriously in a Democratic candidate is the likelihood of winning a general election. Nothing else really matters, in the end. We can't afford to seriously consider anything else.

And all of this is a big-money driven mass-media managed popularity contest, with a nice little delusion maintained by the players that the little people actually get to decide who's playing.

God bless America.

[Surya Gayatri]

88. 'We have only two major political parties'...yes,

and in the end, the choice does indeed come down to our candidate has got to be better than the loonies on the 'other side'.'

Strangely enough, even in multi-party democracies, with a second-round, run-off electoral system, the same Hobbsian choice often applies.

Case in point: France, where the second round is too often reduced to a run-off between the FRONT NATIONAL (neo-fascist) candidate or a hackneyed, run-of-the-mill pol from the PS (PARTI SOCIALISTE).

Damn this clunky system of democracy...

“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.”

― Winston S. Churchill

[Art_from_Ark]

94. Well said

[Bucky]

83. Spot on, Lynne!!

I'd vote for any Democrat in any November.

[alcibiades_mystery]

84. Me too, LynneSin...I keep hearing that she's a terrible, terrible "neoliberal corporatist" or some

such, but I never quite get what that means, and the arguments against her seem rather limp.

[rury]

85. I'm not on Team Hillary either

I want to see somebody else run.
But I'll vote for her in the general election if she wins the nomination.
But that's it, just a vote. No money, no phone banking or canvassing.

[Surya Gayatri]

87. K & R

Thanks, Lynne, for putting into words what I couldn't and wouldn't dare.

Too shy to take the return flack. (In spite of 10 years hanging out here.)

[blogslut]

91. indeed

[nightscanner59]

97. Okay this post makes me feel better than the total Hillary-bash fest I read just two days ago.

Where most responders indicated they wouldn't even vote for her. Two above have indicated this as well, and it worries me some.
A vote for an independent candidate only amounts to one more that doesn't effectively stand against GOP nutjobbery. Our economy has improved, our bet on Obama flourished albeit stubbornly to repair the damage the GOP had done, even without their support. I find their backtracking all the way back to the stimulus (which saved our butts) claiming "it didn't work" just as hilarious as it is dangerous.
I still terribly fear the TPP bullshit may sink us all regardless. But I sure as hell am not supporting GOP candidates who want to stuff my gay ass back in the closet or even have me "eliminated" like some of their extremists want. I certainly don't want GOP total supply-side economics, as theirs is so damn tightwad that there isn't even trickle down, it shuts the faucet completely off and in some respects runs it backwards.
I was a Warren hopeful myself. I'm terribly disappointed she won't take the challenge, but also can't really blame her. Yes, Joe Biden I believe would possibly wipe a Clinton nomination off the table. Sanders as well, but I'm afraid his age factor won't garner the independent vote.
So I share the "meh" support of Hillary, but I will also vote for her and get behind pushing for her all the way if she's the nominee.

[LynneSin]

112. I'll vote for Hillary because of Ruth Bader Ginsberg and David Souter

Age 82 and 76 respectively.

I highly doubt the GOP would replace them with like minded people

[randr]

99. I want to see an open field of Democratic candidates

only to guarantee that all progressive issues are put on the table.
From the get go I acknowledge that Hillary has EARNED the right to run and, furthermore, has gained the knowledge and experience to make her more qualified to serve as our President than any candidate on the horizon--left or right.
Rather that being a candidate by default, as likened by all Republican candidates over the past 60 years, Hillary has, through her WORK, found herself in the position of being CAPABLE to serve in the office of President.
I look forward to a lively debate, to vote for our final choice, and to celebrate a Democratic President in charge of our Nation.

[sarge43]

103. Exactly

I sincerely hope other Democrats step up and challenge her in the primaries. We need it and she needs it. That said, if she is the nominee, of course I'll work and vote for her.

[TNNurse]

104. You and I agree

But you have expressed it much better than I have. I usually just ask,"which of those Republicans will you vote for?". Your argument is clear.

[Jester Messiah]

105. I'm ready for Cersei.

Er, I mean Hillary.

[TexasProgresive]

107. I seldom make predictions but if our ticket is Clinton/Castro

if the top of the repuklicant ticket is anyone but Jeb Bush the VP will be his son George P. Bush. It's possible that the Bush hubris will win out and even if Jeb gets the nod he will give the VP slot to George.

[LynneSin]

144. George P Bush? The one that stalked his ex-girlfriend?

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/documents/crime/nut-some-soup-0

That'll appeal to women

[TexasProgresive]

145. Different sins but it worked out OK for his uncle

Drug and alcohol addled draft dodging, AWOL deserter who managed to become president (by whatever means) of the United States of America. So, yes, it could happen.

[riqster]

108. Damn skippy.

[IronLionZion]

109. There is absolutely positively NOTHING

that would make people on DU happy. Get under DU's bus!

[MillennialDem]

110. Hillary's - or whoever the democratic party nominates... appointments of replacements for Scalia

and/or Kennedy and/or Thomas is absolutely critical.

[libdem4life]

113. A little K&R for my morning. I like a good post with my breakfast.

[NorthCarolina]

114. There you go progressives and liberals at the base of the party.

There's how your issues will be addressed...."Hillary is better than the alternative", and I'll throw in "don't forget about the judges" because that's ALWAYS a standard go-to for third-way conservatives. Besides, they'll have women and the Latino community without having to wade into any major progressive measures concerning issues like Wall Street, to big to fail, trade agreements, WAR, etc. beyond superficial generalities.

[cascadiance]

128. One way or another, we need a more progressive agenda for this party...

There are many here who really adamantly want someone like Warren over Hillary Clinton, and what up to now has been her past history of actions as a politician and in other spaces...

But just like the OP, we will likely vote for her if given the choice between her and a Republican for the president.

The real issue isn't us here who really want a new progressive set of policies for the party, it is what those independents, and others that have felt disaffected by both parties will do and who they will vote for.

This is where either:

a) we nominate a more progressive candidate like Warren (IF she runs of course, given those who want to keep the "she isn't running" posts responding to any conjectures of this sort).

or

b) we nominate Hillary Clinton, but through the primaries, she's been a lot more specific now on what she would do to depart from her past work to promote monied interests and more to work towards progressive reforms that this country sorely needs. This potentially could happen, but likely will only if we have someone like Warren or Sanders in the primaries, promoting a discussion of such issues which won't happen without them, and with a corporate media asking the questions that don't want to be in conflict with their funders.

I would contend that there are many independents, and even some Republicans that are waiting for candidates to speak for the 99% more, as they as well as Democrats or other progressives are affected by things like the growing wealth gap, shipping of jobs overseas through "free trade deals" and "guest worker" indentured servant worker programs that hurt the average American, whether they are Democrats, independents, or Republicans. If we stay with the third way mantras, we WILL NOT grab the middle vote that might be needed to win this coming election, whether we have Hillary Clinton or someone else running as a Democrat.

If someone like Rand Paul, should he be nominated, runs on many more visible Libertarian issues (pot legalization, cutting military funding, investigating domestic spying, etc.), even if at his core, he won't help us as progressives or the 99% in the fashion they need, he may pick up these votes instead, because we're not exercising leadership for the progressive change that this country needs, and for some of the less informed, he gets perceived as the "candidate of change", which the corporate media will gladly latch on to and push this notion.

That is why it is so important, even if we nominate Hillary, we stay very strong in our stance that she MUST change from the past history of what the Clinton family has done in putting place things like NAFTA (and perhaps now TPP in the same fashion), signing Republican bills to get rid of Glass Stiegel, and the Telecomm bill, which has done as much damage as what Republicans have done over this period to create the atmosphere we have now where our middle class is getting wiped out and we don't have the necessary abilities for voices to get heard to change it.

[underpants]

115. Her van is nicknamed "Scooby"

[charliea]

116. You bet.

I'm an independent voter, I may (and do) disagree with policy positions put forth by Hillary but I haven't been able to vote for any Republican in over 30 years, I see nothing in the current clown car occupants to change that, just more incentive to continue my streak.
So, yeah, if she's the nominee she's who I'd be voting for. I agree with the OP 100%

[d_legendary1]

117. If she wins the nomination I'll grit my teeth and vote for her

Either that or have some nutball start another war in the middle east.

[CanonRay]

119. I'm with you, feel the same way

I'm going to vote for her in the general if she's the nominee. Period. I never want another Republican in the White House. Ever.

[LeFleur1]

121. You Got It, Lynnesin

Quote: Because in the end, on Hillary Clinton's absolutely, positively worst fricking day EVER - she is still better than ANYONE from the GOP.

[libdem4life]

123. I had a dream in the future ... First Mother reunion. Barbara Bush and Rosie Castro

and Michelle's Mom. I'm not sure about Hillary's mother, now that I think about it. But she would be white to round out the diversity. Love to be fly on the wall for that one!

[Amimnoch]

124. Agree. Come the General I will vote for the person with the (D).

period.

[Voice for Peace]

125. thanks.

I am not enthusiastic about Hillary. I tried to watch a video
of her announcement and kept getting hung up on advertisements:
for garbage bags that smell really good, so you don't have to
smell what's actually inside of them.

However I will vote in the 2016 general election and will support
the democratic nominee. I know Hillary has some amazing
strengths and maybe at this time she is what is needed. To
prevent Obama's gains from being lost, somebody really strong.

[FSogol]

126. I'm an O'Malley supporter and completely agree. n/t

[LynneSin]

132. We Delmarvans have to stick together

[hamsterjill]

129. Thank you for being sensible and wise.

I found myself much in the same situation in 2008. I had been a Hillary supporter then, and when it was apparent that Barack Obama was going to be the candidate, I put my support behind him and made sure I was at the voting booth so that my voice would count.

Divided we fall, united we stand.

[KamaAina]

130. Oh, you're only for Biden because he's been on your porch

No, srsly, Joe Biden has in fact been on Lynne's porch. Delaware is a heavy-duty retail politics environment, you know.

[LynneSin]

131. TWICE and one time as a Vice President

How many DUers have had a President or VP stand on their front porch.

I don't have many things to brag about in life (other than the 75lbs lost) but I do have that!

[KamaAina]

133. Well, some Hawai'i DUer might have had Obama stand on his/her lanai

[LynneSin]

134. Either you did or did not, there is no might

Get it together Yoda!

[bigwillq]

135. I wish Hillary the best

as I would any potential DEM candidate.

[DonCoquixote]

136. I agree

We had a chance to test out the "maybe if the Democrats lose, they will move left" theory in 2000 thanks to nader, and it failed, at the cost of thousands of lives.

[hopemountain]

137. absolutely, lynnesin! nt

[YOHABLO]

139. I think most of us know what kind of Dem Hillary is. She's really not left of center as most

progressives. But if she's the candidate to oppose any of those nut cases on the right, she has my vote. I have to hand it to her, she's a very shrewd operator and I'm sure she has gathered the best campaign team. The Republicans will throw everything including the bathroom sink at her, and she knows what's coming. So in that regard, the woman has balls. Shout out to Bill .. Keep your trap shut.

[certainot]

142. two words..... supreme court

[Scurrilous]

143. K & R