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[Bonobo]

1. I like the passive tense! Removes all human action and influence from the equation! nt

[ucrdem]

73. Voice, not tense, and where?

I don't see any.

[Bucky]

132. You're grammatically incorrect, but yes, the language does limit the scope of what matters

Passive voice is when the subject of the action is the object of the sentence: "The election was won by her" instead of "She won the election."

Still, I agree the OP completely ignores other factors like character, the need for reform, and the likelihood that Clinton, despite her populist language in this latest go-round of electioneering, will probably maintain the corrupt status quo rather than attempt real systemic change in the governance of the country.

Suckiness is inevitable.

[cantbeserious]

2. I Will No Longer Settle For The Lesser Of Two Evils - Go Bernie Go

eom

[hrmjustin]

3. Hillary is getting my vote because I believe she is the most qualified and she is our best

chance to keep the White House Blue.

It is a real primary.

[cantbeserious]

4. I'm Ready For Oligarchy - Are You? - Support Obama On TPP - Elect HRC To Continue The Charade

[hrmjustin]

5. You do what you want.

[cantbeserious]

6. Go Bernie Go - Our Next US President

eom

[hrmjustin]

7. A great man!

[cantbeserious]

8. I Will No Longer Settle For The Lesser Of Two Evils - Go Bernie Go

eom

[hrmjustin]

9. And I have no doubt you will support Sanders to the fullest and I wish you well.

[Quackers]

85. Always such a great person.

I wish we had you on the Bernie side of the fence.

[hrmjustin]

110. Thank you very much.

[okasha]

134. I will no longer settle for a Republican regime.

Go, Hillary!

[JaneyVee]

18. Definition of trolling.

[PowerToThePeople]

37. agree

[BainsBane]

38. How can you possibly think oligarchy is something that rises of falls based on a president?

You think electing Sanders will magically make all the boo boos go away? You invest so much in one member of the political elite over another, and pretend that alters the social structure? How is it even possible to be so deluded?
I really don't care who you support for president because ultimately it doesn't matter much, but to see this kind of inane comment is fucking frightening. Elections don't put oligarchy into place; nor do they undo it. A president is a figure head, a constitutional position with limited authority. You are not electing Santa Claus or Jesus Christ.
To think that is actually a meme that multiple people believe. How can you hope to have a prayer of changing a system that you can't even begin to understand?

America is truly fucked when this is what passes as leftist activism.

[Katashi_itto]

49. .

[SidDithers]

75. ...

Sid

[Katashi_itto]

138. Waffles are good....!

[ismnotwasm]

129. What the fuck is that shit?

[AgingAmerican]

61. It's the policies

And I don't believe in defeatism.

[BainsBane]

62. Which policies?

[AgingAmerican]

64. The policies that further the wealth transfer

Like making deals with psychopaths, or trade deals that eviscerate the economy at the behest of the oligarchy.

[BainsBane]

65. TPP

I understand, though she hasn't been clear about her stand on that. What do you mean by making deals with psychopaths?

[AgingAmerican]

66. Grand bargains

With people who are trying to destroy you.

[BainsBane]

67. You mean like the nuclear deal with Iran?

That the Obama administration is negotiating? You really need to be more specific here.

[AgingAmerican]

68. No, like the grand bargains with the GOP

While they were actively trying to destroy him.

[BainsBane]

69. So you are talking about Obama's negotiations with the GOP

Not Clinton, and not oligarchy.

Do you want a president who doesn't negotiate or relate to the GOP at all? Meaning you want no legislation passed?

[AgingAmerican]

71. As an example, yes

I don't want a president who gives in to the GOP. I don't want a president who negotiates damaging legislation in hopes of placating the psychopaths.

[BainsBane]

72. Obama was a poor negotiator

I think you can be assured that is not the case with Clinton.

Regardless, none of this has anything to do with oligarchy.

[hootinholler]

82. Well I don't think that

I know that oligarchy will never be defeated without a President dedicated to its eradication.

I know it will take a national grass roots movement to accomplish any movement in the direction that is helpful to the people.

I know of only one candidate that has put themselves in a place to build that movement. I know of only one candidate who is not part of the political elite.

Won't you join us and help change the world for the better?

[Exilednight]

83. I'm pretty sure that everyone is aware that there is no silver bullet, but

Continuing to elect the same ole same ole will only make the problem worse than it already is.

I get the poster's point, change has to have a beginning.

[Puzzledtraveller]

56. Then tell them there is no difference between the parties and they get furious.

I suppose shining the spotlight on the fact they want a win so bad even if it means the rich get richer while the poor get poorer is okay with them makes them mad. No doubt, because that's exactly what would happen under republicans.

[laserhaas]

102. Ha Ha .... you should have done a thread with that title

You crack me up.........

and gets a rare 3 Smiley Award.....

[redstateblues]

13. I'm sticking with the dynamic duo.

The eight Clinton years were war free and the economy thrived.

[hrmjustin]

14. She will be great!

[Art_from_Ark]

76. Well, the economy thrived,

if you don't count the bursting of the tech bubble in March 2000 and the jobs that were slowly being shipped overseas as a result of NAFTA.

[laserhaas]

105. Don't pester the Clinton lobby with facts

We're all suppose to lie down and let her rip....

[bravenak]

130. Welfare reform. Mass incarcerations. Ramp up of drug war.

[bravenak]

155. It is the fact that she supported them and touted them as accomplishments.

Not the fact that her husband did it. If sh wants to come out and say how she would change things, I'm all ears. But these are problems that need to be addressed by the next president no matter who they are married to. Credit for the accomplishements of the Clinton Era come with blame for the failures of the Clinton Era.

[bravenak]

158. The poster I replied to called them the dynamic DuO.

And I said touts them as accomplishments, not touts them as HER accomplishments. She spent years going on about how welfare reform was an accomplishment. She still has not changed he mind on drug prohibition, and only recently said anything at all about the mass incarcerations that started under Bill. This has been a problem since the beginning. She takes to long to take a firm position. These issues are my do or die issues, I check each candidate out on poverty, drugs, manditory minimums, and any votes on policing. So far, she is terrible, O'mally is terrible, and Bernie is okay. I'm still hoping for more and stronger from each candidate. They are democrats so I know they will be Pro Choice, put liberals on the SC, and try to regulate the unregulated. But on these issues, Democrats need to change. They have been acting like Republicans and it harms those who can't least afford the damage.

[bravenak]

160. She has time and my attention.

[Katashi_itto]

20. I will only vote Bernie

Last edited Mon May 11, 2015, 12:13 AM - Edit history (2)

[hrmjustin]

22. You can only vote for one person.

[Katashi_itto]

44. Very observant

[hrmjustin]

45. .

[Katashi_itto]

46. ..

[safeinOhio]

70. I see myself voting for one

In the primary and the other in the general election.

[Rex]

10. It would be a lot easier if it was plants vs. zombies.

[eloydude]

11. I'll concur she is a qualified candidate to run for POTUS

But is she qualified to be a President of the United States?

In my opinion: No.

That's the question you have to ask yourself.

Think about what Candidate Obama promised and what President Obama achieved.

He promised a lot, and achieved a few that would have shown that he kept his promise.

I still support Obama, but to an extent. TPP is not one of them.

Hillary has major issues with TPP, and with her association that are part of the pro-TPP group has me questioning her stances.

Is she for the 1% or the 99% - Income inequality is a big issue for me.

[Thinkingabout]

17. You state she is far the 1%, how do you explain her work to get the minimun wage increased,

How does that help the 1%. She has been an advocate for women's issues for many years, how does this only help the 1%. She wants to do something about income disparity, how does this help the 1%?

Don't continue the talking point she is only interested in the 1%, that is a RW talking point because they do not want to run against Hillary.

BTW, if she is only for the 1% and Bernie I wanting the same issues the he must be for the 1% also.

[davidn3600]

30. It's lip service and it won't help the poor or middle class much at all

The issue is not just minimum wage, the problem is the number of jobs that pay a living wage. There are fewer and fewer. We keep signing trade deals that make it easier for our companies to ship jobs over seas. Then you have Hillary continuing to support increasing the H1B visas. I guess her goal is to destroy the skilled labor market and bring those salaries down because that's all her policy is going to end up doing.

The big banks and big corporations want her to be the Democrat nominee. That should tell you something.

And as for women's issues...you got a Republican House filled with dinosaurs. How far will a feminist agenda get with John Boehner? Let's be realistic here.
And btw, women's issues are part of the DNC platform. Everyone who is running for the nomination has the same opinion on women's rights as Hillary does. For me, I don't see women's issues being that big of a deal in a democratic primary because nearly everyone is in agreement on equality.

[Thinkingabout]

55. I am still trying to figure out how getting minimum wage increases only helps the 1%.

I know what is in the DNC platform and I research where Hillary stands on the issues, she is not working for the 1%, perhaps the 100%. You may not think women's issues are important and maybe you never had the opportunity to be involved in women's issues but since over half of the population are females then it would be important to the majority of the population. Like having a committee meeting on women's issues and not including a single female, yep, this is equality.

[laserhaas]

106. Concur.... War machine, TPP and anti-Wall Street frauds is germane

all other rhetoric is like the GOP wrapping themselves in a flag and picking up a bible.

DEMs say "Let's preserve rights and blah blah blah"

At least Bernie has never waived off the same lines

[tazkcmo]

115. Love to see that link!

The only "work" I've seen or heard of in regard to an increase in minimum wage is a desire to have a conversation about it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/15/hillary-clinton-minimum-wage_n_7075258.html

That versus specifics.

http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/ali-meyer/sen-sanders-touts-15-minimum-wage-says-employment-states-higher-wages

[Thinkingabout]

121. Hillary's stand on the issues is easily found, has lots of information.

Since you ask about the minimum wage I will provide the specific information. Notice the year it occurred is 2007, while she was a member of the Senate

•Voted YES on increasing minimum wage to $7.25. (Feb 2007)
•Voted YES on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 rather than $6.25. (Mar 2005)
•Voted NO on repealing Clinton's ergonomic rules on repetitive stress. (Mar 2001)
•Protect overtime pay protections. (Jun 2003)
•Rated 85% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
•Allow an Air Traffic Controller's Union. (Jan 2006)
•Sponsored bill linking minimum wage to Congress' pay raises. (May 2006)
•Extend unemployment compensation during recession. (Jan 2008)
•Ban discriminatory compensation; allow 2 years to sue. (Jan 2009)
•Sponsored bill enforcing against gender pay discrimination. (Jan 2009)

This is a link to Hillary on the issues


http://www.ontheissues.org/hillary_clinton.htm

[tazkcmo]

122. lol!

2005 links? Nice job. I know I'm being unreasonable asking for concrete proof of a claim you made. My bad.

[Thinkingabout]

123. She will be running on her record. You first complained you only heard talk and wanted links.

Hillary was talking about wages before 2007. She cared about women's issues during her like, she has been consistent on this, she had advocated for children, she had advocated for education. Don't be afraid of her record, it is a part of her experience, I know it is long but worth reading.

Is there anything you may have experienced on and before 2007 which may add to your experiences? I hope so, after all I went to school as a child and learned things, I still know some of those things, like reading.

[tazkcmo]

125. Complain?

If complaining is asking you to back up a claim you've made with some proof a bit less than 10 years old concerning minimum wage increase then guilty as charged.

[MattSh]

59. If you love war...

you'll love HRC.

[okasha]

135. That's what we heard eight years ago.

Guess what we've still got.

[Thinkingabout]

12. I wont settle for the lessor ergo I support Hillary as my choice for DNC noninee.

[eloydude]

15. In other words, you won't support Bernie in the primaries

even if you listen to him, and he changes your mind?

Your loyalties are admirable, but Hillary is the status quo. I'm tired of the status quo. Are you? I certainly want to see the priorities of America changed to domestic issues.

Have you driven the roads on a major city lately? It is in horrible condition, full of potholes. The city can only do so much when the Republicans are funding so much towards to defense, and fuck everything else? This is what I expect with Hillary as the nominee - everything the same - nothing changes. Except maybe a Republican President because people would prefer the authentic one than a Republican Lite EVEN if they are batshit crazy.

[Thinkingabout]

19. You get Bernie to change his mind on national defense for one and I will give him another look.

To be honest with you I have now seen where he is as qualified as Hillary.

[Exilednight]

84. Hillary's national defense record is nothing to be proud of. n/t

[hootinholler]

86. What's wrong with his positions on national defense?

They seem sensible to me.

[Thinkingabout]

91. What do you like with his position on national defense record.

[hootinholler]

93. I asked you what was wrong with them.

Rather than answer, you ask me a question. Are you simply peddling FUD?

I like that he considers global warming a national threat. I like that he thinks we should provide for our veterans. I like that he thinks we spend way too much on national security. I like that he wants to reign in the NSA and CIA.

All of these are sensible notions.

[Thinkingabout]

97. His voting record

[hootinholler]

98. Ooooh, the horrible voting record.

I'm not going to pull teeth here to get a serious answer out of you.

Good luck with your choice.

[Thinkingabout]

99. On national security he has a bad record. You don't have to pull teeth, I gave you an

answer and then more and more questions.

[hootinholler]

100. Um it's the same question

I guess I missed the part where you answered what is wrong with Bernie's positions on national defense.

[Thinkingabout]

108. it is over

[laserhaas]

114. There are very few like Richards... and Bernie has a better track record

Than any other (aside from Warren).

With Obama, he was so opposite of Bush, McCain he was an easy get behind.

So is Bernie; but the difference is, Bernie is long established and saying the same.

Would be nice to see what he could do with his ideals and the power to implement


S O M E.....

[leftofcool]

81. +1

[BainsBane]

21. Dude, you just piss people off with this stuff

Lay off it. It does no good.

[BainsBane]

28. Sorry

Dudette, then.

[peacebird]

162. Woman, you really piss people off with this stuff.

Just stop it.

(For the record I am also a woman, so your sex doesn't excuse these silly Miss Inevitable posts with me)

[SidDithers]

23. DU rec...nt

Sid

[Travis_0004]

24. She bravely suppored the iraq war, and has experience as a Walmart boad member.

Thats what Im looking for in a leader.

[Thinkingabout]

25. Glad you brought up her time on Walmart board, while there she pushed for the

"Buy America" program and she pushed for promotions for women. Also being on a board is more experience. The IWR vote is worn out, you need to get a new one.

[Travis_0004]

29. And while Hilary was on the board Walmart spent years fighting labor unions.

[Thinkingabout]

50. They are still fighting the unions. She hasn't been on the board since 1992.

[KingCharlemagne]

31. The AUMF vote on Iraq is an albatross around her neck. Sanders brought it up

this morning on CBS' Face the Nation to contrast their positions. I expect and hope he will bring it up continually.

[Thinkingabout]

48. His votes on national security will also be brought up, he has a mark in the fail column from me.

[TheKentuckian]

137. Just won't wantonly and for no reason blow up enough brown folks to make you feel safe, huh?

[Thinkingabout]

139. What the hell are you saying?

[TheKentuckian]

143. That my impression is that Sanders hasn't supported enough trumped up military adventurism and

murder of poor brown folks around the globe for no reason other than profits for the MIC and resource aqusition for you.

Otherwise you would be able to articulate what your issue is with his votes instead of playing nanny nanny foo foo in meandering circles for hours at a time, talking a lot but saying nothing.

[Thinkingabout]

144. Look, Bernie is in Congress, he gets briefings, why doesn't he use this information to make great

Intelligent decisions rather than playing to his base. It makes me doubt I he can make a good decision at a time when action needs to be taken and not hide. Presidents needs to make strong decisions, he has not shown he is willing.

This is my last explanation on my opinion.

[TheKentuckian]

145. First, last, middle it makes no difference. You have NEVER articulated what your problems are at all

What decisions aren't intelligent? What should be done instead? What votes do you disagree with? Which votes were plays to the base and what would have been more desirable?

You are being pressed because despite your many responses you have refused to answer.

SPIT IT OUT, which military efforts has Sanders opposed he should have supported in your opinion? Willing to do what and why should he have been?

[Thinkingabout]

146. I said in my last post it was my last explanation, it still stands.

[TheKentuckian]

147. Then random murder of brown folks for profits it is.

[Thinkingabout]

148. You must like murdering brown folks, you continue to bring this up.

[TheKentuckian]

150. No, I hate it you are the one who can't get enough of it apparently.

Seems this whole conversation is about your undisclosed problem(s) with Bernie Sanders' votes on military matters so I'm left to believe he hasn't supported enough murder for money for you in the middle east and S. America where we do our warring for profits.

[Thinkingabout]

151. You know, you do not have any idea what you are talking about, you have never read where I want

to murder brown people, I don't know what your problem is but this is the end of our conversation, I do not deal with conversations like this.

[LeftyMom]

35. WalMart's still being sued for failing to promote women, and has no US-made stuff to speak of.

If that's your case for her WalMart experience being a positive, then the best you can say is that she was well-intentioned and entirely ineffective in that role.

[Thinkingabout]

47. She hasn't been on the board since 1992, this is when the Buy America program stopped.

Doubt she will be held responsible for changes made after she left the board. She was effective in the time she was there so it is a positive, effective in the role since the program was going while she was on the board. Strike one mark for Hillary.

[LeftyMom]

51. If she didn't make any lasting changes, than what was the point?

Even at the time the Buy America program was widely known to be a sham, they even had items on the flag festooned displays that were from China. God, I knew about that then and I was in junior high school, so how the hell wouldn't Hillary have known?

Let's be real, she was on the board because she was the first lady of the state that WalMart practically owns. WalMart's expansionism needed Bill's cooperation and Bill's ambition needed their money and influence. If that kind of thing is your bag, she's your candidate. Can't say I'm a fan of it, myself.

[Thinkingabout]

52. Say what you want, does not change the facts, she still has this experience, maybe you went

to a different Walmart than I did in those years.

[LeftyMom]

58. "Experience" only matters if one did well. Otherwise Carly effing Fiorina has experience,

if one only counts the lofty title on her resume and doesn't look at how she performed in the job.

[Thinkingabout]

74. Having talked to several people who worked under Carly, it was noticed during

Her time as CEO she was not really strong in handling her job. I would not give Carly a thumbs up, Carly was fired, Hillary resigned from the Walmart board. Big difference, Hillary was a board member, not the CEO.

[Art_from_Ark]

156. Sam Walton died in 1992

That's why "Buy America" stopped.

[Thinkingabout]

166. Hillary also left the board because Bill was elected president.

[Art_from_Ark]

169. If Sam had lived longer, "Buy America" would have continued

with or without Hillary.

Even so, it wasn't all it was cracked up to be.

[Thinkingabout]

172. Who knows, but since then with all the complaining about the imports one can not

Really said how the program would have ended. Maybe the complainers are happy with having imports.

[Terra Alta]

27. She's more qualified than any of the Repuke clowns in the running

I'll at least give her that.

[KingCharlemagne]

32. That's damning her with faint praise though, imo. - nt

[WillyT]

33. Most Qualfied For... What... Exactly...

[AtomicKitten]

140. selling out the middle class

* triangulating
* deleting emails
* ducking sniper fire
* playing the victim card
* race baiting
* money grubbing
* sucking the oxygen out of the room
* reneging on pledge to report donations from foreign countries to Clinton Foundation
* hugging war criminal Kissinger
* pandering
* outsourcing jobs
* warmongering
" corporate ass-kissing

[WillyT]

141. Good Start...

[AtomicKitten]

142. hey

[guillaumeb]

34. Two statements of opinion, followed by

a prediction, followed by an opinion and ending with a motto.

Define "most qualified"

Define "most favorable"

Any data for the prediction of "more likely than not..." statement?

What is "obvious" depends on the speaker.

Agreed, keeping the White House blue is vital. Same for capturing at least the Senate.

[MattSh]

60. If you haven't noticed...

the election is 18 months away.

[guillaumeb]

96. I have noticed.

And I am glad.

[Marrah_G]

36. I disagree

[laserhaas]

119. And many of U.S. agree with you... I did a thread on Warren and BS she can't win

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026583881

The POLL there is telltale - of what we really feel and wish to say;
which is being defeated by HRC or nothing else bull chit!

[PowerToThePeople]

39. .

[Puzzledtraveller]

54. This type of thinking is part of the problem.

[LeftyMom]

57. She's held two high offices, yes. Has she doen particularly well at either?

At State I'd say the record isn't particularly great.

State is a mess technologically, based on the email flap. She didn't fix that, and that's the sort of basic technocratic fix that any competent manager should be able to manage with anything resembling a budget.

The middle east is worse than it was, hard as that would have been to believe possible back when she got the job. The Libya thing made North Africa markedly worse and is even destabilizing the eurozone to a degree because of the influx of refugees and fights about how to deal with them. The only reason we didn't stumble blindly into Syria in support of the "moderates" who turned out to be anything but was that nobody at State managed to count votes before the House of Commons got to make them look stupid. On the other hand State rubber stamped the Keystone XL, so at least we fucked up on our own continent with equal enthusiasm.

How about in the Senate?

Well, either she was the only person with an IQ above room temperature who thought Bush's case for war was convincing, or her vote was craven pandering. Pick one. Her excuse is that she believed Bush's case, which doesn't reflect well on her judgment, if true. If she can be snowed- as she insists that she was- by somebody who is so stupendously dumb and unconvincing a liar as George W. Bush, do we really want her sitting across a table from Putin?

[laserhaas]

113. Well put and on point

Thanks

[AgingAmerican]

63. Bernie is the most qualified candidate running for POTUS.

Hands down.

He does not have to change or evolve. He is already there. His positions are rock solid traditional Democratic. No evolution necessary.

If Hillary were more qualified, why does she have to evolve into the other candidates positons? Because he is more qualified.

[DCBob]

78. He has zero foreign policy experience.

And his votes regarding national security will hurt him since this election will likely focus on national security and foreign policy.

[AgingAmerican]

89. So

I bet she evolves to HIS foreign policy positions

[DCBob]

116. Nope.. not on this issue.

Despite her vote on Iraq she has foreign policy creds that will play well to mainstream America.

[AgingAmerican]

118. He voted against that war

This will separate him from the Republicans on issues of war and peace.

She will attempt to evolve in his direction, and Bernie will let her try.

IMHO

[DCBob]

120. Good for Bernie on that one. He was right.

Hillary got it wrong and she admitted it. Many good Democrats got it wrong back then. I forgive her for that mistake.

[cali]

94. because the Congress never deals with foreign policy. bwhahahaha.

and his votes on national security measure up far better than hers.

She's a national security hawk. she's center-right on many issues. And she's late to the dance on many social issues including LGBT rights and immigrant issues.

better than a republican, but still lousy on issue after issue.

[DCBob]

112. I dont consider being a member of congress as foreign policy experience.

He has had no direct involvement and doesnt really even talk about it much. I suspect this will be a major weakness since I suspect this election will be heavy on foreign policy.

[peacebird]

161. This election should focus on the restoring the middle class, since without it our economy collapses

[Art_from_Ark]

163. Economics usually are the main concern in a presidential election

Foreign policy takes a major back seat. The only times it has really mattered have been during times of war.

Questions:
What sort of foreign policy experience did Jimmy Carter have before becoming President? None.
What sort of foreign policy experience did Ronald Reagan have before becoming President? None.
What sort of foreign policy experience did GHW Bush have before becoming President? First ambassador to Communist China, Vice President and head of the CIA
What sort of foreign policy experience did Bill Clinton have before becoming President? None.
What sort of foreign policy experience did Dubyah have before slithering into the White House? None.
What sort of foreign policy experience did Barack Obama have before becoming President? Committee on Foreign Relations (2 years).

[DCBob]

164. Yes, usually and I am sure it will still be significant issue.

But I suspect foreign policy and national security will be much more of a factor this election than last. Its a weakness for Bernie.

[Art_from_Ark]

170. Foreign policy experience has far less significance outside the Beltway

In fact, it can sometimes work to a candidate's detriment.

In 1976, Gerald Ford had foreign policy experience, while Jimmy Carter did not. Yet Ford made a big gaffe during a debate about Poland not being in the Soviet bloc which may or may not have cost him votes.

By the 1980 debates, Carter had foreign policy experience, while Reagan did not. Yet Reagan won in a landslide, in part because of Carter's foreign policy failure in Iran (although overall, Carter's foreign policy was far, far superior to what Reagan implemented).

In 1992, GHW Bush had tons of foreign policy experience, while Bill Clinton had none. And yet, Bush got the lowest percentage of the popular vote for an incumbent President since William Howard Taft was shellacked in 1912.

The 2000 election was an anomaly, since the candidate with the most foreign policy experience, Al Gore, won the popular vote but was cheated out of the White House.

In 2008, neither John McCain nor Barack Obama had much foreign policy experience to their credit-- in the Senate, McCain had been involved with restoring diplomatic ties with Vietnam, while Obama spent two years on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Bernie's "lack" of foreign policy experience is not going to be a significant factor.

[DCBob]

174. Fox news wasnt around back then.

They and the rest of RW media will make sure foreign policy and national security will be a significant issue this election.

[Art_from_Ark]

177. Fox News was certainly around for the 2000 and 2008 elections

In fact, one of Bush's cousins was working as a consultant for Fox News in 2000

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/02/03/jeb-bushs-cousin-is-a-fox-business-executive/202089

[DCBob]

178. Yes.. but their influence was minimal until recently.

[Art_from_Ark]

181. Their influence started in the 1990s

Sure, they started out slow, but

"In the 2000 presidential election, Fox News, which was available in 56 million homes nationwide, saw a staggering 440% increase in viewers, the biggest gain among the three cable news television networks.[8]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Fox_News

And the three old-time news networks started calling Florida for Bush soon after Bush's cousin, John Ellis, called the state for Bush.

http://articles.latimes.com/2000/nov/14/news/mn-51705

[DCBob]

183. Right but obvious they are having tremendous influence lately..

Last edited Thu May 14, 2015, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Especially as mainstream media is now starting to become "foxified". It will be tough for any Democrat in the upcoming election which is why the candidate will need to raise huge amounts of money to fight them off which is another problem for Bernie. I doubt he can raise that kind of cash. Hillary.. no problem.

[DCBob]

77. Yes she is... by far.

That will probably be her best campaign strategy.

[AgingAmerican]

90. Her strategy will be

...evolving to HIS positions.

[B Calm]

79. Will HRC stand with McConnell and support TPP?

If she is smart, she would say hell no to TPP!

[Dawgs]

80. Sorry, I'm voting for a candidates position on the issues.

Which is far more important than being most qualified.

[Orsino]

87. "Qualified" is a weak-ass word.

Yeah, she meets the age requirement and has a birth certificate.

She's also the only former Cabinet member running, as well as being a former senator and philanthropist. There's substance there.

I would suggest talking up not "qualifications," but "accomplishments" and "experience."

[L0oniX]

88. "Follow the money" - Mike Gravel

[Hiraeth]

168. extra points for the Mike Gravel reference.

[askew]

92. By what measure is she most qualified?

She has the fewest actual accomplishments of any of the likely Dem nominees.

O'Malley - Has a laundry list of progressive accomplishments as Governor (raised min wage and taxes on wealthy, repealed death penalty, enacted SSM, DREAM Act, gun control, etc.)
Sanders - He got the public health clinics amendment into the final Obamacare bill.
Hillary - Named a couple of post offices while in the Senate and went on a goodwill tour as SoS. No major legislation enacted while in the Senate and major FP wins in Obama's first term were spearheaded by Biden or Obama. Kerry has already overshadowed her time at State with 3 major deals announced.

She has fewest years in office - 8 at Senate, 4 at State
O'Malley - 8 as Governor, 7 as Mayor, 8 as City Councilman
Sanders - 9 years as mayor, 16 years in House, 9 years in Senate.

Character Issues:
She also poor judgment - supporting Iraq War while Sanders and O'Malley didn't.
She has inconsistent policy positions - She's flip-flopped on so many issues that it is impossible to believe she stands for anything.
She is surrounded by some of the sleaziest people in politics.
She has been caught in so many stupid lies that the general public finds her to be untrustworthy.

[closeupready]

95. Hardly. She rode Bill's coattails almost her entire career.

[daleanime]

101. Just remember.....

you don't matter.

[ucrdem]

103. She's got the chops to fight the VRWC.

The populists I'll pass over in silence as I'm frankly not sure whose game they're playing. Biden would be terrific too but I think his day has passed.

[NCTraveler]

104. "HRC is the most favorable candidate running for the Democratic nomination. "

Outside of the right wing blogosphere and media, she is absolutely respected and admired.

[tazkcmo]

107. Well, ok.

Excellent and well thought out post that is obviously a result of unbiased examination and analysis of all factors over a year before the election. By the way, what are the winning lottery numbers for next week's drawing?

[R B Garr]

109. Someone should be keeping an eye on me because.....I support

Hillary Clinton, which is apparently very suspicious.

God Bless America!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

111. How does one determine who is the most "qualified" to be POTUS?

We've had good presidents with little political experience and bad presidents with years of it. And Bernie Sanders has held elected office since 1981, giving him a lot more time as a politician than Hillary. Do we look at how much experience a person has as a politician, or what other experiences they've had? Eisenhower, a pretty good president, was only ever a general. Lincoln, generally considered to have been the greatest president, spent 8 years in the Illinois legislature and one term in the U.S. House, a decade before he was elected President. James Buchanan, one of the least effective presidents, served 6 years in the Pennsylvania legislature, 10 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, 4 years as ambassador to Russia, 10 years in the Senate, 4 years as Secretary of State, and 4 years as Ambassador to England. One might conclude that there must be something else that makes a person "qualified" to be president Here's an interesting analysis of experience vs. quality: http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2012/Info/experience.html It suggests that experience in government is not by any means what makes a good or bad president.

[Bucky]

133. Dance off!!

[KamaAina]

117. Well, she does have the most impressive resume

but let's see how the interview process (primary season) goes.

[workinclasszero]

124. Hillary will be the next President of the Untied States!

[DonCoquixote]

126. nobody gets my vote for pres

Until they actually Win the nomination.

Some folks are really still upset that Hillary managed to blow it last time, albeit because she played the hare to Obama's tortoise.

As far as most qualified, she is more the any GOP clown car rider, but I am not so sure I want miss "we came, we saw, he died" in cahrge of Mid east policy.

Of course if she WINS the nomination, I will vote for her, then again, if the democratic comittee somehow elected a ham sandwich as candidate, I would vote for the ham sandwich, because, unlike Jeb Bush, it will not actively pursue deadly policy.

[bobjacksonk2832]

127. Nah, Bernie Sanders is far more qualified IMO.

After all, he is a genuine progressive. That said, I'll still take Hillary over ANY GOP candidate.

[Maedhros]

128. My argument is not with Hillary's lack of qualifications,

it's with her ideology and track record.

[Bucky]

131. Agreed. Of course Nixon was more qualified than JFK; Ford more qualified than Carter

There's other things to consider besides resumes. There's electibility, orientation towards systemic reform, lack of cronyism, and actual stance on issues. I won't cry if Clinton is nominated & elected, but I sure would prefer a vote that doesn't involve choosing between dynasties.

[TheKentuckian]

136. Bullshit, Bernie has far more direct and accountable experience.

She has 1 1/3 term in the Senate and a term as SoC which she spent trying to destabilize South America, fuck up the middle east more, and start unnecessary garbage with Russia while enriching our "stakeholders".

[davidn3600]

153. That's nice. But what's her opinion on TPP?

[99Forever]

165. Nonsense. She can't even handle questions from the press.

Running scared, the implosion is imminent.

[Thinkingabout]

167. Oh, yes, she is very scared. I would not bet on her being scared.

Look, she is handling her campaign the way she and her staff has elected. It is not a requirement for her to answer questions, especially when others are not putting out good answers.

[Warren DeMontague]

171. Last I heard, she was the most qualified human to run for President, EVER, in the history of this or

any other Universe.

It's nice to know we've cranked the hyperbole down a notch or two.

[Yorktown]

173. She certainly is well qualified.

The only issue is age. The last few years seem to have tired her more.

[Warren DeMontague]

175. I have issues with her, but age isn't one of them.

That said, her qualifications aren't one, either.

I think she's smart, she's tough, she knows washington and how it operates- those are excellent qualifications. She has more than enough experience in government.

And let's be honest. What, exactly, constitutes "qualifications" to be President? I mean, the job most widely considered to be the stepping stone to the Presidency; they Vice Presidency, doesn't actually have any real defined function whatsoever, except to wait there in case something happens to the President, or maybe cast a tiebreaking vote in the Senate.

A lot of people come to the Presidency from the Senate- she's got that under her belt.

But, really, the Presidency of the United States is like no other job on Earth- as such, it's fairly impossible to quantify what constitutes "qualified", or not.

That said, the post which claimed she was -I'm not making this up- the most qualified person to EVER run... look, I like Hillary Clinton, I may vote for her in the primaries, I'll definitely vote for her in the general if she's the nominee.. but that's sort of a silly thing to assert.

[CanadaexPat]

176. She may be qualified, but she's bad campaigner

She's a high risk to blow the election.

[Autumn]

179. .

[doc03]

180. So were President Gore, Kerry and Dukakis n/t

[McCamy Taylor]

182. Clinton is already getting my money.