I remember how good things were under Bill Clinton, and I thought Hillary could help reestablish that. Also, she is extremely tough, and she is a brilliant speaker. During the debates, she basically chased Obama around the stage.
My greatest concern about Obama was not that he lacked toughness. He had that. My greatest concern was that some of Obama's supporters had their eyelids a couple of fractions too far open when they talked about him. I was afraid they were just a little crazy. I thought it would translate into us nominating someone who would have a hard time in the general election. I still think we would have lost if the economy had not completely collapsed. If America had been a little fatter and happier, McCain would have been elected, and the black guy whose name sounded like Osama would have been sent packing.
After seeing Obama in the office, I think he is a fantastic president, and I can't imagine Hillary or anyone else doing better. I think in his second term he will be much more assured and much stronger. Bush was dogged and weakened in his second term. His windfall, the false image of leadership he was handed on 9/11, faded. His personal tininess, his grotesque failures of leadership, and his sneaky-boy malfeasance caught up with him after 2004. Obama is another matter entirely. His essential strength, intelligence, and the outright wisdom of his approach to power will buoy him.
One miscalculation and disappointment. I thought that Obama's wide-eyed, "He's the Messiah" supporters from 2008 would behave very differently. I expected them to fight viciously for Obama against the Republicans. I thought that when the Republicans attacked Obama personally and blocked his every effort, his fans would scream bloody murder—at Republicans. I wish I had seen more of that. Very disappointing.
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