obama/hillary

[red_planet]

I was just wondering what other people's opinions are about Obama vs. Hillary in 2008. At first, I thought HRC was a better choice because of experience, but after reading Obama's autobiography and doing research I'm not so sure. I really REALLY like him. And at this point, I don't know that "inexperience" is such a bad thing. It could be an

Comments

[salieri]

I'm more or less with you. I don't think experience is really important. I mean, what does Obama need to know that he doesn't already? He's done a good job in the senate and I like his rhetoric. Until someone better comes along, I'm for Obama.

Hillary I'm not wild about, though I feel like I should support her just to oppose all the people who don't like her because she's either a "stuck up bitch", or the new "most liberal senator." Lots of reasons to dislike Hilary, but the media's conventional wisdom isn't among them.

[userj]

Hillary = Boooo

Obama = I'M SO EXICTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have 2 main issues with Hillary - one, I really DO actually think she will have problems being elected due to the "everyone loves her or hates her" effect. I've never heard anything like that about Obama, rather people either disagree with him or not (yay issues). Two, she just annoys me. I get irritated every time she opens her mouth and I'm not exactly sure why. This is a personal issue I know, but I'd be worried with her as a candidate because maybe other people feel the same way. I suppose some people might just be annoyed at Obama as well, but I think he's great. :)

[liriteliora]

Retired General Wesley Clark would be better than Hillary. I don't know if I'd support him over Obama, but definitely over Hillary. He actually went for the democratic nomination for the last presidential election, but his people weren't as great about getting his views or even just his name out there. I didn't know who he was until he spoke at my graduation, but I've been impressed with him since. He's definitely a better speaker than Hillary. Same venue, one year later, he put her to shame. So I don't know if after what happened with the last election if he's going to bother, but I know I would bother to support him if he does.

[userj]

Clark is fing awesome, agreed.

[nightswatch]

I feel like Clark's problem was that he wasn't really invested. He spoke at my old high school during the campaign, and I actually had the chance to meet him. I was impressed, but I got the impression that we was... overwhelmed, perhaps? The bullshit of politics did not seem to suit him.

To create an inappropriate and exaggerated analogy, he seems like he would make a good George Washington figure -- the reluctant executive drafted into office by the popular will. But that's not how things work these days, so I doubt we'll see it happen.

[lenulus]

I think I'm the only person who likes Hillary at this point. I think she's charismatic and intelligent, and I really love a lot of the domestic programs she's pushing for. I also think Hillary is brilliant at the same thing Bill was good at: working both sides of the aisle and trying to push programs through bipartisanship. I like Obama's idealism, but Hillary has experience at getting things done (where experience and connections and political clout come in handy) and also has a bit more pragmatism, which is what I think we'll need after 2 more years of Bush

[red_planet]

"I honestly feel like it's too early, as we don't really have platforms for anyone yet, and I think that should inform our decision more than "i just don't like so and so" or "I don't think they can get elected." "

Actually, I think it's very possible to divine candidates' platforms at this point, unless someone has a real about-face, which is unlikely. My biggest issue with Obama before was that I really hadn't heard much about where he stands on issues. After reading up on him, I have to say I haven't found anything that he supports that I don't also. Whereas, Hillary tends to be more centrist on many issues and, while I support most of her ideas, I don't always agree with what she's pushing.

[red_planet]

Also, I would argue about Hillary being more bipartisan than Obama. She might be able to get things done because she is more willing to sacrifice her own liberal values and walk the centrist line, but I believe that Obama might be successful in getting people to rally behind liberal issues because he argues that it's really what's best for the country. Also, I think conservative politicians may disagree with Obama's issues but no one would disagree with him just to spite him. Whereas, I think a lot of people on Capitol Hill have an axe to grind with Hillary and might block anything she tries to do simply because they want to undermine her authority.

I agree with you about it being a bit premature to make sweeping judgments about either candidates' "electability." A lot of things will come into play before 2008, and it's definately too early to tell who will be sullied most by the campaign shitstorm.

[luke123]

I think recently Hillary has been more bipartisan, but this is a new trend. During the Bill Clinton era she ran the universal healthcare plan... and failed. One reason she failed was because she refused to compromise with Republicans, and another is because she refused to allow doctors to be on the committee... not even democrat doctors were allowed. Anyway, when it ended up failing under her supervision it set any hope of universal healthcare back decades. So, I'm really upset with her about that. However, there have been a few who say she's gotten better... I don't know of any examples, but I trust the informants

[gildeddawn]

I like Hillary fairly well, but frankly, she strikes me as very much a politician. She does what it takes when she has to to get elected, to get her bills passed, to make small steps in the directions she wants to go. In a way, that's a good thing, because getting things done is an admirable modus operandi. And yet, I think she makes too many concessions to things she doesn't actually want, and certainly to things I don't want, to get that stuff done. Maybe I'm wrong, but she simply makes a lot of decisions with which I don't agree. As a side note, though it doesn't really influence my decision, frankly, I'm reticent to elect anyone with ties to any former president. Call me paranoid, but even the merest dynastic tremor troubles me

[salieri]

It's so cute the when Kucinich runs.

[red_planet]

He's a funny little man.

[nightswatch]

"Call me paranoid, but even the merest dynastic tremor troubles me"

I think I hear the Founders cheering from beyond the mists of time...