Hillary v. Obama: Who Will Win in 2008?

[Melxb]

Who do you think will win the 2008 Democratic nomination?

I have my favorite who I want to win: Hillary Clinton. I am unabashed Clintonian, both Bill and Hillary. I think Bill did a tremendous job as president, and from what I've learned (I don't live in New York state--I'm on the West (Left!) Coast) about Hillary people in her state love that she's bringing money there. I think she's so scary smart and a very astute woman. I like her as a politician and as a senator.

Do I think she'll win? I'm not sure. I think she's such a polarizing figure for both the Democratic party and for the nation. I'm not sure this country is ready for a woman President, even though I think she already knows the job inside-out.

I don't like Obama Barrack. I just don't like and I don't trust him. When so much about politics and politicians is about gut feelings, my gut is telling me that there's something fishy about this guy. His public record is very scarce. He has yet to introduce or co-sponsor or co-write legislation in the Senate. He's a complete blank slate. I just don't see what's so good about him. Is is because he's black that he's getting so much attention? West Coast African-American leaders have refused to back him because he is so little experience in the public sector so far. A few weeks ago Newsweek did a cover story about him. The following week, the majority of letters pointed out that while the article talked about his life extensively there was very little attention to his life as a public official. I have no idea where he stands on the economy, education, Iraq, big business, our high oil and gas prices, immigration, etc. At least with Hillary I know EXACTLY where she stands, unpopular though it may be.

What do you think?

[rahmota]

I dont know. One of the things I've liked about Obama is that he is a blank slate. I'm taking a wait and see attitude before I throw behind anyone right now. I sincerely doubt I'd go with any of the republicans though. has anyone taken a good look at the independents this year? :)

Although In many ways politics anymore are new boss same as the old boss. New blood gets watered down and the old blood stays in the ruts they have dug for themselves.

Sad to say its going to take some kind of major thought shift or event to change things. Shake them up. Unfortunately where the pieces would fall from that is hard to say. I sincerely doubt it would be anything pleasant are idyllic for all though.

[alogram]

ANYONE but Hillary. I do not like her, and I am sorry, but New York is not her state. This is one New Yorker who wishes she would go back to Arkansas or wherever she is from.

From what I have seen, I do like Barrack Obama, at least better than Hillary, and believe me, that is saying a LOT.

[AFPheonix]

I like Hillary, I think she'd do a good job, but with all of her baggage that she's had thrust upon her over the years, I think she'd be too polarizing of a figure to be a good option. Unfortunate, because she's a sharp lady.
Obama simply doesn't have enough mileage on him. We've already got one president who didn't know what the frack he was doing when we voted him in, and although Obama is much more charming and literate, I'm afraid that he'd get us into some more scrapes as far as foreign policy goes, because he just hasn't had the experience needed for a position like president.

I am very interested in Governor Bill Richardson, however. He's got a lot of experience in a lot of different venues, he's a sharp fellow, and it will be intriguing to see what he's got to say in the upcoming months.

[Banrion]

In all honestly I would love to see a Hillary vs Condoleeza run off. I know that will never happen though.

My vote for 2008 is likely going to Mitt Romney, assuming he runs. I liked him here in MA, and he gives me good juju. Up until the last election I could call myself a staunch Republican. Alas, I voted for Lieberman in the CT senate race, so I guess I'm not so staunch anymore.

[rahmota]

I'll agree Hillary has the ability but the baggage will weig her down quite a lot.

As for Obama's inexperience comparing him to Dubya is kinda unfair. sort of like comparing Mark Twain with Alfred E Newman. Obama seems to have a pretty solid grasp on things. At least more solid than Dubya. And besides the president doesnt have to have all the answers they just have to know where to look for the answers and choose the best one for the situation. The more research I do the more I lean between Obama, Hillary and Edwards.

One who is considering running that makes me laugh is Al Sharpton. Not anything against the man but he just doesnt strike me as presidential material.

One who does but hasnt announced definately that he is is retired general Wesley Clark. Some thigns about him I like: West Point graduate with Valedictorian honors, has two masters degrees, several knighthoods, presidential medal of freedom and being a retired general at least has had the military experience this country needs at this time.

Another one who I would love to see in the White House would be Colin Powell. the man has brains, class, conviction to stand behind his views and doesnt play games with people. All the very reasons why he'll never sit in the Oval office execpt as a guest.

[bobbyb]

Who do you think will win the 2008 Democratic nomination?

I'm hoping for Hillary.

I generally vote for the conservative (which used to be Republican) candidate, but that party has gone so far astray that I can't even see one of them that could garner my vote.

Hillary may have some truly radical social ideas (especially those concerning the role of govt vs parents) but they have little chance of being approved or accepted by the mainstream.

Obama, on the other hand, has some seriously flawed economic positions. However, unlike Hillary's social programs, these positions can result in "feel good" legislation that actually will have the opposite effect on the economy than the expressed purpose of the legislation. This could result in many people being in worse financial straits than they are now with the legislature feeling so "good" about what they did to help you.

[rahmota]

Actually I like a lot of Obama's economic ideas. Certainly the current reward the rich, screw the poor, trickle down BS isnt working, hasnt worked and will not work as the rich will not give up any more money than they absolutely have to do so. Unless it is taken from them. better to do it by changing society in a legal manner than ltting america fall to such a point that the gap between the rich and poor gets like the pre french revolution days. (And yes I do think that that is a distinctly possible course of events for amerika)

And one thing I really, really like as a farmer is Obama's support of Biofuels. Under King Bush II biofuels have actually seen research funds cut and discouraged.

As for Frau Klinton I am really not liking a lot of her ideas and views. the more research i do.The only reason she was opposed to the renewal of the patriot act was because ny didnt get enough money (not that it is an vil terroristic pice of fascist laws). Is only "troubled" by king George's actions. has no spine to actually take a firm stand and claim many ideas or her own. Does not like personal private ownership of firearms (I am a lifetime NRA member and will not give up my firearms until i am 3 days dead!) and has a record i personally dont feel comfortable with.

What would be cool would be to take and frankenstein all the good points out of each candidate and gene splice them into one ubercandidate.

[AFPheonix]

As for Obama's inexperience comparing him to Dubya is kinda unfair. sort of like comparing Mark Twain with Alfred E Newman. Obama seems to have a pretty solid grasp on things. At least more solid than Dubya. And besides the president doesnt have to have all the answers they just have to know where to look for the answers and choose the best one for the situation.

Yeah, I do agree with you that Obama is a big step up from Bush. But I recall that during the 2000 campaign they explained away Bush's lack of experience with the fact that he'd have advisors to help him out, and as I see it, he let certain advisors pretty much take over for him.
While I don't know if Obama would have the same kind of issues, I'm worried that he's wet enough behind the ears that he wouldn't be able to discern good advice from bad in certain matters that he just hasn't had enough mileage with, especially foreign policy problems.

I want someone in there who has been there and done that, in a lot of different venues, and who's had more life experience. I also want someone in there with some experience dealing with military matters and/or intelligence, since that's one of the President's primary duties, being the commander in chief.

[rahmota]

Oh I'll agree that I'd like to see someone with some experience in office. When it comes to politics there can be such a thing as TOO MUCH experience. Hillary is a consumate politician. Able to stab someone in the back with a smile, lie to their face, agree to everything and say nothing.

In a choice between her and Obama I'll go with Obama. As long as he has enough brains to figure out the good advice from the bad, the balls to stand up to those who would want to manipulate him and the grace to avoid blowing things up ala King George's foreign policy then he should do ok.

Sad to say the kind of politician you're talking about (heck even that kind of person) isnt the kind who are usually drawn to the power levels of the white house.

[TheRoo]

The problem I have with the whole process is that it is down to a two horse race already. While I can see the pros and cons of both Clinton and Obama, there are a total of nine candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. When it is candidates like Bill Richardson and Tom Vilsack are not mentioned in the mainstream media, supposedly because they do not have a chance, it becomes a self fullfilling prophecy. I think if one were actually to sit down and look at Richardson's credentials, it has presidential material written all over it. He has been a governor, a congressman, a cabinet member for Bill Clinton, and an ambassador. He has also done a very good job at all of these. To limit it to the two with the most name recognition this early in the campaign is a huge mistake in my opinion.

[rahmota]

True it does get to be a battle of the soundbites way too quickly. Any candidate that doesnt give good face winds up forgotten.

Obama has the nme value and the whole nonwhite guy neophyte politicion schtick going in the media's eyes.

Hillary has the whole Clinton baggage train good or bad going on.

How is anyone else going to compete with that? Richardson is a good strong candidate with a good solid stable background. Not much attractive to the media there. Same problem with the rst for the most part. Good solid people with little flash or glammer. Now if they could come up with some angle for the media to work with. Some sort of bite that would make the 6 o clock puppet show then we might hear more about them.

[Isios]

Hmm I have to choose between these two?

I would choose Obama over Clinton anyday, although I really don't like what any of them stand for.

[Melxb]

The problem I have with the whole process is that it is down to a two horse race already. While I can see the pros and cons of both Clinton and Obama, there are a total of nine candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. When it is candidates like Bill Richardson and Tom Vilsack are not mentioned in the mainstream media, supposedly because they do not have a chance, it becomes a self fullfilling prophecy.

If I remember correctly in 1992 Bill Clinton was the dark horse of the 1992 Democratic convention. He was the hick governor from Arkansas. He came from waaaaaaaaaaay out of left field to clinch the Democratic nomination. He wasn't one of the 4 front-runners until about 3 weeks before the convention. He was young and brash and unknown. And he became president for 8 years.

I really hope that one of these nominees really does come out of left-field. I would love that. I am a Clintonian, but if another, more worthy candidate comes along, from the background, I'd really enjoy that.

[Barefootgirl]

I'd like to see both of them run on the same ticket, Hillary for Pres and Obama as VP. I was talking to a colleague about this and he said if that ever came to pass, he'd give up his law practice for a year and go to work for the campaign !

[EmiOfBrie]

Right now what I'm looking for in a candidate is the ability to put America's needs first, second, snd third...with all the trouble we have right now with poverty, homelessness, and unemployment especially...

Clinton, Obama, and Edwards are all way too willing to put foreign interests first IMHO. Looks like I'm going to be voting Libertarian in 2008 (just as I did in 2000 and 2004) at this rate.

[rahmota]

Unfortunately I doubt we would ever see that ticket. Though it would be an interesting one indeed. Though IMO I'd flip the two.

Sad to say some of the foreign interests is american interests. What happens over there can affect what happens over here. And to fix it would take quite a bit of stressful change. SOmethign that none of the candidates would probably be willing to do. As to fix american society/problems quickly would be painful, ugly and complex at least.

[Kusanagi]

You know, we AREN'T a two party system.

Now that I have that out of the way and all of you can catch your breath from laughing, I hope Obama wins the nomination. I think that someone who hasn't been part of or intrical to the Bush/Clinton dynasties since 1988 or much political experience would make a good leader.

We've had the same two families in power since 1988, it's about time to move on. That's not democracy by any stretch of the imagination - it's a fued at this point.

I for one would like Obama to win it but as far as the Republican nomination is concerned, I don't think anyone involved in the Administration right now has a prayer of winning. I'm more interested to see who gets the Republican nod, now that Gulliani threw his hat in the ring.

[SongsOfDragons]

What would be cool would be to take and frankenstein all the good points out of each candidate and gene splice them into one ubercandidate.

That would probably be better for all concerned

Since Britain's government is so spineless whoever gets into power in Yankeeland will probably get all the leverage over here too.

[blas87]

Is Nader running yet again?

This is going to be the very first time I can vote in a presidential election! I was just months shy of turning 18 last time around, and boy was I in a tiff about it.

I think Clinton is an amazingly intelligent strong woman. At first, I thought she was another Susan B Anthony (that's not necessarily a bad thing), but I had worries that we'd be in another bra burning era. But now I've changed my mind. Clinton has some very good ideas, and she knows what she wants and seems very determined.

[rahmota]

Hillary is an interesting candidate and while I like some of her stance on business and market controls I dont exactly like her stand on social issues. She is too much in favor of the Nanny state when it comes to the personal lives of people , also she is anti firearms.

The more I read about Obama the less I like him for president now. His stance on social issues ad his anti firearm stand are both down checks.

Oddly enough I think I'm begining to lean more towards Mccain for president than I was before. This will be the first time I have voted republican since I was in my early 20s.