Official Hillary Clinton 2016 thread (5 Viewers)

[Riversco]

All this discussion on TV about how Hillary keeps her edge during the next year- it reminds me of an NFL team that wins home field advantage throughout the playoffs with 3 weeks left in the season- you always hear this debate about whether or not they should play their starters, how long, should they try to win the next few games, etc.

The only conceivable way Hillary is not the 45th President is if her health fails between now and the election. She will be 69. Health can go very very quickly. That's really the only issue I see.

 

[squistion]

All this discussion on TV about how Hillary keeps her edge during the next year- it reminds me of an NFL team that wins home field advantage throughout the playoffs with 3 weeks left in the season- you always hear this debate about whether or not they should play their starters, how long, should they try to win the next few games, etc.

Most people aren't paying attention to the 2016 presidential election at this time. No reason to start listing chapter and verse of her exact policy positions when she is a lock to get the Democratic nomination and has no serious opposition.

And as should be evident from this forum, Hillary is an extremely polarizing figure and the "I Hate Hillary" crowd is currently amped up about her to the point that they are already scraping the bottom of the barrel for talking points ("She announced by video!!! Why is she in hiding and what is she afraid of?")

I can just imagine (and can hardly wait for) the apoplectic rants we will see once she secures the nomination and polls shows her leading the GOP challenger.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

 

[Ilov80s]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

I get the strategy of it. That is the problem with the whole situation. Many of us here are hopefully in the minority that we care about positions more than names or parties.

 

[McGarnicle]

All this discussion on TV about how Hillary keeps her edge during the next year- it reminds me of an NFL team that wins home field advantage throughout the playoffs with 3 weeks left in the season- you always hear this debate about whether or not they should play their starters, how long, should they try to win the next few games, etc.

The only conceivable way Hillary is not the 45th President is if her health fails between now and the election. She will be 69. Health can go very very quickly. That's really the only issue I see.

Sounds very subversive against the State. Noted.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

I get the strategy of it. That is the problem with the whole situation. Many of us here are hopefully in the minority that we care about positions more than names or parties.

Those that care about positions are in the dark about where Hillary Clinton would stand?

 

[Jack White]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

True. And every candidate's policy positions are nearly identical.

 

[Jim11]

Figures.

https://www.facebook.com/lezs4hillary

 

[Jack White]

Hillary Clinton -- "champion of everyday Americans" -- seeks to raise $2.5 billion campaign war chest.

 

[timschochet]

WOMAN TENDING A GARDEN: 'It's spring, so we're starting to get the gardens ready, and my tomatoes are legendary here in my own neighborhood.'

MOTHER #1: 'My daughter is about to start kindergarten next year, and so we're moving so she can belong to a better school.'

LATINO MAN: 'My brother and I are starting our first business.'

MOTHER #2: 'After five years of raising my children, I am now going back to work.'

YOUNG WOMAN: 'Every day we're trying to get more and more ready and more prepared.'

HER HUSBAND: 'Baby boy, coming your way.'

FEMALE STUDENT: 'Right now I'm applying for jobs. It's a look into what the real world will look like after college.'

SAME-SEX COUPLE: 'I'm getting married this summer to someone I really care about.'

AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHILD: 'I'm gonna be in the play, and I'm going to be in a fish costume. [sings] From little tiny fishes…'

OLDER WOMAN: 'I'm getting ready to retire soon. Retirement means reinventing yourself in many ways.'

WOMAN: 'Well, we've been doing a lot of home renovations.'

HER HUSBAND: 'But most importantly, we just want to teach our dog to quit eating the trash.'

WOMAN: 'And so we have high hopes for 2015 that that's going to happen.'

FACTORY WORKER: 'I've started a new career recently. This is a fifth generation company, which means a lot to me. This country was founded on hard work, and it really feels good to be a part of that.'

HILLARY CLINTON: ‘I’m getting ready to do something too. I’m running for president. Americans have fought their way back from tough economic times. But the deck is still stacked in favor of those at the top.

‘Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion. So you can do more than just get by. You can get ahead, and stay ahead. Because when families are strong, America is strong.

‘So I’m hitting the road to earn your vote, because it’s your time. And I hope you’ll join me on this journey.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3035748/Everyday-Americans-need-champion-Wealthy-Hillary-Clinton-enters-race-president.html#ixzz3X9Kqtdn4
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Hillary Clinton -- "champion of everyday Americans" -- seeks to raise $2.5 billion campaign war chest.

Ms. Everygal sent the announcement out in a request for money to donors before sending out the actual announcement.

https://twitter.com/rubycramer/status/587326174377988096/photo/1

And oh the formal kickoff event is actually next month.

 

[timschochet]

Albert Hunt makes some predictions:

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-04-12/al-hunt-where-hillary-clinton-stands

The best guide to her domestic agenda are the policy prescriptions of the Center for American Progress, a progressive research organization headed by Neera Tanden, Clinton’s policy director in the 2008 presidential campaign. In January, CAP sponsored the "Report on the Commission on Inclusive Prosperity," which was coauthored by Larry Summers, who served as Treasury secretary under Bill Clinton. Another signpost, according to associates, was her speech last year at the New America Foundation.

She is likely to stress the middle class more than poverty, while putting a spotlight on wealth disparity, arguing that far too much of the economy’s gains are going to the super-rich. Echoing the Summers report, she is going to explore ways to give workers more power, which could include policies based on the German or Scandinavian models that encourage business and worker cooperation to improve productivity.

She inevitably will propose a middle-class tax cut, the only questions are when, and whether it will focus on cutting payroll taxes or lowering rates. She’ll propose paying for any change by closing loopholes.

Don’t expect any Elizabeth Warren-style populist rhetoric about breaking up the banks. Nonetheless, Clinton is eager to show she isn't a handmaiden of Wall Street, or a corporate Democrat. She’ll want to maintain the Dodd-Frank financial regulation law. She may even add a few new rules and call for cracking down on practices such as the ability of corporate chief executives to approve stock buybacks that enrich them personally.

There will be a focus on public-private partnerships. At a recent CAP event, her eyes lit up when experts compared Pittsburgh, a city that is hriving because government and the private sector work together, and distressed Detroit, where that happens a lot less.

On foreign policy, she’ll take a tough line on Russia; President Vladimir Putin and the Clintons show a reciprocal animosity. She’ll call for more engagement with China and, to the consternation of labor supporters, she will back trade deals, but with some conditions.

In the Middle East, she supports the administration’s fight against the Islamic State. She also will back any nuclear deal with Iran, if it's finalized; as secretary of state she had a role in the initial policy.

However, she will strike a friendlier tone with Israel than this administration. Some associates predict that she would break with Obama if he decided not to veto a Palestinian statehood resolution at the United Nations.

She'll have to flesh out important specifics of all this, because the 2016 contest, like most elections without an incumbent president, will be about the future, not the past.

 

[timschochet]

I thought that was an interesting article, though it made no mention of Obamacare. Deliberate?

It will be interesting to watch where she agrees with Obama in the months to come, and where she differs.

 

[timschochet]

"I think really that the issue in Benghazi is an enormous issue because it's whether or not as commander in chief she'd be there for the 3 a.m. phone call," Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said on CNN's "State of the Union." "I think Benghazi was a 3 a.m. phone call that she never picked up."

That's it, Republicans! Just keep bringing up Benghazi, all the time. Benghazi! Benghazi! Benghazi! It's the road to victory in 2016. If I were debating Hillary, every time it was my turn to speak I would say: "Oh yeah? Well Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi! Rhymes with Nazi!" Can't lose.

 

[squistion]

Ms. Everygal sent the announcement out in a request for money to donors before sending out the actual announcement.

Which shocked the hell out of them, because they had no idea that she was running.

 

[Baloney Sandwich]

Hillary's world class campaign team sent out her official announcement claiming that she has "fought children and families all her career".

 

[BobbyLayne]

Listen up

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I thought that was an interesting article, though it made no mention of Obamacare. Deliberate?

It will be interesting to watch where she agrees with Obama in the months to come, and where she differs.

One thing already, in her ad she repeatedly is making claims about middle class families' distress, this has happened in the last 8 years?

 

[flufhed]

Other than on very local stuff, I have never voted for a Republican. I will not be casting a ballot for Hillary if she is the nominee, the only exception being if a total nutjob is nominated by Republicans (Ted Cruz fits this definition for me - not sure who else at this point). And I never "hated" her - this opinion has evolved slowly over many years.

So if it's Clinton vs. anyone other than Cruz or some other tea party nut job, Ill be sitting on my hands. If Rand Paul miracles his way to the Republican nomination, and does so without pandering to the right, I may very well vote for my first Republican. Not that I buy in completely to Rand Paul, but at least he is something different and refreshing. And he's showed more courage on racial justice than Clinton has, and has taken courageous stances on other issues. I don't have to agree with everything a guy like that has to say to be willing to vote for him.

 

[dhockster]

Tim, are you a Hillary fan and if so why do you like her?

Honestly, part of it's shtick- it cracks me up how much she angers so many people. However, it's not trolling- if you see me writing something over the top, then you'll know it.

But seriously I've always liked her persona, I've always thought she was generally a good person, and I've never bought into all of the conspiracy stuff. I consider myself a moderate and a centrist and it's becoming apparent to me that she will occupy the center in 2016. The Republicans seem hell bent on moving to the right this time (or, just like the last two elections, the only way the centrist GOP candidate wins is to move to the right himself). I generally vote for whoever occupies the central ground. I was set to vote for McCain in 2008 until I learned about Sarah Palin. I voted for Romney, reluctantly, in 2012. This will be my first vote for a Democrat since 2004.

So did you not vote in 2008?

 

[timschochet]

Tim, are you a Hillary fan and if so why do you like her?

Honestly, part of it's shtick- it cracks me up how much she angers so many people. However, it's not trolling- if you see me writing something over the top, then you'll know it.But seriously I've always liked her persona, I've always thought she was generally a good person, and I've never bought into all of the conspiracy stuff. I consider myself a moderate and a centrist and it's becoming apparent to me that she will occupy the center in 2016. The Republicans seem hell bent on moving to the right this time (or, just like the last two elections, the only way the centrist GOP candidate wins is to move to the right himself). I generally vote for whoever occupies the central ground. I was set to vote for McCain in 2008 until I learned about Sarah Palin. I voted for Romney, reluctantly, in 2012. This will be my first vote for a Democrat since 2004.

So did you not vote in 2008?

not for President

 

[urbanhack]

I will not be casting a ballot for Hillary if she is the nominee, the only exception being if a total nutjob is nominated by Republicans (Ted Cruz fits this definition for me - not sure who else at this point). And I never "hated" her - this opinion has evolved slowly over many years.

So if it's Clinton vs. anyone other than Cruz or some other tea party nut job, Ill be sitting on my hands.

This is pretty much where I am. Not voting for another Clinton or Bush in my lifetime. I'll vote Green party or maybe Bernie Sanders if he runs as an Independent.

p.s. - i was a republican back in the day and actually voted for bush over gore.

 

[flufhed]

Forgot about Gary Johnson or whoever the Libertarian guy was last time around. I'd vote for him if he ran against Clinton and however the Republican is. I live in Georgia so my vote for President doesn't really matter anyway.

 

[timschochet]

Hooray for Hillary!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_9oPQBfOlQ

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Nate Silver - Hillary vs Any Republican is currently a "toss-up."

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/clinton-begins-the-2016-campaign-and-its-a-toss-up/

Yeah, I'm surprised.

 

[rockaction]

Hillary getting drilled by Salon.

http://www.salon.com/2015/04/12/hillary_clinton_just_doesnt_get_it_shes_already_running_a_losing_campaign/

 

[saintfool]

Nate Silver - Hillary vs Any Republican is currently a "toss-up."

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/clinton-begins-the-2016-campaign-and-its-a-toss-up/

Yeah, I'm surprised.

I'm not. This is really akin to OTAs more than anything. No one is actively campaigning against one person. It's more about party identification. Once they start to scrimmage then it starts to get real.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

I get the strategy of it. That is the problem with the whole situation. Many of us here are hopefully in the minority that we care about positions more than names or parties.

Those that care about positions are in the dark about where Hillary Clinton would stand?

I'm just going to say at least pretending to explain why she wants to be president and why she should be president, ie what she plans to do, would be a bare minimum. - If you're saying she is so arrogant she feels no need to introduce herself to voters or explain her positions, yeah you're right that may be the answer.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Nate Silver - Hillary vs Any Republican is currently a "toss-up."

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/clinton-begins-the-2016-campaign-and-its-a-toss-up/

Yeah, I'm surprised.

I'm not. This is really akin to OTAs more than anything. No one is actively campaigning against one person. It's more about party identification. Once they start to scrimmage then it starts to get real.

Maybe you're right. I would have thought it would be a function of name recognition and familiarity and she is supposed to have a huge advantage in that right now.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Hillary's traveling to Iowa in a van...

http://time.com/3819098/hillary-clinton-2016-election-iowa-campaign-president-race-caucus-democrat-republican/?xid=gonewsedit&google_editors_picks=true

Clinton left Sunday on a road trip from her home in Chappaqua, New York, in a van headed for Iowa, home of the nation’s first presidential caucuses.

The former secretary of state announced her Democratic presidential bid Sunday and will hold her first campaign event on Tuesday in eastern Iowa. The road trip was Clinton’s idea, aides said.

“When Hillary first told us that she was ready to hit the road for Iowa, we literally looked at her and said, ‘Seriously?’ And she said, ‘Seriously,'” said longtime aide Huma Abedin in a conference call with Clinton alumni. “This was her idea, and she’s been really excited about it since she came up with it.”

...A Clinton aide said the van is nicknamed “Scooby” after the Mystery Machine van in the 1970s animated television show, “The Scooby Doo Show.” The aide said Clinton was a passenger and the van was driven by the Secret Service. ...

Hillary's real, official campaign kickoff will be next month.

So this thing yesterday was, you know, just an ad.

 

[Fennis]

Forgot about Gary Johnson or whoever the Libertarian guy was last time around. I'd vote for him if he ran against Clinton and however the Republican is. I live in Georgia so my vote for President doesn't really matter anyway.

your vote "doesnt matter" if you are in the swingiest of swing states (florida 2000) or not (Georgia 2016)

 

[squistion]

Hillary's traveling to Iowa in a van...

http://time.com/3819098/hillary-clinton-2016-election-iowa-campaign-president-race-caucus-democrat-republican/?xid=gonewsedit&google_editors_picks=true

Clinton left Sunday on a road trip from her home in Chappaqua, New York, in a van headed for Iowa, home of the nations first presidential caucuses.

The former secretary of state announced her Democratic presidential bid Sunday and will hold her first campaign event on Tuesday in eastern Iowa. The road trip was Clintons idea, aides said.

When Hillary first told us that she was ready to hit the road for Iowa, we literally looked at her and said, Seriously? And she said, Seriously,' said longtime aide Huma Abedin in a conference call with Clinton alumni. This was her idea, and shes been really excited about it since she came up with it.

...A Clinton aide said the van is nicknamed Scooby after the Mystery Machine van in the 1970s animated television show, The Scooby Doo Show. The aide said Clinton was a passenger and the van was driven by the Secret Service. ...

Hillary's real, official campaign kickoff will be next month.

So this thing yesterday was, you know, just an ad.

And Ted Cruz's campaign announcement was, you know, just a tweet. Plus, if her announcement was not an official campaign kickoff, it sure fooled all the reporters and pundits who cover politics.

Also it won't be next month, unless this Tuesday is considered the month of May.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Hillary's traveling to Iowa in a van...

http://time.com/3819098/hillary-clinton-2016-election-iowa-campaign-president-race-caucus-democrat-republican/?xid=gonewsedit&google_editors_picks=true

Clinton left Sunday on a road trip from her home in Chappaqua, New York, in a van headed for Iowa, home of the nations first presidential caucuses.

The former secretary of state announced her Democratic presidential bid Sunday and will hold her first campaign event on Tuesday in eastern Iowa. The road trip was Clintons idea, aides said.

When Hillary first told us that she was ready to hit the road for Iowa, we literally looked at her and said, Seriously? And she said, Seriously,' said longtime aide Huma Abedin in a conference call with Clinton alumni. This was her idea, and shes been really excited about it since she came up with it.

...A Clinton aide said the van is nicknamed Scooby after the Mystery Machine van in the 1970s animated television show, The Scooby Doo Show. The aide said Clinton was a passenger and the van was driven by the Secret Service. ...

Hillary's real, official campaign kickoff will be next month.

So this thing yesterday was, you know, just an ad.

And Ted Cruz's campaign announcement was, you know, just a tweet. Plus, if her announcement was not an official campaign kickoff, it sure fooled all the reporters and pundits who cover politics.

Also it won't be next month, unless this Tuesday is considered the month of May.

There's a whole thread on Cruz's announcement with a speech, right? It was a hand picked crowd but he at least appeared in front of a large group of people.

It does sound like she will be with a small group of actual, living people tomorrow or this week, doubt there will be reporters asking questions of course.

- ETA - it's her own announcement that refers to a "formal kickoff event meeting next month."

 

[timschochet]

What would you ask her Saints if she knocked on your door?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

What would you ask her Saints if she knocked on your door?

Hm, that is a great question, Tim.

Politically speaking, if she had a truth serum so we absolutely knew she was totally telling the truth, I would ask:

- "Why do you want to be president?"

 

[squistion]

And Ted Cruz's campaign announcement was, you know, just a tweet. Plus, if her announcement was not an official campaign kickoff, it sure fooled all the reporters and pundits who cover politics.

Also it won't be next month, unless this Tuesday is considered the month of May.

There's a whole thread on Cruz's announcement with a speech, right? It was a hand picked crowd but he at least appeared in front of a large group of people.

It does sound like she will be with a small group of actual, living people tomorrow or this week, doubt there will be reporters asking questions of course.

So a hand picked crowd counts more depending on the number of people who attend? Large group of handed picked people, valid, while a smaller group, invalid? If this is the type of logic that will be used against Hillary, she has little to worry about.

 

[timschochet]

What would you ask her Saints if she knocked on your door?

Hm, that is a great question, Tim.

Politically speaking, if she had a truth serum so we absolutely knew she was totally telling the truth, I would ask:

- "Why do you want to be president?"

i think she would honestly reply, "Because I can do the best job of it; nobody else can handle it as well as I can."

 

[The_Man]

I DON'T WANT IT.

I don't want interviews with Bill slyly talking about what it will mean to be history's first "First Gentleman."

I don't want right-wingers talking about what a horrible leftist Hillary is, when the reality of her actions demonstrate that she is in thrall to Wall Street and is gruesomely hawkish on foreign policy.

I don't want left-wingers falling in line behind a presumptive nominee who has sold out their ideals time after time.

I don't want Hillary's awkward "I'm so surprised to see you!" face everytime she walks on stage at an event.

I don't want to see or hear Chelsea Clinton, ever.

I am so sick of this election already, and it's more than 18 months away.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

And Ted Cruz's campaign announcement was, you know, just a tweet. Plus, if her announcement was not an official campaign kickoff, it sure fooled all the reporters and pundits who cover politics.

Also it won't be next month, unless this Tuesday is considered the month of May.

There's a whole thread on Cruz's announcement with a speech, right? It was a hand picked crowd but he at least appeared in front of a large group of people.

It does sound like she will be with a small group of actual, living people tomorrow or this week, doubt there will be reporters asking questions of course.

So a hand picked crowd counts more depending on the number of people who attend? Large group of handed picked people, valid, while a smaller group, invalid? If this is the type of logic that will be used against Hillary, she has little to worry about.

It just is what it is, she is not appearing in front of large crowds, and she isn't talking to reporters unscripted, at all. She doesn't like large crowds or do well in front of them and she can't risk taking a live question. That's where she is right now.

Her own announcement makes clear there is a formal kickoff event next month. So this isn't the actual kickoff. She's still on her listening tour which she has been on since she released her book.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

What would you ask her Saints if she knocked on your door?

Hm, that is a great question, Tim.

Politically speaking, if she had a truth serum so we absolutely knew she was totally telling the truth, I would ask:

- "Why do you want to be president?"

i think she would honestly reply, "Because I can do the best job of it; nobody else can handle it as well as I can."

"Why" means to what end.

 

[squistion]

So a hand picked crowd counts more depending on the number of people who attend? Large group of handed picked people, valid, while a smaller group, invalid? If this is the type of logic that will be used against Hillary, she has little to worry about.

It just is what it is, she is not appearing in front of large crowds, and she isn't talking to reporters unscripted, at all. She doesn't like large crowds or do well in front of them and she can't risk taking a live question. That's where she is right now.

Her own announcement makes clear there is a formal kickoff event next month. So this isn't the actual kickoff. She's still on her listening tour which she has been on since she released her book.

Yes it was the actual kickoff. There was just no formal speaking event tied to it. Only in the bizzaro world of Hillary haters can Hillary announce her candidacy but not have it considered the kickoff of her campaign. Hell, even Fox News thinks she made an official announcement of her candidacy.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/13/clinton-announces-2016-white-house-bid/

Clinton announces 2016 White House bid, asks to be 'champion' of America's middle class

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday officially announced her 2016 presidential campaign, ending months of speculation over her political plans and immediately elevating her as a target for the field of Republican contenders.

 

[timschochet]

What would you ask her Saints if she knocked on your door?

Hm, that is a great question, Tim.

Politically speaking, if she had a truth serum so we absolutely knew she was totally telling the truth, I would ask:

- "Why do you want to be president?"

i think she would honestly reply, "Because I can do the best job of it; nobody else can handle it as well as I can."

"Why" means to what end.

Then I'm not sure what you're asking here. Are you asking about her policy positions? Which ones she will emphasize as President? You already know she's a Democrat, slightly more liberal than Obama on domestic issues (though not nearly as liberal as progressives would like) and slightly more hawkish than Obama in foreign policy. That's not news to anyone. What is it you want to know?

 

[timschochet]

I DON'T WANT IT.

I don't want interviews with Bill slyly talking about what it will mean to be history's first "First Gentleman."

I don't want right-wingers talking about what a horrible leftist Hillary is, when the reality of her actions demonstrate that she is in thrall to Wall Street and is gruesomely hawkish on foreign policy.

I don't want left-wingers falling in line behind a presumptive nominee who has sold out their ideals time after time.

I don't want Hillary's awkward "I'm so surprised to see you!" face everytime she walks on stage at an event.

I don't want to see or hear Chelsea Clinton, ever.

I am so sick of this election already, and it's more than 18 months away.

I take it you consider yourself a progressive. I was born in 1965; let's take a look at the Democratic party candidates in my lifetime:

HUMPHREY- centrist Democrat- lost

MCGOVERN- liberal Democrat- lost

CARTER- centrist Democrat- won, then lost

MONDALE- centrist Democrat- lost

DUKAKIS- liberal Democrat- lost

CLINTON- centrist Democrat- won twice

GORE- liberal Democrat- lost

KERRY- liberal Democrat- lost

OBAMA- campaigned as liberal Democrat, governed as centrist Democrat- won twice

I don't see any liberal Democrats here who have won the Presidency and then governed as a liberal Democrat. Hillary MAY be your best shot. She is probably more liberal than she has campaigned in the past. She make actually govern as a liberal (though personally I hope not.) But if you're looking for an actual self-proclaimed liberal Democrat (like Liz Warren, for example) to campaign as a liberal Democrat, get elected, and then govern as a liberal Democrat- that's not going to happen. With the possible exception of FDR in 1936, it's NEVER happened.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

So a hand picked crowd counts more depending on the number of people who attend? Large group of handed picked people, valid, while a smaller group, invalid? If this is the type of logic that will be used against Hillary, she has little to worry about.

It just is what it is, she is not appearing in front of large crowds, and she isn't talking to reporters unscripted, at all. She doesn't like large crowds or do well in front of them and she can't risk taking a live question. That's where she is right now.

Her own announcement makes clear there is a formal kickoff event next month. So this isn't the actual kickoff. She's still on her listening tour which she has been on since she released her book.

Yes it was the actual kickoff. There was just no formal speaking event tied to it. Only in the bizzaro world of Hillary haters can Hillary announce her candidacy but not have it considered the kickoff of her campaign. Hell, even Fox News thinks she made an official announcement of her candidacy.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/13/clinton-announces-2016-white-house-bid/

Clinton announces 2016 White House bid, asks to be 'champion' of America's middle class

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Sunday officially announced her 2016 presidential campaign, ending months of speculation over her political plans and immediately elevating her as a target for the field of Republican contenders.

Squiz, I'm referring to John Podesta's email/letter, which came out before the announcement itself:

https://twitter.com/rubycramer/status/587326174377988096/photo/1

"There will be a formal kickoff event next month."

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

What would you ask her Saints if she knocked on your door?

Hm, that is a great question, Tim.

Politically speaking, if she had a truth serum so we absolutely knew she was totally telling the truth, I would ask:

- "Why do you want to be president?"

i think she would honestly reply, "Because I can do the best job of it; nobody else can handle it as well as I can."

"Why" means to what end.

Then I'm not sure what you're asking here. Are you asking about her policy positions? Which ones she will emphasize as President? You already know she's a Democrat, slightly more liberal than Obama on domestic issues (though not nearly as liberal as progressives would like) and slightly more hawkish than Obama in foreign policy. That's not news to anyone. What is it you want to know?

Ted Kennedy.

 

[krista4]

I DON'T WANT IT.

I don't want interviews with Bill slyly talking about what it will mean to be history's first "First Gentleman."

I don't want right-wingers talking about what a horrible leftist Hillary is, when the reality of her actions demonstrate that she is in thrall to Wall Street and is gruesomely hawkish on foreign policy.

I don't want left-wingers falling in line behind a presumptive nominee who has sold out their ideals time after time.

I don't want Hillary's awkward "I'm so surprised to see you!" face everytime she walks on stage at an event.

I don't want to see or hear Chelsea Clinton, ever.

I am so sick of this election already, and it's more than 18 months away.

Other than the Chelsea Clinton part (don't care one way or another), I couldn't agree more.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

I get the strategy of it. That is the problem with the whole situation. Many of us here are hopefully in the minority that we care about positions more than names or parties.

Those that care about positions are in the dark about where Hillary Clinton would stand?

I'm just going to say at least pretending to explain why she wants to be president and why she should be president, ie what she plans to do, would be a bare minimum. - If you're saying she is so arrogant she feels no need to introduce herself to voters or explain her positions, yeah you're right that may be the answer.

You don't explain why you want to be president or why you should be president with policy positions.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

I get the strategy of it. That is the problem with the whole situation. Many of us here are hopefully in the minority that we care about positions more than names or parties.

Those that care about positions are in the dark about where Hillary Clinton would stand?

I'm just going to say at least pretending to explain why she wants to be president and why she should be president, ie what she plans to do, would be a bare minimum. - If you're saying she is so arrogant she feels no need to introduce herself to voters or explain her positions, yeah you're right that may be the answer.

You don't explain why you want to be president or why you should be president with policy positions.

Yes you do, look at Liz Warren's Senate campaign site:

http://elizabethwarren.com/

About Liz - who she is, why she wants your vote.

Issues - where she stands, where she wants to take the country.

Hillary's site has one purpose - raise money, a portal to donate.

 

[Bottomfeeder Sports]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

I get the strategy of it. That is the problem with the whole situation. Many of us here are hopefully in the minority that we care about positions more than names or parties.

Those that care about positions are in the dark about where Hillary Clinton would stand?

I'm just going to say at least pretending to explain why she wants to be president and why she should be president, ie what she plans to do, would be a bare minimum. - If you're saying she is so arrogant she feels no need to introduce herself to voters or explain her positions, yeah you're right that may be the answer.

You don't explain why you want to be president or why you should be president with policy positions.

Yes you do, look at Liz Warren's Senate campaign site:

http://elizabethwarren.com/

About Liz - who she is, why she wants your vote.

Issues - where she stands, where she wants to take the country.

Hillary's site has one purpose - raise money, a portal to donate.

Elizabeth Warren has a Liz For Prez 2016 site?

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

She doesn't anger me. I just thought that policy would be a good thing to put on her website.

Do you really think it won't be there?

I am sure it will. However, this was a pretty big launch. Her social media launch today attracted millions of people to her site. Policy should be a place to start at, not to fill in later.

Policy would be a horrible place to start a campaign. Almost no one cares about that kind of stuff.

I get the strategy of it. That is the problem with the whole situation. Many of us here are hopefully in the minority that we care about positions more than names or parties.

Those that care about positions are in the dark about where Hillary Clinton would stand?

I'm just going to say at least pretending to explain why she wants to be president and why she should be president, ie what she plans to do, would be a bare minimum. - If you're saying she is so arrogant she feels no need to introduce herself to voters or explain her positions, yeah you're right that may be the answer.

You don't explain why you want to be president or why you should be president with policy positions.

Yes you do, look at Liz Warren's Senate campaign site:

http://elizabethwarren.com/

About Liz - who she is, why she wants your vote.

Issues - where she stands, where she wants to take the country.

Hillary's site has one purpose - raise money, a portal to donate.

Elizabeth Warren has a Liz For Prez 2016 site?

I said "Senate".