Is Hillary Clinton Already Doomed?
With the 2016 presidential campaign already in full swing, the only thing missing at the moment appears to be genuine enthusiasm for Hillary Clinton.
No one seems excited about her candidacy, not even hard-core Democrats and former Clintonites. She’s become like the boring real estate agent standing around holding a glass of cheap chardonnay who somehow got invited to the cocktail party, the one common bond inking all the guests as disinterested eyes wander the room, desperate to break away in search of a better conversation.
So nice to see you again, Mrs. Clinton, how you doing? I heard Joe Biden is coming — did he arrive yet? Oh wait, is that Bernie Sanders there across the room? Excuse me, see ya’ later.
Could Hillary Clinton already be doomed?
Things could certainly be worse for Mrs. Clinton (and might indeed get much worse — on several fronts). At least she gets most of the major issues right. For instance, her views on domestic affairs, foreign policy, and social issues are clearly much more in tune with the general electorate than all the angry rhetoric and occasional bedlam coming from both sides of her two flanks.
On her left — much to my chagrin, there’s no way America is ready to elect a self-avowed socialist into the White House. Not yet, anyway. While Sen. Sanders generates lots of excitement and is laying a solid foundation for real progressive change in future elections yet to come, he will not be the 2016 Democratic nominee. Oddly enough, he’s the oldest candidate in the race, yet comes across as the voice most ahead of his time. Contrast his passionate, well-timed speeches that fire up the party’s base with Mrs. Clinton’s lackluster go-through-the-motions, don’t-say-anything-too-controversial strategy, so far, regurgitated from yellowed pages which seem to have been dug out of the dusty old files of her failed 2008 race. Sanders and Clinton, in style and substance, are as different as night and day. But she’s the establishment, running against the anti-establishment radical, and at least for now, the safe bet among the party faithful.
Off to her right — the Republican race has already become a hideous freak show, and the first primary is still six months away, which means there’s a lot of juggling on the merry-go-round yet to come. All that’s missing in the campaign is the bearded lady swallowing a fiery sword while holding a Bible and demanding to see Obama’s birth certificate. Between the constant warmongering, the kill-the-mother-but-protect the fetus pomposity, and a ceaseless assault on immigrants, veterans, students, minorities, the working class, women, and oh just about everyone who isn’t a White male earning at least a quart-mil a year — Republicans aren’t just scurrying away from the political center like roaches fleeing a bright kitchen light. They’ve positioned themselves in a completely different, much darker alternative universe. But to their credit, at least there’s a national interest, and even excitement sparking from the other side. Everyone’s talking about Donald Trump, who despite repeated gaffes and all the substance of a reality television show, still somehow manages to walk on water with his supporters and ride high in the polls as the current GOP front runner. That should tell you everything about how glaring a void exists among Republicans right now, despite 8,924 candidates who announced they’re running.
One would think the present state of affairs on the far left and far right would make for fertile soil somewhere in the middle, an ideal platform for Mrs. Clinton to launch from. She’s clearly a maverick politician, widely considered the best chance for any woman to be elected to the Oval Office. Her resume is arguably the most impressive of any of the other candidates. She’s experienced, polished, and has been in plenty of tough fights before — including three previous presidential races. She should be riding the choppy waters of the political landscape like a juggernaut. Instead, she increasingly appears to be a capsizing ship carrying way too much weight, slowly beginning to sink in the polls barely after she left port.
Something’s clearly very wrong, and it has more to do with her lackluster candidacy and dispassionate persona as a campaigner than potentially-devastating injuries to her credibility caused by any of the witchhunts investigations into her background as former Secretary of State. Whatever she did or didn’t do, and whatever the outcome sifting through old e-mails, even if she’s never charged with wrongdoing, what matters most to any presidential aspiration isn’t reality, but perception. The Rubicon of trust has been crossed, or more precisely — violated. Since 1991, by flinging enough mud, conservative critics knew it was inevitable that some dirt was bound to stick to an exposed wall someplace, at least enough of a stain to be seen by enough voters that now grade her with low marks for being trustworthy. That’s been the conservatives’ strategy all along. It didn’t work so well consistently lying about and defaming President Obama. But admittedly, it seems to be working on Mrs. Clinton. I’m not sure exactly how a candidate earns trust back, once it’s lost. Torpedoes are difficult to diffuse once they’ve hit their target.
Mrs. Clinton went into this race with more baggage than a loaded 747. First, she’s had to overcome the so-called “Clinton fatigue” factor, a similar phenomenon which is definitely hurting former Gov. Jeb Bush on the other side, who has to run on the dismal record of his failed brother. Much of America is sick and tired of both the Clintons and the Bushs. Been there, done that, they say. It’s not 2002, anymore. We want to move on. I’ve yet to see Mrs. Clinton get past first base on this obstacle.
Mrs. Clinton could extinguish mounting concerns about her fading candidacy by speaking out, looking alive, going after the throat of some of her opponents (especially Trump, who is loathed by millions). Mrs. Clinton would probably love to face Trump in the general election. But she also has enough awareness to know that’s not going to happen. So, go for the jugular right now, while she can, exposing this buffoon on all fronts, which would certainly get lots of media attention and start to shore up some waning enthusiasm among the base. A couple of good quips from speechwriters, delivered with conviction, would even get picked up by FOX News and all the talk shows. Trump is the best political ally she’s got right now, and she’s blowing it by passing on a chance to show strength and leadership while rallying millions who are sick of his antics and want the big bad bully impaled and politically destroyed. Waiting a year, then attacking Sen. Marco Rubio just doesn’t have the same zest or zing.
Sure, it’s early. Maybe even too early get worried — said the captain as he sailed into iceberg-infested waters. Fact is, Mrs. Clinton has a long way to go if she hopes to win many of us back. Her “favorable” ratings currently stand at only 37 percent, even though she has a virtual 100 percent name identity with voters. That means nearly 2 out of every 3 voters in this country either aren’t sure about her or already despise her. Then, there are those annoying icebergs again — not quite knowing what’s beneath the surface looming ahead when it comes to scandal.
I feel bad for Mrs. Clinton. I really do. She might have made an excellent president — in 1992, or 2008. But I’m increasingly doubtful about her vibrancy in 2016. It’s not just that time may have passed her by. It’s more about carrying political baggage, unshakable Clinton fatigue, and perhaps most alarming — the candidate’s own shortcomings out on the campaign trail. If she can’t muster up any excitement on her own at the prospect of becoming our next president, why should we stick around and rally to her defense?
Paging Joe Biden. Paging Bernie Sanders. Paging anyone else in the Democratic Party with a pulse. Please jump into the race, because this cocktail party needs new blood.
While I basically agree that Hill’s not doing her best to rouse the base I don’t think there’s any way she can not be the nominee. For one, I don’t think there’s “Clinton fatigue.” Bubba, believe it or not, gets the highest favorability ratings of anyone around. He’s a huge asset. For another, Bernie’s base is limited. He’s the choice of something like 5% of Blacks and Hispanics — Hillary’s got well over 60%. Biden’s too gaffe prone and will sink his own effort within a month (if he runs, which I doubt). The only viable alternative would have been Warren but she pulled out. Maybe in ’22?
My hope is that Clinton understands the situation. It’s the old warning about running marathons …
you are clueless this time, I hear many speaking out ready to support her over ANY GOP dwarf. Biden the plagerizer and father of druggies will go nowhere.
I cannot believe that the current batch of candidates is the best we can do. I for one do not trust Hillary and the Trump show is entertaining but we do not want him inn the White House. The two parties have moved so far apart that I say they are both radical. I used to call myself a Republican, but not any more. The party has been hyjacked by religious zelots. I am more conservitive than the Dems. and more liberal than the Reps.
We need a fresh look at the whole Federal Gov. I think that basicaly anyone who has been in congress more than two terms for the Senate and four for the House should be out. Our forefathers never intended to have a professional political class. How can someone who has not done anything but talk, take junkets, and soak up the public dollar have any understanding of what it takes to keep this country great.