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Smile—That's the Ticket! (With Edwards in the room, Hillary's not exactly the life of her party)
the Village Voice ^ | July 13th, 2004 | Sydney H. Schanberg

Posted on 07/13/2004 10:17:08 AM PDT by presidio9

udolph Giuliani, no friend of Hillary Clinton, lampooned her at a public appearance not long ago, saying, "I fully expect that come this November, when all is said and done, behind the sanctity of the voting-booth curtain, I and Mrs. Clinton will be voting for the same person: George W. Bush."

This was, of course, a sarcastic reference to the political bind Senator Clinton presently finds herself in: having to smile and support a Democratic ticket that could, if victorious against President Bush, impair her own chances for the Oval Office. It needs to be said that Republican Giuliani—who has of late been suffering from a major case of hubris—is himself in search of the presidency. (Giuliani and his new wife, Judith, have likened their life together to that of Winston Churchill and his beloved Clementine.)

Even if the Kerry-Edwards ticket loses to Bush, North Carolina senator John Edwards, who, like Hillary Clinton, is a formidable campaigner and fundraiser, could be a serious threat to her in the 2008 Democratic primaries.

I don't think Clinton will actually cast her vote for Bush, but I do think that a reasonable person, drawing on human history, can validly opine that both Clintons are very conflicted souls these days. They know they must issue flowery boilerplate declarations of support for the Democratic ticket—and both have already done so—and they will probably make campaign appearances for Kerry and Edwards. But they have left little doubt that they want back in the White House, this time with roles reversed—would his title be First Gentleman?—and they cannot be happy in their present uncomfortable fix.

The television talk shows are already salivating over this issue, easily finding the necessary gassers to wag their partisan tongues. Sunday night on Fox, Susan Turnbull, deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, said Hillary was whole-hearted in her support of her ticket. "She's part of our team," said Turnbull. "She's already been front-row and center." Brad Blakeman, a former Bush assistant and apparently a mixer of metaphors, responded by calling the New York senator a grinning "Cheshire cat" who had no choice but to "drink the Kool-Aid."

Our presidential campaigns keep moving deeper and deeper into the surreal. Bill Clinton says the timing of the release of his autobiography, My Life, was purely coincidental, swearing on his Boy Scout's oath that he has no intention of drawing attention away from the Kerry campaign. Sure. So why didn't he wait and release the book after the election? The Republicans, meanwhile, keep saying that Edwards doesn't have the experience to be vice president, but that Dick Cheney, who is being investigated for everything from corporate sleaze at Halliburton to cronyism on energy policy, definitely has the gravitas for the job. And if you disagree with that, Cheney will use his favorite F-word on you. Some gravitas.

We may find that after all the early hugging and air kisses between them and the Clintons, Kerry and Edwards won't be calling on Hillary and Bill too often to join hands with them at campaign rallies—even though Hillary did say in her congratulatory press release last week that "Democrats and independent-minded Americans have reason to be electrified about the Kerry-Edwards team." Was "electrocuted" the word she had in her heart?

Ever since her election to the Senate in November 2000, Americans of all political stripes have assumed that she was seeking to become the first woman president in U.S. history. She had already spent eight years in the White House; why wouldn't she want to be Eleanor Roosevelt with tangible power?

Though she has always sidestepped questions about the presidency, she has never come close to ruling out a run for the office. Her own husband openly touted her for the vice presidential slot on the Kerry ticket, even though she said she wasn't interested. In fact, two women's groups—American Women Presidents and Ms. President PAC—endorsed her as the vice presidential nominee this year. She has not directed them, or any other supporters of a White House ascendancy, to discontinue their activities. The last woman picked by a major party as a vice presidential candidate was Representative Geraldine Ferraro of New York on the Walter Mondale ticket in 1984. They were whomped by Ronald Reagan and his VP, the first George Bush.

During presidential campaigns especially, political advisers, pundits, and tea-leaf readers are forever making predictions. None will be made here, since to predict the future is to have to be ready at all times to admit you were wrong. The lives of the Clintons or the Edwardses may have changed drastically by 2008 or 2012. And for those who think age might be a factor, Hillary will not turn 65 until just before the 2012 election, which would not make her too old to run for president even then.

The only flat prediction I've seen about Hillary is from a psychic to the stars (Hollywood and Washington). Carmen Harra, a Romanian-born seer who says she has advised Candice Bergen and Jennifer Lopez, issued a forecast that Hillary would make a bid for the presidency in 2008. Harra had earlier predicted that Hillary would be elected to the Senate. As for 2008, Harra added that Hillary would be opposed by a female Republican candidate from the South. "There's someone younger than Hillary, 10 years younger, 12 years younger, that is not so well-known at this point," the clairvoyant was quoted as saying.

In the meantime, Hillary will have to play pretend, wear a Kerry-Edwards campaign button, and grin and bear it. She seems to be doing all right at this. The only problem is that if she has to smile all the time, while her heart is breaking, her face might crack.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: hillary; kerry

1 posted on 07/13/2004 10:17:10 AM PDT by presidio9
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To: presidio9
As for 2008, Harra added that Hillary would be opposed by a female Republican candidate from the South. "There's someone younger than Hillary, 10 years younger, 12 years younger, that is not so well-known at this point," the clairvoyant was quoted as saying.

Condi Rice is originally from Alabama.

2 posted on 07/13/2004 10:22:06 AM PDT by Publius (Mother Nature is a hanging judge.)
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To: presidio9
her face might crack.


3 posted on 07/13/2004 10:22:23 AM PDT by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: presidio9
Not that I believe any of this crap......but

As for 2008, Harra added that Hillary would be opposed by a female Republican candidate from the South. "There's someone younger than Hillary, 10 years younger, 12 years younger, that is not so well-known at this point," the clairvoyant was quoted as saying.

Condi Rice, from Birmingham, Alabama is 7 years younger than Hillary.

4 posted on 07/13/2004 10:25:51 AM PDT by Onelifetogive
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To: Publius

You're right, why would Americans choose a liberal woman as the first woman President instead of a conservative one?

Condi can whup Hillary with an eyelash.


5 posted on 07/13/2004 10:27:09 AM PDT by saveliberty (Liberal= in need of therapy, but would rather ruin lives of those less fortunate to feel good)
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To: Izzy Dunne
That HAS to be a Photoshop job.......

Hillary is NOT that good looking.....

6 posted on 07/13/2004 10:27:28 AM PDT by Onelifetogive
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To: saveliberty
Condi can whup Hillary with an eyelash.

I would LOVE for Condi to be President just so she can say:

"While I am NOT the first Black President, I am the first Black President to actually be Black!"

7 posted on 07/13/2004 10:29:52 AM PDT by Onelifetogive
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To: Onelifetogive
Pssst: Condoleezza Rice is Pro-Abortion.

Pass it on.

8 posted on 07/13/2004 10:30:28 AM PDT by presidio9 (Islam Is As Islam Does)
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To: presidio9
In 2008 it will be Hillary Clinton and Congressman Harold Ford, jr. vs. Rudy Giulianni and Condoleeza Rice.

Balanced tickets:
New Yorker at the top of each.
Black VP on each.
Woman on each
Should be quite a food fight.

So9

9 posted on 07/13/2004 10:31:55 AM PDT by Servant of the 9 (Goldwater Republican)
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To: Izzy Dunne

10 posted on 07/13/2004 10:33:20 AM PDT by Ichneumon ("...she might as well have been a space alien." - Bill Clinton, on Hillary, "My Life", p. 182)
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To: presidio9

Rice is pro-abortion and sadly I predict in 8 years the pro-life platform won't even be a part of the Republican platform.


11 posted on 07/13/2004 10:34:54 AM PDT by truthandlife ("Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Ps 20:7))
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To: Onelifetogive

That would be good. Also good--

"I am the first American Black President!"


12 posted on 07/13/2004 10:53:18 AM PDT by saveliberty (Liberal= in need of therapy, but would rather ruin lives of those less fortunate to feel good)
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To: presidio9

Why any self-respecting Freeper would seek the opinion of Sydney Schanberg, the confused and traitorous fool of "The Killing Fields" fame, who blames everything sinister in the world on United States malevolence, including Vietnam and Cambodia, is beyond me!


13 posted on 07/13/2004 12:09:50 PM PDT by vanmorrison
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To: presidio9
Boy, Schanberg sure knows how to write a boring article.

There was absolutely nothing new or interesting contained in that.

14 posted on 07/13/2004 12:11:50 PM PDT by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: Publius
Katherine Harris perhaps?
15 posted on 07/13/2004 12:20:30 PM PDT by varina davis
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To: presidio9
If it's true that Hillary wants to run in 2008, watch for an October torpedo of Kerry/Edwards. Probably something very damaging about Kerry, since Edwards wasn't a perceptible threat when the Clintons were gathering dirt on others.

And yet, looking ahead to '08, it is Edwards she has to defeat. If she can wreck Kerry-Edwards by ruining Edwards, that's clearly a time- and trouble-saving move on her part.

16 posted on 07/13/2004 1:28:44 PM PDT by Graymatter (Media love fest---2 Johns and a thousand presstitutes.)
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To: presidio9

Now that the "Summer of Bill Clinton" actually turned out to be the "Week of Bill Clinton" and his much hyped book has flopped compared to the grand predictions from the mainstream media, Bill & Hillary Clinton have only one option open to them if they ever want to sit in the White House again. That option is the destruction of the Kerry/Edwards ticket. Actually, Edwards is the real problem. Kerry is a moron, that was quite clear on "Sixty Minutes" when Edwards just about stole the limelight, nudging Kerry in the background with his elbow, so that he, Edwards, could make the point. So, this Kerry/Edwards ticket must be destroyed to the max this November if the Clintons are to avoid the black hole of obscurity. You can rest easy knowing the Clintons are honing the knives for the kill, along with their cadre of supporters. Kerry and Edwards are both dead meat, although they don't know it yet! All of you political junkies, get ready. This is going to be some show!


17 posted on 07/13/2004 1:35:59 PM PDT by JLAGRAYFOX
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To: presidio9
The lives of the Clintons or the Edwardses may have changed drastically by 2008 or 2012.

Edwards may have a fatal visit to a Park, or an airplane crash, to make way for Hillary.

18 posted on 07/13/2004 1:48:57 PM PDT by expatpat
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To: expatpat

By 2008 crusty butt will be so big she won't be able to walk without a wheelbarrel.


19 posted on 07/13/2004 2:09:15 PM PDT by chiefqc
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To: presidio9

Hillary Clinton (much like her sleazeball husband) reminds me of a vampire.

A vampire cannot survive without human blood.

A Clinton cannot survive without human attention.


20 posted on 07/13/2004 2:34:20 PM PDT by MplsSteve
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To: chiefqc

I was thinking of an accident this year. She needs to be VP nominee this year, not 2008.


21 posted on 07/13/2004 3:08:55 PM PDT by expatpat
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To: presidio9

Hillary will be too old by then; like an old shoe and she may have health problems.


22 posted on 07/13/2004 5:46:25 PM PDT by freekitty
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To: presidio9
Hey, if you agree with abortion in cases of incest and rape, then you're pro-abortion, too.
23 posted on 07/13/2004 5:54:21 PM PDT by MrsEmmaPeel
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To: MrsEmmaPeel
First of all, Ms Rice did not qualify her position that way. Second of all, if you oppose abortion as the destruction of human life, then you can not rape and incest exceptions, because you are punishing the wrong person.
24 posted on 07/14/2004 5:56:40 AM PDT by presidio9 (Islam Is As Islam Does)
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To: presidio9
Hey all I'm saying is that so many people who are vehemently opposed to abortion, make an exception in the case of rape and/or incest / health of the mother. So logically, if abortion is to be tolerated, even in narrowest of conditions, it is to be tolerated.
25 posted on 07/14/2004 6:02:18 AM PDT by MrsEmmaPeel
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To: MrsEmmaPeel

I'm not sure what is the point you are trying to make. Are you pro-choice?


26 posted on 07/14/2004 6:06:36 AM PDT by presidio9 (Islam Is As Islam Does)
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To: JLAGRAYFOX
Spot on! Did you catch governsleastgovernsbest's Today Show thread this morning? It appears that Hillary has intructed Katie Couric to join in the destruction. Her interview of Edwards was brutal.
27 posted on 07/14/2004 6:10:31 AM PDT by Quilla
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To: MrsEmmaPeel

Are you pro-life?


28 posted on 07/14/2004 9:18:05 AM PDT by Rider on the Rain
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