Andrew Sullivan: Hillary’s military campaign for the presidency

The Sunday Times ^ | May 11, 2003 | Andrew Sullivan

[MadIvan]

Cue the music from Jaws, or Fatal Attraction. Just when you thought the Democratic party was flailing around in its attempt to gain any political traction, a familiar and fascinating figure is haunting the sidelines. In a sign of how pitiful the Democratic talent pool seems these days, that figure is one Hillary Rodham Clinton. No, she is not running for president next year. But the former first lady has been showing signs of ramping up her steely political ambitions.

Republicans are alternately salivating at the prospect and dreading it. Hillary mobilises the Republican base more effectively than an evangelical rally on an aircraft carrier. But she is also a canny politician, like her husband. And there is the slight chance that she could prevail.

Remember the rumours that floated around when she was deciding whether to run for the Senate? I for one thought she wouldn’t.

But she did. And she ran a pretty flawless campaign, even winning over the more conservative constituents in upper New York state, a place as culturally distant from lower Manhattan as the hinterlands of Pennsylvania.

She grew up a Republican, after all, just like Tony Blair grew up in Toryland. And her most recent positioning has come about because of the war against Saddam. As Fred Barnes, a conservative reporter, wrote: “A week after the start of the war in Iraq Donald Rumsfeld gave a briefing to the Senate armed services committee. At the time the advance of American troops towards Baghdad supposedly was bogged down — it turned out they really weren’t — and the Bush administration was facing stiff criticism. But the defence secretary got strong support from an unexpected source, the newest member of the committee, Democratic senator Hillary Clinton of New York. Alluding to her own experience in an administration under fire, she indicated she understood Rumsfeld’s situation. Then Clinton assured him the committee was behind him 100% and would provide anything he needed. The key is to win the war, she said. The war effort should not be shortchanged in any way.”

Surprised? Don’t be. Hillary’s pro-war position has a long pedigree. As far back as last September she strongly backed President Bush’s campaign to unseat Saddam. She was asked on a television programme if disarmament in Iraq was possible without removing Saddam. She replied: “I doubt it.” Bush’s policy “is exactly what should be done”.

Regardless of the United Nations, she believed Bush “has to do what he believes is in the best interest of the country”. I wonder how many Guardian readers are aware of where their icon stood on this matter.

As politics it is a perfect pitch. The Clintons have always been chameleons and, although profoundly uncomfortable with the military, have never underestimated its importance in American life. Two weeks ago Bill Clinton voiced strong support for Rumsfeld’s plans for transforming the military into a more high-tech and nimble force. And the military that prevailed in Iraq so swiftly and decisively was, in many respects, Clinton’s army. Reforms in military life, acquisitions and strategy take years to implement, and much of the weaponry and structure of the current force was bought, deployed and planned for under the previous administration.

Similarly, the official policy of “regime change” in Iraq was innovated by Bill Clinton rather than George W Bush. When the Democrats realise they need to co-opt the successes in the war on terror, rather than whine about them, watch out for this point to be made again and again. And who better to make it than Hillary? The polls reflect some of this advantage as well. In almost every one that measures the relative popularity of the Democratic candidates for president, Hillary comes out on top — even though she isn’t running. A poll in February put Hillary at 46%, compared with Joe Lieberman, her nearest rival, at 15%. She has a book coming out soon too — one that will give her a national tour just as the presidential campaign season heats up. And her political game — insulate herself with some conservative positions, while firing up the Democratic base — is classic Bill.

Will she run next year if all the other candidates come up empty? Almost certainly not; she just got elected as senator. Leaving so soon to run for president would revive every carpet-bagging criticism she has rebutted in the past two years with diligent constituency work. Besides, her focus is clearly on 2008. Hyper-cynics believe that she and her husband are actually hoping for a Democratic loss in 2004. By 2008 Hillary will be ready for primetime.

The last thing she would want is an incumbent Democratic president to mess up her plans. (And if Bush is re-elected, she won’t even have an incumbent vice-president, because Dick Cheney won’t run.) She and her husband already exercise strong control over the party through their cheesy henchman Terry McAuliffe, who is still party chairman. What better strategy than to stay above the fray, while a bunch of ragged and raw aspirants squabble into a loss? And so far the Democratic field looks particularly forlorn. Between Massachusetts senator John Kerry’s pious hauteur, former Vermont governor Howard Dean’s mean streak, Senator John Edwards’s boyish callowness and Lieberman’s lugubrious tedium, it’s not looking like a great future for the Dems. Perhaps their best hope is Dick Gephardt, the unions’ darling. But on a good day, Gephardt makes Cheney look like Ali G. Lively he ain’t.

So Hillary bides her time, waiting for the kill. She’s probably hoping that in a few years’ time her capacity to polarise the country will have abated. Such a hope is probably ill-founded. A large swathe of Americans would rather see Jacques Chirac elected American president than Hillary Rodham Clinton. But the same could have been said about Richard Nixon in the late 1960s, and he still won. So could she. And so far she has been playing her hand very, very smoothly.

[MadIvan]

Frightening.

Regards, Ivan

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[Cagey]

(And if Bush is re-elected, she won’t even have an incumbent vice-president, because Dick Cheney won’t run.)

This fact has her salivating all over herself.

[LS]

This sounds quite reasonable to me: it smacks of Clinton strategy, which occasionally takes the longer-run view.

The fly in the ointment is Jeb. I think the message Bush is sending with Cheney is, "don't get exicted. No veep is going to walk into the presidency."

Jeb, on the other hand, may have a powerful constituency by then. His greatest drawback (and his greatest strength) is that he is W's brother. As such, I don't know how receptive Americans would be to an unbroken family dynasty. And that scares me. That opens just enough of a crack in the door for Hillary to squeeze one of those thunderous ankles through.

[DD938]

I don't care when she runs, she'll never make it. The country simply does not trust her.

[Notforprophet]

You are right about that. I wish somehow we could get Condi Rice as Veep in 2004, or even appointed so before 2008. Nothing against Richard Cheney, he's great. But a Rice vs. Clinton matchup in 2008 would be a grand thing to see.

Ivan thanks for the post.

NFP

[annyokie]

[bayareablues]

she chills me to my bones. this republic has survived alot, but I'm not so sure about someone as cunning and totally devoid conscience as she.

We can fiddle and tee-hee, but this could truly happen if we are not careful. If you want to experience the world according to hillary, examine carefully California governance and its results. Only thing missing is "universal" healthcare.

[demlosers]

President Hellery is a nightmare!

[Timesink]

Republicans are alternately salivating at the prospect and dreading it. Hillary mobilises the Republican base more effectively than an evangelical rally on an aircraft carrier. But she is also a canny politician, like her husband. And there is the slight chance that she could prevail.

So slight that if we allow her to win, we DESERVE her.

[Ronin]

Very very frightening....

I think the GOP needs to reexamine its long-term strategy with this in mind and think seriously about how we are going to counter Hillary.

The message out of Washington now is that Cheney is locked in for the VP slot in 2004, and I must admit that I am very fond of him, but I am not sure that this is a good policy if we plan to hold on to our gains in 2008.

One thing we must not do is underestimate the Hildebeast.

[MEG33]

The nightmare continues. Her ability to mount a national campaign is not tested. Envision Hillary in a flight suit!(sorry,couldn't resist!..~;^)

[Bringbackthedraft]

2008 Rice/Powell vs. Clinton/Sharpton Now there's the ticket.

[Cagey]

I don't care when she runs, she'll never make it.

I heard those same words a hundred times when she ran for Senator from New York. Then she went on to win even the normally Republican areas of New York State. If no women were to vote in 2008, I'd bet with you.

And she ran a pretty flawless campaign, even winning over the more conservative constituents in upper New York state, a place as culturally distant from lower Manhattan as the hinterlands of Pennsylvania.

[george wythe]

Hyper-cynics believe that she and her husband are actually hoping for a Democratic loss in 2004. By 2008 Hillary will be ready for primetime.

If this witch runs for President, I will take a sabbatical to join the Republican presidential campaign, at either the state level or the national level.

No amount of sacrifice will be too much to keep this cancer from infecting our country during eight l-o-n-g years.

[Reactionary]

Let me get this straight:

This is the same Hillary who stood on the Senate floor holding a newpaper in the air that said "Bush Knew!"

That Hillary is the one who's backed the war on terror?

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.."IS it SAFE?" = HILLARY on Senate Armed Services Committee..

Photo = Outside D.C. HILLARY's Mansion Fundraiser
http://community.webshots.com/photo/65188549/66260912yikSxd


Photo = Outside D.C. White House Correspondents Dinner
http://community.webshots.com/photo/71169738/71170711wsHkSW

.."IS it SAFE?" = The Thread
http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=629

[canuck_conservative]

Just curious: did Jeb serve in the military?

[LS]

I don't think so. I think he was too young for the draft.

[tet68]

She who would be obeyed,
will never cross the moat.
The pearl of the dragon
will be a bitter pill.
The murderess Cuckold
dies abed.

/Nostrodamus

[Noumenon]

In that event, she'll be voted out of office - from the roof tops.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...HILLARY tells BUSH to go to Iraq...

...while HILLARY has her Friends in the Anti-U.S. War Protestors Gang create all kind of Hell for BUSH around the world...

...and her Mirror Image Comedian GAROFALO pushes HILLARY's same old Anti-U.S. Rhetoric on TV for all to see.

KOWA-BUNGA, Dude, it was a Whirlitzer.

[Ronin]

Just for a random Sunday morning "what if..." Bush were to ask Cheney and Powell to switch jobs? Put Cheney in State and give Powell the VP slot in 2004?

This will give Powell the cover of elected office for a Presidential run in 2008 and will put Cheney in a more muscular position foreign policywise...

Comments?

[Paul Atreides]

[DD938]

There is no love lost for Hillary in New York.
She bit off more than she could chew and the people
see right through her.

[tenthirteen]

I think Hilary's win in New York is being overestimated. She was supposed to run aganst the Mayor (Rudy). Due to health problems and finagling with a paramour, he opted out. Rep. LAZIO then ran, and lost. He was a congressman from Long Island who did not have the dtretch statewide. Sharpton and ilk helped her in the five boroughs of NY City, and she swept there. Minorities do not vote for white Republican suburban candidtaes in NY. Plus she ahd a feud going with Mario CUOMO in the Democratic party and he tried to scotch her. The Balck Comptroller of NY State also helped her. So heap all these minority votes together in NY City, and that alone is tantamount to being elected.

She swept nothing; she merely got lucky. That's all.

[annyokie]

[D2]

As politics it is a perfect pitch. The Clintons have always been chameleons and, although profoundly uncomfortable with the military, have never underestimated its importance in American life. Two weeks ago Bill Clinton voiced strong support for Rumsfeld’s plans for transforming the military into a more high-tech and nimble force. And the military that prevailed in Iraq so swiftly and decisively was, in many respects, Clinton’s army. Reforms in military life, acquisitions and strategy take years to implement, and much of the weaponry and structure of the current force was bought, deployed and planned for under the previous administration.

Shortly after 911, the questions were flying about the diminished state of the military after eight years of Clinton. I saw an interview with a rather hawkish top commander that assured the panel that he was speaking to that, despite the financial cutbacks, the military leadership was always able to funnel an adequate amount of money to Special Operations and the weapons that it needs.

I wish that I could remember the specifics. Maybe someone here can. It is imperative that this notion of "clinton's military" not be allowed to slip into the lexicon!

[randog]

I think the GOP needs to reexamine its long-term strategy with this in mind and think seriously about how we are going to counter Hillary.

The message out of Washington now is that Cheney is locked in for the VP slot in 2004, and I must admit that I am very fond of him, but I am not sure that this is a good policy if we plan to hold on to our gains in 2008.

That needs to be repeated....often and loudly.

[DD938]

Powell wants no part of the 2008 Presidential election

[nutmeg]

I don't care when she runs, she'll never make it.

I heard those same words a hundred times when she ran for Senator from New York. Then she went on to win even the normally Republican areas of New York State. If no women were to vote in 2008, I'd bet with you.

Yup... DO NOT underestimate Hitlery! She ran a flawless, "textbook" campaign in New York in 2000, and it worked like a charm.

[annyokie]

Thanks! May I copy it?

[nutmeg]

ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent ping list.

[DD938]

You have got to be kidding. Half the military made the decision NOT to re-enlist under Clinton. He and Hillary
DEPLORE the military.

[DD938]

NY is a Democratic State. The COUNTRY is a different ball
game altogether

[JakeWyld]

I'm sure Harry Belafonte would love to do a National "house servants" commercial in response to your ticket...but I would definitely vote for a Rice/Powell ticket.

[skinkinthegrass]

the EYES (sob)..

[annyokie]

Some scary sh*t, eh? Sorry! It being suppertime and all!

[mystery-ak]

God only knows what would happen to our military/and how they would react with HER as CinC....I know that in 2000 there were a lot of military families that were going to retire if algore won.

[DoctorMichael]

Powell is unelectable as a Republican Presidential candidate.

[Paul Atreides]

Be my guest!

[cubreporter]

I firmly believe that too. Her and Bill didn't count on GWB becoming President. They thought Gore would take it and then they would all have control for years and that they could control Gore like a puppet.

Ah ...poor Hillary...the best laid plans of mice and men only in hers and the the dems case...the best laid plans of RATS and men.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/765080/posts

The Clinton Files
various links | 10-08-02 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/723210/posts

Liars-- and Sleaze, Incorporated... ( my files on the clintons and friends )
various links | 7-27-02 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/611951/posts

Hodgepodge O' Hillary
various links | 01-20-02 | backhoe

 

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/771000/posts

The Atomic Genie- what we have about North Korea's Nuclear program
various FR posts | 10-17-02 | The Heavy Equipment Guy

[Paul Atreides]

Wasn't she petrifying people in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets?

[annyokie]

Thanks! Here's one for the favor:

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...T'was despite the CLINTONS' Huge Bites out of our Military Budgets during the 1990's that our Military was still able to prevail.

...Over-see-er's of our most Secret Militray Operations and their Budgets =

...The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee now occupied by:

Anti-U.S.
Senator ROBERT BYRD
Senator HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON

[Zebra]

I don't care when she runs, she'll never make it. The country simply does not trust her.

I could not agree more. People promote Hillary because of her name recognition and her standing with the liberal elite in New York and other liberal bastions, which still manage most of the press.

Hillary Clinton is finished on the national scene (if she ever was there without Bill). The midterm election results were as much of a repudiation of the Clintonizing of the Democratic Party as anything else. The political discourse in America after 9-11 is serious. The electorate wants to see a bipartisan approach to the most serious problems confronting us today. HRC has never been about bipartisan politics and, truth be told, probably lacks the character and personal qualities to operate effectively in that mode.

The Democratic Party will rebound around a more centrist leader who is in touch with the new reality of national politics, but only after a painful lurch to the Left (apparently) under the leadership of Nancy Pelosi. The DNC, which continues to have a tin ear, will struggle mightily until it rebuilds itself around honorable people. The next prominent national Democratic leadership will not include Ms. Clinton or any of her surrogates.

[annyokie]

Wasn't she petrifying people in Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets?

I sure thought so! ;)

[JusPasenThru]

Hemorrhoid Hillary strikes again.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

...Just like in Arkansas...

...HILLARY ain't lookin' back.