Posted on 08/19/2014 5:52:23 PM PDT by Din Maker
Hillary Clinton hasn't been seen this year on the campaign trail or at fundraisers for Democrats running for the Senate. She's not following the course of a politician she has been compared to frequently: Richard Nixon.
As Patrick Buchanan shows in his recent book, "The Greatest Comeback: How Richard Nixon Rose From Defeat to Create the New Majority," Nixon campaigned tirelessly for Republican candidates in the 1966 midterm elections. That election produced big Republican gains, and helped elect Nixon president in 1968.
So why isn't Clinton following Nixon's example? Simply? She doesn't see this as a good year for her party. Not even in Arkansas, Louisiana or West Virginia, which Bill Clinton carried twice, or Montana, which he carried in 1992.
A year ago, Democrats hoped to hold onto their Senate majority by stressing local issues, accusing Republicans of waging a "war on women". But in a sluggish economy, with one Obamacare miscue after another and a world in violent disarray, promises of free contraception don't seem to be moving many voters.
That's apparent in Colorado, a state that twice voted for Obama, there is a backlash against severe gun restrictions passed by the Democratic legislature and ineptly defended by Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper. In a TV spot, GOP Senate candidate, Rep. Cory Gardner says his family's health insurance was canceled.
In Iowa, another state that went for Obama twice, Democrats hoped Rep. Bruce Braley would easily replace 30-year Democratic incumbent Tom Harkin. But state Sen. Joni Ernst, who grew up on a farm and became a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard, easily won the Republican nomination, and Braley has made one blunder after another.
In 1966, Nixon's campaigning helped Republicans gain five Senate and those 47 House seats. Clinton is apparently afraid she can't match that record.
(Excerpt) Read more at realclearpolitics.com ...
I’m afraid the dems are losing on many fronts. The womens movement has worn itself out. It’s not 1950.
Here’s a question:
If you could make $225,000 per pop, reading a silly speech written for you by someone else, all the while living like a queen, would you care about the 2014 elections?
I think Mike may have missed the fact that NOT MANY DEMs WANT HILLARY AROUND!!!
OR Obama!
I think Mike may have missed the fact that NOT MANY DEMs WANT HILLARY AROUND!!!
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Hmmmmm...... I hadn’t thought of that. I’ve not seen or read anything that would substantiate that. But, you could be right.
I think even in the Northeast you might see R pick up... I think unless Malloy cheats again, Tom Foley might pick up Connecticut for R and 2 congress seats might switch to R in CT.
Hillary the Flying Buttress still expects the keys to the White House to be handed to her on a satin pillow.
The year 1966 was a very good year for Republicans thanks to the hard work of RNC Chairman Ray Bliss who scoured the business community looking for credible candidates. By campaigning tirelessly for Republican candidates, Nixon racked up a lot of IOU's. The biggest break for Nixon came when Lyndon Johnson accused Nixon of being a "chronic campaigner" at a press conference covered by all the networks. This permitted Nixon to demand equal time from the networks, and when he got it, he gave a brilliant speech ripping the Johnson Administration to shreds. Nixon gave the Republicans the extra impetus to go for the finish line.
Hillary has obviously seen the internal polling showing that the Democrats are in bad shape for this year's election, and she believes that things are so bad that she won't be able to make a difference. So if she campaigns and can't give her party a lift, that builds the case for an alternative, like Elizabeth Warren.
At this point, Hillary's maintaining a low profile is a good strategy.
Point well taken; thanks.
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